Night of the Soulless Heathens – 376



#376. King of Blasphemy 5

“As I said I defeated Manawidan the king of Banreung and sat on the throne of Banreung that had been corrupted by him and obtained the light of the king’s flower.”

“ah.”

“Viva!”

Without anyone saying anything everyone cheered. However Jibek’s expression was dark because he knew the inside story.

“So we’re taking over the Kingdom of Banrung Kallan. How well trained are the soldiers?”

“I’m recruiting soldiers from among the refugees. Well if they’re useful I’ll have about 500 fast-footed infantry and 100 sergeants. If that’s not enough I can hire mercenaries. If I just want to bulk up I can bring in about 2000.”

“We don’t need elite soldiers but we don’t want to lax our training. We’ll draft troops as long as it doesn’t interfere with training.”

“Do you intend to get your hands on Banreung? Oh no of course you should get your hands on it. Banreung is naturally yours.”

“Yes. I will take over the entire Banreung Kingdom as well as the fallen Coxhall.”

When Azadin spoke all of his men cheered in unison. The Chadra Plateau and the Naisandhokar Sandhokar alone were already enough to be called a great warlord but now he had taken over the entire kingdom.

Even though the kingdom was in ruins being the rightful owner of the throne was an undeniable merit.

However Count Sandokar hesitated and gave his advice.

“The Kingdom of Arangi will not remain silent. Of course if you show them the light of the King’s Flower they will be convinced but King Arangi is a small-minded person. There is a possibility that he will ask for the return of Naisandokal or something like that…”

“Oh but that’s it.”

“Of course you can ignore him. In front of the one who has truly manifested the light of the King King Arangi. Oh come to think of it isn’t that bastard Bishop Akenar also a bad guy? I’ll take this opportunity to correct his bad habits.”

“But there is a fatal problem with the light of my royal flower.”

“How could there be such a thing as a fatal problem? It is the light of the King’s Flower. The light of the King’s Flower! Even the kings who claim to be of the true Yaegasu bloodline are not even close to Your Majesty’s feet….”

“But a fatal problem is definitely fatal.”

“Hahaha. Your modesty is too much. Even though you are from the Jeonryung clan haven’t you personally manifested the light of the king’s flower? When the scouts heard that a warm wind was suddenly blowing from Banreung I thought it was impossible but now that I can share in this mythical glory I will be proud of it for generations to come…”

“The throne is broken.”

“…yes?”

Count Sandokar who had been chattering excitedly suddenly froze.

“I misheard you.”

“The throne of Banreung has been broken.”

“What is that?”

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As Count Sandokar looked around in confusion Zibek answered.

“It is exactly as you said. The moment Count Azadin sat on the throne the light of the royal flower was clearly manifested and burned all the monsters that were devouring Banreung. However when he stood up the throne cracked and….”

“…….”

Azadin shrugged and said.

“In fact the spirits of Yaegasu made a new pact with me. In the meantime a just and righteous person was supposed to sit there and dedicate his soul body and soul to protect the kingdom and the people but at some point the throne itself became an object of worship with authority. More people worshiped bloodline than the king’s mission and will and in reality the Yaegasu blood relatives became tyrants. Aren’t the kings of today squeezing the blood of their people getting drunk on gold and silver liquor and indulging in pleasures?”

“….”

“Here is a new scripture written. Now this is the new covenant New Testament scripture that will become the guideline of the true Yaegas faith. From now on the new covenant will take the place of the throne and spread the light of the king’s flower.”

Jibek who was listening couldn’t help but be amazed.

Although he had known this would happen from the beginning Azadin cleverly used the broken throne as evidence of a new promise.

It is clear that the light of the king’s flower is manifesting in Azadin so the vassals have no choice but to believe Azadin’s words. In reality it is not a question of whether faith comes first or not. As a member of Azadin’s warlords they have no choice but to believe Azadin’s promise in the new covenant.

