Night of the Soulless Heathens – 236



#236. Bishop Akenar 3

“You are being too harsh with the knights who abandoned their comrades and ran away. They probably did it because they wanted to live.”

Azadin lashed out at Bishop Akenar’s remarks blaming them on the knights who had abandoned Izmilla and fled.

“What a bunch of funny guys. Those so-called Paladins would betray and capture the guests they called.”

Even Jan who had been watching the situation couldn’t hold it in anymore and said something.

At that moment Azadin pulled out the ceramite longsword he was carrying on his back.

“this guy!”

“What are you doing!”

The knights on horseback rushed forward and attempted to stab Azadin with their spears but Azadin blocked the spears with his ceramite longsword.

The knights’ bodies were lifted from their saddles but they were caught in the saddle rings and did not fall off their horses but instead their spears were broken.

‘You’ve gotten weaker. If things were normal I would have been able to knock you off your horse.’

Azadin smiled bitterly as he felt his strength weakening.

But for the knights it was a strange experience like being under some kind of spell. Just from that moment on they realized that they could never stop Azadin.

‘That’s ridiculous! The bishop is here!’

‘The bishop is in danger!’

In the past the knights had abandoned their comrades and fled to save their lives but this time they all threw themselves to block the bishop’s path.

If Azadin harms Bishop Akenar then there is no way for anyone involved to escape. When he ran away from the pilgrimage there was room for excuses but this time there is no room for even that.

But contrary to their expectations Azadin turned the hilt over and handed the handle to the bishop.

“You Bishop of Coxhall would know whose sword this is?”

Bishop Acenar took the sword and examined it.

“I can’t believe it. This black… Aurelia Dunn!”

“Aurelia Dunn?!”

“Are you talking about Sir Planck’s sword?

Everyone was surprised to hear that name.

A ghost who was the teacher of the Northern Emperor Cohen Lionaire and after disappearing one day became a death knight and roamed the vicinity of Coxhall killing countless people.

People called him the Death of Chivalry especially since many knights lost their lives after challenging Sir Planck.

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However during his lifetime he was the one in charge of wisdom among the three virtues of the knights and the ceramite longsword he used was one of the four famous swords that the order had ever made that were allowed to have a name.

‘Was it really that great?’

However Azadin did not have a good opinion of the ceramite longsword. It was heavier than a normal steel sword but the blade was dull so it could not be said to have a good cutting feel.

It is incomparable to a sharp and sturdy Azure Steel longsword and is even inferior to a well-made steel sword.

But judging from the reactions of others the ceramite longsword especially the one Azadin had seemed to be one of the most famous swords in the world.

“How did you do this….”

“I received it directly from him.”

“yes?”

“I was knighted by him and inherited his sword.”

“?!”

Azadin did not know about the prophecy being passed down to the Knights Templar but Bishop Akenar was of course aware of it.

A prophecy that the last knight appointed by the Knight of Wisdom Planck will become the flower of chivalry.

But isn’t the person before your eyes the emperor’s messenger?

Unlike the King’s Church the Knights Templar did not have any particular enemies with the Emperor’s followers. Of course since all of its members were Hybris and the Knights Templar’s talent pool was mostly Hybris nobles they all detested the Emperor’s messenger but personal detestation and sect policy were separate matters.

However the Emperor’s followers attacked Btuma and Korasaar committed mass murder and summoned Naga and various monsters to completely destroy the kingdom so the Salvation Knights could not ignore the Emperor’s message.

“You really were commissioned by Sir Planck? He must have become a Death Knight?”

“okay.”

“That’s amazing. I thought he was no longer rational. If what you say is true then you are our brother hospitaler.”

“Your Excellency Bishop.”

“That’s ridiculous!”

Those who were listening to the bishop were terrified.

It is absurd for the Emperor’s messenger to be a knight of salvation. No matter how different the doctrines of the King’s Church and the Knights of Salvation may be they are also the people of Hybris.

It was too emotionally repulsive to accept the blasphemous being that had killed the Yaegasu clan.

“Sir Planck is dead. Since becoming a Death Knight he is nothing more than a shadow of his former self. In fact after his death wasn’t a new Knight of Virtue chosen?”

“He is the Emperor’s messenger. He is part of the evil men who have already destroyed two of the Eight Kingdoms. How can we believe anything he says?”

However Bishop Akenar wearing the mask of a noblewoman took a step closer to Azadin even as he listened to the others.

“If it is true that Sir Planck appointed you then you have accepted to become a member of the Order of the Knights of Salvation? Even though you are the Emperor’s messenger?”

“Yes.”

“Can I ask why?”

“It is… not because Sir Planck wanted it but because I have long had faith in the three archangels and their devotion.”

Azadin used Sir Planck as an excuse but soon gave up and told him his true feelings.

He lost Aldis who was everything to him. He couldn’t even reconcile with Arael and sacrificed her.

