Chapter 1067
Episode 252: The War Begins (6)
Barkl Autonomous District.
Night had fallen, yet the moon was nowhere to be seen.
It wasn’t hidden by clouds. The scorching poisonous mist formed by the beam fired from the Demon Stone over the civilian residential area during the day had swallowed it whole.
The boiling, toxic fog showed no sign of cooling. Those who had miraculously survived envied those who had died instantly.
Skin melted away completely, and the softened bones crumbled like clay, dropping to the ground in chunks. Thousands of people were dying in this horrific way just around the relief shelter where Jin stood, yet not a single scream could be heard. There was no one left who could even cry out in pain.
The survivors wandered near the shelter like ghosts, their bodies too weak even to read the signs right in front of them.
The war had been a decisive victory, but at the cost of countless innocent lives.
“Five million…”
Five million—the estimated number of civilian casualties from the Demon Stone’s final strike.
Jin stared blankly at the survivors, the number feeling utterly unreal.
And the toll was only going to rise. The Alliance was sending every available medical professional to the affected areas, but it was impossible to care for all the patients.
Each individual needed the focused treatment of the highest-ranking healers in the Holy Kingdom just to survive. Even then, they would never be the same. Hundreds of thousands, maybe over a million more deaths were inevitable.
“Jin.”
Queen Rani approached him. She had flown here immediately after Keliak’s escape and had been tirelessly aiding the survivors ever since.
“…Rani.”
The two sat silently for a while, watching outside the barracks. Every few seconds, someone would collapse and never get back up.
Even those who had been to hell itself had never witnessed a scene this horrific.
Yet, amidst this overwhelming suffering and death, an incongruous golden light illuminated the entire disaster zone.
The power of regeneration.
The divine ability Jin had gained upon reaching Changseong was now shining over the ruined land.
But rather than comfort him, this fact only deepened his anguish. Even at the brink of the Holy Kingdom’s destruction during the Demon Realm invasion, or when the Demon Realm fell under Jito’s tyranny, such a scene had unfolded.
“You didn’t do this, Your Majesty. It was Keliak, that mad monster.”
“I know. But I can’t say I bear no responsibility.”
His voice was calm.
Like Keliak said, Jin was struggling to bear the weight of guilt.
He had to endure it. If he broke even once, he wouldn’t be able to fight again—or worse, he’d fall into demonic corruption.
“This is only the beginning of the nightmares I’ll face. He knows my weakness perfectly. Or rather, he’s known for a long time. It’s just that now he has nothing left to hold back.”
Until now, Jiple had always cared about their public image.
Though they had no qualms about massacring minority tribes like the Colon natives for profit, they still cared about the eyes of ‘many.’
But no longer. They no longer needed the support of the vast majority of ordinary humans.
“That means the Demon Stone is nearly complete. There are already fully formed Demon Stones in other dimensions. Even if they destroy this world and kill everyone, they can just recreate it with the Demon Stone. That’s all it means to them.”
His teeth clenched tightly. A bitter taste of blood seeped from between his pressed lips. How could people do this to each other? How? The thought gnawed at Jin’s mind, trying to invade his very soul.
He stood up.
“Redemption will come only after we erase those bastards from this world entirely. I’ll head back now… and prepare to fight again. If you need anything, just ask, Rani.”
“Your Majesty.”
“Yeah.”
“Ayura said your power can restore those who have turned to light in death. Although, unlike during our Holy Kingdom days, the Wings of Numerus aren’t with us now, everything will eventually return to its natural course.”
Natural course.
Every time Jin heard that word, he thought the same thing: no one in this world had defied the natural order more than he, a Returner. That was why he was paying such a heavy price.
But not anymore.
The atrocities Jiple and the Unified Jiple were committing were beyond anything a Returner could compare to. Stopping them was a fate set from the very beginning for someone like him.
“…Of course, this won’t comfort you. But I and my comrades believe that when all this fighting ends, you, Your Majesty, will make the world shine even brighter than before. So whenever you need anything, just ask. The Holy Kingdom and I are always ready to do everything for you. I should get back to work too—saving the innocent is my mission.”
Jin and Rani left the barracks together.
