Night of the Soulless Heathens – 397



#397. Loser of the South 1

The envoy on Azadin’s side was the excommunicated king’s church knight Zibek.

Jibek was looking straight at his master Jecht. His face had become brighter and more lively than when he was a knight.

“Your expression has improved Sir Jibek.”

Zect was puzzled to see Zibek acting so brightly unlike his usual self.

“Yes. I guess it’s because I enjoy what I’m doing now. There aren’t many decent priests so I’m struggling with the workload but it’s rewarding and enjoyable.”

Zibek who suddenly became an evangelist for the New Testament was initially displeased with this act of direct betrayal of the king’s church.

However the life of a knight that Jibek had always dreamed of was to provide relief to the hungry liberate the people suffering from tyranny and teach them.

“You mean you weren’t happy in the King’s church?”

“Yes. Not at all. The teachings of the King’s Church gave the nobles the duty to protect the people but did not punish them for breaking it. As a result many kings and nobles became tyrants. And didn’t the Church unilaterally support them?”

“So the teaching of the New Testament is to punish kings and nobles? Just as the Heralds executed them by order of the Emperor?”

Zect smiled gently sending a hint of murderous intent.

In the past Jibek would tremble in fear and tremble at the sight of such a being.

But the current Jibek calmly took on Zect’s murderous aggression.

Don’t be afraid of the project.

“Isn’t the world like this because the king and the nobles didn’t hold them accountable for their character? If Count Azadin holds the king and the nobles accountable and makes the world a better place it will be proof of his teachings. I won’t say it’s right now but if you put it into practice you’ll see results.”

‘That’s true. Well he had good talent from the beginning.’

Zect was secretly impressed by Zibek who stood up to him without fear.

“Now is not the time to talk about such things. No matter what you say Count Azadin’s new medicine is heresy and an unacceptable cult. There can be no compromise with that cult but since you have come as an envoy we must talk. What on earth is your proposal?”

“Count Azadin has come to advise us to surrender. He wants us to join forces instead of fighting a useless battle.”

“Surrender? What kind of joke are you talking about? Your sense of humor has improved a lot since I last saw you. Don’t you remember what I said?”

There is no compromise. Heresy will only be punished. That is what Jecht was saying.

However Jibek looked at his old teacher with a pitiful look.

‘Since when have you been so loyal to the King’s Church?’

In fact if you were to name the person who was most dissatisfied with the existing system of the King’s Church it would be Jecht.

Since the time of Zibek no one has rejected the established order of the King’s Church as much as Zeck.

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“It is not only humans who fear Fimbulbert.”

Zibek pointed to Zect’s barracks.

The soldiers who were moving by Zect’s magic appeared to be in perfect order at first glance but they were starving and withering.

No matter how much the light of the royal fire restored warmth to this area winter is still winter.

Exposed to the cold winter wind they were gradually drying out and becoming sick.

“It seems like you’re maintaining your troops by casting spells but even if you don’t pay them you’ll need food right? There’s going to be a monster attack on Bisen’s side soon.”

“You know so well. As if you were in league with the cultists of Kurt’s pantheon…”

“Just a little insight Lord Jecht. Your forces are incapable of waging war. Even if you try to manipulate them with sorcery you will only end up increasing their senseless deaths. Whatever it is you desire there is nothing you can gain from the King’s Church while the Northern Emperor remains.”

“Well Count Azadin you’ll give me what I want then?”

“You offer me the throne of Korrasar on the condition that I do not harm the people.”

“…What did you say?”

Zect felt embarrassed by the sudden proposal.

If Azadin had made this suggestion before I would have laughed at him.

However currently Azadin is the most unconventional monarch in this area and Jecht himself knew that he was the master of the light of the royal flower that protected Banreung.

“Ha. Hahahaha.”

Zect burst into laughter when he heard Azadin’s words relayed by Zibek.

“The throne of Korrasar. How absurd and presumptuous of you to speak. Is that what I desire?”

“Isn’t it?”

I couldn’t bring myself to say no.

Those who were qualified to become king but were pushed out for trivial reasons such as differences in parental affection or the influence of the matriarchal family have already been branded as losers in their souls no matter how much they try to deny it.

The pain of the burning brand is still vivid causing feelings of inferiority anger and jealousy.

You don’t want the throne?

I want it so badly. But….

“You’re going to give it to me? Count Azadin? Do the other vassals who are attached to Count Azadin allow it?”

“Of course everyone hates it. But Count Azadin says he’ll give it to you if you can control the throne. For him the throne is not an end but merely a means.”

“….”

Then the sound of a horn was heard.

Northeast towards Bisen. That is the remnants of the Zect army were coming from the rear area.

And pursuing the defeated troops were a hybrid force of ogres and Bree Goblins.

