The Shadowed Legacy of the Soulless Messenger [EN]: Chapter 375

“As I said, I defeated the Manawi Clan of Banlung, claimed the throne of Banlung that they had defiled, and obtained the Light of Kingship.”

“Ah.”

“Hooray!”

Everyone cheered spontaneously. However, Ibchek, who knew the full story, wore a troubled expression.

“So, I intend to occupy the Banlung Kingdom. Kalan, how well-trained are our soldiers?”

“We’re recruiting soldiers from among the refugees and training them. If we’re being generous, we have about 500 fast-footed infantry and about 100 squire-level soldiers. If we’re short, we can hire mercenaries. If we just want to bulk up, we can gather about 2,000 usable men.”

“We don’t need elite soldiers, but I don’t want to neglect training. Let’s mobilize troops within the limits that don’t hinder training.”

“Are you planning to take Banlung? Ah, no, of course, you should take it. Banlung is rightfully yours, Your Majesty.”

“Yes. I will take the entire Banlung Kingdom, as well as the ruined Coxhall.”

As Azadin spoke, his subordinates all cheered in unison. The Chadra Plateau, Naisandokar, and the Sandokar area were already enough to make him a major warlord, but now he was taking over an entire kingdom.

Well, the kingdom was in a mess, but the fact that he was the rightful owner of the throne was an undeniable advantage.

However, the Count of Sandokar hesitated and offered a word of caution.

“The Arangi Kingdom won’t stand idly by. Of course, if you show them that you’ve manifested the Light of Kingship, they might be persuaded, but the King of Arangi is a petty man. He might ask for Naisandokar back or something like that….”

“Ah, but that’s the thing.”

“Of course, you can ignore him. The King of Arangi is nothing compared to someone who has manifested the true Light of Kingship. Ah, come to think of it, isn’t that guy, Bishop Akenar, the nasty fellow who snubbed us? Let’s teach him a lesson this time.”

“But there’s a rather fatal problem with my Light of Kingship.”

“A fatal problem? There can’t be such a thing. It’s the Light of Kingship! The kings who claim to be of the true Yaegas bloodline [a lineage claiming descent from the gods] don’t even come close to Your Majesty….”

“No, but the fatal problem is definitely fatal.”

“Hahaha. You’re too humble. Even if you’re from the Herald Clan, haven’t you manifested the Light of Kingship yourself? When the scouts said that a warm breeze was suddenly blowing in Banlung, I was skeptical, but to think that I could be a part of this mythical glory, I’ll make it a family boast for generations….”

“The throne is broken.”

“…Pardon?”

The Count of Sandokar, who had been excitedly talking, froze for a moment.

“I didn’t hear you correctly.”

“The throne of Banlung is broken.”

“What do you mean?”

The Count of Sandokar looked around in confusion, and Jibek answered.

“It’s exactly as he said. The moment Count Azadin sat on the throne, the Light of Kingship clearly manifested and burned away all the monsters that were engulfing Banlung. But when he got up, the throne cracked….”

“………”

Azadin shrugged and said.

“Actually, the spirits of Yaegas came to me and made a new promise. They wanted a righteous and just person to sit on the throne and protect the kingdom and its people with their soul, body, and everything, but at some point, the throne itself became an object of authority and worship. More people worshiped bloodlines than the king’s mission and will, and in fact, the Yaegas bloodline became tyrants. Aren’t the current kings squeezing the lifeblood out of the people, indulging in luxury and pleasure?”

“……”

“I’ve written a new scripture here. This is the new promise, the New Testament, that will be the true guide of the Yaegas faith. From now on, this new promise will spread the Light of Kingship instead of the throne.”

Jibek, who was listening, couldn’t help but be impressed.

He knew from the start that this would happen, but Azadin cleverly used the broken throne as evidence of the new promise.

Since the Light of Kingship was clearly manifesting from Azadin, his vassals had no choice but to believe Azadin’s words. In fact, it wasn’t a matter of belief. As long as they belonged to Azadin’s warlord group, they had no choice but to believe Azadin’s promise, this New Testament.