“Wow the throne is broken and the New Testament! The King’s Church will not remain silent! Not even the Inquisitors not even all the believers of the old doctrines will remain silent….”

“But it is also true that the light of the King’s Flower has appeared to the Lord. This is the truth comrades.”

Niselda declared to the agitated ones.

“Uh. That’s. That’s why.”

“Anyway since it has come to that I will take over the Kingdom of Banreung and its fiefdoms as the rightful king of Banreung. It will not be for my own selfish desires but as an asset to defeat Fimbulbert and protect humanity. In fact aren’t many of Banreung’s people already flocking to us as refugees? It will be my mission as the successor to the kingdom to go out and welcome them and provide order and protection. It will also be an opportunity to distribute the New Testament to the people.”

“…….”

We all knew that this would not be an easy road.

No there had been no easy road for them since Fimbulbert had approached. But now this was an even greater ordeal than they could have imagined.

“Then will you proclaim that New Testament to everyone?”

Jibek asked.

“Okay. First I need to contact the Rescue Team and ask for their cooperation.”

“Oh my goodness. No I don’t mean to be suspicious but…”

If only the throne had been intact this would have been the birth of a truly great king.

But the throne was broken.

And now you are claiming that the scriptures of the old king’s church are invalid and that we must use the scriptures of the New Testament.

It was a terrifyingly revolutionary statement that neither the King of Aranggi who had been eyeing the royal church of the existing king nor the conservative people welcomed.

“Actually I was proud of myself for making an unconventional choice when I pledged allegiance to you but I had no idea it would turn out to be such an unconventional move.”

Count Sandokar Ivchek lacked the courage to make this drastic choice but he also knew that there was no turning back now.

There was no need to say anything to others.

Now they had to share the fate of either the worst blasphemer or the greatest saint king the continent of Hybris had ever known.

*********

The Celestial Fire Knights have succeeded in completely occupying the heart of the mountain the capital of the Banling Kingdom.

The wealth of the dwarves of Banreung who were originally famous for their wealth ended up in the hands of the Celestial Fire Knights but disappointingly there wasn’t much food.

As the vampire transformation and Asajit’s subjugation progressed most of those who became vampires satisfied their desires with only blood and perhaps because of their complacency many of the food warehouses were contaminated.

Even the Dwarven Ale which is said to be made by the dwarves with their souls was contaminated with blood.

“It’s disappointing. After making such enormous sacrifices all we got in return was these little scraps of metal.”

Karna was quite disappointed when he opened Banling’s storehouse which was filled with a huge amount of gold and silver.

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The food market was currently experiencing massive inflation. With Fimbulbert predicted no one would sell food for gold or silver.

Food that can be eaten is much more valuable than precious metals that cannot be eaten. Nevertheless if there is a trade in gold and silver it is likely that it is a trade made by those who are confident that they can overcome Fimbulbert in order to collect gold and silver at a low price.

“Seonwoo’s sun artifact should be here.”

Karna’s brother Triodana clicked his tongue as he rummaged through the storeroom.

The various jewels and crafts would have been a treasure trove of invaluable treasures just this spring but now they are little more than a pretty garbage dump.

The armory was much more meaningful.

“Seonwoo’s sun is gone. There are traces of recent cargo transport.”

“…Were there any passengers?”

“Are you sure? The broken throne and the light of the crown. Someone must have come before us.”

“Hmm. You mean Count Azadin?”

Triodana and Karna were suspicious of Azadin.

When they were struggling in the heart of the mountain fortress there was no force that moved first besides them who came to help. But then doesn’t that mean he was the one who destroyed the throne?

“How on earth could the throne be destroyed? And if that’s true what is the light of this royal flower?”

Even though the throne was broken the light of the king’s flower was still shining on Banreung.

The light of the King’s Fire was so powerful that many hesitated to announce the fact that the throne had been broken and it actually gave hope to many.

