Episode 657
Chapter 167: Temar’s Fifth Tomb (1)
The blade of Veil’s sword began to glow, the light gradually shifting into the shape of a ‘gate.’ The speed at which the gate formed was directly proportional to the amount of spiritual energy being infused.
Sandra was all excited, calling it the power of a wish fulfilled, while Hedo looked on, bewildered, alternating his gaze between his sword and the emerging gate.
‘…Just like the Black Dragon Murakan said, could it be that Veil really is connected to the old Runcandel or Solderet?’
Long ago, Hedo had come across that longsword by chance, and the blade bore the inscription ‘Veil.’
“Hey… that sword. Where did you get it?”
“That’s a strange question, Black Dragon. And from what I heard from those who witnessed your prowess in the Gaipa Archipelago, it wasn’t just this much.”
“Keep that sword safe. It seems to have some history with Murakan. Let’s go, kid.”
The first time the group from the White Night Tower met Hedo, Murakan had winced in pain upon seeing Hedo’s sword, as if a forgotten memory had surfaced.
Even after leaving the Sota Desert, Murakan tried repeatedly to recall anything about the longsword Veil but failed every time.
Because of this, the group assumed Hedo’s sword was another artifact with a manipulated history. No one could have imagined that Veil would become entwined with Temar’s tomb in this way.
“I don’t understand why this is happening. You used a massive amount of spiritual energy even when you fought me in the past, but there was no reaction like this then.”
“That’s probably because the location conditions of Temar’s tomb weren’t met. It seems that sword is the key to opening the tomb. Where did you get it?”
“In my youth, I cut down a monster in the Black Sea and took it.”
“I’d like to hear the full story later. In any case, thanks to your sword, there’s hope, Tower Keeper. I appreciate it.”
It was almost pure chance that Jin had brought Hedo along on this expedition to the Kaldran Snowfield.
But Jin couldn’t help but feel that if Hedo’s sword had a connection to Runcandel, it might not be mere coincidence—it could be fate.
“The Twelve Riders. Once the dimensional gate is fully formed, you plan to enter, right?”
“Yes.”
“I’m going in too!”
“No, you’re not, miss.”
“No, Sandra.”
Jin and Hedo spoke simultaneously.
“Why not!?”
“We don’t know what awaits inside. If any survivors of Hister remain, they might be trapped in there.”
“I agree. This is different from coming to the Kaldran Snowfield together. If this gate leads to Temar’s tomb, we can’t predict what will happen inside. Escape might be impossible.”
“Then what about you, Jin? You’re Rosa’s only rival. What if you go in alone and die?”
“Temar’s tomb is a safeguard left by my god and ancestors for Runcandel. I’ve been through these tombs before without ever being in real danger. Plus, I can always withdraw through spiritual energy when I want.”
Of course, that was a lie.
Jin had nearly been killed by guardians in most tombs and had once waited endlessly with Valeria in the fourth tomb because he didn’t know how to get out.
But with Yuria absent now, Sandra had no way to verify the truth.
Even if she did, Jin was determined to go in alone.
“Since we can’t predict the time or situation, I’m worried about how you, the miss, and the demon dragon should respond.”
“From experience, we could be back in Inse within a day or two.”
“We can’t wait here that long.”
“I know. So return. Unless Rosa comes herself, I should be able to escape no matter what.”
“You’re not leaving me behind!”
“Sandra, please.”
Though Jin had grown close to Sandra, she and Hedo were clearly people of Ziphl. They couldn’t be allowed into Temar’s tomb.
“It’s still no. Even if they’ve been friendly so far, this time the tomb might be hostile to you, Jin. Hedo and I can help enough. Besides, you’re already exhausted just from opening the gate.”
When the gate was fully formed, Jin felt an overwhelming fatigue, just as Sandra had said. Opening the gate had nearly drained all his spiritual energy.
‘The energy used must be several times more than what Murakan used in the first tomb.’
Though he still had some aura and magic left, if he faced a tough opponent inside, Jin wouldn’t be able to fight at full strength.
“And what about the three riders of Runcandel!? Even if it’s not Rosa but the three riders when you return, that’s a problem. You’d have to face them alone, exhausted, right in the enemy’s stronghold.”
