The Shadowed Legacy of the Soulless Messenger [EN]: Chapter 63

“But, when you think about it, weren’t the things Azadin defeated not that impressive?”

“We could also take down Atra’s followers or Young Master Kozel. For an Aragasa [a member of a warrior clan], that’s to be expected.”

“Well, that’s true. Our Aragasa should be able to do that much. But in your memory, did Azadin have the skills of our clan? No, right?”

“…….”

“In other words, the current Azadin has made great strides. We can’t gauge the extent of his growth, so judging him based on information from 10 years ago is foolish, isn’t it?”

“Y-yes, that’s true. But still, isn’t he being too cautious?”

“There’s no harm in being cautious. We can get other guys to fight, so why should we step up and shed blood?”

Derrick said with a smile.

“Then, shall we go see the Count now?”

“Yes?”

“The Count is desperately searching for a copy of the Divine Scripture, so we just need to spread the rumor that Azadin has it.”

“Ah.”

“That’s using a borrowed sword [using someone else to achieve your goals]. But will the Count believe that rumor?”

“We have to make it believable. It just so happens that the hideout of the Mezeri cult was discovered here yesterday, so we can subtly let it be known that a copy of the Divine Scripture was there, and Azadin obtained it, and then we can get a reward.”

Derrick was just trying to fabricate a rumor without much thought, but… it was too close to the truth. However, Derrick’s subordinates, unaware of this fact, were impressed.

“As expected of a former messenger. How the story fits together so well.”

“The Count is already paranoid, so he’ll believe it. But do we demand a reward?”

“We are merchants of the Korasar Merchant Guild. If a merchant brings information, they should naturally receive money. In this case, not asking for money would be more of a problem.”

“That’s true. Demanding money will make the information we provide seem more credible.”

“Right. Then, shall we go leak the information to the Count? If Azadin survives this time too…”

“Hey, there’s no way that will happen.”

“He’s an incompetent who can’t even use magic.”

“Hmm. Then, I might incur Araiel-nim’s [a deity] resentment. I don’t want that. It would be nice if he just got a severe injury and became a cripple.”

Derrick smiled, imagining a convenient future that only benefited him.

*********

Azadin sent Derrick’s group away and went back to sleep. He was so exhausted that he fell into a deep sleep as soon as he lay down on the bed.

So, he woke up after the sun had set, and even though he had slept quite well, his muscle pain was still not gone. There was no way it would get better in just one day after being so overworked.

“Hmm, should I start investigating the Count’s castle?”

Since it was confirmed that a copy of the Divine Scripture was in the Count’s castle, he needed to start thinking about how to infiltrate it.

Azadin lightly packed his gear and prepared to go out. But as he was leaving the room, he ran into Tarki.

“Ah, brother.”

“Why?”

“Kozel has returned to Salasma.”

“Kozel?”

“Yes. He was blinded and castrated, and he was being transported in a carriage.”

“I see.”

“Those who transported him were from the Korasar Merchant Guild.”

“…….”

Azadin clicked his tongue at the name.

“This is bad. I need to get out of here.”

“What? But your mother told you to stay here.”

“Because I don’t want to cause trouble for your mother.”

“But Azadin, what did you talk about with mother during the day?”

“That was… just a reward for what happened yesterday.”

“A reward?”

He couldn’t tell the truth.

‘Your mother proposed to me.’

Even if Tarki was a good-for-nothing illegitimate son of a noble who had been tormenting the people and didn’t deserve respect, it wasn’t something he could say to his face.

“Well, for me, it was very beneficial to receive five gold coins from the Emperor before using them. Later, please tell your mother that I’m grateful, and that she doesn’t need to think of it as any kind of favor.”

“She would be happier if you told her directly.”

“That would be difficult for me.”

“Yes? Why?”

“It’s not good for a stranger to get emotionally involved with a beautiful noblewoman like your mother.”

“Pfft. Why are you worried about that, brother?”

“I know, right?”

Azadin went to the next room and called Midiam and Ishmael.

“Yes? Why?”

“We have to leave this place. Pack your bags.”

“Ah, yes. That’s a shame. I thought I could relax in a proper bed and take a bath.”

Midiam was disappointed, but he started packing without complaint.

*********

Young Master Kozel, who was born from the main wife, was able to return safely without dying, thanks to his bodyguard, Sir Zibeck.

Even though he had lost his subordinates, his eyes, and his reproductive function, and had become a cripple, he was not retaliated against by others because Zibeck had faithfully protected him.

However, when Kozel returned, Sir Zibeck had to be punished for failing to protect Young Master Kozel.

*********

Refugees were begging in front of the King’s Church hall.

There, Sir Zibeck let out a long sigh. His disciplinary action had been decided. It had not been executed yet, but it was as good as confirmed.

A female knight approached him. It was Lady Meya, the chief officer of the Salasma diocese.

