Night of the Soulless Heathens – 86



#86. The Brass Knight 6

“I am the only one who can protect you woman because of this man’s chivalry. I respect that and that is why I am letting you live now. Do not insult my true intentions. Or what? Are you insulting the Emperor’s messenger now? Are you saying that the Emperor’s messenger’s intention to protect the people is false and vain?”

“….”

A terrifying murderous intent emanated from Azadin. Shati was speechless whether in terms of justification or intimidation. At that moment the brass old man standing in front of Shati confronted the murderous intent emanating from Azadin.

“Don’t be so threatening.”

“Okay I understand. I will cooperate with you without asking any questions until we get out of this predicament.”

Azadin took the weapon from his goat and placed it on the ground.

“Those who can arm themselves arm themselves with this. Those who find the load lighter please ride here.”

They all looked incredulous at the sudden appearance of Azadin but they were all too poor to refuse what he had given them.

“How is it?”

“I see. I am amazed that in a world where chivalry is a laughingstock there are still young men like you. I will allow you to accompany me.”

“thank you.”

“But let’s at least resolve the issue with that woman once we get to a safe place.”

The old man said this and held out his hand to Azadin.

“I am Lord Brand of Lantaric. And you?”

“I am Azadin the Emperor’s Herald 108th Commander. By the way Sir Brand of Lantaric are you a knight?”

“….”

When Azadin asked if he was a knight Sir Brand’s expression darkened. It was as if the person had changed drastically.

“Then let’s go.”

He turned away without answering.

“…?”

Azadin was curious about the sudden change in Sir Brand’s attitude which seemed to freeze. At that moment a woman approached him. She was the leader of the runaway slaves who had stolen the copy of the New King’s Book from Shati and were keeping it.

“Please help Sir Brand. In that sense I dare to speak presumptuously.”

“What does that mean?”

“Yes. He is the one who made Mr. Brand into Sir Brand. Can we talk about it as we go?”

“Yes that’s right.”

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Azadin allowed her to act alongside him a move that was nerve-racking for Shati.

‘That woman has my New King’s Book…’

Since you are stuck next to the messenger clan you cannot steal it and run away. In the end you have no choice but to join this strange group of refugees.

*********

Azadin took the lead and Sir Brand followed behind leaving the women between them as they walked along the road.

“So who are you?”

“My name is Delmer. I was originally an agent of Count Lantaric.”

“Agent?”

“Yes. That bandit group was planted by Count Lantaric on purpose to weaken the power of Count Salasma. Our job was to provide the nearby bandits with connections to slave traders and in return supply them with weapons thereby further strengthening their power.”

“But why?”

“When Donair privatized the organization they purged me. I wasn’t killed because I was a woman though…”

“Then who is that Lord Brand?”

“He was a famous clerk lawyer and teacher in Lantarik.”

Originally Sir Brand or rather Brand was a famous scribe and lawyer in the city of Cozma on the border of Salasma and Lantaric. He and his family who were renowned as intellectuals and cultured people were unfortunately captured by a group of bandits. When the bandit king Donaire decided that it would be more profitable to use them to extort ransom from his relatives rather than sell them into slavery.

However Brand’s relatives refused to pay the ransom and Donair and his band of thieves enraged by this killed Brand’s son-in-law and grandson and tried to force-feed them to his daughter and granddaughter.

The bandits who were aroused by the horrible atrocity of feeding Brand’s daughter with her husband and his granddaughter with her brother naturally refused to eat them and tried to kill them. That’s when Brand stepped in.

He ate the flesh himself on the condition that his daughter and granddaughter would live. While many bandits laughed and mocked him he endured the pain alone and silently and eventually became senile. After experiencing such a terrible thing he could not remain in his right mind.

So the lawyer-clerk-scholar became the self-proclaimed Sir Brand who believed himself to be a knight of old tales. Donair found it amusing and kept him alive as his personal clown.

“You killed your family and fed them to them? On purpose?”

Azadin was shocked to hear of the bandits’ atrocities. It cannot be said that there are no cases of cannibalism due to starvation. In the midst of a fierce siege when food supplies are cut off and everyone starves or when a famine occurs and everyone starves humanity is put on the back burner.

But instead of eating to avoid starvation he kills his own family and eats them to torment others. One cannot help but question the humanity of the Thief King Donair.

‘I should have teased you more.’

Azadin frowned as he remembered how he had turned Donair into a cannon fodder. He had only inflicted wounds that would heal over time. Of course the places where the arrows were deeply embedded would continue to cause pain and if not treated properly the wounds would worsen and kill him. However it was too merciful for a man who had committed such a madman.

“Donair not only cooked human flesh to torment people but also taught thieves how to put drugs in it. They spread to each inn and kidnapped people by putting drugs in their food. They killed the unnecessary people and turned them into meat.”

