Chapter 172: A Brief Farewell (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 172: A Brief Farewell (2)
Several days passed. By mid-November 1796, the companions in Tikan had concluded a series of continuous meetings.
An artifact that could track contractors.
Jin had suspected such a thing might exist within the Zipple Clan ever since his battle against Andrei. However, hearing it specifically called the "Compass" gave him a strange feeling.
"First, we’re sending the kid, Ice Cream, and Enya somewhere else. It’s best for the contractors to leave Tikan until we recover that Compass."
That was the decision the companions reached.
What would the Zipples do before returning the Compass to Kinzelo?
They would likely try to hunt and capture as many contractors as possible—assuming they hadn't already managed to manufacture a similar artifact themselves.
And for the Zipples, there was no hunting ground more attractive than Tikan. It housed three contractors in one place, was unaffiliated with any of the Great Powers, and was not a land where a transcendent being permanently resided.
Jin and his group didn't know the principles behind the Compass or how accurately it located contractors. They could only deduce that it wasn't perfect, given that the Zipples had failed to find Yuria and had kidnapped Latri instead.
But what if, by some chance, the Compass pointed directly to the contractors in Tikan?
A problem would erupt that they were currently ill-equipped to handle.
"Of course, they might be able to make something similar after they return the Compass. But in all my life, I’ve never heard of an artifact that can find a god's contractor. It’s impossible unless you’re the God of Sculpture himself," Murakan noted.
Murakan and Quicantel believed Bubar was not a mere contractor but the reincarnation or second coming of Well.
"Even if the Zipples manufacture an artifact with similar functions later, it will certainly be inferior to Bubar’s Compass. It’ll still be dangerous then, but the period when they’ll be most aggressive in hunting contractors is now, while they have the real one."
That was why the companions decided to send Jin, Enya, and Yuria away from Tikan for the time being.
"It would be best to ask the Secret Palace to protect Enya, Yuria, and Lady Alisa. They know our general situation, and the Secret Palace is the only place the Zipples won't dare to touch, even if the Compass discovers them," Casimir suggested.
Enya’s younger brother Pinte, the old dog Pupi, and Latri were also set to go to the Secret Palace.
Murakan, Gilly, Casimir, and Jet decided to remain in Tikan.
Casimir faced a temporary separation from his wife and daughter, but his expression remained calm. No one in the world wanted to be apart from their beloved family. However, his daughter’s life was at stake, and beyond that, the very fate of Tikan might hang in the balance.
Above all, since Yuria had already been targeted by the Zipples once, they needed to be exceptionally careful.
"What if the Secret Palace refuses our request?"
At Gilly’s question, Murakan shook his head.
"The Palace Master would never do that. If anything, she’ll see it as a golden opportunity to put her hand-picked future son-in-law deeply in her debt, Strawberry Pie."
"Um, son-in-law... Do you really think so?"
"I guarantee it. And if she refuses, I’ll coax her myself. That woman seemed quite interested in me, too. I can't even count how many times she called me a 'handsome oppa' back in Colon."
As Murakan spoke, he stole a glance at Gilly.
In fact, he looked so blatantly that everyone in the room noticed. He seemed to be hoping Gilly would show some sign of jealousy.
However, Gilly only let out a deep, worried sigh and showed no particular reaction. Her response was so devoid of jealousy that it was almost pitiful to watch.
"Ahem... Anyway, don't worry too much."
"Then I shall trust you, Lord Murakan. Haa, I suppose this is the lot of a nanny to a reserve flagbearer with a sealed aura. Once again, there is nothing I can do..."
Murakan shook his head again at her words.
"Your presence by our side is more than enough, Strawberry Pie."
"By the way, where will Young Master Jin be going?"
As Casimir broke the suddenly awkward atmosphere, all eyes turned to Jin.
"Ah, the kid has somewhere else to go. It’s a place I was thinking of sending him soon anyway, even without this incident. I suppose the timing worked out well."
"Is there a place as safe as the Secret Palace?"
Murakan shrugged with a meaningful expression.
"When it comes to evading the Zipples' pursuit, there is no safer place in the world. It’s a land that can’t be found even with something greater than that Compass. Even if a god descended, they couldn't enter."
Jin already knew of this place, having been given a hint right after returning from Hawson.
"You all look like you're wondering why Enya and Ice Cream can't go there. It can't be helped. That land is prepared only for Solderet’s contractors—specifically, for the Runcandel magic swordsmen. Currently, no one but Jin, the Contractor of a Thousand Years, can go there."
"So where is it, you lizard?" Quicantel frowned.
"The Land of the Pluto Tribe."
"The Pluto Tribe... Aren't they a beastman race that went extinct over five thousand years ago?"
There were various beastman races in the world.
Once you crossed the southern border of the Jhan Kingdom, the Land of the Beastmen began.
In that land lived peaceful races like the Water Tail Tribe—so fragile and kind that one wondered how they survived—and the Gold Snow Tribe, who resembled mice and were so obsessed with gold that they earned their name.
There were also the Cat People, who lived in their own small territories and avoided other races, as well as the White Wolf Tribe and the Red Tiger Tribe, whose entire populations consisted of warriors.
Nowadays, whenever people thought of 'combat races,' they immediately thought of the White Wolf and Red Tiger Tribes.
