The Golden King (3)

The emperor was a true Yaegas God tribe descendant, the first in a long while. But though he possessed great power, he was a ruler of iron and blood, determined to realize ideals bordering on madness.

He began purging and executing members of the royal family who he deemed unworthy of the throne, and employed the Messenger Clan to aid him.

But when his purges grew excessive, the Messenger Clan, unable to tolerate it any longer, assassinated the emperor.

“…That’s the official excuse, but there’s a rumor that the real reason was because the illegitimate child born between them and the emperor turned out to be a Yaegas God tribe member. Some believe it was their plot to kill the emperor and enthrone his child in his place.”

Azadine was shocked by Manza-Jadek’s words.

Could this be the secret of the Yaegas God tribe? The real reason behind the emperor’s assassination?

“This is precisely why the Light of the Crown is weakening—and why you all assassinated the emperor. It’s also why I now seek the pleasures of the flesh upon this throne.”

Originally, Manza-Jadek was, as his name implied, the Golden King—a powerful magician and warrior.

To glorify Vthuma, he led conquest campaigns against northern ogres. He repelled both Nagas and ogres across a hundred expeditions without suffering a single defeat, winning great victories. Under his reign, Vthuma’s prosperity grew even stronger.

But in the course of magical research, he came across the records of his ancestors and the Heavenly King’s Book of Truth sealed within the Quartz Throne. Through this, and through a connection to the Yaegas God tribe, he came to understand the truth.

The gods had abandoned this world. All that remained were their forsaken children—the royal line—and the natives ravaged by the Kurt God Clan and the powers of the Nether.

“So I gave myself over to physical pleasure. People say I’ve fallen into decadence and cast aside glory, but this—this is my prayer.”

The noble, majestic being in the portrait had become a grotesque lump of flesh, squirming atop the throne.

“O ancestors, O Yaegas God tribe—here lies the pleasure of the flesh! When you return, all of this shall be yours, so please, deliver us!”

Was that truly a prayer or a wish?

Though this was Azadine’s first meeting with Manza-Jadek, his heart ached.

The Golden King—once great—was now a man broken by despair too great for a single soul to bear.

“Forgive my impudence, Your Majesty. But I believe Your Majesty is suffering.”

“Haha. What nonsense is that? Look.”

At Manza-Jadek’s signal, a concubine brought him a long pipe. He took a drag, exhaled sweet-scented smoke—it was opium.

“This pain will soon fade, and only pleasure will remain. Heh heh. Well?”

“…….”

Was he really presenting opium as the answer to pain?

But instead of anger, Azadine felt pity.

Manza-Jadek, the Golden King. Ruler of the wealthiest of the Eight Kingdoms, Vthuma. Descendant of the revered Yaegas God tribe.

And yet, he had fallen into such despair that he couldn’t go a single day without numbing his mind with indulgence.

Then he held out a hand to Azadine.

“Whatever you believe in—it’s meaningless. False. The only truth is the pleasure of the present moment. Follow me, and I shall grant you every pleasure imaginable.”

“If I serve Your Majesty, what is my mission? What do you seek of me, that you would offer me such an honored position?”

“To protect the wealth of Vthuma. Only by preserving the wealth and treasure here can the pleasures of the flesh be sustained. And if those pleasures endure, then our ancestors will surely look upon us once again.”

So he would sit upon the Quartz Throne, repeating pleasure endlessly in hopes the gods might return?

“Forgive me…”

Azadine said sorrowfully.

“Even if the opium numbs the pain in your body, to me, it still seems Your Majesty is suffering.”

“Tch.”

Manza-Jadek clicked his tongue.

“Yes. I admit it. I am suffering. As a descendant of the Yaegas God tribe, I once took pride in my blood. I led a hundred campaigns against ogres to protect my people, never once defeated. I administered domestic affairs well and achieved prosperity. But… the gods abandoned us. Because we’re worthless, the gods gave up on us and left us behind. So now, all that’s left is…”

Manza-Jadek inhaled deeply from the pipe once more. Then, exhaling smoke like a dragon breathing fire, he groaned.

“The only truth left is the pleasure that remains in this body.”

“Then, though it may be a foolish question, what is the Heavenly King’s Book of Truth—and what of its copies?”

Azadine pulled out the collected copies he had gathered so far.

“You’ve gathered quite a lot. The Heavenly King’s Book of Truth is a set of doctrines explaining how the Light of the Crown operates in this world. It’s the most powerful magical tome—containing the very principles by which the Light of the Crown from Yaegas’ world affects our own. If you understand it, rewrite it, and re-inscribe it upon the throne, you can change how the Light of the Crown manifests.”

“Is that so? Then…”

“They say the copies of the Book started appearing all over the world after some accident among your Messenger Clan, yes? But I see it differently. If an undercover Messenger already seized Korasar’s throne, then your leader has already finished interpreting the Book and rewritten it to his liking. That’s why they’ve started claiming thrones now after biding their time.”

