Chapter 116
Episode 36: Allies on Both Sides (6)
Talaris glanced at Syris and Jin, a faint smile playing on her lips.
“Taking Mott without my permission? You really are bold, my daughter.”
Still, as a mother, wasn’t it only right to at least get a promise on when they’d return? Especially with Zipl’s ultimate weapon, the ‘Kozek,’ looming in the sky above.
Without hesitation, Talaris stepped forward, standing before Jin and Syris.
“It’s admirable that you don’t lose your sense of romance even in such a dire situation, my dear. But if possible, you must come back quickly. Even I can’t hold out against that thing for long—especially while trying to protect someone.”
Jin replied confidently, “We just need to go to Tikan and bring back their priestess, Laosa. We’ll be back soon.”
Talaris chuckled softly. “Hmm, my daughter. You don’t seem to consider that I might die in the process.”
Syris scoffed. “If Zipl could have subdued your mother this easily, the White Bow wouldn’t still be standing in this world.”
Syris was well aware of the power of both the White Night and the Kozek. In her mind, a mother who had summoned the Manbing was practically invincible.
Even the demigod Siron Runkandel had once said it would be nearly impossible to defeat a mother wielding the Manbing.
“But no matter how strong a mother she is, protecting so many humans against the White Night must be overwhelming. Especially with the condition that the White Night’s mages must not be killed.”
Jin shared Syris’s thoughts.
“Talaris can’t kill the White Night. Killing a few of the Seven Tower mages might be quietly overlooked by Zipl, since they find the White Bow’s power burdensome. But wiping out the White Night’s mages? That’s a different story. It would force Zipl and the White Bow into all-out war immediately.”
Talaris had come to Colon on a ‘request’ from Kashimir, but this mission wasn’t one she had to complete at all costs, even if it meant full-scale war with Zipl. In fact, bringing the situation this far was already a huge loss for her.
Yet, despite that—
The reason Talaris, the victor of the West Sea, decided to help Jin even if it meant pushing herself too far was simple.
“I like his gaze. After the Runkandel banquet, my daughter often seemed distracted. So that’s why. He’s unlikely to become the head of the Runkandel family, but before that happens, why not marry him off to Syris and make him part of the White Bow?”
Talaris gently stroked Mott’s large cheek.
“Now, go quickly. I’ll give you an hour. Until then, I’ll keep every single target of this mission alive. And of course, I’ll make sure that handsome brother doesn’t have to transform into his true form.”
With a loud roar, Mott thrust out his snout, and a white dimensional gate shimmered open once more.
“Hold on tight. If you fall in the Otherworldly Snowfield, you’ll never return to this world.”
With a swift motion, the massive creature vanished into the small portal.
The scene that unfolded was an endless expanse of snow. Mott was already sprinting across it, but strangely, there was no wind or cold.
‘Is this another world, like the Flame Realm? Are we using this space to teleport?’
Jin marveled at the strange beast. He had never heard of such a creature even in his past life. He had assumed that if the White Bow sent support, they’d use a teleportation gate.
Syris spoke softly, “Mott says you smell familiar.”
Jin tilted his head. “Excuse me?”
“…Mott, Tess? Could it be that you’re the summoner of the Phoenix Tess?”
The sudden question caught Jin off guard, but he wasn’t as surprised as before.
‘My identity as a magic swordsman must be spreading like wildfire. Now even the familiars I meet recognize my magic.’
He had no intention of denying it.
From the first time they met in Mamit, to now, in this desperate moment, Syris felt more like a benefactor than an enemy.
Though they had fought and shattered each other at last year’s Runkandel banquet.
“That’s right. It’s strange—Tess and Mott know each other?”
“They were old friends. Runkandel and the Phoenix. Well, I won’t ask for details. More importantly, hold on tight. We’re about to reach Tikan, and the dimensional gate opening can be quite a jolt.”
Despite the awkwardness, Jin pressed closer to Syris without a word.
“Usually, when Mott carries outsiders, he swallows them whole. Kashimir, your subordinate, was carried that way. Inside Mott’s mouth, no matter how much you shake, you won’t fall into the Otherworldly Snowfield.”
“Then why me?”
“Well, you’re the youngest prince of Runkandel. You deserve some special treatment. And you should get a hefty bonus for this mission. If we’re not careful, the White Bow and Zipl could become complete enemies.”
With a roar, another dimensional gate opened in the distance.
Through it, the view of Tikan’s Free City First Port came into sight. Mott leapt powerfully through the gate.
Pop!
They had arrived. Syris dismounted and quickly dismissed Mott’s summoning, careful not to be seen.
“Where to now?”
“Laosa’s house is nearby. We came just in time.”
