The Shadowed Legacy of the Soulless Messenger

Salem, the district head of Salasma, brought up the Count’s new guest. They were a strange witch who had been aiding him in the search for copies of the Grimoire of the Heavenly Kings.

‘A strange witch huh… come to think of it, Baroness Nort is sort of a witch… isn’t she?

But that didn’t explain her kidnapping by Mezerry’s followers. Not even Azadine could see anything impure on or around Baroness Nort’s body with his ‘vision’.

Azadine was born without eyes. He couldn’t use magic as the Grimoire of Beauties of Nature- Flower, Bird, Wind, Moon within him was in tatters. Instead, he possessed potent resistance to black magic and a transcendent vision. This transcendent vision allowed him to see and sense supernatural forces anywhere without anyone’s knowledge. Until now, no demon had been able to fool his vision.

In the middle of his internal debate about his suspicions, a horse arrived at the manor’s entrance as Baroness Nort returned.

“Ah, Mr. Azadine.”

Baroness Nort noticed Azadine and his party chatting in the garden and that a section of the garden was tainted with blood.

“What’s this?”

“A cat caught a bird.”

“I-Is that so?”

“More importantly, did you meet the Count?”

“No. Apparently, he wouldn’t be seeing anyone.”

“Didn’t he call you to hear about your well-being and the kidnapping due to concern?”

“No, I was told to report to the Housekeeper, the head maid.”

This was a humiliation to a person of the nobility. That was not to say that a housekeeper was a commoner of low rank. Lower-ranked nobility chose to temporarily employ their daughters in such positions as part of their education.

Nonetheless, the treatment was insulting to Baroness Nort as she was the Count’s lover.

“They say an army of ogres and goblins is on the move in the eastern hinterlands. Refugees from the east are swarming in.”

“Hmm.”

It seemed that Azadine’s earlier encounter with the Tooth King and the ogres had simply been the presence of advance guards. If more of them came, it was now time for Count Casel to fulfill his responsibilities as a military commander at the border.

‘Given the situation, does that mean they’re still maniacally obsessed over the search for the Grimoire of Heavenly Kings?’

Azadine sighed and pulled out the bone wand.

“Baroness, can you use this magical tool by any chance?”

“Huh? Me?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm, this looks like a creation made by the followers of the Kurt Gods, perhaps the Tooth King or the King of Nails or Horns?”

“Why are the Kurt Gods seeking copies of the Grimoire of Heavenly Kings?”

“The Yaegas Gods’ thrones and the virtuous Light of the Crown would send them into agony. In fact, the powers of the Mezerry’s kin you witnessed yesterday were not their full potential. They’re faster and stronger in the outside world, away from the reach of the Light of the Crown.”

In the grand scheme of things, the Light of the Crown did serve to limit the movement of evil creatures. However, the Kurt Clan could combat the Light of the Crown by using the Grimoire of the Heavenly Kings. This would result in humanity losing its territory and allow the Kurt Clan to reign over all of Hubris.

That was probably their ultimate aim.

Even if it was not, it would still be understandable for followers of the Kurt Clan to covet such a powerful Grimoire.

‘I mean, I managed to acquire three copies, but I still don’t have the slightest idea on how to use them.’

Azadine once again felt the pain of being unable to use magic.

‘Arael’s Voice. Damn it, that thing was amazing.’

Just a glimpse of Arael’s creation, an artificial spirit resembling the Emperor’s Voice despite the traces of black magic, chilled Azadine’s blood.

Even the Arael of his childhood could defeat him in his present state. Just how much had she grown since then?

“By the way, Mr. Azadine, have you eaten?”

“Oh, I had a light meal.”

“Th-then, would you like some refreshing tea? Some very good tea leaves just happened to come in. The garden is sullied, so let’s meet in my hobby room. I can try using the wand there as well.”

“Um… okay.”

Azadine, who had no reason to refuse, accepted her gesture of goodwill.

The Baroness’s hobby room was an airy terrace on the second floor. While it was likely an area that had been intended for swordsmanship and physical training, her maids had transformed it into an exquisite sitting room adorned with flowers and a table setup.

The Baroness received Azadine in that room while wearing a new dress.

‘Um?’

The Baroness’s intense gaze flustered Azadine.

‘It’s not what I think, right?’

The Baroness smiled at him, and he took a seat.

“Mr. Azadine.”

She received him with a smiling face.

“Have you faced any troubles during your stay?”

“No. Thanks to your ladyship’s thoughtfulness, my stay has been nothing short of comfortable.”

“I’m glad to hear that. I apologize for the modest preparations, my Savior.”

“Oh, no. More importantly, the wand….”

“Yes. Well, I apologize for any trick you may find embarrassing in advance. Please don’t blame me too much if I fail.”

Having said this, the Baroness used the wand. A green flame burst forth from the tip of the bony wand, moving toward one direction before fading out.

Another flame appeared from the wand and traveled in the same direction before dying out once more.

‘The flame probably shows the direction, and the distance between its burning and extinguishing point symbolizes the real-world distance.’

The longer these flames stay ablaze, the greater the distance, probably.

Azadine quickly understood the magical foundation of the bone wand, but….

“This direction is….”

“Yes, the Count’s castle.”

“I see.”

It seemed that the Count already possessed a few copies of the Grimoire of the Heavenly Kings.

No wonder he sent his children out to search for the Grimoire. He would only know of its existence after possessing a few copies of the Grimoire.

