The Shadowed Legacy of the Soulless Messenger [EN]: Chapter 483

The throne of Chitae, like the thrones of other Yaegas [a race of people], was a quartz throne embedded deep within the earth.

The throne room was located deep within the royal palace to accommodate this quartz throne, which originated from a place deeper than the foundation stones supporting the pillars of the central royal palace.

Azadin sat cross-legged upon the throne, with parallel halos rotating around his head, chest, waist, and pelvis, emitting a terrifying force of white magic.

-Crackling!

Flames erupted as Azadin’s flesh burst open.

Flesh was burned, and vaporized fat became boiling oil, splattering out from his skin.

However, healing magic was immediately activated, mending Azadin’s wounds.

Healing and destruction occurred repeatedly.

The power of a god, which no human could withstand, was burning and regenerating Azadin over and over again.

Azadin endured the pain, guarding the throne.

The sight was so horrific that even the servants could not bear to look and turned their heads away.

“Good heavens….”

Midiam was shocked at the state Azadin was in.

“What happened?! I didn’t hear it was this bad….”

“People’s hearts are truly fickle. As soon as His Majesty performed a miracle, everyone turned around. I understand why His Majesty disliked showing miracles.”

Ismail spoke in his usual sarcastic tone.

“When you extend your arm to save someone drowning, they sink iron hooks into the savior’s arm to increase their chances of survival. Even as blood flows and flesh tears, they shamelessly call out the Emperor’s name, begging for miracles, all to save themselves.”

Since the Northern Emperor Cohen Lionheart pledged his name to support Azadin’s ascension to the throne, the kings of other kingdoms had also recognized Azadin as their emperor, one after another.

Initially, they were all suspicious and doubtful, but once the tide turned, they all began to cling to Azadin as if they had never doubted him.

The problem was that the other kings were substandard.

The light of kingship could only be properly wielded by Azadin, and therefore, the entire burden fell upon him.

“Since the elves summoned the envoys of the Nether [a dark realm], the temperature has plummeted. Emperor Azadin is struggling alone to stop it. The kings of other countries are truly useless.”

“He doesn’t even have time to rest?”

“Once the evacuation of the Northern Empire and its people is complete, the North Sea route, Karasar, and Tarasar will be excluded from the protected areas. Only then will he be able to rest.”

Azadin was pushing himself to the limit to buy time to protect Asander, Karasar, and Tarasar.

Then, it was not easy to tell him to stop. At least three kingdoms and the lives of millions of people were at stake.

“Ah, I knew this would happen, but it’s really infuriating.”

Midiam approached the throne.

“It’s dangerous.”

The surrounding vassals tried to stop her, but she ignored them and moved forward.

Then, Azadin, who was sitting on the throne, opened his eyes.

“Midiam, is that you? This is Chitae. You’ve come a long way.”

The surrounding vassals were surprised. Until then, Azadin had been unconscious, but as Midiam approached, he regained consciousness.

“Yes. I rode Nislaph [a creature] over waves as big as houses. I almost died.”

“Why would you do such a thing….”

“That’s what I want to ask you. Azadin. You hate it when I risk my life, but what are you doing now? Why don’t you cherish yourself? When you treat yourself so carelessly, you’re also doing something terrible to me, your spouse.”

“…Did you come to scold me?”

“I’m the only one who can scold you. Who else would dare to say such things to you, the supreme ruler?”

“No, everyone else is doing a good job.”

“What kind of wicked scoundrel is doing that? Who dares to overstep the bounds of the Empress, leaving me aside!”

Midiam was furious at the mention of someone nagging Azadin.

She seemed to believe that she was the only one who could scold or nag him, and that anyone else doing so was an overreach of the Empress’s authority.

“…Thinking about it again, there isn’t anyone. Everyone seems to be treating me well, being mindful of my feelings.”

“Really? Or are they lying to cover it up?”

“Haha. I’m telling you, it’s true. Anyway, I’m glad to see your face, Midiam. You’re still vibrant and lovely.”

“Are you laughing now? When your flesh is bursting open? No, Azadin. If I were far away and harming myself silently, would you be angry? Or not?”

“You’re misunderstanding. The truth is, those elves are constantly using sorcery in the Nether, and I’m trying to stop it. If I just leave it alone, not only will countless people die, but the crops we’ve planted in the south won’t be harvested, and everyone will starve to death. It’s not that I want to harm myself….”

“I know that too. That miracles are constantly happening in the south, fighting against the evil deeds of the elves and the Nagas [a race of serpent-like beings]. But Azadin, if you keep blocking them all by yourself while they continue to do these ‘you die, I die’ acts, won’t you just be dragged around as they want?”

Indeed, as Midiam said, Azadin was being dragged around.

Every time the Nether followers of the elves and Nagas committed acts of destruction, Azadin was the only one who could stop them, so he was now sacrificing himself to protect the world with the power of miracles.

But for how long?

“Once the evacuation of the north is complete, I’ll have some leeway. I’ll just be dragged around until then. It’s not that bad, right?”

“And then what?”

“Huh?”

“And then, will you be able to survive? Will you be able to live happily with me for a long time? If you keep doing this, your already short lifespan will be further reduced, won’t it? No matter how powerful the king’s healing magic is, there’s no way these wounds won’t leave any aftereffects, right?”

