501
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'Is that the battleship of Kinzelo that withstood the Sword Emperor's sword? Was its name Grenil?'
Hedo belatedly checked the battleship, and he felt a surge of irritation. Thick veins wriggled fiercely over his rugged muscles.
Since entering the transcendent domain as a martial artist.
Hedo had never experienced such a frustrating situation. His skill always simplified complex matters.
But now, it was the opposite. What should have been a simple task of saving Jin and Murakan had become tangled and complicated like a twisted rope.
Nothing went as planned.
The vault was suddenly breached, and even when he was trying to save Jin, he continued to resist with his oddly spiteful tongue. It turned out Yona was the one who opened the vault, and he received a serious injury from her sword. Sandra, more impatient than usual, shattered the ceiling on her own, and now even Kinzelo's battleship was causing trouble.
Even the timing of Grenil's appearance seemed absurdly coincidental.
'If things continue like this, it will look like I requested support from the main house not because of the Runcandels, but solely because of Kinzelo.'
Haa, Hedo sighed and swept his white hair neatly. Suddenly, he thought that maybe this situation might be less troublesome in various ways.
'Well, it might have been more of a headache to explain to the patriarch that the reason I asked for support was because I couldn't handle these intruders. So it is better.'
Hedo, considering everything from his perspective, glanced at the hundreds of black dots in the dark dawn sky behind the Runcandels.
They were dragons of the Drakka, flying towards them with mages on board. Among them, the one that stood out most was the flagship Kozec, with Octavia probably on board as commander. If Kelliark had not been absent, it would have been him instead of Octavia.
A request for support from Hedo meant that such a situation had occurred. Something has happened that even he cannot handle alone, so the clan needs to be on guard.
'Ridiculous. Is it time to shed the shells of arrogance and conceit once again?'
Pfft, Hedo let out a laugh and shook his head.
He found it amusing that he, who considered himself strong, had dealt with the situation so negligently. Chiron Runcandel, the strongest being that even he could not match, would certainly not have let down his guard even in this situation.
"Huh? What's that, Grenil?Are they firing cannons at our fleet?" Sandra said.
Boom, boom...!
Cannons were firing from all directions of Grenil. The anchored mass-produced battleships began to be ruthlessly destroyed.
The majestic flames swept away the darkness as if the gods were playing with fireworks, and the fragments pouring down looked like a meteor shower.
If the public witnessed this, they would probably think that Zipfel was collapsing. It was only natural to think that considering the astronomical investment in creating such a fleet.
However, the Runcandels swallowed their dry saliva and were captivated by the unpleasant intuition that even this horrific blow to Zipfel might not be enough.
Only after participating in this mission did the Runcandels truly experience the dominance of Zipfel, the greatest in the world.
"Hedo! If we do this, it increases the chance of saving Jin! The main house will surely think that you requested support not because of the Runcandels but because of Grenil. Right? Honestly, it's absurd for you to request support from the main house for intruders of this level."
Whether she was right or not, Sandra's voice was cheerful. That fact made the Runcandels more frustrated.
"So, let's save them all, open the way! If you don't move quickly, I'll tear your mouth apart into a cross, you incompetent muscle pig!"
As Sandra shouted again, Hedo made eye contact with Jin again.
'Truly, heaven favors Jin Runcandel.'
Hedo came to a conclusion, and Jin peered into his thoughts.
Jin intuitively read the look in his eyes at the moment when he decided to discard arrogance, shed conceit, and step into a higher domain of martial arts, thinking about Chiron.
It was a look that only someone with that level of determination could understand.
'Is it mean you are going to become stronger next time we meet? Is that possible, Tower Keeper!'
Chilling, shivers ran down his spine.
He had to be prepared. Before that monster achieved another transcendence, he and the Runcandel had to achieve growth even more dazzling than that.
Ching-!
Suddenly, the longsword Bale made a sharp metallic sound and was colored with bright white light. Hedo swung his sword in the blink of an eye, and the Runcandels barely reacted, taking a defensive stance.
However, the wave of the sword energy did not touch the Runcandels, but spread out behind them and towards the upper part of the magic tower.
"Oh, no!"
"Hedo, oh, oh... no... no...!"
His sword aimed at the Spectres who were panting and draped in various places in the Tower of the White Night.
If light moves like waves, it would look like this.
Due to the sword energy spread by Hedo, the Spectres disintegrated like coarse salt and scattering out of the cracks that opened up throughout the Magic Tower, disappearing.
The screams that Spectres let out in their final moments disappeared like weak echoes.
At this moment, the Runcandels were once again shocked.
It wasn't surprising that he had killed the four Spectres, but the sword technique he just displayed was evidence that Hedo had never revealed his full power until now.
Moreover, his sword completely 'disintegrated' the target, resembling the level of mastery that Chiron had achieved.
"Leave, Runcandels."
In the midst of the eerie silence, Hedo finally spoke.
The Bale held in his hand still emitted a dazzling light.
[Hey, Physical beauty. If you're going to open the way, how about putting down the sword and talking about it? Huh? It's not like we're going to continue this. Aren't the kids getting startled?]
"I am saying this because I do not believe that the courage of the Runcandels who opposed me so much until now is a lie, Lord Murakan. If you are offended, let me apologize."
[Well, you don't have to go that far.]
Murakan transformed into a human and stood next to Jin.
"Keep that sword safe. It seems to have a connection with me. Let's go, kid."
As Jin removed the blade from Sandra's neck, the rest of the group exchanged glances and followed behind.
Passing by Hedo without showing his back was almost like an act of suicide, but Jin didn't look him in the eyes and moved forward.
Jin had no fear that Hedo would swing the sword from behind.
It was a matter beyond doubt that he was not a man to be taken lightly.
"If heaven favors you."
Hedo spoke in a low and deep voice as Jin passed by him.
"It must be because your father became heaven itself."
It was a story about a coincidence and heavenly luck that worked in Jin's favor in a way that Hedo cannot understand now.
