Chapter 503: Blackmail (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 503: Blackmail (2)
The Runcandels and Sandra watched the battle unfolding in the sky above.
Slightly below them, explosions continued to rock the ground. The battle between Kinzelo and Zipple was still raging within the underground shipyard.
The situation remained grim.
Yona was unconscious, slung over Jin’s back, while Joshua, Dipus, and Jane had all suffered significant internal injuries from their recent fight. There was also no way to confirm if the Black Knight, Mon, who had remained in the shipyard, was alive or dead. Among the group, only Jin and Murakan were in any condition to continue fighting.
Furthermore, they still needed a considerable amount of time to escape the Lutero Magic Federation.
“Kyahaha! Jin, it looks like Hedo came up with a good excuse. My aunt’s direct mages seem to have headed off in a completely wrong direction.”
Sandra spoke in an excited voice, but the Wraith Squad were no fools. If they found no traces of flight toward the Kuta Forest, they would undoubtedly change course and expand their search area.
An emergency state must have been declared long ago. Even setting aside the Wraith Squad, a lockdown and alert would have been issued for the entire region adjacent to the Sota Desert.
They had to break through all of that to return to the clan.
The only silver lining is that Kinzelo is highly likely to help us escape.
Kinzelo.
Another enemy that had appeared at the most opportune moment. Jin was certain that the timely arrival of the ship Gruneil was no coincidence.
They might not know exactly what happened at the 2nd Magic Tower, but they at least know that we—no, that Eldest Sister Yona—successfully robbed the vault. After all, she was acting on their request.
Just before losing consciousness, Yona had handed Jin two items.
One was the ship’s blueprints, and the other was a small machine of a type he had never seen before.
The machine was a board-like object slightly smaller than his palm; when shaken, it made the sound of complex gears grinding inside. Its purpose was unknown.
Neither Joshua, who had heard of the machine’s existence from the Prophet, nor Sandra Zipple knew its exact use. However, since it had been kept with the blueprints, it was undoubtedly an item of great importance. The object itself emanated a strange, extraordinary aura.
Kinzelo sent the Gruneil to prevent us from being intercepted by Drakka’s reinforcements.
The reason was simple.
Kinzelo had caused this chaos to rob the vault in the first place. Naturally, they needed to seize the items the Runcandels had obtained. If the Runcandels were captured by the Zipple main force, Kinzelo would never get their hands on those items again.
The important questions were: who from Kinzelo was assigned to find them, and when would they arrive?
It would be ideal if the person was someone they could handle with their current strength, or at least someone they could negotiate with. But even if that wasn't the case, it wouldn't be a catastrophic problem.
As long as I have the blueprints and the machine, I hold the initiative, regardless of who Kinzelo sends.
While Jin organized his thoughts, Sandra continued to chatter incessantly.
“Ah, if it weren't for my little sister-in-law, I would have been the one on your back. It’s a shame, but I can’t exactly make a person who’s fainted so peacefully walk… Should we at least link arms?”
The other Runcandels watched Sandra, barely managing to hide their profound unease.
Why is Sandra Zipple helping the Youngest? Looking at her, you’d think they were newlyweds who couldn't live without each other. We escaped the 2nd Magic Tower easily thanks to her, but I wonder if this is right.
Even if Sandra Zipple hadn't stepped in, the Youngest and Murakan probably could have escaped on their own. It makes no sense, but Hedo follows her orders absolutely. He was clearly trying to kill me, Dipus, and Jane until she ordered him to open a path.
If not for Sandra, the Runcandels—excluding Jin and Murakan—would certainly have perished. Dipus and Joshua were convinced of that.
And they were likely right. Even considering Yona’s performance, Hedo was not an opponent the Flagbearers could handle.
Jin also found it difficult to decide how to treat her.
“Sandra Zipple.”
“Yes, Jin?”
“I am not your lover, and I am certainly not your husband.”
He simply could not understand her. Even setting aside their backgrounds as a Runcandel and a Zipple—two families that could never coexist—her one-sided affection was beyond peculiar. They had only met for the first time in the Gaifa Archipelago, and as enemies at that.
Sandra’s behavior wasn't scary, nor was it severely unpleasant. However, Jin could not feel comfortable receiving help from her without giving anything in return.
“But it is a fact that my siblings and the Black Knight survived thanks to you. I wish to repay you somehow. If there is something you want, ask for it. If it is within my power, I will grant it after we escape.”
At Jin’s calm voice, Sandra fell silent for the first time.
