Night of the Soulless Heathens – 403



#403. The Age of Revelation 4

“3000 bushels? You’re joking too much. How are you going to transport 3000 bushels? Send grain from here to Arangi and send it from Arangi to bribe bishops in various places? When will that happen? I’d appreciate it if you could tell me it was a funny joke.”

Azadin laughed off Carnago IV’s outrageous demands.

“I guess so. It was a ridiculous request to begin with so I guess I should just call it a joke.”

In the current chaotic situation where physical objects not gold and silver have value Carnago IV’s demands were physically impossible from the start.

But Azadin’s composure and courage surprised Karna.

‘You’re so calm even in this situation. If I were you my heart would start pounding and my hands and feet would go numb just from hearing Carnago IV’s demands…’

“So what’s next?”

While Lord Karna was surprised this time it was Lord Izmila who spoke.

“Sir Azadin. There is currently internal strife among the knights in St. Mallory.”

“If there is internal strife between the Knights is it the problem of the Wisdom Order?”

“Yes. To be exact the Order of Courage accused the Order of Wisdom of defacing the statue of an angel and when the Order of Wisdom refused they raided the office of the Order of Wisdom and stole the tokens of Nether magic and evidence of heresy. Of course the Order of Wisdom said it was for research purposes.”

“Hmm….”

Azadin could sense why the Celestial Fire Knights had sought him out.

Originally they were supposed to be presented as the second coming of noble angels.

However it was revealed that its true identity was that of a being created through a special magical ritual.

No matter how much of a courageous sect they are they are also members of the same Rescue Knights so announcing this to the world is like spitting while lying down.

The Courage Church had no intention of publicizing this but the problem was the feelings of the people involved who were hurt by it.

Indeed Izmila spoke in a somber tone.

“I grew up in a privileged position among the clergy but it turns out that this interest was in the test subjects. Not only me but everyone in Celestial Fire was quite shocked.”

Among the Celestial Fires those who do not have clear memories of their past lives are adults on the outside but are no different from children.

The Knights Templar raised these people as knights telling them legends and old tales and instilling in them a sense of duty and morality toward being a knight.

But what if they were actually created through immoral magical experiments?

Everyone seemed to be very shocked.

“I see.”

Azadin nodded.

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“Sir Izmilla. I was born from the belly of a man cursed to serve.”

“yes?”

“A man’s stomach?”

Karna also tilted his head.

“The Herald Clan is under a curse of service. My father Acre who was a traitor to his clan was born as a man under the curse and gave birth to my sister before dying. Here I am a foreigner Herald Clan hated by the people of Hybris and even among them I am a product of a terrible curse.”

Azadin spoke nonchalantly about his possible weakness his birth.

“Aren’t you the son of King Astarte of Tarasar?”

“Even though Sir Astarte said it wasn’t true he still didn’t believe me. I told him it was a headache.”

Azadin shrugged.

“But is the son of a great man really a great man? I have seen nobles harassing a peasant’s daughter hanging her fiancé on the gallows and then beating a weak girl on the scaffold. Is a man who does such things noble because he is of the noble blood of a king? No.”

At Azadin’s words Jibek who was nearby smiled bitterly.

“It is his actions and his soul that determine who he is. It doesn’t matter where he was born or his lineage.”

“….”

It was something anyone could easily say.

So Azadin to give weight to his words even revealed the horrible truth that he was a product of a curse he had been born with something he didn’t necessarily need to reveal.

At least Azadin’s attitude toward Celestial Fire was sincere.

“But Sir Azadin no Your Highness. No Your Majesty. I don’t know what to do. The Wisdom Order was my home and my family… They raised me like a daughter and a granddaughter but without their wisdom and guidance I don’t know what to do or how to live. How can I be sure that the path I’m walking is the right one?”

Izmila was still distressed. The idea that actions determine one’s self seemed like a far-fetched idea and there was no concrete solution.

Where can I be sure that the path I am walking is the right one?

“Then will you help me? Even now we are fighting against the army of demons in Naisandokar and Sandokar Banrung to protect the people.”

“It is an honor but…”

“I won’t deploy Celestial Fire in battles against humans. I’ll only deploy Celestial Fire in battles against monsters. What do you think?”

“….”

Karna smiled bitterly after hearing Azadin’s promise.

The most important thing for Azadin’s army is skilled knights.

By accepting refugees without limit and making bold moves such as declaring a new covenant they can gather a lot of people but the only people they can gather in this way are infantry who are not accustomed to combat.

The Celestial Fire a group of skilled cavalrymen in the Azadin army that lacks knights is a godsend that fills in the last piece of the puzzle.

It was a bold promise not to use such Celestial Fire in battle against humans.

