The Shadowed Legacy of the Soulless Messenger [EN]: Chapter 285

It seemed Lord Sok found it peculiar that Azadin mentioned both Elemental Wailing and angel’s blood at the same time.

“The Celestials of the Rescue Knights and Elemental Wailing are closely related. But it seems you didn’t know that.”

“…?”

“It’s not something to argue about now that Fimbulwinter [a period of extreme cold and hardship] is approaching. Later, think about getting the Eye of Ashajit from Griselda. As the cold continues, people will freeze to death, so retrieve the Wendigo bone sword. Well then. I’ll be going now. Before any bothersome eyes stick to me.”

Lord Sok’s assessment of Giacomo’s idea as peculiar wasn’t because it was ingenious, but because there was clearly some paradox hidden in the causal relationship.

What could it be? Azadin wanted to hear more, but judging by the atmosphere, Lord Sok didn’t seem inclined to elaborate.

“Then, take care, Lord Azadin. With Fimbulwinter approaching, I look forward to seeing what you can do within that corrupt knight order!”

Wights brought a wyvern that was nothing but bones, and Lord Sok rode it into the sky.

“……”

Azadin felt bewildered as he watched this strange knight order senior’s (?) flight.

He was clearly an evil and insane black magician…

Yet, among the people Azadin had met since joining the Rescue Knights, except for Archbishop Akenar, he was the most amicable and helpful, a truly exemplary senior.

“Is the Rescue Knights that messed up? Lord Sok is the only decent senior…”

*********

Azadin read the ‘weapon-finding destiny’ spell he received from Lord Sok.

This magic was like something out of myths, working on destiny itself to help one retrieve a weapon they had a connection with.

It was like finding an old lost ring inside the belly of a fish you caught while fishing one day.

It was a high-level magic that consumed a lot of mana, connecting faint ties in some way, but its effectiveness was dubious.

However, to retrieve the Wendigo dagger lost in battle, he had no choice but to rely on something like this.

“Does this really work? It’s ridiculously difficult, isn’t it? And it uses blue mana?”

Even for Azadin, whose magical aptitude had greatly increased due to his fusion with Ara’el, this magic was quite difficult.

But it was better than not trying at all.

Lord Sok must have given it to him because it was effective.

Azadin fumbled through the spell.

Then, his head throbbed and ached. His mana depleted instantly, causing dizziness and chills.

“…There’s some reaction. But… I don’t know. Blue mana isn’t my main magic either.”

Azadin had two types of mana as his foundation: the colorless Flower, Bird, Wind, and Moon, and the white Divine King’s Scripture.

Following that was the black necromancy researched by Ara’el, while the red destruction magic and blue destiny magic were weaker compared to the others.

However… this magic mainly used blue mana, which easily fatigued Azadin.

He didn’t even know if he could really find the Wendigo dagger, and he couldn’t keep using the spell while experiencing mana exhaustion like this.

‘This isn’t a spell Lord Sok gave me to harm me, is it? The magic itself is purely about connecting destinies.’

Azadin was thinking that when…

“…Greetings.”

“……”

The members of the Northern Aragasa appeared before Azadin.

“What is it? Are you assassins?”

“No, that’s.”

“Actually, the prince ordered us to follow Lord Azadin.”

“You hid because you were afraid of the Fimbul Horde?”

“…Yes.”

“Good job.”

It sounded sarcastic, but he was sincere.

If they had been caught by the Fimbul Horde and a fight had broken out with Lord Sok, Prince Kalintz’s subordinates would have been found as horribly murdered corpses.

It would be strange to call it a misunderstanding.

‘But these guys are Aragasa through and through. They’re good at ambushes. I didn’t even notice them.’

Even Ara’el’s voice, who was scouting from the sky, didn’t seem to have detected their presence.

‘It seems like it would be a big problem if I neglect my surroundings just because I trust Ara’el’s voice. This is a good lesson.’

Azadin asked the Northern Aragasa members.

“What is Prince Kalintz planning? What does he hope to gain by following me?”

“Actually, the prince wants to establish a good relationship with Lord Azadin.”

“Really? By following me? If he gets more ambitious, is he going to kidnap me?”

“Rather than that, it seems Prince Kalintz is troubled because Lord Azadin doesn’t seem interested in women or money.”

Prince Kalintz was the type of person who couldn’t trust anyone unless he gained an advantage in a deal through bribes or entertainment, like other nobles or clergy.

For him, it would be difficult to deal with someone who seemed as ungreedy as Azadin.

“Tell him I like information.”

“So, we know that.”

“You know that? Then why?”

“The prince wants to be the only one like that. He wants to provide money and entertainment, but he wants you to give him information, not the other way around. That’s what he means.”

“He wants to pretend he’s not a snob, but Lord Azadin took that spot first, and since you’re so handsome, he seems very upset.”

The Northern Aragasa members’ assessment was rather strange.

Listening to their evaluation of Prince Kalintz, it was like, ‘He’s an idiot, but he’s our idiot.’

