Episode 98

“Kodanus! Maximum output of Summer Mirage!”

“Yes!”

Kodanus enchanted an arrow with magic and fired it toward the fortress wall they planned to infiltrate. The arrow struck the wall, and the Flowers, Birds, Wind, and Moon magic activated, unleashing a brief wave of warm air.

Nema, maintaining the reconnaissance spell, nodded.

“Two sentries on the watchtower have fallen asleep.”

The Flowers, Birds, Wind, and Moon spell, Summer Mirage, carried a warm and lethargic force that caused the sentries on the upper levels of the fortress to fall asleep. Exhausted from fatigue, they succumbed to the heat as though suffocating on a hot summer day, unaware they were losing consciousness.

“Hmm…”

Kodanus appeared momentarily strained, having used a significant amount of magical energy.

“Well done, Kodanus. Now, Kodanus and Nema, stay here and follow Kahsan’s instructions. The rest of us will climb!”

Nefti swiftly darted through the trenches and reached the base of the fortress. Yarabin followed close behind, leaping onto the fortress wall and gripping the gaps between the bricks. He began climbing as if he were running on flat ground.

The fortress wall featured protruding windows designed to hinder climbers and allow defenders to fire arrows and stones at attackers below. Yarabin effortlessly grabbed the edges of these windows and leapt across them with just his hands.

Nefti and Yarabin avoided these narrow windows, which were too small for a person to enter, and continued scaling the wall.

When they finally reached the top of the wall, they were greeted by a group awaiting them—holy knights of the King’s Church clad in armor and wielding swords, Azadine, and his two attendants.

“You were expecting us? Even after putting the sentries to sleep and using reconnaissance spells, how did you know?”

“It’s the magic of the King’s Church. Unified Will. It allowed us to know when the sentries fell asleep.”

Zebec had cast the Unified Will spell on the sentries, ensuring he would be alerted if they were killed or rendered unconscious. He had stationed them in the watchtower and arrow slits accordingly.

“Impressive. How did you manage to win over a holy knight?”

Nefti sounded genuinely impressed. Most holy knights of the King’s Church were greedy remnants of nobles who had failed to secure succession rights. While some younger knights remained untainted by the world, Zebec had dark circles under his eyes and an aura of gloom, making him appear older than he was.

“When your cause is noble, allies naturally follow.”

Hearing this, Yarabin stepped forward in front of Azadine, glaring and jutting out his chin in defiance.

“Hey, you eyeless freak Azadine! You call your cause noble? Interfering with Lord Arael’s grand vision and then having the gall to brag about yourself? How shameless!”

“Who are you? You’re not a Messenger, are you? An attendant?”

“…”

“A servant.”

Ismail’s comment caused Mediam to let out a stifled laugh.

“A servant daring to pick a fight with a Messenger…”

“Sh-shut up, brat! I may be a servant, but my skills rival those of a Messenger!”

“…”

“Pfft! Did you hear that, Ismail? Isn’t that the same excuse people who fail to become Messengers always give? If he was really that skilled, he’d at least be an attendant. Wow, I’ve never heard anyone say that so brazenly!”

“You insolent little…”

Yarabin’s face turned red with embarrassment as Mediam openly mocked him. Though he believed he had become a servant to support his impoverished family, to others, it sounded like a typical excuse. Being called out on it by a young girl left him flustered and humiliated.

“That’s enough. Yarabin, step back.”

Nefti dismissed Yarabin and stepped forward herself.

“When your cause is noble, allies naturally follow. That’s a fine sentiment, Azadine. And you, holy knight, are truly remarkable.”

“You honor me.”

Zebec gave Nefti a slight nod of acknowledgment. She smiled at him briefly before turning her attention to Azadine, Ismail, and Mediam.

“Azadine, let me share Lord Arael’s vision with you. Lord Arael seeks to create a nation for the Aragasa people.”

“A nation?”

“Yes. To cast off the Curse of Service and establish our own nation with our power! When that succeeds, the Hubris people will no longer dare to scorn us as soulless beings. It is because of Lord Arael’s noble vision that we follow her.”

“…!?”

“A nation?”

Mediam and Ismail were shocked to hear this, but Azadine remained unimpressed.

“That’s quite the grand story, but isn’t it just empty talk without a concrete plan? Even if you somehow nullify the Curse of Service, what about the Eight Kingdoms, who already view us as a threat?”

“There is a concrete plan. Azadine, the copies of the Heavenly King’s Book of Truth are that plan.”

“The Heavenly King’s Book of Truth?”

“Yes. By gathering them, we can lift the Curse of Service and secure a definitive advantage over the Yaegas God Tribe. You’ve noticed, haven’t you? The power of the Yaegas God Tribe has been waning recently. Even though kings and nobles claim to be descendants of gods, their blood is now diluted with too much human lineage.”

“Blasphemy!”

Zebec, listening nearby, protested vehemently.

“A holy knight would find such talk distasteful, wouldn’t they? But even Count Lantarique acknowledges it. The Light of the Crown is dimming. Even when a rightful king ascends to the throne, monsters roam the remote areas, and the dead rise from their graves to wander. The only one who can save this world is the goddess of the present age, Lord Arael, who was not born from humanity.”

