Night of the Soulless Heathens – 393



#393. Iron Mask 5

The rumor that Azadin’s army had defeated Count Folzen’s men without any damage and was advancing north reached Jecht’s ears as well.

The comfortable people were already exaggerating the rumors saying that Azadin had tricked King Arangi with some mysterious scheme and that he had cut down his enemies with great force and the activities of the Chadra Oguls like autumn leaves.

Even if we ignore such rumors and think about it it is clear that Azadin has achieved a complete victory and is moving north.

“….”

The expressions on Zect’s subordinates’ faces are all unpleasant.

“Why are you making such faces?”

“Isn’t that heretic coming up with a full force?”

“They say that they are an army that has grown in numbers by bringing in people who have nowhere to go but I was worried about what to do if their number of troops was greater than ours.”

“I told you so. It’s quite a distance. It’ll be enough for the cavalry and light infantry to follow them and move. Since the horses won’t suddenly appear out of nowhere we’ll have the upper hand in terms of numbers.”

Zect said so confidently and it was true.

After Azadin defeated Count Polzen he sent back many of his infantry units.

“And… Oh no nothing. Nothing.”

Like Zect the elite knights of the King’s Church are in fact a bundle of complexes.

Knights of the King’s Church who were not recognized as heirs because they were not the eldest son or because they incurred their father’s displeasure and became ordained as priests.

Among them those who were given the task of interrogating heretics because they were recognized for their outstanding talent and skills knew better than anyone else that they were capable.

But they cannot have fiefs.

For them who were forced to live the life of an unwilling priest unable to legally form a family or own land the rumor that Azadin a soulless impious untouchable and rising through the ranks of the Counts was enough to make them explode.

“Don’t worry gentlemen. If we actually meet on the battlefield we will have the upper hand in terms of numbers. And Lord Astarte was a former God-King. He may look like that now but he is an expert at killing Heralds. He is the one who has killed the most Heralds among the Inquisitors.”

Although Jecht reassured his men he too was dissatisfied with Lord Astarte.

How dare you ask me to trust that loser who drinks three meals a day without missing a single day and seems to be crazy enough to want to die? It was a statement that was not convincing even when he said it himself.

“It’s not that I don’t trust Sir Astarte but I’m worried that alcohol will consume not only his worries but also his health.”

“Yes it’s not that he drinks alcohol it’s that alcohol drinks him.”

Jecht’s subordinates were sober because they hadn’t been drinking so they were all worried about Sir Astarte’s disgrace but they didn’t cross the line.

But Lord Astarte’s drunken subordinates were different.

*********

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“I’m very excited a soul without a soul!”

Unlike Lord Jecht who did not drink alcohol Lord Iron Mask’s subordinates who were good drinkers were drunk in broad daylight and were swearing at Azadin.

And in them jealousy and envy were increasingly evident.

“What kind of a changeling is that son of a bitch! King Aranggi has gone crazy! He gave the changeling position to an untouchable bastard who was just pretending to be big-headed and then he got kicked out!”

“I would rather give a title to someone who doesn’t know gratitude… than give it to me.”

The drunken ramblings of the knights clearly revealed their complexes and why they were so angry and jealous.

Zect smiled bitterly at their disgrace.

He couldn’t sympathize with their disgrace but he was also dissatisfied with what they were saying.

Those who serve as inquisitors in the King’s Church are necessarily capable people.

Originally talented people who would not have been strangely assigned to the positions of king and nobles were forced into marriage against their will for political reasons such as being out of favor with their parents or having little maternal wealth and ended up here.

For those who had become knights due to bad luck despite having no shortage of ability it was enough to make their stomachs churn to see that horrible messenger clan member who was less qualified to become a noble than themselves become a great noble.

Zect also felt a secret sense of jealousy.

‘If he really were the king of Banreung even I wouldn’t be able to hide my jealousy and envy. I have to make sure that doesn’t happen.’

Jecht woke up Astarte’s men who were too drunk to notice his approach by kicking them awake.

“Okay everyone. It’s time for you to sober up. I’ve been gathering and training the soldiers and distributing supplies…”

Then the liquor merchant approached Zect with a smile.

“Hey Inquisitor. I haven’t received payment for the drinks yet.”

“huh?”

Zect looked back at the merchant.

A merchant who follows the army and sells war supplies.

Recently the price of food has skyrocketed due to Fimbulbert so instead of silver he has received cold weather gear and his wagon is clearly filled with cold weather cloaks that should have been issued to the troops.

‘It’s common for low-ranking soldiers to steal supplies and exchange them for alcohol but are you saying that even Lord Astarte and his men commit such a shameful act?’

“Of course I will. Okay.”

Zect handed him a pouch filled with gold coins.

“…Oh over there hehe. This is better than the actual product.”

Although it would normally be enough gold to pay for the price the merchant looked dissatisfied. He even returned the bag of gold coins.

“Hmm. What would you like to receive?”

“The fur coat is good. The oil is also good.”

“Okay a fur coat and some oil. Is that all I need?”