“Wow, the throne is broken, and a New Testament! The King’s Church won’t stand still! The Inquisitors, no, all the believers of the old doctrines won’t stand still….”

“But it’s also true that the Light of Kingship has manifested in our lord. This is the truth, comrades.”

Niselda declared to those who were wavering.

“Ugh. That’s. So….”

“Anyway, as it stands, I, as the rightful king of Banlung, will take over the Banlung Kingdom and its fiefdoms. It’s not for my personal gain, but it will be an asset to overcome Fimbulwinter [a cataclysmic winter] and protect humanity. In fact, a significant number of the people of Banlung are still flocking to us as refugees, aren’t they? It’s my mission as the successor to the kingdom to go out and meet them, and provide order and protection. It will also be an opportunity to distribute the New Testament to the people.”

“…………”

Everyone knew that this was definitely not an easy path.

No, there had been no easy path for them since Fimbulwinter approached. But this was an even greater ordeal that surpassed their imagination.

“Then, are you going to proclaim that New Testament to everyone?”

Jibek asked.

“Yes. First, I need to contact the Rescue Knights and ask for their cooperation.”

“Oh my god. No, it’s not that I doubt you, but….”

If the throne had been intact, this would have been the birth of a great holy king, in itself.

But the throne was broken.

And now, he was claiming that the scriptures of the old King’s Church were invalid and that a New Testament should be written.

It was a terrifyingly revolutionary statement that would be opposed by the existing King’s Church, the King of Arangi who had been eyeing Banlung, and the conservative people.

“Well, to be honest, I was inwardly proud that I had made a groundbreaking choice by pledging my loyalty to you, but I didn’t expect it to be such a groundbreaking move.”

The Count of Sandokar, Ibchek, lacked the courage to handle this groundbreaking choice, but he also knew that there was no turning back now.

The others had nothing more to say.

Now, they had to share their fate with the worst blasphemer in the history of the Hybris continent, or the greatest holy king.

*********

The Celestials Fire Knights succeeded in completely occupying the capital of the Banlung Kingdom, the Heart of the Mountain.

The wealth of the dwarves of Banlung, who were originally famous for their affluence, fell into the hands of the Celestials Fire Knights, but disappointingly, there was not much food.

As vampirization and Ashajit’s influence progressed, most of those who had become vampires only satisfied their desires with blood, and perhaps because of their complacency, many of the food warehouses were contaminated.

Even the dwarven ale, which was said to be made by the dwarves with their souls, was contaminated with blood.

“It’s disappointing. To think that all we got after paying such a huge sacrifice was just these pieces of metal.”

Karna was quite disappointed after opening the Banlung warehouse, which was filled with enormous amounts of gold and silver.

The food market was currently experiencing massive inflation. With Fimbulwinter looming, no one would sell food for gold or silver.

Food that could be eaten was much more precious than precious metals that could not be eaten. Nevertheless, if transactions were made with gold and silver, it would be a transaction made by people who were confident in overcoming Fimbulwinter in order to collect gold and silver at a low price.

“The artifact called the Sun of Seonwoo should be here.”

Karna’s brother, Triodana, clicked his tongue as he rummaged through the warehouse.

The various jewels and crafts would have been a treasure trove of immense value just this spring, but now they were nothing more than a pretty junkyard.

The armory was much more meaningful.

“The Sun of Seonwoo is not here. There are traces of cargo being transported recently.”

“…Was there a prior guest?”

“Isn’t it obvious? The broken throne and the Light of Kingship. There must be someone who came before us.”

“Hmm. Is it Count Azadin?”

Triodana and Karna suspected Azadin.

The person who came to help them when they were struggling with the Heart of the Mountain fortress, there was no other force that moved before them. But if so, then he was the one who destroyed the throne.

“How can he destroy the throne? If that’s true, then what is this Light of Kingship?”

Even though the throne was broken, the Light of Kingship was still swirling in Banlung.

