Chapter 789: Unexpected Encounter (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 789: Unexpected Encounter (3)
"In other words, one could say that you and Orgal of Kinzelo are simply trying to resurrect the Sun God through different methods. Sanna's faction might believe the world must be destroyed before the Sun God can return—and they might even use a being like the Evil God to do it."
As soon as Shinu spoke, Jin recalled the conversation he’d had with Sanna.
I was just making a guess back then, but is she really capable of something so extreme?
According to Shinu, Sanna possessed an ideology even more dangerous than the Rosa of the past. The fact that a god had personally appeared to warn him about her was a clear sign of how formidable she truly was.
"Is that Sanna's plan, then? To use Zipple's power to destroy the world until she finds the Gate of the Demon World?"
[That is correct.]
"Why is the Altar of the Sun God in the Demon World? And what is the connection between the demons and the Sun God? Orgal follows him, too."
[Strictly speaking, everything in existence is related to the Sun God. The beginning of the world and all life originated from him.]
"I didn't ask for a creation myth. The connection to the Demon World seems unusually deep."
[Well, even I do not know exactly when or how the demons were formed. However, the early demons always craved to escape the underground and enjoy life on the surface. Since light is the ultimate symbol of the surface, isn't it only natural they would come to worship the Sun God?]
Uncovering the precise relationship between the demons and the Sun God wasn't an urgent matter. It was something he could learn in time, so Jin stopped pressing Shinu on the subject.
"I see. In any case, thanks to you, I now know Sanna’s objective, so I’ll have to figure out how to deal with her. Since that would essentially be helping you, tell me: who are the ones trespassing on your domain?"
Jin had already surmised that Shinu hadn't come to negotiate. The god was cornered and was looking to Jin for a way out.
From Jin’s perspective, this wasn't a bad deal at all. He had gained valuable new information about the Demon World, the Sun God, Sanna, and the various factions of the Sun God religion.
Of course, he would eventually have to deal with Shinu and Kelliark, but now was not the time. Fighting Shinu at this moment would only lead to mutual destruction.
[They are the priests of the Sun God religion.]
"A rather predictable group. Judging by Pai’s state, they must have been a serious threat, even for you."
[The priests of the Sun God religion are mostly composed of the deceased—heroes whose names were once renowned in the past.]
"Resurrected legends of old. How tiresome."
[They are all souls who died with lingering obsessions or deep-seated resentment. They were enticed into becoming priests by the promise that they could obtain whatever they desired once the Sun God is resurrected.]
"You're supposed to be one of the gods with particularly powerful authority. Are you telling me that resurrected heroes, strong enough to give even you trouble, are serving as her priests? Why hasn't Sanna just unleashed them on the human world?"
[Their manifestation is limited. The priests have become akin to gods themselves. To manifest in the human world, they require a contractor or a specific event.]
"It sounds like it's only a matter of time before the priests can roam the human world freely."
[If that happens, the human world is finished. Even if all the great powers unite as they did against the Evil God, they will not be able to stop them.]
"You're sounding weak."
[Jin Runcandel, what is your assessment of your brothers?]
Brothers.
The word did not refer to Jin's Runcandel siblings.
"…The Pluto Tribe?"
[Among the priests I encountered this time, many were former members of the Pluto Tribe. There was even one I suspect was once a Fighting God. If they appear in the human world, would the result not be ruin?]
The Seal of Fire remained steady, confirming the truth in Shinu's words. Jin’s expression hardened for a moment before he shrugged.
"It seems you’ve grown cowardly after one difficult battle, Shinu. I don't know why the former Pluto Tribe is siding with the Sun God religion, but they will not be the ones to destroy the world."
[I hope you can keep that promise. Always be wary of the Priestess. On the day the Demon World opens, this world will no longer be the place you once knew.]
"Then I'll look forward to watching you struggle just like this, right up until you fade away at the most convenient time for me—specifically, when your disappearance won't affect the rise of the Sun God religion."
Shinu did not answer. His manifested form was gradually blurring. Having said all he needed to say, he was preparing to leave.
Jin didn't bother to stop him. Shinu had likely divulged all the information he was willing to share about Sanna. Jin wanted to ask why the god was fading, but he knew the answer wouldn't be forthcoming. Shinu had come to provide information on his enemies, not to expose his own weaknesses.
"Uaaah."
As the avatar dissipated, Pai’s voice returned. He had no memory of the conversation between Shinu and Jin.
