Chapter 652
Episode 165: After the Shock (6)
Valeria Hister’s comrades had last seen her about two months ago.
It wasn’t the first time she had gone this long without contact, but even after news spread that Jin had returned to the world, there was no reason for her to remain silent for so long.
More importantly, Rosa had informed them that she had discovered an heirloom of the former head of the family to lure Jin into the Garden of Blades. The summoned Fadler was believed to be the guardian of Temar’s fifth tomb.
All the clues pointed to something having happened to Valeria.
“I don’t understand why you’re asking us about your ally, Knight of the 12th Order. Have you lost contact with the Hister survivor as well?”
“Yes.”
Under normal circumstances, Jin would never have asked Ziphl for information about Valeria.
But now was not the time to argue.
Ronil sighed at those words, and Octavia pressed her palm to her forehead.
“Judging by your reaction, it seems you don’t know either.”
“No, we don’t.”
“Well, we still need to check. Yuria.”
Using the power of truth, a blue thread appeared between Ronil, Octavia, and Yuria. Just as Jin was about to feel disappointed again, Ronil spoke with new information.
“However, we do know the area where the Hister survivor was last seen.”
Ziphl had been tracking Temar’s tomb for a thousand years.
This time was no different. While Valeria was searching, Ziphl was also looking for Temar’s tomb.
“Where is that?”
Ronil exchanged a glance with Octavia. She nodded as if to say it was okay to share.
“Hupester, a cave in Caldaran, Eastern Region 5. When we arrived, there were traces of record magic.”
“The Hister survivor left traces?”
“Yes, a blue spear of record magic remained inside the cave.”
“You saw the blue spear yourself?”
“…Yes. I was personally tracking the Hister survivor.”
Jin knew Valeria well enough to be sure she wouldn’t make such a careless mistake—unless it was a deliberate trap or diversion.
“Tell me more about the situation at that time.”
“I spotted the survivor’s location from afar and followed her. Since it was within Eastern Region 5, both of us had limited mobility. The chase lasted about three days across the Caldaran snowfields, and she entered a cave with only one entrance and exit.”
“And then disappeared, leaving behind the blue spear of record magic?”
“Yes, that’s all. There was no sign of escape inside the cave. I wondered if the survivor had learned invisibility or teleportation magic from the transmission grounds, but aside from the record magic, there was no evidence of other magic being used.”
“Without even a snow toad mote, a person can’t just vanish like that.”
“That’s why we thought the motes had rescued the Hister survivor. The Bihgung is no longer neutral; it’s practically an ally of the Order.”
“Did you continue investigating the Caldaran cave afterward?”
“No. Right after, the 3rd Order of Runcandel began guarding the area.”
—It’s time to go for real. If there’s any new progress, send a letter to Tikan. Maybe your sister will find a small clue about Temar’s fifth tomb soon.
That was what Valeria said before leaving for Laprarosa.
Runtia had been tracking Temar’s tomb for a long time.
She was also one of the three brothers who didn’t know Jin’s current condition.
“Given the circumstances, it’s highly likely the 3rd Order of Runcandel also knew the Hister survivor’s location. No, I should say it’s certain. The 3rd Order and the knights were surrounding Jin right around that cave.”
Hoo.
Jin suppressed his emotions and sighed.
Mary and the Tona brothers, as well as the deceased Jorden and the surviving resistance, had no news of Runtia.
The aftermath of the Gliek suppression was so severe that Dipus had to step in for Runtia, the highest-ranking order.
‘As expected, Sister Runtia… has been consumed by chaos.’
Still, even without meeting her, they had suspected Runtia’s condition.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have avoided the resistance.
“Sir Ronil, did you encounter Sister Runtia?”
“The situation was urgent, so I couldn’t get close to the 3rd Order. But the Caldaran snowfields were full of knights tainted by chaos.”
Yuria confirmed that everything Ronil said was true.
Runtia’s corruption was all but confirmed.
“Is it possible the Hister survivor was kidnapped by Sister Runtia?”
“If the 3rd Order found something I missed in that cave, it’s not impossible.”
Jin glanced at Orgal, who smiled knowingly.
“Is it because you suspect my dimensional travel ability? We know nothing about the Hister survivor either.”
When Yuria checked the siblings Ibliano, it was as they said.
‘If Ziphl and Kinzel don’t know, Valeria wouldn’t have been captured.’
Jin was certain of that.
‘If Rosa had secured the master, she would have used that to threaten me already. After luring me into the Garden of Blades, she would have exploited the master further.’
