The Shadowed Legacy Of The Soulless Messenger [EN]: Chapter 402

“3,000 bushels? You must be joking. No, wait, how are you even planning to transport 3,000 bushels? Are you going to send grain from here to Arangi, and then from Arangi to bribe bishops all over the place? How long would that even take? Please tell him that was a funny joke.”

Azadin laughed off Carnago IV’s absurd request.

“Now that I think about it, you’re right. It’s such an impossible request, it must be a joke.”

In the current chaotic situation, where physical goods hold more value than gold or silver, Carnago IV’s request was physically impossible from the start.

However, Azadin’s composure and audacity surprised Karna.

‘He’s so calm even in this situation. If I were him, just hearing Carnago IV’s request would make my heart pound and my hands and feet go numb…’

“Then, what’s the next matter?”

While Lord Karna was still amazed, Lord Izmilla spoke up.

“Lord Azadin, there’s currently internal strife among the knight orders in Saint Mallory.”

“Internal strife among the knight orders? Is this about the Wisdom Order?”

“Yes. To be precise, the Courage Order has accused the Wisdom Order of defiling their angel statues. They raided the Wisdom Order’s offices, seizing Nether magic artifacts [magic that manipulates the void] and evidence of heresy. Of course, the Wisdom Order claims it was all for research purposes.”

“Hmm…”

Azadin could now understand why the Celestial Fire Knights had sought him out.

Originally, they were supposed to be presented as the noble reincarnation of angels.

However, it was revealed that their true nature was that of beings created through a sinister magical ritual.

Even if it was the Courage Order, they were still members of the same Rescue Knights, so publicly announcing this would be like spitting in their own face.

The Courage Order had no intention of making this public, but the problem was the feelings of those who had been hurt by this.

Indeed, Izmilla said in a somber tone,

“I grew up being treated with great respect among the clergy, but it turns out it was just interest in an experiment. Not just me, but everyone in the Celestial Fire is quite shocked.”

Those among the Celestial Fire who did not have clear memories of their past lives were like children, despite their saintly appearance.

The Rescue Knights had raised them as knights, telling them legends and old stories, instilling in them a sense of duty and morality as holy knights.

But what if they were actually beings created through immoral magical experiments?

They all seemed to be greatly shocked.

“I see.”

Azadin nodded.

“Lord Izmilla, I was born from the belly of a man cursed with servitude.”

“Pardon?”

“A man’s belly?”

Karna also tilted his head in confusion.

“The Herald Clan is cursed with servitude. My father, Acre, a traitor to the clan, had that curse activated, and he gave birth to me and my sister from a man’s body before dying. I am here, a stranger hated by the people of Hybris, not only a member of the Herald Clan but also a terrible product of their curse.”

Azadin spoke casually about his origins, which could be seen as a weakness.

“Not the son of King Astadeer of Tarasar?”

“Well, even though I say I’m not, they don’t believe me. It’s a headache.”

Azadin shrugged.

“But is the son of a great man necessarily a great being? I’ve seen nobles harass farmers’ daughters, hang their fiancés on the gallows, and then use the weak girl as a stepping stone to whip her. Are those who commit such acts noble just because they are of the bloodline of a noble god-king? No, they are not.”

Zibeck, who was beside him, gave a wry smile at Azadin’s words.

“What defines who you are is your actions and your soul. It doesn’t matter your lineage, your birth, where you were born, or how you were born.”

“…….”

It was something anyone could easily say.

That’s why Azadin revealed his own birth, the terrible fact that he was a product of a curse, something he didn’t need to reveal, to give weight to his words.

At least, Azadin’s attitude towards the Celestial Fire was sincere.

“But Lord Azadin, ah, no, Your Highness. Or is it Your Majesty? I don’t know what to do. The Wisdom Order was my home, my family… They raised me like a daughter, a granddaughter, and I don’t know what to do or how to live without their guidance and instructions. How can I be sure that the path I’m walking is the right one?”

Izmilla was still in pain. The idea that actions define oneself seemed vague, lacking concrete direction.

Where could one find certainty that the path they were walking was the right one?

“Then, will you help me? Even now, we are fighting against hordes of monsters to protect the people in Naisandokar, Sandokar, and Banreung.”

“That would be an honor, but…”

“I won’t deploy the Celestial Fire in battles against humans. I will only deploy the Celestial Fire on battlefields against monsters. How about that?”

“…….”

Karna smiled wryly at Azadin’s promise.

What Azadin’s army needed most were skilled knights.

By accepting refugees without limit and making the groundbreaking move of declaring the New Covenant [a new religious agreement], he could gather many people, but those he could gather were only infantry, not skilled in combat.

For Azadin’s army, which lacked knights, the Celestial Fire, a skilled cavalry group, was like the final piece of the puzzle.

