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"By the way, didn't you say that you were crippled by the long torture? How did you survive from Rosa?"
"Has your body changed in an instant, 12th flagbearer."
"I did experience heightened senses as my enlightenment grew."
"It's not just the aspect, it felt like being completely reborn."
"I have seen that before. Through the late Lord Ron."
"I experienced it myself the moment I decided to live for the lady. My body, which could do nothing without the blood of god Numerus, suddenly began to come to life. I could feel broken and dislocated bones mending, and damaged organs healing."
It was like when Ron faced Glyek and resurrected from death. Hedo went through a physical transformation.
"At that moment, I even questioned whether I had entered the same realm as Sir Chiron. Soon, I realized it was nothing more than an illusion, but I was more than capable of fighting right away."
"I guess you and Sandra protected each other that day."
"Having not fully adapted to the new realm and lacking a reliable sword technique, I was at a disadvantage, but luckily, Rosa was also exhausted from breaking into the experimental facility. Thanks to that, I held on until reinforcements arrived, and Rosa escaped gnashing her teeth."
Afterwards, Hedo naturally joined Zipfel.
There were only two things he requested from Kelliark. To retrieve his own sword obtained from the Black Sea and to be with Sandra.
Sandra gave Hedo something no one else could give him.
The meaning of living life. Something he had never received from the orphanage director, the first knight he killed, Chiron, Kelliark, or anyone else or anything else.
"So that's why you became the second-class butler."
"There was no better position for me. Since then, I have learned many things to serve the lady. Knowledge of etiquette, general knowledge, and culture. I started focusing on teaching the lady what she lacked the most. She was no different from a beast, so I felt the need to show her the way."
If it was for Sandra, Hedo mastered anything insanely fast.
Among them, the fastest thing he learned was the art of maneuvering within the clan. He realized early on that the clan sought his loyalty, but he also confirmed the presence of many skeptical individuals.
That's why he took on the role of a janitor. He mercilessly punished those who held positions with elements of incompetence, like this recent incident, and tidied up the influential factions within the clan that gained strength through unnecessary power struggles. He relied on overwhelming force.
Yet he never displayed excessive greed, so it was only natural that the leadership, including Kelliark, regarded him with satisfaction.
In an instant, Hedo became the hidden powerhouse of Zipfel. And even after becoming that force, there was no need for a change in his position.
However, the only reward he desired had yet to be fulfilled.
"To treat Sandra not as an experimental subject but as a human being, to grant her freedom. That's all I wished for from the clan. Although I have never openly demanded it after gaining power, the clan was well aware."
"Zipfel would never allow that. They would have believed that your loyalty would vanish the moment Sandra gained her freedom."
"It is true that the clan didn't want to loosen their grip, but it wasn't just about that. From my perspective, I also believed that the clan would be most helpful for the lady's safety. The long-standing grudges between the clan and Runcandel, the international situation, and the lady's unyielding peculiarities that never changed were the reasons. Can my lady lead an ordinary life outside the clan?"
Kelliark was waiting for the day when Hedo would pledge his true loyalty to the clan instead of Sandra.
"…I was using that fact to create a territory only for me and the lady within the clan, 12th flagbearer."
"From your point of view, it's because of me that you messed up...…."
There was a moment of silence, and Jin suddenly recalled Sandra from her previous life. In her previous life, she had engaged in a strategic marriage with a low-ranking noble of the Vermont family, far from Vermont.
Perhaps Sandra's marriage at that time was the result of Hedo's will finally bearing fruit.
With a hint of fear in his thoughts, Hedo spoke again.
"12th flagbearer, what I wanted to give my lady in return was a normal life. To have a normal personality, to socialize with others, and someday meet a suitable partner to spend her life with. If it weren't for you... I would have definitely accomplished that."
Jin didn't answer and met Hedo's eyes.
"But that was my desire, not the life my lady wanted... I'm only realizing that now."
Hedo pours the last remaining drink into his and Jin's cups.
"Tower Keeper, I have something I'm curious about."
"What is it?"
"Even after you seized power, it seems Zipfel hasn't stopped experimenting through Sandra, and you said that it was what Sandra wanted. In my opinion, that would have been a choice for your sake. I called you cowardly because I didn't know the circumstances, but I want to take it back."
"It's true that I was cowardly, so there's no need for that."
Of course, Sandra agreed to the experiment because she wanted to help Hedo. She believed that occasionally showing a submissive side would make Hedo less suspicious, and she also thought that if she gained a half-immortal body, it would reduce the chances of him falling into dire straits.
"The 12th flagbearer."
"Speak."
"To be honest, I'm still skeptical. Even if my lady and I become your family here, I wonder if it will truly be better than the relatively stable days we've had in the clan until now."
"What do you want to do then?"
"I'm not saying I want to return to the clan. Looking back, it was a life of constant escape. Life in the clan was ultimately a time that couldn't be called excellent for both me and the lady."
"I should change my question. How can I help?"
"One day, if it seems that there is no hope in Tikan, I will take my lady and leave without hesitation. Don't stand in my way."
"I swear. I won't only refrain from stopping you, but I won't seek revenge claiming that you and Sandra betrayed us."
"I'm not sure if I can trust your words."
"Now, am I not someone with that much weight in my words? And above all..."
Jin turned and looked at Sandra for a moment. Tikan had to become a better choice for her than marrying into nobility in her previous life. Even if she had married at that time, Zipfel would have still been present, and Sandra would have continued to be under surveillance and likely exploited for political gain.
Moreover, Sandra at that time didn't behave as crazily as she does now, so it could have been the result of mind manipulation.
Rather, Jin's principle was to make her more free.
