Chapter 656: Traces of the Caldran Snowy Plains (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 656: Traces of the Caldran Snowy Plains (3)
A faint tremor ran through Jin’s hand as he clutched the strand of red hair. Tucking it safely into his robes, he stepped deeper into the cave.
Outside, the battle Zephyrin was handling was also drawing to a close. From the very beginning, the knights assigned to her were no match for a dragon of her caliber in an aerial battle.
“Hmph, that obnoxious dragon is certainly strong. Looks like it’s almost over. At this rate, you might actually lose our bet, Hedo.”
“It is not over yet, Sandra Zipple.”
“Really? It looks pretty settled to me.”
“Reinforcements are on their way.”
Sandra tilted her head in confusion and looked at Hedo.
“What do you mean by that, 12th Flagbearer?”
“Focus, Tower Keeper. At first, I thought the soul energy was concentrated only around this cave. But as soon as the battle began, I started sensing faint traces of other soul energies from a great distance.”
Hedo closed his eyes for a moment to sharpen his senses, and his expression soon shifted to one of surprise.
Even with his senses heightened, the new presences were incredibly faint. It was like trying to spot a single insect in a vast field of grass—a presence impossible to detect unless you already knew it was there. Amid the blizzard of the Caldran Snowy Plains, it was harder still.
“You sensed this… without even trying to?”
“Over time, I’ve become exceptionally sensitive to soul energy. They aren’t coming from just one location; they are closing in from all directions across the snowy plains. I expect them to arrive within the hour. Furthermore, more reinforcements will likely follow them.”
If their soul energy was this distinct from over an hour away, their numbers would surely be immense.
“Tower Keeper, could you go and inform Zephyrin of the situation?”
At those words, a spark of madness flickered in Sandra’s eyes.
“Go on, hurry! And take your sweet time coming back!”
The moment Hedo left, Sandra felt like her head might explode with joy. She was finally alone with Jin in a cave.
To make things even better, Jin was walking very slowly.
He was, of course, moving slowly to examine every detail of the cave where Valeria had vanished, but Sandra chose to interpret it differently.
“Now that I think about it, this is the first time I’ve walked alone with you like this, Jin. It’s so wonderful… don’t you think?”
Jin was so focused on observing the cave’s interior that he didn’t even hear her. After chattering for a while longer, Sandra finally grabbed his shoulder.
“Jin, is this person very precious to you?”
“Yes. Why are you asking something so obvious?”
“It might not even be her hair. You shouldn’t be so anxious.”
“It’s hers. I’m sure of it.”
“How can you be so certain?”
“It’s an uncommon color.”
Of course, Valeria wasn't the only person in the world with red hair. Yet Jin recognized it as hers instantly—a conviction that transcended logic.
“If I ever get kidnapped, you'll come looking for me just like this, right?”
“That would depend on the situation.”
“You’re so cold… but that’s what makes you so cool. I’ll forgive you. Even if you say that, I know you’ll come save me.”
“I don’t want to go through this ever again. So from now on, stay close to your Tower Keeper at all times.”
Sandra practically squirmed with delight at his words, while Jin continued his observation.
For now, just as Sir Ronil said, I don’t see anything unusual…
The cave wasn't particularly deep. They reached what felt like the midpoint in just a few minutes, but Jin still hadn’t found anything.
From that point on, Sandra stopped her prattling and began to earnestly search the cave for Jin's sake.
The soul energy of the knights who were stationed here still lingers, but it's clear the Garden of Swords hasn't laid a finger on this place since Valeria vanished.
Despite this being the site where a key figure had disappeared, they had only stationed personnel without disturbing the environment.
The implication was clear.
“It seems Runcandel… no, the Garden of Swords is treating this place with extreme caution, Darling. Even after the Hister disappeared, they didn't dig up the ground or tear down the walls. Even these icicles are perfectly intact. They must be decades, if not centuries, old.”
“I was thinking the same thing.”
“You said the tomb of Runcandel’s First Patriarch was a subspace, right? I think they might have been looking for a way to enter a subspace here. That is, if Runcandel even knows it’s a subspace.”
“That’s a very plausible theory.”
Just as they neared the end of the cave, Hedo returned from delivering the message to Zephyrin.
“Ugh, why are you back already?! Things were just getting nice and intimate, you clueless hunk of muscle.”
“The situation outside is settled. Zephyrin is conducting a more precise reconnaissance. She said she'll either delay the approaching troops for as long as possible or annihilate them completely.”
“Understood, Tower Keeper.”
If Zephyrin succeeded, it would buy them more time, but it was impossible to gauge exactly how much.
The cave ended in a hollow chamber, sealed by a wall of ice as clear as crystal. Not a single part of it showed any sign of having been broken and reformed.
