Episode 663
Chapter 169: To the Enemy’s Stronghold (1)
Barmel Union, Tikan Free State — Tikan Palace.
Jin had returned safely, and though Valeria had been barely rescued, the atmosphere between the Barmel Union and their temporary allies hadn’t improved since that day.
The main issue was Valeria’s injury.
Despite the efforts of King Lani, who was in charge of Talaris’s treatment, as well as every healer, medical facility, and the abilities of the Myoin tribe on their side, there was no way to heal the wounds she had sustained.
“Huff.”
Jin stepped out of the infirmary, breathing heavily as if exhausted.
Every day, he had been infusing magic into Valeria’s seal.
Only a mage of at least Octavia’s caliber could maintain Valeria’s complex magic from the outside, and in Tikan, only Jin was capable of such a feat.
Even though Jin’s magic had reached the 10-star level, the mental strain of externally supplying magic was overwhelming.
In other words, while sustaining Valeria’s life, Jin could never give his full strength.
“Valeria Hister… I’ve always known she was remarkable. As far as I know, most mages can’t maintain any magic once they lose consciousness. Not just mages—no human can do anything while unconscious.”
“Sir Siris.”
Siris patted Jin’s shoulder gently.
“It’s unfortunate that even the power of the Bow Palace can’t help.”
“Please don’t say that. I’ve always been indebted to the Bow Palace.”
Replacing Valeria’s magic with the Bow Palace’s sealing device was impossible. Even if it were Talaris, fully recovered, attempting it directly would be futile.
“Sigh…”
Kwal, who had been sitting outside the hospital room the entire time, let out a heavy sigh the moment he saw Jin.
The ashtray beside him was overflowing with cigarette butts, and his face was so gaunt he looked like he was on the brink of death.
Kwal regarded Valeria as a genius inventor destined to shoulder the future of the world alongside him.
In some ways, he believed her talent surpassed even his own, and he was certain that if she never recovered and died, the world’s progress would be set back by centuries.
Beyond that, Kwal was the closest friend Valeria had among their comrades.
Over the past three years, he had built the deepest bond with her.
“If possible, I’d give my life to save her. How can there be no way…? Not even with the power of the Holy King and Talaris Kendorma!”
“…It’s Endorma, Endorma! How can a so-called genius keep messing up a single letter? Is he just mocking me? Even now?”
“What does it matter if it’s Kendorma or Endorma? Without Valeria, all our research, the future of the world—it’s just darkness, pure darkness!”
“If you were incompetent, you’d have died a hundred times over, and ninety-nine of those times would have been by my hand.”
“Then just kill me and save her instead!”
The thought of preparing for the decisive battle against Rosa without Valeria made Jin feel overwhelmed.
Above all, the person in that hospital room was Valeria—the one who had saved his former self, a broken wreck.
“I’ll find a way, Kwal.”
“The only way is to get Numerus’s blood or tears, Jin… Surely one of the temporary allies has some? Maybe not tears, but blood.”
Numerus’s blood.
The legacy of the god of hope who had saved Jin and Dante in the past. Now, it was their only hope.
“The corrupted energy mixed in the wound can be purified. As long as the seal holds, it won’t spread further.”
But the fatal injuries to her heart and other vital organs could only be healed by divine power.
“I’m keeping that in mind. For now, let’s wait for Kinzello’s response.”
Kinzello.
The reason their relations had soured since the Kaldran Tundra was none other than him.
“When will that beast king Orgal wake up? Wouldn’t it be better to talk to Giple first?”
Because of the battle in the Kaldran Tundra, Orgal had fallen back into a deep sleep.
For the Kinzello members, it was a nightmare—Orgal coughing up blood again while unconscious.
“Kinzello is far more favorable toward us than Giple. Since Rosa still hasn’t attacked outside Hupester, I don’t have to rush into battle. Let’s wait for Kinzello first.”
If Kinzello couldn’t help, they’d have to ask Giple first, but that wasn’t a good situation.
Giple had deployed the most troops to the Kaldran Tundra.
And everyone there had escaped except for Giple.
As a result, Giple lost over a hundred unfinished bio-golems, and Octavia and Kadun were severely injured by the Padler Runcandel and other transcendent chaos entities.
Though Orgal’s power was truly depleted, Giple couldn’t easily accept the situation.
