Episode 675
Chapter 172: Attempted Recruitment
Tikan, Litra Tea House.
“Jin, did you know? Sandra Zipple has been really happy lately.”
Crunch!
Sandra bit into a Litra cookie as she spoke.
Hedo, sitting beside her, expressionless, gently wiped the cookie crumbs from the corner of her mouth. Jin couldn’t help but feel that their relationship was more like father and daughter than butler and mistress.
“Usually, when someone says that, it’s polite to ask why they’re happy, you know?”
“It’s honestly surprising to hear the word ‘polite’ come from your lips, miss.”
“Oh? Surprising how?”
“It’s quite moving. I hope you keep thinking about manners and dignity from now on.”
“What are you talking about? You don’t look very polite yourself. Those bulky muscles of yours? Most people feel intimidated just looking at you.”
“Please stop dropping crumbs. Why is it that you’ve been unable to eat without making a mess since you were five years old?”
“Hedo takes care of it all anyway. Why bother?”
“Then I suppose I’ll stop helping you from today.”
“Then I’ll tear you apart!”
Jin thought they were like a pair of comedic actors. Listening quietly to their banter often made her smile.
“So, why are you in such a good mood, Sandra Zipple?”
“Well, it’s because I’ve been seeing him a lot lately! Isn’t that obvious? Ha ha.”
“Hmm… I see.”
To ask a pureblood Zipple and a mysterious superhuman Tower Keeper to betray their own clan—except for Veradin, Jin had never imagined she’d have to say such things to another Zipple.
“The one holding the key isn’t Sandra, but Hedo.”
On the surface, Hedo appeared to obey Sandra absolutely, but Jin sensed that the real control between them lay with Hedo.
Of course, Hedo usually complied with Sandra’s requests, even when they didn’t make sense. But there was a limit. If Sandra crossed that line, Hedo would never agree, and Sandra would only resort to scolding or pleading—nothing more.
Ultimately, the final decision rested with Hedo.
“Miss, you always look so happy that the 12th Squadron keeps coming and going at a moment’s notice. Relationships need a bit of push and pull, a certain mystery. At this rate, Jin Runcandel won’t find you attractive.”
“Hmm… that’s actually worth considering. But I thought you’ve never been in a relationship, Hedo. How do you know so much?”
“One day has 24 hours, miss. And I spend about five of those hours away from you.”
“So you used those five hours here and there to date? Tower Keeper.”
Jin asked, genuinely curious. Though Hedo was officially the second butler and Tower Keeper, he was effectively one of the highest-ranking Zipple executives.
If that was the case, he must have plenty of duties during his free hours. Jin wondered if it was really possible to squeeze in a relationship.
“…Is that strange?”
“A bit surprising. Being a top Zipple executive doesn’t seem as busy as I thought.”
“Oh my, Jin, I never expected you to be more interested in Hedo than me! Are you crazy, Hedo? Wagging your tail like that?”
“I’m not a top executive, just a butler, 12th Squadron.”
“Just a butler, huh…”
Jin’s eyes narrowed.
“In that case, I’d like to offer you a job.”
No need to beat around the bush.
“Sounds good!”
Sandra immediately brightened and nodded, but Hedo’s gaze sharpened.
“A job offer?”
“Yes.”
“Do you know what you’re saying?”
“Perfectly.”
“Then let’s pretend I didn’t hear that.”
“Hedo, why again?”
“It’s not ‘again,’ miss. Right now, the 12th Squadron is asking me and you to betray our clan.”
“So what? I’ve been saying that for a while.”
“You might be a bit scatterbrained, miss, but this is not something the 12th Squadron should say. Alliances are temporary. Zipple and Runcandel are ultimately incompatible.”
Just a few years ago in the Sota Desert, Hedo almost defeated me. Back then, he overwhelmed Jin and her group. But now?
What do you mean?
Do you think you can win?
I don’t think so. I expected as much after storming the Garden of Swords alone, but seeing it up close feels different.
See! Jin definitely has a chance. I didn’t think so at first either, so it’s not Hedo’s fault. So, how about we do what I suggested last time… Ah, you startled me!
A conversation between Hedo and Sandra on the Kaldran Snowfield.
In truth, Sandra had been trying to convince Hedo to side with Jin for some time. Hedo was firmly refusing.
“Is it just because of the long-standing grudge between Zipple and Runcandel?”
“Yes.”
