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The flagship Kozec, along with the 1st Fleet, was surrounding the group in the airspace with an overwhelming presence.
Jin raised his head and looked at the fleet only after Owal used the remaining thread to tie Yona.
Zipfel didn't appear to be attacking but rather seemed to have come to eradicate the enemy, not as an allied force.
It was only natural.
In the letter Jin had sent to Zipfel before coming to Akin, without obtaining permission, it stated his intention to rescue Yona, as well as the defection of Hedo and Sandra.
In other words, they had carried out the operation within Zipfel's territory without permission and even extracted key personnel, making it an extremely uncomfortable situation for Zipfel.
Jin turned his head to look at Hedo. His expression seemed unperturbed, as if this situation didn't bother him.
A long silence ensued. The fleet continued to hover without descending.
"I don't know how to greet someone on board a flagship when I don't know who's inside. Let's skip the formalities for now. Nevertheless, an apology is necessary. Rescuing my sister was such an urgent matter that we proceeded with the operation before receiving a response. We will compensate for any damages incurred."
Jin's low voice filled with energy resonated heavily and made the sky vibrate.
The response didn't come for a long time. Jin's voice was heard by everyone, but the conversations taking place on the battleship were unknown to those on the ground.
'It looks like Kadun is still undergoing treatment.'
If that filthy dragon had arrived, they would have heard complaints at least ten times by now.
'Then it must be Octavia or Ronil Zipfel. Why are they stalling? I'm sure they have finished discussing how to deal with Hedo before coming here.'
The standoff continued for a few more minutes, and finally, a voice amplified by magic was heard from the fleet.
[Sir Hedo...…Honestly, I didn't believe the 12th flagbearer's words until I saw you standing there myself. But now that I see you with the 12th flagbearer... You've truly forsaken the clan.]
As expected, it was Octavia. She didn't hide her frustration.
"Spectre Captain. I have always been bothered by the fact that I left without saying goodbye. I apologize."
[Is that all? We spent years together, went through life and death situations together. If there was something upsetting about the clan, you should have told me. How could you suddenly betray us? And even Sandra...!]
"The word betrayal is not appropriate, spectre captain. I never pledged allegiance to the clan in the first place."
[The clan always considered you as one of its own, sir.]
"I know. But my loyalty has always been solely to Lady Sandra. The clan must have been aware of that fact to some extent."
[Yes, I know. That's why Sandra, originally an experimental subject, gained her freedom because of you. No, it's more than that. Sandra received privileges in every aspect.]
"I know that too."
[But why are you turning your back on the clan? What has captivated you? Or were you afraid of the consequences for helping the 12th flagbearer during your last vacation?]
"That's right. That is also included in the reasons."
[You fool...! Sir, even if you returned as you were, we wouldn't have investigated Sandra or questioned you. Why? Because we believed in you, sir! We thought it was just a ploy by the 12th flagbearer....…. We did the best for you. So, you have to tell me any reason that's convincing.]
Hedo looked up at the fleet for a few seconds.
He was reflecting on the days he had spent in Zipfel, as Octavia had mentioned. As she said, Zipfel had nothing lacking in their treatment towards him.
However, the clan had never truly seen Sandra as a person.
"Lady Sandra had other paths to happiness. Now that I think about it, the time I spent in the Black Sea was longer than my time in the human world. The clan has never regarded Lady as anything more than an unnecessary attachment to me. It's a matter of sincerity, not attitude and treatment. If the clan had understood that, I would never have left."
Octavia remained silent.
It wasn't because she fully understood and accepted Hedo's perspective. She knew that no matter what she said, he wouldn't come back.
[Regardless of the reasons, in the end, it is the clan's responsibility for failing to understand human emotions. I will respect your decision, Sir Hedo.]
A new voice was heard, causing Jin's pupils to widen.
It was Veradin's voice. Unlike Octavia, who was barely suppressing her intense emotions, his tone was calm.
"Young patriarch."
[T/L:- Changing little patriarch to young patriarch.]
[In return, I must tell you one thing. Sandra Zipfel will undoubtedly suffer because of your choice today.]
Hedo didn't answer.
[Jin, you probably told Sir Hedo that he could leave anytime.]
"It's so accurate that I get goosebumps, Veradin. Have you been eavesdropping on our conversation?"
[It's an obvious thing. You also know that we will inevitably overcome Sir Hedo's betrayal since we are facing a huge public enemy.]
"I admit it."
[That's why I had to take action. Jin Runcandel, when we clash with Rosa, if Sir Hedo is not on the battlefield, we will immediately dissolve our temporary alliance. And the same goes for Yona Runcandel, whom you saved today while displaying this behavior.]
"Zipfel also formed an alliance because they couldn't face Rosa alone, didn't they? It seems like you're implying that we are the only ones who regret it."
[The situation has changed here because you brought Hister back to recover. Of course, an alliance is not entirely unnecessary, but it is no longer essential.]
-...It seems that these living golems can only exert their power near the Holy Land.
-That's right. We are searching for a way to send them out of the Holy Land. For now, once they leave the vicinity of the Holy Land, they stop functioning like severed puppets. It means death. But more importantly, I don't understand why you're giving off such a displeased vibe. Do you think that being a magic swordsman is an exclusive privilege of your clan?
At Veradin's words, Jin remembered the magic swordsman living golems he had seen in the holy land of Zipfel. Additionally, he recalled the number of secrets mentioned by Ronil Zipfel during their first meeting, as well as the manipulation of history.
It didn't seem like everything was fully prepared. If it were, there would be no need for such threats.
"You gave quite a stern warning. It seems like it's not just empty words, so I'll remember it. Well, now that we have clarified our positions, may I ask one more question before I leave?"
