Chapter 188
Episode 61: Leaving Laprarosa
After becoming a member of the Pluto clan, Jin had only two weeks left.
Of those, four days were spent training under the Twin Kings and sparring with ordinary warriors. Every day for four days, he faced off in hand-to-hand combat and weapon techniques against 64 regular fighters.
As the time to leave Laprarosa drew near, and the moment to launch the compass-stealing operation with his comrades approached, Jin’s impatience grew.
The compass heist was likely to be the most dangerous battle he and his allies had ever faced.
They would have to confront Ziphl and Kinzel at the same time. At the site where they planned to retrieve the compass, formidable figures from various factions would surely appear, and Jin’s group had resolved to boldly strike and snatch the item from them.
“Since it’s a covert retrieval, neither the clan head nor the captain will attend personally, but they won’t send weaklings either.”
Of course, Jin’s party was composed of incredible individuals: Jin, Murakan, Quikantel, Kashimir, and Alisa. Even just these five alone were enough to deter most factions.
But what if Ziphl’s White Night or the Tower Lords showed up in force in the Bellado Principality?
Kinzel’s side was also a problem. The Seven-Colored Bird had confirmed at least three nine-star mages, and there could be many warriors above the level of Goltep.
“If on the day of the operation, the power of Ziphl and Kinzel’s elites proves overwhelming, we’ll quietly retreat… but if not now, who knows when we’ll get another chance to seize the compass.”
The information Yona had brought back from Bubar’s sculpture workshop was a stroke of luck unlikely to come twice.
They had to succeed. That was why Jin had endured the hellish Mitra Desert and trained here.
“You look unusually troubled, Brother Jin.”
Just as Jin was about to head to the training ground to meet the Twin Kings, a familiar voice called out.
“Brother Ban.”
“Tell me, what’s on your mind?”
“It’s about matters outside. I have to carry out an operation with our comrades, but I’m unsure if my strength will be enough.”
“That’s laughable.”
“What is?”
“You showed no fear when you faced the Twin Kings’ energy head-on in the main hall of the Twin God War. The enemies you’ll face outside can’t be stronger than us.”
Though the Pluto clan sometimes appeared clumsy or foolish, if they could just leave Laprarosa, the balance of the outside world would shift dramatically. Even with only 77 survivors after their destruction.
Jin felt this more keenly than ever since becoming a clan member.
Among them, the Twin God and the Twin Kings were on a different level entirely. Jin thought that even if all of Ziphl attacked, they couldn’t kill these two.
“I’m not afraid of getting hurt. But I worry about my comrades. Some of them are weaker than I am.”
Ban gazed at Jin silently. Something flickered in his dark, deep blue eyes.
The past.
Before becoming a Twin God, Ban had wrestled with the same worries as Jin for many long years.
Even after being destroyed by the gods, those harsh questions haunted her relentlessly.
“I want to tell you it’s too early for such thoughts.”
“To have these worries?”
“Yes. Unlike other brothers, you’re not simple or foolish. You’re preparing to fight because your enemies are worthy. The kind of worries you have only begin when you must face an opponent you absolutely cannot handle. For now, it’s just needless torment.”
“But Ziphl and Kinzel are no joke.”
Ban smiled.
“You still don’t know your own strength well, Brother.”
Jin didn’t answer but pondered.
She doesn’t know me well.
What does that mean? That I’m stronger than I think? That Ziphl and Kinzel aren’t really threats?
Ban didn’t know Ziphl and Kinzel. Even if she did, from her perspective, they weren’t as threatening as Jin felt.
As these thoughts crossed Jin’s mind, Ban spoke again.
“From today until you leave, it’s best you spend time with me.”
“Do you mean you’ll personally train me, Twin God? I haven’t finished training with the Twin Kings yet.”
“You are the only human who can save us. If you waver, the entire Pluto clan will falter.”
“What do you mean?”
“I will hold you, lighten your burden, and cleanse your heart. So you can see yourself clearly.”
Ban extended a sword.
“Bongroe Sword Sigmund. My sword. Boras hammered it so you could wield it.”
Clang!
Jin and Ban’s swords clashed.
For Jin, it was the first time in eight days since receiving the sword that he could truly see Sigmund’s blade.
Its pale blue blade looked as if forged from melted aquamarine, perfectly matching the size of his own Bradamante.
For eight days, Ban had ‘killed’ Jin over ten thousand times.
All Ban had demanded was one thing: if Jin drew his sword before her and didn’t die instantly, then he could strike.
In that sense, Jin had been ‘killed’ by her countless times.
He had only just drawn the sword now because he feared instant death.
“Hoo…!”
Anyone could draw their sword at a stationary Ban.
But to truly engage in a full sparring match with her was a privilege few were granted.
“A fine strike.”
Ban sheathed her sword and smiled.
“How does it feel to have died over ten thousand times for no reason, Brother Jin? You can do this.”
Ten thousand needless deaths.
Ban described the past eight days as Jin sweating and failing to draw his sword before her.
“…I guess we won’t get to a full match yet.”
“Even before our time stopped, few could exchange two strikes with me.”
