Night of the Soulless Heathens – 158



#158. Leap of Knowledge 1

While Shati prepared the meal and Lord Jibek fetched water Scott and Azadin absorbed white magic from the copy of the Book of the New King and devoted themselves to strengthening Azadin.

It was like pouring water into a naturally leaky bag.

If you properly direct the magical power charged in the copy of the Book of the New King to Azadin’s body the entire book of the Book of Flowers Birds Wind and Moon will become powerful but the magical power will gradually disappear over time and the strength will return to how it was before.

The moment you inject white magic it becomes stronger for a certain amount of time but after some time it returns to its original state. However according to Scott by repeating this the entire book of Azadin’s magic gradually becomes stronger.

Scott made an unexpected offer.

“Actually Captain. From a long-term perspective it might be better to use the white magic power of the copy of the New King’s Book to erase the Captain’s Kajas Book that is the incomplete book of magic Hwajopungwol.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The captain is well-versed in magic itself. He also has an excellent sense for handling magical power. If he had a normal grimoire he could become a powerful enough magician.”

“So if I get rid of the incomplete grimoire inside my body I can learn magic normally?”

“that’s right.”

“But then you’ll need a new grimoire right? The copy of the New King’s Book hasn’t been deciphered yet. You can’t use this one. In the meantime?”

“You’ll be weaker in the meantime. But you’ll be able to recover soon. And I can teach you the new spellbook to instill in you.”

“You mean black magic?”

“Isn’t it great? Necromancy? It’s convenient and useful. I don’t know if the great magic of the orcs will work on the dull humans but there are quite a few human necromancers so if I build up my skills to the level of my toes wouldn’t I be considered a respectable person among humans?”

“….”

“The King’s Light Combat that our knights originally used is a lower-level grimoire derived from the New King’s Book. How about learning it?”

Sir Jibek recommended the Light of the Kings’ Engagement to Azadin.

“It’s not a bad plan but I don’t have time to do it. How long would it take roughly?”

“Well I don’t know for sure since it’s the captain’s body but wouldn’t it weaken for at least half a year?”

“I can’t afford to be helpless for half a year. And that’s at least half a year. In reality it could take even longer.”

Azadin declined Scott’s offer.

“For now it’s enough to strengthen me with the power of the New King’s Book. In addition I’ve obtained the Azure Steel Sword. The Wendigo’s dagger is also a very good weapon.”

Azadin said and pulled out his sword. The bluish blade radiated a cool chill.

Azadin used his sword so vigorously that most of his swords were consumables. That’s why he used to carry a bunch of weapons in his goat saddlebag.

But even to such an Azadin the Azure Steel sword was a fascinating object.

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“This weapon was obtained through illegal means so if I meet someone who has a connection with it I should return it but in the meantime I’ll use it. Then I should give this sword a name even if it’s only temporarily. From now on you’re ‘Blue.’”

“….”

Everyone’s eyes were focused on Azadin. Are you serious?

“What? Why?”

“Do you really have to give it that name?”

“Because I’m just borrowing it temporarily.”

At that moment Shati who was cooking rice shouted.

“Hey! There’s a boat coming!”

“what?”

A small coastal rigged ship stopped and fired a signal towards Azadin and his men. The arrow whistled through the wind.

“It’s not Aragasa.”

Watching the flying hawks Azadin knew that they were not Aragasa.

If the arrow was fired by the Aragasas it should have flown twice as fast and farther than I did. Still since they fired the arrow it seems like they have business here.

As Azadin waited he saw them lowering a small boat and approaching.

“Who is it?”

“I’ve never seen that face before.”

But judging from the way they were waving and shouting in this direction it seemed like they had come to meet Azadin and his party.

“Are you a messenger clan?”

“I don’t think so. The distance of the arrow was too short.”

Then three men got off the boat.

“You’re safe messenger clan.”

“you are?”

“Hmm. Haven’t you seen my human form?”

“ah.”

Azadin clicked his tongue when he saw his true identity.

“Get out?!”

Nagaraja Dehares of the Water Snake Tribe appeared before Azadin in human form.

“Yeah. Didn’t you say you’d give me back the seal?”

I wondered why I could see it from a distance and it seems that this seal was enchanted with a tracking spell.

“You were safe. Give me back the Shati seal.”

“Oh yes. It is my honor. Raja.”

“Why is this guy with you?”

“Because I fell in love with it.”

“Huh? Hmm. Is that it?”

Dehares nodded as he looked at Azadin and Shati.

“I understand. Your body is scary.”

He seemed to think there was a physical relationship between Azadin and Shati.

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Since the days of the Naga Empire Nagas have had many sexual relations with humans. Mating among Nagas requires risking one’s life at least 24 hours a day. However they can only enjoy pleasure without any burden from humans and humans also get more pleasure from their relationships with Nagas than from their own kind.

