The Shadowed Legacy of the Soulless Messenger [EN]: Chapter 397

Karnago IV sighed.

“Then it’s settled. Let’s request a truce with Count Azadin.”

“What? But…”

The vassals of Arangi were taken aback.

In their hearts, they desperately wished to avoid fighting Azadin and quickly return to protect their own territories.

However, having escalated the conflict to this point, it wasn’t easy to back out now.

“When we propose a truce to Count Azadin, what if that damned herald clan demands too much, thinking they’ve won?”

“Hey, in a siege, if the besieging side withdraws, they just leave.”

“But this isn’t a siege, is it? Coxhall is just a port city. Besides, he’s from the herald clan, and it’s questionable whether the herald clan will abide by the etiquette and laws between nobles.”

“Still, we shouldn’t get ambushed when we retreat. The enemy flies around on griffins. No matter how much we run, they’re faster at attacking from behind.”

“There aren’t that many of those griffins. They might startle us for a moment, but they’re not a significant force.”

“You don’t know anything. That’s why inexperienced guys are a problem. Do you know what happens to horses when griffins fly over them? They foam at the mouth and have seizures. And you call yourself a knight without knowing that…”

“You’re the one who doesn’t know anything, you moron. Those are hippogriffs, hippogriffs. I’ve been quiet while you keep saying griffin, griffin, but do you think everyone is as blind as you?” [Hippogriffs are creatures with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a horse.]

“What, you wanna fight?”

“Don’t bother, old man. Looks like you’ve already picked out your coffin. If you die, your wife’s bastard with the gardener won’t become a noble.”

“You son of a…!”

The vassals of Arangi, who had been arguing about how to safely retreat from Azadin, soon began fighting among themselves.

With the supply lines being cut off by the attacks of the Bri, goblins, and demi-humans, everyone was on edge.

“Everyone, calm down. I’ll negotiate here.”

King Karnago IV of Arangi clicked his tongue, looking at his pathetic vassals who had started fighting among themselves.

*********

Karnago IV’s request for a meeting with Azadin was also to confirm whether the hippogriff seen by the lookout was indeed Azadin’s return.

Azadin immediately agreed to the meeting.

‘So he has returned. Did he really manage to recruit the Inquisitors in the meantime? I don’t know what kind of trick he used.’

Karnago IV was inwardly flustered to see Azadin’s side immediately agree to the meeting.

He was a king, yet his dignity was in tatters. He was being pushed around by a fellow he had ennobled as a count.

‘But on the other hand, it could be said that I was the first to recognize his true worth. And the conflict with him, well, it was guys like Baron Polchen who actually suffered the most. I, after all, was the one who recognized his worth and bestowed the title of count upon him first. If he has any sense, he won’t act ungratefully towards me.’

Karnago IV, thinking in a self-serving way, designated a hill between Coxhall and their encampment as the meeting place.

A tent was set up on the hill, which was open and difficult to call for reinforcements, and there, Karnago IV and Count Azadin met.

Come to think of it, despite being the one who appointed Azadin as a count, this was the first time Karnago IV and Azadin were meeting face to face.

Karnago IV was surprised that the black-haired young man before him was younger and more handsome than he had imagined.

‘He’s still so young, yet he has such remarkable abilities. Or is it that the herald clan also has the blood of the emperor and is a long-lived race? With such skill and outstanding looks, it’s no wonder people like him despite his origins.’

As Karnago IV was taken aback by Azadin’s appearance, Azadin bowed first.

“Azadin, Margrave of Naisandokar, greets His Majesty Karnago IV, the rightful heir of Arangi and guardian of the southern sea route.”

“Ah, let’s skip the unnecessary formalities between us.”

Karnago IV gestured to Azadin.

He had brought the captain of the Arangian Guard, a force too powerful to be considered just an escort, to the truce talks.

On the other hand, Azadin had brought Selim, a minotaur, and an orc shaman sitting on a bizarre chair.

Whether it was because he trusted his companions or because he was confident in his own abilities, Azadin approached within halberd reach of the Arangian Guard without any hesitation.

“There was a minor misunderstanding between us, which has led to this troublesome situation, Count Azadin. I’d like to clear up the misunderstanding, but before that, could you tell me what happened with the Inquisitors?”

It was quite a brazen statement.

He was asking his enemy for information because he didn’t know what had happened to them.

However, whatever the circumstances, Azadin was nominally his vassal. There was no reason not to comply with the king’s request.

“Sir Astadier believes I am his son due to a slight misunderstanding.”

“Sir Astadier, you mean that madman from Tarasar.”

“Yes.”

“I’ve heard that he’s not quite in his right mind. Then what about Sir Zekt? He must be a formidable figure?”

“Sir Zekt, with Sir Astadier’s mediation, somehow…”

Azadin glossed over the matter with Zekt. The fact that he had granted Zekt the throne of Corasar was not something he could easily tell others.

Seeing Azadin’s vague words, Karnago IV made a rough guess.

‘Astadier, who was on our side, went crazy and turned to the enemy, so Zekt alone couldn’t have dealt with him. In the end, the winner takes all.’

