Chapter 782: What Happened Three Days Ago (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 782: What Happened Three Days Ago (3)
* * *
The Garden of Swords.
There had been a massive explosion at the Tower of Stories, and the cause was presumed to be combat. Furthermore, immediately after the explosion, the sky near the Magic Tower had darkened as if night had fallen.
That was the extent of the report from an informant regarding the incident in the Lutero Magic Federation three days ago. There was no explanation as to who, exactly, had been fighting.
Naturally, Zipple was keeping the incident under a strict gag order. Had the spies embedded in the Federation not confirmed it, Runcandel might never have known about the explosion at the Tower of Stories.
“Tell the spies in the Federation to withdraw immediately,” Jin ordered. “Veradin possesses an ability similar to record magic. If an incident of that magnitude occurred, he will undoubtedly scour the surrounding area.”
“Understood. Fortunately, the spies anticipated this and have already begun their withdrawal. They are a quick-witted bunch, so they won’t be caught.”
“That’s a relief. Head Butler, see to it that they are handsomely rewarded as soon as they return.”
“As you wish.”
“Combat, you say… Young Master, it’s been reported that Kadun has been losing his temper frequently of late. Could there be a connection?”
“It certainly seems like an internal matter, Brother Heitona,” Jin replied. “The only forces capable of attacking the Tower of Stories are us and Kinzelo, and there have been no suspicious movements from Kinzelo’s side.”
“We cannot rule out the possibility that Veradin Zipple, who recently became the Young Master, was at odds with the Fire Dragon Kadun,” the Head Butler added.
“Likely so. However, the Tower of Stories is the very heart of Zipple. It’s baffling that combat took place there of all places. If our spies could see it from what must have been a great distance, then it must have been a large-scale battle.”
The sky near the tower darkening like night after the explosion…
Jin focused on that particular detail.
Since it was a battle at a Magic Tower, it’s entirely possible for the sky to be cast in shadow as multiple high-level spells overlapped. If a Demon God Stone was used, its characteristic Chaos could also easily darken the sky.
And yet, he felt a strange sense of dissonance, as if there were something more to it.
Runcandel did not yet know exactly how Zipple was manipulating history. They only knew that the manipulation occurred after Zipple’s mages gathered in large numbers at the Tower of Stories—a fact confirmed at Temar’s third tomb.
According to the records I saw in Solderet’s device, the Tower of Stories is the core of their history manipulation… and it is the domain of the Zipple Patriarch. Furthermore, Kadun is a being who would never betray Zipple. Even if he truly clashed with Veradin, there’s no reason to choose that specific place as their battlefield.
Zipple was likely already dealing with a massive headache due to the recent weakening of their power to manipulate history. They had no reason to create a situation that could cause problems for the Tower of Stories.
Above all, the Tower of Stories was Zipple’s strongest fortress. It was an area estimated to be even more difficult to conquer than Drakka, where Zipple’s main estate was located.
For Kadun, or anyone else, to start a rebellion at the Tower of Stories would be madness. Occupying the tower is too difficult, and even if they won, the loss would be too great if the tower were damaged.
Of course, knowing Kadun’s temperament, he was more than capable of losing his cool and going on a rampage. But upon reflection, despite his blustering, Kadun had always shown a tendency to back down once he realized he was at a disadvantage. This had been true during his various arguments with Jin and his power struggles with Zephyrin.
It was hard to imagine such a dragon risking his life to run wild at the Tower of Stories just to have a final showdown with Veradin.
In that case, I have to assume there was a fight that even Kadun could not back down from. A reason for that would be…
Kelliark Zipple.
Suddenly, the Zipple Patriarch’s name and his current state flashed through Jin’s mind—barely clinging to life in a maintenance device at the top of the Magic Tower, consumed by Chaos.
Two hypotheses occurred to him at once.
“…What if Veradin tried to kill Kelliark Zipple? If that were the case, and Kadun was the one fighting him, he could never have backed down.”
Jin spoke, organizing his thoughts aloud.
“The Young Master of Zipple trying to kill the current Patriarch…? Hmm. You did say that Veradin Zipple was a righteous and upright individual before the mind control, Young Master. He also harbored a strong resentment toward his family.”
“But looking at Veradin Zipple’s recent actions, it doesn’t seem like he’s regained his senses,” Mary interjected. “If Veradin did try to kill Kelliark, the most likely scenario is that he was pushing Kelliark aside to seize power. And even then, it would only be possible if Kelliark was already in a state where he couldn't do anything, or else…”
Mary’s eyes widened.
“…a rampage. If Kelliark went on a rampage, much like the Evil God did, then it’s a perfectly plausible story. The part about the sky turning black—perhaps that wasn't due to magic, but because of Chaos.”
