The Shadowed Legacy of the Soulless Messenger [EN]: Chapter 50

Kazas continued,

“I don’t usually take on disciples. If all the guys who wanted to be my disciple lined up, they’d circle the entire Kerim Mountains twice over.”

Even if you gathered all the members of the Messenger Clan, their servants, and even the priests of the King’s Church, it wouldn’t be possible to encircle the Kerim Mountains like that. Would it be possible if you gathered all the races of Hybris?

“You were cut by your sister, right? Oh, was it not a knife but a bare hand that caused this wound? Scary. That’s a scary talent.”

“…She’s not my sister.”

“What?”

“She’s my younger sister. I’m the older brother.”

“Hmm. Whatever. Don’t you want to crush the nose of that arrogant Araelle?”

“……”

Azadin was speechless. He had been tormented so much that he couldn’t even imagine retaliating. He didn’t even have the mental space to entertain such thoughts.

So, Kazas’s simple idea of ‘if you’re hit, hit back’ felt fresh. When a surprised Azadin couldn’t open his mouth, Kazas seemed to take it as a refusal and got annoyed.

“Damn it. Why am I begging this guy to be my disciple? Forget it! I’m done!”

Suddenly, Kazas seemed to get angry, stomped on the ground, turned around, and ran out of the hut.

“Ah, um, excuse me…”

Azadin was flustered, but he was too hurt to follow. But a moment later, a head popped out of the hut door. It was Kazas, with only his head showing from outside the door.

“Hey! Isn’t this the timing when you’re supposed to follow me, crying and begging? Seriously. This guy is so slow? Should I just eat you up?”

“Oh, um, please take care of me.”

“What did you say?”

“Um, please accept me as your disciple.”

Only then did Kazas smile contentedly.

“Good, Azadin. I’m different from those other dumb Aragasa [a fictional race or clan]. The torn Hwajopungwol [a fictional martial art or magical practice] inside your body, the turbid magical power emanating from that grimoire, that’s what will become the foundation of the Kazas Interpretation. You can become the strongest messenger.”

“Can I also become a Rescue Knight?”

“Rescue Knight? Those fools? Of course, you can. I don’t really recommend it, though.”

Kazas grinned.

“If you help me with my research, that is.”

*********

Azadin helped Kazas with his research and, in return, learned the Kazas Interpretation. Or rather, was it learning? It was thorough injection and modification.

Kazas researched how to draw out the remnants of Hwajopungwol left in Azadin’s body, the power of a powerful grimoire, albeit imperfectly, and worked together to modify and tune his body to match it.

Now, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that even the Kazas Interpretation had become Azadin’s own. Because he was so focused on that training, Azadin hadn’t been able to meet his blood relative, Araelle, or even Aldis.

But now, he had met Aldis in this remote place near Salasma.

“You’ve grown up so wonderfully, Azadin. Because Master Kazas made you a messenger on his own, I couldn’t see you even at the Haji Festival [a fictional festival]. I really missed you.”

Aldis smiled at Azadin.

She was now 34 years old, but because the blood of the Yaegas gods ran stronger in her than anyone else, she still maintained the same appearance as when she was a girl in Azadin’s memory.

“Ah, but this isn’t the time to smile. Do you happen to know what Araelle has done?”

“I wouldn’t know. I haven’t seen Araelle since I became a messenger.”

Azadin and Araelle’s relationship had completely broken down. Even after leaving a deep scar on Azadin’s face, Araelle didn’t apologize and instead yelled at him to be grateful.

In the meantime, Azadin became Kazas’s disciple, left the Messenger Clan’s village, and after mastering the Kazas Interpretation, he was suddenly appointed as a messenger and arrived at the Salasma Margraviate of the Korasar Kingdom.

“Araelle murdered Elder Kenehan and stole the copies that had been collected over the years. Things that contained the wishes and efforts of the entire clan, just like her father did.”

Salem, the regional head, reported Araelle’s misdeeds instead.

“Elder Kenehan, from the library… Araelle killed him? Is that true? Not a false accusation?”

“……”

When Azadin was young, Aldis was the absolute standard. The smartest, wisest, most benevolent, and most beautiful person in the world, the origin of all virtues and values. But as an adult, Azadin realized that Aldis was also just a human, and of course, she had weaknesses.

First of all, she was biased towards Azadin and Araelle, like now. It was nice that she was biased towards him, but she was also biased towards Araelle, so even when she caused this kind of accident, she covered for her, and he felt a surge of anger. It seemed like others felt the same way.

“Araelle summoned Kenehan and murdered him, and her henchmen raided the library. That’s a clear fact!”

“Why? There must be a motive?”

“Well, maybe… maybe she’s trying to monopolize its power?”

Everyone was speechless. A motive?

Araelle was as arrogant and fierce as her skills were high, like a combination of fire and gale, so others didn’t know where she would go. Like a wildfire that devoured everything, after dealing with things as they came, they could only understand the direction she was heading after seeing the overall picture of the burnt mountain.

So, no one questioned her motive. Except for Aldis.