The three riders of Runcandel—Runtia Runcandel.
Ronil had said she personally led the pursuit squad here to chase Valeria.
But so far, Runtia hadn’t appeared, and the group guessed she might be among the reinforcements arriving this time.
As Jin moved to step through the gate, Sandra lunged forward first.
Hedo immediately tried to block her but soon realized it was pointless.
Thwack!
“Ugh!”
As Sandra approached, a shockwave from the gate repelled her.
No matter how many times she tried, the same thing happened.
“Damn it, what is this…! Hedo, try it too.”
The same phenomenon happened to Hedo.
He used superhuman strength to get close to the gate but was stopped as if hitting an invisible wall.
“I think going further might damage the gate, miss. You should give up.”
On the other hand, Jin experienced no such resistance.
“Twelve Riders.”
Jin looked back at Hedo.
“If possible, stall for at least three days inside the tomb. That way, we can return and ask Kinzello’s side for help.”
Hedo concluded that using the captain’s dimensional gate was the best option for now.
Jin agreed immediately.
“Understood. I’ll do my best to make that happen.”
“Also, if you manage to exit the tomb and return to this cave, release your energy at maximum immediately. We’ll use that as a signal to ask the captain to open the dimensional gate.”
“You’re sharper than you look, Tower Keeper. That sounds like a good plan. That’ll put me more at ease.”
“I’ll have Orgal ready as soon as possible. Good luck.”
“Jin!”
Just as Jin gave a nod and was about to step through, Sandra hugged him tightly.
“Remember this—if only your comrades come back alive to Tikan, I’ll kill whoever it is, no matter what.”
Jin’s head throbbed for a moment, realizing she wasn’t joking, but he smiled at her.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Then, as Jin stepped beyond the gate, the light forming the blade Veil instantly vanished.
Sandra stared blankly at the spot where Jin had disappeared, and Hedo gently patted her shoulder.
Like entering the abyss of Gliek, the pocket dimension forming Temar’s fifth tomb was filled with a dim, empty darkness.
“Valeria!”
Jin called her name, but not even an echo returned.
Whether it was his growing anxiety or something else, Jin didn’t feel the same comforting presence he had in Solderet’s pocket dimension.
‘Unlike the tombs I’ve faced before, there’s no sense of spiritual energy guiding me. There’s no sign of damage from Ziphl or other forces, so what could it be?’
He had no choice but to move forward.
[Meow!]
Shuri emerged from the red jade.
Jin immediately mounted Shuri and began searching the vast desert of spiritual energy.
Time in a pocket dimension flows differently from Inse. From what Jin had experienced, time in Inse passed much faster.
‘Where are you, Valeria…!’
After about an hour with no progress, Jin’s anxiety grew.
Then Shuri stopped and pointed forward with her front paw.
[Meow, meow meow!]
There, something transparent like glass shimmered faintly, as if about to fade.
Approaching, Jin recognized it as a fragment of magical power.
A fragment of ‘record magic.’
<This way…>
‘A trace left by Valeria…!’
His heart pounded wildly.
Record magic wasn’t just for finding past records—it could also leave marks like this.
‘The trace is faint, so it must be old or barely left with residual magic.’
Most importantly, the presence of magic meant the caster was still alive.
Only then did Jin finally breathe a sigh of relief.
‘She’s not dead. My master is definitely still here in this pocket dimension.’
Following the direction indicated by Valeria’s record magic, Shuri broke into a full gallop.
Jin’s spirits soared, knowing he was close to rescuing her.
But for some reason, the closer they got to the direction Valeria indicated, the more Jin sensed not her magic but a foul energy approaching.
It was the aura of chaos—far purer and more immense than what he had felt in the Kaldran Snowfield.
The nearer they came to the source of the chaos, the more the pocket dimension showed signs of battle.
The space was riddled with cracks and twisted distortions—traces of destructive swordsmanship.
At last, when Jin reached the source, he came face to face with a woman.
It wasn’t Valeria.
“Long time no see… little one.”
Luntia Runcandel.
The woman standing before Jin was none other than his second older sister.