Chapter 691: Destiny for Two (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 691: Destiny for Two (5)
“By the way, you mentioned you were left crippled by long years of torture. How did you manage to fight Rosa?”
“Have you ever had your body transform in a single instant, 12th Flagbearer?”
“I have felt the sensation of growing stronger each time my realm ascended.”
“I’m not speaking of something so simple. I mean the feeling of being completely reborn.”
“I’ve witnessed it once, in the late Sir Ron.”
“I experienced it myself the moment I resolved to live for the Young Lady. My body, which I was told could not be mended by anything short of a sacred object from Numerus, suddenly began to stir with life. I could feel my displaced and broken bones knitting themselves back together, my damaged organs recovering.”
Just as Ron had resurrected himself from the brink of death when facing Gliek, Hedo had undergone a complete physical transformation.
“For a moment, I even wondered if I had entered the same realm as Sir Cyron. I soon realized it was nothing more than an illusion, but it was enough for the battle at hand.”
“It seems you and Sandra protected each other that day.”
“I was pushed back because I was fighting without having adapted to my new realm, and I didn't even have a decent sword. Fortunately, Rosa was also exhausted from breaking through to the experimental ward. Thanks to that, I held out until reinforcements arrived, and Rosa retreated, seething with frustration.”
Afterward, Hedo was absorbed into Zipple.
He had requested only two things from Kelliark: the return of his sword from the Black Sea and permission to stay by Sandra’s side.
Sandra had given Hedo something no one else ever had.
A reason to live. Something he had never received from the orphanage director, the first knight he killed, Cyron, Kelliark, or anyone else.
“So that is why you became the 2nd Butler.”
“There was no position more suitable. From then on, I learned many things in order to serve the Young Lady—common sense, knowledge, etiquette, and so on. I focused most on learning the things she lacked. Since the Young Lady was little more than a beast herself, I felt I had to be the one to teach her.”
If it was for Sandra, Hedo could master anything with inhuman speed.
Among those things, he most quickly learned how to navigate Zipple’s internal politics. He recognized early on that the clan coveted his loyalty, but he also knew that many held doubts about him.
So, he volunteered for the role of a cleaner. He ruthlessly purged those in key positions who possessed flaws that could jeopardize missions—like Sil—and dismantled factions that wasted Zipple’s strength on useless power struggles. He accomplished this by leading with his overwhelming martial prowess.
At the same time, he showed no excessive greed, so it was only natural that the leadership, Kelliark included, viewed him with satisfaction.
Hedo thus became a hidden power player within Zipple almost overnight. The reason he never changed his title, even after gaining such influence, was simply because there was no need.
However, the only reward he truly desired was never realized.
“To treat Lady Sandra as a human being rather than an experimental subject, and to give her freedom. That was all I ever wanted from Zipple. I never demanded it openly after gaining power, but they knew full well.”
“Zipple would never have allowed that. They must have believed that the moment Sandra gained her freedom, your loyalty would vanish with it.”
“It’s true that Zipple refused to let go of the leash, but that wasn't the only reason. Even I believed Zipple was the safest place for the Young Lady. The long-standing grudge between Zipple and Runcandel, the international situation, and the Young Lady’s strange, unchanging personality… those were the reasons. Could she, of all people, have lived a normal life if she left the clan?”
Kelliark was waiting for the day Hedo would offer his true loyalty to Zipple, not just to Sandra.
“…I was in the middle of using that fact to create a domain within Zipple solely for myself and the Young Lady, 12th Flagbearer.”
“From your perspective, I’ve ruined everything.”
Silence fell for a moment. Jin suddenly recalled the Sandra of his previous life, who had entered a political marriage with a low-ranking member of the Viment Imperial Family.
He wondered if Sandra’s marriage back then might have been the result of Hedo’s efforts finally bearing fruit.
Just as that thought crossed his mind, Hedo spoke again.
“12th Flagbearer, what I wanted to give the Young Lady was a normal life. For her to develop a normal personality, mingle with others, and one day meet a decent partner to spend the rest of her life with. If it weren't for you… I would have surely accomplished that.”
Jin didn’t answer, meeting Hedo’s gaze.
“But that was what I wanted, not the life the Young Lady desired. I’m only now realizing something so simple.”
Hedo poured the last of the alcohol into his and Jin’s glasses.
“Tower Keeper, I have one question.”
“What is it?”
“It seems Zipple didn’t stop the experiments on Sandra even after you took power, and you said that was what Sandra wanted. In my opinion, that was a choice she made for you. I called you a coward earlier because I didn't know the circumstances, but I’d like to retract that.”
“There’s no need. It’s true that I was a coward.”
