Chapter 367: Traces (7)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 367: Traces (7)
A long time passed. Heat continued to radiate from Valeria's body.
Not a single trace of dye remained in her hair. Steam billowed from her sweat-soaked robes, and her red hair, fluttering in the torrent of her mana, looked like a living flame.
[She is of the Hister bloodline. Where did you meet that child?]
"I met her in the lawless city of Mamit."
Jin did not go into detail, and Shilla did not seem inclined to pry further.
Shilla’s eyes grew deep.
[Fortunately, she is a resilient child who does not need your protection. However… all living things, not just humans, must ultimately live by protecting one another. No life can truly exist in isolation.]
It was a sudden remark, but Jin nodded. He didn't mind Shilla’s words.
[While my friends and yours are working hard, we should consider the potential variables.]
"Aside from the Zipple mages coming here, are there any other issues on your mind?"
[This is Viment’s land. Some of my kin may be in league with them.]
"Indeed. It’s unlikely that the fragments of a shattered absolute power would have returned only to Maila. Viment… it’s a plausible theory."
[There may also be kin who have sided with your Runcandel.]
"I certainly hope that isn't the case. Dealing with two major powers at once is already enough of a headache. For now, it’s best to assume that Zipple and Viment will definitely cross paths."
Viment was searching for Temar’s body. Jin spoke while keeping that fact in mind.
The probability that a traitor among the fairy descendants is working with Viment is nearly one hundred percent.
He recalled the story Casimir had heard as a child—a conversation between the former emperor and his ministers. He suspected their talk of negotiating with the Wantaramo Forest might have been about a mole.
Perhaps the reason Viment started searching for Temar’s body in the first place… was because a traitor among the fairy descendants leaked information about his tomb.
Otherwise, there was no way Viment could be searching for Temar’s tomb—an existence unknown even to most Runcandels, save for Cyron, Rosa, and a few key elders, and even that was just a guess.
"Viment will likely send their Special Task Force or the Imperial Guard. Moving a large-scale military force would be nothing more than advertising to the world that there’s something in the Wantaramo Forest."
I might run into some familiar faces.
Jin shrugged at the thought.
[The Special Task Force and the Imperial Guard. Are they stronger than you?]
He could answer without hesitation.
"The Captains might be stronger than me, but I can confidently handle anyone below that rank."
He based this deduction on Latz, a Special Task Force section leader he had met during his days as a reserve flagbearer, and Alisa, who was a former section leader herself.
[How many Captains are there?]
"Four. But it’s unlikely all of them would be mobilized at once."
The Imperial Guard Captain and Vice-Captain, and the Special Task Force Captain and Vice-Captain. If all four came together, it would be a struggle even for Luna, let alone Jin.
"Lady Shilla, what is the extent of your combat prowess?"
It felt strange to ask such a question of the Queen of the fairy descendants.
However, it was a matter he had to clarify in advance. It was only natural to assess the strength of one's allies.
I might have to fight not only Zipple and Viment but also the guardian of the fourth tomb.
The guardian, Zipple, and Viment.
No matter whom he fought first, he had to reserve enough stamina to face the final opponent.
Of course, it would be ideal if there were no guardian, like in the third tomb, but he needed to prepare for the worst-case scenario.
[Well, it has been so long since I have engaged in what you call a 'fight' that I am not entirely sure. Just know that I am not weak.]
"Could you be a bit more specific?"
At that, Shilla crossed her arms and closed her eyes as if deep in thought.
[…I truly do not know. Even when my kin were killing intruders, I rarely had to use my power.]
"I see."
It seemed he would have to fight as if Shilla weren't there. Jin suddenly felt a pang of regret for not bringing Murakan.
There were two reasons he had left him behind.
First, he wanted Murakan to assist Vellop with his undercover mission; it would be a disaster if it were discovered that Vellop was standing in for Jin immediately after the meeting. Second, Valeria had not yet met Murakan.
Though their cooperative relationship had improved, he felt it would be a burden to show up with such a powerful ally at his side. It might re-trigger the wariness he had worked so hard to ease.
If things get too difficult, I’ll have to force a three-way confrontation.
He had a general picture in mind, but there were too many variables.
Which enemy would he encounter first? Would it be right to head for the tomb without dealing with them? If he did that and ended up revealing the location before being forced to retreat, things would get complicated…
As he was pondering, Shilla spoke.
[Jin Runcandel.]
"Yes."
[There is one thing I must tell you. The battle must be conducted in a way that does not damage the forest beyond its ability to regenerate.]
The Wantaramo Forest was a 'public good' for those at the very pinnacle of power. This was because they were all consumers of King's Liquor.
It wasn't a coincidence that Jin and his companions had been unaware of the forest's existence until now. It was the result of those at the top of the power structure keeping it thoroughly hidden to ensure no problems arose within the Wantaramo Forest.