"I feel a significant debt towards Sandra. She has helped me multiple times and saved my life. Dealing with Rosa right now is a priority, but my ultimate goal includes the destruction of Zipfel. Once they're gone, there will be no more threats to you and Sandra in this world."
"The time for us to leave may be sooner than the battle with evil god."
"I understand. Even if I become intimidated, it won't affect you. Losing power is painful, but I can only respect it. It's not like you belong to the category that submits to power."
Hedo's pine smoke went out, leaving behind a lingering fire.
"But I sincerely plan to prevent such a situation. I will help ensure that the long nightmare of you and Sandra comes to an end while you are in Tikan."
As Jin silently looked down at his cup, Hedo lifted his cup.
It was the first toast. Hedo and Sandra would now remain in Tikan.
"Suddenly, I recall the words you said not long ago."
-Maybe you're a descendant of a ten great knight named Bale. That's why the sword found you. It wasn't a coincidence.
The words Jin used to persuade Hedo.
Of course, Hedo is not a descendant of Bale. However, there were certainly many uncanny resemblances between Hedo and Bale's fate.
"I also thought about the stories of Bale when I talked with you. Although what he experienced was not as cruel as what you endured, just as you were reborn through Sandra, Bale also found meaning in his existence through Lady Sarah."
As if he had already heard of Hedo's past, Jin had already had some conversations with Bale.
Bale, like Hedo, was simply a monster of destruction until he met Sarah.
"That madman seems to have no concept of thought like I do, but I must admit that your words resonate. I still don't believe in fate, but I can't deny that your words have some truth."
Jin smiled.
"I want to believe that this is fate for the two of you."
Hedo shrugged and took out a new cigarette, lighting it.
"More importantly, the task you initially asked for has become a problem. Now that the lady and I have become traitors, we cannot help finding Yona Runcandel, your sister, in Akin."
"Well, that may be true, but since you and Bale are affiliated with Tikan, the situation has actually improved. The three of us, you, me, and Bale, infiltrating Akin and coordinating with the Nameless, should be able to apprehend elder sister Yona, who has gone on a rampage, without the help of Zipfel, in a stable and fast manner."
"You are telling me to infiltrate the clan's territory immediately after betraying them. You're really good at giving us difficult tasks."
"If it's burdensome, I can just take Bale with me."
"No, I'll go with you. While we're at it, we should secure your sister and leave a message for the clan."
"Thank you, Tower Keeper. Oh, and…"
Jin extended his hand for a handshake with Hedo. Hedo looked at the hand for a few seconds before reaching out and shaking it.
"From now on, I will use formal language and show proper etiquette. Please forgive the rudeness caused by the unique circumstances until now, Sir Hedo."
Hedo was pleased with Jin's words and replied.
"Well then, I'll speak comfortably, 12th flagbearer. I will be in your care in future."
Then, Hedo turned his head to the side pillar.
"And, please take good care of Miss Valeria. Let me tell you one thing...my lady has never been involved in anything related to Hister."
As Jin and Hedo entered the restaurant, Valeria revealed herself from behind the pillar.
Jin and Hedo knew from the beginning that she had been listening to their conversation, and Valeria knew the same, but they didn't show it to each other.
Valeria leaned against the railing for a while, gazing up at the sky.
692
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On May 6, 1803, they received a message from the Nameless stating that they had found traces of Yona.
Fortunately, Yona hadn't left Akin and was still at a considerable distance from the villages and cities.
Immediately upon receiving the message, Jin, along with Hedo, Bale, and Bianca Kaligo, and Ranke Halovice (who complained about why Bale was brought along so quickly), boarded the Red Owl.
"Jin... Runcandel...… Why do we...…."
There was a hint of bewilderment in Bianca's slow voice. Ranke, driven by fear of Jin, didn't shout angrily but had an extremely displeased expression on his face.
"Unfortunately, your Grand Duke made a deal with me. In exchange for allowing Orgal to meet Bale, Kinzelo promised to provide absolute protection for Sandra and Sir Hedo."
"Ah... Protection. But... we didn't say it would be absolute..."
"If you don't want to do it, you can turn back now. In return, our deal will be terminated."
"Ah… Ugh."
Frustrated, Bianca wrapped her head with her hands, and eventually, Ranke stood up abruptly and confronted Jin.
"Oh, come on! This is too much. Are we your slaves or something? If you want protection, at least have the decency to be obedient. Now you're even asking us to take responsibility for unnecessary risks?"
"Ranke Halovice, it seems like you haven't learned your lesson from last time. Seeing you speak so boldly, it's quite something."
"Arrogance! Although I may have been defeated by you once, I am the First young master of the esteemed Halovice, the ruler of the northern part of the demon world and its inhabitants, the master of the Tna Mountains and Karion Mountains! I may submit to power, but I will never forsake my dignity!"
"Is that so?"
"Ra, Ranke."
"This is clearly an excessive and unreasonable demand. Bianca Kaligo, stop stuttering like an idiot. This is a matter that concerns the honor of the Four Grand Dukes!"
"Honor...."
Alright, honor it is. You spoke well for once. If assisting me according to our agreement is so repugnant to you, how about this? Ranke, if it weren't for me, you would have met your end in the Kaldran Snowfield. Who was it that rescued you when you were lying there, exhausted and helpless?"
"It was you!"
"If you know, shut up and cooperate. It's an honorable task to aid a benefactor, isn't it?"
"Our benefactor froze to death, and the reason we went to Kaldran Snowfield is because of you!"
"That was necessary for the sake of the impending battle with Rosa. It wasn't just a personal matter, but a cause that required the collective effort of our temporary alliance. The same holds true now. Elder Sister Yona is known as a god among the assassins. It goes without saying that she would be a great help during the battle with Rosa."
