The Shadowed Legacy of the Soulless Messenger [EN]: Chapter 368

In the throne hall where the dwarf king Manawidan held court, the royal guards were in an uproar.

“Your Majesty! Royal Guard Captain Iak has been murdered by a vile enemy! His entire body’s blood has been drained, and there are teeth marks, so it seems Griselda did it.”

The dwarf royal guards were quick to blame Griselda, as Iak, who had gone to summon her from the rear, was found dead.

However, Manawidan closed his eyes, sensed his surroundings, and clicked his tongue.

“That Griselda also just died.”

“Yes?”

“I, who have taken the throne of Yaegas, say this. Believe it. It is the truth.”

“But…”

“Hmph. Do you dare question my words?!”

The dwarf king Manawidan opened his eyes.

A pale power emanated from him, directly striking the royal guard who had carelessly voiced disbelief.

“Kkyaaaak!”

The royal guard screamed. His body burst into flames. The shocked royal guard rolled on the floor, trying to extinguish the fire, but it wouldn’t go out.

“Aurelia Dawn says she can burn vampires forever, right? How about this?”

“Y-Your Majesty!”

“Believe in me. Since I have seized the throne of Yaegas, I am the true king. Now, I possess immense power and wisdom that you cannot even imagine, so the battlefield outside is nothing.”

The body of the royal guard who dared to question Manawidan was reduced to ashes.

Seeing this, the royal guards were at a loss. They knew that it was right for him to be killed for daring to question the king, but Manawidan was not originally this difficult to deal with.

However, the current Manawidan was arrogant and tyrannical beyond measure.

“I miss the nightly pleasures that Griselda and her daughters provided. But soon, the entire world will bow at my feet.”

-Kuurrrung!

The fortress shook with a loud explosion. Contrary to Manawidan’s confident words, the dwarf defense lines trying to stop the Rescue Knights continued their fierce resistance, detonating explosives and magic stones.

The flames were gradually approaching the throne. The royal guards were sweating profusely.

‘Those Celestial Knights and Nether’s minions are no joke.’

‘But if I question him, I might die like that just now.’

‘What on earth should we do?’

Everyone was at a loss.

“It seems you are having quite a hard time, Your Majesty.”

A voice was heard from the secret passage behind the throne where Manawidan was sitting, a passage made for the king to escape.

A man wearing a bird mask appeared.

He was a member of the Messenger Clan, wearing blue wire armor made by mixing azure steel [a rare, strong metal].

“You’ve come. Messenger Clan. I was about to break my neck waiting. Did you do as I asked?”

“Yes. As you commanded, I killed most of the residents of Banreung and brought them here. It’s a shame. They were once our neighbors in the Kerim Mountains, but it hurt to kill them.”

Other members of the Messenger Clan appeared one after another, besides the one wearing the azure steel wire armor.

Manawidan’s royal guards were startled.

It seemed these were the Messenger Clan who had made a deal with King Manawidan, but they didn’t like the fact that these so-called king-slayers were so close to the king.

However, Manawidan, the king himself, didn’t care whether they approached or not.

“Hmph. Empty words… Even if I asked you, it’s still about killing innocent people and bringing them as meat. If you valued the people of Kerim even a little, how could you have agreed to my contract?”

Manawidan said that and grabbed the tangled blood vessels of the throne.

These beings, transformed into blood vessels and hearts, were originally the Yaegas gods of Banreung. Even in this state, they could hear, see, and feel pain and fear.

As if representing the emotions of the trembling Yaegas gods, the hearts clinging to the throne beat violently, and the vibrations spread throughout the mountain.

Manawidan opened his mouth, bit the blood vessels, and drank the blood in gulps.

The throne glowed, and a pale power spread in all directions. The dwarves’ beards were stained with blood, and their shoes were soaked.

A river of blood was created on the stairs made for easy access to the throne, and at the same time, the throne shook.

Intense magical power spread in all directions from the throne.

“When a righteous king takes the throne, the light of kingship protects this world…”

The Messenger Clan member in blue wire armor, watching this, smiled wryly.

“Sion-nim [a respectful title], the necromancy has been released. The corpses are now under the control of Ashajit… and they are attacking the rear of the Celestial Fires. The Celestial Fire Knights are now being attacked from both sides by the dwarves inside the fortress and the Ashajit’s minions outside…”

His subordinate reported in astonishment. The corpses, which had been under necromantic control, had all turned into Ashajit’s minions, breaking free from the necromantic control.

“Well, that’s why we brought the corpses. We used necromancy to make it easier to move the corpses, so there’s no need to be surprised that it’s released. What’s amazing is the power of King Manawidan, who turned so many people into Ashajit’s minions in this place.”

Sion Etar, the Messenger Clan member in blue wire armor, smiled.

“Then, will you give us the promised reward?”

“…I will keep my promise. I am the king, after all.”

Manawidan said that and put his hand into his chest.

“Take it. This will lead you to the Sunwoo’s Sun.”

It was a transparent and radiant human hand made of extremely pure magic stone.

When Elemental Wailing patients die, they turn into magic stones, but most of them shatter like an explosion.