The Light of Kingship, which was so powerful that they hesitated to announce the fact that the throne was broken, was actually giving hope to many people.

“Um, Sir Triodana. It’s almost time for your report.”

A squire approached them while they were in the dwarves’ treasure vault and was startled.

He seemed surprised to see the mountain of gold and silver that Karna and Triodana had called pretty trash.

Even in this situation, gold had a charm that captivated people, and greed appeared in the squire’s eyes, and his mouth was parched. Even while Triodana was staring at him, he was licking his lips.

“Do you want to take it?”

“Ah, no. How could I dare?”

“Take some. It’ll only make you heavier.”

Triodana picked up a gold bar from the side and threw it to the squire.

The moment the squire received the gold bar, his body slumped. It was much heavier than it looked, and the squire, who had not handled gold bars much, gasped and exhaled the air in his lungs due to the unexpected weight.

“Shall we go report?”

Triodana and Karna left the treasure vault open, without closing it, and moved to report.

The squire, left alone, looked around in confusion and tried to put the gold bar that Triodana had thrown into his backpack.

*********

Triodana and Karna used a magic mirror to report the situation to the Saint Mallory fortress, the headquarters of the Rescue Knights.

[The throne is broken!?]

[Oh my god!]

The high-ranking clerics of the Rescue Knights, who received the report from the Celestials Fire, were shocked as if the sky was falling.

[We have recovered the Banlung Kingdom, but the throne is broken?! If this fact becomes known to the world, we will be held responsible.]

The people of Hybris all had a respectful heart for the Yaegas gods, so the fact that the throne, the sacred object of the Yaegas god-kings, was broken was an unimaginable sacrilege.

If the Rescue Knights were said to have destroyed the throne, even the believers who currently held the Rescue Knights’ faith would immediately turn into apostates.

Of course, the Rescue Knights did not break it, but it could not be said that the Rescue Knights took control of Banlung and then it was broken.

[Who broke it?! How did they break it?]

[The Light of Kingship appeared in Banlung, what happened?]

[That’s….]

Triodana held back his words.

[There is no evidence, but I suspect it is Count Azadin.]

[Suspect? What do you mean?]

[We met Count Azadin in this area. He left to find Bishop Akenar, who was kidnapped by vampires during the battle, but after that, the Light of Kingship suddenly activated, and when we arrived, only the vampires of Banlung were burned and the broken throne remained.]

As Triodana summarized the situation, everyone felt that Azadin was the one who broke the throne.

[The problem is that the Light of Kingship has manifested. Moreover, even though the throne is broken, the snow has stopped and the temperature is rising here.]

With Fimbulwinter rapidly cooling the entire world, a warm aura was swirling around the Banlung Kingdom, and the Nether’s minions were being expelled.

Even though the throne was broken, the Light of Kingship was actually protecting the Banlung Kingdom.

[That means, Count Azadin, that soulless blasphemer, did something to the throne to activate the Light of Kingship?]

[Yes. So we are also wondering whether we should believe this interpretation. We are continuing other investigations, but we don’t know anything at the moment.]

[Hmm….]

The Rescue Knights were troubled by this situation.

Azadin broke the throne.

Even if they announced that, Azadin was a member of the Rescue Knights, so it would be the responsibility of the Rescue Knights.

[The Light of Kingship is clearly swirling around Banlung right now, what’s going on?]

[That’s….]

[Wouldn’t your father know something?]

A cleric of the Wisdom Order asked a blatant question.

Didn’t the Northern Emperor Cohen Lionheart know something? That was the question. But that question also meant that they had not heard anything from Cohen Lionheart, and that Cohen Lionheart had no intention of sharing information with them.

‘My father didn’t say anything, so how could I open my mouth? Besides, what about what happened today….’

Triodana managed his expression, inwardly ridiculing the clumsiness of the cleric who was trying to probe him.

‘The magic mirror is a problem because it shows your expression.’

Triodana offered his opinion to the clerics.