“You believe the interpretation is already complete?”

“Yes. Your Messenger Clan will take the thrones and inscribe a new version of the Heavenly King’s Book of Truth upon them. That way, you’ll monopolize the Light of the Crown. The people of Hubris—who’ve long looked down on you—will then revere you as new royals and nobles. That must be your goal.”

Manza-Jadek’s insight was stunning. He had seen through the ambitions of the Messenger Clan with uncanny precision.

To rewrite how the Light of the Crown was granted and use it to rule the entire Hubris Continent?

“But it’s meaningless now. The Light of the Crown from this Quartz Throne, and the Book’s power, may be immense for a single person—but after the Yaegas gods abandoned this world, it’s nothing more than dying embers in a charcoal heap. You might get a little warmth from it, but what good is that with darkness fast approaching?”

Then suddenly, a bell rang from the royal palace’s belfry. Not just one—bells from all towers rang in unison, and lightning flashed beyond the windows.

Strong winds began sweeping in from the sea.

“Your Majesty!”

Armed warriors burst into the audience chamber.

“A storm is coming from the sea!”

“The Naga are launching their attack!”

“It begins now, then. Azadine, didn’t you say you wished to aid in this city’s defense?”

“Yes.”

“Take my golden command.”

Manza-Jadek removed a ring from his finger and tossed it to Azadine. The ring was so thick it could fit three fingers of an average man, and on a slender woman’s arm, it might as well have been a bracelet.

“I hereby appoint you as the King’s Knight, bearer of the Golden Decree. Do your utmost to defend Vthuma.”

“I am eternally grateful. I shall carry out the duty with honor.”

Azadine accepted the title of Golden Envoy conferred by Manza-Jadek and rose to his feet.

A storm was approaching.

“Captain! How was the audience?”

Scott was waiting outside the audience chamber for Azadine. Perhaps out of admiration for the Golden King, his eyes gleamed with excitement.

“It went well. The king granted me knighthood and the title of Golden Envoy.”

“Really? You don’t look happy though.”

Though Azadine was wearing a mask, how Scott could read his expression was a mystery. Still, he was right.

Azadine was confused.

The revelation that the emperor had been assassinated by the Aragasa, and that the Aragasa had been planning to seize this world for a long time, weighed heavily on him.

‘When I think back to my childhood, aside from Kazas and Aldis, even my fellow tribesmen never treated me kindly. Yet the Aragasa are shunned across the continent as soulless heretics. If I can’t trust even my own people, then how am I supposed to go on living?’

Even Azadine’s firm resolve was shaken by Manza-Jadek’s words, which disturbed both his heart and mind. But he had no time to dwell in solitude.

“The Naga army is coming with a tidal wave. So, what now? Is that title of Golden Envoy going to be any use? How do you plan to defend the city?”

Shati asked Azadine. She was genuinely curious whether a knighthood or a ceremonial title would be of any help in this situation.

“Manza-Jadek’s defenses are solid. Honestly, worthy of the title of Golden King. He’s even demolished homes in key areas to create evacuation zones, his forces are well-prepared, and the Blue Turban Party is aiding the city’s defense. The real threat is assassination.”

While the regular army attacks, they aimed to assassinate key commanders or the king.

That was the method of the Messenger Clan—the Aragasa. Azadine, having trained as one, knew it well.

The Golden King Manza-Jadek’s preparations were better than expected. Tyrants who fall into pleasure and neglect governance usually do so because indulgence is their end goal.

But Manza-Jadek was unique—pleasure was merely his means.

To him, indulgence was a prayer to summon the gods’ attention. The more he indulged, the more he suffered.

What others might desperately desire, Manza-Jadek regarded as agony and despair.

In that sense, he still held the insight and wisdom worthy of his title, the Golden King.

Thus, what the Aragasa would target was clear: the assassination of the king.

To strengthen the king’s security, Azadine decided to join the royal guard.

“So, what are you going to do? I don’t even know what being a Golden Envoy entails.”

“I’ll find out.”

Azadine glanced toward an attendant watering plants outside the audience chamber.

“Hey. I’d like to join the king’s security detail—who do I speak to?”

“Ah!”

The startled attendant stepped back, then immediately dropped to the floor in a deep bow.

“I greet the Golden Envoy!”

“…….”

It seemed the title Manza-Jadek had granted was far more valuable than expected.

Sure enough, a sharp voice came from behind Azadine.

“You there, the new guy. You said you wanted to join the king’s security? I’m Karzen, captain of the royal guard.”

A middle-aged woman with brown skin approached. A Moon Horn Bow was strapped to her thigh. Judging by her appearance, she was likely a Messenger Clan member recruited by Manza-Jadek.

“Karzen?”

“Yeah. You must be Azadine the Disgraced. Famous for being a blockhead.”

“You are…”

‘Who is she?’

That question lingered in Azadine’s throat.