Chapter 665: To the Enemy's Holy Land (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 665: To the Enemy's Holy Land (3)
"You heard correctly, Sir Ronil. I said that Hister must be restored in the Zipple Holy Land."
As Jin replied nonchalantly, Ronil’s brow furrowed.
During their last meeting, Ronil hadn't shown nearly this much emotion. Kadun and Octavia could only blink, looking utterly aghast. They had come to intimidate their temporary allies, never expecting to hear something so shocking.
"Sir Jin, there are many ears listening right now. Do you think this is an appropriate topic for such a setting?"
"I didn't realize it was such a grand secret. The Kinzelo Leader told me about it quite casually."
Ronil glared at Orgal. Orgal, barely able to stand, simply waved a hand as if to apologize.
A brief silence followed.
During the lull, Jin asked all his companions except for Casimir to leave the room. On Kinzelo’s side, only Orgal and Zephyrin remained.
"Sir Orgal, what on earth were you thinking?"
[Kh-cough, cough…]
"My master is in no condition to speak further, so I shall answer on his behalf," Zephyrin said, hoisting Orgal onto her back. "First, I suggest the Zipples calm down and listen. I understand you're annoyed that Sir Jin brought up a sensitive topic so abruptly, but still."
"Annoyed? You think it stops at that?"
When Octavia cut her off, a flash of murderous intent flickered in Zephyrin’s eyes.
"Do not interrupt me. I'll tell you now, this isn't a request—it's a warning. My master knew of that place's existence long before you started calling it a Holy Land. In fact, he was once its caretaker. You only came to possess it because my master lost his power."
"Are you claiming ownership, then?"
Ronil’s voice had returned to a calm tone. Jin suspected this wasn't just due to Ronil's composure.
It seems he didn't come here without the Holy Land in mind.
Octavia and Kadun might be different, but Ronil seemed the type to have planned for this. Perhaps even his earlier display of displeasure had been calculated.
"No. If the time comes when we can seize it by force after our common enemy is defeated, things might change. For now, it clearly belongs to Zipple. However, I find it difficult to tolerate being treated as if we don't even have the right to speak about what we know."
"And what will you do if you can't tolerate it, Demon Dragon?"
"It seems the successor of the Fire Dragon Trakalnis is curious. If so, by all means, keep testing me."
At the mention of the name 'Trakalnis,' Kadun’s eyes trembled.
"How do you know of Trakalnis…!"
"He was a rather satisfying meal, so of course I remember him."
Normally, Kadun would have been enraged enough to try and kill Zephyrin on the spot. But the Fire Dragon Trakalnis had been the king of the Fire Dragons before Kadun and was Shinu’s most perfect creation.
Yet, no history of Trakalnis remained in the world. Even Kadun himself found it difficult to recall the name unless he focused intensely.
The reason was simple: the death of Trakalnis was the greatest disgrace for the avatar Shinu and the Fire Dragons. Erasing the history of Trakalnis had been the will of Shinu and the Zipple of old, all to cover up that shame.
Could it be? The one who killed Trakalnis was… that Demon Dragon?
Zephyrin wore a cold smile, as if peering directly into Kadun’s thoughts.
"What you're thinking is likely correct, Lord Kadun. If you find it hard to believe, why not ask your god directly? Though I'm not sure if Shinu will be able to restore those memories…"
Kadun was the first to avert his gaze.
It wasn't that he recalled the moment of Trakalnis’s death or any specific, terrifying memory. Yet, for some reason, an inescapable dread was slowly creeping into his soul.
—Even if I were facing you at your absolute peak, I wouldn't have been particularly afraid. The only reason you don't know me well is because the 'me' back then couldn't fight you.
Jin recalled the words Zephyrin had spoken to Murakan on the day her identity was revealed at the Black King Mountain Fortress.
Kadun is backing down just like that?
Looking at Orgal, who was being carried like a sickly scholar, and considering Zephyrin’s behavior up to this point, it was hard to imagine them in their prime. And yet, it was clear that Kadun had shrunk back, even as she insulted Shinu.
Octavia was the one most shocked by Kadun’s reaction. Since he had backed down, she could no longer direct her anger at Zephyrin.
"It seems Lord Kadun’s curiosity has been satisfied. Shall we return to the main point?" Zephyrin said, gesturing toward Jin with her eyes.
"…The atmosphere has grown needlessly tense. First, I apologize to both sides, as this was not my intention."
