Chapter 698: Deepening Concerns (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 698: Deepening Concerns (2)
“Did I ask a difficult question? Your reaction is quite intense.”
“Sir Jin, how do you know that name?” Zephyrin spoke with narrowed eyes while Vishkel handed Orgal a handkerchief.
“I just know.”
“That is not a name one can ‘just’ know.”
“Let’s not pry too much into each other’s affairs.”
“Sir, you’ve always demanded to know how we obtained our information whenever we presented any. Have you no conscience? Even this time, you used the protection agreement as an excuse to take Lady Bianca and Young Master Lanke and work them excessively.”
“Was what Bianca and Lanke did truly excessive compared to the terms? The operation to rescue Sister Yona took place in Akin. In fact, the Zipple forces that arrived after the operation created a tense standoff. They looked like they were debating whether to attack us. If Bianca and Lanke hadn't been there, they might have actually struck.”
“It’s a stretch to say those two suppressed the conflict. Have you forgotten? The Zipple are also our temporary allies. While the Tower Keeper’s betrayal must have been extremely unpleasant for them, they aren't fools enough to break an alliance right before the final battle with the Evil God.”
“Didn’t you hear from Lanke and Bianca? The Zipple threatened us, saying the alliance was no longer essential. They said the situation has changed.”
“I’ve said this once before, but looking back, we in Kinzelo have always shown you goodwill. I’ve helped you many times when I had no choice. Of course, we’ve tried to kill each other plenty of times, but if you keep acting like this, we’ll be no different from the Zipple.”
“Is that so?”
Jin’s eyes turned sharp.
“This is truly annoying… It’s absurd how lightly every single one of you treats this temporary alliance. If you want to break it, say so right now, and I’ll grant your wish. But if that was just some pathetic threat disguised as a warning, you’d better not try it again. Next time, I’ll be the one to terminate the alliance first.”
As Jin spoke, he surged his energy, sending heavy vibrations rippling out in all directions.
Vail seemed to debate whether he should release his own power in support, but he remembered Sandra’s command to move only when Jin ordered.
In truth, Jin had no intention of breaking the alliance. If Zephyrin were to answer, ‘Fine, the temporary alliance ends today,’ Jin would have just played it off with a shrug. He would have claimed he was only joking and asked why she was being so serious.
However, while the Zipple were one thing after losing Hedo, he felt the need to set things straight now that even Kinzelo was acting up. In other words, Jin was bluffing to ensure Kinzelo wouldn't give him any more half-baked warnings using the alliance as leverage.
The tension with the Zipple alone was enough of a headache.
Faced with his counter-threat, the Kinzelo members fell silent for a moment. If it were anyone else, it might be different, but they knew Jin was someone who never made empty threats in situations like this.
“Ha, what? You son of a—”
Just as Zephyrin, unable to contain her rage, was about to unleash a torrent of profanity, Orgal spoke up.
[Cough, Zephyrin, do not get excited. It’s obvious how Jin learned Zito’s name… He heard it from the Holy King. The Holy King must have received a revelation from Ayula. Seeing as he suddenly brought up Zito, it seems something has gone wrong with his flesh, which is being kept by the Holy Kingdom.]
Orgal met Jin’s eyes. Jin felt a secret sense of wonder every time Orgal spoke of the world’s hidden histories so casually.
[You should also withdraw your energy and stop here, Jin Runcandel. I have no intention of breaking the alliance, so do not use such bluffs in the future. Is it truly so difficult for us to get along?]
In fact, setting aside the reckless mention of terminating the alliance, Zephyrin’s words weren't wrong. Kinzelo had always projected an aura of wanting to get along with Jin.
Yet, the reason Jin always treated them coldly was simple.
To Jin, they were still terrorists who had indiscriminately killed and experimented on civilians. They were enemies that had to be annihilated once he finished off Rosa.
Therefore, Jin could never look upon Kinzelo with favor. They were certainly not people he felt he needed to treat with a clear conscience. Moreover, he had never received their help without paying a price.
“It’s not exactly an easy issue. Regardless, you seem to know everything, Orgal.”
[I have lived a long time, after all. To answer your question, cough, Zito is the very definition of a disgrace to us demons. However, to me, he is like a teacher.]
“Is that why you tried to swallow the Holy Kingdom back when I was a reserve flagbearer? To reclaim your teacher’s body. The biological experiments were just a side project.”
[You may think whatever you wish. But that is a separate issue from dealing with the Evil God.]
“No, it is related. Because of that, the Holy Kingdom has become unstable, and the healing of our primary forces is being delayed.”
[One thing I can tell you for certain is that I cannot control the issues arising with Zito’s flesh.]
“Even if you could, I doubt you would.”
[It may be hard to believe no matter what I say, but his awakening right now would be a tremendous burden even for me.]
