Night of the Soulless Heathens – 398



#398. Loser of the South 2

Carnago IV sighed.

“Then it’s settled. Let’s request a ceasefire with Count Azadin.”

“Yes? But…..”

Arangi’s vassals were confused.

Deep down I desperately wanted to go and protect my own fiefdom without fighting Azadin.

But if the battlefield has become this big it is not easy to withdraw now.

“What if those damned messengers make excessive demands when we propose a truce to Count Azadin?”

“Hey in a siege if the besieging side lifts the siege and leaves they just leave.”

“This isn’t a siege. Coxhal is just a port city. And he’s part of the Herald Clan and I doubt the Herald Clan would observe the courtesy and rules of the nobles.”

“But we must not get hit in the back of the head when we retreat. The enemy flies on a griffin. No matter how much we run away he is quick to attack from behind.”

“That Griffin’s numbers aren’t that many. They might scare you for a bit but they’re not significant numbers.”

“You don’t know anything. Anyway this is why inexperienced people are reckless. Do you know what happens to horses when a griffin flies over them? They start foaming at the mouth and start racing. You don’t even know that and you call yourself a knight….”

“You don’t know anything you idiot. That’s a hippogriff. A hippogriff. A griffin. A griffin. Who would think you’re a blind idiot like me?”

“What the heck? Should we have a duel?”

“Old Arthur. It looks like you’ve already found a place to stay. If you die your wife’s gardener and her little brat won’t be noble.”

“This kid!”

Arangi’s vassals began to argue over how to safely retreat from Azadin and soon began to fight among themselves.

Everyone was on edge as the rear supply line began to be cut off by attacks from Bree and the goblin Ain tribes.

“Everyone calm down. I’ll do the talking here.”

King Karnago IV of Arangi clicked his tongue as he looked at his pitiful vassals who had started fighting among themselves.

*********

Carnago IV requested a meeting with Azadin also to confirm whether the hippogriff seen by the sentinel was indeed Azadin’s return.

Azadin immediately agreed to the meeting.

‘You did return. You really managed to recruit the Inquisitor in the meantime? I don’t know what trick you used.’

Carnago IV was inwardly embarrassed to see Azadin’s side immediately agree to the meeting.

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He is a king by name but he has no dignity. He is being disgraced by the man he appointed as a count…

‘But in other words you could say that I was the first to realize this guy’s true worth. In the conflict with him the ones who actually suffered the most were guys like Viscount Folzen. I was the one who recognized his true worth and bestowed upon him the countship first. If he had any thoughts he wouldn’t be more ungrateful to me.’

Carnago IV with a sense of urgency decided to set up a meeting on a hill between Coxhall and their camp.

They pitched their tents on a hill where the surrounding area was open and it would be difficult to call for reinforcements and there Carnago IV and Count Azadin met.

By the way even though he was the one who appointed Azadin as a count this was the first time that Carnago IV and Azadin met each other.

Carnago IV was surprised to see that the black-haired young man standing before him was younger and more handsome than he had expected.

‘He still looks young but his abilities are amazing at this age. Or is it that the Jeonryong clan also has the blood of the emperor and lives long? With such skills and outstanding appearance it’s no wonder people like him despite his birth.’

When Carnago IV was embarrassed by Azadin’s appearance Azadin was the first to show respect.

“Naisandokhar Margrave Azadin greets His Majesty King Karnago IV rightful heir to Arangi and defender of the Southern Passage.”

“Ah. Let’s put aside all the useless formalities between us.”

Carnago IV gestured to Azadin.

He brought an excessive amount of force to the conference room for the armistice including the captain of the Arangian Guard who was seen as an attendant.

Azadin on the other hand was accompanied by Selim the Minotaur and an orc sorcerer sitting on a strange chair.

Whether it was because he trusted his comrades or because he was confident in his own abilities Azadin approached the Arangian Guard without a care in the world within arm’s reach of his halberd.

“It seems that a minor misunderstanding between us has led to this trouble Count Azadin. I would like to clear up the misunderstanding but before that may I ask what happened with the Inquisitor?”

That’s a pretty shameless statement.

Isn’t it that you asked for information from someone you were against because you didn’t know what had happened to you?

But whatever the circumstances Azadin is his vassal in name only. He has no reason not to grant the king’s request.

“There is a slight misunderstanding with Lord Astarte and he believes I am his son.”

“If it’s Sir Astarte then is that what Tarasar said?”

“yes.”

“I’ve heard that he’s a little crazy. What about Lord Jecht? He must be a formidable man.”

“How did Lord Jecht get along with Lord Astarte’s mediation….”

Azadin covered up the matter with Jecht. It was not easy to tell others that he had granted Jecht the throne of Korathar.

Carnago IV thought roughly as he watched Azadin’s mumbled words.

‘Since Astaroth who was on his side suddenly turned around and switched to the enemy side Jecht couldn’t deal with this alone. In the end it’s a winner-takes-all situation.’

