516
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***
While Joshua fell, the ceremony honoring the Black Knight Jane was solemnly conducted.
The servants held a long silent prayer outside the mausoleum with mourning flowers in their hands, and Guardian knights, holding their swords upside down, formed a path leading to the mausoleum.
Rosa held Jane's black helmet like a portrait, and Murakan stood next to her.
Black knights, flagbearers, elders, clan scribes, and guardian knights followed behind. All were dressed in black uniforms and mourning attire.
Past the swords densely planted in the courtyard, to the deepest part. Even before the procession entered the mausoleum, it exuded a thick smell of iron, like the scent of blood.
The black sword flag slowly fluttered in the cold wind of the mausoleum. The sound spread through the stones inside like a mournful cry, yet there was no one truly weeping.
Those qualified to weep swallowed their tears, while those who couldn't stifled their emotions. Only the black helmet occasionally sparkled in the darkness.
This was a special place prepared for those who had faithfully protected the clan to the end.
For the Black Knights, the mausoleum could be said to be the final point of their pilgrimage. Unless they committed treason, they were destined to be buried here.
The mausoleum became darker as it deepened.
And the procession gradually became smaller. The clan members, including scribes and butlers, stopped walking at the entrance, and elders stood tall in the middle.
The ones left in the procession until the end were Rosa, the Black Knights, the flagbearers and Murakan. Only their outlines were visible as they reached the end.
Thud...
Rosa placed Jane's helmet on the specially prepared stone coffin.
"Even if the day comes when the Garden of Swords is crumbled to pieces, scattered by the wind, and the world even forgets the name Runcandel. Your loyalty and glory will never leave this place."
Murakan created a mourning flower with shadow force and placed it in front of Jane's black helmet.
"Thank you, Jane."
The stone coffin closed, and the procession emerged from the mausoleum after a while. When leaving, the order was reversed from when entering, and those who had been waiting at the front rejoined the procession.
The procession finally exited the mausoleum, and knights who had been waiting raised mourning flags throughout the Garden of Swords.
Thus, the ceremony to lay Jane's soul to rest in the mausoleum, which had continued from early dawn to noon, came to an end.
Originally, the burial in the mausoleum would take more than a week, but Rosa and the flagbearers held it in an informal manner considering the various circumstances of the clan.
Factors such as the absence of the dead body, the recent significant battle, and the fact that Joshua, the next patriarch of the clan, was imprisoned.
In the Garden of Swords, a more turbulent and sinking current flowed than ever before.
"It feels awkward..."
"Yeah, it does."
Daytona and Haytona. The two of them took shelter under the eaves of the outhouse to avoid the suddenly pouring rain and smoked cigarettes.
Some of the flagbearers naturally gathered there. It wasn't to avoid the rain or because of the Tona brothers.
Because beyond the eaves, a woman was kneeling in front of Joshua's private quarters. She was Ilina Runcandel, whom the siblings knew as Joshua's wife.
She was recognized as Joshua's wife, but she had no real authority, and her position within the clan had become ambiguous, preventing her from participating in the ceremony honoring Jane.
People thought that the reason she came outside the private quarters and knelt down was not to honor Jane in this way, but to make some kind of plea, perhaps begging for releasing her husband.
"I understand her sentiment, but it might have been better to just stay inside."
Ran shrugged his shoulders and spoke. Vigo nodded.
"There must be a reason why Mother chose to leave her in that state. Leave her alone, she'll quit when she knows it is of no use and she might end up dying like that."
Diphus thought that Rosa's not stopping Ilina's actions was ultimately because it provided even the slightest justification for Joshua's reinstatement.
And the two who knew her identity, Myu and Anne, had indifferent expressions.
Jin was focusing more on Myu and Anne rather than Ilina.
'Their demeanor has strangely changed...'
If they were Myu and Anne he knew.
Naturally, they should be showing signs of anxiety because they couldn't be certain that Joshua would be reinstated again just like him and Diphus.
'Did Mother inform Myu and Anne about the fact that Joshua might be reinstated again? No, Mother wouldn't need the help of them or others.'
Now, it didn't feel like Myu and Anne had any hidden power or will, but for some reason, he didn't feel good about it.
'Are they just determined, or is there something else?'
It felt like looking at someone other than Myu and Anne.
"Ran and Vigo orabeoni. Let's talk."
"Us?"
"Yes."
"About what?"
"Is it going to end like this? Even the lower flagbearers need to come together and take charge of a faction within the clan. Otherwise, we will be purged if someone else takes the throne later."
Myu spoke without hesitation, even though Jin and Diphus were listening.
"Myu, Anne. Who says someone will kill you? No matter which of the remaining top flagbearers takes the throne, I don't think that would happen."
"If the youngest takes the throne, it feels like our heads will roll that day, Diphus orabeoni."
"Oh, you might end up dead by the hand of Mary if you keep acting crocky like that. The clan is in this state, and you're still only worried about your own survival? Do your duties in your positions. When are you going to become a responsible person?"
Upon hearing that, Myu and Anne let out a bitter laugh.
"...It seems like becoming a person is a lost cause now."
"Ran and Vigo orabeoni, if you have the intention to talk, feel free to come to my room anytime."
After Myu and Anne left, Petro sought out Jin.
"Young Master, the acting matriarch is looking for you."
Then Diphus nodded as if he knew what was coming.
"Take care, Jin."
"Yes, elder brother."
The reason Jin and Diphus showed this reaction was none other than the fact that Jin hadn't yet handed over some battleship's blueprints and machinery obtained from the 2nd Magic tower vault to Rosa.
Jin followed Petro. Rosa was waiting for him in the central training ground. The training ground had not yet been completely restored after Jin's patriarchy declaration.
The rain stopped on the way.
"Have you come?"
"Yes, acting matriarch."
For a moment the mother and son looked at each other in silence.
"Last night, the prophet sent a message to me."
Rosa spoke about her first, not the blueprints and machine.
'A message? Wasn't Mother in direct contact with the prophet?'
-Mother will never give up the power of the Prophet. The reason she brought down Joshua this time... might be a warning to the Prophet. It is quite possible if the relationship between the mother and the prophet is not as close as that of Joshua.
-So what you're saying is, Mother plans to bind the Prophet, and later blame everything on her and reinstate Joshua?
A conversation Jin had with Diphus not long ago.
