Chapter 624
Episode 161: Return (Part 1)

January 30, 1803.

Nearly a year had passed since the reconstruction of the Tushinjeon main hall began.

It was also two and a half years since Jin had entered Lafrarosa.

The three years granted by Rosa were drawing to a close.

Jin was starting to prepare to step outside.

Since the end of the Tuwang Grand Tournament, Jin had spent every day training alongside the reconstruction efforts.

He had hardly engaged in sparring matches.

Without the life-or-death stakes of real combat, sparring simply didn’t provide the necessary stimulus.

So Ban focused on Jin’s growth through meditation and enlightenment.

Sometimes it took a day, sometimes a whole month, to solve the martial riddles Ban presented.

Not all of these challenges had been overcome.

Jin had yet to reach the level where he could confidently call himself the “Strongest Tuwang.”

Still, aside from Ban and Baba, no one among the Mingwang clan could claim to defeat Jin.

“How does it feel to be the Tuwang’s Number Two Sword, brother Thirteen?” Boras, the Second Tuwang, sat beside Jin.

Jin was perched on the outer wall of the Tushinjeon, watching his brothers rebuild the main hall.

“Number Two Sword? I’m not quite there yet, brother Second Tuwang.”

“Ha! You say that because you don’t fully understand your own strength yet.”

Though Jin had clearly entered the realm of the tenth star and transcendence, as Boras said, he didn’t truly know the extent of his power.

He only felt that he had grown far stronger than before entering Lafrarosa.

“Since the reconstruction began, you’ve only sparred three times against brother Ninth Tuwang. And you won once.”

“That was only possible because it was sparring.”

“Exactly. If it had been real combat, you’d have died all three times. But you know what? Among the Tuwang brothers, no one can even win a single sparring match against brother Baba.”

Jin smiled sheepishly.

“So don’t wear such a worried expression. You’re leaving tomorrow—if you look like that, how upset will the others be?”

“My worry isn’t about leaving before I’m fully trained. In fact, my martial prowess has grown beyond expectations.”

“Then is it because the reconstruction isn’t finished yet?”

“That’s part of it. I feel bad leaving the remaining work to the brothers, but with Lingling here, it’s okay.”

—Even if brother Baba kills Jin in the upcoming battle, time in Lafrarosa won’t come to a complete halt. Perhaps because it was originally Jin’s chaos. Lingling, this child, can fulfill the same role as Jin.

What Ban said before the 65th Grand Battle was true.

Until then, time in Lafrarosa only flowed while Jin was present. Others didn’t notice, but Ban had observed that whenever Jin lost consciousness or was near death, time in Lafrarosa momentarily stopped.

But after Lingling appeared, that phenomenon vanished.

Whenever Jin’s power to keep Lafrarosa’s time flowing weakened for some reason, Lingling’s energy took its place.

Ban was confident that even if Jin left, Lafrarosa would not stop. That eased Jin’s guilt about leaving his brothers behind.

“Ah, so that’s why…” Boras cleared his throat apologetically.

“There’s no need for you to feel sorry, Boras. You’ve done your best to help me.”

Jin’s reason for coming to Lafrarosa wasn’t just training.

“So, how much more time do you need?”

“I don’t know. I’m leaving Inse to complete the work with the brothers’ help.”

“Even if it takes time, can you be sure the Mingwang clan can finish it?”

“I can’t guarantee it.”

“Still don’t know, can’t say for sure. You keep giving me answers that don’t suit you. I didn’t give you autonomy to hear that.”

“The acting head is probably hesitating whether to negotiate with the Prophet instead of me. And I think he’s already resisted the Prophet’s temptations once at the Sword Emperor Temple.”

Completion of the spacetime device and securing a means to purify chaos.

“The Prophet said you could execute everything you want immediately. But I’m giving you a chance because Siron trusts you… and because you’ve moved me somewhat.”

Jin had gained more martial power than expected since arriving in Lafrarosa.

But he hadn’t achieved anything definitive regarding the spacetime device or chaos purification.

“The spacetime device is still being analyzed by Quaul and the others, so there must be some progress.”

He could check tomorrow, but he ruled out the possibility that his comrades had fully completed the device.

Though Valeria’s record magic supplemented the lack of Ziphl’s technology, even the arrogant Quaul had declared it impossible to finish the device within three years.

The chaos purifier was created through Boras.

