The Shadowed Legacy of the Soulless Messenger [EN]: Chapter 429

Triodana found it strange that the pressure from the Azadin army had disappeared from their rear.

Using Nether magic against the Azadin army was part of their original plan, but there were many on the Azadin side who were familiar with Nether magic or necromancy. They shouldn’t have retreated with this level of Nether magic, so it was strange that the enemy’s pursuit had ceased.

The reason was soon revealed.

[King Sebalhan of Chitae is preparing to subjugate Azadin.]

[The King’s Church is also forming a subjugation force to subdue Azadin.]

Triodana had cut off regular communication with the Northern Empire, but still maintained a secure communication channel. Cohen Lionheart of the Northern Empire had access to the communication networks of the King’s Church as well as the Order of the Rescue Knights. It was through the Rescue Knights’ network that Cohen Lionheart had informed them of Chitae’s movements.

Triodana chuckled.

“This is quite something. I’m in a position to benefit, so I can’t really say anything, but they’re out of their minds. Humans…”

Triodana and the Wisdom Order had been captured by the beings of the Nether while researching Nether magic. Originally, they had sought power while using immoral magic and defacing angel statues, but they still held a sense of mission in their hearts. However, after the Nether’s envoys took control of them, they completely turned into enemies of humanity.

But because of that, Triodana knew well that Azadin was the true king who strived to protect humanity.

Yet, the humans had no intention of accepting that.

A messenger clan as the master of the throne? The idea that someone with the will to protect the people, regardless of lineage, was qualified to be king was anathema to them.

If so, then the King’s Church was a truly foolish religion that had been repeating false teachings all along, wasn’t it? Rather than admit that, they chose to kill the king who had appeared after a long time.

“I was human, and I still am, but humans are really interesting. Are they trying to crush Azadin now, before Pimbulbert? The nobles of each country are joining hands to commit such a disgrace to destroy the evidence that they were wrong.”

[Are you dissatisfied?]

Cohen of the Northern Empire’s voice came from beyond the mirror.

“No, Father. We are pleased.”

[Yes. ‘We.’ Foolish and pitiful thing. I told you not to follow their ways even if you went inside the Wisdom Order.]

Cohen Lionheart of the Northern Empire had always been wary of the Wisdom Order, which sought power in an unstable and dangerous way. Although he himself was from the Wisdom Order, he had drawn a clear line in his heart and avoided indulging in the power of the Nether.

However, not only did the Wisdom Order become minions of the Nether while indulging in its power, but Triodana, who was sent to monitor and control them, also fell.

“You call me foolish. I wonder who is more foolish?”

[Such a discussion will only go in parallel. Triodana. Just use Chitae to stir up Azadin’s north, and you use that information to your advantage.]

There was a subtle pity and contempt in Cohen Lionheart’s voice. He pitied his son, who had fallen into the Nether’s fold while carrying out the mission he had given him, but the Northern Empire often linked this pity with contempt. Rather than showing compassion and mercy to people, it was better to cut their throats and end their miserable and painful lives.

‘But even you are secretly feeling inferior to King Azadin. If only King Azadin is purged, you will be the only leader of humanity left. But isn’t trying to eliminate a rival in this way proof of your own inferiority?’

Triodana smirked and cut off the communication.

As he severed the connection, darkness rushed around him. Beautiful angels with blood-stained wings approached him. They looked like beautiful and seductive goddesses, but when Triodana narrowed his eyes, he could see the flesh formed into the shape of angels, with hideous tentacles, scales, and thorns.

“Brother. What does your father say?”

“……”

Triodana ignored the monsters calling him brother and looked at his own hand with a blurry gaze. There was a large hole in his hand, and a sharp gaze could be felt from the void. A fear that would drive him mad could be felt… and at the same time, laughter and a sense of liberation. He was already one with this fear.

It was not him who should be afraid, but the enemies who stood in his way. Yes. He had become one with fear, so there was no need to be afraid.

“The humans are attacking King Azadin. We won’t have the strength to focus on us.”

“Then…”

“We must maintain the minimum front at the Arangi front and focus all our capabilities on the Fireglyph to cut off Azadin’s base.”

As Triodana said that, the fallen angels nodded in unison.

“Then, we should send all our troops right now…”

“No, we shouldn’t.”

“Why? Triodana?”

“This is strange again. Why did they only send such a small number of troops?”

The angels found that strange. As they said, the fallen angels with dark red blood wings had increased in enormous numbers. They were even destroying the statues of the three archangels, creating a large amount of angel blood, and transmigrating humans into angels indiscriminately. Unlike the angel egg method used by the Wisdom Order, their method, which could transmigrate even adults, was of lower quality, but it was creating far more fallen angels. Nevertheless, Triodana only brought out those who were originally knights to deceive the humans, and pretended to lose on the front lines.