To promise not to deploy such a Celestial Fire in battles against humans was a bold promise.

“Even without going that far, most of them are children. If Your Majesty coaxes them, you could easily get them on your side. Doesn’t your army desperately need cavalry? And with Visen and the forces of the King’s Church closing in on you, wouldn’t helping you harm our political prestige later?”

As Karna tested Azadin’s true intentions, Azadin took out a book from his pocket.

It was an old, worn-out book of old tales, singing of the heroic deeds of the Rescue Knights, the dedication and valor of angels and holy knights.

“…….”

“This is a book given to me by someone who was like a star in my heart. I don’t know how many times I’ve read it since I was a child.”

“I am a monarch. I know all too well that the world doesn’t run on goodwill and favor alone. But that doesn’t mean that goodwill and favor should be mocked. Even after decades, that starlight is still my guide. Even if it’s just a faint, flickering light to some, it can be a landmark and a guide to others.”

Karna gasped at Azadin’s words.

“Even if you are gilded, false angels, it doesn’t matter. If protecting the weak and defending humanity is not a mockery to you but a shining value, then you are comrades who share the same values as me. And I will protect my comrades.”

The world calls this man a soulless blasphemer.

But it is a shameful thing.

How can he be soulless when there is such a burning passion?

If this man is called a soulless blasphemer, what is the value of the souls of those who are more cynical, cold, and have lost their faith than him?

“I understand. I and the Celestial Fire Knights, having lost our way, will ask for your help.”

Karna knelt before Azadin and offered his sword.

Izmilla, seeing Karna, also knelt before Azadin.

“Good. I will borrow your swords for a while.”

Azadin accepted their swords, lightly touched their shoulders with them, and then returned them.

*********

The rumor that King Azadin had been excommunicated by the King’s Church spread like wildfire in Banreung’s capital, the Heart of the Mountain, as well as in Sandokar and Naisandokar.

‘Should we run away?’

‘Yeah, we shouldn’t have accepted that New Covenant thing… A Herald Clan member as king was absurd from the start.’

‘They say that when a Herald Clan member sat on the throne, the throne was angered and cracked?’

‘He’s a heretic after all. It was a scam. A scam!’

‘But the molasses cookies were sweet, weren’t they?’

‘Still, the Rescue Knights haven’t reacted at all… Wasn’t King Azadin supported by the Rescue Knights?’

‘Are both orders abandoning him?’

‘The New Covenant was reckless from the start. It was crazy. Crazy. To believe a soulless blasphemer was king just because he temporarily relieved the cold…’

‘No, but compared to other places, Banreung, Sandokar, and Naisandokar are really livable, you know? Other places are a mess right now. Goblins and Breeds are even eating humans raw to survive this winter.’

The people were confused and didn’t know what to do.

But at a time when public sentiment was wavering, the Celestial Fire Knights joined them.

The fact that the Celestial Fire Knights had sworn allegiance to King Azadin instantly reversed public opinion.

Although the Celestial Fire Knights were not as famous as they had initially planned, the sight of handsome men and beautiful women with angel wings, wearing shining armor and riding warhorses in a parade, overwhelmed the people.

Moreover, wasn’t this a sign that the Rescue Knights had acknowledged King Azadin?

Then, at least they would be spared from being burned at the stake by the King’s Church’s inquisitors.

*********

“You’re quite the charmer, aren’t you?”

Zekt, who had lost all his troops due to Visen’s betrayal and was now a defeated soldier, walked into the northeastern gate of the Heart of the Mountain, leading his horse.

He frowned at the sight of the Celestial Fire Knights’ banners fluttering everywhere.

The residents were decorating with the Celestial Fire Knights’ banners, sharing their joy as if it were a festival.

Of course, they didn’t share food and drinks like a real festival.

However, they were enjoying themselves by making the Rescue Knights’ three-winged wheel and the Celestial Fire’s banners with what they had.

Even in this harsh situation where they had to save food, it seemed that the desire of people to somehow feel good could not be completely suppressed.

Just then, soldiers on patrol spotted Zekt.

“Hey, wait a minute. You. What are you doing?”

“There’s a person on the horse behind you…”

Currently, Zekt had lost his symbolic golden armor and looked like a defeated soldier. And on his horse, a person was tied with ropes.

A man in luxurious clerical robes was hanging from the ropes, and there was vomit on the horse’s surcoat, and the man was completely unconscious.

The soldiers were shocked by the grotesque sight and pointed their spears at him.

Zekt clicked his tongue at the soldiers who didn’t recognize his bare face.

“I am Zekt. An inquisitor… well, that’s in the past, isn’t it?”

“Huh? L-Lord Zekt?”

“What is this…”

“As you can see, I lost my golden armor and returned alive. I have news for the King, so please let me meet him.”

“Ah, yes. Then, the one behind you is…”