Night of the Soulless Heathens – 394



#394. Iron Mask 6

Like Azadin you can become a high noble by receiving a fief and title directly from the king while maintaining your title as a paladin.

‘If that’s possible.’

‘That guy can do it.’

However the existing power holders could not welcome the emergence of a new noble family that would break the already solid social system and balance of power.

In this day and age it’s possible to obtain a high-ranking noble title like count by proving your abilities.

Isn’t this a reenactment of a heart-pounding heroic tale that you would only see in old tales?

‘When I think about it this way I really am a bad guy. I can understand why Celestial Fire is being pushed back.’

‘But even though we put so much effort into Celestial Fire… all the world’s support went to him?’

The Wisdom Order even broke the taboo of destroying the bodies of petrified angels to reincarnate humans as Celestials.

The Knights of the Angelic Blood who have recovered their beautiful appearance outstanding military strength and the power of white magic that was once rare are shining in times of trouble and gathering support from the people.

The Wisdom Sect had an ambitious plan to use them to rise as the greatest religion on the continent of Hybris.

But ridiculously enough the public’s attention is currently monopolized by that stone that rolled in Count Azadin and even the Celestial Fire that he worked so hard to create has many young people who are fascinated by Azadin.

‘Which idiot came up with the idea that the Knights Templar would achieve great feats in the first place? That’s just empty talk.’

No matter how capable the Celestials were as knights if they were not systematically distributed there were limits to their effectiveness.

The amount of water and hay that horses consume is enormous.

If you want to travel around to establish military achievements and increase your reputation you need to have enough supplies to keep up and the speed of the supply corps will become the marching speed of the entire knights.

However it is impossible to split the Celestials into small groups and send them out in various directions.

Celestials who used children as their bodies were like children even though they looked like adults and were ignorant of the ways of the world. They were not in a condition to carry out missions independently.

In the end despite breaking the taboo the results were truly meager.

On the other hand Count Azadin was a real hero not one they had artificially created.

Even those who despised him because of his bloodline could not deny that Azadin was a great talent.

If it had only gone that far I could have just laughed it off even though it was annoying.

“Anyway isn’t it wrong for him to claim the throne of Banreung? He’s even preaching heretical teachings…”

“Have you read that book?”

“Are you crazy?”

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“No I have read it. If you look at its contents it is in fact the teachings of the School of Discipline. If you deny the doctrines of Lord Azadin you are denying the doctrines of the School of Discipline of our Order.”

“Well the Suyang School won’t be around much anyway right? If we just brand them as heretics and punish them….”

“You don’t know how popular that soulless blasphemer is in this southern region.”

“What is that…..”

“If we deny him there could be riots. Because he absorbs those whom other lords even the church have abandoned for want of food. Perhaps he can do it because he is rich by stealing the wealth of Dwarven Arrow but it is natural for the people to support him.”

“So you’re saying there’s no way? Are we going to just watch that soulless blasphemous bastard run the world? How are we going to satisfy what the King’s Church demands of us?”

“It’s up to them to figure out what to do.”

“No you’ve been supporting that messenger clan guy all along. Did you receive something from him and do that?”

“Watch your words. Then what did you receive from the King’s Church that makes you do whatever it tells you to do?”

The high-ranking clergy began to bicker among themselves. Some clergy were conducting the meeting through a magic mirror rather than coming in person but they looked as if they were grabbing each other by the collar through the mirror.

“Okay calm down.”

Then the Archbishop of Wisdom clapped his hands.

“That heretic is famous and has the support of the people only because he gives them food. And the fact that he has never lost a war and has always won by luck also plays a big part in it.”

“Then…..”

“We can defeat them this time. The losing dog also loses its food bowl. Since the heretic inquisitors of the King’s Church have come to visit why don’t we send Count Azadin to them and make a surprise attack or cut off their supply? At the same time Lord Karna of the Celestial Fire is stationed at the heart of Banreung Mountain…”

Karna was a Celestial who had a strong consciousness from his previous life and was active as the son of the Northern Emperor.

Unlike the young Celestials who have no memories of their past lives he is an experienced person with political power. So how could he deal with Azadin?

“Oh! I see.”

“Lord Karna could easily destroy that soulless blasphemer.”

“So let’s leave it to them.”

*********

For this reason the order was given to Karna the leader of the Celestial Fire to kill Azadin.

“Ha. Easier said than done. This is just an empty theory.”

Karna advanced forward to the port of Banling to meet Azadin’s army which had declared its intention to enter the heart of the mountain.

His adjutant whispered beside him.

