Night of the Soulless Heathens – 161



#161. Leap of Knowledge 4

“There are a lot of refugees in this place. If there are a lot of mosquitoes infectious diseases will spread.”

“That’s right. So it’s a very difficult situation.”

The clerk said so and asked Azadin.

“Brother. What’s your name?”

“I am Adan.”

Azadin gave a pseudonym.

The Aragasa of the Herald Clan have various names due to their mixed blood with the Hybris. However in the case of Azadin since it is a name from a very old Aragasa traditional culture he decided to use an alias to hide his origins.

“Brother Adan. As you can see everyone is currently in a difficult situation. In the midst of this chaos our Cheonggeun Party is protecting refugees and repelling bandits and monsters.”

Because of the refugees’ circumstances endemic Btuma diseases such as dysentery and dysentery were spreading among them.

Among these refugees Bthuma people wearing blue turbans were walking around handing out things.

“Here! This is the medicine of Cheonggeondang! It is the grace of God so if you eat this you will be cured of any disease including dysentery!”

Azadin was startled when he heard that.

According to the pharmacology handed down to the messengers the only medicine that works for all diseases is narcotics. Only strong painkillers can relieve the pain of all diseases but they cannot cure the disease itself.

‘Is it a drug? But I feel like the magic is weak?’

[It’s Nether magic.]

The Emperor’s voice answered instead.

‘Nether magic?’

[It’s the power I feel from that herb. Not only that but I feel that the power of the Nether is latent in many of the people around here. They are probably the people who took the medicine.]

The Emperor’s voice warned.

[As troubled times approach false prophets are rampant. Be careful. You won’t become addicted right away if you take the medicine but don’t accept the magic of the Nether easily.]

‘That’s a big deal.’

At that moment the clerk who was guiding the way stopped walking.

“Well you’re all here Brother Adan. From here on out you’d better watch what you say.”

“Are you meeting the leader?”

“The leader is not here but the Taoist priest in charge of missionary work in Adirov.”

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“Master….”

“Put your weapons away.”

“All right.”

Azadin unsheathed the weapon he was holding and went out to the battlefield with the Taoist priest.

*********

Even though it was called a training ground it was more like a field barracks with several large tents pitched.

However since it was built in front of Baron Adirov’s castle it was possible to see that there was a close relationship between Baron Adirov and the Cheonggeun Party.

“This is…..”

“Baron Dae-jak is also showing deep interest in the gospel of our Cheonggeun Party.”

The members of the Qing Dynasty were furious but Azadin smiled bitterly.

‘Well I guess I don’t want to spoil your mood since there’s a cult running rampant in this area anyway. The Baron is just an administrative official so he wouldn’t be fighting for his life or death with you right?’

The Taoist priest was an aristocratic figure in his twenties and at first glance he looked like a merchant or scholar with an elegant demeanor. His appearance was so androgynous that one might suspect he was a woman disguised as a man.

“First take off your helmet. Won’t you show me your face? How can we know who you are if you talk to me with your helmet on?”

“I’m sorry. I just hid it because it was a disgusting scene to see.”

When Azadin said that and took off his helmet the Taoist priest and the surrounding Qing Dynasty members were shocked.

“100 million?”

“Whose eyes?”

“Wow. You were blind? How?”

“I am replacing my eyesight with magic.”

“Oh you’re a wizard. How surprising. I’ve heard you’re very talented but I never thought you’d be a wizard. How can you be a wizard and act alongside a knight?”

“That knight was also hesitant due to the recent strange events that have occurred throughout the Kingdom of Korasa. In addition he was expelled from the religious order due to an unfortunate incident with his superior.”

“Oh I see.”

When I said that there was an incident with my boss everyone seemed to understand.

“Then would you please give me the teachings of the Cheonggeon Party? What does the Cheonggeon Party follow and what are its goals?”

“Before that…..”

The Taoist opened his mouth in embarrassment.

“As you can see around you people are sick and hungry and the situation is difficult. You say you came to seek teachings but salvation in Cheonggeondang is not something that one person can obtain alone. Isn’t the world where we help the people and the people help us the world that God wants? That’s why I would like you to give us some alms.”

“Oh yes. Can I have money?”

“Of course. This will be a great help as it will allow us to obtain the necessary medicine and food.”

“Hmm I see.”

If he had just asked for it he would have felt like he was being robbed so he probably wouldn’t have liked it but since he was using the suffering of the people as an excuse Azadin was happy to pay.

When I put in about three gold coins the Taoist monk Cheonggeondang was amazed.

“That’s quite a lot of money. Thank you brother. I will acknowledge you as a member of the Cheonggeun Party. The initiation ceremony will be held next week so until then this is temporary but for now I will give you this.”

“This is…..”

Azadin took the blue hood. It smelled bitter.

“It’s simply colored with tree fruit. It’s not a proper dye so be careful because it will wash off when washed with water.”

“Then teach me. What is God?”

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“God is our leader. He was originally a merchant from Btuma but one day he was struck by lightning and survived and became a master of the heavenly laws.”

“Lightning… is it a thousand miles?”

