Chapter 765: People to Find, Unexpected Clues (6)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 765: People to Find, Unexpected Clues (6)
[Welcome.]
As they stepped into the forest, Sheila greeted the group.
“It’s been a while, Lady Sheila.”
Since Jin and Valeria’s last visit to the Wantaramo Forest, Sheila had reclaimed her authority as the Cursed Fairy Queen. Seeing her again after so long, her mana was far more potent than before, and the very order of the forest seemed to move in perfect harmony around her.
[Though it hasn’t been long by our standards, I am truly glad to see you and Valeria again. Especially you, Valeria… your heart seems to have found much peace.]
“Can you see into my heart?” Valeria asked with a playful expression. Since their last meeting, she had felt a certain kinship with Sheila.
Though one was a cursed ghost and the other inherited the will of a true fairy, they shared the same roots. To Valeria, Sheila felt like a kind grandmother, and Sheila, in turn, thought of Valeria as her own granddaughter.
[Of course. Anyone who knows you would think the same. The face that was once filled only with duty and vengeance has become so serene. It seems to be thanks to Jin and your companions.]
As Valeria showed a hint of embarrassment, Sheila smiled and turned her gaze toward Jin.
[I must offer you my thanks. Not just for Valeria’s well-being… but for saving this world. Every living being on this earth owes you a debt.]
“You flatter me.”
“Exactly, it’s total flattery. Honestly, it wasn’t him; you should say the Pluto Tribe Fighting God saved us—ow! Why are you hitting me! You little runts!”
It wasn’t Jin who hit Vail, but the Catfolk. Jin let out a chuckle as he watched Vail huff in anger at the small beastmen.
[You must be Sir Vail Runcandel.]
“Oh? You know me?”
Sheila was beginning to recall fragments of her memories from a thousand years ago, before she was cursed by Heluram. As Jin resolved major incidents one by one, Zipple’s history manipulation was losing its grip.
[I saw you a thousand years ago. It seems you don’t remember. Back then, I went by the name Shil Damiro.]
“Shil Damiro? That sounds familiar. Ah, were you the head butler’s maid?”
[I was her sister. The concept of a ‘maid’ didn’t exist among the fairies back then.]
“I see. Didn’t you have another sister?”
[…I sent that child away with my own hands. She forgot our duty and betrayed us, putting the clan in danger.]
“Ah, I shouldn’t have asked.”
[It is fine. However, Sir Vail, you surely have such a duty as well. It likely concerns the protection of Runcandel or the legacy of Solderet. After all, you were one of the Ten Great Knights.]
“I don’t know much about that. Even back then, I only fought for Sarah, not the clan.”
[No, you will remember one day. My sister said that back then, everyone fought with one heart…]
Normally, Vail would have snapped and asked what business it was of hers, but for some reason, he didn’t feel like saying anything harsh to Sheila.
“Lady Sheila,” Jin interjected. “Neru told me on the way here that there was a strange reaction when they brought your energy to the destroyed hideout.”
[Yes, Jin. They said a blue light flickered, drawn by my energy. My sister’s power has manifested beyond Solderet’s subspace.]
It was the prototype of Record Magic—the authority of the fairies. What the Catfolk had seen was indeed its trace. Jin felt his heart race and nodded.
—I wish I could tell you many stories about the Runcandel of a thousand years ago, but unfortunately, I have very few memories left of that time.
Those were the words Ruet had spoken at Temar’s third tomb.
Even if they found Ruet immediately, the secrets of a millennium ago wouldn't all be unraveled. Even with the history manipulation weakened, it was unlikely that all of Ruet’s memories had returned.
However, even the small clues she remembered would be a great help.
Above all, it would inevitably aid in advancing Valeria’s Record Magic, which meant they would eventually be able to restore the history of that era.
[My sister probably feels it too.]
“We should head there at once.”
[I’ve already prepared the passage.]
Neru spoke as she conjured a violet energy on the ground. The mystical purple light unique to the Catfolk began to draw a magic circle.
Soon, a single door rose from the circle.
[The door is a bit small, right? Since the distance is far, this was the limit of what we could do to match our size.]
“It’s fine.”
[Go now. Somehow, I feel like I’ll hear good news soon.]
Sheila’s voice sounded excited, driven by the intuition that she might finally be able to offer a long-overdue apology to the sister she had lost a thousand years ago. The Catfolk received energy from Sheila, gathering it into a basket. The energy seemed ready to overflow, yet not a single drop leaked out.
“Yes, Lady Sheila.”
The group crouched down and entered the door.
*
Beyond the door lay the Catfolk hideout that had been destroyed by the Wraith Squad years ago.
In the middle of the ruins, a blue light, similar to Record Magic, wavered like fireflies.
The moment she saw it, Valeria felt a surge of emotion. She realized that Ruet, just like her, was struggling to fulfill her duty even while left alone, fighting not to be completely forgotten.
