CHAPTER 700

[T.L: punisher87]

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Jin was pleased with all of Bale's unexpected actions at Kinzelo's headquarters. He found Zephyrin's threats unpleasant and Orgal's jokes not very amusing, but Bale was stepping in and handling things for him.

Kinzelo remained silent for a while, blinking their eyes without responding to Bale's blunt remarks.

"Well, Bale, how about showing a little restraint? If you rush in, you might end up getting beaten unnecessarily," Jin said, as if trying to calm Bale down, but in reality, he wanted the opposite.

Jin's words had two potential effects.

First, it would further provoke Bale, and second, it would subtly signal to Kinzelo's side that he had made an effort to make Bale behave properly.

As expected, Bale shouted in even greater frustration in response to Jin's words.

[No way!]

"What do you mean 'no way'? You will definitely lose. Orgal is the true Demon King, after all. So, just stop causing trouble and stay still."

Jin secretly wanted to witness Orgal confronting Bale.

'I'm likely to miss seeing Orgal's battle in detail during the final showdown. I need to focus entirely on Rosa.'

So, it wouldn't hurt to have a glimpse of Orgal's regained power and how he fought when there was an opportunity. It would be different from the time of the Terror of the sword emperor castle.

[Hah, Jin. This is something you say because you don't know. Yeah, he might be stronger than me. But I can feel it.]

"What can you feel?"

[He can't kill me.]

"Well, that's obvious. We're temporary allies, right? You're one of the most critical forces."

[It's not just that. It's a more fundamental issue. With the power he possesses, he can't kill me. That's why, even if I get hit, I want to hit him.]

Jin looked at Orgal, as if asking him to explain what he meant.

[Unless there is an energy of genesis knight or something equivalent, erasing all traces of life perfectly is impossible. There are very rare beings like that... like the Black Sea King you faced in the past.]

"You mean, putting the qualifier 'perfectly' means that killing is only impossible, but sealing or something else is possible. That's why you guys didn't show up during the Glyek Awakening..."

Jin gritted his teeth, recalling the Battle of the sword emperor castle. At that time, Kinzelo demanded Jin's loyalty as a condition for their participation in the Glyek Battle.

[Bale, if you truly want to fight me, then I have no choice but to partially seal your power. It's to ensure that there won't be any fatal problems for our alliance. So, Jin will actively intervene to prevent that.]

"Uh, you're going to do that. Today really isn't my lucky day, Orgal."

[It's just another ordinary day, isn't it?]

Without the energy of genesis knight or something equivalent, it is impossible to completely erase traces of life.

Jin pondered on that fact for a moment.

'In the end, it means that in order to ultimately kill Orgal, the power of genesis knight is definitely necessary.'

Considering the power Orgal possessed from the beginning, even excluding the characteristics of the Sun God's Authority, it was natural that the power of genesis knight would be necessary.

However, there was one strange point.

'But why did Bale acknowledge his defeat to me in that sealing ground? If what Orgal said is true, then I wouldn't be able to kill Bale.'

At present, Bale was definitely challenging Orgal, not the type to submit just because the opponent appeared stronger.

Bale had never encountered the Sun God, but he was aware that he himself was a divine being, and he was just as arrogant and independent.

'Is it because he realized that I am Dame Sarah's successor?'

It wasn't a problem to contemplate at the moment.

When Jin gestured, Bale turned his gaze away from staring down Orgal with a proud look.

"Well, it seems like we've roughly kept our promise to each other, Orgal. Now let's discuss Rosa as allies."

[About why is Rosa progressing faster than I expected?]

"Yeah. There are a few strange aspects to Rosa's actions."

[Tell me.]

"First, at this point, Rosa has become an evil god to the point where even powerful individuals like Sir Padler, who we pushed into a corner at the Kaldran Snowfield, are no longer necessary. It's hard to explain with evidence, but it's just something I felt myself."

[There's no way you are talking nonsense about this issue, so I believe you. It's not entirely impossible.]

"But Rosa suddenly started using Joshua again. Moreover, he gave an even more incompetent impression than before and failed in all the recent tasks he was assigned. I blocked him every time. This is the point that I find strange."

[So, you mean there is no reason for evil god to keep such a pathetic individual by their side?]

"Yeah. After meeting him in Akin, I kept thinking about it. Why does Rosa have a waste like that by her side..."

Jin paused for a few seconds to organize his thoughts before locking eyes with Orgal.

"Suddenly, I remembered what you said during our first meeting."

-[There is only one thing her daughters hope for. The resurrection of my former lover, Helluram.]