“If we show our true power, humanity will unite. Then, will the humans attack King Azadin?”

“But if we want to destroy Azadin, wouldn’t it be enough to mobilize all our troops and eliminate the Fireglyph?”

“Even if humanity unites under the will of the New Testament and blocks our path… the Netherstorm will end, and the old gods will once again roam this land.”

“The old gods will once again become the rulers of this land, so is there really a need to do that?”

“Of course, there is a need.”

Triodana asserted.

“It is to have the humans eliminate the greatest king chosen by the Yaehagas gods and the three archangels. You do not understand that aesthetic, so I am taking on the role of the prophet instead of you.”

Triodana said that and left a minimum defense force behind, and began the attack on the Fireglyph with the rest of the troops.

*********

Prince Kalintz was so stressed that his hair was turning white.

“What is this?!”

The troops of the Rescue Knights and the Wisdom Order were gathering under the Fireglyph. It was a blatant signal that they were going to capture the Fireglyph.

‘Even if we are brothers of the same Rescue Knights, how can they openly attack us just because we are from different factions? Do they have no shame?’

Fortunately, the Fireglyph had a huge wall with cannons, and this wall was like the jaws of hell for the enemies coming up to the fortress. However, since this was the rearmost area of the Azadin army, the troops here were just a transport unit and an escort unit to protect the transport unit. It was not enough to conduct a proper defense battle. Fortunately, Chadra Oger and Legion, the training instructor of the Azadin army, and Kalan were in the Naisandokar region, so they could be called back, but… Chitae’s army was also gathering in the Naisandokar region.

“Your Highness.”

Zan, the centurion of the Northern Aragasa, brought a letter to Prince Kalintz.

“What letter is that?”

“It’s a letter from Asendar.”

“…Why a letter?”

Kalintz frowned as he looked at the letter sent by Cohen Lionheart of the Northern Empire. Cohen preferred to transmit most orders orally, because no evidence would remain. However, there were times when things had to be left in writing, and Prince Kalintz thought that this was not one of those times.

Prince Kalintz was suspicious, but he opened the letter. The letter contained the Northern Empire’s recommendation to open the gates and surrender, saying that they would overlook their past mistakes. In other words, the forces of the Rescue Knights and the Wisdom Order that were attacking now were in league with the Northern Empire.

“Ha….”

Prince Kalintz was quite disappointed by the Northern Empire’s transformation. The Northern Empire was not a very good father. But the powerful people of the time were not good fathers. In particular, the royal families who inherited the blood of the Yaehagas god aged slower than humans, and the speed varied, so no one, including themselves and their families, knew when they would die. In such a situation, there were even fratricidal wars between fathers and sons over the throne. The Northern Empire was certainly not a good father, but he was a good king.

‘I will become a great divine king who will achieve the unification of humanity by uniting the King’s Church and the angel faith.’

The vision that the Northern Empire showed and his sincerity towards that vision made his children understand even if their father neglected their upbringing or sometimes used them as warriors. But what about the current Northern Empire? He had become a ghost of power and honor who was willing to change his own principles to push out Azadin.

“What are you going to do?”

Centurion Zan asked.

“What about the Northern Aragasa?”

“They have joined Chitae as reinforcements. The Aragasa are originally nomads.”

“What do you think, Zan? Can King Azadin win this time?”

“……”

Zan was silent at the question.

“Why?”

“Actually, the person who holds the biggest key right now is Your Highness.”

“Me?”

“Yes. If the Fireglyph is captured, King Azadin will lose all his bases. Prince Kalintz, who is protecting this Fireglyph, is the one who carries Azadin’s fate on his shoulders.”

“Yes, that’s right. Then, if I surrender, my father will surely reward me greatly, right?”

“……”

“Isn’t that right?”

“In the case of His Majesty Cohen, well, to be honest, after the fortress is captured, there is no reason to reward a traitor separately. Wouldn’t it be enough to be grateful just to be alive?”

“I know. In this situation, there is no such thing as surrender.”

Prince Kalintz liked Azadin, no matter what. Azadin’s heroic actions and miraculous victories had shaken his heart, and he also liked the fact that he was sincerely pouring food without hesitation to save the refugees and the people. And what he liked the most was that he never showed it, even while sacrificing so much. Just giving food to people was a huge sacrifice in this harsh era, but… Azadin didn’t show it. He made unnecessary refugees into workers and soldiers, and tried to provide them with a way to make a living, rather than begging or charity. He was proving his sincerity with actions rather than a hundred flowery words.

“I can’t let such a person’s great achievement be ruined by the betrayal of a petty person like me.”

Prince Kalintz called himself a petty person, but his subordinates liked Prince Kalintz precisely because of that.