Jin’s swordsmanship hadn’t improved at all during those eight days. He had just stood still.
“Before those eight days, you already had the skill to spar with me. You had faith and ability, but you didn’t know your own strength, so you suffered those ten thousand defeats.”
Ban had sent those days to confirm this to Jin.
“Worries cloud your self-image. Now that your mind is clear, you understand your strength. You can spar with me.”
Wiping his forehead, Jin thought:
‘Among the warriors I know, how many could truly spar with Ban?’
Aside from a few who came to mind immediately, there were very few—just as few as those who could spar fully with Siron.
“If you still hadn’t drawn Sigmund by now, I would have taken it back.”
“Now, no matter how many times I try, I can spar with you.”
“Of course. You already had that ability.”
Jin smiled awkwardly.
Truly understanding one’s own power can be more astonishing than growth itself. He no longer worried about June 1st.
“You can safely send your comrades outside now. When we meet again, I hope we can spar fully. Say your goodbyes, and return tomorrow morning.”
Just as Jin bowed, Ban gently caught his chin.
“Brothers don’t keep score of favors.”
That night, all the Pluto clan gathered for a farewell feast. The jewel wine flowed until the bottles ran dry, and Jin vowed to someday give this strong, innocent race a great gift.
A gift need not always be a repayment of kindness.
“Travel safely, Brother. We will remember the feats you accomplish.”
May 17, 1797.
Leaving Laprarosa, the endless sand-colored desert stretched out again. The black glow of Laprarosa—the warmth he’d felt there seemed like a dream under the harsh desert sun.
Wearing the new clothes and robe Boras had made, Jin pressed onward through the desert.
After two days, an oasis appeared; after another day, a forest path came into view—the same path they had taken with the Guiding Tribe to reach the Great Desert.
‘Looks like I’m not crossing the desert but returning.’
That was a relief. If word got out that he had crossed the desert, rumors might spread worldwide that a great adventurer had been born. After all, many beastmen had seen Jin.
“Hey, human! You went to the Great Desert!”
“Dark Flame, friend!”
It was near the edge of the forest path that Jin met the Water Tail Tribe beastmen returning from bartering with the Western Gold Scale Tribe.
“You’re not dead, human. Thank goodness!”
“We were worried about you, all of us.”
“Heartbreak? Pain? Overcome it.”
It was May 25th, still five days to spare. Spending a few hours chatting with them on the way would be nice.
“Human, but you can’t go to Yukayuka.”
“Why not?”
“A few days ago, the Red Lake Tribe came.”
“Those wicked ones caused trouble everywhere!”
“Go around a bit, use the Mekameka market route.”
Returning to Mekameka market would take another three days. That would be too tight, and they might be late.
“No, that’s too late. I have to be somewhere by the end of May. Don’t you have a secret path nearby?”
“No, not here.”
“Then let’s just go.”
“They’ll pick a fight. They might kill you, human.”
All the way to Yukayuka Market, the Watertail tribe kept voicing their worries. They even tugged at Jin’s arm with their tiny hands, pleading for him to turn back. But for Jin, this was a problem he simply couldn’t abandon.
So, it was almost inevitable that right at the entrance to Yukayuka Market, Jin would come face-to-face with two members of the Red Tiger tribe.
“Uh-oh, this is bad,” one muttered.
“How do we handle this human?” another asked nervously.
“We just pay them off. You can’t. Probably.”
“Just pretend you don’t know me and keep walking, got it?”
The Watertail tribe hurried past Jin but kept glancing back anxiously. The Red Tiger tribe members took the money, smacked each of them on the back of the head, and then let them pass.
‘If you’re going to take the money, why hit them? They’re so tiny.’
If the White Wolf tribe were grumpy, irritable warriors, then the Red Tiger tribe were just as strong but outright bullies.
The two Red Tigers who had been glaring at Jin since earlier now openly started provoking him.
“Hey, hey, you human! Come here. Stand right here and hand over everything you’ve got. Strip off your clothes! Show us your ass.”
“Oh, looks like a decent little guy. Should we send him to the ladies?”
“Heh heh, they’re gonna love this…”
But the closer Jin got, the more the Red Tigers suddenly found themselves unable to speak.
‘What the…? This human—what kind of aura is this?!’
Not only did their words falter, but their legs began trembling uncontrollably against their will.
Thin saliva dribbled from their mouths, their fur stood on end, and a sickening sensation like their insides were melting washed over them.
This was the terror etched into their instincts.
A great race that used to tear and trample them had left behind an overwhelming presence that now enveloped Jin.
Though that race had vanished half a millennium ago, and these two young Red Tigers had never even heard their name—
Beasts don’t need to be taught to fear their natural enemies.
“U-ugh, ki-kihaak…!”
“Kyaaaak! Kriiak!”
The Red Tigers reflexively unsheathed their claws and screamed in terror.
“Get lost.”
Jin’s voice was calm, but instead of attacking, the Red Tigers collapsed to the ground, wetting the floor with their urine.
“P-please, spare us… we beg you…”
They didn’t even dare to look up at Jin.