The Shadowed Legacy of the Soulless Messenger [EN]: Chapter 409

“I can’t deceive the king’s eyes, can I? I heard rumors that you had awakened the light of the King’s Hwa [a legendary power], but I was half in doubt….”

“Is that a complaint?”

“No. It’s a joyous occasion. I was so happy that I was wondering if such a good thing could happen so easily.”

Sion Etar’s words were not empty flattery.

The Aragasa [a clan of skilled assassins], the Messenger Clan, were treated as untouchable outcasts in this land.

But now, one of them had emerged with the qualifications of a king. It was no exaggeration to say that they had humbled the Hybrids [the dominant race].

So, when Azadin took the throne, the Messenger Clan was as happy as if it were their own affair, even though they knew he was the son of the traitor Acre and a rebel who had hindered the capture of Corasar.

“Well, enough with the formalities, shall we move on to negotiations?”

“Yes. What do you want from us?”

Sion Etar asked with a smile.

Would he ask for the Sun of Seonwoo [a powerful artifact] or the release of Midiam Etar? Or would he propose that they no longer be enemies but cooperate?

What could they get in return….

Once he was settled, would he ask for a position for the Aragasa? Or would he ask for a territory to be carved out for the Aragasa….

As Sion Etar was pondering these thoughts, Azadin spoke.

“I would like you to come under my command.”

“…….”

“Why?”

“No, I was just having trouble processing that. What did you just say?”

“It’s annoying to make me say it twice when you understood. I’m a king, after all, and I have a position to uphold.”

“I apologize. So, are you saying that you want us to come under the Banlung Kingdom?”

“If coming under my command sounds bad, then let’s say we’ll form a cooperative relationship.”

Azadin made a brazen request.

No, a guy who betrayed his clan and ran away was asking Sion Etar, the most prestigious family in the clan, a member of the founding five great families, and the current power in the Elder Council, to come under his command?

But Azadin was now the King of Banlung. He was in a position to make such a request.

‘It’s truly a world of change. He was a guy I hated enough to chew his flesh for hindering our capture of Corasar, but now he’s become the king of a nation and is making such a proposal.’

Sion Etar was amazed by Azadin’s unpredictable path and changed his expression.

“I never thought you would make such a proposal. But then, what will you give in return? Will you become emperor again and reinstate us as the emperor’s messengers? Don’t forget that we have another option, the Northern Empire.”

Sion Etar regretted mentioning the Northern Empire.

Because a faint smile appeared on Azadin’s face.

“The Northern Empire already has the Northern Aragasa, so I don’t think they’ll accept your clan now that your roles overlap, do you? In fact, things aren’t going very well, are they?”

The deal between the Northern Empire and the Messenger Clan was unlikely to go well. Above all, the Northern Aragasa would not want it.

From the Northern Aragasa’s point of view, wouldn’t it be like a stone that had been rolling around outside trying to dislodge the stone that was already in place?

From the Northern Empire’s point of view, there was no reason to use the Messenger Clan at the risk of backlash from the Northern Aragasa, whom they had been using well in their organization.

Azadin saw right through that.

“As you know, we have the Grimoire of Hwajopungwol [a powerful magical artifact]. Even if we are the same Aragasa, our individual abilities are qualitatively different from the Northern Aragasa. Moreover, we have obtained the Sun of Seonwoo this time. If we use the Sun of Seonwoo, it will be enough to maintain our clan.”

“So? Can you operate that Sun of Seonwoo?”

“…….”

“And I don’t think that qualitative difference is that appealing to the Northern Empire. How much did you sacrifice for that qualitative difference?”

“What?”

Sion Etar did not understand Azadin’s question.

Sacrifice? What was he talking about?

“Sion Etar. Do you know how large the population of the Northern Aragasa is? It’s more than ten times that of the Messenger Clan. What do you think is the reason for that?”

“That’s….”

Sion Etar was speechless. The fact that the Northern Aragasa were more than ten times the size of the Messenger Clan was news to Sion.

However, Azadin, who had recruited the likes of Prince Kalintz and Lord Karna, had an advantage in information about the Northern Empire, so seeing him speak with such confidence, it was clear that the population of the Northern Aragasa was indeed far greater than that of the Messenger Clan.

“Sion Etar. I want to liberate the Aragasa people from the shackles of being messengers.”

“Liberation, you say?”

Sion Etar doubted his ears.

For the Messenger Clan, being the emperor’s messengers was both a curse and a source of pride.

But Azadin was talking about liberation from it?

“Think about it. From the beginning, the position of the emperor’s messenger is a scapegoat that earns the hatred of the people. What benefit is there in the clan monopolizing it? Why do people hate the Messenger Clan? Because they are foreigners who came from who knows where, killing their kings and nobles, and ruling as the swords and spears of the ruling class, receiving immunity?”

“We have immense authority. We have the power to kill even the great nobles, the royals, and even the king!”