He had modified the “Chaos Extraction Assistant” used to remove Lingling from Jin into a chaos purifier.

Still, Boras acted apologetically because of the device’s limitations.

“I worry that Jin’s enemies outside might have better tools than mine. The Prophet and Ziphl, who are with your family, will stop at nothing.”

“Their tools may be superior to yours for now, but they won’t achieve fundamental healing like your purifier.”

The Prophet would amplify and control chaos to use it as a power-up, and Ziphl would research delaying chaos’s demonic transformation.

Kinzel had been using chaos for a long time.

Jin expected the factions’ approaches to chaos to be like this.

What Jin wanted was fundamental purification.

Not using that disgusting power in any way, but completely removing its infection.

Boras’s device perfectly matched that goal.

However, the purifier’s healing process was too long, and it required Tushin blood as a medium.

Probably, it wouldn’t work at all on the “First Chaos,” which the Prophet might be able to handle.

“I’m proud of and grateful for the purifier you made, Boras.”

“Hmph… Look into combining it with outside technology to improve and mass-produce it. I’ll keep researching, but replacing Tushin blood is still a distant dream.”

“Or if we complete the spacetime device and can bring the brothers outside, that would be ideal. The Tushin brothers can extract chaos without a purifier.”

Jin needed the assistant for the First Chaos and wasn’t sure about side effects.

But for ordinary, smaller chaos, Ban could extract it with little side effect using only his own power.

Boras patted Jin’s shoulder.

“Anyway, if your family dares to call your achievements insufficient, then fight and win. You have that strength.”

He wasn’t just talking about martial power.

Jin smiled and nodded.

If Rosa considered his achievements lacking when he returned, war with her was inevitable.

“After going outside, it’s unlikely I’ll produce results that fully satisfy Mother within six months. She’ll probably side with the Prophet in the end.”

Rosa Runcandel.

A lifelong rival awaited Jin outside.

Not only her, but Ziphl, Kinzel, and the royal family were also gathering strength.

Still, despite the worries, Jin felt no fear because he had his brothers and comrades.

The stronger the enemies became, the stronger Jin and his comrades grew.

“By the way, I wonder how happy my comrade Quaul will be when I go outside. He’ll have the honor of building the strongest flying fleet in history.”

Flying fleet.

As the wealth of the Tushinjeon main hall showed, the Mingwang clan had possessed flying technology for over five thousand years.

The “Light Heart,” the Mingwang’s heart, remained an incomparable power source even after their death.

They used the hearts of deceased brothers to create treasures like the Tushinjeon main hall and developed flying ships.

That fleet first appeared in the final battle against the gods and was destroyed afterward.

Countless Light Hearts were lost with it.

The fleet’s name was “Golden.”

The bundle of papers Jin held was the blueprint for the Golden Fleet, given by Ban.

The blueprints bore the scars of the fierce war against the gods.

“Though some parts are missing, I feel like my brother Quaul can complete it.”

“I’ll definitely show it to the brothers.”

“Ha ha ha. It was a symbol of ruin and defeat for us, but if it becomes a symbol of victory and glory through you, brother Jin, it will comfort the dead brothers. And us, who cannot forget them.”

Boras stood up.

“Alright, enough joking around. Let’s help the brothers with their work. We need to finish today’s quota quickly so we can hold your farewell party.”

Even on the eve of Jin’s departure, the reconstruction continued until nearly midnight.

Normally, the Mingwang clan would have paused for a day to spend more joyful time with Jin before he left.

But this farewell was different.

Time in Lafrarosa wouldn’t stop even if Jin left, so the brothers had to prepare for tomorrow—for Jin and themselves.

The drinking party lasted all night.

Jin watched as his brothers flitted around, their mouths opening and closing like they wanted to devour the achievements of him and Lingling. Without a word, he stepped outside La Prarosa.

“See you outside, brothers.”

“Hmph, get lost already.”

Lingling stuck out her tongue at Jin one last time, but when she hugged Shuri, tears streamed down her face.

“It’s not even the end, so why are you crying like that, Lingling? I’ll see you outside too. And next time, try to speak a little nicer, will you?”

“Don’t go getting yourself beaten up like an idiot again! Ebe-bebe, ebe!”

At that, Ban smacked Lingling’s head again, and Jin chuckled softly, meeting his brothers’ eyes.

“Let’s meet outside, brothers. Still, if I’m leaving, I want to say this: La Prarosa is my home too. I’ll be back.”