As Jin suspected at that time, Rosa had never directly communicated with the prophet. They had met before, but she still didn't know Ilina's true identity.
It wasn't because Rosa lacked the ability; it was simply because the prophet's divine power was that exceptional.
"What was the message?"
"She claims to have the ability to interpret and perfect the unfinished blueprints to create a fleet."
Jin hadn't handed over the items yet, but during the report, he informed Rosa that the blueprints were encrypted with magic codes, making them impossible to decipher with Runcandel's current technological capabilities.
It is natural that, unlike general blueprints, mass-produced battleship's blueprints cannot be deciphered or copied by anyone.
And it was impossible to even guess the use and identity of the obtained 'machine.'
"She also mentioned that she knows the purpose of the 'machine.' She says it's an item that can change the course of the future war...…."
"Acting matriarch."
"Speak."
"Do you know what the catalyst for the power of the Prophet is?"
"Living humans."
Rosa's voice held no remorse or shame.
"The infiltration tunnels and spells used in this mission, and the information related to the key of the 2nd Magic tower were all obtained by the prophet using humans as materials. She used prisoners of Rikalton."
It was the tower of living beings that Dox had seen in Rikalton.
The Prophet used those humans as material for Joshua's Sota Desert mission.
"I sent one of the clan's Black Knights to Rikalton. However, he did not return even after the deadline passed, and when I personally went there, all that remained were the bones of at least ten thousand estimated humans. Perhaps the bones of innocent ones were mixed in as well."
Jin had also sent Dox to the same place, and he still hadn't received any report from him.
And when Dox was in imminent danger of death, it was a Black Knight sent by Rosa who came to his aid.
"The Black Knight has not returned yet?"
"Yes."
"You already knew that the Prophet used humans, so why did you send the Black Knight to Rikalton? What were you trying to confirm? Did you rule out the possibility of the Prophet harming the Black Knight?"
"I don't have to answer all your questions. I didn't call you here to explain everything. If you don't like my judgment and actions, prove me wrong and move forward. You sound so uncharacteristic of yourself. If I seem despicable to you, that only proves that you're afraid of me."
Jin calmed his boiling blood.
As Rosa said, she was not in a position where she had to answer all of Jin's questions.
"Originally, I planned to use those items with the help of the Prophet."
If Joshua had shown signs of awakening, Rosa would have handed over the blueprints and the machine to the Prophet without hesitation.
She did not entirely trust the Prophet, but she was confident that all her actions revolved around 'Joshua Runcandel.'
If anyone who had faced the Prophet's absolute prophecy even once, they would inevitably be convinced.
"But this time, I changed my mind when I suspended Joshua from his position as a flagbearer. I will postpone negotiations with the Prophet. During that period, prove to me that you have a method superior to the Prophet's."
Hister.
And Hister's record magic.
When the constant mission to find 'Arya Aulhart' was given to the flagbearer, as Joshua foresaw, Rosa already thought that Jin was in contact with the survivor of Hister.
"If I fail, you will... hand them over to the Prophet. Is that what you're saying, acting matriarch?"
"That's right."
"Even if I fail, those things will not go to the Prophet. Acting matriarch."
"If you fail and don't hand them over to the clan, I will take them by force."
"What the family seeks is dominance not immorality. Positively accepting and using the Prophet's power is an act that goes far beyond the line. You speak as if you're affected by some kind of curse or something."
"You must have learned a lot about enemies in the Sota Desert. Yet you talk like a spoiled child. Listen well, Jin Runcandel, my youngest son."
To me, the survival and prosperity of Runcandel are values more important than anything else.
Nothing can surpass those values.
"Even if tens of billions of humans die in the process of realizing that, even if the world is destroyed in the desolate struggle, and what remains within it is just a few members of Runcandel. It doesn't matter to me."
"If that's the case, then what I have to do is to destroy you as always, Mother."
"I'm not looking forward to it."
Jin turned and left the training ground.
Rosa stood alone in the training ground for a long time even after Jin left.
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***
Tikan was still in the midst of construction. The massive equipment from the Black King Mountain Hideout was being overhauled and newly installed, so it was only natural that it would take some time.
However, even though the construction wasn't complete, Tikan now possessed more than 80% of the defensive power of the former Black King Mountain Hideout.
Purely considering the defensive power of the equipment brought from the Black King Mountain Hideout, it was 80%. When taking into account the strength of Jin's companions and the newly formed blood alliance (though they considered themselves subordinates), Tikan stood as a city unparalleled in defense, excluding the two major factions.
At the moment, there was no small nation that could surpass Tikan. Since the joining of the mercenaries and the Black Kings, Tikan had become a land that could easily be called the fifth faction.
"Ah, the nation declaration is right around the corner..."
Perhaps because of this, the man who was the leader of Tikan, the owner of the Seven-Colored Peacock, and ghost blade Kashmir Alfrion, had been crying a lot lately.
It was due to inexpressible emotions, a sense of overwhelming appreciation, heightened sensitivity as he approached his forties, and a conviction that a long-cherished dream was about to come true, and the gratitude towards his companions. These were the reasons why Kashmir shed tears of happiness.
"Oh, Sir Kashmir is crying again."
"Euria, please give your father a handkerchief. Young master Jin is there too, what kind of insolence is that?"
So said Jet and Alisa, and Amela added, "Why are you crying, Sir Kashmir?"
Truly, after a long time, all the companions gathered for a meal. (Thanks to Murakan's persistence) Except for Gilly, who went for a walk with Murakan, everyone was seated at the dining table.
"It is still not enough to make a nation declaration," Jin said.
He was also emotionally moved. However, after this mission, naturally, a sense of urgency once again settled in Jin's mind.
"Yes, as the lord says, we are still lacking. Although the chances of Zipfel and Kinzelo touching this place in the near future are low, they will attempt pressure whenever the opportunity arises," Lata said, and Valkas nodded in agreement.
"The speed of installing defense equipment is slower than expected, my lord," Valkas remarked.
"I heard it's because the equipment was specialized for the mountain range where the Black King Mountain Hideout was located, Sir Valkas."
"That's correct. Compatibility with Tikan is not bad, but it's not perfect. Also, since our time in the Black King Mountain Hideout, I've felt that there's a lot of room for improvement in our equipment. Thanks to Amela, a lot of improvements have already been made."