"Don't nod your head as if you understand, Bianca. Fine, Jin Runcandel. If this is a matter concerning our temporary alliance, then why isn't Zipfel here? Is it too burdensome to summon that musclehead? Even though it's for a just cause?"
"Zipfel is providing a location. If you dislike it so much, you're free to leave. Go back and explain the situation to your leader, and they'll probably commend you for your wise decision. And in my opinion, you keep making a fuss not just because you dislike the task, but because you're afraid of elder sister Yona."
"What?"
"If you're facing an opponent who can kill you before you even realize it, it's natural to feel fear, right?"
"Hah, fine. Since you've humiliated me before, I must look quite foolish now, but today I'll prove you wrong. Remember that I won't tolerate your pranks after today."
"Great, great, that's excellent."
Ranke didn't back down due to his pride, and Bianca seemed to understand the reason she was brought along.
'They're so easy to manipulate.'
The demons were all so foolish that Hedo couldn't help but think that.
However, even with the unfortunate intelligence of individuals like Bianca and Ranke, they were revered in the demon world because they were overwhelmingly strong, surpassing that intelligence.
In any case, now that they had brought the strongest among the demons, Jin felt much lighter.
Jin, Hedo, Bale, Bianca, and Ranke, Owal and the top executioners of Nameless.
In truth, with a party of this caliber, there were few beings in the world that couldn't be dealt with. Aside from Chiron and the transformed Rosa, there was no one capable of facing them all alone.
The red owl swiftly transported them to the Akin Forest, as always.
"Have you arrived, 12th flagbearer? Quite a unique… and dependable combination."
Owal didn't know Bale's true identity or the reason for Kinzelo's presence. When Jin explained it to him, Owal nodded in satisfaction.
"Even if Yona became stronger through the energy of chaos, it should be fine."
If their objective was to kill Yona, Jin alone would have been sufficient, but subduing her required more than just his strength. She was not only powerful but also possessed special abilities.
Even from that perspective, the party led by Jin was more than enough.
"By the way, if the situation drags on, Zipfel will definitely come. Sir Hedo's betrayal might be a problem then, and Zipfel might intervene... Well, it doesn't matter. We can't afford to wage war with the people here right before the battle with Rosa. Especially since Kelliark isn't in great shape either."
"That's right, Lord Owal. I have already sent a message to Jiple regarding this situation. They should be arriving soon. It would be better for them to cooperate and help catch elder sister Yona before the territory suffers further damage. It may be unfair and frustrating, but that's how it is."
It was a statement that couldn't be made without a certain level of thick-skin. Furthermore, it required possessing enough power to withstand such forced circumstances.
Owal realized once again that Jin, right in front of him, had become a figure that could stand on par with the world's top players. In just a few years, Jin had become a true giant.
'Besides, he has risen a notch higher than when I saw him in the second castle of Hairan...….'
Owal looked at Bale.
"Did breaking another wall have something to do with meeting Sir Bale?"
"Bale had an influence, but it was because of Rosa. She is becoming complete at a faster pace than I am becoming stronger."
During the fight with Bale, Rosa only briefly glanced at Jin through Padler's eyes, but even that was enough for him to keenly feel her power. She was clearly surpassing Orgal's predictions.
"...It's a dreadful story. That's why even the enemies of a thousand years are joining forces."
Owal pointed to the forest spread out in the distance.
"Yona is currently somewhere in that forest. There have been several clashes, but she hasn't been able to break through the encirclement. Or... I have a feeling that she was waiting for the best opportunity to kill us all at once. Instead of getting tired after each clash, her senses have become sharper."
In the last battle, both Owal and Bizen encountered Yona simultaneously, and with a single strike, Yona nearly killed Bizen.
"In that case, we should set the entire forest on fire to find her."
Bale suggested.
"Bale, if we do that, it will inevitably lead to civilian casualties. Have you forgotten Lady Sandra's orders?"
When Hedo responded, Bale narrowed his eyes as if annoyed. He wanted to shout at Hedo to shut up and let him handle it, but Sandra's orders included instructions to obey Hedo as well.
"It would be better if only me, Sir Hedo, and Lord Owal went into the search. The rest of the team should wait at key points in the encirclement. When the signal flare is launched, immediately enter the designated locations. If there are signs that elder sister Yona knows we have entered and is attempting to escape, Bale can pursue her."
As Bale released his power, rings formed above his head and wings appeared on his back, and a golden aura overflowed. He could fly faster than any bird.
"My thoughts align with that. In any case, the assassins in the siege also have a signal, so it will be easy to join either way. And Sir Bale... it would be great if you could fulfill your role as a communication network. With your overwhelming mobility, it would be helpful."
"Hah, are you ordering me around?"
"Bale, just follow quietly. Do I always have to repeat myself?"
"Tch!"
With that, the group dispersed, and Jin, Hedo, and Owal entered the forest.
Unlike the others, Jin immediately sensed faint traces of Yona's chaos scattered throughout the forest.
"The remaining energy of chaos is too weak and disoriented, but if I read it carefully, I think I will be able to find elder sister Yona."
"Are you saying you can feel it?"
"Yes, my sensitivity to chaos has increased strangely over time, making this possible, Lord Owal. I can deduce the approximate route, so please advise me whenever I find it difficult to make judgments."
As they started the search in earnest, Jin struggled to keep his mind from becoming overwhelmed.
If Yona was already in an irreversible situation, capturing her and bringing her back would be futile.
'No, my sister will endure and overcome. The fact that she has not killed any civilians so far is evidence of her resistance. If we don't miss this opportunity, elder sister Yona will definitely return...'
After a few hours of searching, Jin suddenly stopped walking and looked around in confusion. His face clearly showed a bewildered expression.
"Is something wrong, 12th flagbearer?"
"... Lord Owal, the types of chaos have suddenly increased."
"What?"
