Chapter 683: Vail’s Delusion (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 683: Vail’s Delusion (3)
Jin, Valeria, and Hedo were left speechless for a long while.
That madman, one of the old Ten Great Knights of Runcandel, was stubbornly perceiving Sandra as Sarah until the very end.
“Hehe! At first, I thought he was just some monster trying to hit our Mr. Jin, but he’s actually a nice friend, isn't he?”
Sandra completely ignored Vail’s denial of her true identity. From her perspective, as long as he stopped attacking Jin and even helped them on her command, nothing else mattered.
“……My lady, are you alright?”
“Yeah, I’m perfectly fine, as you can see. The scrapes and bruises on my hands and feet from hitting that guy have all healed. Wow, he was incredibly tough. I don’t think my fists and feet hurt this much even when I was beating up Hedo.”
Hedo couldn't hide his troubled expression, looking like a man in the throes of a midlife crisis.
A moment of curiosity had nearly cost him his sword and put Sandra in danger. To make matters worse, the fact that he had secretly contacted the Barmul Alliance during his vacation was now exposed to his family.
If the monster that awakened from the seabed hadn't suddenly taken such an extreme liking to Sandra, he would have lost everything in a futile struggle.
Though he hadn't lost anything yet, Hedo was feeling a sense of defeat for the first time in a very long while.
“My lady, you must give that man one more command.”
“What command?”
“Tell him not to attack the family, the Barmul Alliance, or Kinzelo—any of our allied forces. Judging by his behavior, it seems he will unconditionally accept any order from you for now.”
“Ah, that’s a good idea. Heyyy! Only attack the Garden of Swords! Oh, wait, he’s already destroying everything?”
At her words, Hedo adjusted his broken glasses with a calm gesture and pulled a cigarette from his pocket.
Even before Vail had personally joined the fray, many of the Zipple ships had already been shot down by the red beams of the Grave Giant.
[Sarah, what did you say?]
“Attack only the ones from the Garden of Swords! Only Runcandel!”
[I’ll try my best!]
“……At this rate, we won’t have a leg to stand on when we return to the family. This is all my fault, my lady.”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“I mean that I put you in danger. Once we return, both you and I will be subjected to an intense investigation.”
“It’s not like it’s the first time, right?”
“This time is different. The circumstances make it look like we secretly colluded with the Barmul Alliance and, in the process, caused a loss to the family’s military strength. Since I am a vital asset, it won't be a problem for me, but you will surely lose your freedom. You’ll be held hostage to ensure my loyalty.”
“That guy Vail looks like he’d fight the entire family if they touched me. And you would too, Hedo.”
“That means little. First of all, we don't know when that man will realize you aren't Sarah Runcandel. And with the Evil God openly expanding his influence, a confrontation between the family and me would be problematic in many ways.”
“Can’t we just run away for a bit until Father’s anger cools down?”
“My lady.”
“What?”
“For now… it would be best to think about it again after this situation is over.”
Jin’s eyes widened.
Hedo’s words implied that he might actually betray Zipple.
Jin didn't add anything to the conversation. Whatever choice Hedo made, Jin intended to help him as much as possible. The man had helped him find Runcandel's ancient legacy, and now he was in trouble. Jin felt a natural sense of responsibility.
[Phew, to think I’d forgotten about that madman until now. History manipulation is truly terrifying.]
Quicantel spoke as she descended to the seabed, having escaped the chaos in the sky.
Fortunately, Vail had not attacked her.
However, that wasn't because of any loyalty to Runcandel or lingering memories of the old days, but simply because Quicantel was a familiar face.
“Lady Quicantel.”
As Quicantel transformed into her human form, her comrades naturally gathered around her. Seeing that everyone was safe, Jin breathed an inward sigh of relief.
“Jin, as you can see, that fellow isn't human. He’s a god-like being.”
“Judging by the way he fights, it didn't feel like he became strong through training.”
“Right. Vail was strong from the very beginning… and because he couldn't control that power, he caused massive problems all over the world. The number of humans who died by his hand is uncountable. Back then, Runcandel originally considered Vail a target for subjugation, not recruitment.”
“How did someone like that become one of the Ten Great Knights?”
“Because of Sarah. I don't remember the exact details yet, but Vail swore loyalty to Sarah, not Runcandel. Temar appointed him as one of the Ten Great Knights so he could repay his karmic debt to the world.”
“Certainly… if he can be controlled, his martial prowess would be an incredible asset.”
Jin said, looking up at Vail.
His fighting style was clearly on a different level from any human's.
First, he was capable of aerial combat with his two wings, and the power pouring from his sword and body was neither Aura nor Mana, but Authority.
Vail’s golden Authority was already replacing the Blue Lightning that had dyed the sky.