“Are you alright, Sir Zibeck? There are rumors that Sir Zibeck has been impeached and must become a penitent knight.”

“That’s true.”

“That can’t be… Didn’t Sir Zibeck do his best? Where is there such an unfair measure?”

Meya had also been taught swordsmanship by Sir Zibeck. She knew of Zibeck’s upright character, his excellent swordsmanship, and, above all, his outstanding medical skills.

“Isn’t Young Master Kozel’s reputation bad? It’s entirely thanks to Sir Zibeck that he survived without his wounds getting infected, even after suffering such severe injuries…”

“Young Master Kozel’s mother, the Countess, must be upset. If he has lost his reproductive ability, he will be completely eliminated from the succession.”

The main wife of the Margrave of Salasma, the Countess, was the daughter of Count Lantaric, a great noble from a territory adjacent to Salasma. The noble daughter from a place with more economic power than Salasma had a political marriage with Count Kazel, so the relationship between the couple was not good, to say the least.

The only child between them was Young Master Kozel. After that, the Count played around with his concubines, and the Countess also had lovers and gave birth to illegitimate children separately.

But now that Kozel, who was born with the Count, had been castrated, he lost his inheritance rights, and the meaning of the political marriage faded. If their relationship was good, they could have a new child and make him the legitimate heir with inheritance rights, but unfortunately, their relationship was too distant to have another child now.

“Perhaps the Countess’s remaining options are to divorce and remarry, or…”

Sir Zibeck stopped talking. He shouldn’t say more as a knight.

“To assassinate her husband and take over as regent, right?”

Chief Officer Meya took over the words that Sir Zibeck had swallowed.

“Then, what will the Bishop do?”

The Countess demanded that Sir Zibeck be impeached and punished. But Sir Zibeck was not a vassal of the Count, but a holy knight of the King’s Church. His personnel rights were with the King’s Church, so it was up to the Bishop or the leaders of the Knights to manage.

If the Bishop of Salasma rejected the impeachment, Sir Zibeck could maintain his current position without punishment. However…

“The Bishop has accepted the impeachment and said that he will send Sir Zibeck on a penitent journey.”

“I see.”

From the King’s Church’s point of view, they couldn’t ignore the request of the Countess, the daughter of Count Lantaric.

“Well, that’s good. The ogre tribes are coming over the spine of the desert. It’s not bad to become a penitent knight and fight them.”

“But it’s dangerous. Are you sure you’ll be okay?”

“If the holy knights avoid dangerous work, who will take the risk? Oh, by the way, Chief Officer Meya.”

“Yes.”

“Do you know anything about the Messenger Clan?”

“The Messenger Clan? Those cursed soulless ones?”

“…….”

“Why are they?”

“No, it’s nothing. Hmm?”

Sir Zibeck, who had been talking to Meya in front of the church, noticed a group of armed soldiers moving through the crowd. They were vagrants wearing mismatched armor.

“What’s going on?”

Sir Zibeck approached them.

“Ah, aren’t you Sir Zibeck?”

“Belldon, is that you?”

Belldon was Young Master Kozel’s page, the son of his nanny, and also his milk brother. He was one of Young Master Kozel’s most trusted confidants, but he was too obese to be suitable for the adventure of exploring the Divine Scripture, so he had stayed in Salasma.

But now, he was hiring thugs?

“You’ve come at a good time, Sir Zibeck. Actually, Young Master Kozel told me to hire mercenaries or adventurers.”

“Mercenaries or adventurers? For what purpose?”

“Young Master Kozel said that he can’t stand to see Tarki become the head of the family…”

“What?”

“So, he’s going to attack Tarki.”

“Are you out of your mind? You’re going to attack Baroness Nort’s residence?”

“I tried to stop him. But, sigh, he’s completely out of his mind right now. How can I stop him? The Countess also hates Baroness Nort so much…”

The Countess was so ugly and had such a nasty personality that people who knew her called her a harpy. Of course, they called her that where she couldn’t hear them. If they called her a harpy where she could hear them, they would have ended up in a harpy’s nest.

On the other hand, Baroness Nort was a great beauty with a noble character, and she was praised by many. Her son, Tarki, was a fool, but the Baroness’s reputation was very good.

So, the Countess, who was usually very jealous, was furious when her son was castrated and was fueling her son’s madness.

This was a story that could be considered a crime, but Belldon spoke without hesitation. It seemed like he was on the verge of going crazy from wanting to complain to someone.

“Is it okay to say that in front of me?”

“Actually, I’m scared too.”

Belldon looked troubled. He was doing it because he was told to, but in reality, Kozel was now completely out of the succession. The only thing waiting for Kozel in the future was to become a holy knight of the King’s Church or the Rescue Knights. A person who has lost their reproductive ability can never become the head of the family.

“Are you asking me to stop him?”

Sir Zibeck asked the page Belldon about his intentions.