Of course in the Naga Empire it was stipulated that humans who had affection for each other should be killed and eaten but there were many Nagas who broke the rules and kept humans alive because of their affection.

“No sir Raja.”

Shati tried to clear up the misunderstanding but Azadin stopped her and returned the seal to Dehares.

“Yes the seal was well used. Are you satisfied with the result?”

“…It’s good that the sea serpents ate the shit but something unexpected happened. A new emperor. This is really something. It would have been nice if you had at least given me a heads up.”

Dehares’ voice was heard. Aldis’s claim to the throne and his declaration of being the Emperor’s descendant was not a good thing for the Nagas.

For the Nagas who serve the pantheon of the Kurt Gods the strengthening of the Yaegasu Gods would not be a very welcome thing.

“It might be hard to believe but I didn’t know until it all happened.”

“You didn’t know?”

“This time the one who ascended to the throne was not Arael but a man named Aldis. He was not from the faction that had done business with the Nagas but was snatched away by another faction along the way.”

“Oh. Is that so? Thanks for telling me that. By the way I see you’re heading this way. Are you headed to Btuma?”

“….”

“If it’s okay with you would you like to take our ship on the way to thank us? We’re going to Seramba Port in the Kingdom of Btuma so I’ll take you there.”

The port of Seramba was one of Azadin’s destinations a ten-day walk away.

But when he got on the boat of the Nagas of the Water Snake Tribe Azadin now had about an eighth of the entire pages of the New King’s Book.

“I have to refuse…”

Even though Zibek said so Azadin nodded.

“Then I will gladly accept your favor.”

“Haha. You chose well. I already lacked someone to talk to so please be my conversation partner on the way.”

Dehares sent a signal to their ships and they lowered more boats and all of Azadin’s men’s horses and goats were transferred to their ships.

*********

Nagaraja Dehares was a curious person.

He also showed curiosity about the Herald Clan and the Angel Arael faith that the Herald Clan had before coming to the continent of Hybris.

“Azadin the Serpent and Arael the Angel of Justice. Wait a minute didn’t the leader of the Arael faction say Arael? He gives people the name of the god they serve?”

“That means we have departed from the old beliefs.”

“It’s amazing. How easy it is to abandon your faith.”

“Is that more surprising? Even the sea serpents seem to serve the Nether Reapers more than the Cobra Queen.”

“Oh right. Hmm I see. That’s an interesting story. Why are your bows so strong?”

In this way Dehares asked Azadin about the messenger clan throughout the voyage and in return he easily answered Azadin’s questions about the nagas as long as they were historical.

“I can’t answer questions like where the Naga Empire is and how many there are because those are questions that reveal the strategy. Aren’t you avoiding such questions as well?”

“yes.”

“Let’s understand each other’s points.”

After sailing for about three days Dehares’ subordinates whispered to Dehares in Naga with anxious expressions.

“….”

Dehares’ expression crumpled.

“You. Every morning you do something weird with that orc and the New King’s Book right?”

“okay.”

Azadin continued to absorb magical power from the copy of the New King’s Book even while riding the Nagas’ ship.

Anyway I was bored. Azadin and Scott Zibeck were studying and training on how to use the white magic power that was rising in the Shinwangjinseo copy.

Is that why there was talk among the Nagas?

Azadin thought that it had come. The copy of the Book of the New King is a supreme magic book that even the Cobra Queen covets. No matter how much he is called Nagaraja there is no way he wouldn’t covet it.

But that wasn’t the point that Dehares was pointing out.

“Actually it’s embarrassing to say but when I brought you on board I was prepared to consume hay since there were horses and goats. But…”

“however?”

“That orc is too greedy. My subordinates are suggesting that we throw that orc into the sea…”

“….”

Scott’s eating is more annoying than a horse or a goat eating hay. How much has he been eating all this time?

“Sorry I’ll let you get off.”

“I’m sorry but your paladin friend has been fishing hard to fill up his stock. I was going to take him to Seramba as promised but at this rate we’re running low on food.”

Dehares seemed genuinely sorry for having to let Azadin and his party off midway.

*********

In the end Azadin’s party had no choice but to land on a coastal cliff about three days away from Seramba Port.

As they prepared to disembark from the ship Shati looked at Azadin and asked

“Hey can you really leave me here?”

It was a truly earnest wish but her inner conflict could be seen in the way she spoke as if in passing without hurting Azadin’s feelings.

Shati dreamed of becoming a vassal of Nagaraja Dehares a man of great character.

It may seem strange that she a Naga from the Dry Land Tribe would serve Nagaraja from the Water Snake Tribe but she cannot return to her original position since she has already lost a copy of the Book of the New King and failed her mission.

If you return to your original tribe you will be severely punished. However Dehares will understand your circumstances.

But Azadin refused to let Shati leave.