“Sir Ronil was right, there’s only one exit. To leave, we’d have to go back the way we came or break through the ice wall… Hmm, I can see why the clan couldn't find the Hister survivor, no matter how hard they tracked her.”
Even as Jin and Sandra scanned the cave for any residual mana, nothing stood out.
The blue window of Record Magic that Ronil claimed to have seen was also gone. That was only natural, since the caster was no longer here.
Valeria was out of contact for two months before she vanished from this spot… and she left no clues in Tikan about Temar's tomb.
If so, it was highly likely that Valeria had been in a situation so dire during those two months that she couldn't even contact Tikan.
And she had vanished into thin air right here, leaving behind a severed lock of her hair.
…Sir Ronil didn't encounter Valeria directly, but it’s certain that Rosa’s knights fought her.
Valeria must have fled to this cave after that battle. Ronil had tracked her here, and Luntia had likely done the same.
No matter how he pieced together the information from Ronil, the incident only grew murkier.
Ten minutes had already passed.
“12th Flagbearer, I suspect this is a trap. Rosa Runcandel must have anticipated your arrival.”
“Most likely.”
“If so, she should have stationed more troops, prepared an ambush for the moment we entered, or appeared herself. Doesn't it feel like Rosa Runcandel is intentionally giving you time?”
Jin nodded. He had been considering that possibility the entire time.
“Just as you said. She might be waiting, assuming I have a way to enter Temar's tomb, which she presumes is here.”
Suddenly, the image of Padler Runcandel flashed through Jin’s mind.
Sir Padler is likely the guardian of the fifth tomb. But if the Prophet was able to pull him out, it means she must have entered the tomb at least once.
Then why was Rosa giving him time, as if she wanted him to find it?
Is it because Valeria is still inside the tomb? And for some reason, the Prophet, who came out, doesn't know how to get back in?
The problem was that Jin didn't know how to enter the tomb either. There was no key like there was for the first tomb, nor were there any guides.
Time was slipping away.
“12th Flagbearer.”
“Speak, Tower Keeper.”
“It will be difficult to return to this place. Once Rosa is certain you have no other options, she'll seal this area completely. We should try something they haven't and then get out of here.”
“Are you suggesting we destroy the cave?”
“Yes. It seems there’s nothing else left to try.”
“I won't destroy the cave. Even if I leave empty-handed today, I don't want to destroy any reason I might have to come back.”
“Then do you plan to just stand here? You need to be rational.”
From Hedo’s perspective, ensuring Sandra wasn't put in danger was more important than finding the Hister, especially in a situation that seemed this hopeless.
“Hedo! He said this person is very precious to him! Think of something better!”
“It would be better than doing nothing, My Lady.”
Hedo was right.
If there was nothing more to be gained, they needed to retreat as soon as possible and rethink their search.
“I’ll try one last method. If it doesn't work, we’ll head back for now.”
“A wise decision. What is the method?”
“I'm going to fill the cave with Spirit Energy. If there's no reaction, we'll withdraw immediately.”
Jin sat cross-legged and activated Spirit Energy Release. In the past, when using the key to the first tomb, Murakan had injected a massive amount of Spirit Energy in a similar fashion.
Perhaps the space itself is a lock that responds to Spirit Energy. Please, open…!
In truth, if Spirit Energy were the requirement, the fact that Valeria had entered the tomb wouldn't make sense.
Jin was simply grasping at straws.
Spirit Energy filled the interior of the cave at a rapid pace.
However, even as Jin released a massive amount of energy—enough to instantly drench him in a cold sweat—there was no reaction.
Watching this, Sandra bit her nails before snapping her head toward Hedo.
“Hedo, you do something too!”
“I don't believe there is anything I can do to help, My Lady. I am not a user of Spirit Energy.”
“Then pray! Don’t just stand there.”
“…Pray?”
“Yes! Do it properly, with all your heart. Pray that Jin can find the Hister.”
Sandra closed her eyes and clasped her hands together. Hedo let out a deep sigh at the sight and assumed the same posture beside her.
He felt ridiculous, but he knew she would throw a tantrum if he didn't comply.
It was at that exact moment that Jin felt a jolt, as if he'd been struck on the back of the head.
The Spirit Energy… it's suddenly being drawn to a single point!
For the first time, a change had occurred.
Jin immediately shifted his gaze to where the Spirit Energy was converging. It was the very spot where Sandra and Hedo stood side-by-side in prayer.
“Hedo! Your sword! The sword is glowing and creating something! Heaven has answered our prayers!”
“I see it too, My Lady. What on earth is this…?”
A powerful intuition washed over Jin.
Hedo’s sword… was the key to Temar’s fifth tomb.