The Shadowed Legacy of the Soulless Messenger [EN]: Chapter 443

The Second Winter 1

On the day summer ended, the clergy of the Wisdom Order achieved ascension.

Whether it was their last desperate act, cornered by the combined attacks of the Courage and Mercy Orders, or whether the blessing of the Nether God reached them as summer ended, everyone, regardless of age or gender, received the Nether’s mercy and ascended, becoming the Nether’s vassals.

Humans were transformed alive into something like tentacles made of muscle, over three meters long, and the entire former diocese of the Wisdom Order was covered with these things.

Fortunately, these transformed beings were rooted in place like trees and did not move, but a frost mist that froze even blood settled over the diocese of the Wisdom Order, and the shadows and laughter of humans echoed endlessly among the trees of flesh.

‘They are dreaming.’

The investigation team from the two Orders came to that conclusion.

Those who were once human had fallen into a dream where they did not know cold or pain, having received the mercy of the Nether, and their true forms, lost in dreams, were those fleshy trees.

An additional investigation team was dispatched to explore the Wisdom Order’s diocese to find traces of the Wisdom Order’s desecration of the angel statues in their attempt to create a corrupted Celestial [a being of immense power, often associated with the divine], and to restore the damaged angel statues, but those who entered soon lost contact and none returned.

When no one who had stepped into their dream world, a paradise of freezing fog and dreams, returned alive, the remaining Orders were startled and had no choice but to seal off the Wisdom Order’s diocese.

It was the miserable end of the Wisdom Order, who had betrayed the Relief Knights and served the Nether’s envoy, falling into corruption.

Although Azadin had captured Fireglyph, he had not fully secured Saint Mallory, and since he had greatly damaged the reputation of the Relief Knights, it was no exaggeration to call it a victory with only wounds.

*********

Even if it was a victory with only wounds, a victory was still a victory.

The fact that Azadin had punished the Wisdom Order and captured Fireglyph soon spread throughout the world.

The news also reached Chitai, which was at war with Azadin.

At the same time, King Nampa of Chitai died, and his son Sebalhan ascended to the throne.

“That bastard who assassinated my father so shamelessly…”

Nampa, the former king of Chitai, was killed by assassins from the Messenger Clan [a group known for their stealth and assassination skills].

Chitai had attacked Naisandokar first, committing all sorts of war crimes, including killing civilians, rape, looting, arson, and murder, but the deaths of such commoners were commonplace for kings.

They die if the harvest fails, they die if a typhoon hits, they die if there is a drought…

Aren’t commoners the ones who die when wild beasts, monsters, goblins, or birds run rampant?

More than that, assassinating the king was an intolerable sacrilege. The king is a descendant of the gods, so killing a god is the same as killing the human souls that the god would guide.

In addition, Azadin had claimed to have a divine medicine, so from Chitai’s point of view, he had become a heinous enemy who deserved to be chewed to death.

That guy had somehow managed to gain influence in the Relief Knights’ territory and secure a transportation network.

“So, that guy has found a way out?”

Originally, Chitai’s attack on Naisandokar was to cut off the waist of Azadin’s army and block their logistics network.

However, if they had expelled the Relief Knights’ Wisdom Order from Fireglyph and even seized Saint Mallory, they would be able to transport goods by waterway through the Relief Knights’ territory, not Naisandokar.

If waterway transportation became possible, the strategic goal of the Chitai army’s attack on Naisandokar would be diluted.

“It’s alright. The Wisdom Order hasn’t been completely annihilated yet, and whatever happens, attacking Naisandokar will cause chaos in the rear.”

The envoy from the Northern Empire said, carefully watching Sebalhan’s eyes.

Sebalhan glared at the elven woman, the envoy from the Northern Empire.

Sebalhan was not a fool either.

‘There are guys like the Messenger Clan under the Northern Empire too, aren’t there? My foolish vassals are clamoring for revenge on Azadin, but isn’t this too coincidental?’

It was possible that Azadin had sent assassins to assassinate King Nampa of Chitai.

But what about the assassination of Katsaim of Karasar at the same time?

No matter how skilled the Messenger Clan was, it was strange.

That guy, who was being thoroughly beaten by Chitai’s surprise attack, was sending assassins all over the world?

In fact, the one who benefited the most from the deaths of the kings and the ascension of the next princes was Cohen Lionheart of the Northern Empire, who was supporting them.

And now, the envoy from the Northern Empire was saying things that were almost like interference in internal affairs.

“So, you’re saying we should keep attacking Naisandokar and bang on the back door like a bunch of bandits?”

“That is in accordance with the principles of warfare.”

“Oh ho? These elves are now daring to discuss military strategy with me, who has inherited the blood of Yaegas [a legendary warrior or lineage]?”

“Originally, the sages said that when seeking knowledge, one should not discriminate based on status.”

“That’s only when it’s pure wisdom. Our main force attacking Naisandokar right now is the nomadic light cavalry, but the interior of Naisandokar has many trees and swamps, which dilutes the advantages of the light cavalry. The reason we can wage guerrilla warfare is that we are familiar with the terrain of the grasslands adjacent to Naisandokar. If we enter unfamiliar terrain, we will lose all these advantages. Moreover, although our nomads are used to the cold, this cold is exceptional.”

