The Shadowed Legacy of the Soulless Messenger [EN]: Chapter 220

“Stop it! Araelle!”The reactions of the four, Flower, Bird, Wind, and Moon—or rather, the three who remained—made it clear.Araelle wasn’t trying to absorb Azadin’s body into herself; instead, she was trying to give her own body to Azadin.Twins can give blood to each other. If Araelle sacrificed herself, Azadin could not only survive but also recover from his crippled state and regain his power.However, if he received such a great favor, he would have to forgive Araelle.He didn’t want that. Azadin wasn’t ready to forgive Araelle yet. And now, she was forcing forgiveness upon him?Judging by the attitudes of Indim, Seraph, and Dimia, this wasn’t something that had been agreed upon from the start. He didn’t want to bear the responsibility of having to forgive her for the rest of his life because of her unilateral decision.”Araelle! You should absorb me instead! You’re supposed to lead the rebellion!””…Actually, it was a lie.””What?””The talk about rebelling for the prosperity of the Aragasas! Let the Aragasas perish! What prosperity!””……”Looking back, it was obvious. There was no reason for Araelle not to hate the Aragasas.”Still, I don’t understand! Why are you trying to sacrifice yourself for me? Why are you…””Azadin. I’m sorry.””What?””My sister acts all high and mighty, but the truth is, I was scared. I was afraid that if I didn’t act strong, if I didn’t put on a facade, they would crush me for their amusement. And… I won’t make excuses. I was young and foolish too.””……””When I was young, I was also an Aragasas, so I hated and despised the weak. That was normal for the Aragasas. But later, when I came out into the world, I realized. It was wrong for the Aragasas to make children do such things. But when I realized that, my position was already too high, and I had too many subordinates, so I was afraid. I was afraid of showing weakness by apologizing to you and accepting the weak in front of my subordinates. I was afraid that they would be disappointed in me after admiring me, so I distanced myself from you even more. I couldn’t even apologize to you properly and just had to live as the arrogant rebel Araelle.”The strong and arrogant Araelle. Araelle was confessing that it was a disguise and mimicry to protect herself.Seraph, Dimia, and Indim outside the magic circle felt troubled by what was happening.”We have to stop this…””No! If we go in now, we’ll be fused too! If someone with different blood is fused, Araelle-nim, and all of us will die!””But at this rate…””Araelle-nim!”Araelle’s subordinates needed her, even as they heard her confession that their existence had driven her to this.Araelle looked at them and then looked down at Azadin again.”Don’t do it…”Azadin was taken aback by the tears falling onto his face.”Please don’t do it. What am I supposed to do? I was able to keep my resolve by hating you. But now that you’re apologizing… do I have to accept it? If you die for me, I have to forgive you! Why are you forcing me to forgive you? I’m not ready to forgive! This isn’t right, Araelle! Stop this ritual right now! This isn’t for me; you’re just trying to satisfy yourself!””Azadin…”But Araelle didn’t stop the ritual. The magic circle was fluctuating, and the powerful Nether’s power was being sucked into Araelle’s body.Azadin wanted to stop her, but he was a cripple who couldn’t even move a finger.”When I was at my loneliest and most difficult time, you scarred my face! You slapped away my outstretched hand and insulted me! And now you’re trying to abandon me again as you please? Don’t be ridiculous! If you really want to apologize, stop this evil magic and let’s live as cripples together! Even if we lose our power and become helpless, let’s rely on each other! Otherwise, we’ll just be power-hungry Aragasas until we die! Please… Sister! This isn’t right!””!!!!”Azadin called Araelle ‘sister’ for the first time. But… the ritual had already progressed to an irreversible state.Araelle smiled.”I’ll return what I took from you a long time ago… Azadin.”Like charcoal burning, embers flickered within her, burning her skin and body, turning them to ash.And that ash flowed into Azadin’s body, healing his severed arms and legs… and the old scar on his face.Surprisingly, an eye was forming on Azadin’s face. As a deep purple eye, identical to Araelle’s, formed, tears of blood flowed.”Araelle!”Azadin grabbed Araelle with his moving arms, but her body crumbled.”Ah… you… idiot!””Please… forgive me.””I can’t forgive you! I won’t forgive you! If you want my forgiveness, live long! Live long and talk to me, eat with me, and spend time with me… that’s how we’ll grow fond of each other, and then I might forgive you! How can you just do whatever you want and then ask for forgiveness like this!””Hehehe…”Araelle smiled until the end and disappeared into ash.Azadin slammed the ground and collapsed on top of Araelle’s crumbling body.”Araelle!”Tears flowed from Azadin’s eyes and fell onto the ashes, along with a sob that sounded like a beast’s cry.