"It means that elder sister Yona is not the only one using the energy of chaos in this forest right now."
"No way. The encirclement has been maintained ever since I met you in the second castle of Hairan."
"Is it possible that someone breached the encirclement and entered the forest? Or perhaps there were chaos users other than elder sister Yona from the beginning."
The former is completely impossible. With me and the top executioners included in the encirclement, it would be impossible to breach it by force, unless there is someone else with abilities comparable to mine or Yona's. As for the latter... Wait, could it be?"
Suddenly, Owal's eyes widened as he realized something. Jin seemed to be thinking the same.
"If it's a fake Yona, it's possible. Perhaps the Yona we've been fighting all along was a fake."
"The new traces I found have only a subtle difference from what I have sensed before. It means that the fake I encountered in Hairan has infiltrated the forest."
So, either the fake Yona was in the forest before Nameless, or she infiltrated the encirclement using her own abilities or through the Prophet's tunnel.
In other words, there could be multiple Yonas in the forest, including both the real one and the fakes.
And the reason why the fakes were searching the forest was likely rare.
"Jin, if that's true, don't we need the contractor of truth?"
At Hedo's words, Jin shook his head.
"If there are multiple fake Yonas, it would be too difficult to protect Euria. Since there are two different energies, we need to subdue both the real elder sister Yona and the fakes, and then differentiate them based on that."
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The group continued to move forward, following traces of chaos.
"If it weren't for you... we would have been fooled, unable to distinguish the real Yona from the fake. Ah, now I'm not sure that the first thing we found in this forest was the real Yona."
The two types of chaos energy.
Jin couldn't be sure which one belonged to the real Yona. Regardless of how many people he encountered, as long as it wasn't a joint attack, Jin was confident that he could subdue them all.
Even if it was a joint attack, from the moment he could perfectly distinguish between the real and the fake, it would no longer be a problem.
'If there are numerous fakes in the forest, it's probably to capture or eliminate elder sister Yona.'
In that case, Jin's task was not only to secure Yona but also to protect her.
Owal was blaming himself for that very reason.
Throughout their mission, Nameless had never considered the existence of a fake Yona.
"It's natural to find it difficult to anticipate the presence of fakes in the forest. Elder sister Yona's location in Akin was unique, making it even more so."
Jin recognized his thoughts and said.
"I made this mistake even after hearing clearly that fakes are being made with the traces of chaos that Yona leaves after meeting you in the second castle of Hairan. I have no right to see that child."
"Lord Owal, don't overcomplicate things. In any case, there are two types of chaos, and the owners of those have yet to leave the forest. We can solve it from now on."
At least three, possibly five or more.
That's roughly the amount of traces of Yona's chaos that nameless had missed so far.
Jin assumed the worst-case scenario of having more than ten fakes in the forest.
Even so, with their current power, it seemed like they could resolve it sufficiently.
"We need to pick up the pace. I have a feeling that the fakes are targeting elder sister Yona. Um... let's start with a simple approach. It would be better if both of you cover your ears."
Inhale...!
Jin took a deep breath.
Elder Sister Yona-!
As soon as Jin let out a powerful shout, the trees in front of them broke and were uprooted by the force of the sound.
Echoes resounded through the entire forest as if an earthquake had occurred.
If it had been ordinary civilians standing instead of Hedo and Owal, their eardrums would have burst, causing them to faint.
"Your voice is remarkable. If your sister is in the forest, she must have heard it."
"Thank you, Sir Hedo. Lord Owal, if you are currently somewhere in the front forest and you hear my voice, how would you come? If you need to confirm my location, with the purpose of attempting an assassination or monitoring my movements."
Owal understood that immediately.
"You want to see Yona's movement path. Follow me."
The group, instead of cautiously and slowly pursuing traces of chaos, ran at full speed following Owal.
Owal truly lived up to his title as the Nameless King, moving through the trees at a speed comparable to Jin and Hedo running in a straight line.
Above all, Owal made almost no sound while moving. It was as if the wind was blowing, not a person.
"He is surely the Nameless King. Is your sister, god of death, more exceptional than him?"
"Maybe. I've heard that elder sister Yona has surpassed even lord Owal in terms of assassination ability a long time ago. I've never heard the sound of her footsteps."
As they were running energetically, Owal suddenly came to a stop.
This time, he was the first to sense a certain energy that others couldn't perceive.
"Bloodlust."
In his words, Jin and Heddo also faintly sensed the presence of bloodlust.
Whether real or fake, one of them had become noticeably closer through their recent movements.
Jin once again read the remaining traces of chaos nearby.
"The level of chaos is much stronger than before. There are still two types, which means both the real elder sister Yona and the fakes reacted to my voice."
Boom!
As if to conclude his words, a red flare shot up from the other side of the forest. Yona had appeared from one side of the encirclement.
Jin also fired a flare. It was yellow, indicating a special circumstance.
At the same time, a golden aura burst into the sky. It was Bale's flight. In an instant, he flew towards the location where the red flare had exploded and returned shortly afterward, his face filled with frustration.
"Bale, did you see elder sister Yona where the red flare was shot?"
[No, I didn't see her. She only launched a surprise attack and then disappeared. I was about to search the area, why did you call?]
"A surprise attack? Are there any casualties?"
[A guy named Kell was injured, but not severely, similar to a small cut.]
"That's a relief. There are fake Yonas mixed in the forest."
[What? Not just one?]
"Inform the rest of the team about this and if you encounter the real or fake Yona, subdue them and bring them to me. Remember, under no circumstances should you kill or seriously harm them. Capture them in good condition. If you determine that you can't handle it alone, track them while firing flares to ensure the encircling team is unharmed."
[Then I'll start chasing the one who attacked Kell... Ah, what is that!]
Boom, Boom!