[How about summoning Sir Azadin first? He received the Errantry Quest [a quest given to a knight errant], so he should report on it. You can ask him then….]

[Hmm. That’s right.]

[Even if he broke the throne, we shouldn’t reveal it to the world. We must hold the power of decision.]

[But we need to watch the situation for now. This is really difficult.]

The clerics were also troubled.

[Is there any way to chase him down and find him now? Sir Triodana?]

[We are searching, but what should we do if we meet him? Unfortunately, many of the Celestials Fire worship him.]

[Worship him?]

[Yes. He is handsome, and he has accomplished many great feats. Now he is even carrying out the Errantry Quest, isn’t he?]

[But if he fails the Errantry Quest….]

[If he fails, will you excommunicate him? It will set a bad precedent. How many people have properly carried out the Errantry Quest and escaped the fate of a Knight Errant? Isn’t it too biased?]

[That soulless blasphemer! He should be grateful that we accepted him into the Order! What’s wrong with discriminating against him!? They are ominous beings who have stained their hands with the blood of the Yaegas gods!]

A cleric of the Rescue Knights, not the King’s Church, openly spewed discriminatory remarks.

Triodana smiled bitterly.

[As I said, many of the Celestials Fire members admire him. Unfortunately, they are beings who have truly inherited the blood of angels. They are young friends who do not have such worldly wisdom as the high priest. There will surely be people who will petition for him. If that happens, it will become a topic of conversation, and even if the other party is from the Herald Clan, there is no need to leave such blatant discrimination in the records of the Rescue Knights.]

[It’s difficult. It would be good if he confessed that he was the one who destroyed the throne.]

[Let’s urge him to report on the Errantry Quest first.]

In the end, the council of clerics decided to contact Azadin and make a decision after watching the situation. It was an inevitable conclusion for the conservative clerics.

*********

And a week later. Azadin’s letter arrived at Saint Mallory.

Azadin did not have anything as convenient as a magic mirror. No, magic mirrors were installed in the Chadra Plateau and Fireglyph, but the manager of that mirror was none other than Prince Kalintz, the chapter master of Fireglyph. Azadin used old-fashioned letters and messengers to buy time.

Because the content of the letter was testing the limits of the destructive power that words written on paper could have.

‘When I sat on the throne of Banlung, I met the spirits of Yaegas and made a new promise. The teachings of the existing King’s Church are old and cannot guide the world properly, so I intend to open a path where the Rescue Knights and the King’s Church can cultivate themselves and save themselves with a new promise, a new oath, so please continue to guide and encourage me.’

Azadin made a groundbreaking declaration while enclosing Bishop Akenar’s mask in the letter.

The Rescue Knights, who were already suspecting that Azadin had broken the throne, found the answer to their question, but….

It was already too late.

“Kuaaak! This madman! You are excommunicated! Excommunicated!”

The person who was in charge of the southern diocese of Saint Mallory, acting on behalf of Bishop Sehnath, was Prawesi, a member of the Yaegas clan who was also influenced by the Northern Emperor Cohen Lionheart.

He was the one who openly made discriminatory remarks to Azadin at the mirror meeting, and he was a person who was fiercely loyal to the teachings of the King’s Church rather than a believer of the Rescue Knights, pledging his loyalty to the Northern Empire.

However, Azadin not only confessed that he was the one who broke the throne, but also brought out the teachings of a heresy called the New Testament, saying that the existing King’s Church was wrong, so he could not help but be enraged.

“Why are those of the Mercy Order still protecting this guy even in this situation? We must immediately hold a meeting and excommunicate this guy….”

Bishop Prawesi began to write a letter in anger.

“Cr, it’s a big problem! Bishop Delegate!”

“What the hell! What could be a bigger problem than this? Huh?”

“Count Azadin! He and his army have left Sandokar and sent an expeditionary force to Banlung!”

“…What?”

Prawesi, who thought there was nothing more to be surprised about, gaped.

“This madman. Is he really going to do it?”

Azadin had claimed the throne of Banlung.