The Shadowed Legacy of the Soulless Messenger [EN]: Chapter 434

After Azadin ascended the throne of Banreung, Legion, who had joined Azadin’s military, ceased harming soldiers to maintain discipline, a practice he had employed in the past. This change was because, as a general serving the new king, he understood he could no longer rule the army with the same brutality he once did.

Although Legion appeared to be no different from a bandit leader, Azadin knew he was far more educated and refined than he let on. Therefore, he acted like a bandit among bandits but transformed into a loyal vassal when serving the king.

‘In that regard, I should commend him. However, I can’t overlook his past actions for the sake of military discipline.’

Azadin believed that if Legion could make more humane judgments under his influence, even if it led to defeat, it was a necessary sacrifice. The defeat at Naisandokar resulted in the deaths of numerous soldiers, refugees, and left many families bereaved. While punishment was unavoidable, he didn’t want to lose valuable assets like Legion and Kalan.

How could he address this without undermining military discipline?

“First, to acknowledge my mistakes, Naisandokar had too few officers and non-commissioned officers relative to the number of soldiers and civilians. We hastily pressed ordinary people into military service to guard vital trade routes without deploying sufficient leadership, which placed an immense burden on Kalan and Legion. If the result was a failure to control the troops, it is also my fault. Of course, I cannot avoid punishment for the sake of military discipline, but considering the already insufficient number of high-ranking officers, handing out severe punishments indiscriminately would further deplete their ranks. Therefore, I will confiscate a portion of the territories held by Kalan and Legion.”

Azadin ordered the confiscation of a portion of the territories held by Legion and Kalan.

In the feudal system, the punishment of confiscating territory was a severe blow. To lose land passed down through generations was akin to a demotion in status. It was such a harsh penalty that even if a subordinate immediately betrayed him, they would have little grounds for complaint.

However, in the current state of Pimbulbert, most territories were not very productive, so the punishment Azadin imposed was largely symbolic.

Despite suffering a significant defeat, it was a lenient punishment that still managed to maintain appearances.

“Ah…”

“Hmm.”

Kalan and Legion were more pleased that Azadin understood and considered their difficulties than they were concerned about the punishment itself. This was not common in the armies of that era.

In a world where it was commonplace to make absurd personnel assignments and then blame and execute the on-site personnel when problems arose, understanding the hardships of subordinates and admitting one’s own mistakes was rare. That alone qualified Azadin to earn the loyalty of his subordinates.

“Now, let’s set this aside and address the immediate problem. We’ve lost control of Naisandokar, and our core logistics network has been severed. We need to reroute the distribution network through the Arangi Kingdom, but the roads there are not yet properly developed, correct? Moreover, Fireglyph is also under attack, so transporting supplies through the Arangi Kingdom route won’t be easy either. Midiam, what are our current remaining supplies?”

“Sandokar has about two months’ worth of food stockpiled, and the other regions are similar.”

Azadin had been continuously taking food and supplies from the Chadra Highlands and transporting them through Naisandokar and Sandokar, ensuring that each region had a two-month supply of food. However, with that trade network cut off, if they could not restore it within two months, famine would spread throughout Azadin’s kingdom. It was a truly desperate crisis.

“First, we must find a way to neutralize the Chitae army’s light cavalry. If we use a scorched-earth tactic against their horses, it’s not that difficult.”

Even though they were nomadic light cavalry, they still needed a lot of fodder and water for their horses. If they lured the enemy into an area with little grass and engaged in a prolonged war, the Chitae army would also run out of supplies and lose their strength.

“Then, should we do that?”

When Midiam asked, Ismail shook his head instead of Azadin.

“Our army cannot engage in a prolonged war. We need to rescue Fireglyph and the Chadra Highlands.”

“Ah, that’s right.”

“I’m also worried about the severe cold that will begin after summer ends. When it gets cold, the war will enter a lull, but if we don’t secure the trade network before that lull, it will lead to terrible consequences.”

Azadin was running out of time.

Just then, a commotion arose outside the conference hall.

Dimia of the Flower, Bird, Wind, and Moon [a group of elite messengers], one of the four, walked in, covered in blood from an arrow wound.

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“Your Majesty, I have just returned.”

Dimia said, kneeling before Azadin. Dark, murky energy emanated from the arrow embedded in her body. They were arrows imbued with Nether magic [a dark form of magic].

“Hey, what’s with that arrow? Who shot you?”

It was hard to imagine someone like Dimia being hit by an arrow.

However, Dimia smiled and replied,

“They are the Northern Aragasa serving the Northern Empire. Even though we split a long time ago, they are still of the same race, so they shoot quite impressive arrows.”

“Ah, well then…”

The other knights who were watching felt the unique pride of the messenger clan from their conversation.

‘It’s understandable that she was hit by the Northern Aragasa, but not by anyone else.’