[Speak.]
"As you can see, the subspace of chaos just exploded. We made efforts to contain it, but were there any civilian casualties? I assume you checked the extent of it on your way here."
[There were none.]
"That's a relief. Well then, I'm leaving. Make sure to handle the compensation for the damages and send it to Tikan."
As Jin turned around, Zipfel's fleet slowly started its retreat. Soon, those heading in their respective directions quickly moved apart.
Jin couldn't find any trace of the Veradin he knew, both when they met at the Holy Land and now.
He felt like he had regained his family but lost a friend.
'I have to get that guy back someday, like sister Yona...… But it won't be easy.'
He wanted to go back and start the purification, and he wanted to have a conversation with his youngest sister who had returned. That was the only comfort he could find at the moment.
* * *
The Garden of swords.
Rosa gazed down at her eldest son with an expressionless face.
[Joshua... Once again, you wasted my power and ran away like a dog.]
Joshua had lost his physical body five times during the battle with Bale. Each time, Rosa's energy was depleted, yet Joshua exceeded her permission and used powers beyond what she allowed.
Kneeling on one knee, Joshua couldn't even lift his head.
Since being dragged up from the underground prison, Joshua was trapped in the conviction that he could accomplish anything.
He thought he would never disappoint his mother like before. He had become the Second flagbearer again, and the power of the evil god bestowed upon him by his mother was immeasurable.
Moreover, his mother showed a considerable expectation, unlike when she had cast him aside. It was as if she was saying, "I will help you, so go and defeat the youngest."
[Mother, I...….]
[I have never had a son like you. Address me properly.]
However, nothing had changed.
He was still not the youngest, and he was still shattering his mother's expectations. The brief moment of contentment upon his return had already turned into disappointment.
[I apologize, lord patriarch.]
[Yes, you had something to say about the topic, right? Go ahead, make your excuses. What made you fail this time?]
He had no words to respond.
Whether the plan was not meticulous enough, the bestowed power was insufficient, or there were other variables. None of them could convince his mother.
Self-loathing surged within him, indescribable and boiling.
Joshua truly felt like he had become nothing more than a worthless being in the back alleys.
[I have nothing to say.]
[When I pulled you out of the underground prison, I thought you had changed somehow. That's why I gave you power and entrusted you with a task. It wasn't even that difficult. It was to use Yona's clones to kill Dante and torment the youngest.]
Though he was her son, Joshua felt like he was witnessing a nightmare of descent as his mother referred to Jin as the "youngest."
[Just one more... Please give me another chance.]
[Why should I? Even with my power, the fact remains that the youngest is an insurmountable wall for you.]
[That's....]
He couldn't answer any questions.
Breathing became difficult. And so, without even realizing it, Joshua exhaled shallow breaths, resembling a person drowning. In response, Rosa coldly lowered her head.
[Until I call for you again, return to the underground prison. From now on, Diphus will take your place.]
As Joshua turned around with a vacant expression, Ilina followed him.
Ilina comforted Joshua, assuring him that she would somehow postpone his disposal and asked him to calm down and wait a little longer.
After sending Joshua away like that, Ilina returned to Rosa and let out a long sigh.
"Even when I was working with Joshua, his incompetence frustrated me to the point of madness. But in the end, it turned out to be helpful for you, lord patriarch. Fate... It's quite amusing."
[If he were the youngest, he would have recognized and resisted my intentions long ago. That this farcical act is a play.]
There was only one reason why Rosa had taken Joshua out of the underground prison.
"Yes, that stupid fellow will remain clueless until he fulfills his role and disappears."
The despair that Joshua had accumulated until now and was still diligently nurturing, to an eerie extent of purity.
What Rosa needed from Joshua was solely that. Therefore, for the first time, Joshua seemed useful to Rosa.
No matter how deep he fell, he would never give up and continue to despair. Through the hope of "prophecy," so to speak.
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Holy King Lani.
After rescuing Yona and returning, Jin was able to meet the Holy King Lani, who suddenly came to Tikan.
It was Owal who called her to Tikan, and the reason Lani complied with his request was because nameless is now formally affiliated with the Vamel alliance. If Owal had contacted Lani as a nameless person, she would not have accepted.
"It's been almost three years since you returned to the human world and didn't show your face once, only sending letters and giving me difficult tasks."
Lani said, pretending to be angry.
After Jin returned to the human world, she took care of Talaris, who was sent to the Holy Kingdom, and also examined Valeria, who was injured by Luntia. But this was the first time she had seen Jin in person.
Jin smiled awkwardly. Even though he met someone he hadn't seen in a long time, Jin couldn't make a happy expression.
"Lani."
"Hey. I was thinking of playing a joke after such a long time, but it seems like the mood isn't right for that. I don't need to explain that I'm not really upset, right?"
"Of course."
Lani patted Jin's shoulder.
She, too, as the king and a key figure in the anti-chaos forces, had gone through a lot of hardship, but the burden on Jin's shoulders was much heavier than that. It pained her to think about it.
"I'm grateful. If it weren't for you and lord Murakan, I would have already died, and Inse would have suffered all kinds of exploitation under Zipfel's control. Even now, as soon as you return, you are struggling with all your might for the sake of the world."
"It was because of personal matters related to reclaiming my clan."
"Even so, Ayula will always bless you. So don't worry too much about Lady Yona. I don't know her well, but from what I've heard from you and Nameless King, she seems like a good person."
Jin's face was dark the whole time because of Yona.
"... yes. Elder Sister Yona is a really nice person."
Jin was overjoyed that Yona had been rescued safely.
