The Shadowed Legacy of the Soulless Messenger [EN]: Chapter 258

Hexenmeier couldn’t let this opportunity of Lady Izmilla’s visit to Fireglyph slip away.

Whether it was because she was the one the Northern Empire was desperately searching for, or because she was the greatest treasure of the Order, he had to get her into his grasp no matter what.

Under these circumstances, Sir Hexenmeier had planned to use the doppelgangers to lure Lady Izmilla and the investigation team into the underground prison of Fireglyph Castle, where he would secretly subdue them.

However, things went awry when Izmilla recognized the doppelgangers.

The doppelgangers were all defeated by Izmilla, but then the Northern Empire’s subordinates succeeded in kidnapping her.

It turned out that the Northern Empire’s subordinates, Prince Kalintz and his agents, had also noticed Sir Hexenmeier’s true intentions.

Fortunately, Azadin’s group then launched an attack, drove away the Northern Empire’s subordinates, and rescued Izmilla. So, he tried to send the Fireguards to take custody of them amicably.

However, contact was lost with the Fireguards he sent.

*********

“Hmm. This has become troublesome.”

Realizing that the situation was turning sour, Sir Hexenmeier decided to resolve the matter himself, leading those he trusted most—those more loyal to him than the Order of Knights.

“That Heraldic Clan bastard, I let him go because he had a pretty face and extraordinary talent. Now he repays my kindness with hostility.”

Sir Hexenmeier had originally intended to imprison Azadin, but he decided to let him be, valuing the fact that he couldn’t control Vermilion Fortress without Azadin, that Azadin had no particular hostility towards him and was loyal to his duties, and that he liked his appearance.

But he never imagined that this guy would interfere in Lady Izmilla’s case and ruin everything.

“So, you ugly monsters. What happened since your skills didn’t work?”

Sir Hexenmeier glared at the leader of the doppelgangers.

The senior doppelganger, disguised as Sir Hexenmeier’s servant, bowed and replied,

“Sir Hexenmeier, we were doing our best. This was beyond our capabilities.”

*Isn’t it the commander’s fault for ordering something beyond their capabilities?*

There was a subtle hint of criticism, but Sir Hexenmeier didn’t care about the doppelgangers.

“Yes, I suppose so. Tell me, Timothy, how should we resolve this situation?”

The one called Timothy was the Hospitaller-Paladin, the captain of the Fireguards, who, like Sir Hexenmeier, had been exiled to Fireglyph for committing the sin of lust. [Hospitaller-Paladin is a knightly rank within the Order, combining healing duties with combat.]

He had started a family here and was a loyal subordinate of Sir Hexenmeier, sharing his views and the various perks and benefits that came with their work.

He was a true beneficiary of the trickle-down effect.

“We have no justification to arrest Lady Izmilla. If we must, we should declare that she has been replaced by a doppelganger and then capture her…”

“What about the Heraldic Clan guy?”

“It would be beneficial to keep him alive if he just mines cinnabar in Vermilion Fortress, but if he doesn’t know his place and tries to interfere, it would be beneficial to kill him. Don’t worry. If we push the narrative that he was a spy for the Heraldic Clan, no one will say anything. We can just have the Van Dyke Company fabricate the evidence.”

They already knew the true nature of the Van Dyke Company.

Or rather, they were the protectors and sponsors of the Van Dyke Company. The Van Dyke Company provided them with luxury goods to fulfill their dark desires, as well as assassins and doppelgangers, in exchange for the enormous trade profits in Fireglyph and the Order’s information.

Sir Hexenmeier and Sir Timothy were selling the Order’s information not only to the Northern Empire but also to the Heraldic Clan, profiting from both sides.

“Good. Kill the Heraldic Clan guy and capture Lady Izmilla alive. If we get our hands on the Celestial…”

The Celestial was the most important secret of the Order. Its value could not be compared to all the Order’s secrets that Sir Hexenmeier had sold so far.

Thinking about its value, even the solemn Sir Hexenmeier couldn’t help but smile.

Such a great opportunity had come to him, stuck in a remote rural area!

He wouldn’t be a man if he didn’t seize this opportunity.

‘Now that she’s in Fireglyph, it’s as good as in my pocket. I’m grateful that he stopped Prince Kalintz from taking her, but that Heraldic Clan guy was too cocky. But what should I do once I get my hands on the Celestial? Should I research it independently and find out the secrets of its power, the secrets of its manufacturing process? If I sell it, who should I sell it to for the highest price? What should I demand in return?’

While Sir Hexenmeier was already calculating Izmilla’s worth, a Fireguard came running in a hurry.

“Chapter Master! It’s a disaster!”

“Hmm? What’s the matter?”

“The watchtower in the central square has been taken over!”

“What? What are you talking about?”

“Sir Azadin of Vermilion Fortress is claiming that doppelgangers are mixed among the soldiers and is holding them hostage!”

“What?”

Sir Hexenmeier was startled by the sudden appeal of the Fireguard.

*********

“……”

Izmilla felt a headache coming on.

Under the pure white moonlight, she, with her Celestial wings revealed, was emitting a faint golden light, standing in the middle of the square, looking majestic like a graceful ancient statue.

It was only natural. Azadin had placed her on the fountain in the square for that very reason.

