Night of the Soulless Heathens – 449



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Kazas the elder of the Herald Clan was an evil wizard who was of elven royal blood and once served as the leader of the elves.

Because he committed terrible crimes that threatened humanity his title was ‘Devil King’ and he was also called ‘Erlkonig’.

Just as the Heralds captured him and studied all kinds of elven and ancient magic he also studied the Heralds’ grimoire and leaked its contents to the elves.

And the northern Aragasas who learned it acted secretly as assassins of the Northern Emperor killing the kings of each country kidnapping Sion Etar and invading the Sandokar Castle to ambush and fatally wound Count Gienta the son of Count Ivechek.

Then the vassals of Count Gienta asked Azadin to heal the king.

*********

“This is a trick to call me.”

Azadin saw through the dirty tricks of the Northern Qi and clicked his tongue.

He had already infiltrated Sandokkar ambushed the Count and then leisurely escaped without being caught.

This meant that if the assassin’s skills were such that he wanted to kill the Count he would have more than enough to kill him.

However the reason he did not kill him was either to let Azadin waste his strength on the king’s healing or to summon Azadin to Sandokar and assassinate him.

At this the messenger clan became furious.

“Hey Captain! Let us go! We’ll take the Northern Emperor’s neck right now! We’re going to settle the score with assassination and I’ll show you who the best assassin in the land is!”

Indim who is considered the most skilled member of the messenger clan volunteered to assassinate the Northern Emperor.

Next to him his colleagues Seraph and Dimia clicked their tongues.

“Your Majesty please kill us as punishment for our rudeness!”

“No that’s not okay.”

Azadin shook his head.

“I have no intention of fighting back with assassination. And the territory of the Northern Qi is probably protected by now without a single gap to be inserted.”

“Even so it’s the northern Aragasaji!”

“That’s exactly the problem of carelessness. Why do our clan look down on the northern Aragasa who are also our kind? They don’t look down on us but if we underestimate them it will be dangerous even if we have the upper hand. But if our strength is equal or their numbers are greater then there’s nothing to say.”

Azadin knew the arrogant nature of the Heralds well so when he issued this warning he did not even mention cases where the enemy’s skills were superior.

“Then how about we also carry out assassinations in all directions? If we kill mainly knights and field commanders….”

“Then if each country sends assassins to each other there will be no talent left in each country. The chaos will worsen and it will all be a loss for humanity.”

Azadin explained calmly.

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“When winter becomes severe the Nether clan will attack this land in earnest. Until then I want to preserve the power of humanity. Even if they are our enemies now their warriors nobles administrators and clergy are all valuable human resources. If everyone starts assassinating and killing talented people the chaos will fall on the people.”

“They don’t care about the coexistence of mankind and are only trying to take down the leader. Why are you talking about such dreamy things in broad daylight?”

“No even if we leave aside such dreamy idealism and just engage in assassination wars we will suffer losses. Right now as refugees die our food availability is actually increasing. How is this possible?”

“….”

Indim tilted his head and Dimia answered on his behalf.

“Because we have an excellent supply system. When soldiers die and units retreat there is virtually no food taken away.”

“Yes. In other words we are currently consuming a huge amount of administrative power. This is possible because the bureaucrats and priests faithfully establish supply plans and supply materials on time.”

Usually if you give a lot of supplies to a unit at once when the unit suffers a lot of casualties the supplies are bound to be lost as well.

However Azadin’s army is supplied with neither too much nor too little just like blood supplies nutrients to each part so even if casualties occur during battle there is little loss of supplies.

As units that suffered heavy casualties were reorganized the availability of supplies increased and the soldiers became more elite. This magical thing was all thanks to the efforts of administrative officials and supply units.

“So if we respond with assassination we will be the ones who suffer in the end. The enemies are currently attacking the noble Count Sandokar and the military commanders without much thought but if they enter the city and assassinate the supply officials then it will be impossible to control them.”

“But aren’t our supply officers priests of the Salvation Knights? Would they be assassinated so easily?”

Seraph pointed that out.

When Azadin went on an expedition to the South Sea and the Bthuma those in charge of supplying food were the relief corps of the Knights Templar who had been skilled in transporting and supplying food from the beginning.

Moreover they are priests and rescuers not people who just roll a pen and do nothing.

But Azadin was resolute.

“Zion Etar was also hit. It is not good to underestimate your opponent too much.”

“Anyway shouldn’t we at least teach the opponent a lesson so he doesn’t use assassins indiscriminately?”

“Yes that’s right. That’s why I plan to go to Sandokkar myself.”

“….”

Seraph and Dimia Indim looked at Azadin in silence.

To get to Sandokar right now you have to travel quite a distance and ride a hippogriff.

As the weather gets colder will Azadin’s body be able to withstand flying through that blizzard on a hippogriff?

“It’s okay. I have the king’s protection.”

“We will also try to get to Sandokkar as quickly as possible.”

“I know it may be presumptuous of me but may I ride with you?”

When Dimia asked that Indim laughed.