A solitary soul burdened with the duty of records—she saw the similarities between her fate and Ruet’s.
“Vail.”
At Jin’s word, Vail released his power, spreading his golden authority. As soon as his authority was added, the blue light reacted even more intensely.
“Your guess was right, Valeria,” Jin said. “As soon as something related to Lady Ruet touches it, there’s an immediate reaction.”
Next, when they placed Silus at the center of the energy, the blue light amplified once more.
[Ooh!]
[Are we finally going to meet Ruet?!]
The Catfolk shouted in delight.
However, the change stopped there. While it was an impressive phenomenon, it felt somewhat weak compared to how Shakan had reacted to Temar’s tomb. It was the same even when Jin released his Spirit Energy, despite the fact that all of Temar’s tombs had always reacted to Spirit Energy in such situations.
[What should we do? Should we bring more of Lady Sheila’s energy?]
[We already tried that before Jin arrived.]
While the group fell into thought, Valeria quietly channeled mana into her Silver Pine Staff.
“I’ll examine the records.”
A blue record window floated up amidst Ruet’s energy.
<…this, …the, … .>
As was often the case, the Record Magic provided only extremely limited information.
[It doesn’t seem to be working. We’re not going to be able to get Ruet out, are we? Do we need something more?]
“Stop being a jinx and stay quiet. Valeria is concentrating,” Vail grumbled.
Even after ten minutes, the sentences appearing in the record window remained unchanged. Valeria’s body was already hot and drenched in sweat.
[She’s going to collapse at this rate.]
[You’re right, Jin. Valeria’s going to get hurt. Maybe it’s better to find more clues and come back?]
Just as the Catfolk added their worried comments, Valeria opened her eyes and looked back at Jin.
“Jin, Lady Ruet’s energy and my mana are resonating right now.”
“Is that so?”
It didn't look that way to Jin’s eyes, but he didn't argue. Valeria wasn't one to talk nonsense.
“But we need more catalysts. Neru, please go and keep bringing Lady Sheila’s energy here.”
[Okay!]
[Got it! See, I told you we needed more of Lady Sheila’s energy!]
“Sir Vail, you go and help too. Jin, stay here and watch over me. If you see any signs of me losing control of my mana, you have to help.”
Jin sat cross-legged, facing Valeria.
“Cover the mana that escapes my control with your Spirit Energy. Every time Lady Sheila’s energy is brought, place it here in the center. From now until the work is done, I won’t be able to speak.”
Valeria was taking a very dangerous risk, but Jin decided to trust her.
“Alright. Don’t worry and focus.”
From then on, Vail and the Catfolk moved back and forth through the passage, bringing Sheila’s energy, while Jin protected Valeria. Like adding logs to a fire, Sheila’s energy was added to Valeria’s mana and Ruet’s authority every five minutes.
It looked exactly like a fire gradually growing larger.
Occasionally, Valeria would furrow her brows and groan in pain, and Jin would calmly use his Spirit Energy to stabilize her own.
At some point, Valeria had stopped asking Jin for a price when things like this happened, even in cases like this where her life was at risk. She wasn't risking herself now just to complete her Record Magic. The relationship between the two was slowly becoming as close as it had been in their previous lives.
The resonance between Valeria and Ruet continued long into the night. Throughout it all, Valeria never once opened her eyes, focusing solely on manifesting her mana. Jin, too, was starting to grow weary, performing a task that required just as much intense concentration as Valeria’s.
And finally, around midnight…
Fwaaaaah…!
Valeria’s mana and Ruet’s authority, which had been glowing faintly like a campfire, suddenly erupted into a massive pillar of light.
[Ooooh!]
[Wow! Wait, Valeria!]
At the same time, Valeria collapsed into Jin’s arms.
Fortunately, she hadn't fainted; her strength had simply left her body due to exhaustion. Jin patted her back, which was as hot as a furnace.
“Phew… I’m okay, so don’t worry,” she breathed. “We just need to rest for a moment before going in.”
[Did it work?]
“Yes. If you look closely at the pillar, there’s an entrance. Lady Ruet said it would open if Jin applied his Spirit Energy to it.”
She had already spoken with Ruet several times during the resonance.
[There really is an entrance!]
Jin adjusted his posture so Valeria could rest comfortably, and she didn't make an effort to leave his arms. Seeing this, Vail and the Catfolk exchanged glances and whispered to each other.
After a few minutes, Valeria spoke. “This should be enough. Let’s go.”
Jin helped Valeria to her feet, and they stood before the entrance within the pillar. As he conjured a handful of Spirit Energy in his palm and touched the shimmering doorway, it immediately swung open.
Inside, they saw Ruet, sitting down and catching her breath, looking just as exhausted as Valeria.
[You really… didn't forget and came back for me,] Ruet said, a weary smile touching her lips.