Even though he had lost everything he still had faith and so he accepted the appointment of Lord Planck.

“Ugh.”

“Pfft.”

“Are you in your right mind?”

The reactions were varied.

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The surrounding knights laughed were surprised or looked at Azadin with contempt when they heard what he said.

All the unfiltered feelings of hatred poured out onto Azadin.

It is no wonder that the Emperor’s messengers have heard that the soulless blasphemers have their own beliefs even though they themselves are not sure of their own beliefs.

“I see. Then I guess I can assume you want to become a member of the Rescue Knights?”

“Yes. At least if it’s not an organization that abandons its comrades and runs away or one that persecutes and plunders the weak.”

“Very well then. In the name of Bishop Coxhal Akenar I appoint you Hospitaller-Erant. There is no need to appoint you I believe since you have already received it.”

“yes?!”

“Bishop! What is that….”

“Then shall we head to Coxhall for now? There are many stories I would like to hear as we go so would you like to join me in my carriage?”

Bishop Achenar pointed out his chariot to Azadin.

Riding in the same carriage as her is a great honor that a mere apprentice knight can hardly experience. However it is a story that Azadin is not familiar with.

“Okay let’s get on.”

Azadin accepted Akenar’s offer and tried to climb onto the chariot.

But then Azadin’s gaze was fixed on Jeanne. Jeanne was opening her mouth and saying something silently.

‘She’s a target too.’

Bishop Akenar is also one of the targets of the attack by the northern Aragatha. Of course the Bishop of Coxhal would be a target of attack.

‘I have to be careful.’

Azadin heeded Zan’s warning and climbed into the carriage.

“Over there…..”

At that moment the villagers approached Azadin and his carriage.

“What’s going on?!”

The bishop’s guards pushed the townspeople back.

“Oh I just wanted to say thank you.”

“Thank you?”

“Yes. Thank you for saving us sir.”

“Hahaha. That’s only natural. It’s the duty of a knight! Right!”

“….”

The townspeople were expressing their gratitude to Azadin but the rescue workers who arrived late were strangely making a fuss.

From their perspective weren’t the rescuers just people who were getting in the way of catching the fleeing lizardmen?

“Yes. It is the mission of a knight.”

Azadin smiled bitterly and waved to a village child before climbing into the carriage. The child was pretending to fight imitating Azadin.

The boy raised both hands and cheered in joy when Azadin recognized him.

‘What a cute guy.’

Azadin got into the carriage keeping his eyes on the child.

The bishop’s carriage had a luxurious interior decorated with red silk.

Bishop Achenar wearing the mask of a silver lady offered Azadin the seat opposite him.

“Your precious carriage will be covered in dust. Oh now that I am a member of the Rescue Knights should I speak to you with honorifics?”

When Azadin asked that the guard and groom who had been listening became irritated.

“You rude bastard! Do you know what kind of person this is? As a mere cultivator you should naturally respect her!”

“Hmm. Does that mean you also recognize me as a hospitalist in training?”

“Ugh.”

“Of course. I Bishop Acenar have acknowledged it. Those who do not consider you a knight are mocking my honor.”

When the coachman was speechless Bishop Acenar himself stepped forward and spoke decisively.

Azadin liked the way he spoke loudly enough to be heard outside the carriage.

‘I don’t know what you’re thinking but it feels refreshing. Even if there’s a sinister poison waiting for you it’s still more to your liking than a bunch of petty paladins.’

Azadin decided to show her some respect.

“Okay Bishop. Then I will gratefully accept your offer.”

Azadin shook off his clothes and sat down opposite her.

“Haha you don’t have to do that. Just call me whatever you want. I’m just a widow who was born with an undeserved position because of my lineage.”

“A widow?”

“Yes. Don’t you know what I mean by this mask? Then I guess I should start by explaining why I became the Bishop of Coxhall.”

*********

Coxhal was a coastal city bordering the Arangi Inland Sea and was famous as a trading port with Btuma.

It was a trading city that brought in sugar and spices from Btuma and transported them inland generating huge customs revenue. As such the king of Arangi directly managed this place for generations and it was practically a second capital.

In fact there were several times when the Arangi kings planned to move the capital to Coxhall to make it their royal capital but because there was no way to move the quartz throne the attempts failed every time.

Instead he established a separate palace and frequently visited Coxhall to manage it. Accordingly the King’s Church and the Knights Templar also established a bishopric in Coxhall and worked hard to spread the gospel.

This Coxhal’s Knights Templar Bishop was a woman named Akenar a high-ranking noble of Chitai and the former queen of the Arangi Kingdom.

Although she was a beautiful and wise queen and had a high reputation among the people she did not have children with King Arangi.

In the end King Arangi broke off the engagement and remarried the princess of Assander and the former queen Akenar became a member of the Knights Templar and served as the bishop of Coxhall.