Chapter 242: Total Ruin and Taking the Fall (7)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 242: Total Ruin and Taking the Fall (7)
The door led to the Land of the Beastmen.
It was the residence of the current Great Warrior of the White Wolf Tribe, Verakt Sidriker, and the headquarters of Kinzelo.
"Leader!"
"Lord Leader!"
As the Leader and Jo stepped through the door, humans and beastmen alike bowed their heads in unison. At the same time, several beastmen rushed forward to support the Leader.
Sighs of relief echoed from all corners. The Leader and Jo had returned safely.
"Jo, you bastard, you must never forget the Leader’s grace, even in death. Does it make any sense for the Leader to risk his own injured body for a wretch like you?"
Verakt spoke while glaring at Jo as if he wanted to kill him. Jo didn't dare meet his eyes and kept his head bowed.
The Leader’s visit to Old Oterium had been a complete accident for Kinzelo.
There had been no signs from their primary threats, Zipple or Runcandel, so no one had expected Jin and Murakan to suddenly raid the headquarters of the Dark Magic Association.
If it had just been Chukon and Susan, things might have been different. But to make matters worse, Jo—the one person essential for completing the 'Artisan's Masterpiece'—had been stationed at the base.
If Jo died, the development of the Masterpiece would be delayed, which meant the fulfillment of their Great Cause would also be pushed back.
Therefore, the Leader had personally stepped in to save him despite the danger. In a situation where every second counted, he was the only one capable of spatial movement.
[Do not be so harsh, Verakt. We have returned without incident.]
"From now on, I would rather the Great Cause be delayed than have you neglect your own safety, Leader. Do it for the sake of the many comrades who look only to you."
[I shall do so. However, I confirmed a very interesting piece of information while I was there.]
"What information?"
[Barmul... that man was Runcandel’s youngest. I wonder if Zipple and Viment are aware of this fact.]
"Wh-What did you say!"
As soon as the Leader finished speaking, a man shouted in sheer shock.
[Vice Captain, what is the matter?]
It was the Vice Captain of Kinzelo, Vishkel Ivliano.
Since he was famous for his usual cold-blooded composure, everyone’s eyes naturally turned toward him after such an uncharacteristic outburst.
"No, it is... nothing. It is just surprising, Lord Leader. To think that Jin Runcandel was actually Barmul."
[According to what I saw through Jo’s eyes, he not only uses magic and the power of the Pluto Tribe, but he is also the Contractor of Solderet. He has violated the covenant with Zipple. It seems Runcandel has decided to go to war with Zipple. We must prepare as well.]
Excluding Jin himself, the Leader was the person who knew the power of the Pluto Tribe better than anyone else in the world.
Vishkel, meanwhile, could hardly calm his pounding heart.
The fact that he got involved with Bubar at the Single-log Bridge Party, and his visit to the sculpting workshop a few months ago... Was it all a calculated approach? Because he knew the identities of Bubar and me? If so, since when, and how…!
A chill ran down his spine, and cold sweat broke out.
There was no way Jin had discovered their identities on his own. Surely, the Runcandel family must have provided the information and issued the orders.
They knew our spies are planted within the factions of every Flagbearer, so they tasked Jin, a mere Reserve Flagbearer, to track our movements instead! They judged that we wouldn't pay any attention to a Reserve Flagbearer!
Vishkel, whose imagination and assumptions had spiraled that far in an instant, gritted his teeth.
He saw all of this as his own failure. From the moment he felt that Jin and Bubar were strangely intertwined, he should have assigned someone to watch Jin. That was the duty of a Vice Captain.
Especially their last meeting.
On the day Jin visited the sculpting workshop, claiming he wanted to test himself against Vishkel using Bubar as an excuse, his behavior had certainly been unusual.
— Since becoming a Reserve Flagbearer, I’ve fought quite a few people. However, perhaps my opponents were lacking, for I have never again felt that desperate sensation I had when I first clashed with you, Sir Vishkel. That feeling, as if I was on the verge of manifesting the Heart Sword.
— I acknowledge my arrogance and rudeness, Sir Vishkel. I am still nothing more than a fledgling who dares not even cross swords with you. However, this friend of yours insulting Runcandel is another matter entirely... Move even a single step, and I will cut you down, Bubar.
Jin had repeatedly used aggressive words and actions just to draw Vishkel's attention.
At the time, Vishkel had dismissed it as the rebellious phase of a young martial artist, but only now did he understand why Jin had acted that way.
Yes, that day, after Jin left and I was discussing the recovery of the Compass with Bubar, I definitely felt a faint presence. The reason Jin tried so hard to keep my attention was to plant someone in the workshop to act as his ears…!
He also remembered blabbing everything about the Compass recovery to Bubar that day. He recalled disclosing top-secret information: the recovery location, the date, and the fact that the alliance with Zipple had been completely terminated.
And on the first of June—a date known only to the high-ranking officials of Zipple and Kinzelo—that man, Barmul, who had just been revealed as Jin Runcandel, appeared in the Bellado Principality.
After the failure to recover the Compass, how many emergency meetings had Kinzelo held? How much investigation and scrutiny had occurred to find the leaker and the source of the leak…?
Vishkel felt the blood drain from his face.
He had to take responsibility.
"Lord Leader, I have something to tell..."
Just as Vishkel let out a hollow voice, the Leader suddenly spoke.
[Ah! Dammit!]
He clutched his forehead and let out a frustrated groan.
"What is it, Leader?"
[I left it behind. Dammit, the situation was so urgent that I didn't think to grab it. Ha, to make such a mistake…!]
"What could it be? Ah, surely…!"
At Verakt’s question, the Leader bowed his head deeply and sighed.
