Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Temple of the Serpent 2
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King's Radiance.
The foundation of faith in the King's Church and the reason the Yaegras divine race is revered as divine kings.
When a rightful king ascends the Royal Throne, a barrier of white mana protects this land, driving away the dark monsters. Undead in particular melt away before the King's Radiance like snowmen hit by a summer heatwave.
"Heh heh. King's Radiance, you say. That assumes a rightful king sits upon it. The Yaegas divine blood has thinned, and their power has weakened. That's why I'll request Debislin's blessing in exchange for a copy of the Divine King Formation Scripture."
"Debislin's blessing?"
"The power of the Kurt divine race, the Cobra Queen, will push back the King's Radiance and help me claim Corasar's Royal Throne. It's thanks to your Herald Clan leaking a copy of the Divine King Formation Scripture that I can challenge for the throne once more."
"So you're trying to turn the world into one filled only with undead and nagas? You think that's beautiful? What you wanted was Corasar's Royal Throne. Even if all your subordinates are undead or nagas when you sit upon it, you'll be satisfied? Is that really what you wanted?"
Azadin asked out of pure curiosity. Perhaps that's why the count answered seriously.
"What's the point of a beautiful world if it isn't mine? As long as I can seize it with my own hands, I wouldn't care if every last Hybris citizen became an undead. If I can't have it, a beautiful world is nothing but repulsive."
"Ah... I see. So that's the kind of person you are."
Azadin clicked his tongue.
No persuading him. He was an enemy by necessity. No, if left alone, he was an absolute evil who would drag everyone around him into a pit of misery.
A power-hungry man.
In a way, just like Araelle.
'Araelle...'
Azadin felt the old wound from her throbbing.
*********
"I'll give you anything you want. Join me."
The moment Azadin opened Araelle's letter, he was sucked into a black space.
A pitch-dark space, where a woman stood alone with her back to the light. It was Araelle.
Her face was invisible due to the intense backlight. Or rather, she didn't want it to be seen.
Azadin's eyesight could pierce through darkness and backlight, so the fact that he couldn't see her face now must be her will.
"Long time no see, Araelle."
"Miss me?"
"Not at all."
Azadin touched his face. The old scar had torn open, blood flowing. It had never done this before, but in this space, his wound tore afresh as if just inflicted, bleeding anew.
"I didn't miss you."
"Is that all you have to say after ten years? Aren't you curious why I rebelled?"
"Not really. It's probably something like wanting the whole world in your grasp, or how the current Herald Clan has gone rotten."
"The Council of Elders and the Two Leaders are bewitched by the 'Nether.' You know that, right? You were deciphering the Nether's language with Elder Kazus."
"Yeah. I know."
The Herald Clan, Aragasa, had researched many spells in pursuit of liberation from the curse of service. Among them were forbidden black magics, including Nether magic.
But Nether magic was heart-black magic, so perilous that even approaching it was impossible for humans. Just uttering the Nether's language would shrivel a tongue.
Azadin, with his innate powerful mana resistance, had taken on the role of voicing the Nether's language for Kazus, and in return, Kazus taught him the Flower Bird Wind Moon Kazus Commentary.
"Good. This'll make things quick. Azadin, I need you. I'll give you anything you want."
"What do I want?"
"Don't you want revenge on the clan that looked down on you? Get revenge on them. Once my conquest is complete, I'll make every Aragasa your slave. You can torture and torment the men eternally, turn them into massive flesh-wall monsters to display on the ramparts of your castle. The women can all be your maids. Even Aldis."
"......!"
"Yeah. You've wanted Aldis since you were young, haven't you?"
"...You know nothing."
Azadin shook his head.
"I want her to be happy. And that's... not a dream achieved that way."
"You're talking nonsense, Azadin. Aldis loves Hatir, the Second Leader."
"......"
"You're just going to stand by and watch the thing you desire become someone else's?"
"If I try to take it, it'll be destroyed."
"So what? If it can't be mine, better to shatter it and keep the pieces."
"If you truly believe that, Araelle."
Azadin wiped the blood from his wound and glared.
"Then we're through. You're my enemy."
"...Looks like I have a foolish little brother to deal with."
"I'm the older brother."
"Hmph? That's just your claim."
Contrary to her words, Araelle smiled from within the backlight.
"Why try to persuade me now, Araelle? Because I can help with your Nether language research?"
"That's part of it, but Azadin, you and I are the only blood kin left in this world, aren't we?"
"You're saying that now?"
