Chapter 540: Omen (9)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 540: Omen (9)
Kinzelo Headquarters.
Crunch.
Zephyrin bit into a cookie. It looked similar to a Litra Cookie, but the taste was indescribably horrific. It felt as if having her tongue tortured with a branding iron would be a more pleasant experience.
‘How did the Caligo princesses manage to make something this terrible?’
Beside her, the Caligo sisters, who had baked the cookies themselves, awaited her evaluation with sparkling eyes.
Zephyrin gave a slight nod and an awkward smile. At just that, the sisters jumped for joy as if it were the greatest honor imaginable.
“I knew it! Our cookies beat theirs, Sister!”
“Thank you… for… eating them… so happily… Grand Duke.”
They went beyond just jumping around, joining forces with Bubar to run around the meeting room as if it were a playground, singing strange songs. Naturally, the sight only served to further unsettle the already gloomy executives.
‘Ever since those demons arrived, there hasn’t been a single quiet day at headquarters… And I can’t even say anything because of the Grand Duke.’
‘Verakt clearly hates the sight of them, too. But if I chime in, he’ll probably threaten to rip my mouth open again. He doesn’t even realize I’m just trying to empathize with him!’
‘Bubar and… the female Bubars… they’re both so disgusting. At least the female ones are occasionally funny, but—no. Damn it! What am I thinking? They’re all intolerable. How can Lady Bianca associate with such creatures?’
While Verakt, Jo, and Vishkel clicked their tongues inwardly, Zephyrin stared blankly out the window.
“Lady Zephyrin.”
Margiella rolled her wheelchair over to Zephyrin’s side.
“Miss Margiella.”
“What are you thinking about so deeply? You look like you’re suffering from lovesickness. There’s a certain sorrow in your eyes. Do you perhaps have a hidden lover in the Demon World…? Oh my, how romantic.”
It was a strange thing.
When Zephyrin was being rational, she used formal language with everyone and maintained a polite facade, yet she was utterly ruthless toward anyone who crossed her. This was especially true for those who weren't demons, dragons, or other particularly superior beings. Usually, one had to be at least the head or successor of a Great Ducal House in the Demon World to dare joke with her—excluding fools like Ainas, of course.
Yet, for some reason, Zephyrin had never felt offended by Margiella’s jokes.
‘Then again, considering the entity dwelling within you, it’s not that surprising.’
Zephyrin helped Margiella up and sat her down on the chair beside her.
“It’s not lovesickness, but it’s similar in that I can’t stop thinking about it. Though it’s a grudge rather than love… Anyway, I was thinking about the ‘sad event’ you mentioned last time, Miss Margiella.”
—Since you seem so gloomy, Lady Zephyrin, shall I tell you an interesting story?
—What is it?
—Perhaps something sad will happen to Sir Jin soon, Lady Zephyrin.
—Something sad…?
“So you were thinking about Sir Jin.”
“I didn’t expect the ‘sad event’ you mentioned to be about that stone.”
“Oh, are you perhaps upset that I didn’t tell you in advance?”
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t, but I assume my master, who’s currently lying in there coughing up blood like a weakling, had his reasons.”
“Hmm, but! Lady Zephyrin, you’re the one who made the Leader cough up blood.”
As Margiella brought that up, the other executives in the meeting room pricked up their ears and watched the two of them closely.
The Leader’s health had recently become Kinzelo’s biggest concern. Just when it seemed to be improving, another problem would arise.
While using his power during the terror attack on the Sword Emperor Castle last year had been the Leader’s own choice, the subsequent issues—the Black King Corps incident, the Sota Desert, and the accident during this visit to Tikan—were all Zephyrin’s responsibility.
However, no one dared to question or scold Zephyrin. The only punishment she had received was Vishkel asking her to act as a spy for Zipple once.
‘Ooh, as expected of the Vice Captain’s sister! She’s scratching right where it itches! Hmph, surely Lady Zephyrin won’t threaten Margiella, right?’
‘Even if it’s Margiella, speaking so bluntly… will she be okay? Based on the stories I heard from Lady Bianca about their time in the Demon World, Lady Zephyrin has a temper even worse than Verakt’s.’
‘Well done, Margiella! No, wait, why would you say that?!’
Contrary to the worries of Verakt, Jo, and Vishkel, Zephyrin simply nodded in agreement.
“You’re right. It’s largely my fault. I tried to be as careful as possible, but as you know… Jin Runcandel. That devilish human is just impossible, isn’t he?”
“Of course, I know that well. He’s quite a handful, isn’t he? When I think about how much Sir Jin has troubled us…”
“I could tear him apart a hundred times and still not feel satisfied.”
“That’s perfectly understandable! But I still hope Sir Jin will become one of us.”
“In my long life, I’ve seen his type often. He’s the kind of man who will never compromise with those who hold different convictions.”
“You sound almost as if you’re acknowledging Sir Jin.”
Zephyrin didn’t answer, turning her gaze back out the window.
“Our Kinzelo is always open, so an opportunity might come someday. Though I suspect your and Uncle Verakt’s patience might run out first.”
“You’re a bit strange, Margiella.”
“Haha, I hear that sometimes.”
“If you truly wanted Jin Runcandel to join our side, you should have informed him of the stone’s true nature and urged him to stay out of this as much as possible.”
“I didn’t exactly ignore that thought. But even if I had told him the truth about the stone beforehand, could we really have stopped what was fated to happen?”
Predestined fate.
What Margiella meant by that was the death of Dante Hairan.
“Sir Jin isn’t the type to listen even if you tell him, ‘Your friend is definitely going to die, and the White Stone is dangerous, so you must stay away.’ As you said, Lady Zephyrin, Sir Jin is just that kind of person.”
Zephyrin nodded at Margiella’s words.
