Chapter 665
Episode 169: To the Enemy’s Sanctuary (3)
“That’s exactly what you heard, Sir Ronil. We must restore Hister at the sanctuary of Ziphl,” Jin replied nonchalantly, causing Ronil’s brow to furrow deeply.
He hadn’t shown such emotion during their previous talks.
Kadun and Octavia blinked in stunned disbelief.
None of them had expected to hear such shocking news at a moment meant to intimidate their temporary allies.
“Sir Jin, there are many ears listening right now. Did you really think this was the place to bring up such matters?” Ronil asked sharply.
“I didn’t realize it was such a big secret. The leader of Kinzel told me casually,” Jin shrugged.
Ronil glared at Orgal, who was awkwardly waving his hand in apology while barely standing.
A tense silence fell.
Jin took the opportunity to ask all his comrades except Kashmir to leave the room. On Kinzel’s side, only Orgal and Zephyrin remained.
“Sir Orgal, what exactly were you thinking?” Jin pressed.
[gulp, cough…]
“My master is in no condition to speak further, so I will answer on his behalf, people of Ziphl,” Zephyrin said as he lifted Orgal up.
“First, I ask you not to get agitated and hear me out. I understand that Sir Jin’s reckless disclosure of sensitive information is frustrating.”
“Frustrating? Is that all it is?” Octavia interrupted, but Zephyrin’s eyes immediately flashed with deadly intent.
“Do not interrupt. Consider this a warning, not a request. My master knew of that place long before you called it a sanctuary and once served as its guardian. When he lost his power, that place became yours.”
“So you’re claiming ownership?” Ronil’s voice calmed again.
Jin suspected Ronil’s composure was more than just self-control.
‘He didn’t come here without considering the sanctuary at all,’ Jin thought.
Unlike Kadun and Octavia, Ronil seemed to have anticipated this. Perhaps even his earlier display of displeasure was calculated.
“That’s not the case. If the time comes when we can reclaim it by force after defeating a common enemy, then maybe. For now, it clearly belongs to Ziphl. But to be treated as if we have no right to speak of what we know—that’s intolerable.”
“And if you can’t tolerate it, what will you do, demon dragon?”
“The successor of the fire dragon Tracalnis seems curious. Then by all means, continue.”
The mention of ‘Tracalnis’ immediately unsettled Kadun.
“How do you know Tracalnis…?”
“It was quite a satisfying meal, so I remember.”
Normally, Kadun would have been furious enough to kill Zephyrin on the spot.
But Tracalnis, the fire dragon king before Kadun, was Shinu’s most perfect creation.
Yet no history of Tracalnis remained in the world, and even Kadun rarely recalled his name unless he focused hard.
That was because Tracalnis’s death was the greatest ‘shame’ for the incarnation Shinu and the fire dragons.
The erasure of Tracalnis’s history was the will of Shinu and old Ziphl to cover up that disgrace.
‘Could it be that the demon dragon who killed Tracalnis is… this one?’ Jin wondered.
Zephyrin smiled coldly, as if reading Kadun’s thoughts.
“You’re probably right, Kadun. If you don’t believe me, ask your god directly. I’m not sure if Shinu can restore that memory, though…”
Kadun quickly averted his gaze.
It wasn’t that he recalled the moment of Tracalnis’s death or any fearful memory, but an inexplicable dread was creeping into his mind.
—Even if I faced you at your prime, I wouldn’t be so afraid. You don’t know me well because back then, I couldn’t fight you.
Jin recalled the day Zephyrin’s true identity was first revealed at the Black King’s Mountain stronghold, and what she said to Murakan.
‘Kadun immediately backed down…?’
Judging by Orgal, who was being carried like a sickly noble, and Zephyrin’s usual demeanor, it was hard to imagine their prime.
Still, Kadun clearly shrank back even as Zephyrin insulted Shinu.
Octavia was the most shocked by Kadun’s reaction. With Kadun retreating, she could no longer show anger toward Zephyrin.
“Looks like Kadun’s curiosity is satisfied. Shall we return to the main topic?” Zephyrin gestured toward Jin.
“…The mood’s soured unnecessarily. I didn’t mean to bring this up like this, so I apologize to both sides.”