Amela.
As shown in the Gaifa Islands, she is a master of warfare utilizing the power of chaos.
In the Gaifa Islands, she displayed even greater power by merging with Bubare's chaos, but even without that, she was already the world's best operator of war equipment.
Valkas evaluated her better than the entire Black King mercenaries, not in terms of sheer force but in the aspect of 'warfare'.
"Even though not all the equipment has been installed yet, it's producing 80% of the power. However, I understand watching Amela reinforce the equipment. It can still get better. It means we can surpass the power of the old Black King Mountain Hideout."
"Is that possible?"
"It is possible, my lord!"
Amela said, waving her hand out of her bush clothes.
Jin felt somewhat awkward because of her behavior. In the Gaifa islands, she fought with the intention of killing them the entire time, and after Yona's interrogation, she fainted, so he went to Sota Desert without having a word of conversation.
On the other hand, Amela behaved very friendly, and referred to Jin as the lord like Valkas and Lata. This was because her chaos had submitted to Yona, and fundamentally, she had the nature of a somewhat affable child. Her slight fear of Jin and Murakan seemed to have disappeared.
"Most of old man Valkas's equipment is the product of modern magic engineering. However, some are relics, commonly called masterpieces. Like the lord's helmet. It seems old man Valkas and my cuties didn't know that well."
Before meeting Jin, Amela roamed the world as a lifelong mercenary and explorer with chaos. Thanks to that, there weren't many people in the world more knowledgeable about relics and artifacts than her.
"Haha, I can't believe I'm hearing an old man from my peers."
"Good heavens, don't call me a cutie...!"
Amela, hidden in the bushy clothes, looked younger than not only Jin but even younger than Enya. For some reason, Valkas felt oddly hurt. The one who reacted strongly to the term 'cutie' was Lata and Faye.
"Masterpiece?"
"These things were made by either demons, or ancient Zipfels. Example of this is what old man Valkas calls the Black King Cannon No. 1, but in my opinion, it's more fitting to call it the Mana absorption spray-type all-purpose accelerating blasting cannon. Old man Valkas didn't know that, so he was using it like a regular cannon."
"Mana absorption... what? Hm, Lady Amela, you know how to use such difficult words. Did you understand?"
"Mana absorption spray-type all-purpose accelerating blasting cannon...?"
Jin, who always lived with academic critiques, was familiar with such long formal names.
"Well, will it get better?"
"If all the functions are completed, it will become the strongest cannon in existence. Um... for comparison, where is it, Kozec! It would be more powerful than Kozec's Mana Input spray-type all-purpose blasting cannon."
Even comparing the slightly different names, the former seemed stronger. However, it couldn't be confirmed if Amela's words were true.
"If that's true, how did that thing end up in Black King Mountain Hideout? During the time when the Black Kings existed independently, there were occasional exchanges with engineers from Zipfel or the imperial family for equipment maintenance. They couldn't just leave alone when they saw mana... something cannons."
"The cutie asks cute questions. Did they send top-notch personnel to the Black King Mountain Hideout? Since they always sent people who were like confused scarecrows, it wouldn't be surprising if they didn't know about it. It's a problem that can be figured out with just a little bit of brain."
"That's true."
"Hey, the cutie is an Amela fan!"
"Ooh, anyway, isn't it an incredible cannon? Can Lady Amela restore it?"
Amela shook her head at Enya's question. Because she was held by Lata, her neck was barely turning, so she was just shaking the bushes.
"Ah, ugh, that, aack, I, I can't. Ahh, bones, bones, I was hit! Just a moment! My abilities are lacking. And I'm not sure if there's personnel capable of restoring it."
"My lord, whether Amela's words are true or not, it seems necessary to recruit a proper magic engineer. There are many devices to improve, and above all, we need to find clues about the machine obtained in the Sota Desert."
An item that could change the course of the future war.
That's how the prophet described the machine to Rosa that Jin had acquired.
'Mother also didn't hear from the Prophet about the exact purpose of that item. If she heard it, she would have told me too, since it will definitely benefit the clan.'
Of course, the Prophet's words could be false. She might also not know the true purpose of the machine.
But the machine wouldn't just be with the blueprints; there must be a reason for it to exist.
To find that reason, Hister's record magic and the help of a genius magic engineer were needed.
"Jet."
"Yes, my lord!"
"Infirm me immediately if Arya contacts me."
Jin hasn't met Valeria since leaving Wantaramo Forest last year and spending time with Yona.
She holds the corpse of Vermont's Majin obtained in the Wantaramo Forest as evidence to pressure the imperial family.
In addition, she was analyzing the metal used by Kinzelo's leader that Jin had obtained from the sword emperor castle and the recording device Jin had given her, and also tracking down Temar's tomb while restoring Hister's magic.
The lack of contact could be either because there is no progress or because she is exposed to some danger. It must be one of the two.
'If not, she may have entered the next succession temple.'
In addition to Valeria, Jin was still unable to contact Misha, so he was a little anxious.
"Of course. Ah, no news is good news, so don't worry too much. We haven't been in contact with her quite a bit, but is there anything wrong with that haughty lady?"
"That would be great. Hey, Murakan. Ms. Misha..."
"My lord, Lord Murakan went for a walk with Gilly... Ah, there she comes! Huh? But why is there a giant toad... Is he riding Madame Talaris' Snow Toad Mort?"
The seven swords of the Hidden Palace, Ryu and Hiten, who were sitting at the table, stood up and bowed.
"Greetings, master!"
"Greetings, master!"
Not only Murakan and Gilly, but also their masters were on Snow toad Mort.
Next to them, for some reason, Kuzan, Veris, and Yulian stood with a seemingly blank expression, as if they were some kind of attendant.
"Hehe, son-in-law. Long time no see!"
"Madame Talaris, Lady Syris."
"Why is it that you never call this mother-in-law even when there's such an occasion, my son-in-law?"
"Didn't you get an invitation from Lucas Manfran?"
"Ah, it must have been a mix-up. I almost felt resentful again. Hahaha... Ha! It's mind-boggling. On the way here, I heard from that handsome black dragon that something strange clung to my son-in-law."
It was a story about Sandra Zipfel.
At that remark, Syris let out a sigh as if she had no strength to argue with her mother anymore.