“….”

“I was actually one of them but no matter how much I talk about their cruelty it’s like spitting on someone lying down but anyway after that Brand really helped us like a knight in a story. He probably wouldn’t have been able to endure it if he was in his right mind.”

“Then now he….”

“Yes. He is losing his mind. So please be careful with your words and actions when dealing with him. If he regains his mind or something it will be a huge challenge on this already difficult path.”

“Oh I see. But there must be some bad rumors about our Emperor’s messenger. Are you going to tell me about them?”

“I was going to ask for Naga’s hand too. If it really helps I’ll have to grab onto anything.”

Delmer’s eyes lit up as he said that.

“No matter what happens I want to get revenge on Donair. However revenge on Donair should come after the people here escape safely.”

Ismail yawned as he listened.

“Why are you talking about such leisurely things when pursuers might be coming right now? Let’s go quickly.”

“….”

Delmer seemed hurt by Ismail’s cold attitude. For her it must have been a sacred conversation like a confession where she could face the wounds of her soul but for Ismail it sounded like begging that he didn’t want to hear.

“….”

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Azadin held Delmer’s hand and looked at Ismail without saying a word.

*********

As they walked along the forest path it began to get dark. Even soldiers who were used to marching would not march at night unless they were on a road. Delmer and Brand let the runaway slaves rest and they also rested.

I was going to say something anyway but Ismail spoke first.

“Since everyone is asleep and doesn’t even notice even if I carry them let’s take the Shinwangjinseo.”

“No. If you were going to take it away they were not my opponents in the first place. If you were going to do it you should have done it long ago. More importantly as a servant of Ismail you are going a bit too far.”

Ismail clicked his tongue at Azadin’s words.

“If that’s what you want I the servant will follow suit but may I ask you something?”

“good night.”

“Why are you helping these people? Without any reward?”

“The Emperor’s messenger is the Emperor’s envoy who saves the people who are in dire straits. The Emperor’s gold coin is a device to institutionalize it but ultimately this is our correct form.”

“Yes. If the emperor had not died and we had continued to enjoy great power as his envoys why should we be responsible for the people whom we neither rule nor govern? Why should we be responsible for the obligation when there is no reward in the form of power?”

Ismail was asking that question with sincerity. Azadin laughed.

“Well… I understand.”

“Thank you for your understanding. Then the Shinwangjinseo….”

“No. That’s not what I’m saying. I understand why you’re acting like this. I see that the selection process for the messenger was really difficult.”

“yes?”

“You can only prove your worth as a member of the Herald Clan if you beat out your peers but it’s hard to win in competition so you’ve missed the opportunity to cultivate your character and have focused all your energy on mastering your skills. The villains who capture torture and feed people have destroyed so many human souls and this is all you can feel about it.”

“….”

Ismail felt ashamed by Azadin’s words. If he had simply criticized Ismail for being mean he would have laughed it off. But Azadin was secretly mocking Ismail.

‘You lack talent but you sold your character to somehow establish yourself within the clan.’

‘Are you saying that because you have no ability or talent you sold your humanity and that’s why you’re like this?’

Azaddin was criticizing Ismail like this:

“I don’t have a background as good as yours. I don’t have any elders who look down on me and I don’t have Aldis as my guardian.”

“Ismail!”

The listening Midiam stopped him. In any case the fact that the servant Ismail was talking back to the messenger Azadin was something that the Aragasa who had a strict hierarchy could not tolerate.

“Please forgive Azaddin. Ismail and I are still young and this is our first time experiencing something like this.”

Medium apologized on Ismail’s behalf but Azadin shook his head.

“There’s no need to apologize. I don’t want you to be a puppet who does what I command. I want to know your natural appearance and thoughts. If you don’t speak freely wouldn’t the conversation with you be meaningless? I just feel a little sorry and worried about the future of my clan. At an age when you should be very sensitive you act like a bastard and don’t even feel ashamed.”

“….”

“If you talk like a dog you’ll be treated like a dog but still speak freely what’s on your mind.”

“You’re not very mature either. Okay. Then I’ll cast some foresight.”

Ismail cast a foresight spell and sent an artificial spirit flying into the sky. But…

“uh?”

A black fog-like thing could be seen spreading out behind the forest.

“what….”

Ismail released his vision and looked at the forest with his naked eye. The sky was dark but he could see stars. So there was no way that black smoke would rise.

“Something is coming from behind!”

“…okay?”

Azadin caught his own goat and rode it.

“I can’t help it. I’ll just take a quick look around the rear.”

“You should rest too right?”

“I’ll take a quick look around and come back. You guys stay here and guard the people.”

Azadin turned around and headed back.