“Even if you don’t go that far most of them are children. If you coax and appease them you can easily get them. Don’t you absolutely need cavalry for your army? And starting with Vissen the forces of the King’s Church will tighten their grip on you so wouldn’t helping you harm our political prestige in the future?”

When Karna asked Azadin about his true intentions Azadin took out a book from his bosom.

It was a worn-out book of old tales that sang of the heroism of the Knights Templar and the devotion and exploits of the angels and knights.

“This is a book given to me by the person who was the star of my heart. I don’t know how many times I’ve read it since I was a child.”

“….”

“I am a king. I know deep down that the world does not run on goodwill and kindness alone. But that does not mean that goodwill and kindness should be ridiculed. Even after decades that starlight still serves as a guide to my heart. It may be a faint light to some transcending gains and losses but it is a signpost and guide to others.”

Karna held his breath as he heard Azadin’s words.

“It doesn’t matter if you are just gilded false angels. If protecting the weak and defending humanity is not a laughing matter to you but a dazzling value then you are my comrades who share the same values. And I will protect my comrades.”

People of the world call this person a soulless blasphemer.

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But it’s a shame.

With such a burning heat how could there be no soul?

If you call this man a soulless blasphemer then what value do the souls of those who are more cynical cold and faithless than this man have?

“Understood. I and the Celestial Fire Knights are lost so I would like to ask for your help.”

Karna knelt before Azadin and offered his sword.

Izmila also saw Karna like that and knelt before Azadin.

“Okay. I’ll borrow your swords for a moment.”

Azadin took their swords placed them lightly on his shoulders and handed them back.

*********

The rumor that King Azadin had been excommunicated from the royal church sent turmoil through Sandhokar and Naisandhokar including the heart of the Banling capital San.

‘Isn’t this something I should run away from?’

‘So you’re saying you’re going to accept something like the New Testament or something for no reason… It was ridiculous to say that the Herald Clan is king from the beginning.’

‘They say that when the Herald Clan sat on the throne the throne cracked in anger?’

‘It was heresy. It was a fraud. A fraud!’

‘But weren’t the molasses cookies sweet?’

‘But the Knights of Salvation aren’t responding at all… Wasn’t King Azadin supported by the Knights of Salvation?’

‘Surely both denominations will abandon it?’

‘The New Testament was reckless from the start. It’s crazy. It’s crazy. To believe that a soulless blasphemer is a king just because he relieved the cold for a little while…’

‘But compared to other places Banreung and Sandokar Naisandokar are really livable right? Other places are no joke right now. Goblins and Breeds are even eating humans alive to survive this winter.’

The people were at a loss as to what to do.

However at a time when public sentiment was in turmoil the Celestial Fire Knights joined.

When it was revealed that the Celestial Fire Knights had sworn allegiance to King Azadin public opinion quickly turned around.

Although the Celestial Fire Knights did not have as much fame as initially planned the sight of beautiful men and women with angel wings parading around in gleaming armor riding on warhorses overwhelmed the people.

Besides isn’t this nothing more than a sign that the Knights Templar have acknowledged King Azadin?

Then at least we can say that he was spared from being burned at the stake by the inquisitor of the King’s Church.

*********

“You’re really talented.”

With all of his troops suddenly lost due to Bisen’s betrayal and the appearance of a defeated soldier Jecht rode his horse and entered the northeastern gate in the heart of the mountain.

He frowned at the sight of the Celestial Fire Knights’ insignia fluttering everywhere.

The residents were celebrating as if they were celebrating a festival decorating themselves with the insignia of the Celestial Fire Knights.

Of course we didn’t share food and drinks like at a real festival.

However he was having fun making the three-winged wheel of the Rescue Knights and the Celestial Fire emblem with what he had.

Even in these harsh times when people had to save on food it seemed impossible to completely stop people’s desire to feel good.

But then soldiers on patrol discovered Jecht.

“Hey wait a minute. You. What are you doing?”

“There is a person behind you…”

Currently Jecht has lost his iconic golden armor and is seen as a defeated soldier. And there is a person tied up with a rope hanging from his horse.

At first glance it was obvious that the man in his luxurious robes was hanging from a rope and had vomited with vomit staining his horse’s coat and the man completely unconscious.

The soldiers were shocked at the sight of the monstrous sight and aimed their spears at it.

Zect clicked his tongue as he looked at the soldiers who couldn’t recognize his bare face.

“I am Jecht. The Inquisitor… that was a long time ago right?”

“Huh? My Jekt Kyung?”

“What is this…..”

“As you can see I lost the golden armor and am the only one who returned alive. Please let me see you as I have news for you King.”

“Oh yes. Then the person behind me is….”

“I am the Bishop of Bissen. I am a member of the King’s Church.”

“Huh?”

The soldiers immediately ran to inform Azadin of Zect’s return.