"I'll make sure to tell my father that I learned a thing or two from you."
"Young lady Sandra."
"What again!"
Looking at Sandra who impatiently turned her head, Hedo smiled gently. Then, he carefully adjusted Sandra's disheveled clothes with his huge hands.
"Have a good time."
Hedo was still confident that Jin couldn't escape with Sandra. It was not an easy situation for himself either.
Also, Jin acknowledged that Hedo was not an easy man and passed by the longsword Bale.
Hedo, too, judged that Jin was not someone who would kidnap Sandra and take her to Garden of Swords.
Sandra had only provided tremendous help to the Runcandels, and Hedo was just considering it as her short adventure.
Even if they were an enemy.
Forcing and greedily using Sandra more here would tarnish the kind of trust they shared as martial artists.
"Alright."
"Don't come back with a missing limb in the name of celebrating your meeting like last time. During your playtime, you should consider recovering the items they took."
Sandra chuckled.
"Why take away what I gave? It's not that big of a deal, is it? Is it important to have 'mine' and 'yours' between a couple? I was a little upset when Mr. Jin killed that bastard instead of me last time."
"Is that so?"
"We'll be going, so you take care of the matter over there properly. In my opinion, that is a bigger problem than the vault being raided."
Sandra pointed with her finger to the sky on the other side. The battleship Grenil was literally ramming through the battleships like crazy.
"Yes, understood. See you later."
Paaang-!
In a single leap, Hedo's figure shrank to a point in the blink of an eye. He shot into the sky of the Sota Desert almost as fast as a cannon fire.
The Drakka's dragons were also getting closer to Grenil and the fleet.
As if the fierce battle just fought was a lie, a cool morning breeze swept across the broken White Night Tower.
When Hedo disappeared, the Runcandels breathed as if they had awakened from a nightmare. Undoubtedly, he was the worst and strongest enemy among those the flagbearers had ever faced.
The flagbearers' chests were filled with a fever-like heat. While it couldn't be called brotherhood, the flagbearers accurately read each other's emotions without saying a word.
It was a firm determination and resolution to become stronger.
However, one person, not a flagbearer but a Runcandel, had a different thought. Yona had been enduring backflow and internal injuries since inflicting a severe injury on Hedo.
"Elder sister, are you okay? Backflow...!"
Jin supported her, expressing concern with a worried tone.
"I'm... fine."
"What?"
Yona pointed at Sandra with a trembling finger.
"The youngest, that noisy and troublemaker said she is your lover... Couple? Jin... I will kill her."
She had been indifferent to everything else since a while ago, and Sandra's affection for Jin was so annoying that she wanted to kill her.
Even facing Yona's cold and deep killing intent, Sandra's eyes sparkled.
"Oh, little sister! Can I call you little sister? Look at me, are you okay? You're really close to my Jin, right? I know, I know. Sandra knows everything. Just wait a moment, I'll help you quickly so you won't hurt anymore!"
"Go away... Die..."
"It's not good if you continue to suffer until we leave the Sota Desert, little sister. We still have a long way to go, right? Where was the anesthetic?"
Everyone who saw that scene could not help but be speechless for a moment out of absurdity.
Jin and the Runcandels left the Tower of White Night like that.
502
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A massive cloud, resembling an inverted mountain range, covered the sky of the Sota Desert. It was the cloud formed by Kinzelo's flagship, Grenil.
The dark clouds continued to spit out bright blue thunder. It looked like a tidal wave had spread across the sky. Within it, the lifeless Zipfel battleships merely shattered and crashed to the ground.
Already, twenty or so battleships, each the size of a small moon, had been sunk.
Dragons numbering over one hundred and fifty, more than fifteen hundred mages, and the flagship Kozec.
Most of Drakka's reinforcements anxiously headed towards Grenil.
They thought that no force except Runcandel would be able to harm Zipfel.
Kinzelo, who was nothing more than a third-rate terrorist group before the Holy Kingdom incident, was tarnishing the airspace of the Lutero Magic Federation.
Of course, after the Sword Emperor Castle terrorist attack, it became known to the public that Kinzelo was not lacking in any of the three major factions.
Grenil seemed even stronger than when it first appeared at the Sword Emperor Castle.
Spikes protruding from the hull emitted mana that distorted the surrounding space. The falling debris of battleships caused the entire Sota Desert to vibrate.
The sandstorm mixed with lightning raised fierce vortex in various places, and the battleships were slowly being sucked into them.
'This day was bound to come someday...….'
Octavia Zipfel.
She stood in the commander's room of the Kozec, observing the situation with expressionless eyes.
Octavia, along with some high-ranking mages who had known Kinzelo's power from before, showed no surprise. However, it wasn't that they were unaffected; rather, they were angrier than those who had underestimated Kinzelo.
Octavia, fully aware of Kinzelo's strength, had predicted such a turn of events. Nonetheless, it was bitter to see it unfold.
It could only be expected that Kinzelo's invasion of the Sota Desert was not just an act of aggression, but rather had underlying reasons.
'Surely, their leader hasn't fully recovered from the Sword Emperor castle terrorist attack, yet they rampage like this, as if they are ready to start an all-out war.'
Runcandel.
They were the reason.
As long as Runcandel held firm, Kinzelo took advantage of the fact that Zipfel couldn't recklessly engage in an all-out war.
At least for now.
Handling both factions at the same was impossible. Well, it might be possible, but Zipfel would suffer catastrophic losses nearing destruction after the war.
In that case, world hegemony will be taken by someone else, not those who have lived under the tension of war for the past thousand years.
Even with hundreds of flying fleets, the recreating of the Orb of Origin, and the near completion of the immortal living golem.
The fact that they couldn't overpower their opponents in the long, nightmare-like tug-of-war, was giving rise to intense resentment as enemies exploited their vulnerability.
'We need to become stronger. We must reclaim the lost magic and divine powers of our clan as soon as possible.'