Unfortunately, Bale didn't have time for that.
From that moment on, flares started shooting from all directions.
"Go and investigate everything, then report the situation to Jin, Bale."
[Uh... Understood!]
He excellently carried out the real-time communication network using his transcendent flying abilities.
[Your sister was discovered over there. Ranke chased her away.]
[Two people came out from over there at the same time. Bianca engaged in combat, but they immediately fled...]
[Just now, I encountered one of them and injured them during the pursuit. Ah, it wasn't a fatal wound! Just a slight bend in the arm, enough to distinguish them from the other Yonas.]
In this way, Bale performed the role of a real-time communicator throughout the area. Without him, the entire search team would have been in great confusion.
Ranke and Bianca were also playing significant roles as expected. If Jin hadn't brought them all together, there would have already been casualties, even deaths.
Owal marked the locations of all the Yonas on the map and pondered their anticipated movements with the help of Bale's exceptional flying abilities. Jin, on the other hand, remained focused on distinguishing between the two types of chaos.
With Hedo's presence, the two of them could occasionally immerse themselves completely in their tasks.
In no time, Owal deduced the most likely anticipated routes of the Yonas, while Jin successfully distinguished the chaos patterns.
"I'm sure, Lord Owal. The real elder sister Yona has a single distinct energy, while the energies of the fakes overlap with identical patterns. There are three overlapping patterns among the fakes in this vicinity."
The reason Jin had focused on differentiating the chaos was to determine which of the two types of energies were unique and to infer the number of fake Yonas based on the overlapping patterns.
"Moreover, the energy of elder sister Yona is becoming increasingly stronger, indicating that all the Yonas discovered by other encirclement teams are likely to be fakes."
In other words, the real Yona was currently in the closest proximity to their group, along with three fake Yonas.
"That means the possible routes are narrowing down to one or two, 12th flagbearer."
Owal's speculated routes of the Yonas were nothing else but that.
Whether the fakes were closing in on the real Yona to kill her or vice versa, Owal was now confident that the Yonas would soon cross paths.
This was because every time Bale reported, the Yonas on the encirclement side were gradually moving further into the forest. It was as if they were narrowing their ambush net towards their prey.
"The fakes must be trying to gather in the center of the forest after disturbing us. However, there's something strange."
"What's wrong?"
"The real Yona undoubtedly possesses abilities superior to the fakes. She could have already taken down at least one alone, but there is no trace of such a struggle."
"You mean elder sister Yona is just evading."
"Either Yona is unable to demonstrate her normal abilities in this situation, or there are other interfering factors."
"For now, it's best to head towards the center of the forest, Nameless King."
Even when they reached the center of the forest, there were no signs of a battle. Instead, the group began to be ambushed.
Suddenly, a chilling sensation would creep up from behind, and when they turned around, a blade would come flying at them, disappearing in front of their eyes as they tried to block it.
After defending against the first, second, and third ambushes, Jin came to a conclusion.
"...The real elder sister Yona is the one currently ambushing us. Her energy does not overlap with the other chaos."
It took three instances of evading the ambush to confirm it.
"Furthermore, the other fakes are nearby. Their chaos continues to intertwine as they move... It's one of the differences between them and the real elder sister Yona."
"They are nearby?"
"Yes, and the ones who showed us their killing intent earlier were also the fakes. Judging from the attacks we've experienced, the real elder sister Yona... doesn't even leave behind such faint traces of bloodlust. Even the remaining chaos, which is unavoidable, is something that no one besides me can recognize."
Jin looked around with a puzzled expression.
In other words, Jin and Owal's expectations were incorrect.
The fakes weren't moving to eliminate Yona, and the real Yona wasn't fleeing from them.
What they were targeting, the real and fake Yonas, from the beginning was Jin's group. Moreover, they had been moving together ever since Nameless confirmed Yona's whereabouts in Akin.
Since then, the real and fake Yonas deliberately alternated their movements to make Nameless perceive them as "one person." It was natural that Owal couldn't anticipate the fakes.
"It's not that Yona couldn't defeat the fakes, but that they were cooperating from the beginning..."
The moment Owal said that, the scenery of the forest that the group was observing distorted at a rapid pace.
The traps set by the Yonas had been activated.
Thick curtains shot up from all directions, and Jin immediately recognized them as a subspace of chaos.
The three of them drew their swords while their backs facing each other.
Then, from within the darkness, an entirely unexpected voice echoed.
[Jin... it's been a while.]
Joshua Runcandel.
It was his voice.
[T/L:- Ha, cockroach is back.]
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'Joshua? I didn't expect that asshole to show up here.'
Jin narrowed his eyes.
As the chaos subspace unfolded and he heard Joshua's voice, Jin felt more annoyance than danger.
It was like suddenly having a cockroach jump out from under your feet—not threatening at all but incredibly unpleasant, making your teeth grind.
"It has been a while, although I can't say I'm particularly glad to see you. Why is someone who should be in an underground prison here?"
[You're asking something obvious. Isn't it because I received forgiveness from Mother? You probably weren't unaware that I got out.]
Jin chuckled at his words.
"Forgiveness... Rosa is not that forgiving of a person. You still don't know Rosa. From that woman, you don't receive forgiveness, you earn recognition. Tell me, Joshua, how was life in prison? Since Rosa took you out of prison, it must mean you had some growth."
Shak!
Somewhere, Yona's sword appeared and disappeared, slicing through Owal's sleeve. Yona continued to hover around the three of them like a ghost, extending her sword.
[Yes, it was meaningful. I learned a lot thanks to you.]
"Oh, really? In my eyes, you just seem even more of a fool."
[You still speak roughly, little brother.]
"I've never had a brother like you."
[You can't deny that we share the same blood. We were born on the same battleship, but our positions are different, aren't they?]
