The Shadowed Legacy of the Soulless Messenger [EN]: Chapter 467

However, the situation for the Nagas was not favorable either.

“It is said that the Nagas are being severely attacked by Azadin’s forces in Butuma. Azadin’s army is continuously deploying massive forces, and it seems the Nagas will soon be expelled.”

“Is, is that true?”

The elves were shocked by the news. The Nagas, who had been dominating humanity?

Even though the Nagas were known to be weak against the cold, their capabilities were still extraordinary.

Moreover, King Azadin was fighting a war against the Chitai in the north. Was he overwhelming the Nagas while waging a two-front war?

The elves, who had allied with the Nagas and knew their power intimately, couldn’t help but be amazed by Azadin’s strength.

“Yes. Azadin’s army is managing their food supply by turning all the refugees into soldiers and throwing them into the front lines. They have a lot of troops.”

“Even so, are those refugees really fighting against the Nagas who have experienced countless battles? A skilled warrior or mage can easily sweep through a battlefield alone. To stop them, you’d have to burn through gunpowder, which is more precious than gold. Even the Banreung Kingdom wouldn’t have that much gunpowder left, would they?”

“It is said that the king’s blessing and elite soldiers are making up for the refugees’ lack of ability. They deploy elite soldiers to break through enemy lines and then use the refugee soldiers to mop up the broken enemy. They are managing their troops with surprising efficiency and precision.”

“And there’s also that thing, the Earth Claw magic. The druid forces have joined King Azadin and are using Earth Claw magic on the battlefield….”

Earth Claw, a magic that sharpens pebbles and stones to create rough terrain.

This green magic, favored by druids, was particularly deadly to the Nagas, who moved by crawling on the ground.

The joining of Wild Druid Sedrin and her disciples and companions with Azadin’s army secured a favorable means of attack against the Nagas.

“But the Nagas aren’t fools. They didn’t conquer the world for nothing. To fight them on equal terms, the commander must be extraordinary. King Azadin is one thing, but who is in charge of the southern front?”

“The Dragon Order, Inquisitor Zekt, and former Tarasar King Astadear are in command.”

“But didn’t King Azadin spread rumors that he would be using troops to secure food supplies? So, they are essentially killing people to manage food supplies, wouldn’t morale be low?”

The elves were also the ones who spread rumors to turn public sentiment against Azadin when his food storage was burned.

Wasn’t this rumor hitting Azadin where it hurt?

“Well, they’ve been doing that since before the warehouse attack.”

“They should be showing that they are using more troops because food is running out, but they are just doing what they always do. They’ve always been using troops like that.”

Azadin was taking in all the refugees and putting them into military service.

It was only because of the current chaotic times that he could get away with this. If he had done this in normal times, he would have been considered a war-crazed tyrant.

However, since other kingdoms were not taking in and feeding the refugees, Azadin, who at least provided them with a way to survive, was able to run his country despite these atrocities.

“Even so, wouldn’t the morale of the new recruits be low?”

“The funny thing is that many of the veteran soldiers are former refugees. So, they ignore the new recruits’ anxieties, saying, ‘I survived, too.'”

The veteran soldiers, who were once refugees but survived and were promoted through continuous battles, did not accept the new recruits’ complaints that ‘King Azadin seems to be using us to secure food supplies!’

In fact, from the veteran soldiers’ perspective, the refugee soldiers really did seem incompetent.

They were once in the same situation, but people tend to forget their past. Once time passes, their memories are packaged as if they did everything well, and they can’t stand seeing the new recruits.

Rather, the veteran soldiers are eager to use the incompetent new recruits, but the commanders deploy the veteran soldiers to the most dangerous areas to protect the new recruits.

So, from the veteran soldiers’ perspective, they are working hard to save the new recruits, but the new recruits are complaining that the higher-ups are intentionally sending them to their deaths.

The veteran soldiers, who were once refugees, do not agree with the new recruits.

Although the number of refugee soldiers is greater, to outsiders, the words of the veteran soldiers who experienced the refugee status seem much more persuasive.

Besides, the war they are fighting is a holy war for humanity against the Nagas and the Merfolk.

They are not fighting for personal gain, so their grumbling does not look good.

“Does that mean that even burning the food storage this time didn’t break their momentum?”

“No. Certainly, the food storage fire has caused problems with Azadin’s food supply. And there’s no guarantee that this sabotage will only happen once. Moreover, the Nether’s invasion hasn’t even started yet.”

Certainly, Azadin’s army is in a dangerous situation. He has not yet secured the throne of Chitai, the warehouse is burned, and the Nether’s spies and elven spies are rampant within, while massive manpower and resources are being consumed every moment in a two-front war.

However, despite all this, Azadin was overcoming all the obstacles one by one.

“Even so, if things continue like this, King Azadin will win. If someone we couldn’t touch at all takes power, the future of us Alfrim [the elves of Telbarin] will be bleak.”

“Well, there is one way, but….”

“What way?”