"My son-in-law doesn't like her, do you? The daughter of a hostile clan?"
"Mother, even though she is Zipfel, she's a person who has greatly helped Jin."
"Heung, you are acting stiff as usual. Can't you even take a joke?"
"It wasn't a light matter."
Of course, Syris was never conscious of Sandra Zipfel.
However, even though Jin is her friend, she seemed unable to help him by betraying the hidden palace, but she felt strange that Sandra did it.
'If it were me from the past, I would have just laughed and sneered at this. After meeting Jin, I seem to have changed a bit.'
Talaris shrugged.
"Heung, I appreciate it too. But it does not give you a right to humiliate your mother like this in front of people. This mother is still the master of the hidden palace."
"I apologize for that, Mother."
"Hehe, I was just joking. Don't be scared!"
"Ah, really."
"I can still enjoy teasing my daughter. Anyway, it's nice to see everyone. It's a bit strange and fascinating to see all three great mercenaries eating together like this. Indeed, the charm of the man I marked as my son-in-law... So, what were you all talking about?"
"Mana absorption spray-type all-purpose accelerating..."
The moment Jin answered up there.
Suddenly, an alarm sounded throughout the entire Tikan. The equipment installed by the Black Kings was causing the alarm.
Wee-wee-wee
The alarm was triggered due to the sudden appearance of an unidentified object in the sky. And the protagonist who triggered the alarm was the person who escorted Jin and his group in the Sota Desert not long ago.
Zephyrin.
518
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Zephyrin looked like a harpy commonly depicted in novels. She overall resembled a human, but the entire body, excluding the face, was covered in black feathers, and there were wings in the place of the arms.
And she flew very fast. She seemed like a dot in the distance, but in an instant, she approached close enough to be recognizable.
"Hmm, what's with that human crow? Is it a surprise circus show prepared by my son-in-law for me?"
"She is a demon dragon named Zephyrin. She seems to have come here for some business with me."
"Another woman, huh? Anyway, you are very popular with women, my son-in-law."
Naturally, Zephyrin didn't seem very friendly.
Already suffering humiliation from Jin in the Sota Desert, her plan to take Joshua as a hostage had failed. Adding to that, the last-minute battle and the damage from the volcano had left the leader on verge of death.
'Somehow, I sense a chill.'
If it were another time, there might have been some tension, but Jin calmly turned his head to observe his companions on both sides.
A sly smile appeared on his face.
"That, that thing. Zephyrin. Isn't she Zephyrin!?"
"Zephyrin? This damn...!"
"How well have we treated you!"
The eyes of the Black Kings who were on external guard duty became as sharp as blades.
"She is the enemy of our leader, load the Black King Cannon No. 1!"
"Open all cannons, including Black King Cannon No. 1. We will avenge our leader!"
"Our leader's sacrifice was not in vain!"
The Black King mercenaries were talking as if Valkas had died at that time. It was unclear whether it was to inspire anger or whether someone had used the expression 'enemy' to create a strange trend.e flow, it couldn't be known.
The cannons were aimed.
Black King mercenaries stationed at the central watchtower were sending signals. It meant that the preparations to shoot that damn thing down were complete, so give the orders immediately.
"Well, my lord. Please make a decision."
"Let's try a defense test."
Valkas raised his hand, and personnel in the watchtower nodded in agreement.
Clang! Kiiiiiiing, boom!
The defense devices installed by the Black Kings at various locations on the walls of Tikan began to appear at the same time.
It was a seamless and flawless transformation, like the rotation of precisely interlocking gears.
The cannon barrels appeared in the gunports to pressure and suppress the intruder. There were also artifacts shooting nets, and there were over 40 giant bows operated by several members.
In addition, numerous defense equipment were aimed at Zephyrin.
'I heard rumors that fortress defense had started, but was it to this extent? Moreover, to receive such treatment when they have to politely welcome me... It's absurd, Sir Jin!'
Commence firing!
As the commanders shouted, the sky instantly turned red with projectiles, flames, arrows, hooks, and nets.
If it were an ordinary dragon, it would have likely met its demise at that moment. However, Zephyrin skillfully avoided the attacks.
'...It's quite fierce.'
Zephyrin was first shocked by that part.
She might have chuckled at the pitiful sight under normal circumstances. However, it was a different story in the current situation where she couldn't tap into the power of the leader.
"Black King Cannon No. 1, fire!"
"Fire!"
As soon as it was determined that a blind spot had been created, Black King Cannon No. 1 spewed out fire.
Boom!
A heavy yet refreshing explosion, as if something blocked had been pierced, rang out after the cannon fire had already grazed Zephyrin's cheek and shoulder.
'Huh, just now... what was that?'
If she had taken a direct hit in her weakened state, she would have suffered death or equivalent damage.
The intuition was so clear that Zephyrin had no choice but to block the Black King Cannon No. 1 after it flew at an angle that was impossible to avoid.
She had tapped into the leader's strength (cough! The leader, who was lying down at that time, was vomiting blood and members of Kinzelo were on alert).
"It's quite excellent, isn't it?"
During the Black King incident, the battle took place almost in a different subspace, and the members couldn't use it as they were all evacuating.
The power of Black King Cannon No. 1 was at an extraordinary level.
"It was the pride of our Black Kings."
"Now I have a rough idea of its performance. Now, please guide Zephyrin to land over here."
When Valkas conveyed Jin's command, the shooting pattern changed from suppression to guidance.
After that, Zephyrin rolled in the sky for about 5 minutes before landing in the front yard of the mansion, somewhat battered and bruised.
"Huff, huff... thi-this... Jin Runcandel! You bastard, are you mocking me again? Have you forgotten our agreement? Come out. I'll tear all your limbs apart!"
She blurted out such words in the heat of the moment.
All of Jin's companions were gathered in front of her.
"Hmm, who are you going to tear apart?"
"Zephyrin, you've turned Black King Mountain Hideout into that state and yet dared to make your way here."
"Keep your eyes down, and behave properly."
Talaris, Valkas, and Lata spoke at the same time.
Especially Talaris, without waiting for Zephyrin's response, closed the distance in an instant and delivered a punch to Zephyrin's jaw.
Thunk, thud!
The sound of a fist imbued with Myriad Ice's power colliding with the jaw of a demon dragon was a feeling that anyone who heard it could not help but wonder about this question.