“Hehehe, fools! They don’t even know that stone is a bomb… Mmph, mmph!”
As Bubar tried to butt in, Vishkel quickly clamped a hand over his mouth, desperate to prevent the creature’s disgusting voice from further souring Zephyrin’s mood.
In Vishkel’s eyes, the White Stone was not something a creature like Bubar should even be allowed to mention.
“…Anyway, I’ll be more careful about using my master’s power from now on. For now, let’s just eat some cookies and watch the fireworks from a distance.” While the Caligo sisters weren't looking, Zephyrin flicked the cookie out the window. “I suppose we’ll just have to hope Sir Jin is rational enough to schedule the talks after this is all over.”
*
April 4, 1800.
No one in the Sword Emperor Castle slept that night. A massive enemy they could never hope to withstand was approaching, and the seal of the White Stone surrounding Dante was glowing with a chaotic hue even deeper than the day before.
The knights gathered at the castle still showed no sign of abandoning Dante.
It wasn't because they trusted in the power of the Barmul Alliance. It wasn't because they had gained hope from their great victory in the first battle. Nor was it because they believed Jin could perform another miracle.
The knights knew all too well that if Zipple’s true main force arrived, the Barmul Alliance and they themselves would be helpless.
The reason the knights of Hairan did not leave was a matter of loyalty, conviction, and principle.
“If anyone must leave, it should be you, Sir Jin, not us,” Shuras Helter said. His complexion was pale from the internal injuries he had sustained in the first battle. Jin didn't answer, merely meeting his gaze.
“Sir Jin and the Barmul Alliance have fought more than enough for us. I cannot even find the words to express my gratitude… But Sir Jin, at this rate, you and your people will also be consumed by Zipple’s flames.”
“Sir Shuras, I am a Runcandel. It is in the nature of Runcandels and Zipples to kill each other.”
“That is not a reason for you to die on this land, Sir Jin. Do you not have a future ahead of you? Instead of dying here with us, wouldn't it be right to plan for what comes next? Once midnight passes and dawn arrives, the enemy will be here.”
“I will not die on this land, Sir Shuras. And as for planning for the future… the same applies to the knights of Hairan.”
“No, it is different. We have no future. You likely have plans to evacuate us and ensure our safety by incorporating us into the Barmul Alliance or Runcandel. But if we do that, we will be crushed by the guilt of having abandoned Hairan, and we will have to live with that for the rest of our lives.”
While Jin was choosing his words, Shuras looked toward Dante’s seal and continued.
“Sir Jin. To be blunt, we are people of no value. Our martial prowess, wisdom, wealth, and influence within the Empire are all insignificant. The role most of the knights gathered here for Hairan can play in this war is like a single drop in the ocean.”
“Hey, now. Why are you talking like that? Huh? Thanks to you guys, the refugees were saved, and Dante… well, he found his courage. And in a war like this, if the numbers are too small, it just doesn’t look right. You all looked cool. Why are you putting yourselves down?” Murakan grumbled.
“I am honored that the Black Dragon would say such things. But even considering all that, our presence in this war is practically negligible.”
“Argh, so you’re saying you’ll just sit here and die because it doesn’t matter if you do?”
“On the contrary, it is by dying on this land that we can strike a true blow against the enemy. Zipple and the Empire, trampling over insignificant knights who stayed until the very end to keep their faith… They will lose their honor by killing us. Sir Jin, are you not the one who has tarnished their honor more than anyone else?”
“I have never thrown away my life just to tarnish an enemy’s honor.”
“You may not have thrown it away, but you have staked it every time. We are simply staking our lives as well. To disgrace their honor. This is the most effective counterattack that ordinary knights like us can launch against a great power.”
Looking at it coldly, as Shuras put it, he wasn't wrong.
Jin knew this as well. He knew that his desire to save the knights was born simply from the fact that he didn't want to witness their deaths.
“If you keep insisting on this, I will save you by force if I have to.”
“Sir.”
Shuras grabbed Jin’s hand and bowed his head.
“Sir Jin… please respect us. As fellow warriors, and as comrades who fought together.”
“Don’t you think you’re being too harsh on me, Sir Shuras? You’re essentially asking me to watch you all die.”
“It is because there is no one else but you to whom we can ask for such respect. I am sorry. It seems we are nothing but pathetic people who can only repay your kindness in such a way.”
Shuras held Jin’s hand for a long moment before turning and trudging out of the Great Hall.
“Murakan.”
“Yeah.”
“Before midnight tonight, take Sir Valkas and the Prochi siblings, knock out all the knights except for the direct line of Hairan, and transport them to Tikan.”
“All of them?”
Just as Jin was about to answer, Quicantel placed a hand on his shoulder and sighed.
“Lady Quicantel.”
“That man, Shuras… despite what he said, he’s been going around all night to every family gathered for Hairan, trying to persuade them to leave. He told them that staying is too cruel to you, and that only the old knights like himself should remain to lighten your burden.”
“Sigh.”
“It didn't look like he was doing it because he wanted to survive. It looked like he was doing it because he knew that was the best decision for you. I could feel the painful sincerity in his words.”
“Even so, too many lives are at stake,” Murakan cut in. “Telling our kid to just stand by and watch them die—does that make any sense?”
“…Furthermore, the knights have not yet given up hope for Ron. It seems the thought of not being here if Ron were to wake up is more terrifying to them than death itself.”
It was certainly painful for Jin that the knights refused to leave the castle, fully prepared for death.
But for the knights, it was a matter of their very reason for being.
“That is why I think it might be best to respect their wishes,” Quicantel said softly. “Jin, it is painful for you, but for them, everything they stand for is at stake.”
For a long time, Jin could not take his eyes off the door through which Shuras had departed.