If Azadin were to badmouth Prince Kalintz here, they would be genuinely indignant.

They could badmouth him themselves, but they didn’t want others to badmouth Prince Kalintz. That was highly likely how they would take it.

“Looking at Zan and you guys, it seems the prince has some luck with people?”

“Yes. That’s what it is.”

The Northern Aragasa members excitedly began to talk.

*********

Selim, the Minotaur knight, had become a complete follower of Azadin.

He had become such an ardent follower that he would go around the tavern talking about how amazing Azadin was and who had knighted him.

Centurion Zan relayed this information about Azadin to Prince Kalintz.

“No way, Sir Death Knight Planck…”

“The one who was the last person to be knighted by His Majesty.”

“Ah, he’s going to hate that, isn’t he? That old man seemed a bit obsessed with that.”

“The Minotaur is too boastful, so it’s not worth listening to.”

“No, even considering that, it’s clear that the Minotaur named Selim is loyal to Azadin, right? He’s practically offering him his liver, gall bladder, and tongue to be grilled, isn’t he?”

Prince Kalintz looked at Zan and asked.

“If I told you to go around praising me like that, would you do it, Zan?”

“You’d have to have some redeeming qualities.”

“Being handsome and a good drinker? Good at fighting too. Generous and manly.”

“Saying you’re manly yourself makes you seem unmanly. And Azadin is incredibly beautiful. If your superior is that good-looking, you’d definitely want to brag about it.”

“Eh. Azadin? A man should have a sturdy charm. The moment you say he’s beautiful, he’s not my type.”

“But he actually managed to gain the Minotaur’s loyalty in a very short time, didn’t he? It hasn’t even been two weeks, and he’s already made him such a loyal follower…”

“That’s really amazing. I want to create a lot of loyal followers too.”

“Aren’t I already the most loyal follower?”

“Not someone like you, but preferably a stunning beauty, someone who looks good by my side and can be my lover.”

“I can’t help it then. I’m not into that kind of thing, but if that’s what the prince wants, I’ll have to loosen up my butt a bit. Please be gentle since it’s my first time.”

“…You really are the most loyal follower. Never mind. You’re going to haunt my dreams.”

Prince Kalintz chuckled and rested his chin on his hand.

“You’re also trading with him, right?”

“Yes. A little.”

“A little, my foot…”

“Don’t worry. My butt still belongs to the prince. Even if Azadin asks for it, I’ll say it’s reserved for the prince.”

“That’s a very reassuring thing to say. But don’t overdo it, okay?”

*********

Azadin was speechless as he listened to the Northern Aragasa members relaying the story.

“It seems Prince Kalintz does have some luck with people.”

He could only repeat those words like a parrot.

“So, what does that lucky prince want to trade by following me? Zan’s butt? If that’s it, I’m not interested, so tell the prince to have it all.”

“Well, first, why don’t you meet him in person.”

“It seems like a lot of people want to see me today? Alright. Lead the way.”

Azadin decided to meet Prince Kalintz.

*********

In front of the Fireglyph Chapter Master’s residence, there were numerous empty bottles.

Most of the empty bottles were worth money, and selling the bottles piled up here could bring a decent profit.

‘He drank an awful lot. What’s going on?’

As Azadin was marveling, the door opened, and a slightly haggard-looking prince appeared.

“Oh? Well, if it isn’t Lord Azadin? What brings you here?”

“Prince Kalintz. You’ve been drinking a lot. Are you alright?”

The smell of alcohol was strong even from a distance.

“That’s just how Northerners are. Nothing special about it.”

“You seem upset about something? Did something happen?”

“I said there’s nothing special… No. No, there was something.”

Prince Kalintz handed Azadin a document.

It was an order sent from Saint Mallory, the headquarters of the Rescue Knights, to the Fireglyph Chapter Master.

“Hmm?!”

Azadin frowned as he read the contents.

“It’s an order to requisition grain. But the quantity…”

“It’s barely the barley harvest season, and they’re demanding the entire requisition amount from last year. These guys are definitely trying to get rid of me.”

“Well, the Chadra Highlands are a low priority for the Rescue Knights. This place is like a forced labor camp. But this number is a bit crazy. Did you at least send a reply asking them to reconsider?”

“Of course, I sent it. But do you know who sent that letter?”

Azadin examined the signature and seal on the letter.

A seal was stamped with a signet ring using melted wax next to the signature.

The signature was so scribbled that it was hard to read, but comparing it to the seal, he could tell the name was Karna.

“Karna? Who is this?”

“My nephew.”

“Nephew?”

“And the commander of the newly formed ‘Celestial Fire’ knight order.”

Azadin was shocked.

He knew that the Rescue Knights were trying to gather Celestials to form a unit solely composed of them to win public favor.

But he never imagined that the commander would be the grandson of the Northern Emperor.

‘Wait a minute. Wasn’t the Northern Emperor trying to kidnap Celestials because he didn’t know their secret in the first place? But the Northern Emperor’s grandson is a Celestial? What is going on?’