Night of the Soulless Heathens – 91



#91. The Tribe of Arael 1

“I have taught you everything I need to teach you.”

As the dazzling morning sunlight crossed the ridge of the atmosphere the Master turned his back on the light and spoke.

“But Kazas is destroying your body Azadin. I was mistaken. It is not suitable for humans.”

“You say it doesn’t fit?”

“Yes. Even if we elves get injured we will eventually recover from those injuries. Our joints and ligaments can completely regenerate so chronic diseases like arthritis and back pain that humans suffer from are just temporary injuries for us elves.”

“I envy that.”

“If you use the Kajas your body will be damaged and it will continue to accumulate. You will suffer in old age. When old age comes to you too.”

The master was worried about Azadin.

“Azadin what I have taught you may betray you.”

“No Master.”

Azadin shook his head.

“You can’t betray me with Kazas.”

He looked at his arm.

The power contained within.

This power alone given to him as a beggar of the messenger clan saved him. What saved him more than anything was the existence of a master who felt sorry for him.

“I have already been saved so this power cannot betray me. The only thing I fear is….”

*********

“Ugh…..”

Azadin opened his eyes. No he had no eyes so he became conscious and his ‘sight’ became active.

That morning a dazzling light like sunlight stimulated Azadin’s mind and woke him up. It was a pleasant stimulation.

Azadin raised his head and watched the morning sunlight caressing the earth.

“That’s cool.”

It’s the morning sunlight that I see every day and the scenery looks similar everywhere but every time I see the scenery memories come to mind so it seems even more beautiful.

Azadin woke up breathing to heal his wounds and clearing his mind with memories.

“You’re awake. Are you okay?”

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Jibek looked at Azadin with concern.

“Sir Jibek?”

Azadin recalled the night before when Lord Zibek had helped him. He remembered that he had been in danger when he had been hit by Jecht and had broken his ribs and had been stabbed in the chest by the Black Steel Sword.

But aren’t all those wounds healed?

“I washed the wound and applied ointment but if I move it will open again.”

When they first met Zibek looked at Azadin like some kind of scoundrel. From the perspective of the King’s Church the Herald Clan was an enemy that had to be killed on sight so it was natural.

But now Zibek’s attitude towards Azadin is only polite.

‘You saved my life so I guess I can act a little proud but you really are a serious person.’

Azadin thought so and showed his respect to Zibek.

“I’m sorry for causing trouble. But where am I?”

“This is the border between the County of Lantaric and the County of Salasma. Can you see the River Kora?”

“Ugh. Oh my it’s so gross. My bones are all shaking. Damn. Even though you pierced Jecht with an arrow he didn’t die. That was definitely over the line. He couldn’t even be called human anymore.”

“The Inquisitor and the Judgementor study black magic but they definitely crossed the line. Still it’s impressive that they were able to shoot an arrow at that Jecht.”

It’s amazing that you can hurt a strong person like Jecht. Jebeck was praising Azadin for that reason.

Judge Jecht is the pinnacle of the church. He was injured by Azadin who was only 108 years old.

“I fed him Heukgangjeon because he was letting his guard down.”

“Even so if Lord Jecht were a normal human you would have won.”

“….”

Shame crept over Azadin’s face. He felt utterly embarrassed that his words sounded like an excuse.

“But Sir Zibek can you then return to the church?”

“I have to prove that Lord Jecht used black magic to win the trial and prove my innocence but Lord Maya saw me rescue you and escape so if I go to trial he will be branded a traitor and be executed.”

“Uh um… I’m sorry about that.”

“It’s something I was prepared for. Rather I’m grateful that I was able to solidify my resolve through this opportunity.”

“Thank you?”

“Yes. I have felt for a long time that there was something strange about Lord Jecht. However because his position is high and his influence in the church is great I have not dared to confront him or join his command so I have been wandering around. Now that I have this opportunity to make up my mind I feel relieved.”

Zibek was originally taught by Zekt and respected him. Who could dislike his polite manners and elegant demeanor even though he was of royal blood and respected everyone?

However the Jecht Lord he met now was not the one he knew. He was merely a slave to a terrifying power who used black magic without any hesitation.

“Jekt said he was looking for a copy of the New King’s Book. The messenger clan is also looking for a copy of the New King’s Book… Is that right?”

“yes.”

“From the perspective of a church knight the mere fact that the New King’s Book was leaked is unbearable.”

“But as a member of the Herald Clan we cannot give up. We believe that this is the only way to lift the Emperor’s curse. It is our clan’s secret wish. We absolutely cannot give up. And we were the ones who leaked the Book of the New King.”

The two siblings Azadin and Arael who were born from the curse were deeply involved in the incident of leaking copies of the Book of the New King.

“But can we trust the Jeonryung clan? Even if we collect copies of the Divine King’s Book and lift the Emperor’s curse we will still have copies of the Divine King’s Book in our hands. When we gain that power will we be able to trust them?”

“No that’s not it. It wouldn’t end with just lifting the Emperor’s curse right? He’d definitely try to repay the persecution he’d suffered. I know this well because I’m an Aragasa but our clan has a strong desire for compensation.”

Azadin shook his head and then frowned. It hurt just to move his body a little.

