Chapter 667
Episode 169: To the Enemy’s Sanctuary (5)
As the sealed ice-bound magic dissipated, the lingering energy seeped into Valeria at an accelerated pace.
In an instant, she was enveloped in a shimmering bubble of rainbow light, her recovery visibly rapid even to the naked eye.
Despite seeing Valeria’s slow, trembling breaths, Jin couldn’t fully relax.
What if her healing suddenly stopped? The thought weighed heavily on his chest like a stone.
Watching Jin’s unease, Veradin found it oddly fascinating.
‘So it’s true—I was once very close to Jin Runkandel. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be so eager to say unnecessary things.’
Since regaining his sanity, Veradin had become a colder man than before.
Not cruel or merciless to a terrifying degree, but indifferent to most things in the world.
Friendship, family bonds, even affection for his followers—all had faded away.
Now, only a blind, single-minded purpose remained: the revival of Ziphl.
Yet strangely, talking with Jin wasn’t unpleasant.
In fact, it even brought him a sense of enjoyment.
“Jin Runkandel, I’ve heard you rarely show weakness, no matter the situation.”
“What are you getting at?”
“Your worry over Hister’s recovery is written all over your face. Is she your lover, by any chance?”
“Maybe she is.”
“That’s a strange answer. So you two have broken up?”
Jin didn’t catch Veradin’s next question, his attention fixed on Valeria’s steady healing.
Fortunately, her recovery was only speeding up.
Unbothered, Veradin pulled a glass vial from his cloak and captured the iridescent bubbles inside.
The magic residue shimmered like opal within the bottle.
What reward this magic trace might bring Ziphl was unknown.
But whatever the cost, it was never more important than Valeria’s life to Jin and the Balmur Alliance.
“Ah…!”
At last, Valeria’s eyes fluttered open, and she exhaled deeply.
Without thinking, Jin pulled her into a tight embrace.
He almost called out her name aloud.
“Jin… Jin Runkandel?”
“Yeah, it’s me.”
“How… ugh.”
“Your wounds aren’t fully healed yet. Take your time; we can talk slowly.”
Valeria glanced down at her chest.
Recalling the moment she was pierced by the sword of Luntia, a wave of pain washed over her.
Memories.
Like a pounding headache, the flood of memories from the moment she collapsed surged back.
“Neru… Neru-sama!?”
“He’s safe. Neru-sama was protecting you.”
“That’s a relief…”
Her gaze landed on Veradin.
She saw the magic residue she’d left behind being sealed inside the glass vial he held.
Though still dazed from just waking, Valeria quickly regained her usual cool composure.
“Jin, I’m fully recovered now. We should leave this place quickly.”
She knew the power of this land—the sanctuary of Ziphl—had healed her.
She’d read the records from Hister’s last known sacred site.
Though not detailed, the records mentioned the sanctuary’s ability to heal beings of pure magic.
From the moment she sealed herself away, Valeria had hoped Jin and their comrades would find her and bring her here.
If anyone could do it, it was Jin—and her intuition had been right.
‘The Beast King Orgal probably gave Jin information about this place. He was the one who told my ancestor about it, after all.’
Valeria was unaware of recent events.
She didn’t know about the great battle in the Garden of Swords, the temporary alliance formed by the three great powers, or that Jin was Rosa’s only rival.
‘It seems the three powers have also learned of the Garden’s power. That’s why they formed an alliance and Ziphl opened the sanctuary…’
Still, Valeria quickly pieced it all together.
“Let’s do that.”
There was much to discuss outside. Jin, too, didn’t want to spend another second inside the sanctuary now that Valeria had recovered.
Most importantly, the sanctuary’s residual energy had only healed Valeria’s wounds.
The chaotic energy still lingering within her needed to be purified back in Tikan.
“We have one more request before we leave, Jin Runkandel.”
Jin met Veradin’s gaze calmly at the sudden statement.
“I didn’t know you had a talent for quickly breaking trust, Veradin Ziphl. Planning to threaten me after our deal is done?”
“You’re sharpening your tone even though you know what I’m going to ask.”
“If it’s about healing the Fire Dragon Kadun, I’ll accept.”