Wouldn't he be dead? Zephyrin was shocked for a second time by her fist.
"Kwung!"
Shockwaves and gusts of wind swirled around, followed by a sudden cold that froze Zephyrin's limbs and held them like chains.
"No. Kuk!"
"What do you mean no?"
"Ha! Master of Hidden Palace, you don't seem to know who I am, Ugh! Ahh!"
"Hmm, I guess you need to take a few hits until you soften up."
Bam, bam!
Without any need for further intervention from the other companions, Talaris relentlessly and triumphantly battered Zephyrin with overwhelming blows.
After enduring such merciless beating for five minutes, Zephyrin, with a severely swollen face, could only think one thing.
'This, this is not...'
Of course, this was not what she expected.
Even if she couldn't use the full power of the leader (though she had used it once again), Zephyrin's strength was by no means shallow.
She was just a bit flustered by Tikan's defensive equipment, used the leader's power a bit forcibly, and landed on the ground somewhat tired. Moreover, her opponent was none other than Talaris.
Zephyrin also expected that if Jin had any conscience, he would have welcomed her somewhat gracefully. After all, they had a promise in the Sota Desert.
"Oh, you said something like that, Zephyrin. If you had contacted me in advance, I would have welcomed you politely. I thought you were a terrorist. Well, you are a terrorist, right? Because you are from Kinzelo."
Jin responded as if he didn't know, and Zephyrin's eyes turned purple with demonic energy and killing intent.
"Jin, Runcandel, you bastard!"
"No, it's not the time to speak so recklessly. There won't be any good if you keep acting foolish, right?"
Zephyrin, calming her anger, observed Jin's group.
"...Sir Jin, it's been a while."
In the end, she admitted that now wasn't the time to provoke trouble, realizing that it might cause a big problem if she used her full power.
"Not that long, comrade of the Sota Desert. Looks like you safely escaped from that desert, too?"
You devil...
Zephyrin smiled, barely suppressing the rising urge to say something vulgar.
"You sound like we guys are nothing if you can use your power properly."
"Not really. You are misinterpreting it in a strange way."
"I've been curious since last time, what on earth do you believe in and keep moving alone? Moreover, this is my territory. It means you shouldn't come like this without an invitation."
There was a clear reason why Zephyrin preferred to move alone.
Having someone unnecessary around as the Grand Duke of the Demon World... she thought it was undignified.
However, it was an awkward situation to say that, so she didn't respond. Beings like dragons, demons, those close to immortality, tended to have such strange outdated cultures and ideologies.
"I was just going to kill him, but I spared you just because of our promise. So, I hope this kind of rudeness never happens again."
"Fine, I get it... Now, can you release me and have a talk?"
"Nope."
When Talaris bluntly refused, Zephyrin muttered like this.
"Master of the Hidden Palace, there's not much good from playing tricks like this. There should be records left by the previous masters of the Hidden Palace about me..."
Then Talaris lightly burst into laughter.
"Hmm, today is full of kids who take jokes seriously. Demon Dragon Zephyrin, there is a very short record left about you."
"Most of it must have disappeared. I had quite a few interesting encounters with the masters of the Hidden Palace. Wasn't there anything like 'don't mess with her at all' in the records?"
There was. The record left by the previous masters of Hidden Palace about Zephyrin was only one line.
Avoid her if encountered.
'She is not the target of the sealing or assassination, and her current level of strength is just so-so. There must be a reason for leaving such a record.'
Fzzzz...
The ice that bound Zephyrin scattered into the air.
"I didn't see such content, but just keep in mind that if you threaten my son-in-law like this again, it won't end as a joke. In your own territory too."
The fact that the master of the Hidden Palace, Talaris Endorma, was very friendly with Jin was well-known to everyone. The public already knew that Jin and Syris were confirmed to be married.
However, those who knew 'The Secret of Hidden palace' knew that they maintained absolute neutrality. In order to solve the anomalies of the world, sometimes it was necessary to join hands with certain forces.
'She is warning me, implying that she can step out of neutrality... The Hidden Palace doesn't seem the same as before.'
It was new information for Zephyrin.
"Hmph, I'll keep that in mind. Anyway, Sir Jin. Keep the promise we made."
Zephyrin was very curious when she came to visit, but now she was angry and anxious.
-That's right, those things to Runcandel are actually like pearls around a pig's neck. I won't be fooled in the next negotiation. So enjoy today's small victory, Sir Jin.
If Jin changes his words this time too, she would go back without any gain, just being beaten up like a fool.
"I'll do that."
Surprisingly, Jin was obediently responding to Zephyrin's demand.
"Are you talking about handing over the blueprints and machine to us?"
"That's going too far. I'll have a formal meeting with Kinzelo. I'll give you a chance to decipher the blueprints and machine at that time. The decryption process will take place in front of both factions, and all information must be shared with our side."
"Haha! You're still talking like a tough guy."
"You're mistaken, Zephyrin. The winner of that day in the desert was me. Since the items are in my hands, Zipfel and your Kinzelo are losers. Be thankful for my generosity. If you don't like it... Just go back empty-handed. It wouldn't be a bad idea to leave your head behind."
"The day will come when all demons will curse you, Sir Jin."
Jin replied with a smirk.
"It's okay, I'm immune. I'll decide and notify the date of the meeting. I think we're done here. What will you do? Since we were having a meal, try some dishes before you leave."
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***
Kinzelo Headquarters.
The bitter loss of Sota Desert wasn't enough that the leader suddenly coughed up blood again, so the atmosphere was not good. Only Bubare and Ainas were giggling
"Ha, Ms. Zephyrin used the leader's power again...."
"The leader needs to regain consciousness properly and control Ms. Zephyrin, but he lost his energy again. It seems like this keeps happening. I'm starting to think we should say something too, vice-leader."
When Bishkel and Berakt seemed to express their frustration, Joe nodded.
"No, so what if she's the Grand Duke of the Demon World. Isn't this a bit too much? The leader coughed up blood again!"
"Don't interfere, Joe. Seriously, do I have to personally tell you to shut up every time for you to keep that snort shut? Should I break your jaw so you can't speak again?"
"Um, Ms. Zephyrin must not have had a choice. She must be more eager for the leader's recovery than anyone else. She is in a similar situation to Sir Jin's
guardian dragon, Lord Murakan, so she must be frustrated."
