The Shadowed Legacy of the Soulless Messenger [EN]: Chapter 274

‘This human man. Why did he do something so reckless? Could it be?’

Sedrin was observing Azadin.

In truth, it was an accident caused by Selim’s fall, but Sedrin thought Azadin had pushed himself too hard to fulfill her request immediately.

If so, what could be the reason?

No matter how much she thought about it, there was no reason for it.

No sane person would rush into a fight with Sir Sork so quickly.

In the end, Sedrin’s thoughts led to only one conclusion.

‘This human has feelings for me. That was the only explanation.’

‘Does he like me? Ah, this is troublesome. I only saw humans as, what was it? Like the meat that old folks enjoy.’

After losing her clan to Sir Sork, she had lived as a Wild Druid, solely for revenge.

She didn’t eat properly, didn’t wash regularly, and didn’t care about her clothes, not even minding if her bare skin was exposed.

But before that, she was definitely a beauty who received various favors from human men.

‘But he’s quite pretty for a piece of meat? What were our grandfathers thinking when they ate humans like this? Isn’t he too cute and pretty to eat? Wait a minute, how old is this guy anyway? He looks younger than me no matter how I look at him? Even if you have feelings for me, it’s not like I’ll give in so easily, ah, no, but I promised to pledge my loyalty if I defeat Sir Sork, right? I meant to become a vassal, but is he perhaps interpreting it that way?’

Sedrin was curious about Azadin’s intentions behind his reckless actions.

But before she could resolve her questions, a voice began to echo from the sky.

Surprisingly, Sir Sork had escaped the Biar Marsh and pursued them all the way here.

*********

Sir Sork was floating in the sky above the Black Forest, riding a wyvern that was emitting a dark blue aura.

Having left his territory, the Biar Marsh, he was much weaker than before, but he was still an insurmountable enemy for Niseldha, who had lost an arm, and Selim and Azadin, who had lost their strength from blood loss.

However, he couldn’t dare enter the Black Forest because of Sedrin’s forest magic, so he was using magic from the sky to broadcast his voice throughout the forest.

“Azadin, can you hear my voice?”

“……”

“Damn it.”

“Don’t even breathe.”

Everyone was terrified and held their breath at the sound of Sir Sork’s voice.

Then, Sir Sork spoke again from above.

“Rest assured. It’s not like I’m trying to pinpoint your location based on your answer. It was a delightful experience, Azadin. This is purely a compliment to you for giving me such pleasure. It would be a sin to try to capture someone who gave me such joy with such a petty trick.”

Everyone looked at Azadin.

In this situation, both Sedrin and Niseldha were leaving the decision to Azadin.

“Why are you jealous of me?”

“I, too, once wanted to be a righteous person. I wanted to be a light and salt of this world, so I joined the Relief Knights, but they betrayed me.”

“Judging by the Pimbul Horde’s notoriety, it seems like you were the one who betrayed the Knights?”

“Hahaha. I am just a petty person, but they are truly terrible evils. If you are the flower of true chivalry, then the Knights are a great evil that must be overthrown. Isn’t that so? What do you think of the Knights you’ve seen so far?”

“They certainly weren’t that beautiful. But they weren’t evil enough to be overthrown either. At least, they seem better than you, who became an undead, killing and looting others?”

“Is that so? Azadin, do you know about the blood of angels? What did the Knights do with it?”

“I heard they use it to make Seramite…”

“Yes, that’s right. I was the mage who participated in the creation of that Seramite. I know the secret of the blood of angels. How about it? Would you like to hear it?”

“……”

When Sir Sork mentioned the blood of angels and Seramite, Sedrin, Selim, and even Niseldha were startled.

For the Relief Knights, Seramite is proof of recognition.

Having a Seramite longsword is an honor only granted to contributors of the Relief Knights. And the method of making it was the top secret of the Relief Knights.

But Sir Sork was revealing it.

“According to rumors… Saint Mallory is said to have the petrified remains of angels, including the three Archangels, who dedicated themselves to humanity and ran out of power. And these angel statues perform miracles by shedding tears of blood whenever the power of Jupiter grows stronger. Isn’t Seramite made from the miracle of those tears of blood?”

Azadin spoke of the rumors circulating among mages and the Messenger Clan [a group of mages who deliver messages].

