The Shadowed Legacy of the Soulless Messenger [EN]: Chapter 489

Night of the Soulless Blasphemer 2

The sky is dark. Since the sun doesn’t rise, there’s no sense of time.

Azadin used the sled and the ghost mountain goat to break through the darkness.

In the raging storm, the sled moved at a terrifying speed.

Corpses and all sorts of debris piled up, blocking the way, but thanks to the snow and ice that kept accumulating on top of those obstacles, the sled was able to pass over them safely.

“Hmm?”

When he reached the ridge, Azadin spotted smoke nearby.

Looking from the high ground, he could see smoke rising here and there.

‘Are people still alive?’

Azadin followed the smoke and clicked his tongue.

Some kind of huge tree had grown, blocking the blizzard.

“That tree is…”

The Nether Emissary, Grimslaw, had manifested as a huge tree in various places, and it seemed that refugees were gathered around the trees, cooking.

“Shall I check it out?”

Azadin grabbed the sled’s sail rope and adjusted the rudder, turning the sled towards the place where Grimslaw’s trees had grown.

He had a feeling that meeting survivors in the current situation wouldn’t lead to anything good.

*********

As he approached Grimslaw’s tree, he realized that bizarre, otherworldly trees had formed a cluster, growing to a height of dozens of stories.

It was enormous.

Not only was it tall, but the circumference was also huge, so the cluster of trees far surpassed a huge fortress, no, a human fortress.

Surprisingly, it wasn’t that cold where these trees had grown.

Of course, it was cold enough for ice to form, but it was much warmer compared to other places.

Just blocking the biting blizzard was a blessing.

Azadin parked the sled near the tree and got off.

The people who were guarding the outside of the tree hadn’t noticed Azadin’s sled even though it was quite close.

They were making a fire for surveillance, but their night vision was still poor. It was impossible for them to spot Azadin with just that amount of light.

‘Okay, then shall I sneak inside?’

Azadin got off the sled, summoned the ghost mountain goat, and rode it to the outskirts of Grimslaw’s tree.

As he touched the tree, he felt a warm sensation.

‘Even though Grimslaw is a Nether Emissary, he tried to help humans. The way he helped was a bit crazy, though…’

It seemed that Grimslaw had created these trees to save humanity.

Whether that was a good thing or not.

Azadin walked along the outer wall of the tree and found knots that allowed him to enter.

He entered a tunnel created by the twisted tree and could see inside.

Inside, countless tents were lined up, centered around the intermediate supply base that Azadin’s army had created.

“………”

Ironically, at this moment, Azadin felt great joy.

He was relieved to confirm that humanity hadn’t been completely wiped out and had survived, which made his legs buckle.

If his legs were buckling, it meant that Azadin himself was quite desperate, even though he didn’t admit it.

‘How many people are there? Hmm. Is there anyone I can get information from?’

It was then, as Azadin was looking around.

“You bastards! What are you doing!”

“Hey, don’t just eat free food, come over here and play with us!”

“D-don’t be ridiculous! You impudent fools. Do you know who you’re picking a fight with? Do you want to die?!”

“We’re going to die anyway, so let’s just enjoy ourselves before we do. At least there’s some food here.”

Thugs were surrounding those who appeared to be knights.

The knights, who were wearing the insignia and cloaks of the King’s Church, seemed to be injured and had difficulty moving.

On the other hand, the residents surrounding them were numerous and their weapons were quite sturdy.

They were armed with military weapons, probably because they had seized and looted the supplies.

‘This is bad, I was trying not to show myself in front of people if possible.’

Azadin sighed at the sight and climbed onto a support beam before jumping down, ambushing the thugs.

Azadin landed on the shafts of the spears that the thugs were using to threaten the injured knights.

“Kehk?!”

“Agh!”

The thugs, who were holding the spear shafts with their frozen hands, screamed and dropped them.

Surprisingly, some of them had their fingers fall off.

The fingers, which were already frostbitten and rotting, couldn’t withstand the impact and were cut off.

“Anyone who commits looting, rioting, or rape will be punished by military law. Stop this outrageous behavior!”

“Kuh!”

“What?! Who are you… huh?!”

“Huh?!”

They recognized Azadin and were terrified.

Not only them, but the knights who had been rescued by Azadin were also flustered.

“Y-Your Majesty, the Emperor?!”

“You’re alive?!”

Their gazes were filled with shock, anger, and hostility.

“Emperor, my ass! You damn Herald Clan! Because you pretended to be the Emperor…”

“That’s right! It’s all because of you…”

But at that moment, Azadin drew his arming sword. It was a short one-handed sword, but when Azadin grabbed it and swung it, it turned into a silver whip, cleanly cutting through the air even at a distance where the blade couldn’t reach.

“Huh?!”

“Agh?! This bastard!”

“The frostbite is too severe. You’re not even bleeding. You’re only alive because it’s cold.”

Azadin clicked his tongue as he cut off the arms and hands of the rioters, which were rotting from frostbite and just hanging there.