So, they wanted to be accused that they, indeed, will become the masters of the surface before the time of Chiron ended, and before the leader of Kinzelo fully recovered.
Dragons, mages, and fleets surrounded Grenil.
Perhaps the term "surround" might not be appropriate. Initially, Grenil didn't show any signs of fleeing even when everyone gathered against it.
Octavia stepped out of the commander's room and took her place at the forefront of the Kozec. Then, she raised her glowing staff to the sky.
"Bishkel Ivelianos!"
Octavia's resounding voice, amplified by mana, echoed through the sky. Bishkel was aboard Grenil.
He maintained his characteristic cold expression even with Octavia's arrival.
"I've always wondered why Kinzelo's leader holds you in such high regard. Is today a chance to see your abilities?"
Bishkel had nothing to say in reply. He didn't possess any particularly special abilities yet.
His virtue lay in being a meticulous vice-leader, always maintaining a rational intellect.
He could be considered skilled compared to other Kinzelo executives, who tended to be hot-tempered or somewhat eccentric. Somehow, he easily gained favor from both internal and external people.
In any case, the sight of Bishkel standing still without an answer amplified Octavia's strange anticipation.
""I hope that a glimpse of your power is worth this humiliation."
Whoosh!
As mana emanated from Octavia's staff, Grenil's thunder that was pounding around the area subsided for a moment. For a brief moment, she utilized mana greater than Grenil's engine.
That mana transformed into a huge net, wrapping around Grenil, even managing to intercept the fragments of falling battleships.
Waang-!
The warning sounds signaling impacts encoded within Grenil.
Though the protective shield that withstood even Ron's formless sword had yet to have the smallest crack, the battleship wavered under the force of the net.
'Octavia Zipfel is truly the second-in-command of the world's greatest clan.'
A bead of lukewarm sweat trickled down Bishkel's forehead.
He wondered just how much time the newly recruited person could buy them against their opponents.
Haaam-!
A woman behind Bishkel yawned as if her mouth was about to split.
She was dressed in an extravagant gown unsuitable for combat, and a pair of petite wings, about the size of a palm, protruded from her back.
"It seems like the time has come! Hey, vice-leader. I just need to fight them until they find those Runcandels, right?"
"..... Ainas. It would be better to approach the situation with a bit more caution."
Ainas Kaligo, that was the woman's name.
"Hmph! Are you saying that the second princess of the great Kaligo family should take these lesser beings seriously? Ah, there are also dragons."
Ainas' arrogant and carefree attitude had been making Bishkel uneasy since before they arrived in the desert.
"Oh, don't look at me like that. Alright, alright. I just need to do it properly, right?"
Ainas lifted the greatsword beside her casually. The way he stood up and swung around her sword looked quite relaxed.
"Instead of just buying time, can't I wipe them all out if possible? Hehe."
"This is not the time for jokes."
"Watch and see if it's a joke or not. Vice-leader, why don't you relax and wait with a cup of warm tea while I sweep them all away before dinner?"
Octavia narrowed her eyes as she observed Ainas, who had taken the lead on Grenil.
"Demon... Could it be, you've opened the gate? So, this is your ability, Bishkel Ivelianos!"
Octavia's eyes flashed and she began releasing mana again. Ainas snorted as if it were ridiculous and suddenly threw her body into the air toward Octavia.
"You are noisy, human... Kya!"
However, instead of reaching Octavia, Ainas is intercepted by the magic of the other wizards and falls to the ground.
Ainas, who was covered by the dragons' breath and magic bombardment before she hit the ground, ended up screaming like this.
"V, Vice-leader! Help me! Help! Quickly!"
Bishkel sighed deeply, touching his forehead.
What was more unfortunate was that Bishkel's despair didn't end there.
Suuaaargh!
Suddenly, a tidal wave of sword energy surged from the ground. Unlike Octavia's net, this sword energy directly struck Grenil's protective shield.
It was Hedo's sword.
Wooosh!
A crack appeared in Grenil's lower hull, and Bishkel had no idea why someone like that demon woman, resembling Bubare, was accompanying him.
'I heard it withstood the Sword of the Sword Emperor and it is indeed a sturdy battleship.'
Hedo, leaping once again, unleashed waves of sword energy as he jumped to the forefront of Kozec.
Octavia was taken aback by his injured state, and widened her eyes in surprise.
"It seems Kinzelo has firmly made up its mind. I was surprised when you requested support, but how could you be hurt that much, sir? Moreover, I saw on the way here that the 2nd tower was completely destroyed."
Like Bishkel, Hedo also had nothing to say in response to Octavia.
So, he decided to reprimand her.
"It would be good for you to take better care of your subordinates from now on, Captain of Spectres."
"Take care of my subordinates?"
"They followed young lady Sandra's orders without thinking. That's how I got into this mess."
It wasn't entirely wrong, but it wasn't entirely true either. Nevertheless, Octavia had decided that now wasn't the time to argue with Hedo.
"It seems that my subordinates have earned your displeasure. We'll talk about it later. First, we need to find those who seriously injured you, sir. Who are they, and in which direction did they flee?"
Hedo caught the sight of Ainas struggling to avoid the constant barrage of attacks.
"Uwaaaaah, Vice-leader, what are you doing!"
Demon.
It seemed like a reasonable excuse.
He hoped it would be.
"..... Well, it seems like they were demons. They fled towards the direction of the Kuta Forest, but I didn't know about their path after that."
"Were there any Runcandels with them?"
"Flagbearers, Black Knight, and the Black Dragon Murakan were with them."
He couldn't deceive her about that. Even though it might not be perfect, it was undoubtedly closer to the truth, so saying that he has never met Runcandel would be a betrayal beyond simple deception.
If that happens, Sandra will be in danger.
Octavia's eyes widened once again at the word 'Murakan'.
"The fact that the Black Dragon has come means the 12th flagbearer is also in the Sota Desert. It makes more sense why you struggled, sir."
"You should hurry if you don't want to miss them."
Octavia drew a long line in the sky with her staff.