"Well, that's true. Margiella."
Joe found it difficult to hide his awkward feelings every time this happened. If he had said exactly the same thing Margiella just said, Berakt would have probably pounced on him, threatening to kill him.
'Ugh, this narrow-minded, mutt, dirty, discriminatory bastard!'
As Joe thought that, Margiella turned her head and met his eyes.
'Don't have such bad thoughts, mister Joe!'
She said this by making her mouth and Joe let out a dry cough while feeling goosebumps.
Thud!
The door opened. Zephyrin entered.
"Ms. Zephyrin!"
Everyone who was seated stood up, showing their respect.
"Oh, Grand Duke.... You came. The white wolf….. Just mentioned you."
Zephyrin gestured for the standing individuals to sit down, seeming somewhat annoyed.
"I told you, Unnie! Ms. Zephyrin, you're here. Everyone was talking about you."
"They were talking about me? What?"
"Oh, what were they talking about? Everyone, about Ms. Zephyrin."
"We were talking about how cool you are. Going alone to the enemy territory is a burdensome task for us lower beings. Thank you for your hard work, Ms. Zephyrin."
Bishkel hastily interrupted Ainas and shifted the topic, sensing Zephyrin's low spirits. Even Berakt, who said he would speak up, sighed just by looking at Zephyrin's mood and 'face.'
'Darn it, I, a great warrior, am in a situation where I have to be cautious. Why is her jaw so... like that? Could it be that she was beaten?'
Zephyrin's jaw was very swollen.
"Ehehe, but Ms. Zephyrin! Where did you get this bump? Will something come out if we pop it?"
On the other hand, Ainas, despite being warned once, unabashedly placed her hand on her swollen jaw, laughing softly.
Of course, the giant bump was the result of a blow from Talaris.
"Oh, ahh, Ainas... that, that's not good. Th-the Grand Duke might... get angr-angry."
"Hehe, I've never seen such a big bump! Unnie! Unnie, try touching it too."
"Ah... you shouldn't... not... you shouldn't, you crazy thing! Just die, just die! What are you doing to the Grand Duke, die! Die!"
Bam-!
Bianca's way of speaking suddenly changed, spewing curses and fists in rapid fire. Ainas ran away, but Bianca soon followed her with a club in her hand.
Margiella rolled her wheelchair towards Zephyrin.
"Hmm, what happened? Ms. Zephyrin."
"...We decided to have a meeting, Margiella. Sir Jin will notify us of the date, and we can analyze things during the meeting. We need to share all the information we find at that time. Damn that Jin Runcandel."
"Wow, that's an impressive harvest!"
"Do you really think so?"
"Of course, if someone else from our group had gone, we wouldn't have gotten anything!"
In the meantime, the Kaligo sisters, who had been circling among the executives, regained some of their senses.
"Oh... what have I done? Sorry... it must hurt, Ainas."
"Oh, uh, no. It's okay... huh? But what's this smell? Grand Duke, did you eat something delicious there? There's a really appetizing smell coming from you, Grand Duke."
This time, even Bianca sniffed the air near Zephyrin.
After the beating, Zephyrin had a meal in Tikan before leaving. She couldn't help it because refusing to have a meal in such a situation seemed to be against the dignity of the Grand Duke of the demon world.
'Ha... why were those cookies so annoyingly delicious, and that strawberry pie too…'
Zephyrin took out the Latrie cookies, and the Kaligo sisters immediately bit into them, expressing their joy by jumping around.
In other words, it was a mess.
Bishkel couldn't help but feel bitter and sad, wondering how Kinzelo had ended up in this state.
"Should I tell you a funny story for the depressed Ms. Zephyrin?"
Chirr, Margiella said as she rolled her wheelchair.
"What is it?"
"Maybe something sad might happen to Sir Jin soon. Ms. Zephyrin."
"Something sad...?"
Margiella smiled gently.
***
"Hmm, you really ate a lot. You even took all the cookies I left for the kids."
"But I saved the strawberry pie, Jet. I couldn't help eating strawberry pie at the table, but it's not as good as strawberry pie. No way."
"Sure, Lord Murakan is the best!"
After dinner, the group gathered to chat or smoke.
Talaris listened to everything that happened in the Sota Desert and examined the blueprints and machine.
"Hmm, we might need a specialized mage for proper interpretation of the blueprints. This cipher magic is probably a new type created by Zipfel. As for the machine... that prophet said this would change the course of future war?"
"Yes, Madame Talaris."
"I'd rather say it may be true about a cannon of the Black Kings that called something like mana absorption, but I have no idea how such a small thing can be used?"
All of Jin's companions and allies so far had the same reaction.
"I felt the same way. But as I continued to think, I had this idea. It might have something to do with the cube that Zipfel used in Gaifa Archipelago, the summoning device...."
"The last survivor of the Hister clan named Arya Aulhart and Misha are crucial. I am sure it may be possible to decipher the code of blueprints using the record magic, but can't we at least find out who made the machine?"
"I agree."
"And it would be great if Kinzelo can decipher the codes... Black Dragon Misha, she might be of some help."
"I haven't been able to contact Ms. Misha. It's been a year now. So, I'm starting to worry a bit."
The last time Jin met Misha was around this time last year. He had sought her out to inquire about the recording device after visiting Temar's second tomb.
At that time, Jin received information from Misha that Arya Aulhart was in Mamit, leading to a natural reunion with Valeria.
"A year, well, that's nothing for dragons, so don't worry son-in-law. Having
fought together, I don't think she is going to get caught. I'd like to share a drink with Miss Misha as a companion too."
"Yeah, kid. The master of the Hidden palace is right. That crazy devil will show up when she feels like it, so let's just stop worrying about it. Huh? Uh, thinking about her face gives me the chills. And she is not perfect either. She is good at shady things like deciphering codes, but she fails a lot too."
"Heh, is the handsome oppa really scared of his older sister?"
"Huh, who is scared?"
"Ah, so you're the one who's actually worried?"
"If you knew that devil as well as I do, you'd realize how meaningless the act of worrying is. If she hid with all her heart, even the gods couldn't find her, let alone humans."
"Demon God's Orb is the combination of the abilities of various gods, so who knows? Maybe you need to be a little too honest."
