The Shadowed Legacy of the Soulless Messenger [EN]: Chapter 379

“It’s the truth, isn’t it? Count Azadin doesn’t really need me. So, there’s no need for him to give me anything expensive to get my support. Even if I help, it’s not like the other side would be grateful, and if I’m unlucky, I’ll be branded a heretic and executed along with him!”

If Azadin had just been an exile from the Chadra Highlands, there would have been a lot that Prince Kalintz, the Fireglyph Chapter Master of the Chadra Highlands, could have done.

However, when Prince Kalintz met Azadin, he had already built up considerable power. Even after that, Azadin had taken control of Naisandokar and the Sandokar area on his own, without Prince Kalintz’s help. This alone was more than half the size of the Banreung Kingdom.

Now that Azadin has been granted the title of Margrave by Arangi and is continuing to expand his independent military power, what can Prince Kalintz do?

“Why do you say there’s nothing? Count Azadin is now calling himself a prophet. If no one supports him, he’s no different from a madman throwing ashes on his head and spouting nonsense in the marketplace. But if the son of the Northern Emperor, recognized by the Church as the King of Kings, steps up to support him, wouldn’t the public think, ‘Ah, maybe that guy isn’t completely crazy and there’s something to him’? The value of an early supporter is immense.”

“Does Count Azadin himself think that way? He’s already secured the Chadra Five and Count Ibechek of Sandokar, isn’t he? He doesn’t really need the support of someone like me, does he?”

“No, think about it. They were already part of Count Azadin’s military force, so in that situation, they lost their ability to be objective witnesses. But if a prince, who was subtly keeping him in check, actively supports him, wouldn’t that carry a different weight?”

At Zan’s persuasion, Prince Kalintz nodded his head without realizing it.

“Well… but did you really get something from Azadin? Why are you supporting Azadin so much? Is it because you’re from the same tribe?”

“Hey, what do you mean the same tribe? Our Aragasas and the Messenger Clan are a bit different. It’s been a long time since we split, so there’s not much of a sense of being the same tribe.”

Zan, the Northern Aragasa Centurion who serves as Prince Kalintz’s adjutant, spoke with a good-natured chuckle while also guiding Prince Kalintz to support Azadin.

“Hmm.”

In fact, Prince Kalintz’s heart was already leaning towards Azadin. He was more drawn to Azadin, who treated him comfortably and showed a generous nature, than to his own father, who couldn’t even remember his name.

“Whatever the case, wouldn’t it be better to watch how things unfold without rushing?”

“That’s good too. However, I’m worried that if we keep testing the waters like that, we might lose the advantage of being an early supporter. If another royal family member supports the Count instead of Prince Kalintz, then Prince Kalintz’s support will definitely lose its luster.”

“Haa, would any sane royal family member support Count Azadin?”

“They might? Isn’t it true that the Yaeghas royal family is losing the Light of Kingship [a divine power] and weakening? Besides, many of them have lived long lives and are treated like unwanted children even if they are princes, so there are probably many princes who find this situation frustrating.”

Perhaps it was because he was a foreigner, a Northern Aragasa with no loyalty to the King’s Church? Zan was calmly assessing the current situation.

“Besides, isn’t the Light of Kingship actually protecting the Banreung Kingdom? It’s also known that Count Azadin is wielding the Light of Kingship. It’s only known in this region for now, but once the rumors spread throughout the world, it will be too late.”

Just then,

A scribe in charge of messenger birds came to visit.

“…Your Highness, your father has sent a letter.”

“My father?”

Prince Kalintz frowned.

“What is it? It’s not like he’s going to make some grand proposal now. From my father’s perspective, I’m just a subordinate who does what he’s told, not a negotiating partner he needs to give good bait to. But a letter in this situation.”

Prince Kalintz grumbled and received the letter.

“Hmm. Ah. Damn it.”

Prince Kalintz’s expression crumpled as he read the letter.

“What is it?”

“…My father has manifested the Light of Kingship.”

“What?”

“The Light of Kingship, I tell you! Damn it. We almost messed up big time, didn’t we? If I had supported Count Azadin without knowing this, I would have just become an apostate. Right?”

If Azadin had manifested the Light of Kingship alone, then the New Covenant he speaks of would have credibility. But what if Kohen Lionheart of the Northern Empire also manifested the Light of Kingship besides Azadin?

Azadin’s words would lose their persuasiveness.

“Hmm. It’s going to get complicated. Should we betray Count Azadin then? Currently, the Count has turned all his troops and talents to that side to take control of the Banreung Kingdom…”

“Are you crazy? This is exactly when we should side with Count Azadin!”

“…What?”

“If things are going too smoothly, even if I step up to support Count Azadin, he wouldn’t be grateful to me. But if I support him when things are like this, he won’t forget my gratitude, my contribution! Now it’s worth siding with Count Azadin!”

It was surprising.

Zan had served Prince Kalintz for a long time, but he never expected him to make such a choice in this situation.

“Hahaha.”

“What? Why are you laughing?”

“No, Prince Kalintz. Have I ever told you that I like you?”

“What? Why are you suddenly like this? It’s disgusting.”

Prince Kalintz shuddered at Zan’s sudden friendliness.

