Night of the Soulless Heathens – 383



#383. Winter Entrance 3

The reconstruction of Coxhal as envisioned by the Arangi Kingdom was not such a grand undertaking.

To pave the way for the conquest of Banreung the long-cherished task of the Arangi Kingdom and build a supply base. That was enough.

I never imagined that there would be a variable called Azadin that would take away Coxhal.

You gave the lowly Azadin the undeserved position of Count and now you betray him like this? You even took Prince Sram who was sent to Coxhal as a hostage.

Count Azadin claimed to be the ruler of the Banling Kingdom and proclaimed his strange heretical beliefs to the world.

If this happens the Arangi royal family who gave the title of Count to Azadin will also be held accountable.

The Arangi royal family was embarrassed and angry.

*********

“Can I do this?”

The laborers from the Arangi Kingdom were skeptical about what they were doing.

Even though they were an illiterate working class they could tell that their current actions were provoking the Arangi Kingdom.

“No it was an order from the higher-ups to rebuild Coxhall. Why are we following it?”

“But Coxhal is now Count Azadin’s? If we rebuild here isn’t that what it is? An act that benefits the enemy.”

“Transfer?”

“Yeah. Isn’t that what you call a warning?”

“That may be true. But you didn’t receive any orders not to do it did you? And why is it that our superior Prince Sram is telling us to do it?”

“But that’s Prince Sram isn’t that him? That….”

What happened between King Arangi Bishop Akenar and Prince Sram was a story that everyone in Arangi knew.

Wasn’t it easy to predict that Prince Sram would be dissatisfied with King Karnago IV of Arangi?

When Prince Sram is released he begins to cooperate with Count Azadin. Could it be because of his rebellion against his father?

In other words there was a suspicion that it was an act of treason.

“Even so there’s nothing we can do right? There’s no need to overthink it. Just do whatever the guy holding the knife says. It’s even better if it’s the one who gives you food.”

The laborers are just commoners. They have no choice but to follow whatever the nearby warrior class tells them to do.

There is nothing they can do to make any further political judgments.

“Count Azadin does give you food. Hmm. Huh? What are you eating now? It smells sweet.”

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“Oh this? It’s a molasses biscuit.”

“Molasse biscuits?”

It was made into a biscuit by adding the residue left over from squeezing sugar from sugarcane. Even the remaining sugar was a treasure in this era when sweetness was rare.

In Btuma where sugarcane is grown in large quantities it is a common item but in other places it is a valuable commodity that must be imported anyway. It is certainly a luxury item that is difficult for the ordinary working class to see.

But aren’t working class laborers openly eating that?

“Where did that come from?”

“Didn’t you know? Is there a New Testament lecture after that? They give it to you when you get there.”

“What? A New Testament sermon? That heretical meeting?”

“I was wondering why so many people went to that strange religious group and they give you molasses biscuits?”

“If you were going to give me something that good why didn’t you tell me a long time ago?!”

“When I asked to go before you treated me like I was an idiot…”

“I didn’t know they served molasses biscuits!”

“Give me some. Let me taste it. It smells so sweet.”

The workers began to argue noisily among themselves over the molasses biscuits.

*********

Azadin moved trading ships through the Coxhall port that the Salvage Knights were restoring and opened a trade route with Bthuma through those ships.

The Vandyke Company arranged for ships to stop at Coxhall on their way to trade with the Knights Templar or the Kingdom of Arangi allowing for the easy entry of various luxury goods and supplies.

Azadin was using the imported molasses biscuits as missionary bait.

The missionary work received an explosive response when they said they would give out molasses biscuits.

“Proselytizing is going well. But using molasses biscuits as bait? Isn’t that a bit too much?”

Zibek was amazed by Azadin’s missionary work. He could tell because he was the most devout believer in Count Azadin’s forces.

The doctrine of the New Testament created by Azadin was spreading at an astonishing rate.

People were quickly turning to Azadin thanks to the unconventional carrot called the Molasses Biscuit which was difficult for the common people to even see.

It was also significant that the doctrines of the New Testament were more liberal and less rigid than those of the existing royal churches.

But no matter how much carrot and rationality I had seeing the people change their beliefs made me question the life I had devoted to the church.

“Because we can use the port of Coxhall. Molasses biscuits are expensive for the common people but the sugarcane makers mix in the leftovers anyway. As long as we maintain a distribution route we can somehow supply it.”

Even so it is not an easy item to obtain in the Fimbulbert situation.

However Azadin had close relationships with the sugarcane plantations in Btooma so he was able to obtain molasses biscuits relatively easily.

“The problem is the clergy not the molasses biscuits. We need more clergy to preach the teachings of the New Testament to the people. I am the one giving the sermons now but I can’t do it forever right?”

