Chapter 651
Episode 165: After the Shock (5)
“A Contracted of Truth… An orphan, and among them, one destined to be especially unlucky.”
“Cut the crap, Orgal. She’s just a kid.”
“Apologies if I offended you. But aside from the dragons you know, everyone else to me might as well be children. Though, since you personally saved Az Mil’s contractor, I suppose ‘unlucky’ doesn’t really apply to you.”
“Why’s that?”
“A Contracted of Truth cannot perceive me. I hope you understand that.”
“So, it’s not that you dislike it, but that it’s impossible?”
“Exactly. You shouldn’t even try. There would be a blow too heavy for you and that young guardian dragon to bear. I say this for your own good.”
Whether Orgal was telling the truth or not was impossible to tell.
But if they tested him and it caused serious harm to Yuria and Latri, there would be no way out.
“Would you agree to indirect verification through Vishkel or Marjiela?”
“Of course.”
“And what about the Ziphl side? Do you consent?”
“…I do. Though it would have been better if we’d been informed in advance.”
When Ronil spoke up, Octavia seemed to calm her anger.
Ronil wasn’t her superior, but he didn’t seem insignificant either.
“Consider it the price for kidnapping the Dragon of Truth in the past.”
As they began entering the conference hall, the crowd waiting outside erupted in cheers.
Not only Tikan’s reporters but journalists from every nation except Hupester had gathered. They busily sketched and took notes without pause.
This was no informal meeting.
The public had grown disillusioned after the recent, abrupt collapse of the truce between Ziphl and Runkandel, but hopes were pinned on this conference since Jin was personally hosting it.
Inside the hall, Latri had prepared refreshments and light snacks. Sandra, who had gone crazy over those cookies when she last visited Veradin and Tikan, now showed no reaction.
Surprisingly, Octavia’s eyes widened in astonishment after just one bite of a cookie.
During the brief meal, the usual polite exchanges took place, and as soon as it ended, Yuria entered the hall.
At barely thirteen years old, Yuria stood confidently before the world’s most formidable players, showing no sign of intimidation.
“Hello, I am Yuria Alfrion, the censor for today’s conference. Please feel free to converse as you wish, and whenever you feel it necessary, you may request my censorship.”
“I am Latri, Yuria’s guardian dragon. If any issues arise during the censorship process, I will notify you in advance.”
Their spirited and adorable introductions brought an involuntary, warm smile to Jin’s face.
“The fate of the world hangs on this meeting, yet thanks to these charming orphans, it begins with a smile.”
“That term ‘orphan’ has been bothering me since earlier.”
“It’s easy to forget that we live in a world where calling someone an orphan is no longer acceptable.”
“What does ‘orphan’ even mean?”
Jin recalled hearing the term ‘orphan’ used by the witch Helluram in the old Solderet records. It didn’t seem like a mere metaphor, and he’d been curious ever since. He also remembered Quikantel mentioning to Murakan that the term felt strangely familiar.
“It means exactly what it says. Those who have lost their biological parents.”
“You don’t think Yuria is unaware she’s the daughter of Lord Kashimir and Lady Alisa, do you?”
Orgal smiled knowingly at that.
“Before the parents who gave birth to you existed, there were parents who brought you into being.”
“Are you talking about gods?”
“Something beyond that.”
“Have Lord Vishkel and Lady Marjiela ever been told this by Orgal?”
“Yes!”
“Yuria.”
At Jin’s call, Yuria nodded.
“Lord Vishkel and Lady Marjiela, please meet my gaze for a moment. If this is true, a blue thread of light will form between our eyes; if false, a red thread will appear.”
Yuria synchronized with Latri and met their eyes. After about three minutes, a blue thread appeared between their gazes.
“It’s not a lie, Brother Jin.”
Even if Orgal’s words were false, at least to the most trusted Vishkel and Marjiela, that was the explanation given.
It seemed unlikely Orgal would feed them false information.
“I have no intention of lying, even if I have no Contracted of Truth, Jin Runkandel. The world is in this state because the parents of life have vanished.”
“That’s an unexpected story. Still, it seems connected to Kinzelo’s purpose that I heard about.”
“That’s off-topic for this meeting. For now, why don’t we reveal the cards we each hold? And let’s refrain from using the term ‘orphan’ from now on.”
“I agree. Then first… let’s assess the damage each faction has suffered. I’ll start. The Balmel Union and its allies have no casualties except for my injury, and those of Lord Thalaris and the toad-eyed Mot.”
“Has the princess recovered?”