Rosa hadn’t said anything more about Valeria in the Garden of Blades.
Jin hadn’t asked, but the decisive reason was that she had no way to use Valeria.
Of course, Jin and the great forces gathered here weren’t the only ones tracking Temar’s tomb.
The Imperial Court, who possessed Temar’s left arm, was also searching for the tomb.
‘But if the Imperial Court had captured Valeria, Ziphl would know. Unless they betrayed Ziphl and sided with Runcandel…’
Jin decided to ask directly.
“Sir Ronil, is the relationship between Ziphl and the Imperial Court still intact?”
“The Imperial Court lacks the ability to capture the Hister survivor. Especially without our family’s knowledge.”
“Jin, you seem unusually obsessed with the Hister survivor. Surely you’re not trying to restore your history through her or use Ziphl’s historical manipulation to strike the Garden of Blades?”
“Do I look like someone who’d entertain such disgusting thoughts? She’s my comrade.”
Jin showed a hint of anger at Orgal’s words.
“Anyway, it seems you’ll be obsessed with finding her for the foreseeable future.”
“That’s my responsibility. Now, let’s return to the topic of the Garden of Blades.”
“No, this is about the Garden of Blades, Jin. Have you forgotten? You’re currently the only counterforce to Rosa Runcandel. You mustn’t act recklessly.”
“…I agree with you, Sir Orgal, Knight of the 12th Order. If we’re to find the Hister survivor, we should first go to Eastern Region 5. I believe you know better than anyone the current state of Hupester.”
“A world where Ziphl and Kinzel worry about me has come. Especially Ziphl, worrying about Hister’s safety more than I do… it feels strange. I want to save Hister because she’s my comrade, but also to oppose the Garden of Blades. Her abilities are needed not just by you.”
“To further develop the space-time device stolen from us, I suppose.”
“Now that you mention it, that’s embarrassing.”
“You needn’t be embarrassed; it’s because your family failed to manage it properly. But at this point, I advise against going to Hupester for Hister.”
Ronil spoke emotionlessly, but Jin heard a calm voice promising to take it back someday.
‘Ziphl must have other means besides historical manipulation. Kinzel will surely accelerate recovery if Orgal pays some price.’
Yuria’s power of truth was not yet perfect.
She could accurately distinguish truth from lies, but grasping the ‘multiple truths’ intentionally left unsaid was beyond her.
Jin didn’t think Ziphl and Kinzel were unaware of this and was sure they had deliberately withheld some information.
Yet they worried about his safety because it was the best strategy.
Even if Yuria’s power could reveal hidden truths, this was still a temporary alliance meeting.
If they had used their power that deeply, the talks would have collapsed from the start.
‘From their perspective, using me to eliminate Rosa without revealing other cards is the best outcome.’
Rosa’s display of inaction in the Garden of Blades was transcendent enough to be called a ‘dreadful god.’
But when Jin and the temporary alliance face her in the final battle, it will be even more terrifying.
Even if Jin wins against Rosa.
The damage will be unavoidable. It’s impossible to defeat her without suffering critical losses.
Of course, Ziphl and Kinzel will also be affected, but not nearly as much as Jin, who will fight Rosa one-on-one.
What happens after the war?
Kinzel and Ziphl will no longer be allies. Even if Jin wins against Rosa, he will likely have the strongest enemies closest when he is weakest.
But Jin had no intention of letting that happen.
‘They don’t know that Valeria is the key not only to the space-time device but also to completing the Golden Fleet.’
One year.
Not a long time, but Jin planned to prepare to face Rosa within it, using the other two forces as much as possible.
“If you’re so worried about me, why not assign someone to watch over me? I’ll head to the Caldaran snowfields as soon as the talks end.”
“That soon…?”
“Assign someone to me? That’s an interesting request. I can feel your determination to use us to the bone until this temporary alliance ends.”
“It’s the same for both of us. It doesn’t matter if we don’t hand over a person—I’m going alone anyway. Orgal said earlier that Rosa will need at least a year before she can move again. I have to get everything done within that time. For that, Hister is absolutely essential.”
“I agree with Kinzel!”
Margiela’s eyes sparkled as she spoke, and Ronil nodded as if resigned.
“I agree as well,” Zipple added.
“There is one person I want on Zipple’s side,” Jin said, locking eyes with him.
“…Who are you thinking of?”
“Beradin. Assign Beradin to Zipple.”