-So, is that why they use humans as sacrifices?

-[Not exactly the humans themselves. Of course, they need things like human flesh and bones, but the real thing is despair. Only pure and abundant despair can awaken Helluram.]

Despair.

Jin, perhaps unintentionally, had the assumption that Rosa was using Joshua to obtain pure despair.

When Jin explained this, Orgal's eyes widened in surprise.

[...It's an interesting story, Jin Runcandel. If that's the case, it's also possible that the accelerated completion of the evil god is related to that.]

"If, in your view, my thoughts are correct, what do you think?"

[Runcandel's Second flagbearer had such a negligible presence that I had forgotten about him. Human jealousy can be astonishing, even to the extent that it surprises the gods. If the magnitude of his inferiority complex is deep and dark enough to be significant to the evil god, then anything is possible. It is something that I had not thought about at all.]

"In that case... does it mean that Joshua performing his tasks well is actually inconvenient for Rosa?"

However, it was not a feasible plan to intentionally lose to Joshua to prevent Rosa from harvesting his despair.

If he succeeded in whatever task Rosa assigned to him, it meant that Jin and those around him would be hurt or killed.

There was only one solution.

"It means that we need to find Joshua and completely eliminate him so that Rosa can't use him anymore."

[That seems to be the only solution.]

"Since Rosa herself is protecting Joshua, it won't be easy."

It was a natural assumption. Rosa wouldn't just leave someone with such utility to their own devices. There must have been meticulous and impenetrable protection in place, cunning enough to elude Joshua's awareness but impossible for anyone to end.

That was also why Bale had let Joshua slip away in the Akin Forest.

"Protection... the thought of it makes me sick."

Jin was overwhelmed by a nauseating sensation.

It was because it was repulsive.

The fact that there were still humans who couldn't escape from the arms of the one who had turned them into dolls for producing despair.

The fact that a mother existed who would send her child further into the abyss even after they had fallen into despair, as long as it served her purpose.

[Are you okay?]

Jin managed to suppress the rising sensation of revulsion and nodded.

"I'm fine. Anyway, whether my assumptions are correct or not, we must eliminate Joshua before the decisive battle."

[I agree. If the day comes when Joshua Runcandel is alive and not in despair, it will be your despair. You are a far more significant existence to the Evil God than Joshua... Your despair would be a much better ingredient for her. To awaken Helluram…]

Jin started to doubt if despair was really what awakened Helluram, as Rosa seemed to be preparing herself to become an evil god rather than awakening Helluram.

Above all, Jin couldn't picture Rosa as a servant to Helluram, like a prophet. Who could she be going under?

'Damn it... The more I think about it, the more complicated it gets.'

At least there was one thing he was grateful for.

Orgal had just regained a portion of his former power.

"In that case, you have a task now, Orgal. You've rested in bed for long enough. It's time to move."

[You mean I should kill Joshua?]

"I'm not saying it would be easy with just the amount of power you've regained, right?"

[Well, it depends on how much the Evil God cares about him. But even without you saying it, I was already considering looking for him. If the Evil God's protection is as deep as it seems, I'll at least confirm if Joshua's despair is truly being used by her.]

"Good. You're making the efforts to bring Bale here more rewarding. Let's expect meaningful news when we meet next."

As Jin seemed to be about to leave, Orgal waved his hand and opened a steel dimensional portal. Beyond the portal, the seas of Tikan could be seen.

[If you wish, you may use it.]

Although it appeared considerate on the surface, Jin recognized it as a warning disguised as consideration.

As allies, if Jin engaged in frivolous actions, Tikan could be reached in an instant.

Unlike before, Orgal seemed to open the dimensional portal effortlessly.

"I understand your consideration, but there's a ride waiting for me. You know it's the Spatial Transfer."

When JIn responded in a similar manner, Orgal smirked.

[Well, as you said, it's a favor. See you next time.]

After leaving the headquarters of Kinzelo and boarding the Red Owl, Bale looked at Jin with a puzzled expression.

"Hey, Jin."

"What?"

"The reason I lost to you in the beginning is because of the fire you possess."

Jin was about to ask why he was bringing this up, but he recalled his thoughts from the meeting in the Kinzelo conference room.

"Really? I did wonder about it earlier. It didn't seem like I was stronger just because of the fire, but if it's because of fire, then I guess it was true?"

"No, you don't know this, but your fire is very special. And it can affect him too. So, someday, let's defeat him together. Got it?"

After a moment of hesitation, Jin realized why Bale was saying this.

"Sure, I understand. We'll defeat him together someday."

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