CHAPTER 666

[T.L: punisher87]

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'Sword...?'

At first glance, Veradin's hand did not have the calluses unique to those who handle swords.

-We couldn't send the young patriarch, Jin Runcandel.

-I wonder what's the reason.

-That child is no longer the Veradin Zipfel you knew. Now... he is almost like a newborn baby.

-A newborn? Can you explain in simpler terms, spectre captain?

- It literally means as I said. Currently, Veradin has lost all his language, knowledge, magic, habits, and memories.

A conversation Jin had with Octavia just a while ago, during the first meeting of the temporary alliance.

All of these were verified by Euria as being true. At the time of the first meeting of the temporary alliance, Veradin was really no different from a crippled person.

'Has something changed in Veradin during this short time?'

It was hard to even imagine how he looked like a newborn baby, and Veradin showed a very businesslike and stable attitude.

Jin even felt a certain sharpness in his footsteps as he walked with a moderate gait, and along with that, he felt a familiar energy.

'Aura....'

It was at a level so faint that it wasn't even 1 star, but it was certainly aura. Interestingly, there was only a minuscule amount of mana compared to the aura.

A magic swordsman.

The premonition that the living golem experiments that Zipfel had been doing so far might have been to create a magic swordsman had already been brought several years ago.

However, Jin never expected to catch a glimpse of the result through Veradin in this moment, who might be the product of those experiments.

"Veradin Zipfel."

"Why are you calling me?"

"I heard that until recently, you were in a state where all your memories were erased and you couldn't do anything, but it seems like your condition has suddenly improved."

"It's been about a week since I've been able to live without anyone's help."

"Have you not regained any memories about me and Dante?"

Veradin stopped walking and turned around to look behind. Jin was slowly following him while holding Valeria, who was still sealed, in his arms.

He couldn't walk quickly. During the five-day flight, Jin had been maintaining Valeria's seal without a break, and he was still doing so now. His mana wasn't depleted, but the mental power consumption was too great. Jin was sweating.

"A lot of people have asked me about you and the lord of the Sword emperor Castle." Veradin said, standing next to Jin and placing his hand on Valeria's seal.

As he did, mana seeped effortlessly into the complex seal, even though he hadn't taken any special measures like Jin had.

"I don't remember anything."

"Is that so?"

Thanks to Veradin maintaining the seal, Jin was able to walk more comfortably. Jin didn't ask any questions about Veradin's abilities.

"But there's something I'm curious about. Why did so many people only talk about you or the lord of the sword emperor castle, not members of the clan, when they tried to find my memory?"

The two of them matched their footsteps.

"What were you curious about?"

"It's strange, isn't it? I don't know about the lord of the Sword Emperor castle, but your clan and my clan have been enemies for a thousand years. We recently had to form a temporary alliance, but before that, we were always ready to destroy each other whenever we had the chance."

"Well, it was strange. Especially your personality."

"Was I strange?"

As he asked in confusion, Jin felt a trace of his old self still remaining. He even wondered if Veradin was just teasing him. But that was all, even without Euria's verification, the current Veradin is not the person that Jin knew.

"Yeah. You were strange from the first time we met."

"Even more curious now. Can you tell me more?"

"No, I can't."

When Jin flatly refused, Veradin shrugged as if disappointed.

But after a few more minutes, Veradin subtly released his hold on Valeria's seal.

"If you're not going to tell me, I don't see the need to be so generous."

"What great generosity? It just makes things a little inconvenient. But even without you, I can still maintain the seal."

"Hmm."

"Besides, your actions don't even align with the purpose of opening the Holy Land. While I have no doubt that I can maintain the seal, there's always the chance that something unexpected could happen. I wonder how your clan would react in that case."

"You really do have a way with words that's quite irritating..."

Veradin once again placed his hand on Valeria's seal, but he didn't show any change in expression despite the awkward situation.

The path leading to the Holy Land beyond the door had a strange landscape. The ordinary corridor made of stone and various metals became more blurred as it went deeper inside.

Like the vague form of Orgal's body. It was not a scenery that could be seen in the human world.

'There was no separate entrance to the sub-space, but at some point, I started to feel the boundaries of the world becoming blurry.'

The colors and textures that made up the space were leaving traces as if washed away by watercolors.

"How much further do we have to go?"

"I cannot tell you."

"It's not difficult to measure the time myself, but is that a secret?"

"No, it's because the time it takes to reach the Holy Land is different every time. It depends on how welcoming the Holy Land is to the three of us."

"As mysterious as its grand name suggests."

"When I last came here, I heard it took 15 days. It was just before I completely lost my memory."

"Then it could take 15 days, but there must be a reason why we didn't prepare extra food."

"Yes, ever since the remnants of the corridor disappeared... we can't feel hunger in the Holy land. Instead, the more we walk, the lighter our bodies feel."