*********Azadin sobbed and then fainted.Both Azadin and Araelle were in very poor condition when they fused. It was already a shocking magic, but since their conditions were so bad, they wouldn’t wake up for a while.In the meantime, the three members of Flower, Bird, Wind, and Moon moved Azadin to the captain’s bedroom and discussed their opinions.”What do we do now?”Dimia asked her companions.”Araelle-nim…””She deceived us.”Indim trembled.”She didn’t care about the prosperity of the Aragasas or anything like that; she just wanted revenge. On the Aragasas…”As he said that, Indim unconsciously scratched his lower abdomen.”She used us!””Stop it, Indim.”Seraph shook his head.”I understand Araelle-nim’s feelings well enough. Azadin is her will. We must respect it.””But can Azadin use Kazas Haze again?”Dimia wondered.”What do you mean?””She said she would return what she took. Maybe the Flower, Bird, Wind, and Moon are inside his body…””Will he become as powerful as Araelle-nim?”Seraph and Indim were startled. Araelle’s power stemmed from the fact that she was a twin and had also obtained the grimoire that should have gone to Azadin.Of course, she was also intelligent and skilled… but Azadin was the same.If Azadin was given Araelle’s grimoire, he might become as powerful as Araelle, or perhaps even more so.”It won’t be that easy. Rather, he will definitely lose Kazas Haze. Besides, the new flesh that has grown on his arm… it’s like a child’s new flesh.”Dimia said that and turned over Azadin’s body, which was unconscious on the bed.”Wow… he really looks like Araelle-nim.””Because they’re twins.””I didn’t think much of it before he got his eye, but now I’m intrigued.”Dimia said, licking her lips.”You’re always so lecherous. You sacrificed your own sister, and now you’re judging men? You’re not even in good shape right now.”Seraph expressed his displeasure at Dimia’s remark.Both Seraph and Dimia had barely survived by sacrificing their siblings. Both of them were still struggling to move due to the aftereffects of the fusion, so they were not in a position to have desires like lust. They were just as sick as Azadin.Moreover, they had just experienced the death of their most precious family member. Seraph frowned at Dimia for making such a careless remark after going through that.”No, what I mean is, if Azadin becomes stronger, maybe…””What do you mean?””Are you suggesting that we make Azadin Araelle-nim’s replacement? No way. That’s impossible.”Indim objected.”Why?”When Dimia asked innocently, Seraph answered.”Azadin has a terrible reputation in the clan. And many of those who followed Araelle-nim were actually infatuated with her.””Including your brothers.””…Anyway, Azadin is a man. He’s handsome, but that alone won’t be enough to unite the clan.”There were those who fantasized that if Araelle became the leader, they could marry her and become the leader’s husband, a royal consort, and enjoy power.Araelle cleverly used the fantasies and desires of such people to build her power.On the other hand, Azadin was not a good material for such things.”His reputation was also very bad. He was known as Azadin of Muan, so it’s impossible.””Now that he has an eye… his face is very similar to Araelle-nim’s. How about we disguise him as Araelle-nim?”Dimia kept making reckless suggestions, as if she still had lingering attachments.”Absolutely not.”Indim immediately objected. Seraph explained the reasons for his objection in detail.”Araelle-nim was always at the forefront, but if we suddenly make him wear a mask and act quietly from behind, he’ll be exposed immediately. Even though they’re twins and their faces are similar, their voices are completely different. And Azadin has too much of the Kazas style of movement, so it’ll be hard to correct. The Aragasas would recognize it at a glance.””Haa.”Dimia shook her head.”If this and that won’t work, are we done for? Then do we have to surrender to Sion Etar?””If we’re going to surrender, should we offer Azadin as a gift?”When Indim asked that, Seraph frowned.”I want to protect Araelle-nim’s will. Don’t even joke about that.””Look at the loyalist. Seraph, Dimia, you guys fused, but I didn’t, right? If I kidnap that guy right now, your abilities won’t be able to stop me.”Due to the aftereffects of the fusion, both Dimia and Seraph were in a state no different from patients. Of course, they were Aragasas, and among the strongest, so even in their dying state, ordinary bandits or beasts were not a threat, but that was why they knew how dangerous Indim was.If Indim was determined, they couldn’t stop him. Even before the injuries, Indim was the most powerful of the four. The one with the title of the Moon among the Flower, Bird, Wind, and Moon was usually the most skilled master.However, neither Dimia nor Seraph took Indim’s threat seriously.”You liked Araelle-nim the most, both mentally… and, well.””W-What are you talking about? I…”Indim’s face turned red as he denied it.”I know you’re shocked that Araelle-nim betrayed us… huh?”Seraph was startled by the sudden feeling of an evil aura. Shortly after, screams from the crew began to be heard outside.”Aaaah! S-Siren!””Cursed Netherstorm!””Netherstorm…”Dimia, Seraph, and Indim, who heard the crew’s screams, went outside and saw black clouds gathering in the western sky and a gale blowing. From the sea, monsters were jumping up and attacking the ship.”Could this be… the Age of Jupiter?”Seraph frowned.