“His forces have already been established in the direction of Coxhal so we can drag him here and strike him in the back of the head when he confronts the Inquisitors. Even if they are a herald clan that uses special magic if they are isolated on both sides they will be out of luck. And there are also fortress cannons here right?”

Karna’s adjutant was whispering the opinions of the upper echelons of the Rescue Knights that is those who had already been recruited by the Northern Emperor Cohen Lionaire.

But that’s easier said than done.

‘The one who played a decisive role in the fall of Banreung was none other than Sir Azadin. He probably knows the secret passage of Banreung. The heart of the mountain is full of secret passages of the dwarves.’

What if I hit Azadin on the back of the head and then use the secret passage in Banreung to enter? Will he be able to handle it then? Above all what will happen to the people who support Azadin?

Karna had a good look at what the Azadin warlords were doing while occupying the Banling Port area.

As you clear the road from Coxhal to the heart of the mountain rebuild the nearby farm villages and send guards to quell the goblins and Bree bandits and establish order.

They hire those who were refugees until recently as soldiers and give them jobs while paying them salaries.

This is not just charity. If it were charity the Knights Templar would have done it a lot.

In contrast Azadin’s method is to give them a sense of calling. It tells them that their existence is not a burden that they have to live with but that they are needed. It tells them that they have lost their home and left but they are still needed.

It’s easier said than done but Karna was truly impressed by Azadin knowing full well how difficult it was.

‘You want me to purge this guy? It’s beyond my ability.’

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Karna and Triodana were children of the Northern Emperor who were recognized for their abilities enough to be appointed as the commanders of the Celestial Fire.

He was capable even before being reincarnated as a Celestial.

After being reincarnated as a Celestial it was thought impossible for her to be inferior to anyone as she was supported by the beauty strength and noble bloodline of a half-god half-angel.

But even such a dazzling being becomes overshadowed when it encounters an even more dazzling being.

‘Before I was reincarnated I would never have said that I couldn’t handle the likes of the Jeonryun Clan even if my mouth was torn open.’

When I see the feats that Azadin has accomplished a feeling of admiration wells up deep in my heart.

Whether he knew Karna’s feelings or not the adjutant from Assander was only loyal to the Northern Qi and was only thinking about defeating Azadin.

It’s unpleasant.

Surprisingly Karna felt unpleasant at the adjutant’s remark and brushed aside his feelings.

A foreign object gets caught in your hand.

The New Testament Declaration. The heretical book that Azadin had spread was lodged in his chest.

‘Funny enough….’

At first I laughed at the book that Azadin had spread out.

Azadin you are a lowly and disgusting herald and you directly deny the teachings of the King’s Church.

If you deny what the King’s Church teaches isn’t it Azadin who is from the Herald Clan who will benefit the most?

There is nothing more despicable than preaching one’s own gain.

Karna read the book laughing at Azadin’s antics.

but….

Things that were incomprehensible in Azadin’s actions up to now are beginning to be understood through the New Testament Declaration.

‘That’s ridiculous. I have already sacrificed this body for my father’s cause. I was reincarnated as a Celestial! Only my father the Lionear clan that has inherited the blood of Yaegas can end the chaos in this world and bring lasting peace! This kind of heretic… He’s a messenger clan!’

Karna tried hard to deny it.

But before he knew it he too began to want to believe in the new medicine that Azadin was claiming.

*********

Karna went out to the gate to greet them with complicated feelings.

During the Battle of Banreung the fortress cannons and coastal cannons fired fiercely and beyond the ruined walls Azadin’s forces can already be seen.

The formal gate opened and Count Azadin and his men entered in an orderly manner.

Even the individual refugee soldiers must have been trained quite well because their movements are very orderly.

And then Azadin walks in riding on a hippogriff.

The sight was so majestic that even the Celestials were amazed.

Even the local residents came to see Azadin from afar.

“It’s been a while Lord Karna. Thank you for opening the gates.”

Count Azadin approached Karna who was lost in thought and bowed to him.

Thank you for opening the gates… Karna smiled bitterly inside.

“No. We have no reason to stop you do we? Aren’t we brothers? At least not when you don’t claim the throne of Banreung but are a knight of the same Order of the Knights of Salvation.”

“Are you saying not now?”

“How can we be brothers when you claim to be the king of Banling because of your personal ambition and are causing discord with the king’s church?”

“I do not want to be in conflict with the King’s Church.”

“No? If you were their king would they just sit still?”

“But that doesn’t mean we can say it isn’t true.”

“urg….”

“Don’t you think so?”

At that moment a dazzling light appeared from Azadin.

A majestic golden halo emanates from Azadin’s head.

“…….”

Karna was speechless. He was also a Celestial so he could use white magic but what Azadin unleashed was an overwhelming power that left even him speechless.