Episode 234. To Hell (3)
Veradin furrowed his brows.
"...What did you say?"
"You probably think you're doing very well right now. Pulling Kelliark down, making the new Zipfel stronger and more solid as a lord. Perhaps some of it may be true. But, in the end, you're just being used."
"What the hell are you talking about all of a sudden."
"You're losing yourself and turning into a monster because of mind manipulation. You didn't become this cold person because you wanted to."
"I came to exchange greetings because we have to hit Jito together even though we're not allies. I didn't expect to hear such nonsense. Have you already undergone demonization since you became an archmage? Watch your words, Jin Runkandel."
"Demonization, right. You're in a similar state. So, let me help you. I can't leave you in that state any longer."
"I refuse."
"I said I refuse."
"…Are you trying to play with words with me now?"
"No, I'm serious."
Veradin glared at Jin, lost for words.
However, he was also surprised that he felt anger at such a slight provocation. If it wasn't Jin, he wouldn't have cared at all.
'Strangely, the way Jin Runkandel looks at me is unpleasant… it reminds me of Lady Elona….'
When she freed him from the curse fire that tried to devour him not long ago, Elona had glimpsed his anxiety.
It was a fear of Kelliark, a concern for his friends. And Elona had vowed to make Veradin confront those feelings someday. It was only natural that Veradin felt a similar vibe from Jin now.
"Enough, stop talking. Don't go down and get killed by Jito. We, Zipfel, are the ones to break you."
"Just say you're worried. What's the harm?"
Veradin, about to reply, sighed deeply and returned to the Zipfel ranks.
"That guy, he seems to be a bit better, isn't he? Or am I mistaken?"
"I felt it too, Murakan. The mind manipulation wasn't perfect, so there must be continuing internal issues."
"If we investigate the records of Veradin Zipfel and Elona Zipfel later, we'll catch a clue."
"Yes... If we look at the records left in the Hidden palace, it's likely that Elona was also used by Zipfel and committed massacres."
According to the records left in the Hidden palace, as soon as Elona woke up, she tried to avoid killing and experienced confusion about her existence. She didn't seem to have the nature of a murderer who destroyed the world and killed people.
"If Elona, like Veradin Zipfel, was really being used and they realize that fact and rise against Zipfel. Then Zipfel would have no choice but to step down from its position as the world's number one."
"It would have to include the case where the completion of the Magic Stone is cancelled, Veil. Anyhow, Valeria has to create an opportunity to review the records of both people. And this expedition seems to be a good stage to create that situation."
No one knows what will happen during the fight in hell. Perhaps Jin and Veradin could be located in a distant area throughout the battle.
However, once the subjugation of Jito ended, there would hardly be a day when Jin was so close to Veradin.
Unless another public enemy appears or Runkandel and Zipfel finally start a full-scale war, they wouldn't naturally encounter each other.
'I miss Elona because she's not here for mainland defense. But if Veradin is ever in danger, she will send support to hell immediately. If I'm lucky then, I can have a conversation or review the records.'
At that moment, Orgal came looking for the party.
[Jin.]
As soon as he saw him, he thought of the 'dream ability' of the Nightmare King Pylops Bachma. Especially, Valeria shuddered inwardly recalling that she reviewed the records of the key members of the coalition every day due to the dream ability.
[I came to explain about the passage to the castle of Grosh.]
"Alright. Speak, Orgal."
[This passage leads to the dark area of the Demon World. Once you enter there, as the name suggests, a vast, dark space is revealed.]
"And then?"
[If you keep going north from there, you'll reach the An Family's castle. It's the castle of Videluche, who was killed by the lord of the Hidden palace. The battle will start there.]
"Do you also know the way from the An Castle to Jito's dwelling?"
Orgal nodded.
[I do, thanks to recently regaining more of my memory. However, even if we know the way to Jito's dwelling, it's not an area we can go to at will. We need a key.]
"You're talking about this sword."
Jin showed the sword he brought from the Golden Realm.
Bascara, the sword of Paelito, remained on the battlefield in perfect condition even after he died.
[...Ho, how did you know?]
"I heard it from Paelito."
Paelito died without being able to inform him of that information. It was Biseps who informed Jin that Bascara was the key.
Jin had already heard all the information Orgal was talking about from Biseps. Jin was checking whether the words of Orgal and Biseps matched.