Hedo and Owl sensed that Jin was losing his composure as soon as Joshua appeared.
However, instead of feeling anxious, they felt relieved.
That level of man wouldn't let emotions cloud his judgment, so the newly arrived second flagbearer seemed to be nothing more than a target to be cautious of in Jin's eyes.
"Hah... Joshua, I've never even imagined you showing up like this."
[What did you imagine then?]
"If you're asking if I hoped for you to rot away in that underground prison, then yes, of course. I did think it would be best if you ended your miserable existence there..."
[But that wish didn't come true.]
"Don't interrupt, Joshua. This is the last moment I consider you a human and have a conversation with you. So listen carefully, you piece of garbage."
Jin glared at a point in the curtain as if to tear it apart.
"On one hand, I hoped that you would gain true enlightenment there and come back to challenge me. I wanted you to break free from Rosa's embrace and finally become a worthy opponent. I felt the same way, and so did elder brother Diphus. Why? Why do you think that is?"
[If that was truly your wish, then it has already been fulfilled. I'm standing in front of you now.]
"You're in front of me?"
Jin smiled and looked around.
"Where the hell are you, anyway? Can you really say that you're standing in front of me, hiding like a mold behind elder sister Yona while only your voice is present? I don't know if you're proud of what you learned in prison and blabbering about it, but you're the same as ever. You're the same Joshua!"
Chwang!
Hedo blocked Yona's blade that had fallen towards Jin. Jin didn't even look away.
"I wouldn't care even if elder brother Diphus and I tore you to pieces and threw you away in the street but I hoped you came back stronger. But it was meaningless. To think that the mortal enemy who plotted against us ended up so empty-handed? And not because of my hand, but because of one word from Rosa. What the hell did we fight you so hard for?"
[Whether or not I'm the same as back then, you'll find out again from now on. It seems you've become more impatient than my memories.]
"I'll correct that you're not the same person as back then. In fact, you've become even more worthless than before. The fact that you think I fell into your trap and you are still optimistic is proof of that. Acting as if the power given by Rosa and the Prophet is completely your own! How do you think you can hold me in such a trap?"
Jin was surrounded by the blue flames of Bradamante.
"You stupid bastard... if you had just come alone and requested a battle to settle things even if you knew you would lose, I would have respected that. Even if your physical body was in a state where you couldn't wield a sword because of the underground prison, and even if you couldn't even muster the power of a 1-Star, I would have treated you as a worthy opponent."
But you still didn't realize anything.
As Jin continued his words in a calm voice, Joshua remained silent for a while. Unbeknownst to him, he was recalling a story he had heard from Rosa in the past.
-You are not dead yet. And I look forward, not only to the fulfillment of the prophecy, but also the struggle that will shatter it. Your younger brother, Jin. It seems unlikely that a child's struggle won't be unable to shatter the prophecy. No matter how absolute it may be.
-If there ever comes a day when your prophecy leads you to the world of true struggle from this underground prison, and if you can withstand that world. I will bring you back to the surface. Of course... As always, your prophecy will probably disappoint me once again. Just as you always have.
Even then, Jin never forgot about the struggle, and Joshua still remained in the same place.
Joshua still hadn't realized that.
That's why Jin found it difficult to gauge the reason Rosa had started using Joshua again.
In fact, an evil god doesn't even need a knight like Padler, so why is it entrusting the job to such a trivial thing?
'There must be a reason, but I really don't know. It can't be a mere whim.'
In the midst of the stillness, occasionally Yona's sword would pass through the group without any effect.
"In the end, because you couldn't stand alone... know that you were never acknowledged by Father, Rosa, or even me, Joshua. This is the last bit of patience I have in treating you as a human. That's it."
When Jin faced Bale, a new magic sword technique achieved solely by himself, the sword pointed to a spot within the shroud of chaos.
Then, as if melting ice on a fire, the shroud being pointed at peeled away to reveal the appearance of fake Yonas that had been hiding.
There were a total of seven fakes, including the real one, aiming for the group in the space beyond.
[...You've mastered a peculiar sword technique.]
"If I were you, Second Flagbearer, I wouldn't be able to keep a straight face. No matter how damaged you are, weren't you also a knight? Right now, Jin is showing you an realm that you can never reach. So be grateful."
[Shut up, tower keeper!]
As soon as the fakes appeared, they hid their bodies again, and a new dimensional portal opened from the spot where they disappeared.
From that dimensional portal, monsters enhanced by chaos poured out. Hedo recognized that they were originally demonic creatures that originally belonged in the Black Sea.
Around that time, Joshua had already fallen into the intuition that his plan would fail.
It was because the party was not shaken at all even when they saw Yonas and the monsters of the inner cores pouring out in piles.
The three of them seemed unfazed by the situation.
Especially Jin, who had personally experienced the strength of figures like Padler and Lionel, as well as the divine power of Bale and the sinister power of Rosa.
Such a petty trick didn't even faze him.
"So, is this all you prepared for? Elder sister, the fakes, and the horde of inner core monsters?"
Slash!
Jin cut the throat of one of the fakes that rushed toward him. The fake approached Jin but couldn't swing its sword properly due to the flames spreading from Bradamante.
At that moment, Joshua looked back and forth between Jin and the dead Yona with a perplexed expression.
According to Joshua's thinking, Jin should never kill the Yonas.
[Are you also walking the path beyond dominance? Killing Yonas without any hesitation.]
"You speak as if you are walking on an evil path like Rosa. Of course, you are not walking on the path of evil, let alone dominance, it's just a miscellaneous path. Do you think I will kill elder sister Yona? I killed her because she was a fake."
Jin's ability to distinguish between the real and the fake in an instant was not part of Joshua's calculations.