They were threatening a wounded woman even though their hands and feet were rotting?

Azadin sighed and cast a healing spell.

A holy light spread around Azadin, instantly healing the rioters and the knights.

“Huh?!”

The rioters were bewildered to see that the severed areas were not regenerating, but the frostbitten areas were healing and new flesh was growing.

Azadin hadn’t lost the power of white magic.

‘It’s the power of a rescue knight, though.’

Azadin healed them with the white magic of a rescue knight instead of the Divine King’s Scripture and looked back.

“Normally, it would be right to castrate you, but it seems you’re already impotent, so I’ll end it here. So, what happened while I was gone? How long have you been gathered here?”

“…D-don’t be ridiculous! Do you still think you’re the king?!”

“If we kill this guy, won’t the Light of Kingship return?”

The people were talking nonsense and pointing their spears at Azadin.

However, Azadin whistled leisurely.

“So, you’re saying that you’re going to die now and give your share of food to others? I was going to make an exception and spare you, but if you’re going to repent and die, I can’t stop you.”

“Kuh!”

Everyone was speechless at Azadin’s threat.

When you think about it, Azadin ascended to the throne not because of his bloodline, but because of his own martial prowess.

‘I heard they were all dying… but they’re lively?’

‘No way. This guy…’

Then the knights opened their mouths.

“First of all, thank you for your help. But… Your Majesty Azadin.”

“I don’t want your help!”

Azadin felt the anger and despair in their voices.

“You and your Empress caused a miracle! We were even enthusiastic about the sight of ordinary people becoming holy knights and performing miracles!”

“We believed that the world would change! That peace would come!”

“But what is this!”

“That’s right!”

“You bastard! You made us have hope!”

Someone threw a stone at Azadin.

It was a stone thrown from the dark shadows, but Azadin’s eyes could see through the darkness, so he saw it clearly.

Azadin knocked away the projectile with his sword and smiled bitterly.

The greater the hope and expectation, the greater the despair and shock of the people.

Azadin and Midiam had just done their best to save the world.

People were hurt by that effort and were instead blaming Azadin.

“Is it true that Your Majesty extinguished the Light of Kingship?”

The female knight who had been rescued by Azadin still maintained her dignity and asked Azadin a question.

“Of course not. You believe something foolish.”

“Then what is it! We believed in you! We thought that you would unify Hybris, drive out the Nether Emissaries, and save us! But why…”

“I did my best, and I intend to continue doing my best.”

“Those words are no comfort! Please… tell us that you can save the world! Tell us that we can live!”

“You can live. Virtue is still with us. The magic of virtue will protect us…”

But at that moment, the people became enraged.

“Don’t be ridiculous!”

“Those petty miracles can’t defeat the Nether Emissaries!”

“Aren’t the angels just lumps of stone because they were defeated by the Emissaries!”

The people also vaguely knew.

If they were to compete in the power of miracles, they couldn’t handle the Nether Emissaries.

The miracles performed by the angels and the Divine Kings of Yegas were certainly great, but the moment the Nether Emissaries unleashed their full power, the Light of Kingship disappeared and an endless night began in the world.

The Pimbulberth [a catastrophic event] so far was just the beginning.

“And yet you say we can live?! If we just keep and believe in that virtue?!”

“Don’t be ridiculous! Emperor! You failed! You’re only making the suffering worse!”

“………”

He knew it in his head.

They just needed someone to vent their anger on.

They were just venting their anger because they were in so much pain.

If they were just having a hysteria due to extreme stress, there was no need to talk to them now. It was more rational to just push them away and make them listen by force.

However…

Azadin also deeply understood their despair.

“It must be painful. The fire of hope was lit, and you were happy, but evil is so powerful, and the candle in your hand is going out in the face of that huge storm. But can’t you still help?”

“Help?”

“Yes. Help me. Don’t abandon your faith, don’t abandon your dignity, keep your virtue, and live to the end. That is…”

“Don’t be ridiculous!”

The rioters were furious at Azadin’s request.

“Even in this situation, you’re still talking about that damn scripture?! What good does it do to keep it?!”

“Can that change this situation?! Don’t be ridiculous!”

The enraged rioters glared at Azadin, who was still talking nonsense, as if they were about to attack him.

However, it was impossible for them to harm Azadin with their abilities.

“I understand. I’ll be going. But before that, who is managing the supplies here?”

The people’s gazes turned to the tent in front of the supply base.

As Azadin approached the tent, a figure hurriedly came out, putting on his pants.

“Y-Your Majesty.”

The insignia of a division commander of Azadin’s army was scattered around, and piles of high-quality furs were stacked inside the tent.

And inside, naked women were covering their bodies with furs, looking flustered, and incense sticks emitting a luxurious fragrance were spreading light and scent.

Azadin looked at the situation inside and clicked his tongue.

The division commander’s breath reeked of alcohol. And there were signs of assault and violation around him.

They had already established their own kingdom here.