Night of the Soulless Heathens – 169



#169. Northern Threat 1

As the wind and rain stopped the mosquitoes became fierce again.

Scott and Shati used magic to ward off the approaching mosquitoes while Azadin riding on the back of the Kerim goat sequentially used the copies of the Book of the New King that he had refining the magical power within his body.

After circulating the powerful white magic power accumulated in the copy of the New King’s Book and strengthening the magic power within his body the Hwajopungwol Kajashae was also becoming more and more powerful.

At first I didn’t really feel it but now I definitely feel like it’s gotten stronger.

But I guess it’s hard to concentrate because I’m on the move.

The things Arael had said lingered in Azadin’s head.

If what she said is true Aldis and Kazas who served as spiritual supporters for Azadin were ultimately figures moving within the Senate’s plans.

Individuals may be good but the will of the Senate is clearly evil so those who are loyal to the Senate can also be said to be immersed in evil.

‘They say that Bthuma is going to attack and that the leader is trying to take Bthuma’s throne… How should I stop them? And if I confront the leader will I be able to stop their ambitions? And what will happen to me if Master or Aldis side with the leader? I have now returned as the Emperor’s second leader but I might be cursed to serve again…’

His thoughts became complicated. He set out with the sole intention of saving people but in fact he didn’t have a good plan.

He is bluffing because if he gets anxious everyone who follows him will get anxious but Azadin is actually going into uncharted territory.

‘It seems that the Cheonggeun Party has quite a large force so it would be good if we could use them to gain some help.’

But will it really work out? If Arael says so then if a lot of Cheonggeun Party members gather wouldn’t that be dangerous in its own way?

At that moment a voice woke Azadin from his reverie.

*********

“Uh….it’s a good day.”

A group of armed men camped by the roadside at a vague border between the Adyrov Territory and the Kingdom of Btuma greeted Azadin and his party.

Men in fairly good armor were holding hunting bows and arrows and lighting a fire but their armor seemed oddly heavy for hunters.

‘They’re just a bunch of thieves. They’re being cautious because there are so many of us.’

Azadin recognized that they were a group of bandits but he did not bother to start a fight with them and greeted them.

“Good day. I’m on my way to Btuma. Any news?”

“If there is any news please be careful. Those crazy guys who turn into monsters are killing people we know and running away to Btuma.”

“A crazy guy who turns into a monster? A werewolf?”

“No that’s not it…”

“Or turn into a tall tree?”

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Azadin mentioned the old tree but they shook their heads again.

“That’s not it. Anyway it’s definitely a huge monster. Do you see it over there?”

“….”

Azadin saw a broken tree on the side of the road. There was something on the tree and it was a bloodstain that had been washed away by the wind and rain over time. It seemed to be because of the heavy rain yesterday.

“They hit our brother… He flew into the tree and crashed down and that’s how he ended up like that. The tree broke and the man really…”

“We had to collect the body for the funeral so we had to pick up the pieces and put them in a bag.”

The thieves trembled as they spoke.

“Be careful they keep appearing on the border between Btuma and Korasar killing people.”

“We are also looking for revenge for our brother but honestly… we are losing confidence.”

“Is that so?”

Azadin clicked his tongue when he heard their words.

Those who were in front of me were clearly thieves but they seemed to have some sense of duty. They were going into a hopeless fight after their comrades were brutally murdered.

‘Still it seems like you have confidence in your skills since you’re well-armed.’

Azadin approached the tree and examined it to see if anything was left behind.

Soon without much difficulty I was able to find a bit of flesh. The piece of flesh caught in a crack in the tree had probably fallen from the body for quite some time but it still moved around the body swaying like a leech.

Azadin was well aware of this type of Nether clan.

“Umm… this is….”

“What is it?”

“Sir Zibek. Do you know what this is?”

“Ah this is…..”

Zibek frowned at the sight of the insect-like flesh.

“Is this the Jecht Kyung?”

“It can’t be Jecht himself.”

“Why do you think it’s not you Lord Jecht?”

“Well from the perspective of the King’s Church Inquisitor isn’t the change of the owner of the Coral Sahar throne a bigger deal than coming to Btuma? And I don’t think that author would give up that splendid gold armor. If it’s Lord Jecht there must have been talk of the gold-plated paladins coming and going. Maybe Jecht himself went in the direction of Coral Sahar and these guys moved separately?”

“I see.”

Zibek was impressed knowing that there was some truth in Azadin’s words.

Every time Azadin would quickly reason and accurately grasp the situation even with just a little bit of information.

Even though the Paladin Xibek had not been untrained Azadin was on a different level.

“But should I prepare?”

Azadin mounted the swaying goat hewed a tree made an iron-tipped arrow and prepared a steel longbow drawn from his heavy crossbow.