“You could say that if we had executed great nobles, clergymen, and kings on our own without the emperor’s orders. But when have we ever killed such great nobles at our own discretion? Did we kill someone we wanted to kill by distorting the emperor’s orders without his command? Is that what you’re saying?”

“That’s….”

Sion Etar was speechless.

If he said yes, it would mean that they were negligent as messengers and pursued their own selfish interests, which would be an insult to the clan.

If he said no, then as Azadin said, they were just butchers who were hated for no real gain.

“Yes. The pride of the Messenger Clan is ultimately just empty bravado. To gain that empty bravado, what are they doing to raise the children of the clan as the emperor’s messengers? When children are born, most of them die during harsh training, so the clan’s population always remains constant. While the population of others has increased tenfold or twentyfold over the past 400 years, the Messenger Clan is killing their own children, their future. The position of the emperor’s secret envoy to protect the people is a position that comes with honor and power, but it’s also a position that’s easy to be hated. If our clan doesn’t let go of this, it’s impossible for the clan to integrate into the Hybrids continent. When I coldly calculate the gains and losses, I think it’s more beneficial to let go.”

“So, are you saying that the clan should just be at the mercy of the Hybrids without any position?”

“Of course not. The clan already has a foothold in the Corasar Merchant Guild and the Van Dyke Trading Company. Right? Let’s focus our capabilities on profitable work, and let’s openly share the messenger work, which requires sacrifice, with everyone. The emperor’s messenger is a necessary position to rule this vast continent, but because only the Aragasa people do it, the criticism is focused on them.”

Azadin declared that even if the emperor’s messenger system was restored, its doors would be open not only to the Aragasa but also to other races, even the Hybrids.

“This is quite something. You’re not just making radical statements about the King’s Church, are you, King Azadin?”

Sion Etar clicked his tongue at Azadin’s words.

What Azadin was saying was not just empty talk.

Some members of the Elder Council were already aware of the truth.

The position of the emperor’s messenger that the emperor had given them was a curse in itself.

It was nothing more than a false honor that made them beings that the Hybrids could hate as much as they wanted, strange beings that could not become one with them, and who had to undergo harsh training from childhood.

From the beginning, the emperor had chosen foreigners as messengers for that very reason.

“The problem is how to persuade the other elders, King Azadin. Can you convince the other elders with those words?”

The emperor’s messenger was an honorable position, and the idea of giving it up was so radical that it would not be accepted by the old-fashioned elders.

Azadin knew that well.

“That’s why I’m talking to you, Sion Etar.”

“What do you mean?”

“Sion, son of the Etar bloodline. Let’s join hands. I will support you in taking control of the Messenger Clan.”

“…Hmm.”

Sion smiled wryly.

Even now, the Elder Council was debating whether or not to assassinate Azadin.

But Azadin was planning to get Sion on his side and, through him, take control of the entire Aragasa….

“I know that Bisen has rebelled and that the Knights of Salvation are also in turmoil. And the Arangi Kingdom is not such a perfect ally for you either. I don’t know if joining hands with you is a good idea. If I join hands with you and try to take control of the Elder Council, and you fall first, won’t I be left standing alone on the edge of a cliff?”

“That’s what alliances are like. Do you want someone who is completely established? Then should we make a deal after I conquer the world? Sadly, I don’t think there will be much need for a deal by then. It’s not like I don’t know where the sanctuary is or how to get in.”

Unlike other kings who did not know where the headquarters of the Messenger Clan was, Azadin knew every detail of their lives, where they gathered, and how they trained.

“Are you threatening us now?”

“Of course not. The Aragasa are a proud people, especially the Messenger Clan, who are not moved by threats. I would just be grateful if you would think that I am that desperate.”

‘That’s the same thing, you bastard.’

Sion Etar was annoyed by Azadin’s way of sugarcoating things, but he wasn’t entirely displeased.

A king from the Messenger Clan.

Just the fact that he was someone who recognized and understood the pride of the Aragasa made him want to support him.

“Desperate, you say.”

“Yes. As you said, I can’t say that my situation is entirely good right now. But I can’t just wait and hope that my will will be fulfilled. I know that sometimes you have to take risks, even if they are uncertain. What about you, Sion Etar? Are you still going to keep waiting for the time to come?”

‘Hmm. Certainly. There has never been anyone among the Messenger Clan who has risen to such a high position as Azadin. Even the first leader, Harkonia, was not a king.’

Although Azadin was a traitor to the clan, the Messenger Clan had joined hands with even worse beings.

“I understand. Then let’s form an alliance.”

“Good. Well, I never thought I would form an alliance with you.”

“I suppose so. You were a senior like the sky in the clan, weren’t you? I shouldn’t have even stepped on your shadow….”

Sion Etar said that and looked at Azadin.

“As for the proof of the contract.”

“Shall we write a blood oath?”

“No. King Azadin. You….”

Sion Etar smiled wryly.

“You must marry my cousin.”

“……….”

Azadin’s mouth was tightly shut, as if he had been caught off guard by Sion Etar’s words.