The Shadowed Legacy of the Soulless Messenger [EN]: Chapter 85

“Naga woman, it’s this man’s chivalry that protects you. I’m letting you live now out of respect for that. Don’t insult my sincerity. Or what? Are you now insulting the Emperor’s messenger? Are you saying that the Emperor’s messenger’s intention to protect the people is false and delusional?”

“…”

A terrifying murderous intent emanated from Azadin. Whether in terms of justification or intimidation, Shati had no retort. At that moment, the brass-clad old man standing in front of Shati confronted the murderous aura that Azadin was emitting.

“Don’t threaten too much.”

“Understood. I will cooperate without question until we escape this predicament.”

Azadin took his weapons off his mountain goat and placed them on the ground.

“Those who can arm themselves, do so with these, and those who are burdened by heavy luggage, ride here.”

They were wary of Azadin, who had suddenly appeared, but they were all too destitute to refuse what he offered.

“How is it?”

“I see. In a world where chivalry has become a mockery, I am impressed that a young man like you still upholds it. I will allow you to accompany us.”

“Thank you.”

“However, the issue with that woman should be resolved at least after we arrive at a safe place.”

The old man said that and extended his hand to Azadin.

“I am Count Brand of Rantaric. And you are?”

“I am Azadin, the 108th messenger of the Emperor. But Count Brand of Rantaric, are you a knight?”

“…”

When Azadin asked if he was a knight, Count Brand’s expression darkened. It was as if he had suddenly changed.

“Then let’s go.”

He turned away without answering.

“…?”

Azadin was curious about the change in Count Brand, who suddenly seemed to freeze. At that moment, a woman approached. She was the leader of the runaway slaves who had taken the copy of the Divine King’s Scripture from Shati and was keeping it.

“Please, help Count Brand. In that sense, I will dare to speak presumptuously.”

“In that sense?”

“Yes. The reason why he, Mr. Brand, became Count Brand. Would it be alright to talk about it as we go?”

“Yes, go ahead.”

Azadin allowed her to speak. For Shati, it was a nerve-wracking situation.

‘That woman has my Divine King’s Scripture…’

Since she was next to the Messenger Clan, she couldn’t steal it and run away. In the end, she had no choice but to go with this bizarre group of refugees.

*********

Azadin took the lead, and Count Brand followed at the rear, with the women in between, and they began to walk.

“So, who are you?”

“I am Delmer. Originally, I was an operative of Count Rantaric.”

“Operative?”

“Yes. That bandit group was deliberately planted by Count Rantaric to weaken the power of the Margrave of Salasma. Our mission was to provide connections to the nearby bandit groups and slave traders, and in return, supply weapons to further strengthen the bandits’ power.”

“But why?”

“Donear [the bandit king] privatized the organization and purged me. I wasn’t killed because I was a woman, but…”

“Then who is that Count Brand?”

“He was a famous scribe, lawyer, and teacher in Rantaric.”

Originally, Count Brand, or rather, Brand, was a famous scribe and lawyer in Kozma City, the border between Salasma and Rantaric. When he and his family were unfortunately captured by bandits, the bandit king Donear thought it would be more profitable to use them to extort ransom from their relatives rather than selling them as slaves.

However, Brand’s relatives refused to pay the ransom, and in anger, Donear and his gang killed Brand’s son-in-law and grandson, and tried to force his daughter and granddaughter to eat them.

When Brand’s daughter refused to eat her husband, and his granddaughter refused to eat her brother, the enraged bandits tried to kill them. That’s when Brand stepped forward.

He ate the dead flesh himself on the condition that his daughter and granddaughter would be spared. While many bandits laughed and mocked him, he silently endured the pain, and eventually went insane. After experiencing that horrific event, he could not remain sane.

Thus, the lawyer, scribe, and scholar became the self-proclaimed Count Brand, believing himself to be a knight from an old tale. Donear found it amusing and kept him alive as his personal jester.

“They killed and fed his family? On purpose?”

Azadin was taken aback by the bandits’ atrocities. It was not impossible for cannibalism to occur due to starvation. In a harsh siege, if food supplies were cut off and everyone was starving, human ethics would be secondary.

But to kill and eat family members not to avoid starvation, but to torment others? Azadin could not help but doubt the humanity of the bandit king Donear.

‘I should have tormented him more.’

Azadin frowned, recalling how he had used Donear as a shield. He had only inflicted wounds that would heal over time. Of course, the places where the arrows had penetrated deeply would continue to cause pain, and if not treated properly, the wounds would fester and kill him. But it was too merciful a treatment for a guy who had committed such madness.

“Donear not only cooked human flesh to torment people, but he also taught the bandits how to drug people. They spread out to various inns and drug the food to kidnap people. Unnecessary people are killed and turned into meat.”

