The Shadowed Legacy of the Soulless Messenger [EN]: Chapter 174

Jiswa didn’t pass the Taoist position to Azadin simply because she liked him. She deliberately handed it over to draw someone as powerful as Azadin into their conflict.

And Azadin needed it too.

In the current situation, both the Council of Elders and Ara’el are making moves toward the Butuma Kingdom. To gain the organizational power to counter this, it was necessary to persuade even a pseudo-religious group like the Cheonggeon Clan.

“Hmm. I originally planned to have a pleasant time serving tea to travelers,” Gimella said, disappointed that her initial expectations had been off.

“Now that we’ve seen what happened in Adirof, do you think we’d drink your tea?” Azadin retorted, though he still sat down at the table.

“By the way, who is that muscular hunk beside you?” Gimella asked, her eyes on Scott.

“Scott McGreene,” Azadin replied.

“Oh, really? Hmm. He’s handsome. Perhaps he’d be interested in a Butuma-style oil massage?”

“……”

Scott looked back at Azadin after hearing Gimella’s blatant proposition.

“What? Are you two lovers?” Gimella asked, surprised that Scott was seeking Azadin’s permission.

“Of course not. Rather, he’s asking me for a strategic assessment. He’s asking me if there’s any benefit to be gained from sleeping with you. And you, too. You’re out here with a child, yet you’re so eager to commit adultery.”

“This is common in the Butuma court. This child will learn all about this kind of fun later, too,” Gimella replied, unfazed by Azadin’s criticism. Whether this was truly the norm in Butuma, or if she was the only one who felt that way, it was clear she had no qualms about adultery.

“It just so happens that it’s a safe day, and I was thinking of getting some exercise. Are you really not interested? You’ve come from a long journey, so it would be a good way to refresh yourself and relieve your fatigue.”

“Let me tell you in advance, madam. This body doesn’t particularly enjoy physical activities that build muscle.”

“…I knew it when I heard the name McGreene, you’re an orc after all,” Gimella said, realizing Scott was an orc when he said he disliked building muscle.

“Of course. This muscle, this intellect, what other race could display such talent besides us orcs?” Scott said proudly.

Gimella licked her lips. “I’ve heard orcs are very virile.”

“No, never mind,” Azadin interrupted, stopping Gimella and Scott. Even if both parties agreed, and even if it was common in Butuma, he couldn’t tolerate adultery in front of a child.

“Anyway, we came because we have something to discuss with you.”

“Discuss? About what?”

“The Nagas will attack the Butuma Royal Castle soon. Just like Coral Sahar was attacked. Moreover, ogres are already launching a massive offensive in the north. And behind them are the Herald Clan.” Azadin explained in detail the division within the Herald Clan, what their factions were aiming for, and what actually happened in Coral Sahar, trying to persuade Gimella.

“Good heavens. You’re a Herald Clan member? That’s amazing! Second Herald, that’s a very high position, isn’t it?” Gimella was surprised when Azadin revealed he was a member of the Herald Clan.

“Can you take off your helmet and show your face? Your voice is nice, so you must be handsome.”

‘This woman, seriously. We’re talking about the fate of the nation here….’ Azadin was annoyed by her request to see his face, but he took off his helmet to show his bare face.

“Ah. What a pity, such a handsome man. Still, your body is quite sturdy, isn’t it? Not as much as an orc, but your muscles… Ah, are you perhaps interested in a Butuma-style oil massage too? If you’re okay with it, how about you and that orc with another concubine I know?”

“No, this isn’t the time for that. Sigh.” Azadin sighed, seeing that he couldn’t get through to Gimella.

“It seems like they’re trying to invade Coral Sahar, but it looks like we’re about to be invaded first, so please persuade Count Kimalhaji to send some of his troops to the north and some to support Butuma. And I’d like to ask the Heavenly Lord of Cheonggeon to cooperate in protecting Butuma, instead of having useless ambitions or grudges against Coral Sahar.”

“Well, I appreciate you telling me all this, even revealing your identity, but you have to consider our position too.”

“Your position?”

“Yes. The entire Butuma Kingdom, including Kimalhaji, was actually planning to invade Coral Sahar. But if someone from Coral Sahar comes and tells us that monsters will attack instead of war, who would listen?”

“You still can’t grasp the reality even after seeing Coral Sahar get ransacked?”

“Wouldn’t they think that now that Coral Sahar is in chaos, it’s an even better opportunity? Besides, isn’t the throne of Coral Sahar occupied by a woman from the Herald Clan? And you’re also from the Herald Clan. Of course, according to you, you claim to be a third force that doesn’t belong to any faction of the Herald Clan… but how can we believe that?”

“……”

“So, I have a proposal.”

“A proposal?”

“Even if you take that information to my father, the Heavenly Lord, you won’t be able to persuade him. So, how about doing as I propose? Then you’ll be able to persuade my father.”

“What’s your proposal?”