Zect took out a piece of paper and wrote quickly. It was an extraordinary amount equivalent to one cartload of fur coats and three cans of oil.

“Oh my thank you.”

“Then when the battle is over and you bring me the ticket I’ll give it to you then.”

“yes?”

The merchant clicked his tongue. Jecht had written him a conscription notice.

“I can’t do this. This is…..”

At that moment a black shadow emanated from Zect’s body.

But then someone grabbed the merchant by the hem of his clothes and yanked him backwards.

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Zect’s attack tore through the air and the merchant was thrown into a pile of furs.

“Ugh?!”

“…….”

“Sir Astarte. You are awake.”

“You were awake from the start Lord Jecht. Don’t take your anger out on an innocent merchant. Wouldn’t killing this guy ruin the taste of your drink?”

It was Sir Astadair who rescued the merchant. He was clearly drunk and couldn’t control his own body but he managed to intervene between Jecht and the merchant in that brief moment and save the merchant. Even Jecht couldn’t help but be surprised.

‘If the interest had attacked me… could I have received it?’

What if the movement just now was not intended to rescue the merchant but to harm Zect?

Zect clicked his tongue realizing that he had been looking down on Astarte too much.

“Smuggling military supplies to drink alcohol doesn’t seem like a very good thing for military discipline.”

“It is not in keeping with doctrine to use people as guinea pigs for Nether magic.”

“Haha. This is really….”

“Don’t worry Lord Jecht. I will put your magic to good use to eliminate that disgusting herald clan.”

Astarte’s words sounded like he would only tolerate it until the Herald Clan was destroyed.

“What are you going to do after you finish it?”

“I’ll kill another herald clan. There are too many of them.”

“….”

Upon hearing those words Zect secretly suppressed the murderous intent that had been boiling inside him.

Astarte doesn’t like Jecht and Jecht doesn’t like him either.

But it had become clear from the conversation just before that at least he wouldn’t be the one to stab Zect in the back.

‘I hope he really is as skilled as his reputation suggests.’

At that moment news came from the scouts.

“Count Naisandokhar’s army has entered the heart of the mountain!”

“…….”

He should have been called a heretic or a blasphemer but the messenger who brought the news from the scouts was already calling Azadin a count.

“Hmm. It’s time to show off your skills even though it’s scary to say it.”

Astaroth walked unsteadily the smell of alcohol wafting from his body.

“Are you okay? Being that drunk?”

“It’s okay. I feel like I wasted a lot of money on alcohol though.”

Astarte clasped her hands together and began to concentrate.

Then his body began to emit hot heat….

-Shhhh!

The pores began to emit steam all over them.

The strong smell of alcohol stings my nose.

‘what?’

Zect was amazed to see Astarte using the Book of the New King in such a strange way.

Before he knew it Astarte had completely gotten rid of his addiction and was back to normal.

“Let’s go. You’ve already spoken with the Rescue Knights right Lord Jecht?”

“….”

Zect wasn’t sharing any information with the drunkard Astarte.

This was because sharing information with someone who had been drinking all day long except when he was sleeping was considered stupid.

But what Lord Astarte said was true.

“The story is set. The problem is whether the Rescue Knights will be able to handle the author.”

“It doesn’t matter. I’ll go first so lead your troops and follow me.”

“yes?”

Zect was taken aback by Astarte’s words but Astarte quickly began to move south first taking only a few of his subordinates with him.

*********

When Azadin started a warlord and became a great noble even within the Knights of the Rescue there was great difficulty in treating Azadin.

In particular the Wisdom Sect which had been at odds with Azadin was anxious because they could not catch him.

But literally they cannot eat Azadin.

It was because Azadin had already grown too large.

“This time there was a subtle threat from the King’s Church asking us to do something about Count Azadin. It seems like they won’t stay still unless we really do something about it. If you all have any opinions please speak up.”

As the Archbishop of the Wisdom Order opened his mouth the high-ranking clergy began to speak one after another.

“How can a person who has left the family become a count in the first place!? Let’s excommunicate him!”

“That can’t be.”

“What does that mean? It’s clearly in the rules…”

“The precepts of the Knights of Salvation were received from the Archangels of the Trinity. The Archangels of the Trinity did not care about worldly property estates or fiefdoms.”

“That is the principle and isn’t there a law established by the council?”

In order to coexist with the King’s Church the Knights Templar also did not allow those who became monks to inherit land.

The church’s paladins were a good place to deal with the illegitimate children of nobles. If the King’s Church and the Knights Templar did not work together the systems of both churches would be disrupted.

So there was a priest who insisted that Azadin should be punished according to the law established by the council but the lawyer from the Wisdom Order laughed at him.

“That’s why you’re saying it can’t be done. What the council at that time prohibited was the right of inheritance. But did Count Azadin inherit and become a count?”

“ah….”

The priest who had been shouting that Azadin must be punished blushed.

It was thrilling to see that Azadin who was from the messenger clan had proven his abilities and been given a position by King Arangi.