“So you’re looking for the copy of the Grimoire of the Heavenly Kings, Savior.”

“Yes.”

“If you don’t mind, may I ask why?”

“Well, it’s….”

He wondered if he should tell her about this.

“Is it because of the Messenger Clan’s quest? After all, it is said that the Messenger Clan was responsible for leaking the copy of the Grimoire of the Heavenly Kings in the first place. Apparently, Lord Astadair offered the Grimoire of the Heavenly Kings to the Messenger Clan in exchange for support during the war for the throne of Tarasar and, in return, became King of Tarasar. When this truth became known, the humiliation was intolerable for him, so he abdicated the throne, becoming a Judge of the King’s Church. Of course, both were equally responsible for the leak of the Grimoire.”

“You are a well-educated person.”

“Countless stories go in and out of the palaces of the nobles. Holding back on the drinks and picking up a few of the stories can be quite worthwhile.”

She flicked a gaze full of reminiscence towards the Count’s castle.

“Though a proper welcome into that palace seems like a distant memory now.”

“About the Count….”

“I haven’t spoken to him in years. After all, we weren’t even a properly married couple in the first place.”

“I see.”

“Savior, are you married by any chance?”

“No.”

“You seem to be of the right age to be married. How come you’re not?”

“It’s because my face looks like this.”

He pulled off his mask to reveal his scars.

“Uh, your eyes… Are they okay? Wait, but….”

“I’m not blind. I guess I just showed you something hard to look at.”

He placed the mask back on, but the Baroness shook her head.

“Not really. You’re very beautiful and have a graceful, elegant bearing.”

“…….”

Azadine felt some embarrassment upon feeling the Baroness’ affection-filed gaze on him. However, he quickly returned to his senses as his main priority was getting information on the Count. He was sure that the Count possessed copies of the Grimoire of the Heavenly Kings, so what would be the best ways to get his hands on them? He needed to get a solution.

Then there was Arael. Arael’s voice had already approached him, so soon, her emissaries would be coming for him. He needed to prepare for that too.

“Uh… let’s say the Count has a copy of the Grimoire of Heavenly Kings. Do you have any idea about where he would secure it?”

“Hmm. Well… these days, I can’t be sure either. The Count has recently been head over heels for a strange woman of unknown rank. Rumor has it she’s a witch from the jungles of Vthuma.”

“A real witch?”

“Yes. In fact, I was actually thinking of putting this manor up for sale as well. I planned on marrying someone and leaving this place for a small manor in the Barony of Nort with my new husband but-”

Any fondness there was now gone, so she had no reason to try and vainly push her way into the Count’s Court. She wished to reclaim her life.

Saying so, she smiled.

“But Savior, for your sake, I’ll do whatever it takes, crooked as it may be.”

The Count’s court had no place in her heart anymore, but if Azadine wished for it, she would help him investigate.

That was what she meant.

“Ah, I see. Thank you very much.”

“So, speaking of which… would you ever consider marrying me?”

“Huuhh?!”

Azadine let out an expression of surprise.

“This is embarrassing for me to say, but I’ve been smitten with you ever since you defeated the followers of Mezerry. Now that chivalry is dead and a mockery of what it used to be, I swear I’ve only seen someone as beautiful and noble as you in the old tales.”

“Ah… Yo-your Ladyship?”

The Baroness’s sudden proposal threw him off balance. Just then, someone dashed into the hobby room. It was Mediam.

“Azadine!”

“Oh, what is it?”

“A follower of Arael is here to see you!”

“Arael’s follower? What is this about now?”

Caught off-balance, Azadine stood up before glancing back at the Baroness. He needed to properly respond to her proposal.

“I’m sorry. I have a crush on someone, so it’s a bit….”

“Oh, I see. I must say I’m envious, Savior. For someone to be cherished by a person like you.”

Mediam shrugged at the Baroness’s words.

“Envious of me, aren’t you?”

“… it’s not you. Are you just meddling without knowing what this is about?”

After suffering through the consequences of Mediam’s outrageous behavior once more, Azadine faced another laughable reality. Derek, an executive of the Korasar Peddlers Guild, and his entourage stood in front of him, claiming to be followers of Arael.

“Uhm mmhm, we meet again, Azadine.”

Derek was ashamed. He was an executive of the Korasar Peddlers Guild, a former messenger, and a noble under the Savan Family, one of the five founding families of the Messenger Clan. It was only natural for someone like him to be ashamed to see Azadine now that he was standing by the side of the traitor, Arael.

“Derek, are you a follower of Arael? At our last meeting, I didn’t see any hint of that. Are your acting skills just that remarkable?”

“Well… it didn’t start like that.”

“Are you a recent defector?”

“Defection is an extreme word. Arael is the one who shall fulfill our clan’s wishes. An Angel of Justice, just like her name.”

“Didn’t that very Angel of Justice break your ankle after your pestering? After all, that’s why you retired, isn’t it?”

Arael was an unparalleled beauty with black hair and violet eyes, and every man her age harbored a desire for her. Everyone but Azadine, who was her blood brother.

Obviously, Derek was no different, and by clinging onto her, he got his feelings hurt. Those hurt feelings triggered a clash of arms. Arael emerged as the victor, leaving him permanently maimed and forcing him to retire as a messenger.

No normal man with pride could betray his clan and subordinate himself to the woman who beat him into retirement.