“However, in this case, the sacrifice on our side will not be small. We Alfrim will need more than 200 sacrifices.”

“Surely….”

The elven elders hesitated at those words.

“It’s true that we’ve done this ritual a few times when we were under the Naga Empire, but things are different now. The Northern Empire is watching closely. If we perform such an evil grand ritual….”

“We’ve already crossed the line by touching Sebalhan. We’ve drawn our swords, but we haven’t even cut a single radish. That’s our reality.”

“I understand. Begin it.”

The elven elders authorized the execution of the evil grand ritual.

*********

“So, that’s what’s happening.”

Northern Emperor Cohen Lionheart frowned.

Before him was an elf with pointed ears, wearing the Moon Horn Bow of the Northern Aragasa [a group of elite warriors].

He was a member of the Northern Aragasa who had infiltrated the Telbarin Guild.

Although he looked like an elf and was actually a half-elf, this man, who defined himself as a member of the Northern Aragasa, relayed the contents of the meeting that took place in the elves’ secret society to the Northern Empire.

Just as the elves had planted spies everywhere, pretending to be vassals of the Northern Empire, the Northern Empire had also planted spies among the elves and other influential vassals and subordinates.

“Still, they’re not completely stupid. I was wondering what to do if they supported King Azadin, who is said to be a disciple of Kazas [a powerful mage].”

“But I don’t understand, what is this grand ritual?”

“It’s an act of communicating with the gods of the Nether. If they do that, the most powerful being among the Nether’s divine beings will stand on this land. In fact, in our history, it is said that the gods of the Nether are trapped under the Netherstrom, but in reality, it is the remains of the divine beings of the Nether that were created through that grand ritual that are trapped there.”

“Is that so? But why is it said that the gods of the Nether were killed?”

“Well, think about it from the perspective of the Yaegas gods [the gods of the human kingdoms]. If the enemy they fought directly and equally was not the main body of the gods but a divine being created through communication with them, wouldn’t it seem less impressive? So, the Church of the King says that the Yaegas gods defeated the Nether gods and threw their remains under the Netherstrom, but in reality, the Nether gods are different kinds of beings from the Yaegas gods.”

“But if that’s the case, isn’t it dangerous? To perform such a grand ritual in these difficult times. Above all, if a power that His Majesty cannot control is released on this land….”

Mages are the kind of people who feel uneasy if they don’t have all the power in the world in their hands.

The Northern Empire was reluctant to give Nether magic to Sebalhan because they were afraid that Sebalhan might become stronger than them and harbor other intentions. But are they allowing the elves to contact the Nether gods?

“It doesn’t matter. The elves aren’t fools either. They know very well that it’s a power they can’t control. They must be trying to cause chaos by doing it in Azadin’s territory.”

“Are you still going to allow them to do that?”

“Why do I need to allow it? I don’t know anything about it in the first place. If I, the rightful Yaegas god-king, were to find out about it, wouldn’t I have to punish those elves? I can’t do that.”

“But….”

As the half-elf agent panicked, a seasoned veteran of the Northern Aragasa stopped him.

‘The King is changing. Don’t dare to displease His Majesty.’

‘But it’s too much.’

Originally, the Northern Aragasa had sworn allegiance to the Asander court that had accepted them and served them.

However, the previous Asander kings had only treated them as mercenaries and had not treated them properly.

When Cohen came to power, he felt the need for a personal guard to check the elves, and so he began to use the Northern Aragasa heavily.

Now, they are his closest aides.

The Northern Aragasa loved such a Northern Emperor.

A king who valued them for their abilities, regardless of their lineage or notoriety, and who harbored ambitions comparable to the Golden King Manza Zadek of the Eight Kingdoms of Hybris during his prime.

If they could achieve that ambition and ideal together, they would gladly offer their swords and bows and die under his banner.

But the king had changed.

Cohen Lionheart was a man who could bear the weight of the banner without any difficulty when he was at the forefront.

If it was a feat that I pioneered and achieved for the first time, I would gladly accept any sacrifice.

However, when a competitor named Azadin appeared and clearly moved a step ahead of him, Cohen lost his way.

This is also the case now.

It is an act of summoning an uncontrollable monster into the world, but the Northern Empire is talking about it too easily.

Does that mean that he will use any means necessary to overthrow Azadin?

Of course, the Northern Empire had used assassinations and schemes a lot before, but there is a difference in the nature of a monarch using assassinations and schemes to achieve his ambitions and using them simply out of jealousy for a competitor, even if they look similar on the surface.

‘I thought it was over when I heard that the food storage was attacked, but King Azadin’s potential is truly amazing.’

‘Still, we must be loyal to our lord who took us in during difficult times, right?’

‘But when you think about it, King Azadin is also one of our Aragasa.’

‘Hmm, it was annoying when we were fighting, but at times like this, I feel a sense of pride in being from the same people. Isn’t that right?’

‘I know. Humans are so fickle.’

The Northern Aragasa were also deeply troubled.