In terms of sheer magnitude, his power was close to the Realm of Creation. While it lacked the same depth, it wasn't shallow like a mere weapon overflowing with energy.
Storms spread with every flap of his wings. Golden lightning struck from the sky, following the arc of his sword. The beams fired from his eyes made the Grave Giant look pathetic. The sea overturned whenever he moved.
It was as if an enraged god had personally descended to join the battle.
Some chaos dragons even exploded in midair when Vail merely clenched his fist, never even touching them.
“The problem is that he was buried here because he couldn't be controlled.”
“Is it because of Sir Sarah’s death?”
“Exactly. Until Sarah died in battle, he had placed a Restriction on himself so that he couldn't exert any power without her command. While the Restriction was active, he looked like an ordinary human. The moment Sarah died, the Restriction was broken.”
That meant that unless a new Restriction was placed on him, Vail was a bomb that could go off at any moment. The risk of him turning hostile the instant he realized the real Sarah was dead was far too high.
“……And he was expelled from the Ten Great Knights. Because he went on a rampage every day, destroying the world.”
“We should decide what to do with Sir Vail after checking the records with Aria. For now, just the fact that he has awakened is bringing back memories we had forgotten. I hope we can find a way to keep him alive, if possible.”
If he could become an ally, he would be an incomparable pillar of support.
Above all, Vail seemed to have almost no memory damage except for his delusion about Sarah. He could be a key to uncovering the past.
[Vail: Padler! You couldn't protect Sarah, and you couldn't even save yourself from ruin. How miserable can you be?]
[Padler: Shut up, Vail.]
[Vail: Every time Sarah defended a coward like you, it made me sick to my stomach.]
[Padler: I've forgotten most of my so-called comrades from that era. But I remember you. I remember you vividly. When Temar destroyed my kingdom… you were standing right beside him.]
[Vail: Come to think of it, you failed to protect Sarah, yourself, and your kingdom. My only regret is that I couldn't force you to watch Idal crumble with your own two eyes. And now look at you, clinging to Runcandel again to eke out your pathetic existence. Even Sarah abandoned you.]
[Padler: That gives me an idea. There's a woman down there you call Sarah, isn't there? Unlike me, you'll get to watch her die with your own eyes.]
[Vail: That mouth of yours, always pretending to be so noble, is finally showing its true colors. Go on. Try it. I wish you luck.]
They exchanged words and blows laced with hatred.
At one time, they must have roamed the battlefield together as members of the Ten Great Knights. Though it was a scene he had never witnessed, Jin felt a surge of bitterness welling up in his chest for some reason.
Sarah's death was likely the reason they'd come to hate each other so fiercely.
And Sarah’s death must have stemmed from Runcandel’s defeat.
If Jin were to be defeated in this life, his allies in the Barmul Alliance and his own comrades could end up just like them—wraiths bound by mutual hatred.
At that thought, Jin changed his mind. He couldn't wait to check the records before deciding Vail's fate.
I will make him an ally, no matter what. If he cannot become a true comrade, I will at least turn him into a controllable weapon.
He felt the same way about Elona Zipple, who was currently sealed by Talaris.
Creeeeeak—!
A sharp bolt of Blue Lightning struck down on Vail’s forehead.
Vail blocked it with his wing and let out a contemptuous laugh.
[Vail: You talked so big, but you think you can kill me with this kind of power? Your lackeys are more annoying.]
Stam and Lionel were being knocked back by Vail’s sword.
Vail was certainly strong, but Padler, Stam, and Lionel were also fighting at a fraction of their true power—far weaker than when they fought Jin in the Garden of Swords.
This was because the battle wasn't taking place on land. While the three of them struggled for footing on the churning sea, chaos dragons, and Black Ships, Vail dominated the skies.
Not long after the battle began, Vail had already seized the upper hand.
Padler’s group knew perfectly well why they were at a disadvantage.
However, the reason they couldn't rashly lure Vail down to the seabed, where they could fight properly, was simple.
Jin was standing down there.
Furthermore, since the comrades beside him—especially Hedo—were formidable opponents, they judged it better to fight a disadvantaged battle in the air.
[Vail: Today is a special day, Padler. It is the moment Sarah is perfectly liberated from you….]
Finally, Vail grabbed the neck of Padler, who had just soared up after falling into the sea.
Padler glared with resentment, and Vail wore a triumphant smile, thinking he was finally finishing him off. But soon, Vail’s expression also crumpled.
[Vail: What, you’re running away?]
Padler’s body was gradually blurring.
Jin and his comrades thought it must be the Prophet, retrieving his soul.
However, the one summoning Padler back to the Garden of Swords right now was not her, but Rosa Runcandel.
Rosa was looking down at the seabed through Padler’s eyes, a smile on her face.