Because they win they grow bigger and because they grow bigger they win without fighting.

As Azadin won several victories his forces grew and as his forces grew naturally people gave up fighting him and just like a snowball Azadin’s warlords naturally grew larger and more powerful.

And the same was true of Carnago IV.

‘Even if it grew naturally by the law of winner-take-all it would be big in size but not in substance. Feeding all the refugees would not be easy even if the Chadra Plateau is a granary. But that doesn’t mean I need to shed my own blood with my own hands to figure out this guy’s pretense right?’

As long as there are no demands for troops provisions or supplies it wouldn’t be a bad idea to side with Azadin.

“Understood Count Azadin. If you grant me one condition I will grant you the throne of Banling and allow you to preach the New Testament.”

“Do you approve it? On what terms?”

“Be my adopted son.”

“….”

A strange smile appeared on Azadin’s face.

“Of course just because you’re my adopted son doesn’t mean I have to be filial or have dinner with you sometimes. As you know I’m notorious for looking down on my daughter-in-law.”

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“I never thought I would hear that story directly from you.”

Azadin smiled bitterly as he thought of Bishop Akenar.

It is repulsive to see a man who ruined a woman’s life with his petty greed and then meekly admits his greed to the etiquette of the imperial court.

Of course it would be annoying if you didn’t admit it and just talked nonsense but it’s so annoying to ruin the lives of Prince Sram and Bishop Akenar because of momentary greed and then say something like it’s not a big deal.

“But I think being my adopted son will be of great help in what you want to do.”

“So you’re saying that in exchange for a retreat or rather a peace treaty? Haa….”

Azadin let out a long sigh.

After claiming that Astarte was her father now Carnago IV is saying that he will become her adoptive father. I don’t know why there are so many people around me who suddenly want to be my father.

‘I got to have two fathers in one morning. There’s no such thing as a bastard like this.’

However as Carnago IV said becoming the adopted son of King Arangi solves many problems for Azadin.

‘Carnago IV is quite smart. Aside from saving face a little this is a proposal that is all about gain.’

It would be painful to lose face when you have some dignity but Carnago IV has committed too many antics to lose face with just one retreat.

Even if you adopt Azadin here the people around you will only be impressed to the extent of saying “Oh that guy is committing another strange act.”

“Even if you don’t necessarily have to become an adopted child I will return you safely. You will have to fight the races of the Kurt Pantheon anyway.”

“No. No. I need to form an adoption contract. If you just let me go I will become a foolish monarch who cannot tell right from wrong and calls for an unreasonable war because I want the Kingdom of Banreung. But if I take you in as my adoptive son I will become a monarch who uses a clever plan at a dangerous moment and returns without any damage.”

“Why should I cooperate with you? To add to Your Majesty’s reputation I suddenly become a crazy person who has one biological father and one adoptive father.”

“Isn’t there much to gain?”

“You don’t intend to leave the Kingdom of Aranggi to me do you? In that case there would be the benefit of not bothering the King’s Church but I think that’s already more than halfway there.”

“I will support you in obtaining the Kingdom of Banreung.”

“Are you saying that you will support me without spending a single penny or a single drop of blood?”

“Even that would be precious right?”

“Okay I will gladly accept your offer.”

“Thank you. I am glad to have such a handsome son with such a heroic spirit. Are you about to ascend to the throne as the King of Banling? As the King of Banling you have taken control of the Sandokar and Naisandokar Chadra Plateau and you are the adopted son of King Arangi. Next will you reclaim Btuma from the Nagas? If Cohen Lionaire is the Northern Emperor then you should be able to call yourself the Southern Emperor without shame.”

King Karnago IV of Arangi spoke highly of the benefits and political prestige that Azadin would gain by becoming his adopted son.

But it was also true.

The kings and nobles who inherited the blood of the divine race were often arrogant and cruel tyrants but that was only when they dealt with those weaker than them.

It was clear that he would eventually give way to an opponent who was stronger or more threatening than him making excuses of one kind or another.

The fact that King Arangi did not dare to deal with him and withdrew in the form of an adoption contract will cause fear in other kings and nobles and this will bring about another power.

This alliance is as Azadin says a shallow support that doesn’t cost a penny or a drop of blood but it will certainly help Azadin rise as the southern champion.

However Azadin’s expression was not bright at all.

“Are you dissatisfied?”

“No but the south was conquered sooner than expected. Korasaar was razed to the Nagas and Wendigos and so was Btuma.”

With Banling and Btuma Korassar virtually destroyed Azadin was recognized as the hegemon of the south.

It would be something that would make a normal person jump for joy but Azadin’s face showed a hint of worry.

“So how do you do an adoption? Do you share a drink mixed with blood?”

“There’s no need for that. I wasn’t a very good father to my children who were my blood relatives. I can’t be sure that I’ll be a good father even if I mix my blood with you for the sake of ceremony. Just win. If you continue to win and win and win I’ll try my best to be the best father I can be to you.”

Carnatus IV defined this alliance quite frankly.