Outside, Alliance knights, mages, and Eielo 2 units were busy clearing away the poisonous mist. You didn’t have to be a superhuman who could cut mountains and seas with a single sword stroke—anyone could fight for the world.
Jin climbed onto the Red Owl and headed straight for Tikan.
“You’re here, Nari…”
“Hmm, kid. You came?”
Zet and the others greeted Jin cautiously. Until just before his brief conversation with Rani at the relief shelter, Jin hadn’t spoken a single word.
Or rather, he couldn’t. He had to focus all his mental energy on overcoming his guilt, leaving no room even for a word.
“What happened to Brigitte?”
Brigitte.
After being betrayed by Jiple, he couldn’t withstand the combined assault of the Changseong any longer and was captured. He had held out for over an hour against three opponents but, unlike at the Sun God Temple, he failed to escape.
“Ameris and Lady Lucy, with the help of the Great Lord, succeeded in restraining him…! Also, Nari, I heard that the separation of your ancestor’s body has been completed for now.”
“Understood. You check the supplies for the Holy Kingdom and contact Dino…”
“We’ve already contacted Dino Jaglun, youngest. The Hupester media has been ordered to prioritize victims in all their reports.”
“To make sure no unnecessary slander slips in just because they lived in Jiple’s territory. Anyone who writes such articles will be dealt with.”
It was the Tona brothers. Daytona stepped forward and briefly embraced Jin.
“Don’t try to think and solve everything alone. Focus only on what only you can do. That’s why we’re here, kid.”
Hearing that, something welled up inside Jin.
“Feels like you guys are really my brothers again after a long time. Thanks for everything.”
Guilt wasn’t something Jin felt alone.
His comrades and brothers, who had been watching him closely all along, felt it too. Even without being Returners, it was only natural. In that sense, his comrades had a slightly stronger resilience than Jin.
“Any news from Luna?”
Luna was currently leading the fleet, tracking the Tower of Stories.
“No. Seems the tracking isn’t easy. But we’re getting occasional location updates, so let’s wait a bit longer.”
Those tracking, those supporting the relief shelters, those standing by to protect the territory—
All were refining their hatred for Jiple. Refining it again and again, so that no matter the situation, they could coldly cut out their hearts and behead them.
Soon, Jin made his way to the underground prison of Tikan Palace.
Ban, Ameris, and Lucy were guarding Brigitte in the lowest dungeon. Bound by a special restraint formed from multiple powers, Brigitte knelt.
“You’re here, Brother Jin.”
Ban, Ameris, and Lucy glanced at Jin, then silently breathed a sigh of relief. They had worried all along that Jin might fall into the swamp of demonic corruption.
“I’m sorry for worrying you all. I’m not the only one suffering.”
“Don’t say that, Jin.”
“Your Majesty…”
Lucy looked at Jin with a trembling voice.
She was clutching Temar’s left arm, separated from Brigitte. It was a part of the person she had loved more than life itself for over a thousand years.
That left arm pierced Lucy’s heart just as it had when Temar was alive.
Jin quietly embraced her. Lucy broke down in tears in his arms. A person who could find no rest even in death, and a person who had endured loneliness for over a millennium without dying—this was their reunion.
“…Now I can do anything. I just want to let Temar rest in peace and stop my daughter.”
Lucy’s horns glowed red. She activated Brigitte’s restraints.
[Kraaaak…]
The red glow inflicted pain on Brigitte. He writhed like a prisoner branded with a hot iron, groaning as he bent his waist.
As the light faded, Brigitte caught his breath and looked up at Jin and Lucy.
[To cause pain to the one who created you… Hahaha, this is why the world must be rebuilt.]
“Brigitte, you will never leave this place again. From now on, you will answer all our questions truthfully, then be either destroyed or sealed.”
[Do you think I fear pain? Foolish mortals.]
“Since you have no loyalty to Jiple or Jikil anyway, wouldn’t it be better to end this without wasting each other’s energy?”
[Do as you will. After all, I…]
The moment Bligiet spoke those words, Lucy suddenly grabbed his chin with a fierce grip.
“Didn’t you just hear me, Bligiet? I’m telling you, I’m capable of anything now. I’m not afraid of pain anymore. I was once the Sun God’s own self, just like you. I know better than anyone what torments you the most… I promise you, if you don’t cooperate, you’ll regret it.”