Jin was thinking the same thing. If Kelliark, consumed by Chaos, had gone on a rampage, it would explain why such a battle occurred at the Tower of Stories. Zipple would have had no choice but to suppress him.
“And if Kelliark truly did go on a rampage, it likely isn't unrelated to Lokia Ganesto. Sir Padler was certain that Lokia Ganesto was involved in the birth of the Evil God as well.”
A brief silence followed.
Those words meant that another being like the Evil God could be born from Zipple, not Runcandel.
“Zipple would never want another being like the Evil God to be born,” Jin said. “What Zipple wants is to rule, not to bring about ruin.”
“So you’re saying the battle at the Tower of Stories might have been them taking action before Kelliark could become something like the Evil God,” the Head Butler surmised.
“Of course, these are all just hypotheses, so we can’t conclude anything yet. I’ll have to go and see for myself.”
“Are you saying you’ll go there personally?”
“Yes. I think it would be best to form an elite infiltration team, including myself, to examine the records near the Tower of Stories.”
“Unlike the spies, you wouldn't be in mortal danger even in the heart of enemy territory, Young Master. Especially if the elite team includes Lady Yona and the Nameless King. However, if you are discovered, it could escalate into a sensitive issue.”
“Even if we’re discovered, it’s fine. We have a justification. If we say we were concerned about the emergence of another Evil God, Zipple has no grounds to push back. If they were willing to risk war just because they were offended, they would have done so long ago.”
“True,” Mary agreed. “And since there’s no guarantee Zipple isn't planning to turn Kelliark into an Evil God-like being to use him, it’s a matter we must investigate. The fact that we both plant spies in each other's territory is an open secret anyway.”
“Understood,” the Head Butler said. “Shall I contact Nameless immediately to make preparations?”
“Please do. We will proceed with the infiltration in one week. Until then, find out as much as possible about Kadun’s location and condition, as well as the movements of the Zipple leadership, including Veradin.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
* * *
Lutero Magic Federation, Holy Gate.
“Aaaaaaaagh…!”
For three days, someone’s screams had echoed incessantly from a treatment room inside the gate.
It was Veradin.
Ronil and Octavia paced restlessly before the door, their expressions dark with anxiety.
“Sigh… Ronil. Can the Young Master really recover this way?” Octavia asked.
She was staring at the Bio-Golems that had been entering the treatment room at one-hour intervals ever since Veradin arrived. They were the same Bio-Golems Jin had seen when he came to heal Valeria in the past.
“I do not know for certain. The Priestess said the treatment would be finished soon, so let us wait.”
“The Priestess… Who on earth is she? Why has her existence been hidden even from me? Did the Patriarch know of her?”
“That is not something I am permitted to discuss. You should ask the Young Master himself when he wakes.”
Octavia felt like she was going mad with frustration. Even though she had seen with her own eyes that Kadun was a traitor and that Kelliark had gone on a rampage because of it, there were still too many things she couldn't understand.
Because of this, Octavia still harbored suspicions toward Veradin. She wondered if Kadun’s betrayal and Kelliark’s rampage were actually part of Veradin’s scheme to seize power.
But one thing was certain.
The power Veradin had displayed in the battle three days ago surpassed even Kelliark’s in his prime. Had Veradin not been there, Kelliark, rampaging with Chaos, and the Fire Dragon Kadun would have leveled the Tower of Stories in an instant. Veradin possessed more than enough power to fill the void left by Kadun.
The battle had been so fierce that by its latter half, everyone except Veradin and the Guardian Dragons had been forced to flee the battlefield.
Three more hours passed before the screams from inside the treatment room finally ceased.
Soon after, Veradin emerged, looking perfectly fine without a single scratch.
In the battle three days ago, the Young Master lost both arms and had his heart pierced. It was a level of injury that should have been impossible to recover from without using the Tears of Numerus, yet this…
When her eyes met Veradin’s, Octavia reflexively lowered her head. It was chilling, as if he were peering straight into her innermost thoughts.
“Brother Ronil.”
Veradin immediately began issuing orders as if nothing had happened.
“Please, speak.”
“Jin Runcandel will be visiting the site soon. Accompanied by a Record Mage.”
“How should we respond?”
“Do nothing. If Jin Runcandel doesn’t come within a week, then subtly leak information about the battle at the Tower of Stories to Runcandel. I am curious to see what information the Record Mage will find there.”
“Understood.”
“Where are Tuyan and Pinia?”
“The two dragons have been continuously investigating the site of the battle since that day. They mentioned that access is difficult due to the lingering Chaos.”
At Ronil’s answer, Veradin narrowed his eyes and added, “…If Tuyan and Pinia are still searching the area, it means Father’s death has not been confirmed.”