The Azadin clique was nothing more than a precarious house of cards leaning on a single pillar called Azadin.

If Azadin doesn’t take action in all areas – military political and economic – things won’t work out properly.

While suffering from a murderous workload Azadin felt burdened by the task of religious missionary work on his own. He wanted to entrust missionary work to a group of skilled clergy.

“Are you going to educate the believers and make them priests?”

“It would be better for them to be clergy. They know how to write have read some books and are familiar with the business of religious ceremonies.”

“Religious event business…..”

Bring the clergy of the old king’s church into the New Testament denomination. That was what Azadin was saying.

It sounds like the devil’s whisper. But if you think about it it’s true. It’s also beneficial for a new religion(?) to utilize those who have already completed their training as priests.

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“The problem is that some people will never change their religion. What are you going to do?”

The fall of the Kingdom of Banling and the subsequent destruction of Banling’s throne were witnessed firsthand by the vassal Edir who rejected Azadin regarding him as a demon and is currently imprisoned.

If the faithful of the King’s Church did not so easily succumb to heretical teachings wouldn’t Azadin’s missionary plans be disrupted?

But Azadin was calm.

“Since the New Testament allows women to stand at the forefront as priests we can expect support from the convents.”

“Will it work if nuns preach to the masses?”

“It’s not working. What kind of people are the nuns of the King’s Church?”

“They are the daughters or widows of nobles.”

“And they have children. The heirs are very few most of them are priests or knights of the King’s Church. And while most people can refuse their father’s request they can’t easily refuse their mother’s request.”

Azadin who was born from his father’s womb without a mother spoke of other people’s habits with a bitter smile.

The mother who is responsible for raising her children during childhood has more power over them. So gaining the support of the convent is tantamount to gaining power over the nobility.

“That is certainly the case. I understand Count Azadin. From today onwards I will take charge of the New Testament lectures.”

“Are you okay?”

“I am also a priest and a novice.”

Zibek opened the New Testament compiled by Azadin. This New Testament which added to the old doctrines of the King’s Church and increased its rationality was worn by Zibek’s hands. Zibek must have read it over and over again whenever he had time and memorized it in his heart.

It is a trap that one falls into because one is a faithful priest. It is unbearable if one does not confirm and analyze the doctrine of the new New Testament. As a result Zibek came to understand the doctrine of the New Testament advocated by Azadin after Azadin.

I’m sure he can handle the lectures he gives while sprinkling molasses biscuits.

“Then the problem now is the Kingdom of Arangi.”

Azadin’s claim to the New Testament and his propagation of it were going smoothly for now. With the light of the King’s Flower appearing in Banreung even the King’s Church was unable to act rashly.

The King’s Church was not in a good position to send an investigation team. Goblins Bree Ogres and Nagas were starting to swarm everywhere making it difficult to send travelers.

Even within the King’s Church there is serious conflict between those supporting the Northern Qi the King of Kings and those opposing it.

As for Azadin the rumor that King Arangi is gathering an army to subdue Count Azadin has reached Azadin’s ears…

The King’s Church and others have stopped caring about Azadin.

If Azadin is defeated and broken by King Arangi there is no reason to care.

Azadin’s staff even Scott the frivolous orc necromancer gulped.

“Hey Captain. Your achievements are truly amazing but it’s a bit scary to think that the Kingdom of Arangi has turned against you.”

“The Arangi Kingdom is not the only problem at present.”

Count Evechek presented his report to Azadin.

“It’s not just the feudal states that wage war when winter sets in. The Ogres and Goblins are on the rampage. There are Bree and Goblins in the northern part of Naisandokhar. There are also reports of Ogre warbands being sighted…”

The reason why the Kingdom of Arangi gave up the Naisandhokar region was because of the attack on Azadin.

“Well. There’s nothing we can do. I have no choice but to leave this place to Kalan and Legion.”

In the densely forested city of Naisandhokar battles with raiders consist mainly of small-scale skirmishes.

Kallan and Legion are battle-hardened mercenary captains but they are suited to small-scale tactics and have neither the experience nor insight into large-scale strategy.

The Naisandhokar region is a battlefield ideal for Kalan and Legion to thrive.

There are plenty of refugee soldiers who have just been trained as soldiers so casualties are inevitable but they should be able to stop it.

The problem is the battle with the Arangi Kingdom.

The Coxhal area is a great place for a turnaround as it is made up of plains and hills and the opponent will be an elite punitive force led by King Arangi.

They are no easy opponents like the Breena Goblins that Azadin’s warlords have faced so far.

For the first time Azadin’s warlords were facing a proper military force.