“To plunder our Cheonggeon Clan’s sacred site.”

“…The sacred site, you mean the place where your father was struck by lightning?”

“Yes. It’s where the body of Grimslough, the Nether God, is located. If you plunder that place and obtain Grimslough’s relic, my father won’t be able to ignore your words, and if the Cheonggeon Clan moves, the King of Butuma won’t be able to turn a blind eye either. In Butuma, the Cheonggeon Clan has become the dominant religion, pushing out the King’s Church and the Rescue Knights.”

“Grimslough’s body. What exactly is it?”

“In the swamp, there’s a piece of Grimslough’s ancient tree. My father rested on it, got struck by lightning, and became his vassal. After that, we tried to remove that body and move it to Butuma several times, but each time, Nether monsters appeared, and we failed.”

“If I bring that body, can I definitely exert control over the Cheonggeon Clan?”

“Probably. But I doubt it’s possible for an ordinary human. Even the warriors and Taoists of the Cheonggeon Clan couldn’t do it. But if a Herald Clan member is truly a soulless blasphemer, a god-slaying killer who killed the Divine Kings, wouldn’t it be possible? And you’re the Second Herald, aren’t you? That means you’re one of the most skilled in the Herald Clan, right?”

“Hmm.” Azadin frowned at Gimella’s words.

This woman was trying to use him. But even if he talked to others… he didn’t think he could persuade them.

The throne of Coral Sahar was occupied by the Herald Clan.

Since that rumor was circulating, if Azadin introduced himself as a member of the Herald Clan, they would think that the Herald Clan, who had swallowed Coral Sahar, was talking nonsense to buy time.

The Nagas weren’t fools, and they had already done a favor for someone else in Coral Sahar once, so why would they do it again in Butuma? They would think that way.

“I’ll think about it. But is there any chance I could meet Count Kimalhaji?”

“My husband? Well, I don’t think it would be good for you to see him.”

“Still, introduce me.”

“It’s best if you just don’t see him and do as I say.”

“…Hey, Komosal. You’re a Taoist of the Cheonggeon Clan, so you can meet the Count, right?”

“Ah, as the young lady says. The Count is also full of ambition for Coral Sahar and wouldn’t abandon his ambition with just a few words,” Jiswa agreed.

“Yes. The Count is… well, he’s just not going to be persuaded. Unless it’s pillow talk.”

“Huh? Pillow talk?”

“The Count is, well, he’s a homosexual.”

“……”

“He’ll like orcs.”

“Ah. I see. Scott, good. Let’s persuade him thoroughly.”

“No, Captain,” Scott said, clicking his tongue at Azadin’s change in attitude.

*********

Count Kimalhaji gladly welcomed Azadin’s group.

He was lying on his bed, surrounded by muscular men, and smiled. “My, my, what a magnificent muscular man.” The Count smacked his lips as he looked at Scott.

“……”

It seemed that Scott’s popularity was exploding here.

Azadin told Count Kimalhaji the same things he had told Gimella, but the Count’s reaction was lukewarm.

“It’s not that I don’t believe you. It seems you genuinely believe that the Herald Clan will invade Butuma as well. But isn’t that just misinformation? The King’s Church is attacking Coral Sahar right now. They can’t tolerate the Herald Clan occupying the throne.”

“But even if the King’s Church is taking action now….”

“Perhaps the Herald Clan isn’t so relaxed either. They’ll be busy defending Coral Sahar, and if they think they can’t recover it on their own, they’ll naturally allow neighboring countries to form a united kingdom. And Butuma isn’t as barbaric as the northerners think. We suffer from malaria, but that also means the land is incredibly fertile for rice and beans, and there are many gold mines.”

Butuma is treated as a black land, an unexplored territory by people from other regions due to endemic diseases, vast jungles, and the Naga Empire hidden within, but in fact, it has the second largest land area among the Eight Kingdoms, a huge population, and great economic power.

If there weren’t such benefits, there would be no reason to endure the endemic diseases and live here.

Therefore, the nobles who occupied the land of Butuma had a sense of pride along with a kind of inferiority complex.

They were always dissatisfied that their territorial management and rule were not being properly evaluated, so they were eager to expand their power.

“So, about that friend of yours, does he have any thoughts on finding new pleasures of the flesh?” The Count was more interested in Scott’s body than Azadin’s warnings.

*********

In the end, persuading the Count was a failure.

As Gimella had suggested, if they wanted to exert influence in the Butuma Kingdom in this situation, it seemed faster to conquer the sacred site of the Cheonggeon Clan and obtain the ‘Swamp Ancient Tree’ Grimslough’s body to persuade the Heavenly Lord of Cheonggeon, rather than trying to persuade the higher-ups.

“Hoo. Suddenly, I hate everything.” Azadin was greatly disappointed in the rulers of Butuma, who didn’t even listen to the threat of the Naga Empire, and their ambitions.

Whether the people die or not, they prioritize their own ambitions.