In fact, Joshua did not come here today with the intention of eliminating Jin.
He had come to witness Jin's desperate struggle, where Jin would eventually be forced to kill all the Yonas in order to survive, plunging into hatred and despair. He believed that such immense despair, characteristic of a special existence like Jin, was the crucial element that Rosa needed most at this moment.
Therefore, Joshua trembled with a sudden sense of suffocation. He felt the anxiety of impending failure, the fear of disappointing his mother once again.
Of course, Jin saw through Joshua's inner turmoil as clearly as the palm of his hand. Yet, it did not bring him any joy, just as one would not feel a sense of victory over a worm.
"Come to think of it, you were also involved with Airan Vermont and attempted to assassinate Dante. I knew in advance, which led to your failure then, and it's the same now. Looking back, you have never defeated me."
[But I see that you, as well as Airan Vermont, are still alive.]
Jin was reading the flow of chaos that indicated the opening of a dimensional portal. He intended to track that flow and find the hidden space where Joshua was hiding.
"Do you take pride in that? You're quite well hidden, it seems to be outside the forest. If you want to put an end to this disgraceful act, stay right there. I will come after I finish up here."
Of course, Jin did not expect Joshua to obediently wait for his arrival.
Regardless, cleaning up the remaining six impostors, the real Yona, and the inner core monsters would take considerable time.
The problem was not just disposing of everyone except the real Yona. They had to be completely eliminated to prevent any casualties if they managed to escape or cause harm in the surrounding area.
So, Jin thought of sending someone else to Joshua.
Crack-!
A crack suddenly split the upper part of the barrier, and a golden aura burst through. It was Bale, tearing the barrier from the outside.
[Ah-oh! I'm so annoyed. Hey, Jin, can't I just wipe out those things? Except for your sisters.]
"You have other things to do, Bale."
[But can't I just take care of those things? It would help relieve some stress.]
"No. Instead, I'll give you someone to kill. Go outside the forest and find Joshua."
[Who is that?]
"The one who created this barrier. He should be somewhere around twelve o'clock outside the forest. Tear him apart as many times as it takes, even if he can regenerate or resurrect. That should be a decent challenge, right?"
As Bale hesitated, Hedo spoke up.
"Why hesitate, Bale? Go right away before he can escape."
[Tch... Fine, I got it.]
Once Bale left, Jin fired a signal flare to rally the troops.
695
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After the curtain of chaos closed again, the summoned monsters let out a roar. The curtain was distorted by their energy, obstructing the view, and the Yonas began to move again.
'So, Joshua, you thought to maximize the powers of the fakes using the monsters... There's not a single unscrupulous corner from one to ten.'
Joshua underestimated the three individuals, thinking that such a shallow plan would work against them.
This kind of trickery cannot disrupt the senses of the superhumans. Of course, considering the nature of Yona and the fakes, even the slightest variable could pose a threat. However, it was out of the question when facing the group.
"Well, you must have gone through a lot of trouble dealing with 2nd Flagbearer like that, Jin."
"It was quite a disgrace in many ways."
First, Hedo stepped forward and displayed his mastery of the sword. Waves of sword energy spread, covering the monsters and creating a dazzling light.
Amidst the bones and flesh flying indiscriminately, three of the Yonas simultaneously attacked Hedo. Since he couldn't distinguish between the real and the fake like Jin, he only defended against their attacks.
"Please continue to defend against my sister and the fakes. I will take care of them one by one."
"Understood."
While the remains of the monsters swept away by Hedo's swordsmanship were gathering again to form another monster, their regeneration seemed faster.
Hedo found the fact irritating (also, he didn't like the temporary sword he had acquired), and he frowned, exerting even more strength.
However, it was risky to swing his sword recklessly. If he increased his power beyond the current level, there was a chance that Yona could be swept away.
'Should I solve this with close combat? But that would increase the range Jin has to handle, making it troublesome.'
As Hedo was contemplating, something unexpectedly sprang out from Owal's sleeve.
It was thousands of threads thinner than hair.
Each one of the threads imbued with the energy of Owal and it grabbed the monsters carelessly.
Each thread was imbued with Owal's energy, and they entangled the monsters haphazardly.
Owal controlled the threads with delicate precision, adjusting his strength to keep them from disintegrating when he couldn't hold on any longer.
"Oh, it'll be much easier now, Nameless King. I've been amazed by your abilities since earlier."
"Originally, I saved this to restrain fakes, but since Jin can tell them apart, there is no need for that."
While the superhumans exchanged banter, Jin took down another fake.
'Now, there are only elder sister and five fakes left.'
From then on, Yonas did not recklessly aim for the Jin.
It wasn't a calculated move, but rather instinctual. Having fought Jin, all Yona were currently devoid of rationality.
They simply obeyed Joshua's commands blindly. If the fakes currently possessed the judgment skills they had before going berserk, Jin would have had a slightly harder time.
Whoosh...!
Jin's blurred magic sword illuminated the surroundings like a torch. The Yonas struggled to avoid looking at the sword.
It was because they felt a burning pain somewhere in their bodies whenever their gaze lingered on the sword's flame.
Jin was well aware that his unnamed sword contained such power.
So now, Jin started looking for Yonas himself. Whenever Bradamante tore through the fabric of space, the Yonas' forms briefly appeared and then vanished like smoke.
It would take quite a bit of time like this. In reality, Jin spent a while exploring the subspace without being able to kill any of the fakes.
However, Jin had brought the strongest members of each faction precisely to prevent such a situation.
Swish!
Jin swung his sword diagonally, completely tearing apart a section of the subspace.
"Ah!"
"S-surpr...ising...."
At the same time, Ranke and Bianca widened their eyes in surprise.
They had just arrived nearby and were about to break through the subspace.
"You've come."