A light made of mana moved, forming command runes in the sky.
Focus in the direction of the Kuta Forest and search for the fugitives.
Capture Jin Runcandel alive!
As soon as the command was given, ten dragons broke away from their ranks and began flying at full speed towards Kuta Forest.
Having already experienced the disgrace of letting Jin escape in front of their eyes several times, the Spectres were now determined to capture him at all costs.
Unfortunately, the direction indicated by Hedo as the Kuta Forest was the exact opposite of where Jin and Sandra had fled.
Hedo just cleared his throat and resumed directing his sword energy towards Grenil.
503
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***
Runcandels and Sandra were also observing the fight taking place in the sky above.
A bit further below, explosions continued to occur in the area on the ground.
The battle between Kinzelo and Zipfel was continuing in the underground shipyard.
The situation was still not favorable for Runcandels.
Yona was unconscious, supported by Jin. Joshua, Diphus, and Jane also suffered significant injuries from the recent battle.
The fate of the Black Knight Mon, who remained in the shipyard, couldn't be immediately confirmed. Among the group, only Jin and Murakan were in a condition to engage in further battle.
Moreover, leaving the Lutero Magic Federation would still take a considerable amount of time.
"Hahaha, Jin, it seems like Hedo has played his part well. Seeing the mages of my aunt heading in the wrong direction is quite telling."
Sandra spoke with an excited voice, but the Spectre Corps wasn't foolish.
If they do not find any traces of escape in the Kuta Forest, they will undoubtedly change their direction and extensively expand the search area.
'Considering the state of emergency declared some time ago, not only the Spectre Corps but the entire area adjacent to Sota Desert would have been under blockade and vigilant.'
They had to break through all of that and return to the clan.
'What's somewhat fortunate is that there's a high possibility that Kinzelo will help us in our escape.'
Kinzelo.
Another enemy that appeared at exactly the right time.
Jin was convinced that Grenil's appearance was by no means a coincidence.
'They might not have grasped the situation in detail from what happened at the 2nd Magic Tower just now, but at least they know about us. No, they know that elder sister Yona has robbed the vault. Since they commissioned her.'
Just before losing consciousness, Yona handed Jin 'two things.'
One was a blueprint for a battleship, and the other was a small, unfamiliar type of machinery.
The machine was in the form of a board a little smaller than the palm of one's hand, and when shaken, it made a sound like a complex tangle of gears inside.
Its purpose was unclear.
Even Joshua, who had heard about the blueprint and the existence of the machinery from the Prophet, and Sandra Zipfel, couldn't determine the exact use of the machine.
However, given that it was accompanied by the blueprint, it was undoubtedly an essential item.
The energy emanating from the object was strangely extraordinary.
'Kinzelo must have sent Grenil to prevent us from being attacked by Drakka's reinforcements.'
The reason was clear.
Kinzelo was causing this chaos to loot the vault in the first place. Naturally, they needed to take the items obtained by Runcandel.
If Runcandels were captured by the Zipfel main force, they would never be able to get those items again.
The identity of Kinzelo's member, who took on the role of finding the group, and when they would arrive, was crucial.
Either they can handle them with their current power or they can have a conversation. It would be good if someone who meets at least one of the conditions comes along.
However, even if someone who didn't meet the conditions came, it wouldn't be a significant problem.
'As long as we have the blueprint and the machine, I have the initiative no matter who comes for Kinzelo after us.'
While Jin organized his thoughts, Sandra continued to speak without a pause.
"Ah, if only it wasn't my little sister, I could have been the one carried on your back. It's a shame, but I can't make someone who has fainted like this walk... How about linking our arms?"
The other Runcandels who were looking at Sandra could barely conceal their uneasy feelings.
'Why is Sandra Zipfel trying to help the youngest? Judging from Sandra's atmosphere alone, they seem like a newlywed couple who can't live without each other. Thanks to her, we easily escaped from the 2nd Magic Tower, but is this really the right thing?'
'Even if Sandra Zipfel didn't intervene, the youngest and Murakan probably could have escaped from the 2nd Magic Tower. It's hard to understand, but Hedo followed Sandra Zipfel's orders absolutely, and he was clearly trying to kill me, Diphus, and Jane until Sandra ordered him to open the path.'
If it weren't for Sandra, the other Runcandels, excluding Jin and Murakan, would have undoubtedly died.
Diphus and Joshua were convinced of that.
In reality, it would likely have turned out that way. Even considering Yona's contributions, Hedo was not someone the flagbearers could handle.
Jin also had a hard time deciding how to deal with her.
"Sandra Zipfel."
"Yeah, Mr. Jin."
"I am not your lover, much less your husband."
He couldn't fathom Sandra's feelings. Setting aside their incompatible backgrounds as Runcandels and Zipfels, her unilateral affection was something that couldn't be explained merely as peculiar.
The two met for the first time in Gaifa Archipelago, and it was as enemies.
Sandra's behavior was not scary or seriously unpleasant.
However, Jin was not happy with the situation where he only received help from her without giving anything in return.
"But it's a fact that thanks to you, my siblings' and the Black Knight's lives were saved. I want to repay you somehow. If there's anything you need, ask for it. If it's within my power, I'll see to it after we escape."
Sandra closed her mouth for the first time at Jin's calm voice.
No matter how much of an enemy she was, her bizarre behavior was difficult to accept with common sense.
But a line had to be drawn. That was Jin's position, and he believed that anyone in the world would think the same way.
Sandra seemed visibly shocked by Jin's composed words.
"Oh... kid. That was a very chilly remark. Impressive, very impressive."
Murakan, who felt uncomfortable seeing Sandra becoming quiet, blurted out those words for no reason. He, too, had never seen a person like Sandra in his over 3,000 years of existence.
However, the reason Sandra had stayed silent wasn't that she was hurt by Jin's indifferent attitude.
"Right, Lord Murakan. You really know how cool my Jin is..."
She simply closed her mouth because she found Jin's composed demeanor shockingly cool.