During the rescue, there were no fatal casualties among their allies, and Yona was in a state where she hadn't undergone the physical transformations Jin had been most worried about. Lani had even come all the way here to prepare for any problems that might arise during the purification of chaos.
But Yona's chaos was not purified.
"Although her chaos hasn't been completely purified like other people, she's at least able to control it like before, right?"
That was true. The purification device did have some effect on Yona.
It was impossible to achieve complete purification, but Yona's chaos had now entered a 'stable state' like before.
Just like when Yona overcame her chaos on her own, before Glyek's power stimulated it.
Yona's chaos was too enormous. Boras' purification device had its limits when it came to intervening in that chaos.
'Maybe it's a situation similar to the state I and Lingling were in before...'
It would be better if Yona's chaos was separated like annoying Lingling, and became a little cute and useful, but Vahn is currently in Laprarosa.
It is frustrating because there is no guarantee that it can be separated just like Lingling even if the Vahn comes out in person.
But Jin shouldn't just keep worrying about it. In any case, the situation regarding Yona had improved to an extent that couldn't be compared to before.
"Thank you, Lani. I was too caught up in my own thoughts. Since the Holy King personally came here, and I have no Murakans to offer, what should I do?"
As soon as they arrived at Tikan, Lani examined Yona and asked her companions about Murakan's well-being.
"It's a shame. He is acting as a proxy for Solderet...… It seems like a remarkable yet sloppy position that suits lord Murakan."
For Murakan to return, the recovery of Talaris is the most important situation. Due to Talaris' injuries, Misha is currently bearing the seal of Elona.
"I have something to tell you about the master of the hidden palace."
"Is it bad news?"
""I wouldn't say it's good news. It's not that there are problems with the recovery of the master of the hidden palace. The reason the recovery is being delayed is that I have less and less time to focus on her."
"Something happened in the Holy Kingdom..."
Lani nodded her head.
"Yes, the demonic relic held by our Kingdom, Zito's eyes. It has been showing unfavorable signs recently."
"Zito's eyes?"
The war five hundred years ago, known as the Holy Kingdom's protection war, was a famous battle when the demons invaded Vankela.
However, it was not only the citizens of the Holy Kingdom and saints of Vankela who defended against demons but Runcandel, as well as Zipfel, who unusually joined forces.
"The name Zito might be unfamiliar to you. He has never been active in the human world and is rarely known even in the Demon World. Even I, as the King, couldn't find any records about Zito's eyes."
"You, as the King, couldn't access records about that item?"
"That's right. I only recently learned about the existence of Zito's eye in the Holy Kingdom, and they show bad signs. Lord Ayula warned me through a dream."
Remembering the dream she had a few days ago, Lani trembled as if in pain.
"What Lord Ayula showed me was a future where Zito is reborn through that item. The whole world was in flames, and it included a scene where everyone, including you and lord Murakan, the protectors of the human world, died."
If someone else said such things, Jin would dismiss it as nonsense, but Rani was the Holy King. She couldn't possibly confuse simple nightmares with Ayula's warning.
"Dealing with Rosa is already overwhelming, and now there might be a new adversary."
"To prevent that from happening, I am controlling Zito's eyes according to Lord Ayula's warning. I have been using almost all of my divine power for that purpose, which is why the treatment for the master of the hidden palace is being delayed."
"Do you have any information on why Zito's eyes started showing abnormal signs? Perhaps it was influenced by the remnants of the chaos left by Glyek?"
"Lord Ayula didn't say anything special about him. But I have a guess."
"I can think of a few likely suspects too."
Kinzelo.
Currently, they are the only ones in the human world who control the demons. Kinzelo had already possessed high-ranking demons like Bianca, and while Jin had been to Laprarosa, they had recruited even more powerful beings from the Demon world.
"I heard that Orgal, the demon beast king, who turned out to be the leader of Kinzelo, is one of the rulers of the demon world. I think he must have something to do with this situation."
"That's a given. From the beginning, they have been continuously gathering demons in Kinzelo, and it's possible they have established some kind of gateway connecting to the Demon world."
"After the Holy Kingdom's protection war, it was reported that the demon society completely collapsed, but it's likely as you said. Even if it's not an external dimension, they may be summoning demons through rituals."
"Summoning...…."
-Yes, Ranke Halovice. You have some perseverance. Anyway, according to your explanation, the Great desert turned out like this because all the forces contaminated it as an experimental processing plant. So, you just used this place as a playground because you liked it, is that it?
-Yes….
-The first part is convincing, but the second part is insufficient. You had some purpose here.
-Just... I, um, like it here, that's all.
The conversation Jin had after defeating Ranke as soon as he came out in the human world.
Even then, Jin thought that Ranke didn't just consider the Great Desert as a playground, but as he spoke with Lani, it felt even more suspicious.
"In the first place, during the Holy Kingdom incident, Kinzelo must have tried to find Zito's eyes along with a living golem experiment."
"I think so too. At that time, I was only conscious of the living golem experiment, but I'm sure Kinzelo's real purpose was Zito's eyes."
"Is it not a problem that you are using your divine power to keep Zito's Eye under control and prevent further issues?"
"For now, it's fine. But this kind of problem has no precedent, and the information provided by lord Ayula is excessively limited..."
If Murakan were here, he would have complained about why the hell Ayula's warnings were so vague.
Lani chuckled at the image that suddenly came to mind, then hesitated for a moment, wondering if it constituted blasphemy.
"In that case, it's not an urgent problem, but it's like a ticking time bomb that could explode at any moment. The fact that Ayula, who is a god and is extremely reluctant to get involved in the human world, personally issued a warning suggests that if it explodes, there will be no solution."
"Perhaps it will be okay until lord Ayula manifests again and provides more specific information."
