Night of the Soulless Heathens – 297



#297. Kingslayer Jibek 3

Members of Celestial Fire Although the Celestials are strange beings I do not sense any ill will from them.

Although they could not be completely trusted they were people whom there was no reason to refuse as allies.

But why does Jibek define them as enemies?

“Why?”

Zibek immediately explained why he considered Celestial Fire to be his enemy.

“When we arrived at the Hybris Peninsula the Celestial Fire had just set sail from St. Mallory. At that time I saw the young leader of the Celestial Fire and Karna the grandson of the Northern Emperor. That was….

“that?”

“He looked exactly like Adratha. He was the son of Prince Adratha the Northern Emperor who had taken over Btuma.”

“Since they are blood relatives they can resemble each other. Besides even though Prince Adratha is older than Karna in terms of generation they can be of the same age.”

As long as his desires did not diminish with age Yaegasu Shin-wang could have as many children as he wanted.

So it’s common for sons to be younger than grandsons.

It was not uncommon for people of similar age and blood to resemble each other excessively.

But Jibek shook his head.

“No it’s not just a resemblance. Sir Azadin I don’t know how to express the shock I felt when I first saw him. The first time I saw him from a distance I felt like I was floating on a single-leafed boat in the ocean where a great sea monster lurked. I felt a sense of dread that there was an indescribable monster beneath my feet preparing to devour everything with its great malice.”

“…ah.”

Azadin also sympathized with what Zibek meant.

The Celestial Fire Order: Beautiful and noble knights with the blood of angels.

Surely there must be some great power and conspiracy at work regardless of the group’s goodwill and good intentions or the character of their individuals?

Jibek also felt such doubts.

“They are so alike. They can’t possibly be twins. They are more than just son and father’s blood relatives.”

“So. Celestial Fire is a means for the Northern Emperor to obtain the Salvation Knights? It must have been created using some kind of questionable magical means from the beginning?”

“I can’t help but think so Sir Azadin. Be careful.”

“Hmm so that’s why you came to see me. I understand. Get some rest. I need to gather my thoughts in the meantime.”

“….”

When Azadin told Zibek to rest he collapsed and fell asleep.

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Haggard and exhausted from his long exile he fell into a deathly sleep.

“This is true.”

Azadin of course trusts Zibek.

He wasn’t just slandering Karna for nothing; Karna really did look like Prince Adratha.

Since Karna’s birth is questionable it is possible that he was born using evil magic.

But how to prove that?

‘For now we need to hide and disguise Jibek. No matter what tricks the Northern Emperor may have used now is not the time to confront him head-on.’

Azadin decided to protect Zibek and Scott and while they slept he stood guard and took a rest himself.

*********

When Azadin returned to the main force of the Celestial Fire Knights they had engaged in a battle with a scouting force of the Bree army.

The 40 Celestial Knights swept through Breed with terrifying force and the infantry of the cavalry they led was larger than the army of an average count and cut Bree’s scouting party apart in a flash.

“Ah Lord Azadin! I’m sorry to hear that. After you left the Bridle invaded and we were unable to capture the God-King… no the traitor Lord Jibek. So have you found Lord Jibek?”

Karna greeted Azadin and asked.

“Oh I see. We couldn’t find it. It must be because the Bree magicians used forest magic but even when we tried to look at it from above the branches were too thick to see it.”

Azadin said so with a straight face.

“Oh I see. I’m sorry for making you go by in vain.”

Fortunately Karna didn’t seem suspicious either.

“No. I am more embarrassed. I was away while the Celestial Fire Knights were fighting.”

“Haha. Those rabble-rousers are no threat at all. We are descendants of angels so why should we be defeated by rascals like Bree? However the soldiers suffered some casualties. It would be nice to have a decent infantry captain. So what do you think of my proposal?”

“I appreciate your offer but since I have the pass can I get back to you once I get to St. Mallory?”

Azadin asked Karna who was trying to persuade him if it would be okay to postpone the decision.

“Hmm. Maybe you didn’t like my offer?”

Karna seemed a little disappointed with Azadin’s attitude. Just by showing him the angel’s wings the fallen knights who had been lusting for sex until just a moment ago would instantly turn into devout believers in angels.

However Azadin showed no reaction even when Celestial’s angel wings shone and the beautiful girl knight caressed his cheek.

Is Azadin watching us?

I couldn’t help but give Karna that impression.

In fact Azadin was wary of Celestial Fire so Karna’s suspicions are not unreasonable.

“That is not possible. It is an honorable offer. As darkness approaches the activities of the Celestial Fire Knights are like a ray of light that dispels the darkness. However as you know because of my origins… I must first make many preparations.”

“Unfortunately I cannot leave the position of infantry captain vacant until then.”

“It doesn’t matter. If there is justice and virtue in the Knights Templar I will gladly serve even if it is a lowly position.”

“Oh I see. I am sorry Lord Azadin. I did not mean to offend your loyalty.”