“That’s right. So he put on a blue hat and gathered people to prepare for the time of Jupiter and he gave grace to those who were suffering from the plague. Our job is to spread his teachings and convey the voice of God to people.”

“I see. I understand. Now I want to know more about God.”

Azadin’s words were never empty.

A pseudo-religion that expands its influence by using Nether magic as the Age of Jupiter approaches.

As a messenger who protects the lives of the people on the orders of the Emperor and also as a pure human being Azadin one cannot help but pay attention to him.

“If you want to see God in person you have to be dedicated to our Cheonggeun Party.”

“I guess so.”

“So… is the paladin with you okay?”

“Haven’t I already told you? He has currently been expelled from the church.”

“I know that. Many of the priests and paladins of the King’s Church are high-ranking nobles so they cannot accept the swearing-in even when faced with the punishment of Corasar because the ideology of the King’s Church is wrong. Even if they are expelled from the church when asked to swear to the swearing-in party they often refuse to swear.”

To the Cheonggeun Party Jibek is seen as a dangerous person who could cause trouble at any time.

This Taoist author is a moderate person so he speaks like this. Those hardliners must be desperate to kill him.

“Hmm. Thank you for your concern. I’ll talk to you.”

“Be careful. Oh and I heard that you’re quite skilled so I have a favor to ask.”

“A favor?”

“Actually there was a force that approached us before you. We accepted them after receiving donations in order to save the people… But they seem to be spies.”

“Are you a spy?”

“That’s right. It’s a miracle and a grace from God that we cure diseases and save people but it seems like you’re trying to dig it up and think it’s some kind of sorcery.”

Azadin felt a sting when he heard those words.

Actually I thought Azadin was a sorcerer and tried to dig into it but are you saying that there were people who thought the same thing before me?

“Would you please investigate them whether they are from the King’s Church or something else?”

“Am I the one talking?”

“That’s right. I guess it’s easy for people who were in the religious order to get their tails stepped on. I would appreciate it if you thought of it as an initiation ceremony.”

“Oh I understand.”

Azadin accepted the Taoist’s offer with a trembling voice.

*********

Scott waved at Azadin as he returned to the group.

“How was it Captain?”

Scott and Zibek Shati stayed behind with Azadin not meeting the Taoist priest. Azadin looked around and whispered quietly to Scott.

“I got ripped off.”

“Huh?!”

“That too and it’s not easy.”

Azadin explained the investigation the Taoist had requested.

“Oh if that new guy comes we’ll have him investigate us this time.”

“yes?”

“What are you going to do? Azadin. Are you going to do it?”

I asked Chatty out of curiosity.

“Hmm. First I need to meet the subject of the investigation. I don’t know if it’s the King’s Church or just a new force… I think I need to meet them and discuss it with them.”

“How about we forget about this and go to Bthuma to meet Arael?”

Jibek asked that. Azadin was surprised by the unexpected response.

“Are these people spreading their religion here?”

“It seems excessive to call collecting donations and committing atrocities against civilians a form of socializing. The King’s Church and the Knights Templar also do similar things. And they actually treat dysentery and dysentery.”

Jibek said that with a somewhat sharp tone.

Usually dysentery and dysentery were such severe diseases that if you got them you would die.

But seeing that the social things here were treating people and buying their popularity Jibek began to feel skeptical.

The King’s Church which calls itself the righteous law has weakened its healing magic power so when saving people it takes into account their social status and wealth and in the end it just leaves most people to die. The teachings of the righteous law are worse than those of a cult.

Moreover after seeing Dimia use restoration healing magic so cleanly the conflict in his heart grew even stronger.

“Still I’m going to investigate this Cheonggeondang. Since they’re a religion that originated in Btuma I think it would be a good idea to establish a relationship with them before going to Btuma anyway.”

Azadin said so and asked the surrounding Qing Dynasty soldiers to find out which force he should investigate.

*********

The place the Cheonggeun Party soldiers guided us to was the cart of a traveling theater troupe.

On top of a four-horse carriage two dancing girls were smiling to the attention of the people and around them peddlers of medicine and other goods were selling their wares.

But somehow the dancing girl looked familiar to Azadin.

“…Zenith and Dimia.”

Flower Dimia and her younger sister Zenith were dancing as wandering dancers.

And the merchants selling goods under him were Seraph of the Bird and Aleph of the Wind. The coachman was Indim of the Moon.

The four people of Hwajopungwol.

Among the messengers of the Jeonryong clan four of them were the strongest messengers of the time and had become wandering merchants and entered the headquarters of the Cheonggeun Party.

‘Come to think of it these guys escaped from Coral Sahar by land.’

Azadin’s party set out late but they got on the Nagas’ boat and arrived in the Adyrov region around the same time.

That means there was a high chance that Arael was nearby too.

“That’s great. We can meet here without having to go all the way to Btuma.”

As Azadin spoke Indim disguised as a groom approached. Covered in black robes and wearing a black leather mask on his face Indim looked suspicious to anyone.

“Azadin…..”

“Adan. Right now. The Cheonggeun Party people are watching so be careful.”