Chapter 682: Vail's Delusion (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 682: Vail's Delusion (2)
Vail had always radiated a faint golden glow, but now, the cross-shaped pupils staring at Sandra were so bright they were practically blinding.
What? Lady Sarah?
Jin narrowed his eyes, looking back and forth between Vail and Sandra. Valeria also shook her head, as if finding the situation difficult to grasp.
Naturally, Sandra and Sarah looked nothing alike.
To begin with, Sarah had the black hair characteristic of a pure-blooded Runcandel, while Sandra had the white hair of the Zipples. Their physiques, gazes, attitudes, and temperaments were entirely different. Aside from both being female, they didn’t share a single common trait.
Nevertheless, Vail continued to call Sandra "Sarah."
[I missed you, Sarah!]
"Get lost, you monster!"
[Begone, the lot of you. Sarah is telling you to get lost.]
"I said get lost!" Sandra shouted at Vail.
Vail, however, was addressing Jin and Valeria. The one most distressed by this farcical situation was, without a doubt, Hedo.
"Dammit!"
Hedo used his Authority to hasten his descent, but Sandra was also accelerating, caught in the gravitational pull Vail had generated.
She struggled desperately to break free from that pull and fall toward Jin, but she couldn't escape Vail's grasp.
Just before Sandra reached him, Jin and Valeria lunged forward, swinging sword and staff. Even if Vail was mistaking Sandra for Sarah, they had to prevent a member of their alliance from falling into the hands of that madman.
There was no telling how Vail might react the moment he realized Sandra wasn't Sarah.
Of course, for Valeria, it was a distasteful task. She was stepping forward not to kill a Zipple, but to save one.
"My apologies, Aria."
"It's necessary, so it can't be helped. It's not something you need to apologize for."
However, Vail used the suction from his hands and the wind pressure from his wings to instantly shift Sandra's landing point.
Jin couldn't recklessly unleash his major techniques against the complex and fast-moving Vail. If Sandra and Hedo got caught in the crossfire, it would be counterproductive.
Inevitably, Jin and Valeria stepped back to prepare for their next move. The only silver lining was that Sandra, being a bio-golem with a semi-immortal body, wasn't exactly a suitable hostage.
[Sarah, Sarah Runcandel!]
Soon, Vail caught Sandra in a 'princess carry'—an expression often found in romance novels—and gave a broad smile, even flapping one of his wings vigorously.
He swung it like a punch toward Hedo, who had finally caught up.
Clang—!
"Urgh, tch!"
Struck by the wing, Hedo was sent flying into the wall made of Spirit Energy and seawater. The impact caused black seawater to pour from the wall like a waterfall.
To think I'd see that massive man sent flying so pathetically…
Yet, it was only because it was Hedo that he was merely sent flying. Any warrior without a Steel Body of his caliber would have died instantly or had their entire body crushed.
Jin and Valeria rushed Vail again. Vail, busy cradling Sandra as if she were a sacred relic, couldn't use his sword and responded only with his wings.
Though they looked soft, Vail's wings boasted a hardness that even the hide of a Grave Giant couldn't compare to.
"Why do you keep calling the Young Lady by someone else's name, you lunatic!" Hedo shouted as he pulled himself out of the seawater wall. His shirt was shredded by his bulging muscles, and his eyes were clouded with a rage deeper than ever before.
Hedo, who always maintained a dignified appearance, had already been brought low several times during this trip to the tomb.
"I was about to ask the same thing, Sir Vail," Jin added. "The woman you are holding is not Lady Sarah. You would do well to snap out of it."
At those words, Vail blinked and looked down at Sandra.
She was flailing her limbs like a captured beast, striking Vail's face and chest. Of course, Sandra was the only one getting hurt in the process; Vail didn't even bother to block her attacks.
[Now that I look closely, your face has changed a bit… and you've grown taller.]
"A bit?" Jin was once again dumbfounded by Vail's nonchalant tone.
[Your personality has soured, and your strength has weakened beyond words. Sarah, what have you been through? And stop that; your knuckles are getting scraped. It breaks my heart. Ah, they're regenerating immediately. Did you always have the power of Super-regeneration?]
"Let go! Let go, you monster! How dare you try to kill my husband?"
[Husband? Who is your husband?]
"My dear Jin!"
Vail glared at Jin.
[Didn't you say you were considering marrying Padler once the war was over?]
"What nonsense are you talking about! I'm not Sarah or whoever!"
[Well, that fellow does look better than that disgusting Padler. Actually, this is for the best. It seems Padler has found his way here as well, so I should settle things with him right now.]
"I'm not Sarah Runcandel; I'm Sandra Zipple. And yes, Jin is quite handsome. At least you can recognize that."
[But isn't he your distant descendant? Isn't that relationship a bit inappropriate?]
"Exactly, exactly! We were born into rival families and are sharing a tragic love… That's what makes it so thrilling."
At some point, Sandra and Vail had begun to hold something resembling a conversation. It seemed madmen truly did have a way of communicating with each other.
[Regardless, it's all fine, Sarah. Your appearance has changed from what I remember, you've lost your right arm, and you've grown weak… but I will protect you now. Just as you once protected me.]