'How could such a reaction come from my words...?'
It was a series of shocks. It sent shivers down the spine of Jin and everyone else.
"The more I see, the more attractive you look! It has become more certain. The best decision in my life was to fall in love with Mr. Jin!"
"No, what is this..."
"I will definitely marry Jin. That's right, we're not lovers or spouses yet. I think I was a little ahead of myself."
"Just... a little bit?"
Jin almost stumbled over his words.
"Mr. Jin, I decided to love you for no reason. So, I don't ask for anything in return, and like many other types of love, there's no need to understand it."
Sandra smiled and continued her words.
"It's just a spark in a boring life. Lightning can strike in a clear sky from time to time, right?"
Watching Sandra unexpectedly praising love, Jin concluded that there was no need to worry about her anymore.
There was no answer.
"I understand what you mean."
"Of course, my unrequited love is only for Mr. Jin and little sister. As for the rest of you, since I saved you... What should I get in return? Hm."
"I understand the reason for the youngest, but why is Yona included?" Diphus asked.
"Because she's the little sister?"
"Ah, I see."
He decided not to think about it complicatedly now.
It seemed easier to understand the person Sandra Zipfel was that way.
"Above all, Jin particularly cherishes his youngest sister, right? As far as I know, the only siblings he has a good relationship with are the eldest sister and the youngest sister."
"Maybe Mary is also included."
"I will keep that in mind. What about you, 4th flagbearer?"
"I don't know, but I am almost certain that Jin hates that human the most in the world."
"So, I was a bit curious too. If I were Mr. Jin, I would have used Hedo to kill the 2nd flagbearer."
"It's a situation where we need every helping hand to escape. I can't help it. But even if it were me, I might have done the same. The youngest has a truly big heart."
"From one to ten, there's nothing that isn't cool about him."
Diphus and Sandra, who were giggling, seemed to get along strangely well.
"Diphus, snap out of it. She is showing goodwill, but she is still an enemy. Moreover, she is a pureblood Zipfel. Is it a relationship worthy of such ridiculous banter?"
As if waiting for this reaction, Diphus's eyes darkened with killing intent.
"Is this a joke? You fucking bastard."
"What did you say?"
"I'd like to tear you apart right now. You should know best what mistakes you've made. You, the 2nd flagbearer of the clan, became the next patriarch thanks to our mother! You put everyone in danger on this mission. It's nothing short of betrayal."
"Betrayal? Isn't that a fitting word for you gossiping with Zipfel like that? Are you doing this because I didn't share all the information? I know you don't like it, but I judged it was better suited to the success of the mission. Hedo was an unknown variable."
"Bold words you're spouting. If it weren't for the youngest, you'd have perished due to your brilliant judgment, that's a fact that can't be denied."
"You're acting like a child, Diphus."
"..... 4th flagbearer, you'd better stop. Escaping the enemy territory is our priority."
When Jane intervened, Diphus let out a bitter laugh.
"It's for the mission, for the clan... I feel sick. How much benefit have you made so far with such flashy words? The moment will surely come when everyone will find out whether what you say is true or false."
Again (excluding Sandra), silence fell.
The wind was erasing the footsteps of the group.
And when the noise of the battle and explosions in the sky and the shipyard became much farther away, and the thick sandstorm obscured the view.
The group could confirm that a dark silhouette was approaching them from a distance.
'They are here.'
It was someone from Kinzelo.
504
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The group drew their swords quietly. Due to the hazy sandstorm, it was impossible to quickly identify who the approaching figure was.
The approaching shadow of a person showed no signs of being intimidated at all. This fact made the group a bit uneasy.
"...Doesn't seem to be Zipfel. Judging by the fact that they're not firing a signal flare right away," Joshua said in a hushed voice.
As he mentioned, if it were Zipfel, the person would have immediately fired a signal flare upon recognizing the presence of the Runcandels.
The distance between the group and person gradually closed.
"Oh, but the second flagbearer really has an excellent grasp of the situation, right? However, what's that on their back... a sword? Isn't it a bit too large to be called a sword? It looks peculiar. I've heard of someone using such a weapon in this world. Who was it again?"
A sword with an incredibly large and clunky shape.
"Ah! Eldest sister! Right, the eldest sister. White Whale uses a weapon like that, doesn't she?"
It could be called an axe rather than a sword. There was only one person in the world who used that weapon, Luna Runcandel.
At least until recently.
Jin and Murakan had encountered an individual who was wielding Luna's symbolic axe-sword like a toy not long ago at the Black King Mountain Hideout.
'No way...!'
'Darn it, that insane dragon?'
Both of them recalled the memories of that day at the same time, while the rest of the Runcandels had no clue about the person's true identity. After all, Luna was not present.
Finally, the party could see the approaching person's face.
A face so white and beautiful that it seemed to glow even in the sandstorm, and a physique so slender that it seemed strange to be carrying an axe sword.
The Demon Dragon, Zephyrin.
"Wow, Sir Jin, and the Black Dragon Murakan. What a coincidence? I never expected to meet you here!"
Sandra was the first to react to Zephyrin's appearance.
"Hey, who are you? Are you close with Mr. Jin?"
"Hmm? Ah, Sandra, right? Is there a reason why you are asking if we're close?"
"If you're close to him, I will either treat you like an elder sister or consider you a cute little sister."
Murakhan nudged Sandra on the shoulder. Sandra, who had been irritated by the clear sign that they were not in a relationship, began to show her hostility.
"I almost made a mistake there. What's the point of pretending to be close, acting all friendly?"
"Oh my, your words are quite harsh. Are you sure you won't end up in trouble if you criticize me with such confidence? Miss living golem."
"Huh? Would you like to see whether I die first or you die first?"
"How amusing. Did something go wrong with your head when you became a living golem?"
Seeing Zephyrin laugh cheerfully, Jin and Murakan recalled the challenging fight they had on that day.
-I think she might be the dragon of Kinzelo's Leader.