However, the race that had conquered the Land of the Beastmen with overwhelming power long before them was the Pluto Tribe.
Now, five thousand years after their extinction, it was difficult to find even records of them, but not all of their history had been lost. Even today, many scholars strove to uncover the secrets of the Pluto Tribe.
This was because the Pluto Tribe, who had enjoyed such immense power, suddenly vanished without a trace five thousand years ago.
"Where and how could the Land of the Pluto Tribe possibly still exist?"
"It remains in the Mitra Great Desert. I’ll just say there was a contract between Solderet and the Pluto Tribe. I can't go into the details. Anyway, Jin is going there."
The mention of the 'Mitra Great Desert' caused a stir among the companions.
"Isn't that too dangerous? Especially when the entire White Wolf Tribe might be involved with Kinzelo. And the Mitra Great Desert... even the indigenous beastmen get lost there."
"It is dangerous. But it’s a place the kid has to go to a few times anyway. It’s the land where he will undergo the rite of passage to become a true magic swordsman. And since the kid's identity isn't known to Kinzelo yet, there shouldn't be any major issues."
The companions' gazes naturally fell upon Jin.
As always, Jin’s eyes showed no hesitation. Seeing that, his friends felt there was no need to say anything more.
"We will reunite next May. If we all depart from Tikan, it might arouse suspicion during the Zipple and Kinzelo follow-up investigations, so let’s meet in the Principality of Bellado. By the end of May, everyone participating in the Compass recovery operation must be gathered."
Afterward, the companions spent their time devising a plan for the operation and coordinating the finer details.
The Secret Palace accepted the request far more easily than Gilly had feared.
As soon as Murakan went to Manji Island, Talaris came out to meet him personally, riding Mort. She immediately asked what had happened to her 'son-in-law.'
"Nothing much. You could say he’s off to take a test."
"Hmm, what kind of test?"
"It’s a secret. Anyway, I’ll send our people over within three days. Give my regards to your daughter."
That night, a farewell party was held to console one another over the brief parting. After today, the grand mansion in Tikan would be quiet for a while.
* * *
The southern border of the Jhan Kingdom.
Returning to the place where he had carried out his first mission as a cadet felt fresh.
I wonder how the guys in the Youngest's Division are doing.
He suddenly thought of his subordinates, who would now be in the middle of their training as intermediate cadets. He looked forward to seeing what they would look like when he eventually returned to the Garden of Swords.
He wore a traveler’s robe and carried a large bag. The bag contained dried rations, water, a blanket, several herbs, travel artifacts, and salt.
The Mitra Great Desert.
That vast desert, which swallowed the heart of the Land of the Beastmen, was a remote wilderness that even veteran adventurers obsessed with exploration and challenge rarely dared to enter.
There was no gold left by the Pluto Tribe, no vanished ancient civilizations, and no mysterious resources to be found. This was a fact proven over many years by not only adventurers but also renowned research institutions from various countries.
For a long time, many adventurers had headed to the Mitra Great Desert, following myths, legends, and rumors, but the results were always tragic.
The majority of them could not overcome the heat and whims of Mitra, their bodies becoming nutrients for the desert. Those who finally succeeded in crossing it had to face the reality that all the stories surrounding Mitra were lies.
Even strong beastmen like the White Wolf and Red Tiger Tribes considered crossing the Mitra Great Desert a suicidal act.
"Why go there, little human?"
"Perhaps heartbroken? Want to die? Sometimes, there are such stupid humans."
Therefore, it was not strange for the Water Tail beastmen Jin encountered at the southern border of Jhan to ask him such questions.
"Heartbroken? No. I’m just going. And you guys are smaller than me."
The Water Tail beastmen clicked their tongues and shook their heads.
"Ah, and you guys. Do you happen to have any news about the Water Tail Tribe that lived in the village over there about two years ago? I think it was a village about two hours' walk west from here."
"Uh... that village... is us."
"Really? So it was you guys."
Jin grinned as he looked down at the Water Tail beastmen. If they were from that village, they were the ones who had shared grilled fish with him and the other cadets when they looked like beggars during the mission to rescue Sember Bill.
— Human missing? We don't know. Water Tail Tribe, kind. You look like beggars. Fish. Eat. A gift.
— Right, right. I know. Thanks. It’s well-cooked. I’ll repay you next time.
Rustle, rustle.
Jin reached into his robe and pulled out a handful of small gold pieces and jewels.
"I’m finally paying you back for the fish I ate back then. Take this and use it when you trade with humans or the Gold Snow Tribe."
"Uh, uh, you, from back then!?"
One of the Water Tail beastmen in the group recognized Jin. Since he and the Youngest's Division were the only humans who had received fish from their village in recent years, he remembered.
"This is too much!"
"It’s fine. I won't have any use for money in the desert."
"Suicide, after all!?"
"I told you, no. Anyway, I’m leaving now, so I’ll see you again sometime."
Just as Jin was about to step away, a Water Tail beastman grabbed his belt.
"Must you go?"
"Yes."
"Must?"
"Must."
"Beastman land... now, Red Tiger Tribe tyranny is severe. Use the path we use. If you just go, they will pick a fight for no reason."
The Water Tail Tribe were a kind people who always made sure to repay their debts, no matter how small.