Chapter 677: Chasing the Sword (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 677: Chasing the Sword (2)
*
A deserted island in the territorial waters of Tikan.
Jin had chosen this location to open the sixth tomb—the sword’s subspace.
As a precaution, the powerhouses of Tikan, along with the sword’s owner, Hedo, and Sandra Zipple, had accompanied him. They all took their positions in the center of the island.
“Are you going to open the subspace by spreading Spirit Energy like last time?”
“Most likely. To be precise, I’ll be injecting it into the sword.”
“Hmm.”
Hedo adjusted his glasses, looking skeptical.
“Didn’t you say back in the Caldran Snowy Plains that certain geographical conditions had to be met to open Temar’s tombs, 12th Flagbearer? I doubt this deserted island meets any such criteria.”
“That wasn’t the case for all the tombs. Even back then, I was just making an assumption based on the situation at hand.”
Hedo shrugged and handed the sword to Jin.
As Jin took the weapon, he flashed a grin at Hedo.
“Don’t you think this feels somewhat like destiny, Tower Keeper?”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“It just occurred to me. I wonder if it was truly a coincidence that you came to possess this sword after a thousand years. A former Ten Great Knight’s sword in the hands of a Zipple family butler… it’s a striking combination, isn’t it?”
“Pointless talk of fate.”
“I’m just trying to win you over, even if I have to resort to it. Who knows? Perhaps you’re a descendant of the Ten Great Knight named Vail. Maybe that’s why the sword found you—not by chance, but by design.”
“That’s such a romantic story, Darling.”
“Young Lady, it is not romantic in the slightest.”
“And why does our stupid butler think that?”
“When the Patriarch first accepted me into the family, they conducted a thorough background check. You know this, don’t you?”
“Ah, those lowly people who abandoned Hedo. I remember now. I never saw their faces, though, since they were already dead.”
“Did you hear that, 12th Flagbearer? My parents were insignificant commoners—ordinary people. The type who abandoned their child because he was a burden, visited the orphanage once in a while when the guilt became too much, but never took him back. Then, once the guilt subsided, they stopped coming altogether. They were just that kind of ordinary people.”
Even as he spoke, Hedo showed no change in emotion. In truth, he felt nothing for the parents who had abandoned him at birth. He had never missed them, nor had he ever hated them.
“Furthermore, the family even traced their lineage. It turns out they descended from a merchant family of the fallen Urot Kingdom. This means that whoever is inside that sword, he cannot be my ancestor.”
“That’s a disappointing story.”
“It seems you and the Young Lady both need to learn the art of push and pull. If you keep rushing at me like this, showing how much you want me, it will only push me further away.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Jin clicked his tongue, feigning disappointment.
The sight irritated Hedo, who briefly thought he should have beaten Jin more thoroughly back in the Sota Desert.
Soon, Jin’s expression turned serious as he looked around at the group.
“I will now begin injecting Spirit Energy into the sword. I hope the tomb opens without a hitch, but since we don’t know what variables might arise, please stay alert.”
“Yes, My Lord!”
“Understood, My Lord.”
As Jin released his Spirit Energy, the surrounding area instantly darkened. Though it was broad daylight, it felt as if night had fallen in a heartbeat, the brilliant sun obscured by a black veil.
As expected, it requires a massive amount of Spirit Energy this time as well.
He felt a bit tense, perhaps because of the memory of the previous tomb, where he had entered with his Spirit Energy nearly depleted and was forced into a grueling battle with Luntia. There was a chance he might face another formidable opponent while his energy was drained.
Above all, there was a high probability that a living figure from the Runcandel of old existed within this sword.
That person might attack him without warning, just like the tomb guardians he had met before. And if they were one of the Ten Great Knights, they would be no weaker than Luntia.
A living member of the Runcandel of old…
It might be possible because the subspace was a ‘dead world,’ or perhaps they were a being with a lifespan of thousands of years, like a dragon or a demon. He had never received confirmation that all of the Ten Great Knights were human.
Or they might be sealed, like Elona Zipple.
The Spirit Energy spread out endlessly, periodically surging into the sword to be absorbed. Those watching couldn't even begin to fathom the sheer scale of the power Jin was wielding.
This reminds me of the Spirit Energy Murakan released in his prime, Quicantel thought. That idiot… just when it seemed he was regaining his strength, he had to go fill in for Lady Misha and can’t even be here to help Jin. It would be reassuring to have him here at a time like this.
In the Caldran Snowy Plains, the tomb had refused entry to anyone but Jin. However, since the group had once entered a tomb together to face the guardian Sarah, Quicantel was hoping the same would be possible this time.
A considerable amount of time passed.
He’s pouring an insane amount of Spirit Energy into it, but I don’t feel the slightest change from the sword…
At this rate, Jin’s Spirit Energy would soon run dry, yet Hedo’s sword remained motionless. It didn’t emit a glow or form a gate as it had in the Caldran Snowy Plains.