"Ah, I see. If that sword is used as a key, the sealed demons in the sword will wake up all at once. They are like guardians, aren't they?"
"So, can't Jin just not use Basakala as a key and instead just break the door entirely?"
When Veil spoke, Orgal shook his head.
"Of course, now that Jin has ascended to Changseong, there may be nothing in the world he can't break. However, that door leads to another sub-space within the demon world. If it's not opened in the right way, it's a long detour to find Jito."
"So, does that mean we have to kill all the demons sealed in Basakala to meet Jito?"
"Not only that, but there will also be the armies of the demon world blocking our way before we reach the door."
The armies of the demon world.
To Jin, they now looked like victims of Jito, too, brainwashed by Jito and forced to fight a war they didn't want.
So, Jin was willing to spare them from death in the future, just like the citizens of the Holy Kingdom. Of course, without the will of Numerus, he wouldn't be able to awaken them as sentient souls.
"I understand, Orgal."
Jin watched carefully as Orgal returned to the ranks of the Kinzelo.
"Jito wants that guy to be his successor."
Orgal had said he didn't know why, but Jin was considering one possibility that arose from that.
"So maybe if things get bad, Jito could leave his power, or some kind of legacy, to Orgal. If you see any signs of that, you must stop it at all costs. Keep an eye on him."
"He hasn't deceived us at all so far. The information matches exactly what Bisekps told us, kid."
The party slowly moved through the passage.
The passage looked like a sheer cliff. Magic energy was rising from the darkness below.
"Let's go."
Wooong-!
Murakan transformed into his true form and carried the party on his back. In an instant, Murakan sank into the darkness and disappeared from Zifl and Kinzelo's view.
The passage was seemingly endless. Even after more than an hour of descending at full speed, there was no sign of reaching the bottom.
"At this rate, it will take quite some time for Zifl and Kinzelo's fleet to come down. The scout team will arrive faster, but we'll already be heading north by then."
"It's not just that the distance is far. Right now, we're constantly crossing the subspace formed by the broken cracks of the Bongmabeok. It will probably take two days for the fleet to pass through these subspaces, kid."
It took a total of two hours to reach the Dark Zone of the Demon Realm. And the Dark Zone was showing a completely different landscape than described by Orgal and Visebs.
"...This is something I didn't hear from Visebs."
It was indeed a vast realm of darkness.
But atop that darkness, the bodies of the demons from the Demon Realm were literally forming mountains. At a glance, the Dark Zone was filled with bodies numbering well into the tens of millions, as if they were slaughtered livestock.
But the dead demons were not livestock, they were people.
They had been adversaries to Jin, but that was only because they were brainwashed by Zito. Before being brainwashed, they were just people who happened to be born in Hell.
'The last time I contacted Visebs was a week ago. He said he couldn't contact me at all because he was preparing for the final battle. So, did all this happen within a week... No, judging by the state of the bodies, that's not it either.'
A hot energy was emanating from the bodies.
"They all died fighting each other... there's no other record of what happened."
[It doesn't seem to be the result of a fight between Visebs and Zito's minions. After all, Visebs' combat force isn't this large.]
Jin had a feeling.
That Zito had used these people to enhance his power of 'pain'. The insight of the ascended showed him vaguely what had happened here, the direction in which the souls of the demons were heading.
And he could sense Zito's will within it. That will was saying, all these demons were killed by you, not me.
"It seems like Zito is afraid of me."
[Little one?]
"Otherwise, he wouldn't have driven these demons to death to increase his power. We'll probably have to cross more mountains of bodies like this before we reach his hideout."
Whooosh...!
Jin formed a lump of golden energy on his palm.
When he laid that energy on the ground like an offering, the golden energy spread out like a pulse among the bodies.
If he hadn't obtained the power of regeneration upon ascension, Jin would have been swept away by unbearable anger at this moment.
Of course, this would inevitably lead to madness.
But right now, Jin was steeling himself, recalling the words of Ayulra.
-So don't fall under the weight of guilt, Jin. You must never fall, in order to give back life to them, to those who have died like that before, and to those who will die like that afterwards.
"I will punish Zito and give you back your lives."
The group began to fly north, leaving the bodies behind.
[somewhere in demon world Zito says Fuck you!!!!]