Chapter 197. Golden King (3)
The Emperor was a true Yaegas Divine Clan, born after a long time. Yet, though he possessed immense power, he was an iron-blooded ruler who sought to realize ideals close to madness.
The Emperor began to execute and purge royals who were unworthy of the throne, and for that, he employed the Herald Clan.
However, when his purges became excessive, the Herald Clan, unable to endure any longer, assassinated the Emperor.
***
“…That is the surface excuse, but in truth, there are rumors that it was because the illegitimate child born between them and the Emperor was of the Yaegas Divine Clan. Some argue it was their conspiracy to assassinate the Emperor and enthrone the Emperor’s child as the new sovereign.”
Azadin was shocked at Manza-Zadek’s words.
Was this the secret of the Yaegas Divine Clan? And the hidden truth behind the assassination of the Emperor?
“This is the reason the light of king’s virtue grows dim, and also the reason you assassinated the Emperor. And it is also the reason I am here upon the throne, indulging in the pleasures of the flesh.”
By nature, Manza-Zadek was, as his name implied, the Golden King, a mighty mage and warrior.
He embarked upon a campaign of conquest against the ogres of the north to exalt the glory of Bruma, and repelling nagas and ogres alike, he fought one hundred expeditions without a single defeat, winning great victories, and under his reign Bruma’s wealth became all the more solidified.
Yet, while delving into magic, he encountered the records of his ancestors, and through the Book of Divine King slumbering within the Quartz Throne, and through the link with the Yaegas Divine Clan, he came to know the truth.
The gods had abandoned this world, and all that remained here were their forsaken children, the royals, and the natives who had been ravaged by the power of the Kurt Divine Clan and the Nether in the past.
“And so I indulged in the pleasures of the flesh. People claim I abandoned glory and fell into corruption of pleasure, but this alone is my prayer.”
The once beautiful and noble figure of the portrait writhed as a hideous mass of flesh upon the throne.
“Our ancestors, Yaegas Divine Clan, here is the pleasure of the flesh. When you return once again to rule, all of this shall be yours, so please deliver us salvation!”
Was that prayer, and yearning?
Azadin, though meeting Manza-Zadek for the very first time, felt his heart ache.
Before despair too great for one soul to bear, he had fallen, that was the Golden King, Manza-Zadek.
“Forgive my impudence, Your Majesty. But to my eyes, it seems Your Majesty is suffering.”
“Haha. What nonsense. This sort of pain, look.”
At Manza-Zadek’s gesture, a concubine brought him a pipe and placed it in his hand. He inhaled deeply and exhaled, and a sweet fragrance spread into the air. It was opium.
“Pain disappears swiftly, leaving only pleasure behind. Fufufu. What say you?”
“……”
To offer opium as the answer to suffering?
But instead of anger, pity took precedence.
Manza-Zadek, the Golden King. Ruler of Bruma, wealthiest of the Eight Kingdoms, and descendant of the revered Yaegas Divine Clan.
But in truth, he was so steeped in despair that he could not live a single day without numbing his mind with indulgence.
And he extended his hand to Azadin.
“Whatever you believe in, it is hollow. A lie. The only truth is the pleasure of this moment, so follow me, and I shall grant you all manner of delights.”
“If I serve Your Majesty, what shall be my duty? What do you desire from me, that you grant me such an honored position?”
“To guard the wealth of Bruma. Only by safeguarding the riches and treasures of this land can we maintain the pleasures of the flesh, and by preserving that pleasure, surely one day our ancestors will once again look upon us.”
To continue the cycle of pleasure upon the Quartz Throne, praying for the gods’ return?
“Forgive me, but….”
Azadin spoke with sorrow.
“Even if you smoke opium and erase the pain of your body, to my eyes, Your Majesty still appears tormented.”
“Tsk.”
Manza-Zadek clicked his tongue.
“Yes. I admit it. I suffer. As a descendant of the Yaegas Divine Clan, I was proud of my bloodline. I fought one hundred campaigns against the ogres without defeat to protect my people, and I governed diligently, bringing prosperity. But… the gods abandoned us. For this world had no worth, and so the gods forsook us. And thus, what remains….”
Manza-Zadek once more inhaled the opium deeply. Then, exhaling smoke like a dragon breathing fire, he groaned.
“The only truth left is the pleasure that remains in this body.”
“Then forgive a foolish question, but what are the Book of Divine King, and its copies?”
Azadin brought forth the copies of the Book of Divine King he had collected so far.
“You have gathered quite a lot. The Book of Divine King is the code of how the light of king’s virtue operates in this world. It is the most powerful grimoire, the very principle by which the light of king’s virtue, inherited from the world of Yaegas, acts upon our realm. If one understands it, alters it, and re-inscribes it into the throne, then the rules of king’s virtue will change.”
“Is that so? Then….”
“The reason copies of the Book of Divine King are appearing across the world is said to be because some mishap caused leakage from your Herald Clan, is it not? But I think otherwise. If the Herald Clan, working in secret, seized the throne of Korasar, then your chief must already have completed the interpretation of the Book of Divine King and rewritten it as he desired. That is why they endured in silence all this time, only now moving to seize the thrones.”