“I Lord Triodana. It is almost time to report.”

While they were in the dwarves’ treasure vault one of the servants approached them and startled them.

He seemed surprised to see the mountain of gold and silver treasures that Karna and Triodana had described as pretty trash.

Even in this situation gold seems to have a magical power that captivates people and greed appears in the servant’s eyes and his mouth becomes parched. Even as Triodana stares at him he licks his tongue as he licks his lips.

“Do you want to take it?”

“Oh no. How dare I.”

“Take care of it a little. It’ll only make your body heavier.”

Triodana picked up a gold bar from the side and threw it to the servant.

The moment the monk receives the gold bar his body sinks. It is much heavier than it looks and the monk who has not handled gold bars much gasps at the unexpected weight and expels the air from his lungs.

“Should I go and report?”

Triodana and Karna left the treasure vault open and went to report without even closing it.

The servant who was left alone looked around at a loss and tried to somehow put the gold bar that Triodana had thrown into his backpack.

*********

Triodana and Karna used the magic mirror to report the situation to the fortress of St. Mallory the headquarters of the Order of the Rescue.

[The throne is broken!?]

[Oh my god!]

The high-ranking priests of the Rescue Knights who received the report of Celestial Fire were shocked as if the sky was falling down.

[The Banreung Kingdom has been restored but the throne has been destroyed?! If this fact becomes known to the world we will be held responsible.]

The people of Hybris all hold the Yaegas Gods in reverence so it is an unimaginable disrespect to imagine that the throne the sacred object of the Yaegas God Kings has been destroyed.

If the Knights Templar destroy the throne the believers who currently hold the Knights Templar faith will immediately turn into apostates.

Of course it wasn’t destroyed by the Salvation Knights but when the Salvation Knights took control of Banreung it was destroyed. You can’t say that.

[Who broke it?! How did they break it?]

[They said that the light of the king’s flower appeared in Banreung but what happened?]

[that is….]

Triodana was sparing with words.

[There is no confirmation but I have a feeling it is Count Azadin.]

[What does it mean?]

[We met Count Azadin nearby. He had gone off to find Bishop Akenar who had been kidnapped by vampires during the battle but then the light of the King’s Fire suddenly activated and by the time we arrived the vampires of Banreung had already been burned down leaving only the broken throne.]

As Triodana sorted out the situation everyone began to suspect that Azadin had indeed destroyed the throne.

[The problem is that the light of the King’s Flower has been revealed. Furthermore even though the throne is broken the snow has stopped here and the temperature is rising.]

As the world around Fimbulbert rapidly grows colder a gentle atmosphere spreads across the Kingdom of Banling and the Nether clans are being exiled.

Even though the throne is broken the light of the royal flower protects the kingdom of Banreung.

[So what did that soulless blasphemer Count Azadin do to the throne that caused the light of the crown to be activated?]

[Yes. So we are also questioning whether we should believe this interpretation. We are continuing to investigate other things but we do not know anything at this time.]

[Uhm….]

The rescue team was in an awkward position.

Azadin broke the throne.

Even if it is announced like that since Azadin was a member of the Salvation Knights this will be entirely the responsibility of the Salvation Knights.

[The light of the King’s Flower is clearly surrounding Banreung but what is happening?]

[That’s fine….]

[Doesn’t your father know something?]

A cleric from the Wisdom Order asked a blunt question.

Doesn’t the North Qi Cohen Lionaire know something? That was the question. But that question also meant that they had not heard anything from Cohen Lionaire and that Cohen Lionaire had no intention of sharing information with them.

‘If my father didn’t say anything how could I open my mouth? And what happened today? What the….?’

Triodana controlled his expression inwardly laughing at the foolishness of the priest who spoke to him.

‘The problem with magic mirrors is that they show facial expressions.’

Triodana offered his opinion to the priests.