“…”

“I was also part of the gang, but no matter how much I talk about their cruelty, it’s like spitting in the wind, so it’s hard to say, but anyway, after that, Brand really helped us like a knight in a story. Perhaps, he couldn’t have endured it while being sane.”

“Then now he is…”

“Yes. His mind is going back and forth. So, please be careful with your words and actions when dealing with him. If he regains his sanity, it will open the door to hardship on an already difficult path.”

“Hmm, I see. But there must be bad rumors about us, the Emperor’s messengers, so why are you telling me this?”

“I was even trying to borrow the Naga’s hand. If it’s really helpful, I’ll grab anything.”

Delmer said, her eyes shining.

“Also, no matter what, I want to take revenge on Donear. However, revenge on Donear is secondary to ensuring that these people escape safely.”

Ismail, who was listening, yawned.

“We might be chased at any moment, so why are we having such a leisurely conversation? Let’s go quickly.”

“…”

Delmer seemed hurt by Ismail’s cold attitude. For her, it was a sacred conversation like a confession to face her spiritual wounds, but to Ismail, it sounded like an unpleasant begging.

“…”

Azadin took Delmer’s hand and silently looked at Ismail.

*********

As they walked through the forest path, it became dark. Even soldiers who were used to marching would not march recklessly at night if it was not a road. Delmer and Brand let the runaway slaves rest, and they also took a break.

Ismail spoke first, as if he had been wanting to say something.

“Everyone is asleep, so let’s take the Divine King’s Scripture.”

“No. If I were going to take it, these people would not be my match in the first place. I would have done it already. More importantly, Ismail, as a retainer, you are overstepping your bounds.”

Ismail clicked his tongue at Azadin’s words.

“If that’s what you say, I, as your retainer, will follow, but may I still ask?”

“Go ahead.”

“Why are you helping these people? Without any reward?”

“The Emperor’s messenger is the Emperor’s envoy to save the people in distress. The Emperor’s gold is a device to institutionalize that, but ultimately, this is our true form.”

“Yes. If the Emperor hadn’t died and we continued to enjoy immense power as the Emperor’s envoys. Why should we be responsible for people we neither rule nor govern? Why should we bear the obligation when there is no reward of power?”

Ismail was asking that sincerely. Azadin chuckled.

“Well… I understand.”

“Thank you for understanding. Then the Divine King’s Scripture…”

“No. That’s not what I meant. I meant I understand why you’re like this. It seems the selection process for the messengers was too difficult for you.”

“What?”

“You had to push aside your peers to barely prove your worth as a messenger clan member, and it was hard to win the competition, so you missed the time to cultivate your character and focused all your energy on learning skills. So many villains who torture and eat people have destroyed so many human souls, and the only emotion you feel about it is this.”

“…”

Ismail felt ashamed at Azadin’s words. If he had simply criticized Ismail for being heartless, he would have laughed it off. But Azadin was subtly mocking Ismail.

‘Your skills are lacking, so you sold your character to somehow establish yourself within the clan.’

‘You don’t have the ability or talent, so you sold your character and became like that?’

Azadin was criticizing Ismail like this.

“I don’t have a background as impressive as yours. I don’t have an elder who looks favorably upon me, and I don’t have Aldis as my patron.”

“Ismail!”

Midiam, who was listening, stopped him. In any case, it was unacceptable for Ismail, a retainer, to talk back to Azadin, a messenger, like this to the strictly hierarchical Aragasans.

“Please forgive him, Azadin. Both Ismail and I are still young, and this is our first time experiencing something like this.”

Midiam apologized on behalf of Ismail, but Azadin shook his head.

“There’s no need to apologize. I don’t want a puppet that moves according to my orders, but I want to know your natural selves and thoughts. If you don’t speak freely, wouldn’t our conversation be meaningless? However, it hurts my heart a little, and I’m worried about the future of the clan. Even at an age when you should be sensitive, you act like such a bastard and aren’t even ashamed.”

“…”

“Well, if you speak like a dog, you’ll be treated like a dog, but still, speak freely what’s in your heart.”

“You’re not very mature either. Understood. Then I’ll cast a Foresight Bird.”

Ismail cast a Foresight Bird spell and sent an artificial spirit into the sky. But….

“Huh?”

He saw something like black fog spreading behind the forest.

“What…”

Ismail canceled the Foresight Bird and looked at the forest with his naked eyes. The sky was dark, but the stars were visible. So, there was no way that black smoke-like thing could be rising.

“Something is coming from behind!”

“…Is that so?”

Azadin grabbed his mountain goat and mounted it.

“It can’t be helped. I’ll go take a quick look at the rear.”

“You should rest too?”

“I’ll just take a quick look. You guys stay here and protect the people.”

Azadin turned back and headed to the rear.