Night of the Soulless Heathens – 248



#248. The Knights’ Secret Weapon 2

Although he suddenly received a summons Azadin calmly served food and drinks to the supply men and heated up bath water for them.

The officer in charge of the supply corps was ready to have Azadin tied up with rope and summoned at any moment but his mood immediately improved when Azadin treated him with great hospitality.

“Then since it is a great favor I will take a bath eat wash and rest. Sir Azadin please finish preparing for your trip and leave with us tomorrow.”

“Okay then make yourself comfortable.”

Azadin said this to the supply men left the place and called Camilla.

“What? Azadin?”

“After you’ve had some drinks try to get some information out of those people.”

“What about information?”

“This summons simply says to come but I want to know the reason what the atmosphere is like and why they’re asking me to come.”

“Aha. I see.”

“Okay. Please.”

Azadin asked Camilla and left the place.

After a while Camilla finished talking to the supply crew and left.

“Azadin. The investigation is complete.”

“How was it?”

“No good. The supply corps doesn’t know why the Chapter Master summoned you. But… usually someone who summons you with only a few attendants is someone suspected of some crime so they expected you to lose Fort Vermillion and be captured. It’s not common for someone who has a confirmed assignment to be summoned in this manner.”

“Did they catch you using the undead?”

Azadin was also embarrassed because he was stabbed in that part.

“I don’t think so. So Azadin can I give you some advice?”

“what?”

“Take off your mask.”

“mask?”

“Yeah. You’re handsome. Why don’t you use it? If you wear a weird mask and go around you’ll look suspicious even when you’re still.”

“Because this mask is a heirloom of a precious person.”

“If it’s that precious why don’t you just hang it on your face and keep it somewhere safe? Why do you walk around with your face covered?”

Get notified for updates: https://discord.gg/93rmBjgP6B

“Hmm. That’s right.”

Azadin hesitated as to how to explain.

In fact Azadin himself had never thought about it. He just did it because he had a habit of hiding his face.

Even if that weren’t the case Azadin was now thinking that he had stolen Arael’s face.

Arael had clearly promised Azadin that when she died she would return to him what she had taken but Azadin could not accept that.

I didn’t want to admit that I hated Arael because I never reconciled with her properly while she was alive and I deeply regret it.

So Azadin now considered his own appearance as Arael’s and had no intention of selling it for any profit.

It is this very point that Camilla a complete stranger surprisingly sees through.

“Azadin. If you take off your mask and meet people they will treat you well.”

“What are you joking about Camilla? This is a serious situation.”

“I mean that too.”

“Even though I am a messenger?”

“It’s better to be a handsome member of the Herald Clan than a guy who wears a weird mask like a Herald Clan. Or what? Do you really expect people to see your true value that surpasses your beauty? Arthur. Just use your good looks and push through. If you’re going to do it anyway it’s human nature to choose the one that looks good if it’s the same price even if it’s a red skirt. Why wouldn’t you use it when you can charm people without spending a penny?”

“…Hmm. I don’t like the increase in people like Legion.”

“He’s a bit of a special guy. Anyway things are going well with him on your side right?”

In fact thanks to the region commanding soldiers became much easier.

“When you’re summoned by the Chapter Master take off your mask and act friendly. If that doesn’t work we’ll think about it then. Just pretend to be fooled and try it. I’m not saying you should go around fooling people just take off your mask and show your bare face.”

“Okay I know it won’t have much effect but I’ll give it a try.”

Azadin decided to listen to Camilla’s advice.

*********

The next day Azadin prepared to appear for Fireglyph with Camilla Countach and Bernard.

Azadin wore the most luxurious navy Gambison of the former captains’ equipment at Fort Vermillion and took off his mask as Camilla advised.

Then the officer in charge of the supply unit was surprised.

“Uh… Are you Sir Azadin?”

“Yes. Did you have a good rest yesterday? I’m sorry I didn’t prepare this well.”

“Oh no. You are Hospitaler-Erant… Please speak comfortably. I am a subordinate but I feel ashamed that you are treating me so well.”

Clearly he was a person who used to accept alcohol food and bath water prepared by Azadin without any burden but one day he suddenly felt very embarrassed and grateful to Azadin.

Moreover he recognized Azadin as a hospitaler-errant.

Until now those who knew that Azadin was from the Herald Clan did not consider him a member of the Salvation Knights.

“hmm?”

Azadin was taken aback when he saw the supply officer’s attitude suddenly change.

And that’s not all.

The soldiers brought by the quartermaster were surprised to see Azadin and even the people belonging to Fort Vermillion froze the moment they saw him.

To the people of Hybris someone as tall and fair-skinned as Azadin was considered a noble or even royal.

Even if the current Azadin claimed to be royalty most people would believe him.

Even those who knew he was a herald were in awe of Azadin’s clear skin tall dignified figure and beautiful appearance.

‘See? Am I right?’