"Actually, I had something to do in Kinzelo, so I need your permission."
"Permission?"
"Can I mention Zito's Eye directly and confront Orgal?"
"Of course."
"Great, I'll go to Kinzelo and gather any information about Zito's Eye to share."
"You say they want Sir Bale, but will they give you the information easily?"
"Even if they want to keep it veiled, just mentioning Zito's Eye intelligently or staying silent about it will be enough. It means the information is too sensitive to disclose."
"That's true. You seem to be planning to go right away, but still, let's have a cup of tea together. I came here on a regular battleship because I don't have a spatial teleportation battleship like the Red Owl."
"Naturally. When Spatial teleportation devices can be mass-produced, I'll send one to the Holy Kingdom."
"Oh, I see. I'm getting another promise out of you like this. Since I'm grateful, I'll personally serve the tea as the guest!"
* * *
Kinzelo New Headquarters.
They were finally going to see the long-awaited traces of life today, so they were full of excitement, but...
Unfortunately, Bale had already made a contract with Sandra, so their joy was dampened.
Orgal couldn't hide his disappointment even though he was in front of Jin.
[You have already signed a contract with Sandra Zipfel...…. It's hard to believe even when I hear it.]
"It makes me feel sorry to hear such a disappointing voice. What can I do, Orgal? It happened as soon as the seal on the Bale was lifted. Anyway, I kept my promise. There was no mention of a private conversation between you and Bale in the content, so it would be better if all conversations took place where I heard them."
[Hmm, that doesn't matter. Cough...]
"I'm glad to hear that. And I have one question I want to ask."
[What is it?]
"What do you think of Demon King Zito?"
At Jin's sudden question, Orgal coughed incessantly.
Fortunately, it seemed like he was a bit better, as he didn't bleed as much as before.
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"Did I ask a difficult question? Your reaction is quite strong."
"Sir Jin, how do you know that name?"
Zephyrin narrowed her eyes as Bishkel handed Orgal a handkerchief.
"I just know."
"Just knowing is not possible with that name."
"Let's not pry too much into each other's business."
"Sir Jin, you have been asking us how we found out any information. Have some conscience, will you? This time, you took Princess Bianca and Prince Ranke as a pretext for protection and made them do excessive tasks."
"Was what Bianca and Ranke did excessive compared to the conditions? The operation area to rescue elder sister Yona was Akin. In fact, Zipfel, who came after the operation, created considerable tension for a while. It seemed like they were contemplating whether to attack us. If it wasn't for Bianca and Ranke, we might have lost."
"It is also strange that the dispute was suppressed because of those two. Did you forget Zipfel is also our temporary ally. The betrayal of the Tower Keeper must have been very unpleasant, but they're not foolish enough to break the alliance before the final battle against evil god."
"Didn't you hear from Ranke and Bianca? Zipfel threatened us, saying that the alliance with us is no longer necessary. The situation has changed."
"I've said it before, but looking back, Kinzelo has always shown favor to you. I have also helped you in ways I couldn't avoid. Of course, there have been many times when we wanted to kill each other, but if you keep acting like this, we'll be no different from Zipfel."
"Is that so?"
Jin's pupils sharpened.
"This is so frustrating... Whether it's you guys or them, you all seem to take the temporary alliance lightly, it's exasperating. If you want to break the alliance, say it now, and I will listen. But if it's a mere warning and empty threats, it would be better not to do it again. I will be the one to break the alliance first in that case."
As Jin spoke, an intense vibration spread in all directions.
Bale hesitated, considering whether he should release his power, but he recalled Sandra's command to act only when Jin gave the order.
In fact, Jin had no intention of breaking the alliance.
If Zephyrin were to respond, "Alright, the temporary alliance ends today," Jin would be taken aback.
I was kidding, why are you doing this?
It was just that he didn't know about Zipfel, who had lost Hedo, but since even Kinzelo came out like this, it was necessary to make it clear.
In other words, Jin was putting up a front to prevent Kinzelo from ever making any petty warnings to him using the alliance as an excuse.
The tension with Zipfel alone was enough to give them a headache.
In response to the sudden threat, Kinsello remained silent for a moment. They don't know about anyone else, but Jin had never uttered an empty threat.
"What... Did you say? You...!"
But before Zephyrin could pour out his anger, Orgal spoke up.
[Cough, Zephyrin, calm down. It's obvious that Jin found out about Zito's name... probably through the Holy King. The Holy King must have received Ayula's revelation. Seeing you suddenly bring up Zito, it seems that something is wrong with his physical vessel kept by the Holy Kingdom.]
Orgal met Jin's eyes. Jin felt a surprise inside whenever Orgal talked casually about the mysteries of the world like now.
[For now, you should calm down as well, Jin Runcandel. I have no intention of breaking the alliance, so stop putting on such a show. Is it so difficult to get along peacefully?]
In fact, there was nothing wrong with Zephyrin's words, except for casually mentioning the termination of the alliance. Kinzelo had always conveyed a desire to get along well with Jin.
However, Jin couldn't bring himself to view Kinzelo favorably. They were still terrorists who killed innocent people and conducted experiments. After all, they were enemies who had to be eliminated after dealing with Rosa.
"It is not an easy problem. Anyway, you seem to know everything, Orgal."
[Because I have lived a long time. To answer your question, cough. Zito is a figure that embodies our tribe. But to me, he is like a teacher.]
"Is that why you tried to devour the Holy Kingdom when I was a reserve flagbearer? To regain the teacher's vessel while conducting a living golem experiment along the way."
[Think as you please. But that is a separate issue from dealing with evil god.]
"No, they're related. Because of that, the Holy Kingdom became unstable, and the healing of the major forces was delayed."