Midiam knew very well that Azadin’s condition was not normal from the start.

But he was repeating this kind of thing that would drive even a healthy person crazy, so would he really be able to survive after this crisis was over?

“………”

Azadin couldn’t answer.

“So that’s why Emperor Yaeslat, despite being a god, had a short life. Yes, I think I understand, Azadin.”

“…I’m sorry.”

Azadin apologized to Midiam. It was because he was about to make her a widow, despite her bright future.

“Don’t apologize to me, you should be begging me to save you.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“I’m about to perform a miracle.”

“A miracle?”

“Yes. So, Azadin, bless me and give me military authority.”

Azadin was taken aback by Midiam’s audacious words.

“What are you planning to do?”

“I’m going to save you, who has become a god on your own accord.”

“So, specifically….”

As Azadin asked that, a bolt of magic lightning pierced through Azadin’s body again.

The magic spark that pierced through Azadin’s spinal cord momentarily knocked him unconscious, but the healing spell that followed immediately restored him.

Azadin, who had fainted for a moment, groaned and woke up.

“Ugh. Ah, I’m sorry. How long was I unconscious?”

It was only a brief moment, but Azadin seemed to think he had been unconscious for quite a long time.

His sense of time was so messed up that his current condition seemed very bad.

“You idiot….”

“Midiam. I don’t want to put you in danger.”

“It’s too late.”

“…….”

“You should ask for help, Azadin.”

“…Okay.”

“I know very well that you’ve been bluffing all this time. I always knew this would happen. I prepared for it! You acted like that, but in reality, your heart was pounding, wasn’t it? You’ve been protecting us by somehow stopping everything with your own power, while pretending to be calm as if you had foreseen everything. But this time, it’s time for you to receive help from us. So, bless me and give me military authority.”

“Haha.”

Azadin gave a bitter smile at Midiam’s audacious words.

“Okay. I’m asking you. Help me, Midiam.”

“Yes. Of course.”

As Midiam nodded, Azadin released his sword, Aurelia Dunn, and sent it to her.

Not only the sword. Grimslaw’s mace and the Azure Executioner also flew to her and stopped in mid-air.

Midiam accepted the weapons, fastened them to her belt, and nodded.

“Then, I’ll sleep a little more. Midiam. I’m counting on you.”

“Yes.”

Midiam nodded and turned to leave the audience chamber.

Behind her, a bolt of magic lightning struck again, torturing Azadin, but she did not look back.

To free Azadin from that pain as soon as possible, she had no time to look back.

*********

The Emperor performs miracles.

However, the darkness of the night was growing longer than the miracles could handle.

The days without sunrise were getting longer.

The winter wind was becoming more bitter, and in the darkness, Shade Hags [evil spirits] whispered, beasts turned into monsters, and cults were rampant.

At first, even the Bries [a type of creature] and Goblins froze to death in this cold.

But then, Bries with white fur appeared, and Goblins with pure white fur also appeared.

These creatures cast magic even in the harsh cold, moved in groups, and attacked people.

If the Emperor’s army had not protected them, none of them would have survived.

The people of Chitae gathered at Changgok Pass under the Emperor’s protection.

In a terrible environment where they would freeze instantly if they went outside the Emperor’s protection, the order to evacuate further north was seemingly incomprehensible, but it was said that Asander was the most habitable place in the north.

However, everyone’s feet were tied at Changgok Pass.

They had to stay here until the sleds of those who had left earlier were recovered.

There was a shortage of sleds. People had to wait for the sleds to return because it would be endless to travel on foot.

Meanwhile, countless cultists were discovered inside Changgok Pass.

Many people had terrible nightmares when they fell asleep in this place where the winter wind was raging.

A Hag, transformed into a seductive beauty, would whisper sweet words to them….

Also, a voluptuous goddess, wearing a dress made of spiderwebs, would stimulate their desires.

There was also the temptation of a messenger of death, urging them to fill their hungry bellies with the flesh of their neighbors….

There was even a sweet whisper to become one with the very fear that terrified them.

The Emperor’s miracles were certainly sacred and wondrous.

However, as the prophesied Age of Jupiter approached and the power of evil was engulfing the world, the Emperor’s personal miracles were nothing more than a single candle in the face of a storm.

Many people fell into darkness, and each time, the Emperor’s Inquisitors found them like ghosts and executed them.

Perhaps the sleds they were talking about were a lie, and they were trying to kill all the people of Chitae here?

Come to think of it, the Emperor was a Herald Clan member [a clan with a specific lineage].

Now that he was wielding the power of miracles, no one doubted his divinity, but before that, everyone doubted, mocked, and despised him.

Everyone had led the persecution against him, and the people of Chitae had also invaded his country, so perhaps the Emperor hated them and was trying to purge them.

While they were trembling in such fear, a rumor spread.

The Empress was coming to Changgok Pass.

For the refugees suffering from fear, cold, hunger, and boredom, it was something to look forward to.

Would there be a feast when the Empress arrived? Even if not, there was a sense of anticipation that she might come and provide relief.

And as the rumors said, the Empress arrived at Changgok Pass.