-That annoying guy? It's possible. The power he displayed during the Sword Emperor Castle attack was somewhat divine.
-...Lord Murakan, and the 12th flagbearer. It seems like there's no way out if the fight drags on.
-No way out if it drags on? It's not that simple. We can never defeat her.
Once they escaped the Hedo, facing Zephyrin seemed like out of the frying pan into the fire.
'If it were a different time, it would have truly been hopeless.'
But it wasn't the case now. Within Jin's embrace were the things for which Zephyrin had come.
Joshua, Diphus, and Jane still hadn't figured out Zephyrin's true identity, but they recognized that she was extraordinary.
It was because Murakan, who would have blurted out curses, showed no sign of fighting.
In fact, Murakan's mouth was so itchy that he was going crazy, but he was holding back because Jin could die if he fights Zephyrin now.
The issue wasn't just settling a score with Zephyrin. If they engaged in a battle with her, Zipfel's pursuit unit would inevitably join, and Kinzelo's forces, including Grenil, might also follow suit.
Sandra, on Murakan's behalf, was constantly cursing and swearing. Where she had learned such dreadful words was a mystery, but they were terrifying enough to make even the worst alley thugs cringe.
And Jin was silently sighing in relief.
'Fortunately, it's as expected.'
Just as other Runcandels were reading the atmosphere from Murakan's attitude,
Jin was grasping the situation through Zephyrin's actions.
'It's clear that the battleship's blueprints and machinery stolen from the 2nd Magic Tower's vault are crucial to Kinzelo as well.'
It had already been proven by the resources and manpower Kinzelo had invested, but Zephyrin's actions made it even more certain.
The Zephyrin that Jin remembered wasn't someone who prioritized talking when a problem arose. Her usual approach was to stab her opponent without warning.
But now, she was narrowing her eyes and speaking.
"Well, I guess there's no need to talk too much. I can't stand the squeaky voice of that living golem anymore. Sir Jin, hand over the items you stole from the vault."
"And if I refuse?"
"Then you'll be killed. By my hands. Are you curious about such an obvious thing?"
At the mention of being killed, the other Runcandels felt a renewed sense of shame. Both Hedo, whom they had fought a moment ago, and the woman in front of them were looking down on the Runcandels.
But there was no other way.
'We're weak.' That's what it was. Born as pure-blooded Runcandels, after becoming flagbearers, there had never been a moment where they experienced such consecutive disgrace.
While the siblings were grinding their teeth, Jin's inwardly concealed smile deepened.
'I almost won.'
Even though pure force might not be on his side, the situation and conditions were all turning in his favor.
'Even back at the Black King Mountain Hideout, Zephyrin clearly had no intention of killing me. Killing me could pose a problem for obtaining the Solderet's contract.'
If that was the case then, it was probably the same now.
Unless Kinzelo had achieved some extraordinary progress in the meantime, Zephyrin still couldn't kill Jin.
And this place was Lutero Magic Federation, near Drakka. If a fight were to break out and it turned into a confrontation where members of Kinzelo and Zipfels gathered to fight over Jin, there was a very high possibility that the one taking Jin wouldn't be Kinzelo but Zipfel.
In that case, not only would they lose the items, but they would also lose Jin, making it a substantial loss for Kinzelo.
"Kill? You speak of it too easily, Zephyrin."
"Do you think I can't do it?"
"That's right."
"You seem so confident, believing that I was caught off guard last time and got hit, but I'm not in a good mood today."
Murakan had evaluated Zephyrin as someone he couldn't beat at that time. Furthermore, she, like Murakan, seemed unable to use her full power for some reason.
In the Black King Mountain Hideout, Zephyrin had left the battlefield without gaining anything. It was because she suffered unexpected damage from Tess's power.
'That blow back then probably hasn't fully healed yet.'
Of course, it couldn't be determined for sure, but intuition was speaking.
It said that there wouldn't be a problem even if he went all out.
"So what are you suggesting? Are you asking me to comply while complaining?"
"Are you going to remain uncooperative until the end? Ah, it's probably because you believe that I won't kill you unless it's necessary."
"Why make useless threats when you know very well?"
"I said unless it's necessary. And even if I keep you alive, killing your youngest sister whom you are carrying, your brothers, and the Black Knights won't be a problem. Wouldn't that be sad?"
"Then stop talking so much that it hurts your mouth and try it."
"Sure, do as Mr. Jin says! Stop barking if you can't bite!"
As Jin and Sandra spoke at the same time, Zephyrin's lips twitched. The effort to maintain composure and a smile despite the boiling anger appeared as a spasm.
For a moment, a tense silence filled the air.
The group acknowledged that Zephyrin was exercising extreme patience. In reality, she was contemplating whether it would be better to just kill them all, considering the circumstances.
Jin handed Yona to Murakan and carefully pulled out the blueprints and machinery from his embrace. Then he held one in each hand and waved it gently towards Zephyrin.
"You look so intimidating that I had no choice but to take these out."
"...Hand them over."
"You still don't seem to understand, huh? Huh? Huh? Don't move. If you continue threatening us, I wonder what will happen to the items we and you have worked so hard to obtain... I don't know either."
Fwoosh!
Suddenly, a flickering flame appeared in Jin's left hand, which held the blueprints. It was a fire formed with mana.
Zephyrin stood like a stone statue and opened her eyes round, and the Runcandels showed similar reactions.
Didn't you know how hard we tried to get these!
"Stop it!"
"You, stop your clumsy threats, Zephyrin. Not feeling good today? Me too. That's why I might really just throw these away. After the blueprints burn, I won't hesitate for even a second to destroy the machinery."
Fwoosh, crackle...!
The flame contained at most a 3-star level of mana, but it looked like a disaster to everyone's eyes. Of course, Sandra was once again internally expressing admiration.
"Jin Runcandel, you bastard…..!"
"This is what you have to do to make a threat, right? You came to us with an attitude as if you were grabbing straws, don't you think you're being too arrogant, Zephyrin."