‘The pride of the messenger clan is amazing. She’s smiling so brightly even with an arrow in her.’

Meanwhile, Dimia, without tending to her wounds, began her report.

“The Northern Empire’s Cohen Lionheart is moving Tarasar and Karasar to reclaim Butuma and Korasar. He has declared that he will select descendants from Tarasar and Karasar to rebuild the royal families of Butuma and Korasar, which have been cut off.”

Not only the Chitae but also Tarasar and Karasar had risen up to strike Azadin. Tarasar and Karasar were physically too far away to attack directly, so instead, they began to politically pressure Azadin.

“Hmm, so they’re trying to politically undermine me.”

Butuma and Korasar, which had not been able to rebuild their royal families, had asked Azadin to be the protector of their kingdoms while they established a parliamentary system. They were preparing to form their own parliaments based on the draft laws written by Azadin.

In response, Tarasar and Karasar considered it heresy for them to establish parliaments outside the order of the King’s Church. They declared that they would instead install their own princes as the new kings of these regions.

The clash between the old order of the King’s Church and Azadin’s new order was inevitable, but it had now come to a head in the worst possible way.

However, Azadin, the very person being attacked, was actually relieved.

“Are those heavy-bottomed guys finally sending troops? That’s a relief.”

“A relief? If they succeed…”

Azadin would lose the two kingdoms of Korasar and Butuma. Of course, Azadin did not cling to such empty honors, but that was Azadin’s perspective…

From the perspective of those who viewed Azadin’s activities positively and even gave him the title of the Overlord of the South, Azadin would seem like a fleeting firefly that had briefly shone and then quickly lost its influence.

“Still, isn’t it about liberating those under the rule of the Naga Empire? Since the Nagas eat humans, it’s better for any human to restore the kingdom than to be under their rule. The Naga Empire won’t be easy to deal with, so they won’t be able to restore the kingdom in a short period, so there’s no need to worry. If they really do restore the kingdom, it would alleviate the suffering of the people, wouldn’t it?”

Azadin didn’t particularly care if his dream and goal were achieved by someone else’s hand rather than his own. He was a man whose dream itself was the goal.

However, the fact that all the kings were so eager to bring Azadin down felt like a noose tightening around the necks of Azadin’s vassals, making them uneasy.

“More importantly, Dimia, let’s look at your wound.”

“Your Majesty, your health…”

Dimia hesitated. Her wound was not something that ordinary clerics could treat. The Northern Aragasa, who were close confidants of the Northern Empire, used Nether magic instead of the magic of the Flower, Bird, Wind, and Moon, and the arrow was imbued with that Nether poison.

Azadin had to treat it himself, but Azadin’s current physical condition was far from good.

However, Azadin insisted.

“Dimia, you getting better quickly is the way for me to avoid overwork. Talent is precious. I’m not joking.”

Looking back at the defeat at Naisandokar, it was also because Azadin lacked talent. Azadin spoke his true feelings without a hint of falsehood.

‘He’s sincere. This man isn’t trying to look after my wound to gain my favor, but he genuinely sees me as a valuable asset.’

Dimia felt a surge of emotion. The four of the Flower, Bird, Wind, and Moon were originally vassals of Araiel, and they were only following Azadin because Araiel had asked them to.

Azadin of Muan, a dropout of the messenger clan. He was just Araiel’s younger brother and a late-blooming messenger who had started to function properly after receiving strange powers from Elder Kazas. They thought his skills and abilities were below their own.

However, it felt strange that such an Azadin was valuing them so highly and treating them without regard for his own well-being.

The four of the Flower, Bird, Wind, and Moon originally regarded Azadin as their junior. No matter how talented Azadin was, their true master was Araiel, and Azadin was just a junior they were helping according to Araiel’s will.

But now, they even felt pride in following him.

At least Dimia was willing to accept Azadin as her king.

“Now then, Dimia, drink this first. It will hurt a bit.”

“I am used to pain.”

Azadin gave Dimia a painkiller mixed with alcohol and poppy juice and directly pulled out the arrow. Nether poison emanated from the wound, but Azadin took out a black obsidian dagger to remove the Nether poison and used the white magic of the New King’s Scripture to tend to her wound. The powerful force of the New King’s Scripture completely healed Dimia’s wound. The cost was borne entirely by Azadin’s body. He was about to collapse, unable to even support his own body.

“Your Majesty.”

Midiam supported him, barely managing to keep him upright, but his whole body was as hot as a poker heated in a furnace, and his magic was boiling.

“Ugh… I’m sorry for showing you such an unsightly…”

Azadin couldn’t finish his sentence.

Midiam and Ismail helped Azadin to his bedroom.

The vassals remained and watched.

‘What will happen if His Majesty collapses here?’

Fear flashed across the faces of the knights from Sandokar.