The Shadowed Legacy of the Soulless Messenger [EN]: Chapter 448

The elder Kazas of the Messenger Clan was a wicked sorcerer of Elven royalty, who once served as a leader of the elves.

He committed terrible crimes that threatened humans, earning him the title of ‘Demon King’ or ‘Erlkönig’ [a mythical figure associated with death and the supernatural].

Just as the Messenger Clan captured him and studied all sorts of Elven and ancient magic, he also studied the Messenger Clan’s grimoires [books of magic] and leaked their contents to the elves.

And the Northern Aragasa [a group of assassins], who learned it, acted as assassins for the Northern Empire, killing kings of various nations, kidnapping Sion Etar, and infiltrating Sandokar Castle to ambush Count Iveczek’s son, Count Gienta, inflicting a fatal wound.

In response, Count Gienta’s vassals requested the king’s healing from Azadin.

*********

“This is a ploy to get me to come.”

Azadin saw through the Northern Empire’s dirty trick and clicked his tongue.

They had already infiltrated Sandokar, ambushed the Count, and slipped away without being caught.

This meant that the assassin’s skill was more than enough to kill the Count if they had wanted to.

Yet, they didn’t kill him, either to make Azadin waste his power on royal healing, or to lure Azadin to Sandokar to assassinate him.

At this, the Messenger Clan bristled.

“Hey, boss! Let us go! We’ll go and wring the necks of those Northern bastards right now! They want to settle things with assassination? We’ll show them who the best assassins in this land are!”

Indim, considered the best of the Messenger Clan, volunteered to assassinate the Northern Empire.

His colleagues, Seraph and Dimia, clicked their tongues beside him.

“Your Majesty, please punish us for our rudeness!”

“No, it’s fine.”

Azadin shook his head.

“I have no intention of fighting with assassinations. And the Northern Empire’s territory is probably so heavily guarded right now that there isn’t even a pinprick of space to stick a needle in.”

“They’re just Northern Aragasa, after all!”

“That kind of carelessness is the problem. Why do our clan members look down on the Northern Aragasa, who are our own kin? They don’t look down on us, but if we underestimate them, even if we have the upper hand, it will be dangerous. And if our skills are equal, or if they outnumber us, then it goes without saying.”

Azadin knew the arrogant nature of the Messenger Clan well, so when giving this warning, he didn’t even mention the possibility of the enemies being more skilled.

“Then, how about we launch a full-scale assassination campaign? If we kill knights and field commanders….”

“Then we’ll just be sending assassins back and forth, and there won’t be any talented people left in any country. The chaos will increase, and all of that will be a loss for humanity.”

Azadin explained calmly.

“Around the time winter becomes severe, the Nether’s forces will begin to attack this land in earnest. Until then, I want to preserve humanity’s strength. Even if they are our enemies right now, their noble class, administrative officials, and clergy are all valuable human resources. If we all start assassinating each other’s talents, the chaos will fall squarely on the people.”

“They don’t care about human coexistence and are trying to take you out, boss. What kind of daydream are you having?”

“No, even putting aside such idealistic theories, we’ll be at a loss if we just engage in an assassination war. Currently, our food availability is actually increasing as the refugee soldiers die. Why is that possible?”

“……”

Indim tilted his head, and Dimia answered instead.

“It’s because we have an excellent supply system. When soldiers die and units retreat, there is almost no food lost.”

“That’s right. In other words, we are currently expending a tremendous amount of administrative power. It’s possible because officials and clergy establish thorough supply plans and provide supplies on time.”

Normally, if a large amount of supplies is given to a unit at once, the supplies are also lost when that unit suffers heavy casualties.

However, Azadin’s army is supplied as if blood is supplying nutrients to each part of the body, with neither shortages nor surpluses, so even if casualties occur during battle, there is little loss of supplies.

The more units that suffer casualties are reorganized, the more the availability of supplies increases, and the more elite the soldiers become. This magical feat is all thanks to the work of administrative officials and the supply corps.

“So, if we retaliate with assassinations, we’ll be the ones who lose out in the end. Currently, the enemies are thoughtlessly attacking the noble Count of Sandokar and military commanders, but if they come into the city and assassinate supply officials, then it will become uncontrollable.”

“But aren’t our supply officials the priests of the Relief Knights? Would they be so easily assassinated?”

Seraph pointed that out.

When Azadin went on the Southern Sea Expedition and the Butuma Expedition, those in charge of supplies were the relief units of the Relief Knights, who were already skilled in food transportation and supply.

Also, they are priests and Relief Knights, not just weaklings who only push pens.

However, Azadin was firm.

“Sion Etar was also attacked. It’s not good to underestimate the opponent too much.”

“Anyway, shouldn’t we give them a little lesson so that they can’t use assassins recklessly?”

“Yes, that’s right. That’s why I’m thinking of going to Sandokar myself.”

“……”

Seraph, Dimia, and Indim looked at Azadin silently.

To go to Sandokar immediately, they would have to travel a considerable distance and ride a hippogriff [a mythical creature, part horse and part eagle].

With the weather getting colder, could Azadin’s body really withstand flying through the blizzard on a hippogriff?

“It’s okay. I have the king’s protection.”

“We will also do our best to reach Sandokar as quickly as possible.”