"If anything happens to those items, you'll all die."
"I know that, okay? I'm just gambling in a way. Let's see whose hand is stronger."
Naturally, the blueprints were protected by defensive magic.
However, at best, it protected a single sheet of paper, and as there were sensitive runic characters all over it, the paper would have been irreparably damaged within seconds.
As if grabbing at straws.
Jin's words were not wrong. Kinzelo and Zephyrin were also clearly aware that the entire situation was unfavorable from the moment she came to visit them.
However, she had no idea Jin would come out this strong.
More precisely, Bishkel and Margiella had expected it, but they hadn't anticipated Jin to be this unyielding.
Or rather, they thought Jin might cut them some slack, especially since they had been pushed by Zipfel and Hedo to their limits throughout the journey.
Jin was not taken aback. Once again, he used his means without hesitation.
"...Put it out!"
"Just putting it out won't be that easy."
"I won't attack, so put it out, right now!"
Yes, I think you can put it out, youngest. Hurry. It's burning, it's burning!
The brothers had the same thought as Zephyrin. Jin hadn't explained, but they almost perfectly understood the situation now.
But Jin shook his head once again.
Joshua almost yelled at that point, telling him to put out the fire.
"That's not enough. There's one more condition."
"Damn it, what else do you want, you devil!"
Jin smirked and said:
"You and Kinzelo lost in the gamble, so you have to pay the price."
"Speak quickly!"
"Zephyrin, until we leave the Lutero Magic Federation, you must escort the Runcandels away from Zipfel. If you agree, then I'll put out the fire."
Zephyrin was already nodding her head even before Jin finished speaking.
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Only one second. Or perhaps even shorter than that.
If it had been delayed just that much, the battleship's blueprints would have been irreparably damaged.
Those who confirmed that Jin's fire had died down were unable to move for a while even after seeing that the blueprint was safe.
"Just in case."
Jin put the blueprint and machine back into his coat pocket with an expressionless face.
"It would be wise not to break your promise or plot anything behind my back. If you want to leave room for negotiation regarding the blueprints and machinery in the future, that is."
"...For someone worrying about that, you seem very confident, Sir Jin. Rest assured, that won't happen. However."
Zephyrin showed intense killing intent to the point where the skin on his face tingled.
"You will have to negotiate with us for those items in some way in the future. If you back down or change your words, I don't know how things will turn out for you at that time. It is a warning and I'll tear you into ten thousand pieces."
"Why are you trying to maintain a bloody atmosphere to the end on a moot point? If you kill Mr. Jin, I won't tear you into ten thousand pieces, but into a million pieces."
"Living golem, humans already have a short lifespan, so don't hasten your death too much. Do you want me to tell you how many half-immortal beings I've sent to hell in my lifetime?"
Jin lightly tapped Sandra's shoulder with his finger. It meant not to provoke Zephyrin any further.
"I was planning to negotiate with Kinzelo later even if you hadn't intervened. We obtained the blueprints, but our clan lacks the technological capability to decipher or realize this."
It was a weakness that didn't need to be hidden or wrapped up.
Runcandel had only withstood a thousand years with a single sword.
Having extreme aversion to magic, it was natural that Runcandel had contributed little to the development of civilization derived from magical research.
Other major factions had achieved various technological advancements and innovations during that time. Zipfel, the imperial family, and even Kinzelo, who recently revealed its prominence, were no exception.
'It may have been a miracle that the clan has survived until now solely through force. If you think the other way...… it could also be a testament to how remarkable Runcandel was.'
The overpowering strength each Runcandel possessed, the power that had sustained them for a thousand years, was coming to an end.
The current Runcandels were all keenly feeling it.
Now, Runcandel needed something more. In fact, the level of a Genesis Knight achieved by Chiron, for the first time since Temar, was clearly proving that fact paradoxically.
Even though a new Genesis knight had finally appeared, Runcandel was unable to prevent its inherent decline.
The time for change had come.
And even now, little by little, it was changing. Among the flagbearers, there were certainly those who attempted or thought about change.
Jin, who declared the reinstatement of the magic sword, Joshua, who believed in the power of prophecy, and Diphus, who was convinced of the need for innovation after this incident, were representative examples.
They each had these thoughts:
'I need to escape the desert and delay as much time as possible until sitting at the negotiation table with Kinzelo. I must secure information about the blueprints and devices somehow within that time. Otherwise, I have no choice but to make a losing deal.'
'Negotiation? There's no need for that, youngest. Even without Kinzelo's technological capabilities, I already have the means to produce battleships.'
'Joshua, Mother, and that entity called the Prophet... Perhaps they already have the means to produce battleships. Protecting the blueprints from the clan, and choosing who to trade between the clan and Kinzelo. It will all be a difficult battle. Before going back, I have to deal with Joshua so my burden will be lightened.'
Diphus had not given up on killing Joshua.
'We have to assassinate him before escaping the Sota Desert, if possible. Even if I can't kill him this time, I'll create an opportunity when I return to the clan. Definitely. That's the way for the clan.'
Zephyrin smiled brightly. She was hiding her agitated emotions again.
"That's right, to Runcandel those things are actually a pearl necklace around a pig's neck. I won't make such a foolish mistake in the next negotiation. So, enjoy today's small victory, Sir Jin."
Jin, Murakan, Yona, Joshua, Diphus, Jane, Sandra, and Zephyrin.
And so began a strange and uncomfortable companionship.
Zipfel and Kinzelo were still engaged in fierce battle in the sky and on the ground, and the dawn in the desert was coming to an end.
Being protected by one enemy from another was not a pleasant situation.
The Runcandels, who were walking expressionlessly, felt a suffocating feeling in their chests, as if a large lump of lead sat there.
Although not visible yet, the group felt that the Spectre corps' pursuit net was gradually closing in.
'At least two more hours. They will definitely find us within that time. It would be good if we're not exposed until we leave the desert.'
Zephyrin was strong. The confidence that she could contend with Murakan in his prime would not be false.
