The Shadowed Legacy of the Soulless Messenger [EN]: Chapter 472

“Evacuate the people to the ancient city of the elves? It’s going to be hard enough just moving the residents of Asander in this weather, let alone moving the people of Karasar and Tarasar….”

“We’ll focus the Light of Kingship on Asander, Karasar, and Tarasar for the time being. That should help people withstand the cold and melt the sea while they evacuate.”

“…….”

The Northern Emperor clicked his tongue at Azadin’s words.

Was such a thing even possible for a human?

This bitter cold was something that even a living, active volcano would struggle to contend with….

Yet, the man before him was speaking as if he could pull that volcano, no, a sun, from his own hands.

However, the smell of blood, the blood that Azadin had just coughed up, proved that his words were not empty boasts.

“As you can see, using that power will kill me. It’s already far beyond what a human can handle.”

“…….”

“I need the Yaegas divine race [a race known for their spiritual power] to alleviate my burden. And a group capable of such large-scale transport, a fleet, and stored food to feed them. I need someone to control all of this. Someone with enough reputation, trust, and authority….”

Those were the things that Cohen Lionheart possessed.

But those were the very things he had been preparing to use to corner Azadin until just recently.

Azadin was saying that they should use the spear that was meant to pierce him to save the people of the north.

“You want to save not just Asander, but also the residents of Tarasar and Karasar?”

“Yes.”

“Why should I help with that?”

Tarasar and Karasar were nations adjacent to Asander, which he ruled.

Why should Cohen Lionheart, the king of Asander, use his power to save those who would surely be obstacles to his ambitions?

If Cohen didn’t help, Azadin wouldn’t be able to hold on and would die, right?

From Cohen’s perspective, he could kill Azadin and weaken the national power of Karasar and Tarasar, killing two birds with one stone, couldn’t he?

Cohen was asking such questions.

Then, an unexpected answer came.

“Because you’re someone who wanted to be the flower of chivalry.”

“……”

At that moment, Cohen Lionheart’s face flushed red like a boy in love for the first time.

He had even committed assassination to retrieve the prophecy given to his teacher, Sir Planck, but it was still embarrassing to hear it directly from someone else’s mouth.

What was even more embarrassing was that the prophecy was ultimately about this guy in front of him, not Cohen.

It felt like his secret crush, hidden in his heart, had been discovered by his worst rival.

“Don’t be ridiculous. That’s just….”

“A strange prophecy.”

“Yes.”

“But if you’re someone who wanted to make even that strange prophecy your own, then at least before you wielded the sword of power, you must have admired the knights in old stories, even just a little.”

Cohen Lionheart felt bewildered as he looked at Azadin, who seemed to see right through him.

Until now, he had only dealt with Azadin through his subordinates’ reports.

A strange fellow, persecuted even among the Messenger Clan [a clan known for espionage and assassination], who suddenly gained immense power, defeated his enemies one by one, seized the initiative, and even became king—a self-made ambitious man.

But was this his true nature?

‘Damn it. I have no choice but to admit it.’

When Azadin had infiltrated his castle by winning over his subordinates, Cohen Lionheart had refused to acknowledge Azadin, even if it meant death.

Don’t try to persuade me. I’d rather die than be persuaded by you and become a trophy to decorate your victory.

He was filled with such childish defiance, hatred, and anger.

But now, he had no choice but to admit it.

This man was indeed the holy king who would protect humanity.

By receiving Sir Planck’s last knightly oath, the prophecy had been fulfilled.

The flower of chivalry—what was chivalry in the first place? Wasn’t it the path of duty and honor for the warrior aristocracy?

That path was not achieved through schemes and assassinations, but by protecting the weak and dedicating oneself to the greater good.

This young man was trying to put that simple and obvious fact, which everyone knew but no one could practice, into action.

On the other hand, the Northern Emperor himself wanted to be the flower of chivalry, but he couldn’t believe in it.

He tried to accept the prophecy, but he didn’t believe in the basics of chivalry—protecting the weak and dedicating oneself to the greater good.

It was a ridiculous thing to think about.

The problem was that everyone was doing this ridiculous thing.

No one believed in truth or justice.

They only tried to peel off the shell of truth and justice with schemes, put it on, and disguise themselves.

Like the wolf in the old fairy tale who wore sheep’s clothing, truth and justice were just skins for disguise.

Truth, justice, and virtue had long since died, and only their skins were being sold secondhand here and there.

No one truly believed in truth and justice. At least, no one except this guy….

‘No. This guy has also committed quite a few schemes. But what makes him different from me….’

Azadin was a spy by birth.

The Messenger Clan were spies, scouts, and assassins.

Would he believe in justice like an innocent child? Of course not.

In fact, he had fought against schemes, countered espionage, and overcome all sorts of conspiracies and obstacles.

But, but still.

Despite all that, he had not fallen.

Humans are creatures that are good at blaming others.

Because someone else was wrong, because the world was wrong, because the situation was difficult.

There were so many excuses.

There were so many reasons to abandon faith, but this man of lowly birth was standing here now, without losing his faith.

He must have experienced far more despair and pain than the Northern Emperor, yet he stood here without any excuses, keeping his faith.

“It seems like time is really running out. Are you trying to persuade me with just that one fragment? What do you want from me?”

“Persuade the kings and nobles of Tarasar and Karasar. You’ll be much faster at it than I would.”