[How about calling Sir Azadin first? He has received the Erantree quest so he should report to you. Then ask him…]

[Hmm. I see.]

[Even if he destroys the throne we must not reveal it to the world. We must hold the sword of decision-making power.]

[But for now I guess I have to wait and see what happens. This is really tricky.]

The clergy were also in a difficult position.

[Can’t we chase him and find him now Sir Triodana?]

[We are searching but what should we do if we meet him? Unfortunately a significant number of Celestial Fires worship him.]

[You worship it?]

[Yes. She is beautiful and has accomplished many feats. Now aren’t you even doing the Erantry quest?]

[But if he fails the Erantry quest…]

[If I fail will you excommunicate me? It would set a bad precedent. How many people have completed the Erantry quest properly and escaped the status of Knight Erant? Isn’t that too biased?]

[Those soulless blasphemous bastards! You should be grateful that they accepted you into the Knights Templar! What if they discriminate against you a little!? Those guys are sinister beings who have tainted their hands with the blood of the Yaegas!]

It was not the King’s Church but a priest from the Order of the Knights that openly made discriminatory remarks.

Triodana smiled bitterly.

[As I said many of the members of the Celestial Fire admire him. Sadly they are beings who have truly inherited the blood of angels. They are young friends who do not have the worldly wisdom of the high priest. There will surely be those who will come to him to petition. Then it will inevitably become a topic of conversation and even if the opponent is from the Herald Clan there is no need to leave such blatant discrimination on record and stain the records of the Salvation Knights.]

[This is difficult. It would be better if he confessed to being the one who destroyed the throne.]

[First urge him to report on the Erantry quest or join in.]

In the end the council of clergy decided to contact Azadin and see how things went before making a decision. It was an inevitable conclusion for conservative clergy.

*********

And a week later Azadin’s letter arrived at St. Mallory.

Azadin does not have a convenient magic mirror. No a magic mirror was installed in the Fireglyphs of Chadra Plateau but the caretaker of that mirror was none other than Prince Kalintz the Chapter Master of Fireglyphs. Azadin used old-fashioned letters and messengers to buy time.

Because the content of the letter was something that tested the limits of the destructive power that words written on paper could have.

‘When I sat on the throne of Banreung I met the spirits of Yaegas and made a new promise. The teachings of the existing King’s Church are outdated and cannot lead the world correctly so with a new promise and a new oath the Knights of Salvation and the King’s Church will cultivate together and open a path to self-salvation. Please continue to give me your guidance in the future.’

Azadin made a groundbreaking declaration at the same time as enclosing the mask of Bishop Achenar in his letter.

The Knights of Salvation who had already suspected that Azadin had destroyed the throne found the answer to that mystery…

It’s already too late.

“Kwaaah! You crazy bastard! You’re a wave! A wave!”

The person who took over as bishop of the Southern Diocese of St. Mallory in place of Bishop Sehnat was a Yaegas deity named Prawesi who was also influenced by the Northern Qi Cohen Lione.

He was the one who openly made discriminatory remarks against Azadin at the Mirror Conference and he was a man who swore allegiance to the Northern Qi and fiercely followed the teachings of the King’s Church rather than being a believer in the Knights of Salvation.

However he could not help but be furious when Azadin confessed that he was the one who destroyed the throne and brought up the heretical teachings of the New Testament saying that the existing king’s church was wrong.

“Why on earth are these Mercy Church guys fighting this guy in this situation? We need to hold a meeting immediately and excommunicate this guy…”

Bishop Prawesi began to write a letter in anger.

“Oh no! This is a big deal! Your Excellency the Bishop!”

“No shit! What could be worse than this? Huh?”

“Count Azadin! He and his army have left Sandokar and sent an expeditionary force to Banling!”

“…what?”

Prawesi who thought there was nothing more surprising opened his mouth wide.

“This crazy guy. Is he really going to do this?”

Azadin had stepped forward to claim the throne of Banling.