Chapter 788: Unexpected Encounter (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 788: Unexpected Encounter (2)
Shinu, the God of Fire.
Alongside Solderet, he was the deity most revered by mages.
And Kelliark Zipple was the mage who had received the greatest favor from Shinu in all of history. In the current era, Kelliark was also the only person to have directly experienced Shinu’s true essence or conversed with him.
That very god was now manifesting before Jin and his companions.
The incarnated Shinu looked like a giant humanoid figure made of pure flame.
Fwoooooh…
As Shinu took a long, deep breath, the companions reflexively swallowed. A sudden wave of heat and thirst, the kind one might feel in a desert at high noon, pressed down on them. Just meeting Shinu’s gaze made them feel as if their entire bodies were about to be incinerated.
Unlike the others, Jin did not avert his eyes. It wasn't that he felt no pressure, but for some reason, he wasn't afraid.
[Jin Runcandel…]
“That’s right. I am Jin Runcandel, Shinu.”
[I have heard much of your exploits. You are indeed a remarkably strong and brazen child.]
“Is that all? What a stingy evaluation, especially for someone who’s come to ask me for a favor.”
From the very start, Jin spoke boldly, showing no regard for Shinu’s mood. His companions stared, startled by his audacity.
No matter how overwhelming an opponent, if the leader stands tall, the group finds its courage.
Jin’s provocative words eased the tension in his companions’ hearts. One by one, they began to meet Shinu’s gaze directly.
Shinu remained silent for a long moment.
In the meantime, Jin observed the god more closely and realized he carried the same scent as Pai.
“It seems you’ve just come from a fight. You smell exactly like that young dragon, Pai—the scent of blood, ash, and war. It makes me wonder if your domain, the Land of Fire, was attacked.”
[Haha, impressive.]
“There’s no use hiding behind divine majesty. To my eyes, you look like a patient who’s suffered serious injuries.”
[You see correctly. I have just returned from dealing with those who dared to trespass upon my domain.]
“Who invaded?”
[I will tell you once you agree to help me.]
“Fine. I’m curious what kind of help you need that would make you this desperate and hurried. Why send Pai first? You must have known you’d have to show your hand eventually.”
[I was hoping for a stroke of luck. If you had accepted Pai’s offer, I wouldn't have had to risk manifesting like this.]
“Tsk. A god who sends a young dragon to do his dirty work while banking on luck. I’m starting to see why the Zipple Clan is in its current state.”
Shinu showed no offense at Jin’s continued provocations. Instead, he smiled faintly, as if observing an interesting specimen.
[I will be blunt. I want you to stop the Priestess of the Sun from what she intends to do. Furthermore, I want you to kill her.]
“How refreshing. But that’s something I was planning to do anyway. You didn’t come all this way just to ask me to do something I’m already doing, so you must be planning to give me information on Sanna, right? It wouldn’t be very efficient for me to face her without knowing anything.”
[You are quick to understand.]
“We’ll see if we continue to understand each other. Dealing with Sanna is my job, but if killing her benefits you as much as it does me, I’ll need to reconsider.”
[There will be nothing in this that is to your disadvantage. I promise this on the name of Fire.]
Fwaaaaah!
Suddenly, a massive Seal of Fire formed in the air. It was an insignia on a completely different level from those Kelliark or Veradin could conjure—a seal formed by the true God of Fire himself.
Though no words were written on it, Jin and his companions felt an absolute sense of trust. It was a conviction that there would be no lies in what Shinu said, the same kind of faith Rosa had felt when she first saw the sentences of the prophecy.
Jin nodded.
“Humans have to put in an indescribable amount of effort to earn trust, especially from an enemy. It must be convenient being a god.”
[This is not an authority granted to just any deity.]
“I have a question, though. Pai said Sanna approached the Zipple Clan claiming she would heal Kelliark. Did you really get stabbed in the back because you were fooled by that?”
[The one who accepted Sanna was not me or Kelliark, but Veradin. If I had been able to intervene at that time, the Priestess would not be in the position she is now.]
If that was true, then Sanna had struck deep into the heart of the Zipple Clan during a period when Shinu had been forced to be absent.
“Are you saying Veradin is being used by Sanna?”
[You seem worried about your friend. However, he likely no longer considers you one.]
“Because you people ruined him. You’d better not say anything careless about Veradin, Shinu. If you do, I might just cut you down right here.”
At those words, Shinu’s expression hardened for the first time.
[You cannot cut me. I, on the other hand, could turn this entire place to ash in an instant.]