Of course, Sandra had only agreed to the experiments because she wanted to be helpful to Hedo. She thought that by showing a submissive side now and then, he would face less suspicion. And if she obtained a semi-immortal body, his burdens would be lightened.
“12th Flagbearer.”
“Speak.”
“To be honest, I am still skeptical. Even if the Young Lady and I become part of your camp here, I wonder if it can truly be better than the days we spent in relative stability within Zipple.”
“Then what do you want to do?”
“I’m not saying I’ll return to Zipple. Looking back, my life has always been about moving from one refuge to another. In the end, the time we spent there couldn't be called wonderful for either me or the Young Lady.”
“I should rephrase the question. What would you like me to do?”
“If one day I feel there is no hope in Tikan, I will take the Young Lady and leave without hesitation. Do not block my path when I do.”
“I swear it. Not only will I not stop you, but there will be no pursuit or retaliation claiming that you and Sandra betrayed us.”
“I wonder if I can trust your word.”
“Doesn’t my name carry at least that much weight now? And above all…”
Jin turned and looked at Sandra for a moment.
He felt he had to make Tikan a better choice for her than the previous life where she married into the Imperial Family. Even if she had married back then, Zipple still existed. Sandra would have been under constant surveillance and likely used as a political pawn.
Furthermore, the Sandra of that time had not acted as crazed as her current self, which could have been the result of mind control.
It was Jin’s duty to ensure she was far freer than that.
“I owe Sandra a significant debt. She helped me several times and even saved my life. For now, dealing with Rosa is the priority, but my ultimate goal is the destruction of Zipple. Once they are gone, there will be nothing left in the world to threaten you and Sandra.”
“We might have to leave long before you have your final battle with some Evil God.”
“I understand. It’s not as if threats would work on you anyway. Losing you would be a painful blow, but I have no choice but to respect your decision. It would be different if you were the type to yield to power.”
Hedo’s pine smoke flickered out, leaving only a faint ember.
“But I truly plan to ensure that doesn't happen. I will help so that the long nightmare for you and Sandra can end here in Tikan.”
As Jin stared down at his glass, Hedo raised his.
It was their first toast. Hedo and Sandra would now remain in Tikan.
“Suddenly, I am reminded of something you said not long ago.”
—Perhaps you are a descendant of the Ten Great Knights, Sir Vail. That is why the sword found you. It wasn't a coincidence.
The words Jin had used while trying to persuade Hedo.
Of course, Hedo was not a descendant of Vail. However, there were certainly strange similarities in the destinies of Hedo and Vail.
“Talking with you reminded me of Sir Vail’s story as well,” Jin said. “The things he went through weren't as harsh as yours, but just as you were reborn through Lady Sandra, Sir Vail also found his reason for being through Lady Sarah.”
Just as he had now heard Hedo’s past, Jin had already heard a similar story from Vail.
Like Hedo, Vail had been nothing more than a monster of destruction, rampaging everywhere until he met Sarah.
“Though that madman seems to have no thoughts in his head at all, unlike me,” Hedo grumbled. “I still don’t believe in destiny, but I have to admit your words hit the mark.”
Jin smiled.
“I’d like to think of this as destiny for the two of you.”
Hedo shrugged, took out a new piece of pine smoke, and lit it.
“More importantly, the task you first requested is now a problem. Now that the Young Lady and I have become traitors, we can no longer help you find your sister, Yona Runcandel, in Akin.”
“That’s true, but with you and Sir Vail now in Tikan, the situation has actually improved. You, Sir Vail, and I. If the three of us personally infiltrate Akin and coordinate with Nameless, I believe we can suppress the rampaging Sister Yona quickly and safely, even without Zipple’s help.”
“Infiltrating Zipple’s territory the moment I betray them… you certainly assign such shameless tasks with ease.”
“If it’s a burden, I’ll just take Sir Vail.”
“No, I will go. Since I’m going anyway, I might as well secure your sister and leave a greeting for Zipple.”
“Thank you, Tower Keeper. Ah, and one more thing.”
Jin offered his hand. Hedo looked down at it for a few seconds before grasping it.
“From now on, I will address you formally and with the proper respect. Please forget any rudeness caused by the special circumstances up to now, Sir Hedo.”
Hedo, secretly pleased, replied, “Then I shall speak comfortably to you, 12th Flagbearer. I look forward to working with you.”
He then turned his head toward a nearby pillar.
“And I ask the same of you, Miss Valeria. If I may say one thing… the Young Lady has never participated in anything related to Hister.”
As Hedo finished speaking, Valeria revealed herself from behind the pillar.
Jin and Hedo had known from the start that she was listening, and Valeria had known that they knew, but all three had feigned ignorance.
Valeria leaned against the railing for a long time, looking up at the sky.