[One thing I can say for sure is that I cannot control the problems with Zito's vessel.]
"Even if you can control it, you probably won't."
[Even if it's hard to believe what I say, it's a fact that it is a tremendous burden for me when he wakes up.]
"It sounds like you're saying he would better wake up when you are back to normal."
[Since the Holy Kingdom took possession of Zito's vessel, why do you think Ayula and the past saints hid that fact from the world?]
Orgal smirked.
"They must have been afraid that someone would covet that power."
Orgal nodded his head as he looked at Jin, who answered immediately.
[You're almost right. Zito's power has the ability to tempt people on its own. So, my advice is that from now on, it would be best for you to always be suspicious of your friend.]
"What?"
[It means that you should hope that the current Holy King, Lani Salome, has an absolute faith that can overcome that temptation. If she falls and resurrects Zito, it will be a painful situation for everyone.]
As Jin was about to reply, Orgal laughed once more.
[Just kidding. If Zito's body had such an effect, the holy kingdom would have collapsed long ago. Well, I gave Jin a little punch. Zephyrin, I hope you feel a bit relieved too. Cough!]
Zephyrin smiled contentedly as she saw the slight grimace on Jin's face.
"It's been a while since the Master has done something nice for you. It's not easy to see that expression on Sir Jin's face, so I think I'll feel good for about a week."
[That's a relief.]
Although Orgal said it was a joke, Jin couldn't help but feel uneasy.
He couldn't be completely certain that the reason Ayula and the past saints had concealed Zito's physical body from the public had nothing to do with Orgal's joke.
"It's been a while since I received and gave something in return. I'll remember that joke well."
Knowing that Kinzelo cared deeply about Zito wasn't necessarily a bad thing for Jin.
[Anyway, Zito won't awaken before the battle against evil god. I can't control it, but I can predict that much... cough...]
Just as Orgal spoke those words, Margiella entered cheerfully, pushing her wheelchair inside.
"I overslept and came late. It's good to see you, Sir Jin! I heard you brought Lord Bale!?"
Margiella bowed her head respectfully towards Bale, who had been standing next to Jin like a folding screen.
She had twinkling eyes, as if she was genuinely pleased to see Bale.
"Nice to meet you, Lord Bale. I'm Margiella Ivelianos."
"... Who are you, do you know me?"
"I know you well! You are the trace of life that came from the sun, the most noble existence itself. We have been searching for you for a long time."
"Are you looking for me?"
Sun. Jin mulled over the word Margiella had mentioned.
'Come to think of it, Cuicantelle said that in the past, Bale introduced himself as a creation of the sun....'
And suddenly, Jin glanced at the flag of Kinzelo hanging prominently behind Orgal's wall.
The flag depicted the complex form of Kinzelo's symbol, the "Broken Sun."
For a few seconds, Jin couldn't take his eyes off the flag, and he felt a chill run down his spine.
'Is it implying that Kinzelo, the entity they claim to revive for the ultimate purification, is the parent of life, a deity... the Sun God?'
There are numerous gods in the world, ranging from beings treated as mere idols to those who govern the vast nature.
Most of these diverse gods have made themselves known in the world by entering into contracts with humans.
However, neither Jin nor most people in the world had heard the word "Sun God" frequently.
That title had no significance unless some mage claimed to be the sun god as alias and caused social repercussions.
It was because there was no existence with the name of 'sun' among the active gods.
Looking back, it was strange in a way.
The sun is instinctively the most revered object by humans, yet there had never been a deity symbolizing it.
Orgal stared at Jin quietly, smiling.
[You're probably right, Jin Runcandel.]
The reason was that Bale had never encountered the one who formed him.
When he first appeared in the world, Bale only knew that he was created by the sun.
He had never met the one directly or received any special messages from them.
Therefore, Bale had unwittingly become entangled in various incidents over the past thousand years, and in the process, he met Sarah and became a Knight of Runcandel.
"Orgal, the reason I brought Bale was solely because it was said to contribute to your recovery. So if I see any movements from you aiming for something beyond that purpose, I will immediately take Bale and leave."
[Don't worry about that part.]
"Of course, it would be a great benefit for you if you recover. One side wants the Sun God, another side is Helluram, and the other side is the demon's god's orb. You all have such diverse goals."
[You're also making efforts to communicate with Solderet again, aren't you?]
"That's true, but I hope you don't treat me the same way. I don't think my goal will be accomplished just because I can communicate with Solderet again. More than that, I've always been curious about the meaning of the name Kinzelo... Is it the name of the god you're trying to resurrect?"
[Yes, it is the name of the being who created everyone here.]
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"True creator..." Jin said.
Everyone has thought about it at least once. If Gods created the world, then who created Gods?
The answer to that question is usually similar. Either there is another God above the Gods, or it began to exist on its own.
Orgal claimed that it was the sun god, 'Kinzelo'.
Unlike the countless fraudsters who have claimed to be the sun god so far, Orgal's assertion had clear credibility.
Jin had personally experienced the power of the sun god. Valeria, who had suffered a fatal injury, was completely healed within the area formed by the residual energy of the sun god, which Zipfel referred to as a holy land.
Furthermore, what about the Bale of being a creation of the sun? He was born with tremendous power, not to mention divine combat prowess, and even resistance to manipulation of history. Without any training or enlightenment.
"How about it, Sir Jin!? You just discovered the greatest secret of the world. Isn't your heart racing!?"
Margiella asked Jin eagerly.
Jin shrugged his shoulders in response.
Even if the sun god truly existed, it wasn't a particularly interesting story for him.
Rather, it added another problem. If he couldn't overthrow Kinzelo in time, he would end up in conflict with such a higher-level being.