Even the Messenger Clan only knew that much about the secret of the Relief Knights, the blood of angels.

Just in case, he turned to look at Sedrin and Niseldha, and they nodded, agreeing with Azadin’s words.

It seemed they only knew that much about the blood of angels as well.

“Hahaha. That’s how it’s known, isn’t it? But the truth is not that. Azadin, our great Knights want to control miracles themselves rather than rely on occasional miracles. Do you understand what I mean?”

“Are you saying they’re breaking the angel statues?”

When Azadin asked that, Selim, who was next to him, was startled.

Even though he was a minotaur, Selim was also a Hospitaller [a member of a religious order that provides care for the sick]. For such a person, destroying the statues of angels was an unforgivable sacrilege.

“Yes. They are daring to desecrate the angel statues. They are breaking the angel statues with cursed nails to draw blood! And it doesn’t end there, this time they are trying to create angels themselves. What do you think those angels are made of?”

The created angels that Sir Sork was talking about were probably the Celestials, including Izmilla.

“Huh? If that’s true… then those guys are truly unforgivable!”

Selim couldn’t hold back his voice.

When Sedrin and Niseldha were surprised and shook their heads, gesturing to cover his mouth, Selim was also startled and covered his own mouth.

“Azadin, do you understand? The Knights are not a place worth your dedication. Especially if Sir Planck appointed you…”

Azadin bit his lip after hearing Sir Sork’s words.

As a member of the Messenger Clan, he joined the Relief Knights because the belief of the Relief Knights was what supported Azadin in his childhood.

However, after growing up and becoming an adult, the Relief Knights he actually saw were just an organization of ordinary people.

There was no dedication from the old stories, only a bureaucracy held together by bones and skin, and the ugly ambition of humans. That alone was enough to make him feel despair.

But what if what Sir Sork was saying was true?

‘It must be true…’

Azadin felt that Sir Sork’s words were definitely not empty.

Sir Sork was a great mage who had participated in the process of making Seramite.

What he was saying was definitely not empty words.

The fact that the Relief Knights were desecrating the remains of angels to make Seramite was a clear fact.

It was an unbearable insult.

*********

“So, in that sense, how about joining hands with me? Azadin. Let’s overthrow the Knights together. Although I am an undead, I can say that I am the one who truly worries about the future of the Knights.”

Sir Sork was trying to persuade Azadin.

“…Didn’t the Shade Hags say they would reward you if you captured me?”

“Of course, the reward for capturing you and giving you to the Shade Hags is quite good. But it’s not as good as you yourself. The living Azadin, you are more valuable than the reward I could get from the Shade Hags. Yes. I value you highly.”

Sir Sork said that and smiled.

“I value you so highly that I’m taking the risk of cutting ties with the Shade Hags. Well, there’s an old saying that those with ambition live for those who recognize them. There’s no one who values you as much as I do.”

“That’s kind of you, but… so what are you going to do? Do you have a plan for the future?”

When Azadin asked, Sir Sork told him his plan.

“I will capture Saint Mallory with my forces. You are currently the Fireguard Captain of Fireglyph, right? If you approve, we can descend Fireglyph without any damage and quickly occupy Saint Mallory before the Knights can come up with countermeasures. We will give the angels, including the great three Archangels, who dedicated themselves to humanity, the respect and rest they deserve, and deal with the fallen Knights. And then you will rebuild the Knights. I am an undead… so I can die after completing that mission. If you swear, I will entrust the source of my life to you. Kill me when the mission is complete.”

It was an amazing offer.

He was suggesting that Azadin, who was just a trainee knight, join him in capturing the headquarters of the Relief Knights and stand at its pinnacle.

He was even willing to give up his own life. Was Sir Sork doing this to truly eliminate the corruption of the Relief Knights?

“Haa…”

Azadin let out a long sigh after hearing those words.

“H-hey, Azadin. You’re not actually going to do it, are you?”

Selim seemed afraid that Azadin would accept this offer.

“No, Azadin. First, take that guy’s life source. Then we can kill Sork. If you kill Sork, I will pledge my loyalty to you for the rest of my life. Ah, I mean, loyalty as a vassal.”

Sedrin was excited at the thought of being able to kill Sork, the enemy of her clan.