The Fire Dragon Kadun.
He had been exposed to immense chaos during the first full assault on the Garden of Swords and the battle in the Caldaran Snowfields.
Jin had expected Ziphl to demand his treatment ever since the sanctuary was opened for talks.
“Good. We’ll bring Kadun-sama with us to Tikan.”
“Understood.”
They left the sanctuary the same way they had entered.
Retracing their steps, the scenery gradually shifted as they passed through the threshold, the world of Inse growing more vivid.
They passed through the sanctuary’s corridor and came upon a gate.
Beyond it, unlike before, countless people waited.
Numerous mages clad in white robes, swords at their sides.
‘Living golems…!’
No, perhaps modified humans—magic swordsmen of some kind.
Their numbers stretched endlessly, as far as the eye could see.
“They’re openly advertising that they’re training living golems as magic swordsmen. Trying to intimidate me now?”
Unlike Veradin, each of them radiated significant magic power and aura.
If their combat skills matched, even Jin couldn’t guarantee handling them all.
Especially while protecting Valeria.
‘These aren’t mere puppets powered by energy. Their breathing alone shows they’re trained, unlike unskilled novices.’
Another strange detail: they all had identical builds, as if the prophet Joshua had been cloned.
As Jin approached the nearest living golem to pull back its hood, Veradin stopped his hand.
“Only look at what we want to show you, Jin Runkandel.”
“I have a feeling the face under that hood looks just like you.”
“Do I really look that common? My remaining diary pages are full of notes about how handsome I am.”
“I don’t know your intentions. It was strange from the start that you didn’t hide the fact you were becoming a magic swordsman.”
“Think of it as sharing strength against a common enemy.”
With so many living golems trained as magic swordsmen, they could have been a major force during the first full assault on the Garden of Swords.
But the golems Ziphl deployed then were crude in comparison, enhanced only through ‘chaos control.’
The same went for those who died in the Caldaran Snowfields.
Jin instinctively understood why.
“…These living golems can only function near the sanctuary.”
That was the sole reason no magic swordsman golems appeared during the full assault.
Kadun and Octavia had both participated directly, so Ziphl had deployed nearly all available forces.
Veradin nodded as if confirming there was no need to hide it.
“Yes. We’re searching for a way to send them beyond the sanctuary. For now, the moment they leave the sanctuary’s vicinity, they stop functioning like puppets with cut strings. They die. But why the sour look? Do you think magic swordsmen are a privilege exclusive to your family?”
Jin shook his head.
“No, it’s because I’m close to you.”
He spoke openly.
“I see.”
Veradin stepped forward.
“But I should have said that in the past tense. There will be no chance for us to grow close again.”
As Jin and Valeria followed, all the living golems’ mechanical eyes tracked their every move.
Their numbers didn’t dwindle even after a long walk outside the sanctuary.
Eventually, they reached the spot where Jin had first arrived.
Ronil waited there, with Kojek ready as before.
Only then did the living golems vanish.
Ronil checked his pocket watch in surprise as soon as he saw Jin return.
“How much time has passed, Brother Ronil?”
“…One day. Only one day.”
“The sanctuary must have welcomed Hister warmly. Perhaps… it welcomed Jin Runkandel as well.”
“Your father is looking for you.”
“I was planning to see him right away. He must have questions.”
Showing Ronil the glass vial, Veradin turned and extended his hand to Jin.
Jin stared at it for a few seconds before clasping it.
“Farewell, Jin Runkandel. I’ve kept the promise I made before losing my memories.”
Wait for me, Veradin.
Jin didn’t say the words aloud but released the handshake.
“I’ll escort you to Tikan, Sir Jin.”
“Understood, Ronil Ziphl.”
Back in the windowless cabin, Jin and Valeria sat facing each other, sharing stories of recent events.
Valeria thanked him repeatedly, and though Jin found her gratitude unfamiliar in this life, it warmed his heart.
“…Just as I expected, you formed a temporary alliance. Facing the Sword Garden left you no other choice. Before you disembark, there’s something you need to tell them.”
“Tell Zipple something?”
“The royal family has betrayed Zipple. And your friend—the Sword Sovereign—might be in serious danger.”