Of course, it was a story of when the sun god truly existed and resurrection was possible.
"Well, I'm not sure. Bale, what about you?"
"I'm not very curious either."
Bale's nonchalant reply made Jin sigh inwardly.
If Bale had any longing for the enigmatic creator who made him, it would only add another source of unease.
Bale's sole concern was Sarah Runcandel. Now that he faced the fact that Sarah had died a thousand years ago, this world was nothing more than a vast battlefield to him.
However, in that battlefield, there were those who killed Sarah, as Jin had informed him. For Bale, the remaining meaning of his life was to eliminate them.
[Bale, aren't you curious about the being that created you?]
"Are you deaf? Why do you keep asking the same thing? It's annoying. I'm not impressed, and I'm not curious."
Bale's aggressive response left most of Kinzelo's executives bewildered, and Orgal seemed somewhat saddened.
'It seems that Orgal, rather than Bale, has a longing for the sun god.'
Orgal is a demon, especially a demon king with the nickname of the demon beast king. Jin thought that the combination of him and the sun god was quite incompatible.
[It's a pity that the fragment of the creator is no different from other orphans. You must have known since the moment you realized that you were a creation of the sun god. Cough...]
"Hey, Jin. I don't like him, can I just hit him once? I feel like he is treating me like a fool."
"You shouldn't hurt someone who is sick, especially since we're allies now."
Most of Kinzelo's executives continued to feel disappointed by Bale's actions, which they had been eagerly anticipating.
Jin, on the one hand, understood their disappointment. He had felt a similar way when he first saw Bale.
"Lord Bale, imagine a world where the sun god returns and the world is purified."
Bale snorted as Margiella spoke with a bright smile, almost like a fanatic.
"I don't want that."
"In that world, lord Bale, you will be able to meet the person you love the most again."
"Sarah... I can meet her again?"
"Of course. The Sun God will never overlook Lord Bale's deep sorrow. After all, Lord Bale is a fragment of the sun god, and your sorrow is his too. The only way it can be purified is for Dame Sarah to come back."
At that point, Jin came to understand more clearly the reason why Kinzelo used Zipfel to make the Demon God's orb in the past and the background of their obsession with Bubare Gaston.
'Fragment... it's probably up to Bubare, that disgusting bastard, to collect and put the fragments of the sun god back together.'
If that's the case, beings like Bale might not be unique.
Once again, Jin couldn't help but think that Kinzelo wasn't just a bunch of foolish idiots. The dangers they possessed were far too extreme.
All of Jin's enemies are like that. Even thinking about Rosa alone made him daunted, but his head kept throbbing because of the demon king and the sun god.
Jin observed Bale's reaction once again. He seemed somewhat swayed by the idea of being able to meet Sarah.
Jin decided to silently observe how he would respond.
"Fuck this bullshit. Even if the sun god were to resurrect Sarah, it wouldn't be the Sarah I knew. It would probably be another Sandra Zipfel. So don't mention Sarah again. If it weren't for the golden seal, you all would have turned to dust and scattered to the ends of the earth."
"Oh...."
Jin exclaimed in admiration.
"That's a good answer, Bale."
Seeing how Bale wasn't seduced by Kinzelo, who had even mentioned Sarah, Jin felt strangely proud.
"Lord Bale, it seems there was a misunderstanding. What I meant was..."
"Enough with the pointless talk. I allowed you all to tempt Bale out of my own consideration. It's true that I somewhat disregarded your kindness. I've heard a bit about Zito as well. But since it failed, don't cling to Bale anymore. It means to show me how Orgal will recover."
[Cough!]
"Look at this, you're still coughing as if you're about to collapse. How can you even fight Rosa with such a feeble state? Orgal, when I unsealed Bale, I briefly saw Rosa. She seems to be getting stronger faster than you anticipated."
-Everyone seems worried about when Rosa will move, but let me tell you one thing. It will take at least a year for her to take action. Until then, there won't be any threat of the world's destruction.
During the first temporary alliance meeting, Orgal had mentioned that there was almost no chance of Rosa being active within a year.
"It's only been about three months since the first meeting where you said it would take at least a year. But the Rosa I encountered when I unsealed Bale... she seemed much stronger than when I attacked the Garden of Swords. Orgal, didn't you feel anything about that?"
[I didn't. But if what you say is true, the day of the final battle may be approaching sooner than expected.]
"Yes. The already limited time has become tighter. That's why I brought Bale here, even though I knew it would benefit Kinzelo. I'm not here to quench your thirst for the sun god."
Orgal nodded his head.
[To recover, I need Bale's power to be unleashed.]
As Jin gestured, a ring appeared above Bale's head, and wings formed on his back as a golden energy emanated from him.
Then, Orgal's body, which was composed like smoke, began to thicken at a rapid rate. Just as the dry land absorbs rain.
Bale felt a bit uncomfortable with his energy being absorbed, but he remained still.
"Jin, he's taking away my power. Shouldn't we stop it?"
"If it causes permanent damage, try to stop it for now."
"It's not that... It's at a negligible level."
It was only negligible from Bale's perspective. The energy of the sun god he possesses is close to infinite by human standards.
Watching Orgal's body become more and more distinct, Jin thought of Murakan.
'It feels similar to when Murakan absorbs my shadow force and recovers. It seems to work much better than that, but...….'
Orgal absorbing Bale's energy is quite similar to the time when Murakan woke up in the storm castle and tried to inhale Jin's shadow force.
Then it means that Orgal is an existence created by the sun god. It's like the Guardian Dragon receiving power from their god.
[Whoa...….]
When Orgal took one big breath, he was no longer in the ghostly form as before.
His features were properly displayed, and his hazy body turned a distinct gray color.