Izmilla was trying her best to look dignified, holding a burning ceramite longsword and looking down from above. [Ceramite is a fictional material, often used in sci-fi and fantasy, known for its durability and heat resistance.]

People gathered around, causing a commotion.

“Oh! It’s an angel!”

“The angel has come to save us!”

Originally, Fireglyph was the territory of the Rescue Order, so there were bound to be many believers in angels.

Even those who had abandoned their faith, criminals and exiles, had their faith revived and their hearts pounding before Izmilla’s angelic appearance.

It was embarrassing and unbearable to see people bowing their heads and praying to her.

At that moment, a group of knights and soldiers pushed through the crowd.

It was Sir Hexenmeier, the Chapter Master of Fireglyph, Sir Timothy, the captain of the Fireguards, and their other subordinates.

“W-what is going on here?!”

“Ah, Sir Hexenmeier. You’ve come at a good time.”

Azadin appeared on the roof of the guard post.

He moved as lightly as if floating in the air and stood beside Izmilla. His glossy black hair and deep purple eyes shone clearly even in the moonlight, exuding an almost bewitching presence.

Even beside Izmilla, his presence did not diminish but rather made them look like a well-matched pair.

Azadin had thus borrowed Izmilla’s status as an object of worship and reverence as an angel.

“Good heavens!”

“Is that another angel?”

People, seeing Azadin’s handsome appearance, thought he was an angel, or at least a noble being comparable to one.

Azadin spoke in a charming, clear voice. It was as if he wanted the people around to hear, and indeed, the ordinary citizens around could all hear him.

“We are the investigation team of the Rescue Order, and we are exposing the evil that has infiltrated Fireglyph. Doppelgangers have infiltrated the soldiers, and we have identified them.”

As Azadin said this, he pointed to the front of the guard post, where soldiers were struggling, bound by ropes.

“W-we’re not doppelgangers!”

“Y-yes! There’s been some kind of mistake!”

However, it was obvious which side people would believe, between Izmilla, who looked like an angel, and the soldiers who were her opposite.

“Look, those are…”

“Ah, no. They are just humans.”

The senior doppelganger shook his head.

“This guy, it seems he’s trying to pressure me…”

Sir Hexenmeier drew his sword in anger.

“Is this Heraldic Clan bastard trying to mislead people?!”

Sir Hexenmeier pointed out that Azadin was from the Heraldic Clan to undermine his authority.

Then Azadin nodded.

“Yes. I am indeed a descendant of Hatir, the leader of the Heraldic Clan, and I am of the blood of Emperor Yaeslat.”

“Huh?”

“Yaeslat…”

“Is he of the Emperor’s lineage?”

People feared the Emperor as a maverick who had broken the rules of the King’s Church, but they also respected him.

Azadin subtly revealed that he was of the Emperor’s lineage, slightly lowering his head as if he were the tragic protagonist suffering from his cursed bloodline.

His face, as attractive as a sculpture, was filled with melancholy, but his actions were too theatrical.

‘That bastard!’

Sir Hexenmeier was flustered.

The people around were completely mesmerized by the fact that Azadin was of the Emperor’s lineage and by his handsome appearance.

Then Azadin’s lips parted.

“I am indeed from the Heraldic Clan, but I have devoted myself to the three virtues and the archangels, and I have resolved to protect virtue and aid the great work of the angels for the rest of my life. Sir Hexenmeier, why are you drawing your sword? Are you perhaps trying to rescue the doppelgangers?”

“Don’t be ridiculous! You guys! I am the commander here! What right do you have…”

“The Order of the Wise Knights has issued an investigation mission. Are you now denying the mission of that investigation team?”

“You! Don’t spread your lies!”

Enraged, Hexenmeier ordered his subordinates.

“Seize that man immediately!”

“Huh?!”

“B-but…”

They were overwhelmed by Izmilla’s angelic appearance and Azadin’s charming incitement.

Indeed, everyone gathered in the square was so captivated by Izmilla’s angelic appearance that drawing a sword against Izmilla’s group was tantamount to suicide.

“Lady Izmilla! Take away your Celestial form right now! I can’t believe you’re doing such an absurd thing! It’s a secret of the Order! And you…”

Hexenmeier, enraged, lunged at Azadin.

But then, black chains shot out from Azadin’s hand.

The black steel chains wrapped around Sir Hexenmeier’s body.

At that moment, powerful magic was sucked into Sir Hexenmeier’s body, paralyzing him instantly.

“Cough?”

These black steel chains, created to subdue the Celestial Izmilla, had the same effect on Sir Hexenmeier.

The magic within his body was in turmoil.

Sir Hexenmeier, in shock, tried to speak, but a part of the chain wrapped around his mouth, pushing his lips between his teeth.

“Ugh, ugh?!”

He tried to speak, but no words came out.

“Oh, why the Chain of Judgment? But even magical tools cannot be completely trusted against doppelgangers. Now then, let’s see if he’s a doppelganger.”

Azadin said this, took out a dagger, cut off a lock of Sir Hexenmeier’s hair, held it up under the moonlight, and flicked it away.

Mercury-colored blood and molted skin scattered.

“Ah…”

“D-doppelganger!?”

The people around were startled by the sight of the mercury blood.