"Listen well. I'm going to seize everything in this world. But think about it—I have no attachment to fine food, clothes, grand castles, or beautiful lovers. What I truly want is power itself."
Indeed, she cared for nothing but power and authority. Kindly put, she had no greed for material things; cruelly put, she loved nothing.
The only thing that stirred her heart was power.
Authority alone.
"That doesn't mean I'll let treasures, slaves, kingdoms pass before my eyes. I'll claim all the money, glory, and honors. If not, I'll destroy them all. Anything that can't be mine has no right to exist."
No material desires, yet a lust to possess it all, and destroy what couldn't be hers.
Azadin let out a hollow laugh as he heard Araelle declare her fidelity to her own ambition, heedless of the harm to the world. It was the ravings of a roadside drunk.
The problem was that Araelle's power was akin to that of a living goddess. She had the strength to make her ravings reality.
"My foolish, loathsome followers will be useful until then. But sharing the glory I obtain with those vermin suddenly made me think of you. Better you, my blood kin, enjoy the riches than those repulsive things. Then my other followers will have to accept it. That our blood is noble."
"......"
Was this the thinking when egoism and narcissism reached their peak? In a way, it was admirable.
"You're my only blood kin, Azadin. I've decided to love you in my own way."
The very person who inflicted Azadin's deepest wound... declared she would love him.
But was that truly love? She didn't know how to love her own life, found no joy in possessing what others coveted. That's why she turned to Azadin.
Claiming to love him as kin would give meaning to sharing her gains. Just for that, she spoke of 'love'?
"I refuse. I don't need that kind of love. It's not love—it's mere decoration for your ambition. To become an ornament for your victory... "
Azadin brought his hand to the wound on his face.
"...I have my pride too!"
"I told you, Azadin."
Araelle rose from within the backlight.
"Anything that doesn't come into my hands has no need to exist. Even if it's you, my only blood kin!"
As the blood from Azadin's face dripped to the ground... he broke free of the letter's magic.
*********
Now, Count Kazel stood before Azadin. For him to spout the same nonsense as Araelle.
'Thinking befitting a power-seeker.'
Azadin recalled Araelle's letter trying to sway him, feeling the wound throb anew.
"Count, why waste time on that irreverent wretch?"
The nagas showed displeasure at the count's serious conversation with Azadin.
'Whether it's because I'm an Aragasa or standing on their idol, to even hear I'm irreverent from nagas...'
Azadin, overhearing, chuckled.
"I know you prided yourself on your Herald Clan slaves. But now, even without them, nothing can stop your army, Count."
For the count, defeating and enslaving the Herald Clan was a great boast. That's why he targeted Azadin, but now with mummy soldiers assembled... there was no need for Herald slaves.
"Right, right. Just crush them with force. But this one's amusing somehow. He feels different from ordinary Heralds."
The count sensed something heterogeneous about Azadin compared to other Heralds. That's why he wanted him.
"A desirable talent. Especially since he subdued those two Heralds without serious injury."
Count Kazel said, giving a wry smile.
"But you can't have everything. Now, raise the mummies."
"Yes."
The nagas began casting spells.
"That won't do."
Azadin pulled blood-soaked arrows from his quiver atop the idol. Arrows obtained from the previous Heralds, Harad and Kevna, which he loosed at the count.
The count tried to block with the invisible barrier that had stopped arrows before... but Azadin's arrows twisted mid-flight, spraying blood trails. A change hard to see normally, but the blood made it obvious as they spun.
"Hmm?!"
Azadin's arrows curved, targeting the nagas beside the count. The startled nagas leaped away like vipers, but the arrows raked their bellies and chests.
The tough naga scales prevented penetration, but the wounds were severe.
"Kyaaak!"
"Shaa!"
The enraged nagas began casting. Blood droplets rose from the idol toward Azadin, but he had seen this magic before.
-Shhhk!
Azadin hurled daggers, striking the rising droplets before they could spray blood at him. They burst like balloons, and he loosed more arrows.
"Damn it!"
"Curse that Herald!"
As everyone tensed and dodged, knowing Azadin's arrows curved freely to hit targets, the count charged into an arrow's path.
-Boom!
A spherical mana barrier formed before the count, detonating the arrow.
"You're tormenting my girls too much. I'll handle him—you wake the mummies."
"Yes!"
"Understood!"
As the nagas retreated to cast, blood from the underground passage gathered toward the mummies.
Drenched in blood, the mummies on the floor rose. Ghostfire flickered in their eyes, a horrific curse enveloping them.
"I can't let that happen!"
Azadin loosed arrows.