Even if she was an enemy, and even if she was acting in a bizarre manner that defied common sense, it was uncomfortable to treat someone so coldly when they were trying to help. As he spoke, Jin felt a sharp prick of conscience.
But he had to draw a line. He believed he was in a position where he had to. Anyone in the world would think the same.
Sandra seemed quite shocked by his dry tone.
“Oh… Kid. That was a cold line. Damn cool, really.”
Feeling awkward at Sandra’s silence, Murakan blurted out the words. Even he, having lived for over three thousand years, had never met a character like her.
However, the reason Sandra was silent wasn't because she was hurt by Jin’s dry attitude.
“You’re right, Lord Murakan. You really know your stuff. He’s so cool, my Jin…”
She had only fallen silent because she found Jin’s cold side shockingly attractive.
How… how can someone react like this to what I just said?
It was one shock after another. Not just for Jin, but for everyone else; a chill ran down their spines.
“The more I see him, the more charming he gets! Now I’m even more certain: the best thing I’ve ever done in my life was deciding to love you, Jin!”
“No, what on earth are you—”
“I’m definitely going to marry you. You’re right, we aren't lovers or a married couple yet. I think I got a little ahead of myself.”
“A… little?” Jin almost stuttered.
“Jin. There’s no reason behind my decision to love you. So I don’t expect anything in return. And just like the love of many others, you don’t necessarily have to understand it.”
Sandra grinned and continued.
“A spark just flew into my boring life. Even in a clear sky, a bolt of lightning strikes sometimes, doesn't it?”
Watching Sandra ramble on with her sudden praise of love, Jin concluded that there was no longer any need to worry about her.
She was a lost cause.
“I think I understand what you mean.”
“Of course, this talk of unconditional affection only applies to you and my little sister-in-law. As for the other three over there, I saved your lives… so what should I take from you? Hmm.”
“The Youngest is one thing, but why is Yona included?” Dipus asked.
“Because Eldest Sister is Eldest Sister?”
“Ah, I see.”
He, too, decided not to think about it too deeply anymore. It seemed easier to understand Sandra Zipple that way.
“Above all, she’s the sibling Jin cherishes the most, isn't she? As far as I know, the only siblings Jin has a good relationship with are the Eldest Sister and the Second Eldest Sister.”
“Mary is probably included too,” Jin added.
“I’ll keep that in mind. 4th Flagbearer, what about you?”
“I’m not sure about him, but it’s almost certain that the person the Youngest hates most in the world is that man,” Dipus said, gesturing toward Joshua.
“That’s why I was a bit puzzled. If I were Jin, I think I would have used Hedo to kill the 2nd Flagbearer earlier.”
“We’re in a situation where every hand counts for the escape. It couldn't be helped. Though, I probably would have done the same. The Youngest has a truly broad mind.”
“There isn't a single thing about him that isn't wonderful.”
Dipus and Sandra, snickering together, seemed strangely in sync.
“Dipus, get a hold of yourself. She may be showing us favor, but an enemy is an enemy. And a pure-blooded Zipple at that. Is this a relationship where you should be exchanging such trivial jokes?” Joshua snapped.
As if he had been waiting for this reaction, Dipus’s eyes darkened with murderous intent.
“Does this look like a joke to you, you son of a bitch?”
“What did you say?”
“I’m at the point where I want to tear you apart and kill you right now. You should know better than anyone what kind of mistake you committed. You, the 2nd Flagbearer of the clan! You, who became the Next Patriarch thanks to Mother! You put everyone in danger during this mission. It’s no different from betrayal.”
“Betrayal? That word seems more suited to the way you’re fawning over a Zipple right now. Are you acting like this because I didn't share all the information? I know you dislike me, but I simply judged that it was more appropriate for the success of the mission. Hedo was a variable I failed to account for.”
“What shameless drivel. You can’t deny the fact that if not for the Youngest, we would have been annihilated thanks to that ‘brilliant’ judgment of yours, can you?”
“You’re acting like a child, Dipus.”
“…4th Flagbearer, that’s enough. We must leave enemy territory.”
When Jane stepped in to mediate, Dipus let out a sharp laugh.
“‘For the mission,’ ‘for the clan’… I’m sick of it. I wonder how much profit you’ve taken for yourself under such flowery pretexts. The moment will surely come when everyone sees whether your words are truth or lies.”
Silence, aside from Sandra, returned once more.
The wind was erasing the group’s footprints.
And when the noise and explosions from the battles in the sky and the shipyard had grown much more distant, and a thicker sandstorm began to blur their vision…
The group saw a single, dark silhouette of a person approaching them from afar.
What was meant to come has arrived.
It was someone from Kinzelo.