“The grimoire requires interpretation, and interpretation is more helpful with more people. And Araelle’s rank is Second Messenger. She’s in a position where she can’t help but benefit after the grimoire is interpreted, so why would she monopolize it? Is there anyone who can surpass her when they obtain the same grimoire at the same time?”

Even if she didn’t monopolize it, if the Divine King’s Scripture was interpreted, Araelle would also benefit, and as the most powerful messenger now, she would be able to use the power of the Divine King’s Scripture copy the best.

Araelle’s motive for killing and betraying the clan now was weak.

That’s what Aldis was saying.

‘Indeed. It’s not just simple favoritism. But she’s only thinking about rational reasons.’

If people moved for rational reasons, the relationship between the Salasma regional head and Azadin would have been resolved and worked out well by now.

“Even if she were to betray, wouldn’t it have been more beneficial to do it after getting everything?”

But the question Aldis was raising was also plausible. It wasn’t proof that Araelle wasn’t a traitor, but Aldis was arguing that her motive was suspicious.

“Araelle is aggressive and harsh. She would kill anyone who lightly insulted her.”

“Yes. She treats the lives of others as lightly as flies.”

“So…”

Everyone assumed that Araelle was the culprit and speculated about her motive. But the motives for such a serious matter sounded like clumsy excuses. It was because Aldis was calmly looking at each of them, speaking with the ‘Eyes of Harkonia’ [a fictional ability or trait].

“I understand. Then I must move to oppose Araelle’s rebellion. Regional Head Salem, please consider Azadin still a messenger, even though he was dismissed for some reason. I’ll take responsibility.”

“Then…”

“Please allow me to continue using the assets of the Korasar Merchant Guild and share all information immediately. And don’t spare any support. Oh, and of course, within your means, please suspend the kill order on Azadin.”

Azadin chuckled at Aldis’s words. The Korasar Merchant Guild had never supported Azadin like that. They would formally feed him, and if Azadin demanded something forcefully, they would reluctantly comply.

Everyone hated and looked down on Azadin, so they took his requests lightly. But Aldis’s request seemed to carry weight.

“Ah, I understand.”

“Then, Azadin, shall we catch up on old times?”

Aldis turned to Azadin with her still beautiful smile.

*********

“That’s Aldis Jedaha, the current First Messenger.”

Midiam shrugged after meeting Aldis.

“She doesn’t seem much different from me?”

“She’s like a goddess.”

Ismail and Midiam spoke at the same time and then shut their mouths.

“Wow, Ismail. That’s the first time I’ve heard you say something like that. Are you into that kind of thing too? Well, there’s no reason for guys to dislike beautiful women, right? So you’re a man too?”

“Rather than that, she really shows the characteristics of the Yaegas gods well. I heard that there was a child between the Emperor and Harkonia, and it’s true that the blood of the Yaegas gods flows in our Aragasa.”

“But did you see Azadin’s expression? That’s it, right? I’m not the only one thinking that, right?”

“……”

Midiam’s interest was only focused on that, so Ismail thought there was no point in saying anything more.

“Miss.”

“Why?”

“Do you really like Azadin? Or did you decide to like him because you lost the duel?”

“Do you think I’m a fool who doesn’t even know my own heart?”

“Sometimes… everyone doesn’t know their own heart. Either way, it’s dangerous to continue serving Azadin like this.”

“Huh? Why?”

“The Elder Council will probably issue a kill order on Araelle to Azadin.”

“A kill order on Araelle… wouldn’t they issue it to the entire clan?”

“Yes, that’s right. But it will be even more special for Azadin. Since your blood relative has rebelled, they will order you to execute her yourself to prove your innocence.”

“Why is that?”

“Second Messenger Araelle wouldn’t have rebelled so openly without a plan for her dismissal and the curse of service. Seeing that she rebelled so openly, maybe…”

There must have been some progress in the interpretation of the Divine King’s Scripture copy.

That’s what Ismail was thinking.

“So, you have some idea of Araelle’s motive?”

“Yes. She probably tried to stop the interpretation from progressing.”

“Why?”

“That’s…”

Ismail trailed off.

The lower classes of Aragasa were naturally dissatisfied with the current situation. They were persecuted by the people of Hybris, and they were also mistreated within their own society.

If they became messengers, they could at least be incorporated into mainstream society, but those who were fed well and educated with affection from a young age and those who were engaged in menial tasks and then put into the selection process could not be the same. Status was continuously inherited.

Even if they were lucky enough to become messengers from the lower classes, such messengers would only be incorporated into mainstream society. The hierarchy within the Messenger Clan was still inherited.

‘Even if the Divine King’s Scripture copy is interpreted and Aragasa is freed from the curse of service, it will only strengthen the authority of the founding clans. The class system of Aragasa will only become more solidified, and the power of the ruling class will only be further strengthened. They have to overturn the system entirely.’

Ismail had an idea of Araelle’s motive in that regard, but he didn’t say it out loud. There was no need to reveal the anger of the lower classes about the class system in front of those from the founding families like Aldis and Midiam.