“Anyway, let’s find out more about what happened since the Northern Empire suddenly manifested the Light of Kingship. Zan, contact the Northern Aragasas.”

“Yes, I understand.”

*********

The Divine King’s Scripture is a grimoire [a book of magic spells] shared by all the Yaeghas royal family, but its true power, its true form, was a concept not established in language.

The moment they sit on the throne, legitimate royals can feel the union of the Divine King’s Scripture and themselves, but that feeling, that realization, is fleeting, and emptiness takes its place.

Kohen Lionheart sat on the throne, closing his eyes and searching for the glimmer of the Divine King’s Scripture.

King of Kings, a ridiculous title, but it was also a title he had to protect for his ambition.

To unite humanity and become a great being that would be remembered forever.

That was the goal of the ambitious prince who had once lost his right to succession and had to join the Rescue Knights.

‘I must grasp the Divine King’s Scripture more deeply. Not the King’s Church’s interpretation, but the true essence of the Divine King’s Scripture, the original…’

The Divine King’s Scripture currently used by the Holy Knights was just the King’s Church version, not the true Divine King’s Scripture.

Rather, the copy of the Divine King’s Scripture leaked to the Messenger Clan was much closer to the original.

Kohen Lionheart was becoming impatient, and recently, he had been spending more time on the throne.

And then…

Was it when he had just closed his eyes for a moment?

Kohen Lionheart suddenly heard a call.

The spirits of Yaeghas were calling him.

*********

And when he opened his eyes, Kohen Lionheart had partially grasped the power of the true Divine King’s Scripture. It wasn’t all of it, but even that alone gave him power that was incomparable to before.

“Hahahaha…”

Kohen Lionheart of the Northern Empire rose from the throne.

A golden halo appeared on his head, and a warm light spread from the throne, purifying the entire kingdom once.

The Light of Kingship was emanating from the throne.

“Huh?!”

“Y-Your Highness!”

The retainers guarding the throne room were shocked by the suddenly awakened Kohen Lionheart and the Light of Kingship he was emitting.

“Oh, my goodness! It’s a miracle!”

Kohen Lionheart’s retainers immediately knelt down.

“Finally, congratulations.”

However, Kohen Lionheart himself did not smile.

‘The spirits of Yaeghas did not choose me. It’s Margrave Azadin of Naisandokar. Sir Planck’s last disciple… I see. Indeed. To the true gods, individual races are no problem at all.’

The reason why the spirits of Yaeghas granted a miracle to Kohen Lionheart was because Azadin had rejected the spirits of Yaeghas.

Nevertheless, some of the spirits of Yaeghas chose Azadin and accepted his request, making a new covenant.

The New Covenant.

A promise that miracles would be performed not by the bloodline of the Yaeghas gods, but entirely by individual training and will, and by the desire for good.

However, the spirits of Yaeghas were not one but many, and not all of them agreed with Azadin’s will.

Even so, if only he, who had rejected the will of the spirits of Yaeghas and the covenant of the Old Testament, wielded the Light of Kingship…

People would not understand the New Covenant, its value, and would only be led by miracles.

If blind obedience replaces teaching, belief, and faith, then there is no reason for the New Covenant to replace the old covenant and order, is there?

That is why the spirits of Yaeghas also granted some of the power of miracles to Kohen Lionheart.

‘To think I was chosen as the adversary of the true prophet. Is my talent inferior to that Azadin guy?’

Kohen Lionheart, who was born a royal and a genius, had never imagined that he would be inferior to anyone else.

But this time, he was chosen as an alternative to Azadin, simply because Azadin had rejected the spirits of Yaeghas.

‘Dare I be an alternative? Fine. I won’t be inferior to a soulless heretic! I will defeat him and devour him. Then the spirits of Yaeghas will choose only me!’

Having regained his composure, Kohen Lionheart finally smiled and walked out of the throne.

“The spirits of Yaeghas have chosen me. I have shown that I am the true king through miracles, so let us all overcome this harsh winter under my guidance.”

“Yes!”

“It is an honor.”

Kohen Lionheart’s retainers were so excited by the miracle they had witnessed that they could hardly speak.

“Send messengers to all regions to announce that the King of Asander has manifested the Light of Kingship. Spread this gospel throughout the world, and severely punish those who deceive people with heretical teachings!”

Kohen Lionheart knew that Azadin had already awakened to the power of the Divine King’s Scripture. However, the speed of information transmission in this world was not that fast.

Using a courier would take more than a year to travel from one end of the continent to the other, and the magic-enchanted messenger birds used by merchant groups were faster but not accurate.

Only the King’s Church and the Rescue Knights had magical mirrors that operated with powerful miraculous power, but there was only one in each diocese, and they would not work without storing a considerable amount of miraculous power.

Even if Azadin had awakened to the power of miracles first, if the time difference was not significant, there would be those who would think that Kohen Lionheart had awakened to the power of miracles first.

No, Azadin is a soulless heretic, and Kohen is a blessed Yaeghas king. It was clear that anyone would trust the latter more than the former.

‘I will surely achieve it with my own hands!’

Kohen Lionheart renewed his determination to do anything to achieve his ambition.