Chapter 232: Rani Salome (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 232: Rani Salome (1)
“You’re leaving? Right now?”
“Unlike this good-for-nothing, I’m a busy woman. Healing him took longer than expected, so I can’t delay any further.”
Misha shrugged, her foot pressing firmly down on the head of the prone Murakan.
The moment her foot touched him, the veins in Murakan’s neck bulged as he tried to stand, but he couldn’t overcome her strength.
Misha had easily suppressed Murakan with just one foot, even though he had regained forty percent of his former power. After getting a brief taste of Murakan's restored strength, the companions found it difficult to even fathom the extent of Misha’s monstrous power.
Murakan thrashed desperately, but Misha calmly continued speaking.
“Don’t feel too bad. Ultimately, I’m only this busy for your sake.”
The companions glanced at each other, surprised by Misha’s sudden announcement. Quicantel, however, didn’t seem particularly shocked, as if she had expected it all along.
“I don’t feel bad. I just feel apologetic. You’ve done nothing but help us, and now you’re leaving just like that…”
“There’s no need for that. Besides, a piece of my shadow is attached to you now, so we can meet again whenever I have time.”
Unlike Murakan, Misha had many duties beyond protecting a contractor. Especially now, with Solderet absent, she had to perform all the tasks he used to oversee. On top of that, she had to search for Solderet’s whereabouts, leaving her with absolutely no personal time. Even while sharing a drink with Quicantel on her first day here, she had spent the entire night preparing to treat Murakan.
“Is there nothing I can do to help?”
Misha locked eyes with Jin for a moment.
“Not yet. For now, the greatest help you can give me is to grow up strong and true.”
As she spoke, Misha’s eyes filled with immense pride.
“When do you plan to return to the clan?”
“I plan to return around the year 1795.”
“Can’t you go back sooner?”
“The time I promised my father was originally until ‘96. Moving it up by a year is already technically disobeying his orders, so it’s difficult to push it any further.”
“Hmm, that’s a shame. It would have been easier to obtain that once you became a Flagbearer. You would have been able to take Guardian Knights with you.”
“What place are you talking about?”
“Old Oterium.”
“Old Oterium?”
Old Oterium. Once the capital of the Holy Kingdom, it was now the headquarters of Kinzelo’s Dark Magic Association. It was also the place where the magic tome for the ‘Final Form of the Destruction Flame Orb of the Dark Heaven’—the legacy of Riol Zipple—was kept.
Thanks to his regression, Jin was the only one among the companions who knew about Riol Zipple’s legacy. However, Jin had learned about the Final Form of the Destruction Flame Orb of the Dark Heaven from Solderet in his past life. It was no surprise, then, that Misha, Solderet’s own Black Dragon, also knew about it.
“That place is currently the main base of Kinzelo’s Dark Magic Association.”
“I know. That’s why I thought it would be better for you to go after becoming a Flagbearer, but after ‘95 is too late. Well, now that this guy has regained some of his strength, you should be able to handle it even if you go right now.”
“You seem to know a lot about Kinzelo, Lady Misha.”
“I know they were once working with the Zipples, using Demon God Stones to hunt down contractors. And I know that alliance was effectively broken because of you.”
Since her shadow had been attached to Murakan all this time, she could piece together Jin and Murakan’s recent activities. Furthermore, Kinzelo and Zipple were targets she had been monitoring from the start, as she believed they were connected to Solderet’s disappearance.
“If any information important enough to share comes up, I’ll send a letter here. Regardless, it would be best for you to acquire Riol Zipple’s magic tome as soon as possible.”
“Is someone else targeting it?”
Misha nodded.
“Yes. A mage I’ve been watching recently is after it. A human girl named Aria Owlheart. Much like you, she’s a child born with a rather extraordinary fate.”
Since she was a mage Misha was personally observing, the companions naturally expected the name of a famous Archmage or a rising star. However, ‘Aria Owlheart’ was a name none of them had ever heard.
Except for one person—Jin.
My master was already targeting the Destruction Flame Orb of the Dark Heaven at this point?
Aria Owlheart. That was one of the many aliases Valeria had used in his previous life. It was an alias she cherished as much as her real name, signifying that she possessed the heart of a ‘Gray Owl.’
And in Jin’s past life, she had failed to obtain the Final Form of the Destruction Flame Orb of the Dark Heaven. Instead, she had once shown Jin the incomplete Second Form she had managed to acquire.
“An extraordinary fate…?”
“If you are the child chosen by the shadows, then Aria is the child chosen by history. If you ever meet her, give her some encouragement. In the grand scheme of things, she can be considered your ally.”
She seemed hesitant to say more. Since Aria—Valeria—was not a being who belonged to the shadows, there wasn't much Misha could do to intervene. She was wary that recklessly giving Jin information about Valeria might create unforeseen variables in the girl’s fate.
