Chapter 653: After the Shock (7)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 653: After the Shock (7)
As Ronil seemed to be weighing his response, Octavia stepped forward. Her expression was bold, as if she had nothing to hide.
“The Young Patriarch is unavailable, Jin Runcandel.”
“I’d like to know why.”
Jin glared at Octavia. She swallowed a sigh and shook her head once.
“He is no longer the Veradin Zipple you once knew. Right now… he is in a state almost identical to that of a newborn.”
“A… newborn? I’d appreciate it if you explained that in terms I can understand, Wraith Captain.”
“It is exactly as it sounds. Currently, Veradin has lost everything: his ability to speak, the knowledge he accumulated, his mana, his habits… and all of his memories.”
According to Octavia’s description, Veradin was now a blank slate.
Hearing this, Jin felt his mind go blank. Ronil knit his brows slightly, looking somewhat uncomfortable.
If Jin had followed his impulses, he would have suppressed Octavia on the spot and held a blade to her throat. He wanted to tell her to explain every last detail about Veradin right now, or he would kill her.
Jin barely managed to restrain himself. His gaze shifted to Yuria, and soon, the Authority of Truth manifested, revealing a blue string.
— Until yesterday, I was stuck in a maintenance device, unable to move. Well, thanks to that, the family won't be able to manipulate my mind for the time being.
— Then it seems you’ve lost all that mana now.
— It’s not just the mana; there’s a problem with my memories too. I can’t really remember my siblings’ names, and I’ve forgotten an incredible amount of magic. It’s a side effect of the overload. The mana will definitely return, but I can’t be sure about the memories. As for the magic, well, I can just learn it again.
This was the conversation Jin had shared with Veradin before leaving for Laprarosa.
At that time, even though his memories had begun to fade, Veradin had not forgotten a single thing about Jin or Dante.
After returning to the human world, Jin had grown uneasy when Casimir reported that Veradin hadn't made a single public appearance. Now, that unease had become a heavy reality weighing on his heart.
Jin unconsciously glanced at Sandra. Her unusual behavior was likely the result of similar experiments.
“Are you saying he truly remembers nothing at all?”
“…I am well aware that Veradin was close with you and the Lord of Sword Emperor Castle. That’s why I asked him about you two repeatedly, hoping it might help. He couldn't recall a thing.”
Jin remained silent for a long moment, trembling as he reined in his fury.
This was a conference hall, not a place to settle personal grudges. Moreover, Jin was the host of this meeting and the representative of the Barmul Alliance and its allies.
Octavia didn't look down on Jin. However, she believed that despite possessing power rivaling the strongest in the world, he still had a childish side. A side they had to eliminate before it vanished completely.
“Veradin is our Young Patriarch and was undoubtedly the greatest talent of his generation in our clan. The fact that he is now broken is far more agonizing for us than it is for you.”
Jin wasn't sure what to do about Veradin right now. The thought that Valeria’s Record Magic might be of help flashed through his mind, but that was merely a hope.
“You have some nerve spouting such nonsense. You're the ones who did this to him. It’s a side effect of your bio-golem experiments, isn't it? You experimented on a human being until he was reduced to this state.”
“I won't deny it. But that doesn't make it any less painful.”
“So. What do you intend to do with Veradin now?”
“We will find a way to make him whole again, by any means necessary.”
Once again, the blue string appeared. Jin stared at it for a moment before closing his eyes.
“It seems even your precious Demon God Stones can’t fix this.”
“First of all, what happens to him is not your concern. In any case, for the reasons stated, we cannot assign Veradin to you. Sir Hedo will serve in his place.”
“The Zipples' strongest Tower Keeper, then. In that case, we will send Zephyrin. Yes, with this arrangement, you won't die a meaningless death even if Rosa Runcandel suddenly appears in the Eastern 5 Regions. It seems this matter is settled.”
What remained was to set the date and time for the temporary alliance's full-scale assault on the Garden of Swords, establish operational parameters, and plan for contingencies.
Opinions were exchanged, and from that point on, Orgal took the lead. He possessed a deeper and more vast knowledge than anyone present regarding Chaos—a power only recently revealed to the world—as well as the Evil God and the Prophet.
“…So, you’re saying Kinzelo has been monitoring the formation of that ship, the Ram, ever since that day.”
At Jin’s question, Orgal nodded.
“Indeed. If my predictions are correct, it is currently less than fifty percent complete. It might not even be at thirty percent.”
“Then we must make our move before it is completed.”