Because he had won, his influence grew, and as his influence grew, people naturally gave up fighting him. Like a snowball rolling down a hill, Azadin’s military power was naturally growing and becoming stronger.

And the same was true for Karnago IV.

‘Even if it grew naturally due to the winner-takes-all principle, it won’t be solid. Feeding all those refugees, even if the Chadra Highlands are a granary, it won’t be easy. But that doesn’t mean I need to shed my own blood to figure out this guy’s bluff, does it?’

As long as he didn’t ask for troops or supplies, siding with Azadin wouldn’t be a bad idea.

“I understand, Count Azadin. If you agree to one condition, I will approve your claim to the throne of Banlung and the propagation of the New Testament.”

“You will approve it? What is the condition?”

“Become my adopted son.”

“…”

Azadin’s expression took on a strange smile.

“Of course, being an adopted son doesn’t mean you have to be filial or have friendly dinners with me. As you know, I’m famous for coveting my daughters-in-law.”

“Well, I never thought I’d hear that story directly from you.”

Azadin smiled wryly, thinking of Bishop Akenar.

Seeing a man who had ruined a woman’s life with petty greed so readily admit his own greed made him feel disgusted with the court etiquette of emperors.

Of course, it would be annoying if he didn’t admit it and talked nonsense, but to ruin the lives of Prince Sram and Bishop Akenar because of a moment’s greed and then talk about it so casually.

“But being my adopted son will be quite helpful for what you want to do.”

“So, in exchange, you’ll condone my retreat, or rather, make peace. Haa…”

Azadin let out a long sigh.

First, Astadier claimed to be his father, and now Karnago IV wanted to be his adoptive father. He didn’t know why so many people suddenly wanted to be his father.

‘I’ve gained two fathers in one day. No bastard is as much of a bastard as I am.’

However, as Karnago IV had said, becoming the adopted son of the King of Arangi would solve many problems for Azadin.

‘Karnago IV is quite smart. Except for losing a bit of face, it’s a proposal that’s all benefits.’

Losing face hurts when you have a decent reputation, but Karnago IV had committed too many eccentricities for his reputation to be damaged by a mere retreat.

Even if he adopted Azadin here, the people around him would only think, ‘Oh, that guy is being eccentric again.’ It wouldn’t cause much of a stir.

“I will send you back safely even without an adoption. You will have to fight the races of the Kurt Pantheon anyway.”

“No, no. We must have the adoption. If I just let you go, I’ll be seen as a foolish ruler who couldn’t tell right from wrong and recklessly started a war because I coveted the Kingdom of Banlung. But if I adopt you, I’ll be seen as a ruler who used a clever strategy at a dangerous moment and retreated without any losses.”

“Is there any reason why I should cooperate with that? To become a bizarre figure with one biological father and one adoptive father just to add to Your Majesty’s reputation?”

“There’s a lot to gain, isn’t there?”

“You don’t intend to pass on the Kingdom of Arangi to me, do you? If so, the only benefit would be that the King’s Church wouldn’t bother me, but I think I’ve already achieved more than half of that.”

“I will support you in acquiring the Kingdom of Banlung.”

“Support without spending a single penny or shedding a single drop of blood?”

“Even that would be valuable, wouldn’t it?”

“I understand. I gratefully accept the offer.”

“Thank you. I’m delighted to have such a handsome son with such heroic spirit. Are you going to be crowned King of Banlung right away? The King of Banlung, who has also seized Sandokar, Naisandokar, and the Chadra Highlands, and is the adopted son of the King of Arangi. Are you going to take Butuma back from the Nagas next? If Cohen Lionheart is called the Northern Emperor, you wouldn’t be ashamed to be called the Southern Emperor.”

King Karnago IV of Arangi exaggerated the benefits, reputation, and future political foundation that Azadin would gain by becoming his adopted son.

But it was also true.

The kings and nobles who inherited the blood of the gods were often arrogant and cruel tyrants, but that was how they acted towards those weaker than themselves.

They would eventually make excuses and give way to those stronger or more threatening than themselves.

The fact that the King of Arangi couldn’t dare to deal with him and retreated in the form of an adoption would instill fear in other kings and nobles, and that would bring more power and strength.

This adoption was, as Azadin said, a flimsy support that didn’t cost a single penny or a drop of blood, but it would certainly help Azadin rise as the conqueror of the South.

Yet, Azadin’s expression was not bright at all.

“Are you dissatisfied?”

“No. It’s just that I’ve conquered the South faster than expected. Corasar has been devastated by the Nagas and Wendigos, and so has Butuma.”

With Banlung, Butuma, and Corasar virtually destroyed, Azadin was recognized as the conqueror of the South.

It was something that would make most people jump for joy, but there was a hint of worry on Azadin’s face.

“So, how do we do the adoption? Do we share blood-mixed wine or something?”

“There’s no need for that. I haven’t been a good father to my real blood children either. I can’t be sure that mixing blood in a ritual would make me a good father. Just keep winning. If you keep winning, winning, and winning again, I will try my best to be a good adoptive father to you.”

Karnago IV defined this adoption very honestly.