As Azadin had foreseen Visen was attacked by the Ain race.

“The throne of Korasaur.”

“He said he would give it to me if I could have it.”

“I guess you don’t think you can take it.”

“I guess everyone is like that. But Lord Jecht aren’t you different?”

Zibek knew.

All the cruelty he had felt for a long time was anger towards his parents who had cast him out and a curse towards the fate that had cast him out in the belief that he had the ability to seize the throne.

That is even if a sword is put to his throat Zect will not be able to say that he cannot control the throne.

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“What a shallow trick. You want to use the throne of Korasaar which you have not yet taken as bait to move me! Are you telling me to break the trust of the King’s Church and give up my position as Inquisitor for a single word like that?!”

“But you will do it right?”

“Haha of course!”

Zect tapped the Inquisitor’s badge with his finger.

The insignia on the armor burned away leaving only the gold armor.

In the midst of the flames Jecht opened his eyes.

“Okay. Sir Astarte has already turned around. I’ll let you fool me!”

Inquisitor Jecht has been removed from his position in the King’s Church.

*********

King Karnago IV of the Arangi Kingdom allowed Azadin’s forces to escape Coxhal and fight the Inquisitors first.

Now that it was clear that he had vacated Coxhal capturing Coxhal would have been a great advantage in the future battle with Azadin but it was not done.

It’s not a matter of the knight’s honor or anything like that.

This was because the Bree army had rushed to the rear supply bases of the Arangi Kingdom army.

When winter came the forest devils Breed gathered in great numbers and came out to prey on humans.

It’s such a large number that it makes you wonder if there were really that many bries.

Fimbulbert is not only a threat to humans.

It is also a matter of life and death for races like goblins and Bree who survive by preying on humans.

“Your Majesty the situation is not good right now.”

The nobles of Aranggi opened their mouths in embarrassment in the conference room.

The vassals summoned by King Arangi from various places were the best troops so they were able to easily repel marauding forces such as Bree and Goblins.

However screams and cries of scorpions began to be heard from each territory.

The Ain tribesmen who serve the Kurt Pantheon also realized that this winter was not an ordinary one and began to pillage with a determination to do their utmost.

This was not a situation where humans could wage war against each other. Even the lords who enjoyed preying on and tormenting their people could see that the situation was serious.

I must return to my territory and defend it as soon as possible but I cannot do so since I have been conscripted by the king.

I’m buying Sellswords and adventurers to fight against them in a hurry but recently due to Fimbulbert demand has been extremely high so the price of mercenaries and adventurers has gone up too much.

Even before a proper battle with Azadin had been fought there were already nobles going bankrupt.

It is not a new story that nobles have gone bankrupt and are living in debt to creditors but in the situation of Fimbulbert creditors are unlikely to be as lenient as they used to be.

“Understood. Quickly attack Coxhal and win then return to your own territory and protect your people. Count Azadin will probably not be in Coxhal so if you negotiate well with Celestial Fire you should be able to occupy Coxhal without much difficulty.”

Carnago IV was also aware of the nobles’ grievances so he had no choice but to make that decision.

But then came the good news.

“Count Azadin’s griffin has landed in Coxhal!”

It was a hippogriff to be exact but the watchman could not tell the difference between a hippogriff and a griffin.

“what?”

“No already?”

“What about the Inquisitors?”

The nobles were confused. They had been waiting to attack when they heard that Azadin had started fighting the Inquisitors but then Azadin’s hippogriff suddenly returned.

Of course not all of the troops returned but in the case of the Azadin warlords they accepted refugees so the exact number is unknown.

“You didn’t just send Griffin?”

“The Inquisitors are all probably not ordinary people. They couldn’t have cleaned them up in the meantime.”

The nobles suspected that it was Azadin’s plot.

‘In other words you’re saying that you don’t want to fight if Count Azadin is in the enemy camp. You cowards.’

Even King Karnago IV of Arangi did not want to fight if Azadin was in the enemy camp.

Azadin’s presence in the enemy camp means that the Inquisitors have been dealt with and even King Arangi cannot guarantee safety for anyone who has survived the fight against the Inquisitors.

“Everyone stop guessing and just wait. I’ll bring you news from the King’s Church.”

As Carnago IV spoke a priest from the king’s church walked into the barracks.

Judging by the look of defeat on his face this is definitely not good news.

“Oh I heard that news.”

“What’s the news?”

“Inquisitor Lord Astarte and Inquisitor Lord Jecht have been excommunicated… and are said to have joined the ranks of Count Azadin.”

“….”

“…?”

“…!”

“What the hell is this?”

It was such an absurd thing that even in the presence of the king there were people who uttered vulgar curses.

Two of the King’s Church’s executioners who even threatened the King were recruited by Azadin.

I don’t know what kind of talent he used.