"W-We... came... how did...?"
"How did you know? Ah, it's frustrating. can't you speak a little faster? Seriously?"
"How did you know? Ah, how did you know? I read the energy."
"You read the energy?"
"You... read the energy...?"
Ranke and Bianca looked at each other with puzzled expressions. They were unable to sense the energy flowing inside due to the chaos barrier.
"Anyway, come in quickly and put pressure on my sister and the fakes. It means defend while pushing forward."
"Defend and push forward? How can we push forward by only defending?"
"I can do it while under pressure. And I'll say it once again, if my real elder sister gets hurt even a little, it won't be fun. Now, let's gather our strength."
Ranke muttered a curse, and Bianca nodded her head, entering the barrier.
With the addition of the two individuals, the Yonas focused solely on hiding, and Jin was slowly becoming convinced that they would try to escape.
'The entrance from where Kinzelos entered is not being restored. It's probably because Bale is fighting Joshua.'
When the barrier was opened, it was immediately restored. That was possible before because Joshua was deliberately sending chaos here, but not anymore. He was completely preoccupied with dealing with the enraged Bale, paying no attention to this side.
Jin pretended not to guard the precarious entrance he had created. He deliberately distanced himself from the entrance, patiently waiting for the Yonas to appear.
With only instincts left, the Yonas fell into the trap all too easily. As soon as Jin turned his back on the fake, she released her concealment and dashed toward the entrance.
Of course, the fake couldn't escape to the outside.
Fzzz!
The mana Jin had planted in advance at the entrance formed an ice barrier.
In that moment, the fake extended her sword to break the barrier, but it was the perfect opportunity for Jin to catch her off guard.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Bradamante pierced through the fake's back. The fake convulsed and disintegrated into a black mass.
"Another fake trying to escape?"
Jin smiled and spoke. Now there were four fakes left, and with each decrease in their numbers, the options for the Yonas diminished.
Near the center of the subspace, Hedo and Owal are still suppressing the monsters, and Ranke and Bianca charged forward every time Jin's flames revealed a Yonas, striking the walls.
"We can't... go... until... the real... comes out."
"Ugh, this idiot is helping them as if it were our job until the end."
Jin carefully surveyed his surroundings. At this rate, he thought he could deal with the remaining fakes and take Yona back within thirty minutes.
But the good feeling was short-lived.
Suddenly, the chaos subspace began to vibrate unstably.
"Huh? Hey! The subspace seems like it's going to explode!"
Ranke shouted. Everyone else also realized that the subspace showed signs of an imminent explosion.
The reason for the problem in the subspace was obvious. Joshua using volcano as a last resort.
'Joshua, that bastard is going to keep this up till the end. It looks like he chose to self-destruct after getting beaten by Bale.'
In that case, they had to quickly change their strategy and respond.
"Everyone, scatter and do everything you can to prevent the explosion!"
The scale of the subspace explosion couldn't be accurately predicted. The entire forest could disappear, and perhaps even nearby villages could be affected.
As Jin shouted, Hedo and Owal, Bianca and Ranke spread out in all directions, taking their positions.
The Yonas also seemed bewildered by the sudden collapse of the subspace. They ran around in a frenzy, screaming like beasts trapped in a wildfire, jumping randomly throughout the subspace.
And Jin heightened all his senses.
'No matter how powerful the explosion is, as long as those four can block it with all their might, it won't reach the villages.'
So he had to find and protect his sister. She didn't have the power to protect herself from an explosion of this magnitude.
Even if she did, it would be the power of chaos, not the power of the Yonas. The power of chaos would naturally engulf her and restore her when her physical body collapsed. In other words, it meant that the body transformation that Jin was most wary of would occur.
Kurur...!
The chaos that formed the subspace was converging into a single In about 5 seconds, all the power would coalesce and explode.
Jin had to find real among the fakes, and even protect her. But the remaining powerhouses, especially Owal, who cherished Yona as much as Jin did, had a reason for willingly enduring the explosion instead of searching for her. It was because they were certain. If it were Jin, he could certainly do it.
Jin rushed forward and threw himself at Yona, holding her tightly. It was as if he was grabbing a child about to fall into water.
"Sister!"
Yona still had her sword in hand, but Jin paid no attention and embraced her with all his strength. He narrowly managed to avoid being stabbed in the abdomen by Yona's sword.
Then, as subspace exploded, Yona tightly closed her eyes, and Jin held her while spreading a protective shield.
Quaaahhh...! Kdudduduk!
The bodies of the fakes that had rushed at the siblings disintegrated.
[Kyaaahhh...!]
[Argh!]
The fire of subspace burned even the black lumps left behind by the fakes.
The explosion, which began with a deafening noise as if heads were exploding, continued for over five minutes.
The powerhouses relentlessly swung their weapons and spread their protective shields, and Jin was finally able to protect his youngest sister.
"Is everyone unharmed?"
Hedo was the first to look around and ask.
"We are unharmed. It seems like, sir, you endured the most powerful explosion, but you don't have a single scratch."
"I must have something outstanding about me compared to you. Look, it seems like Kinzelo's executives are unscathed as well. Hmm, what about that friend?"
"Huh, whew... What a struggle. I thought I was a goner!"
"Ranke... You're weak... but you managed to hold on."
"Uhm! Ugh, Ugh!"
With a loud noise, Ranke vomited blood and collapsed, and Bianca hurriedly supported him. Jin still held Yona in his arms behind them.
His neck and back were covered in wounds. Yona was still in a frenzied state and continued to claw at Jin, but he was simply glad.
"Elder Sister, let's go home now."
Yona responded with a scream, and the rest of the group, except for Jin, simultaneously looked up at the sky.
In the sky, the fleet of Zipfel that had just arrived in this place was floating.