Chapter 669: To Meet Another Friend, Dante (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 669: To Meet Another Friend, Dante (2)
"A subspace that exists inside a sword…?"
"To explain that, I first need to tell you how Neru and I managed to enter the fifth tomb."
Valeria was not a contractor of Solderet, she couldn't manipulate chaos like Heluram’s daughter, and she hadn't been guided by anyone as Jin had been in the Wantaramo Forest.
Nor had she forcibly damaged the tomb like the Zipples or other factions. Under normal circumstances, she shouldn't have been able to set foot inside.
"The chaos must have given you a hard time, Valeria. You told me about it before. You said you got in with the help of the beastmen, who helped you obtain an item from the Temple of the Cat God related to the old Runcandel."
"I did. Did I mention what kind of item it was?"
"You said it was a handkerchief."
A handkerchief.
It was a trivial object, perhaps, but that single handkerchief held countless stories from a thousand years ago.
"Yes, it was a handkerchief that belonged to one of the Ten Great Knights of the old Runcandel. The tomb reacted to it and opened its door, even without spirit energy or a guide. The records and stories remaining in the handkerchief served as the key."
However, it was a one-time-use method.
The stories within the handkerchief were ancient and faint, so Valeria had planned to keep it safe and analyze it later, once her mastery of record magic had improved.
But the handkerchief vanished the moment the door opened. It was a loss Valeria regretted to this day.
"Then… the Prophet might have opened the door using a similar method."
"Most likely. She must have opened it at least twice, seeing as she overwrote the fate of the tomb's original guardian, Padler Runcandel, onto your second sister. Anyway, before your sister took Padler's place, I found a clue inside that led to the next tomb."
Unlike the other tombs they had encountered so far, the fifth tomb contained a direct clue leading to the next one.
"The fifth tomb contained records of not only Padler Runcandel but also of an individual named Vail—the owner of the handkerchief. That's why the tomb reacted to it."
"Vail…?"
"However, Vail's records were so faint that all I could glean was that the sixth tomb is hidden within a subspace inside his sword, along with the approximate location where that sword was first hidden. It was the Black Sea, but the chances of it still being there are slim—"
At that moment, Jin felt as if he’d been struck on the back of the head.
"Wait, Valeria."
"What is it?"
"The handkerchief you found belonged to Vail, which is why the fifth tomb reacted… and the sixth tomb is a subspace inside Vail's sword, which was hidden in the Black Sea… Is that all correct? And you're certain the name was Vail?"
"Yes."
Jin blinked for a few seconds. Valeria shrugged and looked around. The other companions seemed just as clueless.
"That sword… I think I’ve already found it."
"What?"
—Hedo! Your sword! The sword is glowing and creating something! Heaven has answered our prayers!
—I see it too, Milady. What on earth is this…
—It seems that sword is the key to opening the tomb. Where did you get it?
—In my youth, I obtained it after slaying a monster in the Black Sea.
It was a conversation he’d had with Sandra and Hedo on the Caldran Snowy Plains.
At the time, while Jin was infusing spirit energy into Hedo’s sword, he had noticed the name 'Vail' inscribed on the blade.
Since Hedo, the current owner, believed it was simply the sword's name, Jin had assumed the same.
To think it was the name of one of the Ten Great Knights of the old Runcandel.
It finally clicked. He now understood why Murakan had been in such turmoil the moment he saw Vail in the Sota Desert, and why Vail could serve as the key to the fifth tomb.
"I was so preoccupied at the time, I don't think I told you how I got into the tomb. That sword is currently held by Hedo, the Tower Keeper of the White Night."
"I didn't realize luck played such a large role. It makes the rescue seem even more reckless than I’d thought."
"Strange luck tends to follow you around. Besides, didn't you say it yourself once? That there aren't many people as lucky as you."
"Oh…!"
For some reason, a collective murmur of admiration broke out among the companions. Jin and Valeria, however, continued their conversation without paying them any mind.
"I was planning to leave for the Black Sea after resting for a few hours, but this saves us the trouble. I understand Sandra Zipple and Hedo are quite favorable toward you."
"It’s probably just Sandra Zipple, Miss Valeria, sir. But that muscle-bound butler of hers follows her every command without question, so I reckon we just need to call Sandra to get a look at the sword, sir."
"Mr. Jet, you make him sound like the kind of trash who exploits someone's feelings."
"Eek! Miss Valeria, you can't misunderstand him like that! Our Lord is absolutely not that kind of person!"
"I can't call Hedo and Sandra right away. We've made a lot of demands on the Zipples recently, so I'll contact them in a few days. In the meantime, this is the perfect opportunity to visit the Sword Emperor Castle."
"Heh, when you put it like that, Lord Jin, I feel a bit embarrassed…"
"Our Young Master Jin… even his bad side is cool…"
"Jet, Enya. I'm not just calling them to use them for the sword. I think it would be best to bring them over to our side. If possible."
He had seen what happened to Veradin.
Jin was certain that if Sandra remained with the Zipples, she would inevitably meet a similar fate in the near future.