If the forest were damaged, those at the top would surely investigate the matter and demand appropriate compensation from the party most responsible.
A smirk played on Jin’s lips.
In that case, whether it’s picking them off one by one or a three-way brawl… I have the overwhelming advantage.
A chaotic battle with restrictions on destruction.
Given the nature of Spirit Energy, there was no scenario where Jin could shine brighter.
"Understood. For me, that's actually preferable."
[Then that is a relief. Even after a thousand years, your ancestor’s influence still shakes the world.]
"You seem to know my ancestor well."
[I remember very little in detail. As you know from visiting the previous tombs, the Runcandel of that era has been almost entirely forgotten. However, I clearly remember that even then, every single action Temar took exerted a vast influence upon the world.]
Shilla met Jin’s eyes.
[Now, you must take the place of his shadow. Or perhaps, cast a new shadow upon the world, one named Jin Runcandel.]
It was then that the Catfolk and Valeria finished their work.
[Phew!]
[It’s done…!]
One hour and thirty minutes.
The Catfolk could hardly believe they had managed to create a passage leading to the Red Lake, along with decoy passages to confuse Zipple, in such a short time.
About fifteen violet entrances now shimmered on the cave wall. Only one of them was the real passage to the Red Lake; the rest were fakes that led back into the middle of the forest.
[The location of the entrance changes randomly every time it’s used. Unless the Zipple mages are incredibly lucky and incredibly stupid, they won't get it right on the first try.]
If there were fifteen doors to choose from, it was only natural to split up and enter. Unless, as Ruru said, they were monumentally stupid.
Splash!
Jin handed a canteen to Valeria. She took it and gulped it down as if her throat were parched.
"Jin Runcandel, let’s take a moment to steady our mana before we depart. It seems we’ve earned at least that much of a reprieve."
As Valeria sat back down to stabilize her mana, Ruru and Miru gave a thumbs-up.
[Thanks to her, we even saved the sacred object.]
[We managed to keep half of it!]
Ruru and Miru smiled, showing the remaining half of the Claw of the Cat God.
Stagger!
When Valeria stood up again, she faltered, and Jin reached out to support her.
"Are you alright?"
"I just felt a bit dizzy for a moment."
She didn't add that she had pushed herself harder than expected to save half of the Catfolk's sacred object.
Even Valeria herself couldn't quite understand why she had done it.
Initially, stepping forward to help them had been a matter of efficiency, but using more power than necessary for the sake of the Catfolk had been a mere impulse.
"You can rest for another ten minutes."
"There’s no need. I know my own body. Just keep the promise you made on the way here."
Her tone was somewhat sharp, unlike when she had volunteered to help the Catfolk.
Valeria was afraid of the fact that she was becoming strangely soft since meeting Jin.
—Last time, you said you obtained the recording device from a fairy hideout… but it was actually the tomb of the Runcandel First Patriarch?
—The tomb of the Runcandel First Patriarch happened to be in the fairy hideout.
—You’re playing with words.
—We’re still in the stage of getting to know each other, so isn't it the same for both of us? I’m sure there’s plenty you haven't told me, either. No, you’re probably hiding far more than I could even compare to. Now that I’ve told you about Temar’s tomb, I’m almost out of secrets.
—Well, fine. I won't think of it as you deceiving me. Hearing that it’s Temar’s tomb, I can see how flustered you must have been when you got Heluram’s Spirit Energy Orb from Joshua Runcandel’s villa.
—I was more flustered when you examined that Spirit Energy Orb and misunderstood me.
—In any case, you’re saying we need to hear the clue about Temar’s fourth tomb from the Catfolk… If we find the fourth tomb later, let me examine it too. Is that possible?
—Do as you wish. I promise.
Valeria recalled the conversation she had with Jin on the way to the Wantaramo Forest. The promise she mentioned referred to entering Temar’s tomb together.
To think it’s only been a few hours since I had that conversation, and yet we’ve found the fourth tomb so quickly. I thought it would take at least a few months after saving the Catfolk and hearing their clues.
Would she be able to find new traces of her ancestors in that tomb?
All alone, without anyone.
Tracking the messages left by her ancestors and reclaiming Hister’s magic was a truly, indescribably lonely task.
At some point, she had stopped even realizing it was lonely. Simply waking up, practicing magic, and wandering the world in search of her ancestors' messages and legacy—that was the life of the human named Valeria.
But to have it happen so easily.
To find herself expecting new discoveries about Hister because of someone else, and even coming face-to-face with the traces of her ancestors.
Did this mean the dark, cold years of her past were nothing more than a futile struggle?
It was because of those thoughts that her tone had inadvertently sharpened.
"…I was a bit sensitive."
"You must be tired. I’m not offended, so there’s no need to apologize."
Valeria’s brow twitched slightly.
"We need to enter the passage now. Is it alright if I support you until we reach the Red Lake? If you don't like that either, just say so."
Jin said, taking the canteen back from Valeria.