Karna apologized worried that he might have offended Azadin by trying to woo him with his position and power. It was a polite attitude that was unusual for someone of royal descent.

‘Looking at this he seems like a very kind and upright kid for a royal. Hmm. I don’t think Lord Jibek would have said anything out of the blue.’

Azadin felt a little sorry for acting like a fool in front of Karna.

“Then I will depart south to St. Mallory. May the Celestial Fire Knights be blessed with good fortune.”

“You too have a safe trip. Sir Ismilla will want to say goodbye to you.”

“Yes. I will say hello and go.”

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Azadin greeted Karna and stepped aside.

*********

Izmila was the second most senior member of the Celestial Fire Knights after Karna and the leader of the left wing assault unit.

She was refitting after the battle with the knights of the left assault corps. The knights had suffered few casualties but their horses were injured and there were wounded and dead among the infantrymen so the unit had to be reorganized.

In that situation when Azadin came to visit Izmila was noticeably delighted.

“Sir Azadin! You have come? What happened to Sir Zibek?”

“I couldn’t find it because the trees were so thick.”

“Oh that’s too bad. If we could catch him we could make a big deal out of handing him over to the King’s Church.”

“It looks like there was a fight. Are you okay?”

“The horseshoes are worn out. There are many horses that need to be re-shoed and there have been many casualties in the infantry and brigade.”

“The knights?”

“No one was hurt.”

“That’s amazing. So they’re all Celestials?”

“It would be great if Sir Azadin could take charge of the infantry. Sir Karna has suggested that we try to recruit you in some way.”

Izmila’s eyes lit up as she said that.

Azadin felt embarrassed as he saw the pure kindness in her gaze.

“I’m sorry. But first let’s go to St. Mallory.”

“Then will you be with us after that?”

“I can’t say for sure. You know I have to take care of my men in Chadra too.”

“Oh I see. That’s too bad. It would have been nice if we could have done it together.”

“Then I’ll go south. Take care.”

Azadin said goodbye to Ismila.

There were many suspicious aspects such as Xebec’s warning to Karna and the Celestial’s mind being younger than her appearance but despite this the kindness shown by Karna and Ismilla made Azadin feel awkward.

I wish I could trust them and be with them without any doubts.

But it is a blind faith that deliberately paralyzes wisdom for one’s own convenience.

Azadin said goodbye to Izmila.

*********

After parting ways with the Celestial Fire Knights Azadin flew south on his hippogriff to reach the meeting place.

Scott and Zibek were waiting on the side of the road near a swamp in the bushes.

“Hello? How are the Celestial Fires and the Azadin Lords doing?”

“I don’t particularly suspect anything. It looks like they’ll just go all the way to the Chadra Plateau and then return after destroying the Breedles.”

“I guess I’ll win the hearts of the people. Indeed….”

Jibek groaned.

“If the popularity of Celestial Fire continues to grow I am worried about how we will be able to resolve the grievances of other Zadeks.”

It seemed that Jibek wanted to avenge Darhan Zadek.

Azadin said a word to such a Zibek.

“I’ll tell you in advance Jibek. I too have my suspicions about Celestial Fire and them. However if those suspicions are trivial and there is no reason to oppose them I intend to tolerate the Northern Qi taking over the world through various schemes.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes. The people are threatened by monsters and cultists and the other kings have not been able to respond properly so far. In comparison the Northern Emperor Cohen is sinister and dark but he is actively working. He is the enemy of Sir Planck who led me to the Salvation Knights but if there are no serious flaws in the Celestial Fire Knights… I will overlook it.”

“Okay. Then let’s go to St. Mallory together.”

“Why St. Mallory?”

“Did you know that the Merciful Order operates an assassination organization within the Salvation Knights?”

“Well I know that.”

“Similarly there is a shadow knight order that carries out dirty work in the King’s Church. And I was originally trained as a disciple of Lord Jecht to enter there.”

Jibek smiled bitterly.

“I was released without passing the final training course.”

“How was the last training?”

“It was a training exercise to infiltrate St. Mallory. If we were discovered by innocent residents during the training we had to kill them to infiltrate.”

“Infiltrating St. Mallory?”

“Yes. There was a training facility built in the wasteland of the Kingdom of Tarasar imitating the streets of St. Mallory. The climate was different so it couldn’t be perfect but we trained there. In order to infiltrate St. Mallory uncover the shameless secrets the Knights Templar were hiding and bring about their downfall.”

“What is it?”

“I don’t know about that either. I dropped out of training midway.”

“Hmm. So the King’s Church also knew that there was some dirty secret of the Knights Templar in St. Mallory. But they still don’t know what it is?”

“Yes. Lord Jecht would know more.”

“Then we should go see Lord Jecht. I have a rough idea of ​​where he went.”

“yes?”

Zibek was surprised by Azadin’s boasts about Zect’s whereabouts.