However, Jin believed that she, like Murakan, was not in perfect condition. It was the same when they first fought in the Black King Mountain Hideout, and now the shock from back then would make the situation even worse.
In reality, Zephyrin currently did not possess a transcendent power on the level of Hedo. Her strength was drawn from the leader of Kinzelo, and the leader was in a state of extreme instability following the terrorist attack on the Sword Emperor Castle.
'Even if Zephyrin is in a completely healthy state contrary to my thoughts, she cannot face the entire Spectre corps alone.'
That would be impossible even for Hedo.
If anyone discovers the group, they would send a signal, and then the entire Spectre corps would come here.
'Moreover, Zephyrin won't sacrifice her life to protect us. In the worst case, she can abandon both us and the goods and escape alone.'
Jin glanced back for a moment.
He intended to check the situation between Zipfel and Grenil unfolding in the sky.
Zephyrin let out a sly laugh at that sight.
"You seem anxious. There's no need to expect Grenil to push Zipfel aside and join this escort."
"This is not a crisis where I need more help from the enemy. This confirms once again that the power of your battleship is stronger than back then."
"Anyway, it seems like you will never shut up even if you drown, Sir Jin."
"You are just a kind of insurance. And insurance doesn't talk. If you don't want to get useless curses from Murakan or Sandra, it's better to follow quietly."
"That's right."
If one leaves the Sota Desert in the opposite direction of the Kuta Forest, they will come to the Romin Forest, and passing through that forest will lead to the central border of the Lutero Magic Federation.
The border is guarded by Zipfel and five autonomous districts, and eight autonomous countries. If they break through all of that and go further, they will reach the sea, the Lutero Western Sea, and then they have to travel a long way to reach the neutral waters.
Infiltrating and escaping the very center of the Federation is nearly impossible. The former was relatively easily achieved through the infiltration tunnels created by the Prophet, but that path couldn't be used for the escape.
The group moved on the assumption that the infiltration routes and tunnels created by the Prophet had already been revealed. Therefore, their speed was slower, and the burden of unpredictable dangers was significant.
Ha... ha...
In the midst of the desert winds, the harsh breathing of one member of the group became increasingly audible.
It was the rough breathing of Jane, the Black Knight.
She suffered the most significant injuries during the battle with Hedo. Despite being a Black Knight, she couldn't endure continuous bleeding and backflow without showing any signs.
"Dame Jane, are you okay?"
She nodded her head, but her entire body was trembling like an aspen tree.
Splish, splish. Blood was flowing from Jane's boots with every step she took.
She carefully removed the cloak covering her body, and they could see her ribs exposed between the torn infiltration suit and bandages.
Ha...!
Black blood poured out from the pale bones.
The reason she was still walking was because she is a Black Knight. If she weren't, she would have already fainted and met her death.
"..... I need to wrap new bandages."
"Ugh."
The bandages with healing magic were just makeshift first aid.
She was sensing death. Not only her but everyone felt the same. This time, Jin couldn't hide his mixed emotions.
'Even though she followed Joshua, she is a Black Knight of the clan... she devoted herself to the clan more than anyone else. Is this the only way it ends?'
If they didn't leave quickly, Jane would surely die.
But, they simply couldn't escape that fast. While the group was changing the bandages, Sandra handed painkillers to Jane.
"I take this when I have aftereffects from experiments. If you swallow it, you'll feel a bit better. It's the most effective painkiller in the world. Don't be in pain, Mr. Jin seems sad. It gets in the way of our date."
Jin stared at the painkillers, and in that moment, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of self-loathing at the thoughts that crossed his mind.
"It's a scene that makes me cry. Do you happen to have a handkerchief? I might need one too. Her death seems inevitable, so wouldn't it be better to send her off comfortably? Even considering the efficiency of our escape, it seems like a better option."
Zephyrin said that and pointed ahead with her finger.
The entrance to the Romin Forest was visible.
"That forest was already under siege right after the shipyard terror attack began. It was a tight siege that no one could sneak out except for Sir Jin's youngest sister. We have to break through by force, but you wouldn't think it would be possible with a patient, right?"
There was no need to confirm the credibility of her words.
Except for teleportation and flying, the only possible escape routes were toward the Kuta Forest and Romin Forest. There was no way Zipfel would have left those routes unguarded.
'At least, the Spectre corps hasn't discovered us during our journey here. Not yet."
Jin met eyes with Zephyrin.
"It would have been difficult without you. That's your role, Zephyrin."
"Huh?"
"From now on, break through to the right to divert their attention. We'll escape from the desert after the Spectre corps concentrates on you."
"I think it would be more rational for us to all break through to the border as quickly as possible, and then for me to act as bait from there, right? If there's a commotion, the Spectre corps will come, right? Do you really think that the black knight can survive? Are you planning to use me as bait, thinking she can survive here?"
Jin remained silent.
"You don't know that it would be impossible for everyone to return alive anyway, right? You're being too greedy, Sir Jin. That black knight is practically a half-corpse already."
"Shut up and go quickly. I am the decision maker, not you."
The reason Jin didn't give up Jane's life wasn't just because of emotional issues.
Although Zephyrin and Sandra, who do not show it but actually agree with that opinion, cannot know that fact.
"Why are you worried about me? It won't be much of a loss for you."
Zephyrin shrugged her shoulders at those words.
"Well, I will go along with it. It's not really harmful to me, as you said. It's a bit uncomfortable, but refusing won't make you back off at all. You are doing this for the life of the black knight... I thought you were completely cold, but it seems there's a childish side to you."
There would be no opportunity at all during the escort, but she judged that the possibility of stealing items would increase as Jin and his group escaped Zipfel's pursuit.
After all, she wasn't the only one from Kinzelo here.
Moreover, even after becoming bait, she could escape without getting caught and return to Jin's side at any time. At that time, Jin being in a critical situation was the best outcome for Zephyrin.
"See you at the border. Take good care of the items."