Sebalhan’s judgment was cold.

Even though they were easily overwhelming Azadin’s army and achieving overwhelming victories, he knew well that it was thanks to their various geographical, topographical, and troop-type advantages.

Was there any reason to risk losing those advantages and delve deep into enemy territory?

“If I stir up the rear, the Northern Empire will be happy, but shouldn’t the Northern Empire be dealing with these Messenger Clan brats directly by now?”

“Your Majesty is, of course, preparing to deal with them directly. However, it is regrettable that they cannot directly intervene at the moment due to the distance.”

“You say that, but I suspect that only we are shedding blood.”

The envoy was embarrassed by Sebalhan’s suspicion.

‘This rude barbarian king. You’ve pocketed everything you’ve looted, haven’t you? The Northern Empire has provided you with weapons and supplies for the war, and you’re still not satisfied, even after taking that and all the loot. You barbarians would have starved half your kingdom to death already without the Northern Empire’s support! And the fact that you became king is…’

The Northern Empire had provided a lot of support from behind to move the Chitai army.

Chitai was indebted to the Northern Empire for their lives because of that support.

However, the Chitai army had erased the grace of the supplies they had received from their minds and only thought about the blood they had shed, resenting the Northern Empire instead.

But then, an unexpected messenger arrived.

“Your Majesty. The, uh, an envoy from King Azadin has arrived.”

It was King Azadin’s side that had sent an envoy.

“Hmm. They came too quickly? Where did they send him from?”

“F-from the Relief Knights.”

“The Relief Knights are the envoy. Interesting. Let him in.”

Sebalhan ordered the envoy to be brought in, but the person who entered a little later was a familiar face that was different from his expectations.

It was a clergyman from the Relief Knights of this diocese.

“Uh, first of all, I’m not exactly a vassal of King Azadin. I’m just carrying out the role of delivering a letter according to the Order’s policy.”

The clergyman who came as an envoy made that point clear.

He said this because the letter he was delivering could offend Sebalhan and get him killed, and it was also true.

Azadin was trying to project his will from a distance using the Order’s ancient artifacts.

The clergyman of the diocese was merely an agent, not an envoy who had risked his life for Azadin’s will.

“I see. You’re using a shallow trick. So, you’re saying I shouldn’t touch you because you’re just a simple clergyman? I understand. So, where’s the letter?”

“Well, it’s written in several parts, so the letter to be opened depends on Your Majesty’s reaction.”

“What is that? Are you trying to play games with me now? Hand them all over.”

“If you don’t open them in the correct order, the letters will burn and the contents will be lost. King Azadin cast a spell directly from beyond the mirror.”

“Don’t talk nonsense. Do you think such petty magic will work on me? If it’s a mirror, you mean the ancient artifact installed in the Order, right? How great can the magic written from beyond that be?”

Sebalhan said that and forcibly took all the letters from the clergyman and tried to undo the magic on the letters.

But…

-Boom!

With a loud explosion, the letters instantly burst into flames.

“Ugh!?”

Sebalhan burned his hand from the unexpected strong firepower.

“……”

Even though the magic was cast from tens of thousands of miles away through the magical artifact, the mirror, Sebalhan could not undo Azadin’s magic.

It was clear who was superior as a mage.

“No, that’s not it. It’s just that I couldn’t solve the problem the other guy gave me, it doesn’t mean I’m necessarily inferior to him.”

Sebalhan made excuses. It seemed he didn’t want to admit that his magical skills were inferior to Azadin’s.

‘If you put it that way, King Azadin cast the magic from far away, beyond the magic mirror.’

‘The shock must be great.’

The vassals who were watching, the envoy from the Northern Empire, and even the clergyman who had brought the letter, all looked at Sebalhan with one mind, though they did not say it out loud.

“So, is that the end of it?”

“I did receive another set, just in case you would definitely burn them, but I don’t have it on me and I have to go back and get it.”

“Go get it.”

Following Sebalhan’s order, the clergyman went back to his church and brought another set of Azadin’s letters.

“Will you try again this time?”

“…No, I’ll do as he says.”

Then the clergyman opened the first letter.

The content of the first letter was as follows:

[First, I express my deepest condolences for the death of the late King Nampa. It was not my side that killed Nampa, but the actions of those who are profiting by recklessly using my name. But even if I say this, you won’t believe me, will you? Immediately holding the true culprit, the Northern Empire, accountable is something that a fledgling, foolish king who has just become king cannot even imagine, so it’s fine for you to resent me, who seems easy, while being played in the palm of your father’s enemy’s hand. A vile nature is common, but courage is rare, so I will not rebuke a vulgar commoner for doing ignorant things, just as a child makes mistakes.]

“………”

The priest’s face turned pale as he read the letter.

The king’s vassals, the envoy from the Northern Empire, and even King Sebalhan himself were all dumbfounded.