[The Destruction Flame Orb of the Dark Heaven (Final Form). I didn't take Riol Zipple’s legacy that was stored at the Dark Magic Association’s headquarters. Jo, did you happen to grab it? Please, tell me you did.]
"Uh... well. Lord Leader, I was also in a state of panic..."
"You utterly useless, moronic piece of shit! Jo, you’re the head of the Dark Magic Association, and you’re telling me you forgot that? Do you expect the Leader to look after every little thing?"
Verakt grabbed Jo by the collar, his eyes narrowing into slits.
"G-Great Warrior Verakt! Let's talk this through! I-I tried to take it, but things were just too chaotic!"
"You call that an excuse? I’m so frustrated I could go mad! Argh! Hey! Someone get this insect out of my sight and make sure he stays hidden for a while. If I see him again, I might actually kill him!"
Fling! Thud!
Verakt threw Jo to the floor and reflexively raised his foot. In his rage, he intended to crush Jo's head.
"Oh, Great Warrior!"
"Great Warrior, this is the man the Leader went to great lengths to bring back alive! Please, calm yourself!"
Fortunately, other beastmen blocked him with their bodies, so Jo’s head—which had been saved with such difficulty—didn't end up like a smashed watermelon.
Even after the commotion settled, Verakt continued to breathe heavily, unable to suppress his anger.
[...This is a major setback. We’ve lost one of the most important cards we have against Zipple. This is maddening. I was supposed to negotiate with Kelliark regarding the Final Form of the Destruction Flame Orb of the Dark Heaven soon.]
"Dammit! These humans, they can't do a single thing right! Phew."
Verakt’s gaze fell upon the frozen Vishkel.
"Ahem, hmph! Of course, I wasn't talking about the Vice Captain. If those human insects were even half as capable as our Vice Captain, I wouldn't be this infuriated. Why are they so different when they're the same species?"
As if in agreement, the Leader nodded while watching Jo being dragged away by the other beastmen.
Vishkel felt as if his chest were being suffocated.
[It can't be helped, as this was also my mistake. Since it’s already done, we must think of a way to make up for it. Verakt, send the fastest among the beastmen to Oterium. There’s a chance that boy, Jin, didn't take the magic tome. He likely doesn't even know it’s there, so let’s pin our hopes on that.]
"Understood, Leader. I will send them immediately."
[Vishkel. From now on, you personally manage Kall Zipple. If we can't have the magic tome, we’ll have to take him and negotiate.]
Vishkel nodded.
[And didn't you say you had something to tell me, Vishkel?]
In the brief moment his eyes met the Leader’s, countless thoughts flashed through Vishkel’s mind.
In this hostile atmosphere, was it really the right move to confess his own blunder…?
The answer lay in the words the Leader had spoken just moments ago.
Since it’s already done, we must think of a way to make up for it. There’s no benefit in me revealing my mistake right now. For now, I must focus on putting out the immediate fire threatening Kinzelo.
Enduring a heavy weight of guilt, Vishkel opened his mouth.
"...It was regarding the Holy Kingdom. Jin might report the truth about Oterium to the Holy Kingdom and expose the bio-golem experiments. It would be the perfect opportunity for Runcandel to intervene."
"Oh, as expected of the Vice Captain. You are right. They will surely try to use it politically. Isn't that the humans' specialty?"
[Hmm, indeed. Since that kid doesn't seem like an ordinary Reserve Flagbearer, he might cooperate with the Garden of Swords to escalate the incident. What do you think we should do?]
"In my opinion, the reason he suddenly raided Oterium is likely because he received a request from loyalists within the Holy Kingdom. In the process, he must have discovered that control of the Holy Kingdom is split between us and Zipple."
[Continue.]
"From Runcandel’s perspective, they would want to drive Zipple out of the Holy Kingdom before us. If they try to drive both of us out, we are an organization too little-known to the public. So, even if they claim we conducted bio-golem experiments, no one will believe them."
[So what you’re saying, Vice Captain, is that Jin might pin the bio-golem experiments on Zipple?]
"Yes."
[That makes sense. Zipple has a history of being caught performing biological experiments in Colon.]
"For now, we should observe and follow his lead. If things go as I expect... it’s frustrating, but we must support his actions. That is, if we want to keep even half of our hold on the Holy Kingdom."
This was exactly why Verakt both respected and was intimidated by Vishkel.
His refreshing directness and brilliant insight. Verakt felt the rage that had flared up because of Jo gradually subsiding.
[The Vice Captain is right. It’s absurd that we might have to dance to that kid’s tune again... but what can we do? That seems to be the best course of action. Let’s wait and see how Jin moves.]
*
Meanwhile, Jin and Murakan were staring blankly at the Azure Fire that still burned intensely across the area.
"What was that steel gate? Did they really escape? They used spatial movement?"
They were about to voice these questions to each other when something caught their eye.
In the middle of the blue flames, a pure white radiance was spreading.
Since Jin and Murakan didn't know the Leader’s exact abilities, they naturally assumed the radiance was an attack spell or a trap he had left behind.
However, it wasn't an attack. The radiance took the form of an ordinary shield.
"Is that...?"
Jin’s eyes widened, and he hurriedly began to run toward the light.
The Destruction Flame Orb of the Dark Heaven (Final Form).
The very magic tome Misha had insisted he find was glowing within the Azure Fire.
The radiance surrounding the tome was Protection Magic. It was a spell cast two generations ago by the woman who had been the Matriarch of Zipple, cast in fear that her magic tome might one day be lost.
"It’s going to burn! Murakan! Put out the Azure Fire, quickly!"
Murakan quickly threw himself forward and rolled over the flames near the tome.
"Ow, hot!"
It was unfortunate that some of his hair got singed, but thanks to his efforts, Jin was able to secure the magic tome just before the shield gave out.