As he spoke, Jin felt his stamina recovering rapidly since crossing the "Boundary." His mind, which had been muddled from maintaining the seal, was also much clearer.

Still, Jin wanted to calculate the time by measuring his steps, but strangely enough, as his body and mind became more healthy, the concept of "time" became fainter. 

Even roughly calculating that each step was one second became difficult. After a few tries, Jin found himself counting one second again.

'Is it because there is a gap in time between the holy land and the human world, like other dimensions? It's a strange sensation.'

Therefore, Jin couldn't tell how long it took, but the two of them soon discovered a distant green light.

'It's the residual energy.'

It was the same energy that Jin had glimpsed through Orgal's steel gate. In the dark and blurry landscape, only the residual energy shone brightly.

"We've arrived."

The two stood in front of the green energy and put their hands on it at the same time as if they had made a promise.

Suddenly, as if the whole world had lit up, the surroundings turned blue in an instant.

The "Holy Land of a few hundred years ago" that Orgal had shown him was no different from this one.

A green shining sea or a desert-like landscape.

"Now release Hister's seal. As soon as Hister recovers, we will leave the Holy Land."

Anxiety surged when Jin reached the holy land and tried to break the seal.

What if the residual energy of the Holy Land had no effect on Valeria? What if there was no way to seal her again?

In the midst of that confusion, Jin noticed that Valeria inside the seal had twitched.

Valeria began to react to the residual energy of the Holy Land even before breaking the seal.

The pale seal was already turning green.

"You come all the way here and worry about everything."

Veradin said as if he saw through Jin's intentions.

"As you said, since your clan and mine are mortal enemies."

"There is a reason why we are trying to save Hister even while opening the Holy Land to the enemy, Runcandel. You know better than anyone, don't you?"

"It sounds like you're going to take care of me right here after the recovery of Hister."

"There were those who insisted on doing so."

"Is it Octavia and Kadun?"

"No, mostly the elders."

Jin came alone with Valeria, who was injured, in the enemy's deepest part.

-The fact that only I can deal with Rosa makes my shoulders feel a bit heavy. Kinzelo still has a variable called Orgal's recovery, but doesn't Zipfel have any hidden moves at all?

-... There is.

-I didn't know I would be happy after hearing that the enemy has hidden powers. Please tell me what it is. I guess this is a question that needs to be answered. To face the public enemy.

- It is the manipulation of history. However, it is a means that can never be achieved without your ally, Hister.

During the first meeting of the temporary Alliance, Ronil said that Zipfel could deal with Rosa through 'history manipulation'.

So, in fact, it is crazy that Jin came to this place right now. It was a choice that Jin would never have made if it wasn't for Valeria or his companions.

Jin can't escape from here with the help of red owl or Mort. If Zipfel doesn't keep their promise, Jin would inevitably be in mortal danger.

"But my father was directly against it. Aren't you curious about the reason?"

"It's probably because you have to keep using me to deal with Rosa."

Zipfel and Kinzelo both didn't want to lose Jin as he is the only one immune to the chaos at this point. That's why even the top-level personnel of each faction have come to support them in the Kaldran Snowfield.

As Jin entered the middle of the enemy territory, the only thing he believed in was this fact and his own strength.

"Exactly, and I thought the same. It's unlikely that we can complete the history manipulation through Hister faster than the time when the evil god fully awakens. At this point, you are definitely more important than Hister to our clan."

Whether it was a lie or the truth, Veradin didn't seem to have a reason to hide anything about history manipulation now.

"I guess it doesn't sound appealing that I'm Zipfel's most important asset. If someone else were the guide, they would have attacked me at least once during this part."

Jin slowly began to unseal Valeria. It wasn't because he believed everything Veradin said but judged it was best to heal her as planned and leave.

"And, Jin Runcandel."

"Yes?"

"We made a promise before I lost my memory."

"Promise?"

"Once, I promised that even if you came to our family without notice, I would spare you at least once."

-Be thankful that this is a banquet hall.

- Haha, aren't you too straightforward? I know, your father showed mercy to my uncle. While we're at it, let me make a promise too. Even if you come to Zipfel's banquet without notice someday, I won't harm you.

That conversation took place at the single bridge banquet just before Jin became a reserve flagbearer.

Veradin did not remember the conversation, but rather the records in the diary that were few left.

"It was written that I would definitely spare you once even if you caused terrorism in my family, so I couldn't help but wonder about our relationship."

"I said earlier that the old you was a weirdo. It wasn't a time when we were particularly close, not even friends."

"I guess at that time, I was the only one who considered you a friend. Anyway, if I say I'll keep that promise now, would it ease your guard a little?"

Jin suppressed his bitter expression at those words and replied.

"I don't believe it, but it doesn't sound like a bad thing."

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