Hedo and Sandra had escaped with Jin, but to keep it secret, they stayed in Tikan for a while before returning to Giple, following Hedo’s advice.
In other words, Giple didn’t know that Hedo and Sandra had escaped with Jin.
“Frustrating. Those Giple fools—when you work together, someone’s bound to take a hit, but they sulk like children.”
In fact, Giple had yet to respond to letters from Tikan and Kinzello since the Kaldran Tundra, showing signs of anger.
“This won’t break the temporary alliance, but it’s inevitable that tensions rise. Their silence is partly anger, but also because they’re sorting out compensation and other demands.”
“What if they say they’ll give us Numerus’s divine relic, but only if we accept some inconvenient demands?”
“That depends on the demands. What kind of question is that? Maybe it’s because they’re idiots who can’t even remember names.”
“Whatever the demands, we should accept them. Even if they ask us to return the spacetime device. Valeria is more important.”
“Kwal, come have a smoke with me. You know how wise the Lord is. He’ll probably squeeze every last bit out of the temporary allies, so let’s not dwell on worries. Come on, I’ve got Milasan’s finest cigarettes.”
Jet, ever perceptive, took Kwal away, leaving Jin deep in thought.
Since rescuing Valeria, he hadn’t come up with any promising solutions.
“Sir, please rest a little. You look terrible.”
“That’s right, sir. Surely Giple won’t make unreasonable demands?”
Kashimir, Enya, and the others approached with words of comfort.
Just then, as Jin stepped out into the palace courtyard to clear his head, a report came from the Seven-Colored Bird.
“Your Majesty, Sir Jin! Kinzello’s flagship Grnil is approaching Tikan.”
Jin and his companions turned to see Grnil’s silhouette in the distance.
“Grant immediate entry and bring them here!”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
They expected senior officers like Bishkel or Berakt to arrive, to report on the commander’s condition and discuss improving relations with Giple.
But to their surprise, aboard Grnil were Zephyrin, Bishkel, Marjiela, Bubar, Ranke—and Orgal himself.
His dim form was weaker than before.
“Orgal, have you recovered?”
[Not exactly… cough, cough.]
“Master! Here, water and tissue.”
[Thank you… Zephyrin.]
Orgal was so weak he looked ready to collapse again. Zephyrin wiped his blood with an annoyed expression.
“I told you to just send a letter, or call Jin Runcandel over here.”
[Cough]
“Seriously…”
Orgal coughed like an old, sick man for a while. When it subsided, brief formal greetings were exchanged before Orgal got to the point.
[I came here to answer your questions about Hister, Jin Runcandel.]
Jin’s eyes widened.
[That expression changes quickly. This is quite amusing… cough, cough, ahem. I’d like to enjoy this more, but I can’t.]
“Since you came personally, surely you brought Numerus’s divine relic?”
[If I had it, do you think I’d give it to you?]
“Exactly! You wouldn’t give it!”
Bubar and Ainas shouted in unison.
[First, Numerus’s blood means nothing. Without the tears, Numerus’s relic can’t save Hister.]
“How can you be so sure?”
[Do you think I haven’t used a few drops of that blood over my long existence?]
“Then why come all this way to tell us a method? Especially in this condition?”
[Because I need to examine Hister closely myself. Zephyrin said I could have called you here, but if Giple comes to Tikan and you’re absent, it would look suspicious. It would seem like you’re meeting with us alone… Giple will send someone soon.]
Orgal had contacted Giple in advance to discuss the Kaldran Tundra incident.
[Seeing my condition, Giple will have no choice but to admit we didn’t do this intentionally. But before they arrive, I need to examine Hister quickly.]
Orgal wasn’t in a state to fool around. Jin led him to Valeria’s hospital room.
“What exactly do you want to confirm about Hyster?”
[The level of activation of the full magical entity. If Hyster is sufficiently activated, there might be a way to save her without the Tears of Numerus.]
Orgal placed his hand gently over Valeria’s seal and closed his eyes for a few moments.
After a while, he nodded reassuringly to Jin.
[This far exceeds my expectations. At this level, it’s possible to heal her without any significant cost.]
“How do we do that?”
In response to Jin’s question, Orgal said,
[Take Hyster to the sacred grounds of Ziphl. Even spending a little time there will fully restore her.]