"Too noisy. Anyway, I think it's more helpful to find the genius magic engineer sooner rather than later, not Misha. Improving the equipment of the Black Kings and understanding that unidentified machine is important."
"We need a magic engineer, and we need to meet Miss Misha too. I have a lot of things to ask her."
After recalling the need for a magic engineer, Jin was diligently searching through the memories of his past life.
He was trying to remember which true genius magic engineers he knew of were not affiliated with Zipfel or the imperial family up to this point.
'Ramos Phil? No, he was already affiliated with the Imperial academy when I was a reserve flagbearer. Hopper Newman? No. The Sylar clan... was it a clan that existed only until the early 1700s?'
Magic engineering ranked lowest among Jin's interests in magic.
As a result, he didn't know many memorable figures, and most of them were either dead or already affiliated with someone.
"A genius magic engineer, huh? Hmm... There were a few such individuals among my past lovers. Should I contact them once? Son-in-law."
"Past lovers? I don't really trust that, the master of the Hidden Palace. Were you into those flashy types?"
"I'd appreciate it, Madame Talaris. I plan to meet all the magic engineers who are not currently affiliated."
"Alright, but I have a condition. Call me mother-in-law, and I'll do it."
"Of course, Mother-in-law. I should address you as such after all the things you've done for me."
"Jin, you too now!"
Syris looked wide-eyed in surprise.
"Haha, exactly! Only my son-in-law responded properly to my joke today! The rest just remained serious. Ahaha!"
Talaris and Jin burst into laughter.
'Is it that funny for Mother and Jin? But for some reason, I feel like laughing too. Perhaps it's because of the peaceful and friendly atmosphere.'
Syris resisted the urge to smile that was forming.
"Oh, son-in-law. Look at that. If we tease her a bit more, she might actually smile too. Son-in-law, do you know? When she was young, she used to call herself the Ice Princess."
"Ice Princess... No, Ice Princess, you say, Lady Syris? How old were you then?"
"Huh? The Ice Princess? The kid got the nickname the Black Crown Prince. Have you heard of it? The Black, Crown, Prince, Jin Runcandel."
"Black Crown Prince? That's lame. I think Ice Princess is better, Jin."
Pfft, in the end, Syris burst into laughter and responded to those who were laughing so hard.
"Haha, I laughed my heads off thanks to my son-in-law."
"Are you leaving so soon, Madame Talaris?"
"Yeah, I have to go."
"I'll see you off."
"Son-in-law, you should come too."
"To the Hidden Palace?"
"Yeah. Specifically, to the Hidden Palace training ground."
"Why the training ground of the Hidden Palace..."
"I heard you received a training book of secret technique written by Chiron from your sister, Mary Runcandel. This mother-in-law will personally help you a bit with attribute completion. It's the price for my laughter."
520
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In the Hidden Palace, the leaders of the Golden Pengi reported the business situation to Jin.
Now, cosmetics from the Golden Pengi are becoming almost 'irreplaceable' items.
Thanks to the development of various products for the skin, not only makeup but also clothing, people of all ages around the world were using Golden Pengi's products regardless of gender.
It had become a product representing the era.
"Who knew that the flowers and snowflakes from the Hidden Palace could be so good for human skin? If it was a world where you could just make money, I would already be close to the peak as an individual. I offer this glory to the great, beautiful, and almighty Talaris!"
Jin nodded at Pengi's words.
"How is the development of magic items going?"
"We are still pouring water into the bottomless pit. But don't we have a lot of money? If we keep pouring like this, we'll eventually see some results. Money doesn't lie."
The money earned from the Pengi business not only fattened Jin and his comapions's pockets but was also heavily invested in the development of magic items.
It was to eventually change the market dominated by Zipfel.
Time goes by, and the world develops.
The more the world developed, the more Zipfel's influence became solidified, while Runcandel diminished. To stop its monopoly and decline, Runcandel needed something other than military power.
"However, it is not easy to recruit researchers or magic engineers. Except for the best, we only manage people who are big enough to secretly work with us, so it can't be helped that progress is slow."
For the defense of Tikan, for analyzing the machine of the 2nd magic Tower, and for developing magic items – the situation demanded a genuine genius engineer.
Of course, it's highly unlikely that all of these problems could be handled by a single engineer's ability.
However, things couldn't go well without recruiting anyone.
"I'll actively look for more people in the future, so keep up the good work."
"Then, don't worry, partner. Oh, and the guy who bought clothes from us, Nordav Sarsaeng. I heard its real name was Sandra Zipfel?"
"Yes. If I did not approve of your clothes, she was going to kill all of you."
"She's a bloody customer, but we will have to be careful when taking orders from now on. Oh, and I didn't write it in the report. I put the water-tailed together as a test on your advertisement board. People reacted well, saying they were cute. Take a look at this."
When Pengi showed the advertisement design, JJin burst into a small laugh and walked towards the training ground. Talaris was waiting there.
"Huh, it seems Chiron really liked Mary. Seeing such meticulous work in the Secret technique training book. Well, if she trains well and finds the right direction, she can be one of the strongest in the current generation of Runcandel, excluding Luna."
Talaris was examining the secret technique book written by Chiron.
As soon as Jin entered the practice room, her eyes changed.
"I tried to help lightly, but your serious face is a bit burdensome. Hmmm, I guess this mission was quite shocking in various ways to you, my son-in-law?"
"I always have a strong desire to become stronger, but it was particularly shocking in the Sota Desert."
"Because of that Hedo? I've been thinking about that person for a while, but there's no one that comes to mind. As I said before, he is most likely the martial artist that your father saved in the Black Sea in the past."
"Not just because of the Tower Keeper. Overall, I felt powerless."
"I heard your judgments were great. Handsome oppa said the mission would never have been successful if it wasn't for you. Well... I think Runcandel must have prepared safety measures in case you failed."
"If my battle prowess had been superior, Dame Jane, the Black Knight would not have been killed in action."
"On the contrary, if it wasn't for you, even the black knight named Mon would have died. You certainly did well. And now, at the age of barely twenty, how much stronger do you think you need to be?"
"I think I need to be as strong as my father was at my age."
"I"You seem stronger now than Chiron at the age of twenty."
"I doubt that."
"Irrational impatience will only eat you up in the end."
I've heard this many times before. I know it well. So, I plan to systematically alleviate this impatient feeling. First, I'll master the secret technique, then I'll tidy up the overall situation, and then I'll start the close-door training."