"You'll protect me?"
[Yes, Sarah Runcandel. My life, my soul, and my Authority exist solely for you.]
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Suddenly, thunderous roars erupted from all directions, like cannon fire. Surprisingly, it was the sound of the Grave Giants 'clapping.'
Up until now, Jin, Hedo, Valeria, and even Sandra herself had told Vail that she wasn't Sarah. Sandra hadn't even hidden that she was a Zipple, the Runcandels' sworn enemies even a thousand years ago.
And yet, Sir Vail continues to mistake Sandra for Lady Sarah…
Was the reason simply that Vail's mind wasn't intact after waking from a thousand-year slumber?
Somehow, Jin felt there was another reason.
Sir Vail's speech and actions feel somewhat infantile compared to the power he possesses.
Children—no, people in general—often distort reality to protect themselves from a shock too great to bear. For instance, when someone cannot accept the death of a lover or a parent, they might convince themselves they are still alive.
Jin surmised that Vail's current state was no different. In essence, Vail had decided to perceive Sandra as Sarah.
"What kind of madness is this…" Hedo spat through gritted teeth. His anger was no longer directed at Jin.
"Tower Keeper, it seems Sir Vail will continue to perceive Sandra as Lady Sarah."
"We must save the Young Lady. I don't care if we never recover the sword. From now on, cooperate to the fullest in rescuing her, 12th Flagbearer."
"I will certainly do so, Tower Keeper. However… engaging Sir Vail in battle now might actually put Sandra in more danger."
Jin pointed toward the sky.
The sky, which had been chaotically stained with Spirit Energy and the auras of various factions, was gradually being covered in blue. It was the power of Blue Lightning—Padler.
He's grown stronger. Either he's refined the power of chaos further, or he's reclaimed his old realm.
It seemed Padler had also undergone a change. An aura purer and more powerful than when they first fought in the Garden of Swords was spreading out.
Furthermore, there's Lionel, Stam, the additional Black Ships, and the Chaos Dragons.
Facing them along with Vail would be an overwhelming burden. While Vail's full strength hadn't been properly gauged yet, it was certain he was stronger than even the enhanced Padler.
Moreover, unlike when he had invaded the Garden of Swords alone, Jin now had allies he needed to protect.
Despite his surging rage, Hedo also began to view the situation with a cold eye.
"...You are right, 12th Flagbearer. Then, what do you plan to do?"
"I'm thinking that Sir Vail perceiving Sandra as Lady Sarah might actually be a blessing in disguise."
"Ha, do you think that madman will fight for Lady Sandra?"
"What would you do, Tower Keeper?"
"What?"
"Wouldn't you fight for Sandra under any circumstances?"
"In a situation like this, I would be looking for a way to escape with the Young Lady. If that fellow escapes with her…"
Hedo trailed off.
He suddenly felt Vail's aura amplifying boundlessly. The cross-shaped eyes grew sharper, and his transformed sword emitted a massive light, looking less like a human weapon and more like a divine relic.
Hedo wasn't wrong. In his position, escaping with Sandra would be the right move. But Vail had no reason to make such a choice.
He was certain that he was stronger than all of them combined.
"...Don't tell me, he doesn't even feel the need to be cautious?"
"It seems so."
[Jin Runcandel. This time, I shall truly finish you—]
Padler, who had fully emerged from the dimensional gate, also stopped mid-sentence. His eyes had briefly flashed with the thought of revenge upon seeing Jin, but his face contorted when he saw the Grave Giants and Vail.
[...Vail? Why are you here?]
[You've come seeking me quite fearlessly, Padler,] Vail smirked.
The moment Padler saw him, he became visibly shaken.
[And having grown so weak, you truly are as fearless now as you were then… you bastard.]
Jin felt that Padler had become stronger than before, but Vail perceived him as having grown weaker.
Vail, who had been glaring at Padler with murderous intent, lowered his head to look at Sandra. The demonic expression he had just worn was gone, replaced by one of infinite gentleness.
[Sarah, would it be alright if I killed Padler and his lackeys today?]
Sandra replied nonchalantly.
"Yeah, do whatever you want. Crush them or kill them. But it'll be uncomfortable for you to fight while holding me like this. Can you send me over to Jin?"
[You're right. Even if he's weakened, it would be difficult to tear him apart while holding you. Hmm… that fellow looks like he could protect you well enough in the middle of a chaotic battle. I'll do that.]
"Sure, sure."
[Jin Runcandel, I leave Sarah in your care. If even a single scratch remains on her when the fight is over, you will die by my hand.]
"Hey, I told you that's forbidden. Don't talk to Jin like that."
[I understand, Sarah. I'll correct myself. In that case, you will be severely injured by my hand. Understood, Jin Runcandel?]
"That's not allowed either! Seriously, this guy keeps saying mean things to Jin."
[Tsk, I almost think it was better when you were fussing over Padler. You're going to have a very tiring time, Jin Runcandel!]
As Vail handed Sandra over to Jin and soared into the air, the group could only stare blankly at his retreating back.