There are still some blurry parts left here and there, but if he covers it up, he becomes similar to other normal demons.
However, further recovery seemed impossible through the energy of the Bale.
"Finally the cough has stopped. Now, you have become close to other demons."
[It's been a while since I've felt this good...….]
"But it seems that the recovery through Bale is the limit, isn't it? In order to recover more, you need the Holy Land of Zipfel."
It was not difficult for Jin to guess that the power of the sun god remaining in Zipfel's holy land was far more pure than the one possessed by the Bale.
"Congratulations, Master."
Zephyrin knelt on one knee before Orgal and spoke.
Although Jin didn't feel any noticeable change in Orgal's energy after his recovery, he recognized through Zephyrin that his power had become immense.
Zephyrin was emitting a tremendous aura that was incomparable to before.
When they first met at Black King Mountain, Jin's story would have ended there if Zephyrin had this much power.
Zephyrin is a being that derives strength from Orgal. And up until now, she had always forcefully drawn upon Orgal's remaining power. However, even though Zephyrin's energy had become more enormous than ever before, there was no apparent impact on Orgal.
"I finally have a little bit of faith, Orgal. I wondered what would happen if you pretended to be sick until the day of the final battle came. By the way, don't tell me that your condition would be bad again if you use more than a certain amount of power like in the Kaldran snowfield?"
[Don't worry about that. Unless it leads to death, I can now maintain this level of condition at all times.]
It was a pleasing answer to hear if Jin only considered the showdown with Rosa, but it was a dreadful prospect when imagining the future battle with Kinzelo.
[However, I suppose I will need an adjustment period like an evil god. It should take a few days.]
"A few days is fine. Don't overexert yourself and get carried away with the power you've regained after such a long time. I'm saying this because you've been so helpless all this time; it's just needless worry."
Orgal looked at Jin and smiled.
[I've only regained about 10% of my power, so I'm not ecstatic to the point of jumping for joy.]
"Just 10% and it's already at this level..."
[Didn't I mention during the meeting that if I were in my prime, things wouldn't have turned out like this?]
While Orgal's words didn't sound like empty boasting at all, Jin felt somewhat uneasy.
Bale turned his head sharply and threw this question at Jin.
[He doesn't seem like a patient anymore, can I beat him now!?]
Jin chuckled and burst into laughter.
700
[T.L: punisher87]
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Jin was pleased with all of Bale's unexpected actions at Kinzelo's headquarters. He found Zephyrin's threats unpleasant and Orgal's jokes not very amusing, but Bale was stepping in and handling things for him.
Kinzelo remained silent for a while, blinking their eyes without responding to Bale's blunt remarks.
"Well, Bale, how about showing a little restraint? If you rush in, you might end up getting beaten unnecessarily," Jin said, as if trying to calm Bale down, but in reality, he wanted the opposite.
Jin's words had two potential effects.
First, it would further provoke Bale, and second, it would subtly signal to Kinzelo's side that he had made an effort to make Bale behave properly.
As expected, Bale shouted in even greater frustration in response to Jin's words.
[No way!]
"What do you mean 'no way'? You will definitely lose. Orgal is the true Demon King, after all. So, just stop causing trouble and stay still."
Jin secretly wanted to witness Orgal confronting Bale.
'I'm likely to miss seeing Orgal's battle in detail during the final showdown. I need to focus entirely on Rosa.'
So, it wouldn't hurt to have a glimpse of Orgal's regained power and how he fought when there was an opportunity. It would be different from the time of the Terror of the sword emperor castle.
[Hah, Jin. This is something you say because you don't know. Yeah, he might be stronger than me. But I can feel it.]
"What can you feel?"
[He can't kill me.]
"Well, that's obvious. We're temporary allies, right? You're one of the most critical forces."
[It's not just that. It's a more fundamental issue. With the power he possesses, he can't kill me. That's why, even if I get hit, I want to hit him.]
Jin looked at Orgal, as if asking him to explain what he meant.
[Unless there is an energy of genesis knight or something equivalent, erasing all traces of life perfectly is impossible. There are very rare beings like that... like the Black Sea King you faced in the past.]
"You mean, putting the qualifier 'perfectly' means that killing is only impossible, but sealing or something else is possible. That's why you guys didn't show up during the Glyek Awakening..."
Jin gritted his teeth, recalling the Battle of the sword emperor castle. At that time, Kinzelo demanded Jin's loyalty as a condition for their participation in the Glyek Battle.
[Bale, if you truly want to fight me, then I have no choice but to partially seal your power. It's to ensure that there won't be any fatal problems for our alliance. So, Jin will actively intervene to prevent that.]
"Uh, you're going to do that. Today really isn't my lucky day, Orgal."
[It's just another ordinary day, isn't it?]
Without the energy of genesis knight or something equivalent, it is impossible to completely erase traces of life.
Jin pondered on that fact for a moment.
'In the end, it means that in order to ultimately kill Orgal, the power of genesis knight is definitely necessary.'
Considering the power Orgal possessed from the beginning, even excluding the characteristics of the Sun God's Authority, it was natural that the power of genesis knight would be necessary.
However, there was one strange point.
'But why did Bale acknowledge his defeat to me in that sealing ground? If what Orgal said is true, then I wouldn't be able to kill Bale.'
At present, Bale was definitely challenging Orgal, not the type to submit just because the opponent appeared stronger.
Bale had never encountered the Sun God, but he was aware that he himself was a divine being, and he was just as arrogant and independent.
'Is it because he realized that I am Dame Sarah's successor?'
It wasn't a problem to contemplate at the moment.
When Jin gestured, Bale turned his gaze away from staring down Orgal with a proud look.