"Sir Jin is being considerate of Zipple's face. This is an important matter," Ronil noted.
"Wake Orgal up if you're going to keep being sarcastic, Zephyrin. We didn't gather here for a war of nerves."
"This is why I dislike humans. Is it because their lives are so short? They have no sense of fear."
"Sir Ronil."
"Speak, Sir Jin."
"Hister’s survival is essential for us to defeat our common enemy. If it is truly too difficult to open the Zipple Holy Land, then provide us with the Tears of Numerus at the very least."
"The Tears of Numerus is hardly something you can refer to as 'at the very least.' Furthermore, we do not possess the Tears of Numerus either. First, let us examine Hister."
Showing the unconscious Valeria to the Zipples felt like a sin, but Jin had no choice if he wanted to save her. Besides, her appearance had already been exposed to them, so there was no point in desperately trying to hide her now.
After they went to the infirmary and examined Valeria, the Zipple leaders either sighed or pressed their hands to their foreheads. Though they already had the information, seeing her with their own eyes was a different matter entirely.
"…I see why you mentioned the Tears first. Her exhaustion is truly beyond what normal means can address. Sir Jin, have you been the one maintaining the seal?"
"Impressive. Even in Zipple, only a handful of people could maintain such a seal."
"What will you do? If the Holy Land cannot be opened and you have no Tears, then I've already lost out by exposing Hister to you. I'll forget this ever happened and resolve it on my own."
He was telling them to leave immediately if they weren't going to open the Holy Land.
"This is not a decision we can make on our own, Sir Jin."
"Kinzelo and my side always have decision-makers present who can make judgments on the spot."
"I am aware. I will… return immediately to inform my father of this and bring back an answer."
"I shall look forward to good news."
"Even if everyone is trying to save Hister for the sake of the temporary alliance—or more accurately, for their own desires—we will require appropriate compensation for this, Sir Jin."
*
It was three days later when the Zipple leadership returned to Tikan. This time, Ronil came alone with only a few attendants, leaving Kadun and Octavia behind.
"My father agrees that there is no other way but to open the Holy Land. He has granted permission to bring Hister there."
"What are the conditions?"
"First, only Hister may enter the Holy Land. Second, as compensation, each alliance must share a portion of their findings regarding chaos purification and control with Zipple. This must be done in the presence of the Contractor of Az Mil."
"I refuse."
Jin rejected the offer flatly, as if there was nothing more to hear.
"Hmm… In that case, we cannot save Hister."
"I heard from Orgal that when a Complete Mana Body enters your Holy Land, a sort of mana trace is left behind. He also said that Zipple could receive significant benefits just by researching those traces. I have no way of knowing how fatal that research might be to our side once this alliance eventually dissolves."
Jin shrugged.
"Who gains the most from Hister being injured? Zipple. For us, saving Hister is everything, but Zipple gets to conduct research on the side. So, I suggest you don't get too greedy. If we fail to reach an agreement now, everything regarding Hister will be treated as if it never happened. Don't bother with such shallow tricks."
"Understood. In that case, we shall open the Holy Land without any conditions. However, to prevent the location of the Holy Land from being exposed, you must agree to travel with your senses blocked. Also, no other guards may accompany you and Hister."
The conditions had just been something Ronil threw out after receiving input from the family elders. Ronil himself hadn't been fond of their suggestions.
"That much I can understand. When do we depart?"
"If you're ready, we can go immediately."
*
From the moment he boarded the Kozec, Jin did not move a single step from the windowless cabin. He simply held the sealed Valeria and waited for the flying ship to stop.
Five days later, the ship reached its destination.
"You've worked hard, Sir Jin. You may come out now."
As soon as he stepped out of the ship, Jin could tell he was inside some massive structure, even larger in scale than the shipyard he had seen in the Sota Desert.
Ronil guided him for about two hours. When they reached a door deep within the building, Ronil stopped.
"This is as far as I can guide you. I am not permitted to go beyond this point, so someone else will assist you."
There were only two people in Zipple who could freely pass through that door. One was the Patriarch, Kelliark Zipple. The second was…
"Are you Jin Runcandel?"
The Next Patriarch, Veradin Zipple.
Veradin was walking toward Jin from the other side of the door. The friend from the enemy camp, whom he hadn't seen in three years, spoke in a dry voice, a far cry from his usual cheerful greetings.
"Follow me. I will guide you to the Holy Land."
As Veradin walked ahead through the door, his back seemed utterly unfamiliar.
At his waist, a sword was visible.