The Shadowed Legacy of the Soulless Messenger [EN]: Chapter 331

A hippogriff flew into the Fireglyph Fortress.

-Thud!

The building shook as the hippogriff landed on its perch. Dust fell from the office of the Chapter Master in the Fireglyph Fortress.

“Ah, that Selim, I told him not to land on the building with his hippogriff. Is he a blockhead who can’t understand words?”

Prince Kalintz, the Chapter Master of Fireglyph, assumed it was the work of Selim, a known hippogriff enthusiast, and rose from his seat.

However, the person who came to see him shortly after was unexpected.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Uncle. I am Triodana of the Lionheart clan. Your nephew.”

It was Lord Triodana, a Celestial of the Wisdom Order, who had come to see Prince Kalintz.

Prince Kalintz frowned as he looked at Triodana, who greeted him politely.

“…Uncle? That makes me sick, Brother.”

“Hahaha. Did you know? Did Azadin tell you?”

Triodana burst into a hearty laugh.

Lord Triodana, officially Prince Kalintz’s nephew, was in reality the reincarnation of Prince Triton, Kalintz’s older brother.

“Where did the spirit of a northern man go? You look like a pretty boy that southerners would like… No way. How did you do that? I heard you died fighting ogres, was that just a rumor?”

“Shhh. Walls have ears, Kalintz. You probably know why I’m here, right?”

“I don’t know. I’m a discarded stone who doesn’t even know that my family members are being reincarnated as Celestials.”

“Don’t talk nonsense. Why would they reincarnate you as a Celestial when you’re perfectly fine? They only reincarnate you if you’re injured or die, because they don’t want to just let you die. It’s not good, to be honest. The memories and personality of the past are like memories of a drunken stupor. I don’t feel like my identity is maintained. The memories of my past life are like something I read in a book. It feels like the life of someone different from who I am now.”

In other words, while Triodana is the reincarnation of Triton… his personality and character are not exactly the same.

Wasn’t that the death of Triton then?

Triodana laughed it off as Kalintz’s face darkened.

“Of course, it’s better than dying. It’s much better than getting hurt, old, or sick, so be happy. Your father will reincarnate you too. Think of it as having an extra life, how can you not be happy?”

“Hahaha. That’s great. So, why did you come? To reincarnate me as a Celestial too?”

“Didn’t you hear what I said? They won’t reincarnate you unless you die or get hurt. I’m here because of that rascal Azadin. I heard you’re quite close to him?”

“He’s really beautiful. If he were a woman, I would have proposed to him. I heard he had a twin sister who died. That’s really sad.”

“That’s a disturbing joke.”

Triodana gave a bitter smile. He could sense that Kalintz was not very friendly towards them.

“Anyway, Father is showing interest in him. Rumor has it that he has the sword of Lord Planck of Wisdom.”

“Aurelia Dunmail? Yes, he does.”

“Does he use it properly?”

“Would a guy who can’t even swing a sword become so famous?”

“No, I mean, does it ignite? Does the flame of ceramite [a type of magical metal] burn?”

“I haven’t seen him fight directly, so I don’t know… but it probably does? Why?”

“Aurelia Dun burns? Hmm. Is there any way we can bring him from the Rescue Knights to our side? What does he want?”

“…That’s impossible, Brother. He’s a Rescue Knight to the bone, even though I’m saying this. He doesn’t seem to care much about money, women, or even honor.”

For Azadin, a member of the Messenger Clan, to be a Rescue Knight to the bone was a statement that was hard to tell if it was a joke or not.

However, Prince Kalintz’s expression was serious.

“Then we’ll have to make him get kicked out of the Rescue Knights, even if he doesn’t want to. I see. That’s why I’m here.”

“……”

“Why? Are you worried?”

“Yeah. Wouldn’t it be better not to poke a sleeping dragon?”

Prince Kalintz seemed worried after hearing Triodana’s words.

“Haine was like that too, and now you’re doing it too. What is it about that guy?”

“There’s definitely something. How could a nobody do such things? He’s really amazing. But… if you ask me what it is, it’s hard to give a vague answer. But he definitely has something. I’d rather not mess with him if possible. Actually, I even want to help him.”

“What are you talking about? He’s becoming an obstacle to Father’s plan. Don’t you know how much effort our father is putting into this?”