“She’s unable to fight due to internal injuries and chaos infestation. We don’t know how long recovery will take.”
“Yuria, please confirm.”
When Ronil spoke, Yuria met Jin’s eyes again. Naturally, the blue light appeared.
“Ziphl lost about 70% of its fleet, and Lord Kadun suffered severe injuries. Additionally, 27 phantom soldiers and around 300 elite mages died, with over a thousand casualties overall, though most have been resurrected with demon stones. Fleet restoration will take two months.”
The Seven-Colored Bird’s estimate was about 50% fleet loss, but Ziphl and Kinzelo had continued fighting Ram even after Jin escaped Hupester, losing an additional 20% in the process.
“Your lord did not participate in this battle, correct? But I’m curious—did Ziphl’s lord suffer any damage?”
Ronil hesitated briefly before answering.
“…He was injured. But I cannot disclose details.”
“Yuria.”
“Wait a moment.”
Jin’s request for confirmation wasn’t because he suspected lies about the damage.
He simply couldn’t believe it would take only two months to restore such a fleet.
A blue thread formed between Ronil and Yuria.
“Restoring the entire fleet in two months is impressive. It can’t be done by manpower alone.”
Jin didn’t ask Ronil how.
Yuria was here only to verify each faction’s damage, not to pry into their secrets. And they wouldn’t reveal them anyway.
“Kinzelo lost 10% of his fleet and about 1,500 mass-produced masters. I was also injured, but I believe I can recover within three years without special treatment.”
“Three years? If you have to settle things with Rosa within that time, you won’t be able to fight at full strength. That’s likely. It seems uncertain even for tomorrow.”
“That’s right. If I were whole, things wouldn’t have come to this. You may not know, but she’s no longer human. She’s become a god.”
“A god?”
“A terrible god. Born from chaos. And while many worry about when Rosa will move, let me tell you this: it will take at least a year before she acts directly. Until then, the world won’t end.”
“Still shorter than your three years to recover without special measures. You probably have a way to speed up your recovery if the worst comes.”
“That’s true.”
“What’s your basis for being sure Rosa needs at least a year before moving?”
“A human becoming a god requires an adaptation period, right? She also needs to gather sacrifices for her movements. As you know, Rosa and the Prophet use humans and other life as offerings. Are you aware that on that day, all humans in the city of Karon became sacrifices?”
“…I suspected as much.”
“More humans and lives will become Rosa’s offerings. To minimize that number, there must be only one battle.”
“You mean we have to strike when we can break the Sword Garden all at once.”
Hedo said.
“Exactly, but if you don’t care about human lives, you could try multiple attacks.”
“Putting ethics aside, provoking Rosa might speed up her sacrifice gathering, creating unpredictable variables.”
Octavia spoke this time, and Orgal nodded.
“Of course. But the most important thing is this.”
Orgal’s gaze fixed on Jin.
“Jin Runkandel must be able to defeat Rosa in a one-on-one duel.”
That statement meant only one thing.
“Is that because I’m immune to chaos?”
Jin’s immunity to chaos was no secret anymore. Everyone had seen him face Rosa directly in the Sword Garden without being consumed.
Orgal nodded.
“Because you’re the only one immune to chaos. Currently, you’re probably the only person in the world who can kill Rosa Runkandel. Unless Ziphl has some special means…”
“Yuria.”
As with the earlier verification about the orphans, Vishkel and Marjiela underwent verification on Orgal’s behalf.
Once again, everything Orgal said was confirmed true.
“If there’s no immunity to chaos, even someone who has ascended to creation can’t kill Rosa?”
“If your father could return from the Black Sea and join the fight immediately, that would be different. But you haven’t been able to contact him, right?”
“That’s right.”
Jin didn’t bother hiding anything about Siron.
This time, Ronil requested verification. Ziphl had long wanted to confirm the communication status between Siron and Runkandel.
Between Jin and Yuria, a tense undercurrent was unmistakable.
A brief silence hung in the air.
“So, only I can face Rosa, huh? That does put a bit of weight on my shoulders. At least Kinzello has the variable of Orgal’s recovery. But does Ziphl have no trump card at all?”
“…There is one.”
“I never thought hearing that the enemy has a hidden ace up their sleeve would bring me such relief. Tell me—what is it? This is a question you must answer. After all, we’re dealing with a common enemy.”
“Historical manipulation. However, it’s a tactic that can never be executed without a survivor from Hister, who is on your side.”
At those words, Jin’s eyes sharpened instantly as he asked,
“Sir Ronil, does Ziphl currently know the whereabouts of the Hister survivor?”