Master’s lifelong goal was to reclaim the magic of the Hister family. Does being chosen by history have something to do with that?
As questions flooded Jin’s mind, Misha removed her foot from Murakan’s head.
“Oh dear, I shouldn't delay any longer. I’ll be going now. Hey, Murakan.”
“What!” Murakan shot up, huffing as he glared at Misha. He didn't dare attack her, though. He could feel the difference in their power, but more than that, he feared that if he acted up any further, his childhood nightmares might return.
“Consider yourself lucky, and make sure you assist Jin properly. Got it?”
It was true that Murakan did less work than Misha. That was why she called him ‘lucky.’
“Hmph! I know how to do my job without you nagging.”
“I guess I can’t just let this go. You’re getting on my nerves. Gilly.”
“Yes, Lady Misha.”
“Don’t make him a single strawberry pie for the next month. Do you understand?”
“Hehe, there’s no way Strawberry Pie would listen to you—”
“Understood, Lady Misha.”
Murakan’s face instantly turned pale.
“Well then, I’ll see you all later.”
*
A week had passed since Misha’s departure.
Murakan, who had been ecstatic after regaining his strength, now spent every day moping in a corner of the garden.
It was because he couldn't eat strawberry pie. It wasn't that he had never gone a month without one before, but being forcibly banned from it was a nightmare—especially when Misha was the one who gave the order.
“Unbelievable, really. How can a dragon be like this? It’s like you’re getting more childish as you get older.”
Unable to watch any longer, Jin finally brought him a strawberry pie.
“O-Oh! Ohhh!”
The moment Jin held out the pie, Murakan’s face lit up. Who would believe this was a Black Dragon who had lived for over three thousand years, let alone a great dragon who had just regained forty percent of his peak power?
Taking the basket of strawberry pies, Murakan hugged Jin, his face a mask of pure emotion.
“As expected, kid, you’re the only one I can count on. Man, it was worth raising you on my back.”
Murakan took out two strawberry pies and held one out to Jin. His hand trembled slightly, a clear sign of how much he hated to share, but he was just barely managing to fulfill his duty.
“I’m fine. You eat it all.”
Chomp!
Murakan opened his mouth wide and bit into a strawberry pie. Jin watched him eat for a while before speaking.
“Sir Casimir brought some information about Rani. He said she was released two days ago after being imprisoned for helping us.”
“Hmm, really? That’s a relief. Phew, I hate to admit it… but if that human hadn't helped, I never would have made it out safely. I probably would have been captured by Kadun and dragged to a Zipple lab. Just thinking about that bastard makes me angry all over again…”
Right after Misha left, Murakan had said:
—I have to repay my debt to that Paladin.
It was something Jin had been thinking about as well, but it was surprising to hear Murakan say it himself.
“I wish you were that grateful to your sister who healed you.”
“You wouldn't say that if you knew what Misha did to me when I was young. She’s not a dragon, she’s a demon.”
“Anyway, about Rani. It seems she’s not in a good state right now.”
“Not in a good state?”
“For some reason, she’s completely changed since her disciplinary period ended. She’s been drinking herself into a stupor every day, and right after her release, she caused a scene at the temple and was arrested again. Now she’s waiting for a trial for additional disciplinary action.”
In the tabloids of his past life, Rani Salome was often described as a wayward adopted daughter. According to the information Casimir brought, the Rani of today was well on her way to becoming that person.
“What? Is that what she’s really like?”
Murakan had fainted as soon as he met Rani, so he had never had a proper conversation with her.
“Not from what I saw. The Dawn Order of Doctrine Protection is an order where discipline is held in higher regard than in any other organization in the Holy Kingdom. That’s why Paladins are often expelled for even minor trouble, but for some reason, Rani isn't being kicked out.”
“You said she’s the Holy King’s adopted daughter. Isn’t that why they’re letting it slide?”
“Could be. But when Rani caused that scene at the temple, the Holy King was performing a blessing ceremony for the citizens. In other words, she caused a scene directly in front of him.”
Miklan was known as a ‘doting father’ who cherished his daughter dearly, and Rani had always been a devoted daughter in return. But the father and daughter had suddenly become antagonistic after the Santel incident.
“Is it like puberty? Hmm…”
“My guess is this,” Jin said. “Rani realized too late that the Holy King sided with Zipple after Santel. She feels a great sense of betrayal and is currently having a crisis of faith.”
—My duty is not to blind the people, preach lies, disguise evil as good, and become hideous by colluding with power.
Recalling the staunch religious convictions Rani had shown, it was a perfectly plausible theory.
After a moment of thought, Murakan met Jin’s eyes.
“Whatever the case, I need to meet her. I’ll help her however I can. Isn't my life worth at least that much?”