Chapter 697: Deepening Concerns (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 697: Deepening Concerns (1)
Holy King Rani.
After returning from the mission to rescue Yona, Jin finally met with the Holy King, who had made a sudden visit to Tikan.
Oul was the one who had invited her. Rani had accepted his request because Nameless was now officially part of the Barmul Alliance. If Oul had contacted her merely as the leader of Nameless, instead of as a member of the Alliance, Rani likely would not have come.
“So, this is the man who returned to the human world after nearly three years but couldn't be bothered to show his face even once? Instead, all I get are letters assigning me difficult tasks?”
Rani spoke with a playful pout.
Since Jin’s return, she had been personally overseeing the treatment of Talaris in the Holy Kingdom and had also examined Valeria after her encounter with Luntia. However, this was the first time she was seeing Jin in person.
Jin offered an awkward smile. Despite reuniting with a dear friend after so long, he couldn't bring himself to look truly happy.
“Rani.”
“Oh, dear. I tried to joke around since it’s been a while, but I see the mood isn’t right for it. I don’t need to explain that I’m not actually upset, do I?”
“Of course not.”
Rani patted Jin on the shoulder.
She, too, was enduring all manner of hardships as the Holy King and a key figure in the anti-Chaos faction. Still, it pained her to think that the burdens on Jin’s shoulders were likely far heavier than her own.
“Don't thank me. If it weren't for you and Lord Murakan, I would be dead by now, and the Holy Kingdom would still be suffering under Zipple’s exploitation. Even now, you’ve barely returned, yet you’re already fighting with everything you have for the sake of the world.”
“It just so happened that my personal quest to reclaim my clan led me down this path.”
“Even so, Ayula will always grant you her protection. So, don’t worry too much about Lady Yona. I don’t know her well, but from what I’ve heard from you and the Nameless King, she seems like a good person.”
The reason for Jin’s dark expression was, indeed, Yona.
“...Yes. Sister Yona is a truly wonderful person.”
Rescuing Yona safely was, in itself, a source of immense joy.
There had been no critical casualties among their allies during the mission, and Yona had not undergone the physical mutations Jin had feared most. Furthermore, the Holy King herself had come to prepare for any potential issues that might arise during the purification of her Chaos.
However, Yona’s Chaos had not been purified.
“Even if the Chaos wasn't completely cleansed like with the others, we can at least stop it from going berserk like before.”
As Rani said, the purification device hadn't been entirely useless on Yona.
While complete purification was impossible, Yona’s Chaos had now entered a ‘stable state’—much like before Gliek’s power agitated it, back when she was managing the Chaos on her own.
The problem was that the Chaos within Yona was simply too massive. Boras’s purification device had reached its limit just trying to influence it.
It’s probably a similar case to what happened with Ling Ling and me in the past...
It would be better if Yona’s Chaos could be separated from her—becoming an annoying but somewhat cute and useful entity like Ling Ling—but Ban was currently in Laprarosa.
Even if Ban were to step in personally, there was no guarantee that a separation like Ling Ling’s could occur again, which only added to the frustration.
Still, he couldn't afford to dwell on that forever.
Regardless, it was a fact that Yona’s situation had improved beyond comparison.
“Thank you, Rani. I was being too self-absorbed. The Holy King herself came all this way, and I don't even have a Murakan to offer you. What am I to do?”
As soon as she arrived in Tikan and checked on Yona, Rani’s first question to the others had been about Murakan’s well-being.
“It is a bit disappointing. I heard he’s acting as the deputy of Solderet’s deputy… It’s such a grand yet clumsy-sounding title. It really suits Lord Murakan.”
For Murakan to return, Talaris’s recovery was the most critical factor. And because Talaris was injured, Misha was currently occupied with maintaining Elona’s seal.
“I have something to tell you about the Palace Master,” Rani said.
“Is it bad news?”
“I wouldn't call it good. It’s not that there’s a problem with her recovery itself. The issue is that her recovery is being delayed because the time I can personally dedicate to her is steadily decreasing.”
“Something else has happened in the Holy Kingdom…”
Rani nodded.
“Yes. A demonic relic kept by our Holy Kingdom—Zito’s Eye—has recently begun showing ill omens.”
“Zito’s Eye?”
The Holy Kingdom Defense War, a famous conflict that occurred five hundred years ago when demons invaded Vankella, was known to all.
However, the reason the Saints of Vankella, Runcandel, and Zipple had joined forces was not merely to protect the people of the Holy Kingdom.
“The name Zito will likely be unfamiliar to you. He never set foot in the human world, and I’m told even in the Demon World, few know his name. Even after I became the Holy King, I couldn't find any records of Zito’s Eye.”
“Even you, the Holy King, couldn’t access records about it?”
“That’s right. I only recently learned that Zito’s Eye exists within the Holy Kingdom and that it’s showing ill omens. Ayula warned me through a dream.”
Recalling the dream she had a few days ago, Rani shuddered as if in pain.