"Well, it seems like we've roughly kept our promise to each other, Orgal. Now let's discuss Rosa as allies."
[About why is Rosa progressing faster than I expected?]
"Yeah. There are a few strange aspects to Rosa's actions."
[Tell me.]
"First, at this point, Rosa has become an evil god to the point where even powerful individuals like Sir Padler, who we pushed into a corner at the Kaldran Snowfield, are no longer necessary. It's hard to explain with evidence, but it's just something I felt myself."
[There's no way you are talking nonsense about this issue, so I believe you. It's not entirely impossible.]
"But Rosa suddenly started using Joshua again. Moreover, he gave an even more incompetent impression than before and failed in all the recent tasks he was assigned. I blocked him every time. This is the point that I find strange."
[So, you mean there is no reason for evil god to keep such a pathetic individual by their side?]
"Yeah. After meeting him in Akin, I kept thinking about it. Why does Rosa have a waste like that by her side..."
Jin paused for a few seconds to organize his thoughts before locking eyes with Orgal.
"Suddenly, I remembered what you said during our first meeting."
-[There is only one thing her daughters hope for. The resurrection of my former lover, Helluram.]
-So, is that why they use humans as sacrifices?
-[Not exactly the humans themselves. Of course, they need things like human flesh and bones, but the real thing is despair. Only pure and abundant despair can awaken Helluram.]
Despair.
Jin, perhaps unintentionally, had the assumption that Rosa was using Joshua to obtain pure despair.
When Jin explained this, Orgal's eyes widened in surprise.
[...It's an interesting story, Jin Runcandel. If that's the case, it's also possible that the accelerated completion of the evil god is related to that.]
"If, in your view, my thoughts are correct, what do you think?"
[Runcandel's Second flagbearer had such a negligible presence that I had forgotten about him. Human jealousy can be astonishing, even to the extent that it surprises the gods. If the magnitude of his inferiority complex is deep and dark enough to be significant to the evil god, then anything is possible. It is something that I had not thought about at all.]
"In that case... does it mean that Joshua performing his tasks well is actually inconvenient for Rosa?"
However, it was not a feasible plan to intentionally lose to Joshua to prevent Rosa from harvesting his despair.
If he succeeded in whatever task Rosa assigned to him, it meant that Jin and those around him would be hurt or killed.
There was only one solution.
"It means that we need to find Joshua and completely eliminate him so that Rosa can't use him anymore."
[That seems to be the only solution.]
"Since Rosa herself is protecting Joshua, it won't be easy."
It was a natural assumption. Rosa wouldn't just leave someone with such utility to their own devices. There must have been meticulous and impenetrable protection in place, cunning enough to elude Joshua's awareness but impossible for anyone to end.
That was also why Bale had let Joshua slip away in the Akin Forest.
"Protection... the thought of it makes me sick."
Jin was overwhelmed by a nauseating sensation.
It was because it was repulsive.
The fact that there were still humans who couldn't escape from the arms of the one who had turned them into dolls for producing despair.
The fact that a mother existed who would send her child further into the abyss even after they had fallen into despair, as long as it served her purpose.
[Are you okay?]
Jin managed to suppress the rising sensation of revulsion and nodded.
"I'm fine. Anyway, whether my assumptions are correct or not, we must eliminate Joshua before the decisive battle."
[I agree. If the day comes when Joshua Runcandel is alive and not in despair, it will be your despair. You are a far more significant existence to the Evil God than Joshua... Your despair would be a much better ingredient for her. To awaken Helluram…]
Jin started to doubt if despair was really what awakened Helluram, as Rosa seemed to be preparing herself to become an evil god rather than awakening Helluram.
Above all, Jin couldn't picture Rosa as a servant to Helluram, like a prophet. Who could she be going under?
'Damn it... The more I think about it, the more complicated it gets.'
At least there was one thing he was grateful for.
Orgal had just regained a portion of his former power.
"In that case, you have a task now, Orgal. You've rested in bed for long enough. It's time to move."
[You mean I should kill Joshua?]
"I'm not saying it would be easy with just the amount of power you've regained, right?"
[Well, it depends on how much the Evil God cares about him. But even without you saying it, I was already considering looking for him. If the Evil God's protection is as deep as it seems, I'll at least confirm if Joshua's despair is truly being used by her.]
"Good. You're making the efforts to bring Bale here more rewarding. Let's expect meaningful news when we meet next."
As Jin seemed to be about to leave, Orgal waved his hand and opened a steel dimensional portal. Beyond the portal, the seas of Tikan could be seen.
[If you wish, you may use it.]
Although it appeared considerate on the surface, Jin recognized it as a warning disguised as consideration.
As allies, if Jin engaged in frivolous actions, Tikan could be reached in an instant.
Unlike before, Orgal seemed to open the dimensional portal effortlessly.
"I understand your consideration, but there's a ride waiting for me. You know it's the Spatial Transfer."
When JIn responded in a similar manner, Orgal smirked.
[Well, as you said, it's a favor. See you next time.]
After leaving the headquarters of Kinzelo and boarding the Red Owl, Bale looked at Jin with a puzzled expression.
"Hey, Jin."
"What?"
"The reason I lost to you in the beginning is because of the fire you possess."
Jin was about to ask why he was bringing this up, but he recalled his thoughts from the meeting in the Kinzelo conference room.
"Really? I did wonder about it earlier. It didn't seem like I was stronger just because of the fire, but if it's because of fire, then I guess it was true?"
"No, you don't know this, but your fire is very special. And it can affect him too. So, someday, let's defeat him together. Got it?"
After a moment of hesitation, Jin realized why Bale was saying this.
"Sure, I understand. We'll defeat him together someday."