“You’re not a pureblood Zipple. You don’t seem to have any personal grudge against Runcandel or the Balmur Alliance.”
“That’s right, you’re not pureblood. I’m pureblood, and I’m the one who wants to betray. So why are you stopping me?”
“I don’t have a personal grudge. But I’m starting to develop one. Don’t you think you’re taking advantage of the miss’s feelings too much?”
“Jin’s not using me! And even if she was, what’s wrong with that? I like it!”
“That may be how it looks. But I’m saying this not just for my own sake or the alliance’s, but for your sake.”
He meant it.
Jin couldn’t understand Sandra’s feelings for her, and found her mysterious to the point of being unfathomable.
But after going through several incidents together over the years, Jin had developed a kind of camaraderie and sympathy for her.
Because of that, Jin was certain that as long as Sandra remained with Zipple, her future would be nothing but bleak.
“Sandra, could you step aside for a moment?”
“No, I don’t want to.”
“Just stay here, miss.”
“I’ll make dinner later, just give me 30 minutes.”
“I’ll have some tea with Enya, be right back!”
After Sandra left, only Jin and Hedo remained in the tea house. Hedo, looking uneasy, wiped his glasses and pulled out a cigarette.
“This is a no-smoking area.”
The buttons on Hedo’s shirt strained against his bulging muscles, popping toward Jin. He lit the cigarette with a flick, smoking it down in one breath.
Gray smoke briefly clouded their view.
“You’re crossing a line, so I don’t see why I should be polite.”
“I can accept that much. Tower Keeper, from what I see, you’re not loyal to Zipple, but to Sandra Zipple.”
Not Zipple, but Sandra Zipple.
That was Jin’s first impression when she met Hedo.
She didn’t know the source of his absolute loyalty, but she was sure that if he had to choose between Zipple and Sandra, he would pick the latter.
“Am I wrong?”
Hedo didn’t answer, instead lighting another cigarette.
“I’ll take that as a yes. So, I can’t understand it at all. If Sandra Zipple stays with the clan, what do you think will happen in the end?”
“It’ll be the same as now.”
“I recently met Veradin. He lost his memories and became a living magic sword golem, a different person. I fear Sandra will eventually be sacrificed to experiments like that.”
“That won’t happen to Miss Sandra, Jin Runcandel.”
“Because you protect her?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t understand. Does your idea of protection mean allowing a certain level of experimentation on Sandra? You tolerate some damage, but promise to protect her beyond that? Is that really why you keep her close?”
Sandra was already a living golem. She had somehow gained partial control over the power of time, and possessed regenerative abilities and physical strength uncharacteristic of a mage.
“I think Sandra’s unusual mental state is closely related to the experiments she’s undergone.”
“Miss Sandra was always strange. It’s not because of the experiments.”
“That’s a relief, but is there any guarantee it will stay that way? If she changes like Veradin, can we still call her Sandra Zipple?”
“That’s not for you to decide.”
“Nor is it for you. It’s up to Sandra herself. Besides, what kind of protection is that? Allowing experiments up to the point where she’s almost broken, then stepping in? Are you really keeping her close with that mindset?”
“I came here today to learn the truth about my sword, not to become a traitor to Tikan. And the experiments…”
Hedo’s brow furrowed as if recalling something.
“…They were at Miss Sandra’s request.”
“That’s a cowardly excuse. Even if Sandra wanted it, you don’t really think it’s right to leave her as a test subject, do you? Or did you decide she needed at least that much regenerative power to protect her no matter what?”
“What can you do then?”
“What?”
Hedo stood up.
“Suppose Miss Sandra betrays Zipple. Then what? Can you and the Balmur Alliance always put her first? Even if it means the entire alliance is wiped out, can you prioritize her?”
“Of course not.”
“You’re strong, no doubt. Probably stronger than me now. But after the fight with Rosa and the alliance breaks, I still can’t picture you beating Zipple. Even if I joined you and lent my strength.”
“So you’re saying you’d bet Sandra’s life on the side with the better chance.”
“Yeah. Even if it hadn’t been you but Sir Siron making the same proposal, I would have refused just the same. I’ve made myself clear enough—I hope you’ll understand and just give it up.”
“In that case, can I take it to mean that you’d accept the offer if I gained the power to completely overpower Ziphl?”
Hedo didn’t hesitate for a moment before nodding.
“Absolutely. If you could give me that kind of certainty, I might even beg you to accept me and the lady, even if you wanted to refuse.”