Chapter 668: To Meet Another Friend, Dante (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 668: To Meet Another Friend, Dante (1)
Valeria Hister.
Two months before Jin’s return from Laprarosa, she had finally discovered that Temar’s fifth tomb was located somewhere in the Caldran Snowy Plains.
She had done so by tracking Luntia’s movements and using record magic to reconstruct the words the woman had left behind.
Immediately after setting out for the Caldran Snowy Plains with Neru, Valeria found herself pursued by three major powers.
Runcandel, Zipple, and the Imperial Family.
Runcandel’s pursuit was led by the Black Sword Council and the Black Knights, along with their subordinates. For Zipple, Ronil led the chase.
They occasionally spotted or encountered Valeria, but that was the extent of their success.
The one who truly pushed Valeria into a corner was the Imperial Family.
It was they who had chased her so desperately that she couldn’t contact Tikan for two long months.
“Does the Imperial Family really possess such exceptional trackers? Even the top-tier forces of the Garden of Swords and Zipple couldn't find Valeria.”
“I may be from the Special Task Force,” Valkas said, “but neither the Task Force nor the Imperial Guard can compare to the first division of the Black Sword Council or the Black Knights.”
“Even if they grew stronger through the power of Chaos or demonization… I’m not so sure,” Alisa added. “The same goes for Rosa’s subordinates and Zipple.”
As they traveled to Tikan, Jin relayed the story he’d heard from Valeria, summarizing her ordeal for his companions.
“She said there were a few exceptionally talented individuals among the Imperial trackers, and that they were knights from the Garden of Swords.”
“Does that mean the Imperial Family betrayed Zipple?”
“It seems so.”
“Those people who just recently sided with Zipple by offering up the eastern part of the Empire… Hmm. Offering the east might have been a smokescreen, or perhaps they switched sides after recognizing the power the Garden of Swords now wields.”
“I suspect the former, Sir Valkas. I have a feeling the Imperial Family contacted Runcandel much earlier than we think. They… possess a part of the first patriarch’s body, so they could have used that as a bargaining chip.”
Valeria hadn't been able to determine exactly when the Imperial Family betrayed Zipple. It wasn't a particularly important issue.
—From what we’ve observed, Temar Runcandel’s body was essentially a repository of magical information from the peak of the ancient era. However, because the deal fell through, we didn't have the chance to analyze it properly.
Those were the words he had heard from Kinzelo when they made their deal over the Spacetime Device.
“Jin, you said you saw a massive number of magic swordsman bio-golems at Zipple’s Holy Land,” Quicantel said.
“Yes, Quicantel. We cannot rule out the possibility that they shared the left arm with both the Garden of Swords and Zipple. That might be why Zipple hasn't noticed the Imperial Family’s betrayal at all.”
“……He cannot find rest even after a thousand years. His body is torn apart and sent here and there. It’s almost a relief that Murakan isn't here to hear this.”
“What do you mean the Lord of the Sword Emperor Castle is in danger?”
“Valeria said she killed some of the Imperial trackers she encountered and examined their records. Among them was this entry.”
<Runcandel’s …… Runcandel orders the Viment Imperial Prince, Ailan Viment, to kill the Lord of the Sword Emperor Castle, Dante Hairan, and provides him with a monster.>
“Ailan Viment was someone ranked in the thirties in the line of succession before the late Amir,” Casimir spoke up. “Even Alisa and I don’t know much about his personal details, but he wasn't a particularly noteworthy figure. It seems he is the primary liaison with Runcandel.”
Casimir hadn't had much contact with Amir or Ailan during his time in the Imperial Palace. The difference in their ranks was so great that they rarely crossed paths, and the Viment Imperial Family inherently tended to hide their true selves, even from their own kin.
“Since he’s essentially a completely new figure, we’ll have to start gathering information on him from scratch.”
“Don’t you worry, Young Master! This Jet will find out everything, right down to the color of that Ailan guy’s underwear!”
“Anyway, the part about providing a monster… does that refer to a Runcandel knight tainted by Chaos? It’s also strange that the name of the person who provided the monster wasn't clearly stated.”
“One person immediately comes to mind,” Jin said, his eyes narrowing.
“Joshua Runcandel…… I have a strong gut feeling it’s him.”
“Young Master, did Rosa reinstate that dog—ahem, that worthless bastard?!”
Jin smiled faintly at Gilly’s heated reaction.
“Since she succeeded in her rebellion while Father was away, there’s no reason for her to discard a dog that obeys so well. Even if he was pathetic before, he might be different now. Or rather, they would have forced him to change… with the power of Chaos.”
“What a foul and hideous story. Just thinking about him and Rosa makes my blood boil with indignation.”
“But if it is Joshua, is there a reason his name wouldn't appear clearly in the record magic?”
“Well, it could be because he became a completely new entity after accepting Chaos. Of course, I can’t be certain; it’s just an intuition.”
“In any case, it seems there are three main things we need to start on immediately,” Quicantel summarized. “First, checking on the Sword Emperor’s Castle. Second, rescuing the allied forces remaining inside Huphester. And the last is… entering Temar’s sixth tomb that Valeria found?”