“Ayula showed me a future where Zito is resurrected through that relic. The entire world was in flames. In that vision, every protector of the human world—including you and Lord Murakan—was dead.”
If anyone else had said this, Jin would have dismissed it as nonsense, but Rani was the Holy King. There was no way she would mistake a simple nightmare for a divine warning from Ayula.
“Dealing with Rosa is already overwhelming enough, and now a new powerful enemy might appear?”
“To prevent that future, I'm using my power to suppress Zito's Eye, just as Ayula warned. Since I'm using almost all of my divine power for that task, the Palace Master's treatment is being delayed.”
“Have you heard anything about why Zito’s Eye started acting up? Perhaps it was influenced by the remnants of Chaos left by Gliek?”
“She didn't say anything specific about that. However, I do have a suspicion.”
“I have a certain group in mind as well.”
Kinzelo.
They were currently the only ones in the human world who commanded demons. Kinzelo had long possessed high-ranking demons like Bianca, and while Jin was away in Laprarosa, they had recruited even more powerhouses from the Demon World.
“I've heard that Beast Demon King Orgal, Kinzelo's leader, is one of the rulers of the Demon World. I'm certain he's involved in this,” Rani said.
“That goes without saying. The only way they could be gathering so many demons is if they've established some kind of passage to the Demon World.”
“It was believed that demon society completely collapsed after the Holy Kingdom Defense War, but you must be right. Even if it’s not a portal to an external dimension, they might be bringing demons over through summoning rituals.”
“Summoning, huh…”
—Right, Lanke Halovice. Your tenacity is worth noting. Anyway, according to you, the Great Desert became like this because every faction used it as an experimental disposal site after it was contaminated. And you’re saying you just liked this place and used it as a playground?
—Yes…
—The first part is believable, but the second part isn't convincing enough. You were trying to do something here.
—I just… cough… like it here.
That was the conversation Jin had with Lanke after defeating him right after returning to the human world.
Even back then, Jin hadn't believed Lanke was merely using the Great Desert as a playground. This conversation with Rani only deepened his suspicion.
“During the incident in the Holy Kingdom, Kinzelo must have been searching for Zito’s Eye alongside their biological experiments,” Jin mused.
“I think so too. Back then, we were only focused on the bio-golem experiments, but Kinzelo’s true objective must have been Zito’s Eye.”
“Will you be alright suppressing Zito’s Eye with your divine power for now?”
“For now, yes. But there are no precedents for this kind of problem, and the information Ayula provided is far too limited…”
If Murakan had been here, he would have complained about why that damn Ayula only gave such vague warnings.
Rani chuckled at the sudden thought, then briefly wondered if that counted as blasphemy.
“So it’s a ticking time bomb, but not an immediate one,” Jin concluded. “Still, since Ayula—a god who is normally reluctant to interfere in the human world—gave a direct warning, there's a high chance we'll have no solution if it actually goes off.”
“We should be fine until Ayula manifests again with further instructions.”
“I already had a reason to go to Kinzelo, but I’ll need to ask your permission for something first.”
“Permission?”
“Would it be alright if I brought up Zito’s Eye directly to sound Orgal out?”
“Of course.”
“Good. I’ll be sure to share any information I get from Kinzelo about Zito’s Eye.”
“They claim they want Sir Vail, but do you think they’ll give up information that easily?”
“If I mention Zito’s Eye and they feign ignorance or go silent, that’s an answer in itself. It would mean the information is too sensitive to ever be disclosed.”
“That’s true. It seems you’re planning to leave right away, but won't you at least have a cup of tea with me? I don't have a teleportation ship like the Red Owl, so I had to come on a regular vessel.”
“Of course we should. Once mass production of the teleportation ships becomes possible, I’ll send one to the Holy Kingdom.”
“Oho, I’ve managed to secure another promise! Since I’m so grateful, I’ll brew the tea myself, even though I’m the guest!”
*
Kinzelo New Headquarters.
They were supposed to be in high spirits today, finally able to see the Trace of Life they had yearned for so desperately…
Unfortunately, since Vail had already entered into a contract with Sandra Zipple, their joy was inevitably halved.
Orgal did not hide his disappointment, even with Jin standing right in front of him.
[So you truly… have already made a contract with Sandra Zipple… It was hard to believe even after hearing it.]
“You sound so disappointed it almost makes me feel sorry. But what could I do, Orgal? The contract was made the moment Vail's seal was released. In any case, I kept my promise. The agreement didn't say anything about Vail having a private audience with you, so it's best if all conversations happen where I can hear them.”
[Sigh, that does not matter. Cough…]
“That’s a relief. Now, there’s one thing I’d like to ask.”
[What is it?]
“What do you think of Demon King Zito?”
At Jin’s sudden question, Orgal erupted into a fit of coughing.
Fortunately, his condition seemed to have improved slightly, as he wasn't coughing up as much blood as before.