“When you say that you seem to be better than me at least. When you become a member of an organization you can’t help but be dragged along by the logic of the organization’s interests. Even if you know that your organization isn’t perfect you rationalize that all organizations are like that and keep quiet about your vices and mistakes.”

“Don’t blame yourself too much. Most people do that.”

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“What about you? Not all of the Heralds are as honorable as you are. Azadin do you think you can speak out against the organization then?”

“It would be a lie if I said I was confident. It’s easy to see other people’s faults but it’s hard to see your own.”

However in Azadin’s case he was originally a heretic of the Herald Clan so he was better off than Zibek who was a trainee knight of Zect.

“Ugh it hurts.”

Azadin took out a needle and thread and tried to sew up the wound but every movement he made was met with excruciating pain. It seemed as if his ribs had been broken and cracked.

“I’ll do it for you. Is that okay? We don’t have any alcohol.”

Usually when stitching up a wound you drink poison to numb the body to the pain before stitching it up. However Azadin took a deep breath and stuck out the needle.

“It’s okay. Just do it.”

“All right.”

Zibek stitched up Azadin’s wounds and bandaged his body to protect his cracked ribs.

“Okay. I’m done.”

“Are you good at it?”

“They are called knights. It’s not like only the Salvation Knights have the talent to heal wounds. Hmm?”

Zibek turned his gaze toward the River Cora and frowned. Smoke was rising in the distance. Count Salasma’s domain was burning.

“It looks like a war is about to start.”

*********

Count Garnahair the Count of Lantaric once invaded the territory of Count Salasmaa but was defeated and barely managed to reconcile with him by giving his daughter in marriage to him.

But isn’t there a rumor going around that Count Kazel the Salasma Margrave has betrayed humanity gone astray and was eventually killed? Now is the perfect time to settle old grudges and satisfy your desires.

“It’s war.”

Azadin frowned as he watched the scene from the high ground.

“They say the thieves here are agents of Count Lantaric and judging by that they’ve been plotting this for a very long time. What should we do? It would be best to avoid them right?”

There is no benefit to getting involved with the military when a war is going on. This is especially true for Azadin who is currently in no condition to fight.

But then Azadin noticed something and frowned.

“Oh shit. I saw something I shouldn’t have seen.”

“What is it?”

“Kerim goat.”

“Is this a mountain goat? Smaller ones than this are often used by merchants.”

Zibek looked down from beside Azadin. The fortress with the burning flames looked small but how could he make out the mountain goats from here?

“It’s my servants’ goat. That’s for sure.”

It’s amazing how you can tell if a goat or a horse is on this street but how can you tell whose goat it is?

“I told them to protect the civilians so of course they would have gone to the nearby village. But… the war just started. I guess I should go help.”

“You won’t be able to fight in your current state. And isn’t your bow broken?”

“So can you help me?”

Azadin openly asked for help from Zibek.

“Haha. Are you talking to me a knight of the King’s Church whom you’ve only known for a short time? You’re really… so witty aren’t you?”

“I’ve only known you for a short time but that’s enough. There are people who can’t show their true value even after spending a lifetime together while there are people who can prove everything in a very short moment.”

“….”

“why?”

“That’s too much praise. Get on. Your goat is a bit hard to ride right now isn’t it?”

Jibek climbed onto his horse and extended his hand to Azadin.

*********

As Azadin had expected Midiam and Ismail arrived at the village to evacuate the refugees but were suddenly attacked by Count Lantarik’s army and had taken refuge in the fortress.

The garrison of the fortress was only about twenty men but the fortress walls were so well-built that even that number of men was enough to buy time. However…

“Now I know why those thieves killed people and ate their flesh.”

Medium shuddered at the horrific sight before his eyes.

It seemed that Count Lantaric’s army would not pass by without capturing this strategically located fortress.

Although the fortress has only a small number of troops it is a key strategic point that can threaten the bridgehead across the Kora River and Salasma is currently under the control of the King’s Church so it is impossible to quickly capture it so it is politically better to thoroughly devour the Kora River basin.

But here what Count Lantaric’s army chose was brutal massacre and execution.

They indiscriminately raided farms and fishing villages outside the fortress gathering people and as a result a long line of people were put forward as arrow shields in front of the fortress.

“Hit!”

At the orders of the soldiers behind them the peasants whose feet were tied with ropes and who could not escape began to hit the fortress gate with things like chisels and plows literally chipping away at it little by little.

Even the strongest fortress will eventually be breached if left alone. But that doesn’t mean we can kill the civilians who are the arrow shields.

“Oh what should I do?”

“Damn. That crazy guy. Isn’t Count Lantaric crazy?”

The fort soldiers and defense commanders were astonished at the madness of Count Lantaric’s offensive.

The smell of sweat from excited people the smell of blood and the sound of metal clashing with metal filled the front of the fortress even before the battle had begun. The pain had not yet arrived but the despair had reached its peak.

“Please step aside.”

Then a girl climbed up on the wall.

“Medium we….”

Ismail wanted to stop Medium.

The messenger clan is a persecuted group. There is no good in revealing their identity. Even if civilians are massacred here they have no reason to come forward.

But at some point Medium changed. After meeting that hateful man he started trying to protect the Hybrisians.

‘It is beautiful to protect the people.’

Because of one word from Azadin.

“Arrow!”

Midiam asked Ismail for an arrow and drew his bow from the wall.