Jin nodded.
“That’s right. It seems all three are tasks I must handle personally.”
The primary allies remaining in Huphester were Vinn Branche and the God of Blacksmiths, Picon Minche, who was contracted to him. There were also Petro, who had been Jin’s butler; Heinz, the Head Butler who served Cyron; the nannies and retainers of his ‘siblings’ who were presumed not to have sided with Rosa; and the Hongin who would be in Luna’s fief.
Excluding Vinn Branche or the high-ranking retainers, not many could provide practical combat support. However, even if they weren't combat assets, he couldn't just leave them behind.
That wasn't Jin’s way, nor the way of the Barmul Alliance.
Above all, while the Garden of Swords seemed unable to pay them any attention for some reason at the moment, there was no telling when Rosa might use them as hostages.
“No, it would be better if you stayed out of the Huphester rescue mission.”
“I agree, Young Master.”
“Young Master, I think so too!”
His companions spoke in unison, opposing Jin’s re-entry into Huphester.
“It’s a miracle you returned safely from the Caldran Snowy Plains this time. You are the leader of the Barmul Alliance, the linchpin of our entire alliance, and the only counterweight to Rosa. So, until the day comes to settle things with her, don’t even think about going to Huphester yourself.”
Just as Jin was about to respond, Mary placed a hand on his shoulder.
“That’s right, Youngest. I know you’re the strongest among us, and that’s why you try to shoulder so much. But that doesn't mean you need to step forward for everything. Even Father didn't do that. More accurately, he probably couldn't.”
“Sister.”
“I’ll put together a team and handle the rescue mission in Huphester. I’m saying this in case you’re worried, but even if I see Brother Dipus… in a state like Sister Luntia during the process, I won’t lose my cool. Never.”
“I’ll also ask Nameless for help,” Casimir added. “Although almost all their personnel are searching for Lady Yona, I’m sure they can spare a few people for support.”
Faced with the stubborn stance of his siblings and companions, Jin couldn't insist further.
“Understood. Since I have no choice but to move personally regarding the Sword Emperor’s Castle and Temar’s tomb, it can’t be helped. I also thought it might be too much for me to do everything myself; I just didn't want to admit it, I suppose.”
“Are you planning to head to the Sword Emperor’s Castle immediately?”
“Yes. Once Valeria wakes up, I’ll hear the rest of her story and then head out.”
On the way back, while explaining what had happened inside the Kozec, Valeria had lost consciousness as the remaining Chaos energy flared up within her. It wasn't a fatal issue, but because of it, she was currently being treated by the Chaos Purifier and hadn't yet told Jin the information about the sixth tomb.
“Understood.”
Jin also realized he missed Dante quite a bit.
Since returning from Laprarosa, Jin hadn't met Dante even once. Incidents had occurred incessantly since his return. Furthermore, just as Jin personally stepped forward for almost everything in the Barmul Alliance, Dante played a similar role in the Empire.
Currently, there were almost no individuals at the superhuman level left in the Empire besides Dante. Since the Empire’s finest talents had been lost during the Gliek suppression war, the responsibilities Dante had to shoulder had grown immensely.
Perhaps because the shock he'd received from Veradin was so great, the mere thought of seeing Dante soon brought Jin a sense of comfort, even if the circumstances were grim.
It was a feeling he could afford to have because he was confident he could protect Dante, no matter what crisis had befallen him.
“I hope you can meet your friend, see that he’s fine, and clear your head a bit while you’re there,” Mary said gently.
“That’s right, Young Master,” Gilly chimed in. “If the person in the records Valeria found is that piece of trash, he won't be able to threaten you no matter what he does.”
Of course, Gilly wasn't saying that because she truly wasn't worried. It was just that his companions found it difficult to imagine Jin falling into a crisis because of Joshua.
Knock, knock.
A knock came from the conference room door.
It was Quaul and Valeria.
Quaul had been waiting anxiously outside the infirmary ever since Valeria returned, chain-smoking until he'd built a small mountain of cigarette butts. He had brought her here the moment she woke up.
“Uwaaaaaah!”
Suddenly, Quaul burst into tears and hugged Jin. No one had ever imagined this rough and rugged engineer wailing like a child.
“You did it… You did it! You truly brought our Valeria back…!”
The companions had long known how much Quaul cared for her. Finding his crying both unsightly and pitiful, they patted him on the back for a long time.
Valeria’s eyes widened at Quaul’s reaction, but she didn't voice any complaints.
“Sniff, sob, the Chaos has completely vanished too!”
“I passed out because of the Chaos and couldn't finish the story, Jin,” Valeria said, getting straight to the point. “How far did I get?”
“The location of the sixth tomb.”
“Ah, right. The place where Temar’s sixth tomb exists is not a region, Jin.”
“Not a region? Do you mean a subspace?”
At those words, Valeria shook her head and replied.
“Yes, it is a subspace. But it’s not tied to a location. The tomb exists inside a specific, special sword.”