“Sir Jin is saving face for Ziphl. This is an important matter,” Ronil said.
“If you’re going to keep mocking, wake Orgal up, Zephyrin. We didn’t come here to bicker.”
“That’s why humans are the worst. Maybe it’s because life is short, but they have no fear, really.”
“Sir Ronil.”
“Yes, Sir Jin?”
“Hister’s survival is essential for us to defeat our common enemy. If opening Ziphl’s sanctuary is impossible, then at least secure the Tears of Numerus.”
“I can’t accept the phrase ‘at least the Tears of Numerus.’ We don’t possess those either. Let’s examine Hister first.”
Showing the unconscious Valeria to Ziphl felt like a sin to Jin, but it was necessary to save her.
Her appearance was already exposed to Ziphl, so there was no point in hiding it.
The Ziphl leaders sighed or pressed their foreheads as they inspected Valeria in the infirmary.
Even with prior knowledge, seeing it firsthand was another matter.
“…Now I understand why you mentioned the Tears first. The blood loss is indeed severe. Was the seal maintained by Sir Jin?”
“Impressive. Few in Ziphl could maintain such a seal.”
“What will you do? If the sanctuary can’t be opened and the Tears aren’t available… Though it’s a loss to expose Hister to Ziphl, I suppose we’ll have to bury this and handle it ourselves.”
That was a polite way of saying, “If you won’t open the sanctuary, leave immediately.”
“This isn’t a decision we can make here, Sir Jin.”
“Both Kinzel and we always send decision-makers who can decide on the spot.”
“I understand. I will return immediately to inform my father and get his response.”
“I look forward to good news.”
“Though everyone wants to save Hister for the sake of the temporary alliance—or more precisely, their own desires—there will likely be a need for fair compensation, Sir Jin.”
Three days later, the Ziphl leaders returned to Tikan.
This time, Ronil came alone with a few attendants—no Kadun or Octavia.
“My father said there’s no way but to open the sanctuary. He agreed to allow Hister to be brought there.”
“What are your demands?”
“First, only Hister may enter the sanctuary. Second, as compensation, each alliance will share some knowledge on chaos purification and control with Ziphl. This must be witnessed by the Az Mil contractor.”
“I refuse.”
Jin cut him off without hearing more.
“Hmm… Then Hister cannot be saved.”
“I heard from Orgal that when a fully powered being like yours enters your sanctuary, it leaves a kind of magical trace. Studying that alone could bring Ziphl considerable benefits. We don’t know how damaging that research might be to us after the alliance breaks.”
Jin shrugged.
“Who benefits most from Hister’s injury? Ziphl. We only want to save Hister, but Ziphl can also study him. So don’t be greedy. If this falls through, all talk of Hister ends here. No cheap tricks.”
“Understood. Then we will open the sanctuary without conditions, but you must agree to travel with your senses as blocked as possible to prevent revealing its location. Also, we prefer no other escorts besides Sir Jin and Hister.”
Ronil’s demands were just suggestions from the family elders.
He didn’t like their opinions much.
“That’s acceptable. When shall we depart?”
“If it’s alright, we’ll leave immediately.”
Since boarding the Kojek, Jin hadn’t moved a step from the windowless cabin.
He held the sealed Valeria tightly, quietly waiting for the airship to stop.
It was five days later when the ship finally reached its destination.
“Thank you for your efforts, Sir Jin. You may come out now.”
As soon as Jin stepped out, he realized they were inside a massive structure.
It was even larger than the shipyard he’d seen in the Sota Desert.
Ronil’s guidance lasted about two hours. When they reached a door inside the building, Ronil stopped.
“This is as far as I can guide you. Beyond here, I have no access. Someone else will assist you.”
Only two people in Ziphl could freely come and go beyond that door.
One was the head of the family, Keliak Ziphl, and the other was—
“So, you must be Jin Runcandel.”
It was Veradin Ziphl, the next head of the family.
Veradin was walking toward Jin from the other side.
After nearly three years apart, the friend from the battlefield greeted him not with his usual cheerful tone, but with a dry, clipped voice.
“Follow me. I’ll take you to the sanctuary.”
Through the doorway, Veradin’s back as he strode ahead felt strangely unfamiliar.
At his waist, a sword hung.