After winding through a few alleys at dawn, they soon stood before a small wooden door.
Knock knock!
“Laosa! Pan!”
“Ah, at this hour? Oh, Prince Jin! How is Colon faring!?”
Despite the late hour, Pan was neither drunk nor asleep.
Instead, the small single-room was lit entirely by candles, and it seemed they had just finished praying. In the center, Laosa sat cross-legged with her eyes closed.
“…I’ve been waiting for you, Prince Jin. And you’ve come with the Child of the Eye.”
That single phrase made Jin realize Laosa had some knowledge of fate.
“Laosa, priestess. You didn’t expect things to turn out like this, did you?”
Laosa gave a bitter smile.
“If I had, my kin wouldn’t have died in such numbers. I was simply here, seeking my god.”
Only a few days ago, Jin had almost asked, “Are you a god?” drawn in by her overwhelming aura.
But now, it was clear Laosa’s divine energy had waned significantly since their first meeting. Still, she carried an aura unlike ordinary people, though it seemed fragile.
“Zipl’s mages are ravaging Colon again, I see. My remaining divine power is quickly draining.”
“After my comrades and I killed Myuron, Zipl’s mages came to support Colon. And just now, their elite force, the White Night, arrived aboard the Kozek.”
Laosa nodded.
“You need my divine power to hasten the ritual, don’t you?”
“Yes, Priestess Laosa. Colon is being destroyed by the minute. We must hurry.”
“Understood, Child of the Eye. Then, may I finish this prayer first?”
Jin expected Syris to refuse, but surprisingly, she agreed.
“It must be an important prayer. Very well. I’ll stay with Jin outside. Come out when you’re done.”
Syris stepped outside, letting out a long sigh.
“Laosa, huh? It’s been a long time since I’ve been impressed by someone who isn’t a powerhouse. And that’s all the divine power she has left…?”
“It seems you felt Laosa’s aura too, Syris. When we first met, it was several times stronger.”
“Seeing her in person, I’m curious now. What exactly is the sacred relic they protect?”
Soon after Laosa finished her prayer and stepped outside, Syris summoned Mott again and opened a dimensional gate.
Beneath the massive hull of the Kozek, which seemed to cover the entire sky over Colon—
Talaris and the mages faced off.
Thirty minutes had passed since the battle between her and the White Night began, yet no one had died.
Talaris was carefully controlling her power.
‘Hah, I promised to hold out for at least an hour. But this is exhausting.’
Most of the Seven Tower mages who came to stop Talaris had retreated to the ship for healing, while Midor, as the deputy tower master, fought alongside the White Night’s mages.
But Midor Elner, whom Jin had immediately recognized as a strong mage, looked ordinary among the White Night.
There were fifty 8-star mages and two 9-star mages.
That was the current White Night force supporting Colon—about half of their total strength. It showed just how sensitive Zipl was about recent matters involving pureblood Zipl.
“Step back, White Bow! We do not wish to harm you. If you hand over the murderer of Myuron Zipl and the natives, we will leave quietly.”
Not a single step of solid ground remained between Talaris and the White Night.
The earth was torn as if by a pack of giant beasts, buildings shattered and frozen, debris scattered everywhere.
They only threatened each other from a distance. Talaris mostly blocked incoming spells, while the White Night looked increasingly exhausted.
“If you want to negotiate, bring Kelliak here yourself.”
“Lady Bigung! There’s no need for Ziphl and Bigung to be at such odds, is there? To you, it’s just a job, but to us, we’ve lost a pureblood Ziphl and a tower lord.”
“You just don’t get it, do you? Honestly, I’m barely holding myself back from killing all of you.”
The appointed hour was drawing to a close.
‘Are they still on their little date? So far, the Baekya haven’t dared to make a reckless move, so it’s been manageable…’
Talalis glanced subtly upward toward the sky.
Kozek.
If the Baekya started launching a full-scale assault using that ship, even she wouldn’t be able to take it lightly.
‘Surely they wouldn’t use that recklessly. Ziphl said it’s something that’s been stuck here for hundreds of years.’
If Kozek’s “cannons” opened fire, the entire Colon area would be reduced to rubble in an instant.
Talalis thought there was no way Ziphl would give up an artifact they’d been searching for centuries just to do that.
That was, until the Baekya mages suddenly began activating the runes to power Kozek’s cannons.
“This is your doing, you know. We just received the head of the family’s permission from the main house.”
As the front of Kozek split open, revealing a massive cannon, a huge condensed orb of magical energy inside prepared to strike the ground—
“Wait! Hold on!”
Just then, Jin, Siris, and Raosa were seen leaping off the mote, having just arrived back in Colon.
“Get out of the way!” Talalis shouted urgently.