Night of the Soulless Heathens – 277



#277. Northern Qi’s Ambition 1

The dispute with Sir Sok ended strangely.

It would be better to call it a respite rather than an end.

“But it’s amazing.”

Sedrin was impressed by Azadin.

“Originally I said I would be loyal if you liberated my clan so it’s not time to be loyal yet… but… Alright. Azadin. Only you can liberate my clan.”

“That means….”

“Oh don’t misunderstand. I am only loyal to you as your subordinate not really… Do you know? These days elves don’t practice cannibalism but humans are like livestock to us. I don’t eat humans like the old people do but what should I say about humans from an elf’s perspective?”

“hmm?”

Azadin couldn’t understand why Sedrin was acting so agitated.

“Very well. Cedrin. Then could you go to the Southeast Rock Fortress right now and help Lord Broham? I would like you to use your magic to control a griffin or hippogriff to help build the bridge.”

“Um. Okay.”

“Then Selim. Shall we return to Fireglyph?”

As Azadin said that Sedrin stopped.

“Wait a minute? That’s all?”

“For now?”

“No why am I working at Fireglyph with Selim…”

“Well if we’re going to use a griffin to build a bridge we need someone like you who’s good at handling animals.”

“Oh right. I see. Hmm. I see. The cause is important.”

Sedrin nodded as if he had realized something after seeing Azadin’s reaction.

“Then what should I do Sir Azadin?”

The half-vampire Niselda worked as the abbess’s right-hand woman at the Chadra Convent.

The life given to women in the Chadra Plateau the place of exile for the Knights Templar or rather the entire world is extremely harsh. The convent has protected the women on the condition that they sever ties with the secular world.

The convent needed its own force as bands of thieves and scoundrels swarmed nearby not recognizing the authority of the convent.

The half-vampire Niselda and her order of nuns were the nuns’ only force and deterrent.

“Is your arm okay?”

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“To be honest I lost too much blood. Of course a normal human could handle it easily.”

“Going back to the convent?”

“Actually I would like to follow you to Fireglyph Lord Azadin.”

When Niselda said that Sedrin was surprised.

“No way? Wait. Niselda. What do you mean?”

“Make no mistake Sir Azadin. I have heard that you have a blood mage as your subordinate.”

“You mean Bernard?”

“Yes. If he is Bernard of Banreung he is my father.”

“….”

“Would you allow me to accompany you?”

“You are welcome to join us Niselda.”

“Thank you Sir Azadin.”

Half-vampire Niselda decided to accompany Azadin.

*********

It took him a day or so to do some personal grooming in the Black Forest. He bathed treated his wounds ate and slept. After he was in top condition Azadin rode his hippogriff back to Fireglyph accompanied by Sir Selim and the half-vampire Niselda.

As Azadin landed on Fireglyph’s stable Survey Corps Leaders Sir Pavel and Sir Izmilla approached.

“Oh my god… isn’t that a hippogriff? Sir Azadin.”

The head of the investigation team Sir Pavel looked envious as he watched Azadin fly in on a hippogriff.

“Yes. With the help of Lord Selim… But what is it? Why are you coming out to greet me like this?”

“Ah Lord Azadin. The Rescue Order headquarters has appointed a new Chapter Master. The Survey Corps will now take over the acting duties and disband.”

It was just yesterday that I had a tussle with Sir Sok… and in the meantime it seems a new Chapter Master has been appointed.

“Already? Who is the new Chapter Master?”

“Prince Calintz. He has already entered Fort Fireglyph and is currently transferring duties.”

“If it’s Prince Kalintz…”

Azadin frowned.

Prince Kalintz son of the Northern Emperor had some kind of relationship with the former Chapter Master Lord Hexenmayer.

So that person is the new Chapter Master?

“Could it be that he was a member of the Knights Templar?”

“Oh I recently received a title. Haha. Actually I gave him the title.”

“When?”

“Just this morning.”

“….”

A hospitaler of the Order of the Knights of the Rescue is already a knight the moment he decides to devote himself to virtue even without being appointed by anyone.

Azadin was a member of the Herald Clan and was appointed as a Death Knight by Sir Plank so he was in no position to say anything about the qualifications of others as knights.

But no matter what there is a limit.

“You become a Chapter Master on the same day you receive your knighthood? What do you think everyone else is saying?”

“Of course there are those who will say something but we can’t carry out such temporary missions forever right? And Prince Kalintz has the makings of a true hero. I think you’ll like him when you see him.”

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The head of the investigation team actively defended Prince Kalintz perhaps because he did not want to miss out on the honor of becoming the knight of such a powerful position. He had not had much personal interaction with the prince but he judged his character and personality based on a fleeting impression and defended him to the point where he sweated profusely.

“Sir Azadin I apologize. The upper echelons of the Order fear that you are expanding your power too quickly and they are trying to neutralize you in any way possible.”

