The Shadowed Legacy of the Soulless Messenger [EN]: Chapter 61

The Voice of Araiel 2

Previously, Salem, the regional head of Salasmar, said that the Count had brought in a strange witch to find a copy of the Divine King’s Scripture.

‘A strange witch. Come to think of it, Baroness Nort could also be called a witch, couldn’t she?’

But if that were the case, it wouldn’t explain why she was captured by the Mezeri Apostles. Even with Azadin’s ‘vision,’ Baroness Nort’s body was clean.

Azadin, lacking eyes and having the essence of Hwajopungwol [a type of spiritual energy] destroyed within him, couldn’t use magic. Instead, he gained a powerful resistance to dark magic and transcendent vision. This transcendent vision allowed him to subtly see and feel supernatural forces, so no demonic entity had ever been able to deceive Azadin’s ‘vision’ so far.

While he was having such doubts, a horse arrived at the entrance of the mansion. Baroness Nort had returned.

*********

“Oh, Azadin-nim.”

Baroness Nort discovered Azadin talking with his companions in the garden, and that one corner of the garden was stained with blood.

“What is this?”

“A cat caught a bird.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“More importantly, have you met the Count?”

“No. They say he won’t meet anyone.”

“Didn’t they say he called you to hear news because he was worried about you being kidnapped?”

“They told me to report to the head maid.”

That was a great insult to a noble. Of course, the head maid was not a commoner. It was also a position where daughters of lower nobles were temporarily dispatched for education.

Even so, such treatment was insulting to Baroness Nort, the Count’s lover.

“I heard that armies of ogres and goblins are moving in the eastern inland region. Refugees are constantly pouring in from the east.”

“Hmm.”

The minions of the King of Teeth and the ogres that Azadin had seen were probably the vanguard. If more of them kept coming, the time would come for Count Kazel to fulfill his duty as a border count.

‘In such a situation, is he only focused on finding a copy of the Divine King’s Scripture?’

Azadin sighed and took out the bone wand from his pocket.

“By any chance, Madam, can you use this magical tool?”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm, this seems to be something made by the followers of the Kurt gods. The King of Teeth, or the King of Claws, or the King of Horns?”

“Why would the Kurt gods be looking for a copy of the Divine King’s Scripture?”

“From their perspective, the throne of the Yaegas gods and the light of kingship emanating from that throne would be very painful. In fact, the Mezeri minions you saw yesterday were not fully demonstrating their original abilities. They are faster and stronger in the outside world where the light of kingship does not reach.”

The light of kingship was also a large-scale barrier to repel evil things. By interpreting the Divine King’s Scripture and opposing the light of kingship, they would seize the human realm and once again have the Kurt gods dominate the entire Hybris continent.

That was probably their goal.

Even if that wasn’t the case, it was only natural for Kurt followers to covet a powerful magical book.

‘No, I actually got three copies, but I have no idea how to use them.’

Azadin was deeply disappointed that he couldn’t use magic.

‘The voice of Araiel. Damn it, that’s amazing.’

Seeing his younger sister, Araiel, create even an artificial spirit similar to the Emperor’s voice, albeit with evil magic, Azadin became afraid of her power.

If it were the Araiel he knew from his childhood, he could easily defeat her even with his current strength. But how much more had Araiel developed in the meantime?

“By the way, Azadin-nim, have you had your meal?”

“Ah, I had a simple meal.”

“Then, would you like to have some tea? We just received some very good leaves. The backyard is soiled, so let’s meet in my hobby room. We can also try using the wand there.”

“Hmm… Yes.”

Azadin had no reason to refuse, so he accepted her offer.

*********

The Baroness’s hobby room was a well-ventilated terrace on the second floor. It was probably originally a space for swordsmanship and physical training, but the maids had decorated it with flowers and set up a table, transforming it into a presentable space.

The Baroness, who had changed into a new dress, greeted Azadin there…

‘Hmm?’

Azadin was flustered by the Baroness’s deep gaze.

‘It can’t be, right?’

He sat down, looking at the Baroness who was smiling at him.

“Azadin-nim.”

She greeted Azadin with a smile.

“Have you been comfortable during your stay?”

“Yes. Thanks to your consideration, I’m staying comfortably.”

“I’m glad. I’m sorry for showing you such a shabby appearance, my benefactor.”

“Ah, no. More than that, the wand…”

“Yes. First of all, I’m sorry for showing you my embarrassing skills. Please don’t blame me too much if I fail.”

The Baroness said that and used the wand. Then, a green flame appeared at the tip of the bone wand. The flame slowly moved and headed in one direction before disappearing.

Another new flame appeared from the wand and went in the same direction before disappearing.

‘The flame is the direction, and the distance it burns before disappearing probably corresponds to the actual distance.’

The longer the flame burns, the farther away it is.

Azadin immediately understood the magical structure that the bone wand showed. But…

“This direction is…”

“Yes, it’s the Count’s castle.”

“I see.”

It seemed that the Count had already obtained several copies of the Divine King’s Scripture.

Well, he must have some copies of the Divine King’s Scripture to know about its existence. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have sent all his children out to find copies of the Divine King’s Scripture.

