The Shadowed Legacy of the Soulless Messenger [EN]: Chapter 194

‘If you, who have stolen Grimslaw’s body, neither kill me nor seize the order but simply drift away, what will become of my reputation rooted in this land? Therefore, I intend to keep you within my authority by any means. Rest assured. I ask nothing of you. You just need to uphold my authority. You would want that too, wouldn’t you? In this situation, controlled power is more necessary than chaos.’

The Cheonju [leader] of the Blue Banner knew exactly what Azadin wanted. Realistically, seizing his order would require a lot of effort, and Azadin didn’t want that.

What Azadin wanted was to prevent the messenger clan’s internal strife from turning into external conflict and to exert influence over Butuma. He would grant that, but in return, he wanted Azadin to acknowledge the Cheonju’s authority within the order.

‘But why adoption, specifically?’

‘Grimslaw is disappointed in me and will no longer grant miracles. However, if you become my adopted son, the miracles you have experienced will also become mine.’

‘You’re meticulous.’

Azadin frowned as he looked at the Cheonju.

The Cheonju’s appearance was like that of a young boy. Considering his age, he was definitely older than Azadin. Was he born this way? Or did Grimslaw’s revelation grant him this appearance?

Whatever the case, his proposal did not match his appearance. It wasn’t the childish words of a child but the insidious nature of a seasoned power holder. The proposal was somewhat unpleasant yet offered undeniable benefits.

‘Personally, I’m not inclined to do it, but from a broader perspective, I must. Otherwise, there’s no point in coming this far.’

‘You’re quick to understand, which is good. I almost want to make you my real son.’

‘Then, should I call you Cheonju, or Father?’

‘You don’t need to in private, as long as you maintain my public image. However, in public, I would like you to show me boundless respect.’

‘Alright, I understand. Then, what’s your name?’

‘I am Kazas.’

‘Kazas?’

‘Why are you surprised?’

‘No, it’s just that someone I know has that name. Why that name of all things?’

‘It’s the name of a very famous elf wizard from around here a long time ago. There’s a superstition that using such a strong name will prevent you from dying of illness in childhood.’

There was a faint hint of disdain for superstition in the voice of the pseudo-cult leader.

Azadin found that amusing.

But on second thought, it wasn’t amusing but frightening. A person who willingly chooses the superstitions and barbarism he despises as a means for greed is dangerous.

Although Azadin had defeated him with force and reached an agreement, he had to be wary of this man’s deep-seated schemes.

‘Welcome to the family, Messenger Clan.’

‘I am Azadin, the Second Messenger.’

‘Yes, Azadin.’

The Cheonju said that and stood up, and now the bleeding from his ear had stopped.

The spear shaft that Azadin had fired had almost split his ear in two, but the wound where the bleeding had occurred had hardened with something like tree resin and was completely healed.

He had said that Grimslaw was disappointed in him, but it seemed that Grimslaw’s power still remained with him.

*********

The Cheonju of the Blue Banner, Kazas, officially recognized Azadin as the chosen one and declared him his adopted son.

Originally, it was something to celebrate with a festival, but due to the urgent circumstances, they accommodated the residents who had been evicted from the introduction site instead of holding a festival.

Also, they opened the order’s warehouse for them, and all the residents who had been evicted from the introduction site and the lower-class people of Butuma in similar situations praised the virtue of the Blue Banner.

And with the help of the Blue Banner, Shati and Scott also passed through without any special inspection.

Originally, the blood mages at the checkpoints who identified those who had disguised themselves were members of the Blue Banner, so if they vouched for them, Scott and Shati could also pass safely.

‘Even if it was necessary, how could you so easily become someone’s adopted son?’

Shati was amazed by Azadin’s choice.

‘It’s just a formality, a formality. There’s no need to create trouble when things are already chaotic. Besides, that Cheonju of the Blue Banner is a very reasonable person.’

Azadin turned his gaze away from Shati, watching the movements of the Butuma army preparing for the city’s defense. He found it difficult to face her, who was deliberately bringing up a part of himself that he was ashamed of.

‘That’s, that’s really good news. At one point, I thought the Cheonju was going to eliminate you, thinking of you as some kind of rival. But if you received a revelation, why didn’t you tell me?’

Jiswa seemed to naively believe that Azadin had really given a new revelation to the Cheonju and that everything had turned out well because of it.

In reality, there had been a push and pull of power, but Azadin kept his mouth shut because Jiswa’s faith was too deep and thorough to tell him the details.

‘Jiswa.’

‘Yes?’

‘Help the people of the Blue Banner with the city’s fortification work. And I will have an audience with the king, introduced by the Cheonju.’

‘An audience with the king?’

‘Wow, Captain, you’re amazing. Things are progressing smoothly. I can’t believe you’re going to meet that Manja-Zadek.’

‘Well, I’m meeting the king because there’s business to do. Why are you, an orc necromancer, so concerned?’