“Oh Sir Ismilla. Don’t say that. If you say that….”

Wouldn’t it be a good idea to let Sir Pavel know that he is wary of Azadin’s expansion of power and has reported it to his superiors?

But in fact even if Sir Pavel didn’t say anything Azadin was naturally suspicious of Sir Pavel.

‘Well it’s natural to report to your superiors.’

As soon as the person who suddenly became a knight from the herald clan temporarily took control of Fireglyph he defeated and subdued the forces that had been exerting some influence on the Chadra Plateau. It would be even more incompetent and irresponsible to just sit back and do nothing about it.

‘But Sir Pavel is so incompetent and unprincipled. Usually when given a higher position than his rank he would want to use this opportunity to demonstrate his skills and abilities and build up his own merits.’

That was when Azadin thought so.

“Ahem. Hmm… Hmm. Sir Azadin are you here?”

Jan a confidant of Prince Kalintz and a lieutenant of the Northern Aragatha approached Azadin dressed neatly.

“Your Majesty or rather Sir Calintz I should say now. Chapter Master Sir Calintz wishes to see Sir Azadin. As a member of the Order of the Knights of Salvation he must practice frugality but he cannot help but praise the hard work of his predecessors… He wishes for you to attend the banquet and grace the occasion.”

“A banquet. Okay. Tell them I’m going.”

“Yes Sir Azadin.”

Jan nodded cheerfully and stepped aside.

*********

“The hospitality industry is having a banquet…”

Azadin smiled bitterly. He had learned that a rescuer must be honest and frugal but it seems that no one actually follows those rules.

“Then I’ll see you at the banquet. I’ll make sure to come then too.”

Sir Pavel said so and extended his hand to Azadin.

“Thank you for your hard work Sir Azadin. I have also given your high-ranking officials a lot of praise.”

“Is that so? Thank you.”

It is unclear whether Pavel’s praise from above was seen as genuine praise or as a threat. The latter is probably more likely.

It would be strange not to feel threatened by the sight of Chadra Ogel subduing and expanding his power at a frightening pace.

“Sir Azadin.”

Izmila stayed behind to watch over Azadin even after Sir Pavel left.

“Sir Izmila. How is your health?”

“I have no worries because I was born so strong. It’s all thanks to Lord Azadin. Were you worried about me?”

“of course.”

“Then I’m glad.”

Izmila smiled.

“What happens to you when the investigation team disbands? Do you go back to St. Mallory?”

“My lack of experience is being questioned because of the incident on the pilgrimage.”

Izmilla is a Celestial born by some means of the Knights and thus possesses the powers and abilities of an angel.

However since she is still inexperienced and has even been kidnapped by suspicious men there will be opinions within the company that she should gain experience.

“Where do you get the experience?”

“I think we’ll probably create a new internal organization and I’ll fill it with my brothers and sisters.”

“Are you saying that you’re creating a unit made entirely of Celestials?”

“Yes. I think I’ll be assigned there.”

“Hmm. That’s fine in theory. Which sect of Wisdom Courage or Mercy controls it?”

“I think they plan to select a separate leader internally and operate it as an independent unit.”

“Are they all as beautiful and angelic as you Izmila?”

“…Oh that’s too much praise.”

Izmila was at a loss as to what to do with herself when Azadin spoke openly about her looks and talents in front of her.

But Azadin’s expression was not one of praise but rather one of concern.

“The people will worship the Celestials. If we gather together those who appear to be nothing but celestial beings their status will naturally rise. Then the status of the existing organizations of the Salvation Knights will fall. Furthermore wouldn’t relying on the very existence of the Celestials actually weaken the ideology of the Salvation Knights?”

“yes?”

“It is not the blood of angels but the covenant made with angels that is the essence that the Knights of the Rescue must uphold. The public will be enthusiastic about the beauty and power of the Celestials.”

“….”

“I’m sorry Sir Ismilla. I didn’t mean to deny your existence.”

“No. I just… I never thought I would hear the doctrine of the Rescue Knights that I have always learned from your mouth.”

“Because I’m a member of the messenger clan?”

“No I see. Up until now we have been taught doctrine but I don’t think we have ever believed in doctrine. You really do have faith.”

Izmila saw faith in Azadin. Although she had been born into the Order of the Salvation and had spent her entire life with them seeing someone with true faith was so new and dazzling.

I never thought I would see such pure faith from Azadin a member of the Herald Clan.

Azadin however responded as if it was no big deal.

“What’s the big deal? Well then Sir Ismilla. If anything comes up send a letter to Fireglyph. We’ll contact you later.”

“Huh? Oh… yes.”

Azadin wanted to get information about the Celestial unit that Izmilla would be joining but Izmilla was taken aback by Azadin’s words.

‘If a man and a woman exchange letters doesn’t that mean they are destined for marriage?’