"It, it seems like the talk went well, judging by the atmosphere. Thank you, Sir Jin."
Perhaps due to the side effects of the manifestation, Pai began to ravenously devour the food in front of him again. Latri, looking at him with pity, continued to serve more dishes.
"Thank you, I really ate well! I shall take my leave now. And, uh, you don't have to worry about following me. It won't work anyway, so… don't bother!"
Quicantel watched with a troubled expression as Pai clutched the food Latri had packed for him like a precious treasure.
"Goodbye, I'll see you next time!"
Naturally, the companions ignored Pai’s warning and had Vail shadow him.
However, about ten minutes after Pai left, Vail returned to Tikan and reported that he had lost the trail.
[I was right on his tail, but he suddenly vanished into thin air. It was as if he used a dimensional shift.]
"He must have been summoned back to Shinu’s domain. Good work, Vail."
Jin immediately shared the information obtained from Pai and Shinu with the Runcandels and Honka Island.
{[I know nothing of the Demon World. I've only heard stories of it existing deep underground, but there was nothing in the Master's documents. However, there were Histers who researched demons. We may need to find their heritage sites and investigate.]}
A response came from Honka Island regarding the 'Histers who researched demons.' Though it was a distant prospect, finding their heritage sites might yield a clue.
{[The Gate of the Demon World… I feel as though I’ve heard stories related to that in the past. My memories are not perfect, so I can’t recall it clearly… but I have a strong feeling it was an issue my family and my kin were aware of.]}
"Is that so?"
{[Yes, Young Patriarch. It doesn't appear in any of the revealed records from a thousand years ago, but the Sun God religion must have been active even then. Orgal tried to resurrect the Sun God back then as well, and it was said that Lokia stopped his plan. I simply can't remember, but there must have been an incident. Oh, wait a moment. It seems Sir Alphen and Sir Tasha have something to say.]}
{[Young Patriarch, it is I, the Guardian Association President.]}
"Yes, please speak, Sir Alphen."
{[Your conversation jogged a memory, so I had the Head Butler patch me in. I had completely forgotten, but during the Holy Kingdom Defense War, our biggest problem was finding the Gate of the Demon World!]}
{[Just as my father said, Young Patriarch. I also recall performing that mission.]}
Ruet, Alphen, and Tasha all felt a strange sensation the moment they heard that 'the Gate of the Demon World exists underground.'
That single piece of information was beginning to unravel the history manipulation that bound the three of them. It was the result of Jin’s continued efforts to break that power, combined with the recent destruction of part of the Tower of Stories. Like water seeping into a crack, the forgotten knowledge was stimulating their memories.
"Please, continue."
{[In the Holy Kingdom Defense War, our biggest problem at the time was stopping the demon reinforcements. No matter how many we killed, they kept being replaced, and sometimes demon magnates who were reported as killed in action would reappear.]}
"Did the dead resurrect back then, like they did during the war against the Evil God?"
{[We thought so at first. But they weren't actually dead. Some high-ranking demons were fighting by sending out clones while keeping their true bodies safe in the Demon World. Once we realized that, we became even more desperate to find its location. We knew that if we didn't find it, the human world would be the first to fall.]}
Alphen gnashed his teeth as the horrific memories of that time became clearer. If the modern era had the war against the Evil God, the Holy Kingdom Defense War was what had brought the world to the brink of ruin in his day.
"Did you ever find the location of the Demon World back then?"
{[No… we never found it in the end. I died in battle after subjugating the Demon Kings summoned by the Witch Heluram, and Tasha took over all the missions I was handling. Tasha, do you remember anything?]}
At that time, Tasha had been tasked with dealing with the remnants of the demons after Alphen’s death. Though they were called remnants, their ranks included many Demon Kings and beings of equivalent power. It was in one of those battles that she, too, fell at a young age.
{[After my father died… I remember discovering a region where the Gate of the Demon World was suspected to be, about two or three years later. I found it after tracking a certain demon with the family’s Black Knights. That location was… ugh.]}
Across the communication device, Tasha briefly pressed a hand to her forehead, a severe headache lancing through her skull from the sudden rush of memories. The companions held their breath, waiting for her next words.
Soon, Tasha steadied her breathing and spoke.
{[…The capital of the Holy Kingdom Vankella… yes, Oterium. The land where the Gate to the Demon World was suspected to be… was definitely the capital, Oterium.]}