“Lord Arael?”

Azadine was dumbfounded. To him, Arael was nothing more than a loathsome sibling. Yet Nefti, who outranked Arael, revered her as if she were a goddess.

Because of the Curse of Service, Azadine was labeled a cursed child, while Arael’s birth was considered extraordinary. The blatant favoritism was infuriating.

“So? Even if Arael possesses great power, why would she align with a scumbag like that Count, who slaughters innocent people?”

“Hahaha! What a naïve statement for a Messenger, Azadine. Your compassion for the Hubris people may be admirable during times of peace, but in war, destroying the enemy’s supply lines is paramount. If you spare those Hubris people out of pity, only for them to later oppose the nation we’re building, wouldn’t that be letting personal feelings ruin a greater cause?”

“So you intend to stir discord in this world and build a nation in the chaos? That’s delusional.”

“Delusional? How dare you call Lord Arael’s vision delusional?”

Yarabin, unable to hold back, snapped in anger.

“Azadine, you said that a noble cause attracts allies, didn’t you? While you dismiss Lord Arael’s vision as a delusion, it seems your attendants are more inclined to join our cause.”

“N-no! That’s absurd!”

Mediam denied it vehemently, but Ismail neither confirmed nor denied the statement.

‘A nation for the Aragasa… It might sound like nonsense without a plan, but seeing capable Messengers like Nefti siding with Arael suggests she might actually have the means to make it a reality.’

Just thinking about it made Azadine’s heart beat faster.

“How about it, Azadine? Isn’t Lord Arael’s vision of building a nation for the Aragasa noble? If you wish to become an ally, say the word. Lord Arael will gladly welcome you with open arms at any time.”

“Hahaha. That’s a very generous offer.”

Azadine burst into laughter.

“Indeed, if you’re an Aragasa, it’s a proposal that would stir your blood. And judging by how many people have sided with Arael, it seems there’s a definite plan and credibility beyond mere delusion.”

“Right?”

Nefti was delighted by Azadine’s acknowledgment of Arael’s vision.

“Azadine, you’re welcome to join us.”

Nefti extended her hand for a handshake.

‘He doesn’t seem like an incompetent fool living under Arael’s shadow, so he’ll surely be a great help.’

Nefti genuinely welcomed Azadine. However, Azadine shook his head.

“I appreciate the warm welcome, but I must decline.”

“What?”

“You bastard!”

Yarabin, who had been watching, burst out in anger.

“Aren’t you an Aragasa? When we’re talking about building a nation for our persecuted people, how can you not jump in with both feet and instead pick fights?”

“Now, calm down, calm down. No need to get so worked up. It’s not that I don’t sincerely want to join forces with you.”

“Then why?”

“But if I let myself be persuaded so easily, wouldn’t that be too convenient for Count Lantarique?”

“What? What does that even mean…?”

“Go and tell Count Lantarique this. If he can guarantee the safety of the civilians, he might have a shot at convincing me. Also, as Arael’s only blood relative, it’s impossible for him to fight or kill me. If he truly wants an alliance with Arael, sparing some civilians shouldn’t be such a big deal.”

As Azadine finished speaking, Zebec let out a laugh.

“That’s a reasonable argument.”

Zebec didn’t know much about the Messenger Clan or the Aragasa, but seeing Azadine’s attendants, Mediam and Ismail, react with unease to the talk of an Aragasa nation made it clear how much they desired it.

After all, weren’t they persecuted beings, dismissed as soulless heretics?

Even Azadine couldn’t deny being tempted. However, he persisted with his brazen stance.

Nefti let out a dry laugh.

“So, you’re telling us to conspire with you to force the Count into making concessions?”

“Exactly. Isn’t that a reasonable proposal? If the Count sees me as Arael’s kin, he’ll surely take my suggestion seriously.”

“Sorry, but that’s impossible. Such an absurd demand won’t work. Count Lantarique…”

“Needs to kill people recklessly to continue his black magic experiments, doesn’t he?”

Nefti flinched at Azadine’s remark.

“You…”

“This bastard!”

Yarabin and Nefti immediately realized that Azadine knew the truth and had deliberately brought it up.

“Nefti! He’s toying with us! He never intended to join Lord Arael’s cause from the start!”

“You’re leaving us no choice but to resort to force.”

Nefti drew her sword. However, Azadine did not unsheathe his weapon.

“Stop. I don’t want to kill you.”

“…What?”

“Are you out of your mind, Azadine? I know you’re injured. Do you really think your attendants will stand by you? Sure, you might have the support of this holy knight and the soldiers here, but even they must know they’re no match for us.”

Though the fortress was small, it housed about 20 soldiers. To Nefti, a Messenger, that number was no more than a group of scarecrows.

‘And she’s probably right.’

Zebec, having witnessed the power of the Messengers, knew their words were no exaggeration. He was confident in his own abilities, but after seeing Azadine’s strength, he knew he’d have to give his all even against just one Messenger.

But if the attendants were to defect?

‘Artificial spirits are flying above, and the murderous intent in the air is palpable. More Messengers could reinforce them at any moment.’

In such a situation, Azadine was audaciously saying, “I don’t want to kill you.”

‘What’s this man planning?’

Even Ismail was curious.