"A-Are you… the Hero? The Guardian of Valkeries?!" Vinica stammered.
Jan raised a brow at the sudden question.
Sophia immediately stepped between them. "Yes, he's the Hero. What's gotten into you, Vinica?"
"Princess…" Vinica's voice trembled, eyes fixed on Jan. "I—I can feel it. That presence… it's like looking at your father, Sir Marcus—no, stronger!" She inhaled sharply. "Hero, may I—may I check something?"
She reached toward him, hands trembling. Looking at the eerie glint in her eyes, Jan felt a jolt of dread race through his body.
Sophia quickly seized her wrist. "What do you think you're doing, madwoman?"
"Crispy, she's got those crazy eyes from before!" Aeris blurted.
"I'm not crazy!" Vinica snapped, her breathing ragged. "I can feel it! The will of Zeryph burns inside him!"
"I said stop!" Sophia warned, squeezing harder. "You want me to set you on fire like my mom did that one time?"
That snapped Vinica out of it. "No! Please, no fire!" She retreated rapidly, then coughed into her sleeve, clearing her throat. "M-My deepest apologies, Princess; and to you, Hero. I lost my composure."
Jan offered a wry smile. "It's fine."
Sophia also smiled dangerously, her hand still glowing faintly with heat. "Good. I'm glad that was quick."
Vinica smiled nervously and then bowed lower. "I truly am sorry, Princess."
Sophia eyed her for a while and then sighed. "You can use [Identify], right? There's no need to touch him. You'll understand what you felt once you use it."
Vinica nodded and looked at Jan, activating the spell. The panel flashed before her eyes and her face went pale.
"N-N-No way…"
"Yeah," Sophia said dryly. "Exactly our reaction."
Aeris leaned forward, eyes sparkling. "Speak up, Crispy, what is it?!"
Vinica swallowed hard. "Y-Y-You're… the Son of Zeryph?!"
"Whu—!" Even Aeris froze mid-blink.
"Oh!" Jan said suddenly, remembering. "You mean that? Yeah, I received it the moment I woke up in this world." Seeing Vinica's breathing quicken again, he quickly added, "Just to be clear! I'm not actually his son. You know I'm not from this world."
Sophia chuckled. "Of course you're not. It's just a title. Still… I'm shocked you even know about this. Usually, you're like, 'Title? Son of what now?'"
Jan gave her oafish impression of him a flat look, while Aeris barely held in a laugh.
"It's because the System told me," Jan said, glancing away. "I remember… It even showed me a message. Like a letter from this 'Zeryph.'"
Vinica's eyes lit with fanatic intensity. "A blessed message! No—more like a prophecy! What did it say?! As Second Priest, I must hear the words of our god!"
Jan stiffened. "Well, it's nothing important, really…" He looked at Sophia; she gave a small nod.
Even though it had been a while, he somehow remembered every word. He sighed and repeated the verses:
Your father shouts from the heavens:
'We have faced far worse than this, one fallen mortal.
But we are the gods. We are the rulers of this land.
Son,
We will stand together. We will wipe out this plague.
Mandros will prevail!'
[Just as the dragons granted Zeryph dominion over lightning—making him king of gods and mortals—your father grants you the same gift, that fate may repeat itself.]
At the time, Jan had dismissed it as nonsense. But now… he understood its weight.
His power over lightning, his ability to reflect, and even his ability to use it as a Magical Element—they were all granted to him thanks to this title.
Vinica froze, trembling. Then she dropped to one knee, head bowed.
"Lord Jan… please! Accept me as your servant! Take me to the 91st Floor with you! Take me to Lord Zeryph!"
Jan blinked, stunned. "What—?"
When he delivered the "blessed message," Jan also mentioned the mission he received with this title.
[Linked Special Mission: Reach Floor 91]
Sophia groaned, palming her forehead. "Vinica, enough! What are you even talking about?!"
"Princess," Vinica said, voice quivering with conviction, "this message refers to the Ancient Tale! When Lord Zeryph, still a prince, sought aid from the dragons to rescue his father from the Abyssals! This prophecy…"
Vinica's voice cracked with emotion. "It tells him to let fate repeat! To rescue Lord Zeryph! I knew it! Our Lord is alive!"
"There's such a tale?" Sophia frowned, trying to recall.
"Yes, Princess. As a devoted follower, I've studied every trace of our Lord's legend." Her gaze locked onto Jan. "Lord Jan, please—accept me. I can serve you. I'll be useful."
Jan studied her for a moment. She wasn't lying—she truly believed every word. He didn't believe in Zeryph himself, but he understood what that god meant to the people of this world.
He had to tread carefully.
"Vinica, right?"
"Yes, my Lord."
"I'm no lord," Jan said gently. "Just a man."
"But—"
He raised a hand, cutting her off. "Listen. I don't know the details yet, but I heard heroes haven't even reached Floor 51 yet. Floor 91 is a long way off. But I'm not giving up."
Her breath hitched.
"When I find a way up there, I'll open the path for everyone. Your purpose isn't to follow me—it's to reach your god. And if I can help you do that, I will."
Vinica's eyes gleamed, and then she lowered her head even further. "Thank you for accepting me, my Lord!"
"I didn't! And I just said I'm not your lord!"