“My benefactor, you are looking for a copy of the Divine King’s Scripture.”

“Yes.”

“If it’s not rude, may I ask why?”

“Well, that’s…”

Azadin wondered if he should tell her this.

“Is it because of the mission of the Messenger Clan? Indeed, it was said that the copies of the Divine King’s Scripture were leaked because of the Messenger Clan in the first place. During the Tarasar succession war, Lord Astadeer leaked the Divine King’s Scripture to the Messenger Clan and, in return, gained their help to become the King of Tarasar. When that fact was exposed, he couldn’t overcome his shame and abdicated the throne, becoming a judge of the King’s Church. It was because of the responsibility for leaking the Divine King’s Scripture by oath.”

“You are very knowledgeable.”

“Many stories circulate in the noble court. As long as you don’t drink too much, you can learn quite a lot just by eavesdropping.”

She cast a distant gaze towards the Count’s castle.

“It feels like a distant past since I properly entered that court.”

“With the Count…”

“I haven’t been able to talk to him for a long time. In the first place, it’s not a proper marriage relationship.”

“I see.”

“By any chance, are you married, my benefactor?”

“No.”

“You seem to be of an age where you could be married, so why not?”

“Well, it’s because of my face.”

Azadin took off his mask to show his scars.

“Oh my? Your eyes… Are you alright? No, but…”

“I’m not blind. I showed you something you shouldn’t have seen.”

Azadin put his mask back on. But the Baroness shook her head.

“No, you are very handsome. You have a dignified and elegant appearance.”

“……”

Azadin felt embarrassed, sensing the Baroness’s affectionate gaze towards him. Then, he suddenly came to his senses. What Azadin needed now was information about the Count. Now that it was certain that the Count possessed a copy of the Divine King’s Scripture, how could he steal it? He had to think about that.

And Araiel. Since Araiel’s voice had contacted him first, he now had to prepare for her envoy to come looking for him.

“Ah, I… If the Count has a copy of the Divine King’s Scripture, do you have any idea where he might be keeping it?”

“Hmm. That’s… I don’t know much these days either. The Count has recently been favoring a strange woman of unknown origin. According to rumors, she is a witch from the Butuma Jungle.”

“A witch, you say?”

“Yes. So, in fact, I was thinking of giving up this mansion. I was planning to find a new husband in a small mansion in the Nort Barony and leave this place.”

She had lost favor, so rather than wasting her energy staying in the Count’s court, she would live her own life.

She said that and smiled.

“But for my benefactor, I will try my best, even if it’s unsightly.”

She had already left the Count’s court in her heart, but she would help with the investigation if Azadin wanted.

That was what she was saying.

“Ah, yes. Thank you very much.”

“So, by any chance… do you have any thoughts of marrying me?”

“Huh?!”

Azadin made a foolish sound.

“I’m embarrassed to say this, but I have been captivated by you since you defeated those Mezeri Apostles. Now that chivalry has fallen to the ground and become a laughingstock, a person as beautiful and noble as you is something I’ve only seen in old stories.”

“Ah… Madam?”

Azadin was flustered by the Baroness’s sudden proposal. At that moment, a figure rushed into the hobby room. It was Mideam.

“Azadin!”

“Huh, why?”

“Araiel’s envoy has arrived!”

“Araiel’s envoy? What’s that?”

Azadin was flustered and got up from his seat, then turned to look at the Baroness. He had to answer her proposal.

“I’m sorry. I have someone I like, so that’s a bit…”

“Ah, I see. I’m envious. To have someone who is loved by someone like my benefactor.”

As the Baroness said that, Mideam puffed up his chest.

“Envious, right?”

“…Not you. Do you even know what’s going on?”

*********

Azadin, who had suffered because of Mideam’s absurd actions, had to face another ridiculous reality. The one who came as Araiel’s envoy was Derrick, an executive of the Corasar Merchant Guild, and his group.

“Ahem, we meet again, Azadin.”

Derrick was embarrassed. He was an executive of the Corasar Merchant Guild, a former messenger, and a noble belonging to the Saban family, one of the five founding families of the Messenger Clan. It was only natural that he would be embarrassed to see Azadin, as he had sided with the traitor Araiel.

“Derrick, you’re Araiel’s envoy? When I saw you before, there was no sign of that. Is your acting that great?”

“That’s… it’s not like it was from the beginning.”

“You recently defected?”

“Defected is too harsh a word. Araiel is the one who will fulfill our clan’s long-cherished wish. She is an angel of justice, as her name suggests.”

“But didn’t you break your ankle while hitting on that very angel of justice? That’s why you retired, right?”

Araiel was an unparalleled beauty with black hair and purple eyes, and all the men of her age yearned for her. Except for Azadin, her own flesh and blood.

Of course, Derrick was one of them. He had hit on Araiel, which had led to hurt feelings, and those hurt feelings had caused a physical conflict. He had been defeated by Araiel, suffered permanent damage, and retired from being a messenger.

For a normal person, it would be impossible to betray their clan and go under the command of the woman who beat them up and forced them to retire because of their pride.