“The north is one thing, but what about the south?”

“The south won’t get that cold. But it will still be dangerous, so I plan to take the Naga city in the Butuma Jungle and use it as a refuge. I’ll use the Sun of Seonwoo, a magical artifact, to fill in the gaps.”

“That’s truly…”

A difficult and absurd path.

“That’s why I’m asking you.”

“Hmph. You said you’d kill me if you could and replace me, right?”

“I wanted to show you that you’re irreplaceable. And to some extent, it’s also true.”

“True?”

“Yes. You were born into royalty and had the power to change the world, but you never believed in justice itself. Yet, you coveted the name and honor of justice. So, personally, I was jealous of you.”

“Jealous, jealous?”

Cohen was furious at Azadin’s nonchalant words.

This man, chosen by the Yaegas spirit and perhaps even blessed by the angels, was jealous of him?

But….

He had no choice but to admit it.

Because of his birth as a soulless blasphemer, a member of the Messenger Clan, he had walked a truly harsh and difficult path, while the Northern Emperor had walked an easy one.

He was leaving behind bloody footprints with every step, so his words that he was jealous of the Northern Emperor were undoubtedly sincere.

“I couldn’t believe it. Not at all.”

Belief in justice? It was a sound that was perfect for ridicule.

They would sneer, asking how old he was to be talking such nonsense.

The Northern Emperor gave a bitter smile.

It was ridiculous that he had come to persuade him just because he had tried to retrieve the prophecy of the flower of chivalry.

‘And is this persuasion? Isn’t it actually a threat? If I refuse, he’ll kill me anyway. And….’

If Azadin failed to persuade Cohen and killed him, the remnants of Cohen’s followers in Asander, the untrustworthy people of Tarasar and Karasar, and many others would die.

Yes. People would die.

Cohen Lionheart had never cared about the people who died in such situations.

To achieve his ambitions, he had willingly killed anyone, no matter how many.

He had mercilessly killed even his own family for his ambitions, let alone the lives of the lowly.

Was he now being told to abandon his ambitions and submit for the sake of the lives of the northern people?

“So, you spit on my face as king, insult me as much as you want, and then ask me to cooperate?”

“…….”

Jibek and the other ministers who were listening were furious.

The Northern Emperor was a fish that Azadin had already caught.

He was wriggling in the net, and because they were treating him politely, he was becoming endlessly arrogant.

Wouldn’t it be better to just kill him?

This man was a monster with a human face. Would the persuasion that he was needed to save even a few more people in the north really work?

Everyone was doubtful.

Above all, they couldn’t stand the moment when this caught fish dared to insult Azadin and make light of his intentions.

However….

The Northern Emperor clicked his tongue.

“I still can’t believe it. Virtue, justice, I abandoned my belief in those things a long time ago. Even after hearing your words about saving the people of Tarasar and Karasar, the first thing I thought was what kind of scheme this guy was up to.”

Cohen Lionheart said that and raised his head, shouting.

“Uaaaaaaah!”

The Northern Emperor Cohen Lionheart screamed towards the sky. Then, he lowered his body and slammed his head into a heavy granite slab.

His forehead was peeled open, and blood splattered.

Was he trying to harm himself?

Was he so unwilling to be a stepping stone for Azadin’s victory that he was trying to kill himself by self-harm? But after a moment, he stopped.

“Damn it! How foolish! I didn’t believe it, but I was only coveting the honor! Ugh!”

Everyone flinched at Cohen’s mad behavior, but Azadin was just watching him calmly.

After a while, he took the sword from his waist, stood up, knelt before Azadin, and offered the sword.

“What’s this?”

“King Azadin. I ask to become your vassal. No, I should call you Emperor.”

The Northern Emperor Cohen Lionheart closed his eyes.

“My Emperor. I won’t say that I’ve become a new person. I was someone who burned with ambition and treated the lives of the people like pieces on a chessboard. My heart is not much different now, so I now realize that I am not fit to be a king.”

Not the Emperor’s messenger or proxy, but the Emperor.

Cohen acknowledged Azadin as Emperor and asked to become his vassal.

He wouldn’t suddenly start to cherish the lives of the people and feel heartbroken.

But regardless of such feelings, he had come to understand where the greater good lay.

At least, he had gained enough discernment not to harm himself and take the lives of many people in the north as companions just because he didn’t want to give Azadin a complete victory.

‘It’s a ridiculous thing to think about. Even if a child is not pretty, it’s human nature to save them if they fall into the water, but I was blinded by ambition and recklessness. I was born into royalty and sat on the throne early, so I had no one to challenge me, and I lived recklessly even though I was big.’

Cohen Lionheart was disgusted with his own foolishness in front of this young man who had not even lived half his life.

Azadin rose from his throne and accepted the Northern Emperor’s sword.

“Cohen Lionheart. I appoint you as the King of Asander, and I command you to rule this land so that courage, wisdom, mercy, and justice may live and breathe.”

Azadin consecrated him with Cohen’s sword and returned the sword to him.

Cohen sheathed his sword and stood up.

Emperor Azadin had appointed Cohen as the King of Asander.

“Call the clergy of the King’s Church. I, the King of Kings they have proclaimed, will testify to today’s miracle.”

The Northern Emperor, no, the King of Asander, Cohen Lionheart, called his attendants and ordered them to bring the clergy.