“Jin, something feels different from last time. Do you think that red-haired woman brought you bad information?” Sandra asked, glaring at Valeria.
Valeria didn’t react, silently watching Jin and the sword.
“If this fails, do we have to use Record Magic again to find another way to open it? Like finding specific geographical conditions?”
“If you ask me, that red-haired woman is a total fraud, Hedo. The idea of a living Runcandel from the past being inside a sword was weird from the start.”
“I find it questionable as well.”
“Oh, but what if everything she said is true and the door suddenly opens? What if that Runcandel attacks Jin? Like what happened in the Caldran Snowy Plains.”
“Young Lady, shouldn’t you be more worried about the possibility of that ancient Runcandel becoming the 12th Flagbearer’s ally?”
“Think realistically, Hedo. That would be a good thing for Jin. Why would I worry about that?”
“Because of you people, I lost my home and my family. I’ve been hunted for a long, long time,” Valeria spoke in a low voice, her gaze fixed forward.
“What was that, Redhead?”
“It means I feel like tearing you apart, so shut your mouth and focus. We’re only gathered here because we have no choice but to work together.”
Valeria still didn’t look at Sandra, but the chilling murderous intent in her voice made Sandra blink in surprise.
And just as Sandra was about to snap back…
Suddenly, Hedo’s sword began to vibrate, showing its first sign of change.
“Is the subspace about to open?”
“Fortunately, it seems like there won’t be any major issues…” Quicantel trailed off.
It was because she saw the look on Jin’s face.
“Jin, are you alright?”
“Darling?!”
Jin’s face, which had been focused and expressionless, was now filled with intense bewilderment.
The reason was simple.
The Tower Keeper’s sword… it feels like it’s about to bolt!
As the one directly injecting the Spirit Energy, Jin was more aware of the changes in the sword than anyone else. And from what he could feel, Hedo’s sword had chosen to move instead of opening a gate.
Before three seconds had passed, Jin was certain. The sword was about to fly off somewhere.
He tried to stop the flow of Spirit Energy, but the weapon had already gained enough momentum.
Whirr—SHOOOOOSH!
Like a shot from a mana cannon.
The sword that had been lying before Jin shot into the sky, tearing through the black veil that covered it. It looked as if the Runcandel Secret Technique, Light Speed Thrust, had been unleashed toward the heavens.
The space around it distorted from the sheer speed of its ascent, and everyone on the island stared up in disbelief.
“Uh, Hedo’s sword just took off like a firework…!”
Hedo leaped up instantly, but he failed to grab his sword and landed back on the ground. Watching the weapon grow more distant by the second, he couldn’t help but look dumbfounded.
“Catch it!” Quicantel shouted.
But the sword, which had soared in a straight line, was already turning and flying off in a specific direction. The Spirit Energy it had absorbed left a long trail across the sky, like the tail of a comet.
In the blink of an eye, the sword was more than a mile away.
Jin guessed intuitively that the sword was flying to find the specific location required to open its subspace. If that was the case, the opening of the tomb was technically a success, but the situation was far from ideal.
They had no immediate means to chase it.
The Grey Owls were on standby near the Nameless Hall, Mort was injured, and even if both were available, chasing a sword moving at that speed would be difficult. It wasn’t using spatial teleportation; it was pure, ultra-high-speed flight.
No one present had ever seen an object fly that fast.
“Lady Quicantel!” Jin called out. They had to give chase.
“I know!”
Quicantel quickly manifested her Authority of Time and transformed into her true dragon form. However, the sword seemed to narrowly evade the temporal effect as it continued to race into the distance.
The group scrambled onto Quicantel’s back with practiced efficiency. She immediately began flying at full speed, but catching up was impossible.
[I’ll try to follow the trail of Spirit Energy it’s leaving behind!] she sent telepathically.
Fortunately, Hedo’s sword left a long contrail of Spirit Energy as it moved. The sword itself was already too far to be seen, but if they followed the trail, they would eventually reach its destination.
The problem was that they didn't know where that destination was or what would happen if the flight took a long time.
This is a completely unexpected turn of events. I thought any trouble would involve a battle with a guardian, but for the sword to just fly off…
And it was leaving so many traces.
A long flight that left a massive trail across the sky meant that this incident could easily be spotted by other factions. If the Garden of Swords, the Zipples, Kinzelo, or the Imperial Family all converged on the sword’s destination…
Our temporary allies might hesitate to act, but the Garden of Swords won't!
If they weren't careful, a situation could arise where all the world’s major powers converged on Temar’s sixth tomb.
Hedo’s murderous gaze landed on Jin’s back.
“It seems this was an unexpected problem for you as well. However, if I lose my sword because of this, I won’t take it lightly, 12th Flagbearer…”