“No if you want to ride along I the best should go.”

“But I feel lighter.”

“What are you talking about? I’m lighter.”

“…?”

After a war of nerves Dimia and Indim finally got on the scales.

Surprisingly the scales tipped in Dimia’s favor. Indim was lighter than Dimia.

“…That’s ridiculous! You used magic?!”

Dimia glared at Indim as if she couldn’t believe the result.

“You can’t face reality Dimia. The scales don’t lie.”

Then Azadin stepped forward.

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“Okay. Calm down everyone. It’s a good thing that the two of you weighed each other fairly but I’m going alone this time. It’s hard on the hippogriff if there are two of you riding.”

Azadin cut off the three of them from Hwajopungwol from arguing over something ridiculous.

“No Your Majesty. Are you really going to Sandokal alone?”

“Assassins will be targeting Your Majesty in Sandokar.”

“It’s okay. Anyway you all….”

“yes?”

“No it’s nothing.”

Azadin was about to say that you are all inferior to me but stopped himself.

Among the messenger clan these three people especially the flower-bird-wind-moon clan were so proud of their own skills that saying something like that would have caused a lot of trouble.

‘In places like this everyone acts like a kid. It’s annoying.’

Azadin prepared to leave.

*********

The South Sea Fleet which was designed to subdue the fishermen who were raiding the South Sea routes and fishing villages was personally commanded by Lord Jecht a former Inquisitor.

He clicked his tongue as he heard the news from his cabin.

“The king is flying alone to the front lines. The country is really running well.”

Heretic Inquisitor Jecht who is at the forefront of dealing with the fish-people is achieving results by subduing the foggy southern coast with the new knights of the Salvation Knights and the experienced men-at-arms who are aspiring to become vassals.

Surprisingly he was now satisfied with his job.

The task of handling troops made up of elite soldiers of a different class from refugees and training them into servants was something he was familiar with as he had been an instructor at the King’s Church.

This task of stabilizing the southern sea route could later become an important achievement for him when he intended to become king of the southern kingdom.

But then came the news that King Azadin was heading to Sandokar alone.

‘The promise to make me king is a promise between King Azadin and me. What happens to this promise if he dies or disappears?’

With that in mind Jecht began to complain about the inadequacy of Azadin’s kingdom.

With this much power built up the country should be able to run smoothly even if the king indulges in debauchery so it makes no sense to fly to Sandokhar on a hippogriff where an assassin is waiting.

However his colleague Lord Astarte had a different opinion.

“It’s going well. I’ve sat on the throne myself but this is it. When I see my son doing it I realize that I was just sitting on the throne with my butt down. It’s embarrassing.”

“He is not your son Lord Astarte.”

“Yes. That’s what he should say publicly. For his New Testament ideology wouldn’t it be difficult for him to be a soulless blasphemer rather than a son of royalty?”

“….”

Jecht stuck out his tongue as he looked at Astarte who still couldn’t understand.

‘Did you drink too much and have holes in your brain? Why can’t you understand when I say no?’

Jecht felt tired from talking to Astarte and went out of the cabin to the hold.

But then the lookout on the watchtower shouted.

“A vessel is approaching from 15 degrees forward of starboard! It appears to be at least a three-masted sailing vessel!”

A ship was approaching over the foggy water.

“Hmm. I can’t see very well because of the fog. Where!”

Jecht draws his sword. A golden halo glows brightly centered around Jecht.

Then at the moment when the light gathered at the tip of the sword Jecht stabbed the sword into the air.

-Wow!

The fog dispersed along the point where the sword had struck creating a long straight passage leading to the ship.

The entire massive sailing ship that Jecht was standing on shook as if some kind of cannon had been fired. It was a testament to Jecht’s awesome power.

The sailors were horrified at the prowess of the Jets in securing sight of the opposing ships with such terrifying force.

‘As expected Ject Kyung…’

‘It’s fortunate that we are allies.’

‘I have no idea what you’re thinking though.’

As everyone thought that Zect’s narrow eyes suddenly opened wide.

On top of the opposing ship was the flag of the Inquisition of the King’s Church.

A ship of the King’s Church on this distant southern sea route?

At that moment a large lantern hung forward of the ship blinked.

It was a light signal requesting access.

“What should I do?”

“Let’s meet up and talk.”

The Jet ordered the captain and navigators to allow access.

*********

The king’s church’s ship approached dropped anchor and cast nets to create a net bridge between the two ships.

Then put a plank on top of the net.

Usually when sailors move between ships they cross over a net bridge or a plank.

Seeing this much effort put into it it is certain that a precious person has come.

indeed….

Three inquisitors in gold armor and a priest in a bishop’s robe appeared.

It was Archbishop Bohemond of Carasar.

“It’s been a while Lord Jecht. I hope you’ve improved.”

His old wrinkled face was grotesquely distorted.

Are you laughing at that?

A bizarre smile and gaze were directed at Jecht as if the gnarled trunk of a withered old tree had transformed into a human face.