“I am being presumptuous, but may I accompany you?”

When Dimia asked that, Indim scoffed.

“No, if anyone is going to accompany him, it should be me, the best!”

“But I’m lighter.”

“What are you talking about? I’m lighter.”

“……?”

After some back-and-forth, Dimia and Indim ended up on the scales.

Surprisingly, the scales tipped towards Dimia. Indim was lighter than Dimia.

“…That’s impossible! Did you use magic?!”

Dimia glared at Indim as if he couldn’t believe the result.

“You can’t face reality, Dimia. The scales don’t lie.”

Then Azadin stepped in.

“Alright, alright. Calm down, everyone. It’s a good thing that you both weighed yourselves fairly on the scales, but this time I’m going alone. If two of you ride, the hippogriff will have a hard time.”

Azadin cut off the three of the Flower, Bird, Wind, and Moon’s bickering over trivial matters.

“No, Your Majesty. Are you really going to Sandokar alone?”

“Assassins will be targeting Your Majesty in Sandokar.”

“It’s okay. Anyway, all of you…”

“Yes?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Azadin was about to say that all of them were inferior to him, but he stopped himself.

Among the Messenger Clan, especially these three of the Flower, Bird, Wind, and Moon, were too proud of their skills, so saying such a thing would cause a lot of trouble later.

‘Everyone acts like children in situations like this. How annoying.’

Azadin prepared to leave.

*********

The Southern Sea Fleet, tasked with subjugating the merfolk who were attacking the Southern Sea routes and fishing villages, was personally commanded by Sir Zekt, a former Inquisitor.

He clicked his tongue as he heard the news in his cabin.

“The king is flying to the front lines alone. The state of this country is truly something.”

Zekt, the Inquisitor who was at the forefront of fighting the merfolk, was making progress by leading the new holy knight order of the Relief Knights and the skilled men-at-arms aspiring to be squires, while clearing the foggy southern coast.

Surprisingly, he was currently satisfied with his work.

Handling a force made up of elite soldiers, different from the refugee soldiers, and training them to become squires was familiar work for him, who was originally an instructor for the King’s Church.

Stabilizing this Southern Sea route could be an important achievement when he tries to become the king of the Southern Kingdom in the future.

But then, news came that King Azadin was heading to Sandokar alone.

‘The promise to make me king is a promise between King Azadin and me alone. If he dies or goes missing, what will happen to this promise?’

With that thought, Zekt complained about the weakness of Azadin’s kingdom.

If they had built up this much power, the country should be running smoothly even if the king was indulging in debauchery, but it was illogical for him to fly to Sandokar on a hippogriff, where assassins were waiting.

However, his colleague, Sir Astadier, had a different opinion.

“It’s running well, isn’t it? I’ve sat on the throne myself, and wow. Seeing what my son is doing, I was just a guy who was sitting on the throne. I’m ashamed.”

“He is not your son, Sir Astadier.”

“Yes. That’s what we have to say publicly. For his New Testament ideology, he has to be a soulless infidel, not the son of a royal family, wouldn’t you say?”

“……”

Zekt clicked his tongue as he looked at Astadier, who still didn’t understand.

‘Did he drink too much and get holes in his brain? Why can’t he understand when I say no?’

Zekt felt tired of talking to Astadier and went out of the cabin to the deck.

But then, the lookout on the mast shouted.

“A ship is approaching from 15 degrees forward on the starboard side! It appears to be at least a three-masted sailing ship!”

A ship was approaching over the foggy surface of the water.

“Hmm. It’s hard to see because of the fog. Where!”

Zekt drew his sword. A golden halo emitted a strong light around Zekt.

Then, the light gathered at the tip of the sword, and Zekt thrust the sword into the air.

-Whoosh!

The fog scattered along the path of the sword, creating a long, straight passage to the ship.

The entire huge sailing ship where Zekt was standing shook as if it had fired a cannon. It was proof of Zekt’s terrifying power.

The sailors were terrified by Zekt’s prowess in securing visibility to the other ship with his terrifying power.

‘As expected of Sir Zekt…’

‘It’s a relief that he’s on our side.’

‘I have no idea what he’s thinking, though.’

As everyone thought that, Zekt’s narrow eyes suddenly widened.

The flag of the King’s Church Inquisition Bureau was flying on the other ship.

A ship of the King’s Church in this distant Southern Sea route?

Then, a large lantern hanging at the front of the ship flickered.

It was a signal requesting approach.

“Uh, what should we do?”

“Let’s meet and hear what they have to say.”

Zekt ordered the captain and navigators to allow them to approach.

*********

The ship of the King’s Church approached and dropped anchor, and they threw a net to create a net bridge between the two ships.

Then, they placed planks on the net.

Usually, when sailors move between ships, they only use either a net bridge or a plank.

The fact that they are putting in this much effort means that a distinguished person has arrived.

Indeed….

Three Inquisitors in golden armor and a clergyman in bishop’s robes appeared.

It was Archbishop Boemond of Karasar.

“It’s been a while, Sir Zekt. You look well.”

His old, wrinkled face twisted grotesquely.

Is that what he calls a smile?

It was as if the knot of a withered, dry tree had turned into a human face, with a grotesque smile and gaze directed at Zekt.