However, sometimes there are those who show perfect compliance, and those who have transformed into magic stones become like radiant and transparent jewels.

This hand was one that had transformed into such a jewel.

“Hmm. This will lead us to the Sunwoo’s Sun? In the initial contract, I heard you would hand over the Sunwoo’s Sun.”

“It’s practically handing it over. Surely, you, the Messenger Clan, are not so incompetent that you cannot find the Sunwoo’s Sun even with this.”

Upon hearing those words, the Messenger Clan members all looked at their elder, Sion Etar.

Should they consider this the completion of the deal?

However, Sion Etar, the elder of the Messenger Clan, smiled and bowed to Manawidan.

“I see. Understood. We will try to find it. Thank you. Then, good luck. Your Majesty. May you achieve what you desire.”

“When that time comes, you too will bow at my feet. Find the Sunwoo’s Sun. You must achieve that much merit to receive the oath of loyalty from a soulless blasphemer, right?”

Manawidan absurdly blurted out that if the Messenger Clan found the Sunwoo’s Sun, he would accept them as his subordinates as a reward for their efforts.

“Of course, that will be the case. I look forward to that time. Then, farewell. We will leave to find the Sunwoo’s Sun.”

Sion Etar said that and retreated with his subordinates.

*********

The one who shot the arrow at Azadin revealed himself from the darkness.

“Be careful, Count. That person is quite skilled.”

Bernard was moving through the dwarves’ secret passage, creating small blood spiders to set up a perimeter to avoid enemies.

The person who had broken through that perimeter was undoubtedly a highly skilled individual.

However, Azadin shook his head.

“I know him.”

“But…”

The arrow just now was filled with murderous intent. It wasn’t a casual greeting; it was an arrow with the intent to kill. Even if he was an acquaintance, the murderous intent was clear, wasn’t it?

Then, the opponent revealed himself from the darkness.

He was a young man with a cold expression.

“You’ve made a name for yourself, Azadin. You, who were called Azadin of Muan, are now the Margrave of Naisandokar.”

“It’s been a while, Ismail. You’ve grown a lot in the short time I haven’t seen you, probably because you’re in your growth spurt? I’m glad to see you’re safe.”

“Glad? What are you saying? I can’t believe those words are coming from the mouth of someone who abandoned us and obtained the title of Margrave.”

“How’s Midiam? Is she doing well?”

“How could she be? Why did you abandon her? Is your goal to become a noble?”

Ismail was furious.

Then, Jibeck stepped forward.

“Ismail-gun [a respectful title for a young man], Count Azadin has never lived for his own selfish desires. Moreover, he tried his best to get news of you and Midiam through the Messenger Clan’s contact.”

“You’re making an obvious defense, Sir Jibeck.”

Ismail glared at Jibeck and frowned.

He knew it too.

Azadin was not someone who would play around and only think about his own safety.

Now that Fimbulwinter [a great winter] was approaching, Azadin would have been extremely busy with his own plans to make them succeed.

The more Azadin showed interest in Midiam, the more dangerous Midiam and Ismail’s safety would become.

However, what he knew in his head was different from what he felt in his heart.

“Is Sion Etar here too? Could it be that the client is the dwarves?”

Even in this situation, Azadin was trying to get information through Ismail.

Ismail was angry, but he didn’t have much time to act on his own, so he had no choice but to answer Azadin’s question.

“Yes. King Manawidan of the dwarves asked, and the clan killed people and brought a huge number of undead. Originally, it seems they were going to use them to fight the vampires…”

“The Celestial Fires must have been backstabbed. Good. Ismail, answer my questions properly. It’s important for you and Midiam.”

“………”

“Would it be better for you and Midiam if I killed Sion Etar right now?”

“What?”

Ismail was surprised by Azadin’s words.

Sion Etar was the one who had emerged as the core of the council of elders after the death of the great chieftain Hatir.

And his skills and qualifications were superior to those of the great chieftain Hatir.

Yet, Azadin was speaking as if he could take Sion Etar’s life at any time?

Even though Ismail wanted Azadin to rescue Midiam, as a member of the Messenger Clan, Azadin’s remarks felt like he was looking down on and disregarding the entire Messenger Clan, which made him feel bad.

Even though Azadin was also a member of the Messenger Clan.

‘Anyway, he’s an arrogant person. But…’

Ismail shook his head.

“Midiam is not here. If you kill Sion Etar here, her life will be in danger.”

“I see. Are they keeping her captive?”

“Yes.”

“What did the clan agree to receive from the dwarves in exchange for the deal?”

“I don’t know exactly. But I know it’s a great magical artifact.”

“Hmm. That’s not good. That thing.”

At that moment, a whistle was heard from afar.

“Oh, it seems the deal is over. I have to retreat.”

“…….”

“I’ll tell you in advance, if I don’t go right now, they might torture Midiam.”

“Ah. Is that how they’re holding your leash? Ismail. I’m sorry, but that’s nonsense. There’s no way they’d torture an Etar family member just to keep a mere servant in check, right?”

“…That’s exactly what I don’t like about you.”

Ismail said those words and retreated, disappearing out of the secret passage.