‘Huh? Don’t you know the Golden King Manja-Zadek?’

‘The Golden King Manja-Zadek?’

‘Manja-Zadek has repelled those who seek Butuma’s wealth, and especially in his youth, he defeated many ogres. We orcs, thanks to our innate sharp intellect, were lending our wisdom to ogres and nagas [serpentine humanoids] and receiving huge rewards, but we had a bitter experience with Manja-Zadek’s army. My parents also died in Manja-Zadek’s elephant corps.’

In that case, Manja-Zadek was the enemy of Scott’s parents. But Scott seemed to admire and respect Manja-Zadek.

‘That’s what a strong and great king is like. This golden city is the same. I want to meet him too.’

‘I’ll go to the audience alone, with the people of the Blue Banner.’

‘That’s a shame. I wanted to see the Golden King’s aura.’

‘I’ll tell you about it after I see him.’

Azadin felt complicated as he looked at Scott, who seemed to genuinely respect Manja-Zadek.

At that moment, a messenger from the Blue Banner came to find Azadin.

‘Vice-Leader, the audience appointment has been made, so please prepare to enter the palace. We will assist you. Please come with us.’

It seemed that the preparations for the audience with Manja-Zadek were complete.

*********

Azadin changed into the Butuma clothes prepared by the people of the Blue Banner and met the Cheonju in front of the audience chamber.

‘Be careful with your words, Azadin. His Majesty the King is the Golden King, wise and also fearsome.’

The Cheonju told him what to be careful about when meeting Manja-Zadek. But all of that was simpler than when meeting the Cheonju. It was just a matter of waiting for Manja-Zadek to have time because he had a lot of work.

Feeling bored while waiting, Azadin asked the Cheonju a question.

‘Ah, since we’ve become father and son, I’d like to ask, why do you do that ritual? It seems more than a king?’

‘Why do you think?’

‘Hmm… maybe because you need to establish a hierarchy?’

‘That’s amazing.’

Cheonju Kazas was impressed by Azadin’s immediate answer.

‘That’s right. Originally, I was a merchant traveling between Butuma and Korasar, but after becoming a member of Grimslaw… I realized that I couldn’t contain this power in my own body and needed to share it somehow to reduce the burden. It’s impossible to run an organization alone. So, I asked my colleagues from my merchant days for their understanding, and they became my first disciples. They were all capable and intelligent friends. Otherwise, they couldn’t have become merchants in Butuma.’

Cheonju Kazas praised them.

‘However, they knew my past and my motives better than anyone else, and that became my weakness. Eventually, they began to treat me carelessly and threatened my authority.’

‘So, you created this formality?’

‘It’s not a formality because it was created out of necessity. Let’s just say it’s a ritual that pursues practical benefits.’

‘Then, did the disciples who started at that time submit to this ritual and agree to serve you?’

‘No. They opposed the ritual and openly violated it, so they were purged.’

He had vaguely expected it. There was no way the cult leader would let those who did not acknowledge his authority and acted simply as business partners live.

This formality would have been a very good excuse to purge such people, and as a result, the cult leader made the order entirely his own.

‘But that’s amazing. To think you could deduce the purpose of this ritual and the environment I’m in so quickly, you’re truly intelligent. You have such tremendous power, and your mind works so well? Are you really a Messenger Clan member? Or are you exceptional even among them?’

‘Well, it’s a bit of a long story to tell.’

Azadin thought that it might be dangerous to go into detail about himself and the Messenger Clan with the Cheonju.

At that moment, the king’s servant came in and informed them that the audience was ready.

*********

Manja-Zadek’s palace was also built in the Butuma style, just like the Cheonju of the Blue Banner’s building.

There were pillars and huge cloths that served as walls, intricately draped, and the structure was such that the cloth arrangement could be changed to allow good ventilation when needed.

Between the pillars, something acted as a wall on its own. It was a huge oil painting, about the length of a horse’s body. In that large canvas, a dignified black-skinned man was depicted holding a golden scepter, stepping on the corpse of an ogre chieftain, and striking a victorious pose.

He was the Golden King who repelled the ogres invading from the north of Butuma and protected Butuma’s wealth.

However… in the middle of the audience chamber, a man so obese that it was hard to believe he was human was sitting on a quartz throne. His body was as large as an elephant, and he was so fat that it seemed as if something about to explode was forcibly contained within his skin.

Nevertheless, the features of his face were strangely similar to the portrait, so it was clear that he was Manja-Zadek.

‘Did the painter have a knife to his throat when he painted that? Or was he like that in his youth and became like this? But how can a person become like that? And why is he so big? Is he a giant?’

Azadin looked at the large scepter next to Manja-Zadek’s throne. It was the golden scepter from the portrait.

Its length was twice the height of a person, and when compared to the figure in the portrait, it could be seen that Manja-Zadek was originally born with a larger physique than an ordinary human.

But this was the appearance of the Golden King that even the proud Scott admired.