“We can only hope so. Though at this rate, it seems it will be a struggle.”
“The Ram… Did she name it after the last part of her own name? The Prophet—no, Heluram—seems to have a strong sense of self-love.”
When Jin said that, Orgal let out a low chuckle.
“It seems you've assumed the Prophet was Heluram this whole time.”
“I had assumed as much.”
“If that were the case, wouldn't your Red Jade Cat have shown some kind of reaction at the Garden of Swords? The Prophet is not Heluram, but her daughter. She is merely one of many, many daughters…”
“Many daughters? Does that mean there could be more beings like the Prophet in this world?”
“Not in the human world, at least. They might exist in spaces Heluram has prepared, but it's largely meaningless. They cannot emerge into the human world until Heluram awakens. Regardless, her daughters desire only one thing: the second coming of my old lover, Heluram.”
“Is that why they use humans as sacrifices?”
“To be precise, it's not the humans themselves. While materials like flesh and bone are necessary, they aren't very efficient. The real key is despair. Only a massive amount of high-purity despair can awaken Heluram.”
“You know a lot about Heluram. It makes one wonder if you're the one who wants to awaken her.”
“That sounds like something only someone who has never been in a relationship would say. Heluram awakening would bring me no benefit whatsoever. I don't wish for it either.”
Yuria's authority continued to form blue strings, but Jin felt uneasy having to rely so heavily on Orgal's knowledge.
Once I find Valeria, I'll have to find another way to learn about Heluram and the Prophet. Sir Quaul did say that before his master left Tikan for the last time, she mentioned the orb from Joshua's villa.
Shuziel Hister’s magic tome.
Before leaving for Laprarosa, Jin had entrusted Gilly with half of Shuziel Hister’s magic tome. Valeria had known Gilly possessed the tome but only sought it out about a year ago. Through it, she had apparently discovered clues to her Record Magic. This allowed her to accelerate the restoration of both Joshua's orb and Solderet's recording device. But now, she was missing.
“In any case, since we currently have no way to stop the Ram's construction, we must assume the final battle will take place after it is complete. Is our task to deal with the Ram while the 12th Flagbearer goes down to face Rosa?”
At Ronil’s words, Orgal nodded.
“Precisely. Until then, let us hope Kelliark Zipple recovers and the Demon God Stones reach their completion stage.”
“12th Flagbearer, there is something I wish to ask.”
“Speak, Ronil Zipple.”
“Do you possess a means to purify Chaos?”
Jin had intentionally positioned Runcandel knights undergoing purification along the route to the conference hall. It was a demonstration: unlike other factions who used Chaos for control, he possessed a perfect method of purification.
“I do.”
As the blue string appeared, Ronil and Octavia’s eyes widened.
“Then… please use that purification method on my father.”
“Didn't you just say you couldn't tell me about Kelliark Zipple's exact condition?”
“I had to be cautious.”
“The purification method I possess is not perfect. If physical mutation has already occurred due to Chaos, or if the corruption is complete, purification is impossible.”
As another blue string appeared, Ronil showed agitation for the first time.
“Judging by your reaction, it seems he's already in that state.”
“I believe my father's ability to fight in the final battle in a sound state of mind is a matter concerning the fate of the world, not just the survival of our clan.”
“I also need Kelliark’s strength for the final battle. It's an unpleasant thought, but if the purifier is improved before then, and if a situation arises where Kelliark Zipple's power is absolutely necessary, I will use it on him.”
“…Understood.”
The meeting continued for two more days. When it concluded, the news of the temporary alliance between the three great powers immediately sent shockwaves across the world.
*
March 7, 1803.
As discussed during the meeting, Jin was entering the Caldran Snowy Plains.
This time, he did not use the Red Owl. This was because Zephyrin, Hedo, and Sandra Zipple were with him.
Fortunately.
Unlike at the meeting, Sandra was back to the side of herself Jin was familiar with.
“Ahahaha! Jin! My acting was perfect, wasn't it? You have no idea how badly I wanted to express my massive love for you during the meeting. But I told myself, 'No, Sandra, get a grip! If you do that, you won't get a chance to meet him alone like this!' So I gritted my teeth and endured!”
“…But me asking Zipple and Kinzelo to send people with me wasn't part of the original plan.”
“Only those who are prepared can seize an opportunity! Because I acted so crazy back when nothing was certain, I was able to be with you like this the moment the chance appeared!”
With that, Sandra smiled brightly and linked her prosthetic arm with Jin's.
Jin didn't pull away immediately.
It was because he felt a sense of relief.