Join our discord and ping me to update more chapters. Discord: https://discord.gg/93rmBjgP6B

Camilla said so without making a sound just moving her lips.

‘Are you really doing this just because of my appearance? I’m a man not a woman?’

Azadin was puzzled by the supply corps’ reaction to the drastically different treatment but the more he watched the more he felt that it was true.

The supply corps accepted the cinnabar that Azadin gave them without much regard for its quality and gave them more than the set price for the various materials they brought including metal products that were hard to obtain in the village such as arrowheads swords farm tools and nails.

“It’s a good thing the luggage is heavy. I should leave it behind.”

“Is that okay to do that?”

“You treated me so well yesterday so this is okay. I’m in charge of the supply corps so this is up to my discretion.”

Azadin couldn’t help but be surprised at how quickly a person’s attitude changed.

*********

With the help of the supply unit Azadin’s party borrowed a raft from a nearby logging camp and arrived at Fireglyph.

“Is that a fireglyph?”

Where several paths converged there stood the Fireglyph Fortress.

The watchtower and spires were so huge that they were incomparable to those of Fort Vermilion and the huge walls said to have been built by giants had powerful flaming writings written on them leaving a warning to any enemies attempting to climb over them.

“These are traces of ancient giants. How wonderful.”

Azadin was well versed in the tales and legends of the Knights Templar so he was deeply moved when he saw the fire letters on the Fireglyph Wall.

As they approached Fireglyph the river’s current slowed down so Azadin and his party got out of the river rode horses and arrived at the Fireglyph checkpoint.

Fireglyph’s soldiers were blocking the approaching party but when they saw Azadin on horseback they were startled and stammered their words.

“Hey who are you?”

“I am Hospitaller-Erant and Captain Azadin of Fort Vermillion.”

“At Fort Vermillion?”

“Then the messenger clan?”

Everyone was surprised to learn that Azadin was a member of the rumored messenger clan but they were also taken aback by Azadin’s graceful appearance and bearing which were like the incarnation of an angel.

‘See? I told you it’s edible.’

Camilla saw that everyone was overwhelmed by Azadin’s aristocratic appearance and she was reassured that her choice was the right one.

“The summons has been given but may I meet with Chapter Master Lord Hexenmayer?”

“Oh yes. Please wait a moment. I will take you to the reception room.”

The soldiers greeted the group politely and sent Azadin to the reception room without thinking much about it.

“uh.”

“…….”

However upon entering the reception room there was an unexpected person. It was none other than the 10th Lieutenant Zan and the other Northern Aragasa.

In fact even though Hexenmayer had clearly instructed them not to let others into the reception room the soldiers and servants were taken aback by Azadin’s dignified appearance(?) and saying they could not just leave such a distinguished guest waiting on the street brought him into the reception room which is what happened.

Fireglyph had been left out of the Knights Templar’s core administration and power struggles so even the servants forgot Lord Hexenmayer’s warning and sent Azadin and his party to the reception room.

“Hey you!”

Camilla recognized the 10th Lieutenant’s glass and shouted.

“Written.”

Zan raised his hand and stopped his subordinates.

“Everyone calm down. Hmm. Azadin why are you here?”

“Because I became a member of the Rescue Knights.”

At that moment Zan’s subordinates were startled.

“what?”

“Rescue Knights?”

“Are you in your right mind?”

But Jeanne clicked her tongue knowing that Azadin was being sincere.

“So you’re on the Chadra Plateau. The Knights Templar are just as sinister as the King’s Church guys.”

“Why are you here Jan?”

“Even if you ask I can’t answer.”

“Isn’t that enough answers to be lacking? It looks like you’re not here to meet the Chapter Master but rather an attendant of a high-ranking official who is currently meeting with the Chapter Master.”

“Then are you satisfied with that?”

Zan stuck out his tongue at Azadin who was able to grasp the situation with just a brief analysis.

‘That means the Chapter Master is a traitor to the Knights. Oh come to think of it that’s obvious. The Chadra Plateau is basically a place of exile so even though the Chapter Master has a high position if he’s just guarding the Chadra Plateau he’d naturally want to rebel. If he’s always been dissatisfied he’d have more motives to rebel.’

Azadin clicked his tongue when he realized that Chapter Master Hexenmayer was a traitor with the Northern Qi.

At that moment the door to the reception room opened and a large silver-haired northern man came in.

“Huh? What’s this guy?”

“My name is Azadin the Hospitaller-Erantin. Your Highness.”

Azadin guessed the other person’s identity. He must have been a higher-ranking official and his entire body bore the distinct appearance of a northerner. And based on various circumstances it was easy to tell that he was a blood relative of the Northern Emperor.

When Azadin called him prince he glanced at the glass.

“I didn’t say anything. That’s the kind of guy he is.”

“Oh that kind of guy?”

The northern prince soon understood the situation.

“Nice to meet you Azadin. Yes. I am Kalintz Lionaire son of Cohen Lionaire of the North.”

He asked Azadin to shake his hand.