“What are you doing?”

Jiswaga was embarrassed and asked Azadin.

“Get ready for battle. Don’t worry too much. It’s nothing.”

“Is that so? Well there’s no way the battle preparations wouldn’t be that difficult right?”

Not only Jiswa but even the refugees and the Cheonggeun Party members began to feel uneasy.

“What? Why are the members of the Cheonggeun Party bragging about catching bandits and monsters around here and robbing others? Why are they shaking?”

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“That that…..”

“When we patrolled the bandits retreated from the road and fled.”

“So you have no practical experience?”

“Yes that’s right.”

“Then you’ve only been bragging and bullying the weak in front of them. Don’t worry. This time I’ll make you men.”

“Oh yes.”

“That’s it.”

The Cheonggeun Party members recalled the broken tree the flesh caught in it and the weapons of the bandits who had been camping in the street just a moment ago.

Unlike the ragtag Qing Dynasty the bandits’ equipment was excellent. Even the bandits who had abundant combat experience had no intention of showing off their ‘manliness’ in front of an opponent they could not defeat….

The current Qingjiandang Taoist is Azadin. And it is too late to turn around and run away after coming this far.

“It’s so much fun to hear other people’s stories.”

Shati who was being dragged around by Azadin snickered at the sight of the intimidated Qing Dynasty members.

*********

“Kr…rrr… This is ridiculous. We. The children of the King of Tooth. We are much stronger than you humans.”

The bloody ogre was denying reality.

The Children of the Tooth King A huge army of ogres and hobgoblins descended the mountain.

The children of the King of the Tooth who raised yaks in the mountains would form large armies to pillage humans when they were hungry and would come down the mountain paths to attack humans.

But now they are being annihilated by strange humans or rather human-shaped monsters.

“We will attack Btuma together with the Naga Empire. If you are on our side you are making a big mistake.”

“Kuhahaha. Do we look like followers of Kurt’s pantheon?”

“Did you hear that? The ogre is begging for his life!”

These human-shaped monsters that had cut down the ogre army were laughing.

“So you are just humans? Then the ogres eat and the humans eat. It can’t be the other way around.”

-Crack!

The man stuck his arm into the ogre’s mouth as he continued to babble.

And it expands. Red-black worms begin to writhe and swarm into the ogre’s body eating him from the inside out.

The ogre writhed in pain but his resistance was meaningless as all his limbs had already been crushed.

“Phew.”

The man looked around. There were over 50 goblin corpses and three ogres but he killed them all without difficulty.

“What an incredible feat. I’ve accomplished something so incredible that only a legendary hero would do.”

The one who spoke like that was Donair a man who once called himself the King of Bandits on the border between Lantarik and Salasma.

“Yes. We too are gradually….”

Donair’s men were also drunk on their power atop the mountain of goblin corpses.

The elation and sense of power that came with victory in battle and the physical pleasure they felt as the black insects that flowed out of their bodies ate their corpses were paralyzing their reason.

“With this level of strength I really don’t think I could lose to anyone.”

“Yes. And that heretic inquisitor.”

The Inquisitor they were talking about was Jecht the judge of the Church of the Fallen King.

They had been turned into monsters by Jecht and had come to the border of the Kingdom of Btuma under Jecht’s orders. The place where the light of the King’s Flower is weakest is the border area. Here they were attacking people and monsters to increase their strength and gather information.

“So what should we do now? It doesn’t seem like we’ll lose to that heretic inquisitor anymore. Should we just stay here and wait for him to do as he orders?”

“No but let’s continue to build up our strength here for a while. The light of the King’s Flower is bothering us.”

Donair had mixed feelings.

The reason they could clearly feel the presence of the light of the king was because it was causing them pain.

What this means is clear: they are no longer human but have become creatures that should be called monsters.

But on the other hand their power as monsters that continued to grow stronger awakened their ambition and desire.

Ever since they were ordinary humans and not monsters Donair and his gang enjoyed harassing and assaulting people.

The violence and torture they inflicted on Brand and others in that area while they were human was horrific and indescribable.

Already driven mad by the madness of violence they had only now acquired a physical shell that suited them. And that was a great disaster for travelers passing through this area.

“hmm?”

At that moment Donair’s eyes caught sight of a group of travelers approaching from afar. Some were armed others were not. Judging from their shabby appearance they seemed to be refugees.

“The guests have arrived again. Let’s catch them and kill them.”

Donair licked his lower lip.

I want to forget for a moment that I have to follow orders from Jecht let go of the reality that I have become a monster driven out by the light of the King’s Flower and just indulge in the excitement of violence.

Donair and his men ran up the hill whipping their passion into action.