“You believe the interpretation of the Book of Divine King has already been completed?”
“Yes. That is why your Herald Clan will seize the thrones and inscribe a new Book of Divine King upon them. By doing so, you will monopolize the light of king’s virtue. Then, the people of Hubris, who until now scorned you, will come to serve you as new royals and nobles, and will fear you. Surely, that must be the aim.”
Manza-Zadek’s words were astonishing. He had grasped with frightening accuracy the ambition of the Herald Clan.
The king’s church believing in the light of king’s virtue, that the way it is bestowed could be altered so the Herald Clan might rule over the entire Hubris continent?
“But now, it is meaningless. The light of king’s virtue brought by this Quartz Throne, and the power of the Book of Divine King, are indeed a mighty force for one man to wield, but since the Yaegas Divine Clan abandoned this world, it is nothing but embers flickering in a heap of charcoal. Perhaps by seizing it you may gain a little warmth, but with darkness fast approaching, what use is it?”
At that moment, suddenly, the bell in the palace belfry began to ring. Not only that, but the other belfries also tolled in unison, and soon, lightning flashed outside the windows.
And from the sea, a strong wind began to surge inland.
“Your Majesty!”
Armed warriors burst into the audience chamber.
“A storm is rolling in from the sea!”
“The nagas’ assault will begin.”
“So it begins. Then Azadin, you said you wished to lend your strength to the defense of this city?”
“Yes.”
“Then take my golden decree.”
Manza-Zadek pulled the ring from his finger and tossed it to Azadin. For an ordinary man it was far too large for a ring, thick enough to fit three fingers, and for a slender-armed woman it could well serve as a bracelet.
“I hereby appoint you as the King’s Knight, the Golden Decree Envoy. Do your utmost in the defense of Bruma.”
“I am forever indebted to Your Majesty’s grace. I shall gladly bear this duty.”
Azadin accepted the rank of Golden Decree Envoy bestowed by Manza-Zadek, and rose to his feet.
The storm was coming.
***
“Captain! How was the audience?”
Scott was waiting for Azadin outside the chamber. Was it his admiration for the Golden King? His eyes shone with passion.
“It went well. The king granted me knighthood and the title of Golden Decree Envoy.”
“Really? You don’t look all that pleased though.”
Azadin wore a mask, yet somehow Scott could still read his expression—and indeed it was true.
Azadin was troubled.
The fact that the Emperor had been assassinated by Aragasa, and that the Aragasa had been preparing to usurp this world since long ago, weighed heavily on him.
‘When I think back on my childhood, apart from Kazas and Aldis, no one of my own kin treated me warmly. But Aragasa are shunned in this continent as soulless heretics, so if even my own kin cannot be trusted, how am I to live?’
No matter how steadfast Azadin’s heart might be, the words of Manza-Zadek left his head and heart in turmoil. But there was no time to brood alone.
“The naga army is coming with the tidal wave. So what now? That title of Golden Decree Envoy, is it useful? How are we going to defend the city?”
Shati asked Azadin. She wondered if such a title or hollow office could truly be of any use at such a time.
“Manza-Zadek’s defenses are impressive. Truly befitting the name Golden King. He even demolished houses in key positions to create the refuge area, his troops are solid, and the Blue Sky Order will also aid in defending the city. The real danger is assassination.”
While the regular army assaults, key commanders or the king himself are assassinated.
That was the way of the Herald Clan, the way of Aragasa. Azadin, trained as an Aragasa, knew well their methods.
The defenses of the Golden King, Manza-Zadek, were far better than expected. Decadent tyrants lost in indulgence usually let their rule grow lax, because for them, pleasure itself was the end.
But Manza-Zadek was unusual. For him, indulgence was a means—a prayer to draw the attention of the gods. The more he indulged, the more he suffered.
Pleasures others would desperately crave, he regarded as writhing agony and despair.
Thus, he still possessed the insight and wisdom worthy of the name Golden King.
Therefore, what the Aragasa would target was assassination of the king.
Azadin resolved to join the royal guard to strengthen the king’s protection.
“So what will you do? I don’t even know what sort of office this Golden Decree Envoy is.”
“Let’s find out.”
Azadin turned to a page in the waiting room outside the audience chamber, who was watering plants.
“Hey. I want to join the king’s guard detail. Who should I speak to?”
“Hu-uhk?”
The boy started, stumbled back, then dropped to the floor prostrate.
“I greet the Golden Decree Envoy!”
“……”
It seemed the office Manza-Zadek had bestowed held far greater value than Azadin had imagined.
Sure enough, a sharp voice rang out behind him.
“You there, newcomer. You said you wish to join the king’s guard? I am the captain of the royal guard, Karcen.”
A middle-aged woman with brown skin strode forward. She had a Moon Horn Bow strapped to her thigh, and by the look of her, she was likely of the Herald Clan recruited by Manza-Zadek.
“Karcen?”
“Yes. And you are Azadin of the Eyeless, famed for being a dullard.”
“You are….”
‘Who is she?’
Such a question swirled in Azadin’s throat.
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