“Y-yeah, right?”

“If you have personal feelings, throw them away. You must carry out Father’s will, right?”

Prince Kalintz now realized that he was at a crossroads.

Would he follow the will of his father, Emperor Cohen Lionheart of the North? Or would he side with Azadin?

“What are you trying to do anyway?”

“We’re going to hold an inquisition.”

“An inquisition? In Saint Mallory? Then I won’t go.”

Kalintz informed Triodana that he would exercise his veto power if Azadin was summoned to Saint Mallory.

“I thought you would say that. That’s why Bishop Sehnat will come directly to Fireglyph.”

“…The Bishop himself?”

“Yes. He was already furious that a member of the Messenger Clan had joined the Rescue Knights without any restrictions. I had a hard time stopping Bishop Sehnat from acting rashly.”

“……”

It seemed they were willing to do anything to put Azadin on trial.

*********

A messenger arrived at Azadin, who was reinforcing the fortress at the Sandokar Gate, from Fireglyph.

‘The investigation team that departed from Saint Mallory has arrived at Fireglyph, so trainee knight Azadin must appear at Fireglyph to respond to the inquisition.’

If vampires were attacking Sandokar and a battle was underway, Azadin could have requested a postponement of the inquisition and bought time.

However, with the inquisitors themselves having come to Fireglyph, he had no right to postpone it now that there was no battle with dwarves or vampires.

“They’re faster than I expected. On the other hand… the vampires aren’t attacking.”

In the end, Azadin had no choice but to leave the reinforcement work and defense of Sandokar to his subordinates and return to Fireglyph with only a small number of troops.

*********

Triodana of the Wisdom Order and Gares of the Courage Order had originally only intended to conduct an investigation.

However, Bishop Sehnat insisted on holding an inquisition, and the Order was considering eliminating Azadin.

“It’s rare to find someone who has gone in and out of the angels’ territory. Moreover, he even protected the transport ships against the Aragasa [a type of monster]. Since we’ve already summoned him for an inquisition, it’s unnatural for him to be assassinated. I believe it’s okay to punish him after a thorough investigation.”

Gares opposed the bishop, who was even considering assassinating Azadin. Then Bishop Sehnat feigned ignorance.

“That was just a hypothetical scenario. Do you see me as some kind of thug?”

The answer, “Yes,” rose to Sir Gares’ throat and then subsided.

At that moment, a messenger announced that Azadin had arrived.

“He’s fast.”

“He flew here on a hippogriff.”

“We should start preparing.”

“Hmm. Where is the Mercy Order at a time like this…”

Triodana expressed his dissatisfaction with the fact that the investigation team from the Mercy Order had not arrived and headed to the assembly hall in Fireglyph where the inquisition was to be held.

*********

When Azadin arrived at the inquisition hall, it was heavily guarded. Sir Gares’ Tercio troops [a type of military formation] were lined up, armed with firearms and spears.

The smell of gunpowder filled the air. No matter how skilled Azadin was, he would not survive if these many Tercio troops fired their gunpowder weapons at once.

‘The Courage Order wouldn’t try to kill me.’

Azadin was coldly calculating the Order’s reaction.

If they wanted to harm Azadin, it would be the pro-Northern faction within the Wisdom Order, which had a strong influence from the North.

Although the Wisdom Order had suffered humiliation at the hands of Azadin, Azadin had later cooperated in bringing the Celestial Fire Knights safely with the transport ships.

In other words, Azadin had personally proven that it was beneficial for them to have him within the Rescue Knights. If they were still trying to purge Azadin, it would be due to excessive hostility towards Azadin, or the North’s ambition to easily privatize the Knights.

‘I should prepare just in case.’

Azadin was cautious as he entered the inquisition hall and looked around. Lord Triodana was present for the Wisdom Order, and Sir Gares for the Courage Order. And Prince Kalintz was also sitting in the vice-chair.

In the center of the inquisition room, at the judge’s seat, a gaunt man, more like an undead than a human, was wearing a flamboyant bishop’s robe and glaring at Azadin with contempt.

Bishop Sehnat.

The corrupt clergyman who had joined hands with the North seemed to be the one who had summoned Azadin to the inquisition hall.