"Close-door training?"
"I will go to the world of the Plutonian tribe, Laprarosa. I'm not going to come out until I reach 10-stars."
"You will come out soon. Hmm, You also need to figure out how to bring the Plutonian tribe from the dead world...… My son-in-law is busy. My head is about to explode. But at times like that, there's nothing better than training. Especially for cooling your head, there's no better technique to hone than Runcandel's 5th secret move, Light-speed Thrust."
Runcandel's decisive killing moves, secret techniques, and ultimate techniques cannot be used unless you have the blessed body of pure-blood Runcandel. Therefore, it cannot be taught unless it is pure blood.
However, Talaris knew the 5th secret technique, Light-speed Thrust better than most purebloods. It was because she was the person who had clashed swords with Chiron Runcandel the most in the world.
"Even I can't teach you the tricky things in Runcandel's Secret technique. It's impossible to know something like the gathering and organizing aura that only pure-blooded Runcandel can use, because their body structures are different. But that's not the case with the 5th secret technique. This is very simple, my son-in-law."
"Simple?"
"It's just an insanely fast thrust. Most of Runcandel's sword moves are like that, excluding complex ones like the 3rd secret technique, annular solar eclipse."
"Just an insanely fast thrust…."
"Other martial artists can't imitate Runcandel's swords for a reason. It's because they don't have a body that can support that tremendous acceleration and explosive power."
A pure white chill gathered in Talaris' right hand, forming a single sword. It was Myriad ice.
"But if you're a skilled martial artist like me, you can do something similar in this way. Take a good look."
Flash-!
The blade of Myriad ice cut through the air in the training ground of Hidden Palace. A dazzling aura spread, and the space was distorted and cracked in the shape of the tip of the sword.
There was no preparatory movement, but Talaris' thrust was surpassing Mary's thrust.
The striking range was clearly smaller, but it was a higher level. It was the concentration of force with a minimum dispersion, completely focused on one point.
'Amazing. If Madame Talaris displays this kind of thrust at full power, probably... I wouldn't be able to react.'
Talaris didn't even go all out. But Jin was confident that she could display a thrust even more remarkable than this.
"How about it, isn't it similar?"
"It's not just similar, it's far superior to what elder sister Mary showed."
"Of course, I displayed the exact same technique. It's nothing compared to the original executed by your father. Ah, my waist. It feels like my shoulders might tear apart too."
"Are you okay?"
"As expected, imitating Runcandel's swordsmanship is something I can't do. That's why it can't be applied in actual combat. I'll end up getting more injuries than the enemy."
Of course, the vast majority of martial artists couldn't handle the thrust Talaris had just executed.
However, if Talaris were to fight against a warrior of a similar level, this thrust would undoubtedly act as a handshake.
Naturally, there was an enormous gap between superhumans like Talaris and Jin. There was a certain wall that couldn't be expressed with simple numbers like 1- or 2-stars.
'Knowing that fact gives me chills. If Madame Talaris decides to kill me...….'
It will end within 10 minutes. When Jin felt that certainty, he had no choice but to admit it, but he also felt strangely bitter.
Talaris smiled as she read Jin's thoughts.
"If I were to try to kill you with all my might without anyone interfering, the result will come in five minutes, my son-in-law."
"I thought it would be 10 minutes, but it seems even shorter than that."
"The domain where I stand might seem far away. And it actually is. But if we compare it to stairs... There are just a few steps of difference. And I don't know about Chiron, but I stood in a lower position than you when I was your age."
Jin didn't believe it, but it was the truth.
"And your growth rate is still sharply rising. Is enduring against me for 5 minutes really that short? Considering the density of time we both have experienced, it is rather unfair for me, son-in-law."
It's not wrong. Jin slightly bowed his head.
"I think I was arrogant and disrespectful to you, Madame Talaris."
"Reasonable arrogance isn't unpleasant. Now, show me your Light-speed thrust, son-in-law. I'll teach you the theory that Chiron deliberately wrote in a complicated way. I'll simplify it for you."
The training book that Chiron gave to Mary was elaborate, but rather difficult to understand. He planted traps in each paragraph in hopes that Mary would further enlighten the theory of swords.
Squeak-!
Bradamante emitted a radiance. Concentrated aura left a dazzling afterimage, and a sharp band of aura was drawn along the blade that extended diagonally.
It was a lightspeed thrust similar to the one Talaris had just executed. In terms of speed and power, the Light-speed thrust surpassed Mary's.
Jin read the book whenever he had free time, but he rarely practiced it himself. Even so, the reason Jin was able to execute a single light-speed thrust was because of Talaris' help.
'The moment I drew my sword, the power of Madame Talaris...… supported me.'
The key to light-speed thrust is, of course, acceleration. There were a total of seven accelerations using the aura in a single motion of thrusting the sword.
To ensure Jin could feel each precise moment, Talalis assisted in all seven accelerations with her own power.
'Is it possible to provide assistance with such precision to match my speed?'
Even though Jin has questions, there is no need to doubt. He had experienced it firsthand. Talaris smiled as if she expected him to be surprised.
"It's difficult to understand the acceleration points with complicated theories, but now you can understand them precisely, right?"
"Huh... Yes, Madame Talaris."
"It means you have to execute it not by firing the aura all at once but by precisely dividing it into seven moments. Ordinary knights wouldn't be able to do that due to their low aura sensitivity. Even if they manage to do it by luck, their shoulders and waist would break."
Jin immediately prepared for the next practice.
"After receiving my assistance for a day or two, you will feel it more clearly. If you let your body memorize that sensation..."
Swish-!
As Talaris explained, Jin thrust the sword again. This time, there was no assistance from Talaris. She hadn't anticipated Jin practicing a second thrust before she could finish her explanation.
However, Jin was entranced.
Completely immersed in the sensation that Talaris had awakened, he unconsciously executed a second thrust. The pleasure from that simple answer was so ecstatic that he hadn't even heard Talaris' explanation.
And the light-speed thrust he fired the second time was 90% of the first one, which was spread with the assistance.
The second Light-Speed Thrust shattered the ice wall of the training ground, and Jin was surprised by his own unconscious action, ignoring Talaris's words.
Talaris' eyes widened as she was shocked by results after the 'just one' assistant.