“Hahaha! You think that scares me? Since you have the seal, I’m sure you have the power, but you’re clearly not in a position to use it. So stop the disgusting bluffing. This reminds me of something I asked my father as a child: whether a human could fight a god and win.”
Surprisingly, Shinu immediately took a step back.
[I misspoke. My apologies.]
The more they talked, the more Jin felt that Shinu’s situation was far worse than he’d expected.
“There won’t be a second time. I suggest you remember your position as we continue this conversation.”
“A warning to a god! Lord Jin is so cool…! Mmph, mmph!”
Quicantel clamped a hand over Enya’s mouth. Shinu glanced at Enya for a moment before meeting Jin’s eyes again.
[Veradin and Sanna are likely using each other. Veradin probably expected you to find the Tower of Stories and dig up information on Sanna.]
“If Veradin is using Sanna, his main goal is probably to keep you all in check. And while he’s at it, he’ll try to make progress on the Magic Swordsman Golems and the Holy Land. But what about Sanna? What does she gain from Veradin and the Zipple Clan?”
To that, Shinu gave a rather unexpected answer.
[Jin Runcandel, do you know of the Demon World?]
“The Demon World?”
[Yes, the land where those known as demons reside. Humans believe it exists in another dimension, which is not entirely incorrect.]
“What does Sanna have to do with the Demon World?”
[A great deal. The Altar of the Sun God lies in the deepest part of the Demon World. That altar is the most powerful means to resurrect the Sun God.]
Jin’s eyes widened.
“Continue.”
[Sanna is currently searching for the Demon World. She must find the entrance to reach the Altar of the Sun God, and for that, she needs the power of the Zipple Clan.]
“Where is the entrance?”
[That, I do not know. But one thing is certain.]
Shinu pointed downward with his index finger.
[Underground. Somewhere beneath the surface of this world lies the gate to the Demon World. However, even though it exists on the same planet, it is a realm that can never be reached by ordinary means, making it functionally another dimension.]
“Orgal must know its location.”
[Yes, but knowing the location doesn't mean just anyone can open the gate. Only a special being who has received the blessing of the Demon God can open that door and bring demons into the human world. The Zipple Clan suspects that the one with this power in Kinzelo is Vishkel Ivliano.]
—Vishkel Ivliano! I’ve wondered for a long time why the Leader of Kinzelo cherishes you so much. Will I get a glimpse of your ability today? I hope seeing your power is worth this humiliation.
—Demons… Don't tell me, did you open the gate? So this was your ability, Vishkel Ivliano!
Those were the words Octavia had spoken to Vishkel, who was with Ainas during the Sota Desert incident.
Jin hadn't heard them at the time, but ever since that day, the Zipple Clan had suspected Vishkel was the one capable of opening the gate to the Demon World.
Unfortunately for them, Vishkel did not possess such an ability, a fact that neither Shinu nor the Zipple Clan knew.
“Vishkel Ivliano, huh. I’d say it’s more likely his younger sister, Margiella.”
[Whoever it is, it is certain that Orgal has someone who can open the gate to the Demon World.]
“Wait, then doesn't that mean Orgal is currently the closest to the Altar of the Sun God?”
At that, Shinu let out a mocking laugh.
[He does not know that the Altar of the Sun God is currently in the Demon World.]
That was because Shinu had used the ‘Fire of Extinction’ to erase that history from Orgal’s memory. Shinu did not share this fact with Jin.
[So, from this day forward, you must watch your tongue when you meet Orgal. If he learns of the altar’s existence, the resurrection of the Sun God will accelerate… and that is something neither you nor I desire.]
“Something doesn’t add up. If the Sun God’s followers want to find the altar as quickly as possible, the best way would be for Sanna and Orgal to join forces.”
[How could they join forces when the process and purpose of resurrecting the Sun God are different for each of them? The sects of the Sun God’s faith are more wary of each other than of anyone else. They would rather ally with a non-believer than cooperate with another sect. If the Sun God is resurrected, the very shape of this world will change depending on which sect succeeded. Of course, neither outcome is good for you or me.]
“A lot of picky details for a bunch of lunatics. Anyway, you’re saying Sanna is trying to find the entrance to the Demon World through the Zipple Clan… Is she planning to use them as a front to negotiate with Orgal?”
[It is more likely that Sanna will simply try to find it using the Zipple Clan’s power. Jin Runcandel, let’s say there is a forest. And in that forest, there is something you must find and destroy. What is the fastest and easiest way?]
“Burn the forest to the ground.”
[Correct.]
Shinu’s gaze hardened as he added, [Sanna will try to find the gate to the Demon World, even if it means destroying this entire world to do it.]