“That sounds like you’d prefer him to wake up after you’ve fully recovered.”
[Since the Holy Kingdom came into possession of Zito’s flesh, why do you think Ayula and the saints of the past hid that fact from their successors?]
Orgal let out a soft chuckle.
“Because they feared someone would covet that power,” Jin answered immediately.
Orgal nodded.
[You’ve almost got it. Zito’s energy possesses a power that seduces people by its very nature. So, if I were to give you a piece of advice… you should start doubting your friend from now on.]
“What?”
[I mean you should hope that the faith of the current Holy King, Rani Salome, is absolute enough to overcome that temptation. If she falls and resurrects Zito, it will be a miserable affair for everyone.]
Just as Jin was about to respond, Orgal laughed once more.
[I am joking. If Zito’s flesh had such an effect, the Holy Kingdom would have collapsed long ago. Now, since I’ve landed a blow on Jin, Zephyrin, I hope your mood has improved a bit. Cough!]
Zephyrin smiled, looking quite satisfied that Jin’s expression had crumpled.
“It’s been a while since my Master has done something I’m grateful for. It’s not easy to see Sir Jin make a face like that. I think I’ll be in a good mood for a week.”
[I am glad to hear it.]
Though Orgal called it a joke, Jin couldn't help but feel a spike of unease. He couldn't be certain that the reason Ayula and the ancient saints of the Holy Kingdom had hidden Zito’s flesh was truly unrelated to Orgal’s "joke."
“I gave you an inch, and you took a mile. I’ll be sure to remember that joke.”
It wasn't all bad, as he now knew that Kinzelo was deeply concerned about Zito.
[In any case, Zito will not wake up before the final battle with the Evil God. Even if I cannot control it, I can at least predict that much…]
The moment Orgal finished speaking, Margiella entered the room, rolling her wheelchair briskly.
“I’m late because I was napping. It’s good to see you, Sir Jin! I heard you brought Sir Vail with you!?”
Margiella bowed her head toward Vail, who had been standing beside Jin like a silent guard the entire time. Her eyes were sparkling as if she were genuinely delighted to see him.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Sir Vail. I am Margiella Ivliano.”
“…Who are you? Do you know me?”
“I know you well! You are a trace of life that came from the sun, the most noble existence in itself. We have been searching for you for a long time.”
“Searching for me?”
The sun. Jin’s mind latched onto the word Margiella had spoken.
‘Come to think of it, Lady Quicantel mentioned that in the past, Vail introduced himself as a creation of the sun…’
Suddenly, Jin's gaze fell upon the large Kinzelo flag hanging on the wall behind Orgal. On that flag was the intricate design of Kinzelo’s symbol: the ‘Broken Sun.’
Jin couldn't take his eyes off the flag for several seconds, a chill running down his spine as goosebumps broke out over his skin.
‘Is the Parent of Life that Kinzelo seeks to resurrect for their so-called ultimate purification… the Sun God?’
There were countless gods in the world, from beings treated as minor deities like Olmango to gods who governed the vast forces of nature. Most of those diverse gods had made their names known to the world by contracting with humans.
However, not just Jin, but most people in the world had rarely heard the term ‘Sun God.’ It was a title one would never hear unless some cultist mage claimed to be the Sun God himself and caused a social stir. This was because none of the active gods bore the name of the ‘Sun.’
Looking back, it was a strange thing. The sun is the object humans instinctively worship the most, yet there had been no god symbolizing it until now.
Orgal stared quietly at Jin and smiled.
[What you are thinking is likely correct, Jin Runcandel.]
While Jin was shocked, Vail himself seemed to have no particular reaction to the fact that Kinzelo had mentioned a Sun God. The reason was that Vail had never met the one who formed him. When he first came into the world, Vail only knew that he was a being fashioned from the sun. He had never met his creator directly, nor had he received any special message from him.
That was why Vail, like Hedo a thousand years ago, had been unintentionally swept up in various incidents, eventually meeting Sarah and becoming one of the Ten Great Knights of Runcandel.
“Orgal, the only reason I brought Vail here was because you said it would help your recovery. If I see any movement from your side to take anything more for your own purposes, I will leave with Vail immediately.”
[Do not worry about that.]
“Of course, your recovery alone is a huge gain for your side. One side has the Sun God, another has Heluram, and another has the Demon God Stone. Everyone has quite the colorful wish list.”
[You too are struggling to communicate with Solderet again, are you not?]
“That’s true, but I’d prefer you didn't treat us as the same. I don't believe my goal will be completed just because I can communicate with Solderet again. More importantly, I’ve been curious about the meaning of the name Kinzelo for a while now… Was it the name of the god you are trying to resurrect?”
[Yes. That is the name of the being who created everyone here.]