He wanted to free her from the name Zipple.
Valeria clearly found the idea of making a Zipple an ally unpleasant, but she voiced her opinion in a calm tone.
"Do as you wish. Just don't forget that one day, every Zipple in existence will die by my hand."
Valeria stood up from her seat.
"I’m going to get some more rest. Master Quaul, let’s resume our research this evening. There’s a lot of data Jin brought from Laprarosa, and since the Red Owl mentioned a singularity connecting to that world, we’re going to be busy again."
"Goodness, is Miss Valeria never exhausted? She said we saved some trouble since she doesn't have to go to the Black Sea, but she’s going right back to work."
It wasn't that she wasn't exhausted; it was that she couldn't be, Jin thought. The resentment of her destroyed family and murdered kin was concentrated within her.
He did not say the words aloud.
"Then, I should also prepare to head to the Sword Emperor Castle."
As Jin followed her out of the meeting room, the companions watched the door close behind them.
"Those two… they're subtly alike in some ways."
"I think so too, Uncle Valkas," Mary agreed.
"The Lord is a bit more human, though. Still, you can tell they were taught by the same master or parent for a long time."
"That's why I'm thinking of starting a Valeria fan club. As a side hustle, you know?"
"You're a bit scary when you're like this, Enya."
"To think I'd hear that from you, Fey!?"
"Now, now, let's get to work, everyone," Casimir interjected. "Jet, start investigating Ailan Viment. Sir Mary, Sir Heitona, and Sir Daytona, you three…"
"You can speak comfortably, King Casimir."
"Yeah, speak comfortably, King!"
"You Tona brats, what's with that attitude toward a king? Just because you lost your place in the Garden of Swords, are you going to throw away your dignity as flagbearers too? Do you want me to play the role of Myu and Anne for you?"
"No, sister. I will correct myself."
"We've decided to become new men, sister."
"I'll be watching. Go tell Cosmos to maintain the ship. We'll be deploying within a few days. And bring me the list of knights who have finished their recovery."
"Yes, sister!"
*
April 1, 1803.
"Oooooh!"
"Waaaaah!"
Two children, their hair and eyes dyed black using Gold Snow Tribe cosmetics and disguise tools, were letting out constant cries of wonder. In truth, one of them was a dragon who had lived for hundreds of years, but to any onlooker, they were simply children excited for a trip.
Latri and Yuria.
Jin had decided to take those two on this trip to the Sword Emperor Castle. Quicantel also came along as a guardian in case of an emergency.
Not just the kids (one of whom was a kid only by dragon standards), but everyone had donned disguises for the first time in a while. Jin and Quicantel had both dyed their hair a deep blue, posing as siblings.
"Brother Jin, Lady Quicantel! The Red Owl is so amazing. We came straight to the Empire in one go, just like a real teleport gate!"
"It's good that the contractor of Az Mil can still find things wondrous."
"I find it more surprising that you chose these coordinates as our arrival point, Lady Quicantel. This log cabin… it brings back so many memories."
A quiet log cabin nestled in a forest on the outskirts of the Viment capital.
This was the very place where Jin had changed the fates of Yuria and Enya during his early days as a reserve flagbearer.
It was the exact same house, with the same structure as the one where Murakan and Quicantel had lived together in the distant past.
Yuria had only heard stories about this place until now.
She rarely had a chance to leave Tikan. Both when she first met Jin and even now, her special status as the contractor of Az Mil meant they had to be extremely cautious in every aspect of her life.
"Memories? Hmm… I can see some heavy emotions, like lingering attachment or regret, scattered throughout this cabin."
"Yuria, let's put those stories aside. Before we head to the Sword Emperor Castle, we should go eat that seafood stew you like," Quicantel suggested.
"I'd love to, Lady Quicantel! Brother Jin, are we only eating seafood stew? Can't we play until evening after we're done?"
Yuria’s innocent appearance was both cute and pitiful.
"Yuria, you are the one and only princess of the Barmul Alliance Tikan Free State."
"Suddenly?"
"It means that if you have enough fun, the leader of the Empire will come to see you on his own."
After that, the group swept through the bustling streets of Viment, joyfully spending money left and right.
Although the world was grim due to the lingering influence of Gliek and Rosa, the Viment capital was as vibrant as ever.
It was proof that Dante was governing well.
Jin looked upon the peace of the land his friend had worked so hard to protect and cultivate with a sense of pride.
Toward evening, just as their second round of seafood stew was served at yet another new specialty restaurant, they found themselves alone. There was no one left in the establishment except for them. Even the staff and the owner had stepped away.
"It's just like Brother Jin said. Sir Dante is here."
Yuria spoke as she looked at Dante, who had just opened the door and stepped inside.
Jin and Dante looked at each other and smiled in silence for a long time.
It was their first reunion in about three years.
"How did you know to find us here, Dante?"
"I received a report that a craftsman named Paul Gray Mick and his party were throwing around checks all over the capital's downtown area, so I came running."
Jin grinned.
"Sit down, Dante. The food just came out."