Episode 684
Chapter 174: Veil’s Misconception (4)
Inside the ship Ram’s cabin.
[If my life is one that cannot truly die anyway, then why did you save me?]
Though his voice sounded calm, there was a sharp edge of resentment beneath it.
Originally, Paddler’s throat should have been crushed in Veil’s grasp just moments ago. As he said, that didn’t necessarily mean death, but the fact that he had to retreat unwillingly from a deeply vengeful opponent left him bitter.
If he had fought again like a vengeful spirit during the Garden of Swords’ first full assault, Paddler could have kept fighting for a while even without a neck.
[Reconstructing your body and soul takes some effort on my part as well. I have no desire to waste it on meaningless things.]
Rosa answered calmly, but her words dripped with contempt and mockery—contempt for the weak, scorn for the useless.
She regarded most of those currently occupying the Garden of Swords in that light.
Once her transformation into a fiend was complete, even those she considered somewhat useful would no longer be necessary.
‘This must be how Siron once looked at us.’
To her, they were mere insignificant creatures, barely enough to fill the emptiness beneath her feet—creatures she could wipe out with a mere press of a finger or a breath.
Almost all the family members now seemed like that to Rosa. Paddler was among the lesser nuisances, but his constant failures made him no different from the rest.
Those like Paddler who remained in the spirit realm were all the same.
Rosa was aware she was becoming someone who needed no one’s help—and she felt nothing about it.
The only thing that stirred her was her youngest, Jin. Only when thinking of or looking at Jin did she show genuine laughter, not just a sneer.
Just minutes ago, while summoning Paddler, she had smiled through his eyes as she saw Jin.
[Let’s hope this doesn’t happen again.]
[Ah… is that so?]
Rosa hesitated, weighing whether to press down on Paddler, but then let out a hollow laugh.
He refused to submit to fear or power, which often irritated Rosa.
[It seems your grudge against the Runkandel family isn’t as deep as I thought. The vengeful spirits I’ve seen always survive no matter what, stabbing their foes to the end… They never just gave up like you, as if it didn’t matter.]
[I am not your slave, Rosa Runkandel. That is for me to decide.]
[Indeed, you are no one’s slave. You are merely a remnant of the past, brought into this world because of me. You lack the worth to be my servant.]
Paddler showed no particular reaction to Rosa’s insulting words. Instead, a wry smile curled on his lips.
[Well said. In truth, you don’t need the help of mere remnants like me. So why don’t you just let me fade away?]
[For the same reason as you.]
Paddler laughed again.
[You thought you needed me, but you don’t?]
Their eyes met.
[Exactly. Just as your revenge was, in fact, already over, I too did not expect my power to stabilize so quickly.]
Paddler’s revenge being over meant one thing:
—I do not wish for Runkandel’s revival, but its corruption and ruin. The descendants of Temar, your mother, Rosa Runkandel—the power you chose will ultimately drag Runkandel into the abyss.
Just as he had said when he first fought Jin, Paddler desired only the destruction of Runkandel.
From the moment he appeared in the mortal realm, all that remained in him was blind hatred for Runkandel.
Therefore, Ilina never needed to take special measures like breaking his mind or brainwashing him. Instead, at that time, Ilina had planned to use Paddler to keep Rosa in check.
But the moment Paddler saw Rosa, fully transformed into a fiend, he realized his goal had already been achieved.
The Garden of Swords was no longer a land that could be called Runkandel, and in the end, she would destroy even that herself and consume the entire world.
Ilina’s plan to control Rosa through Paddler lost all meaning. Even if a few strong ones like Paddler joined forces, it was impossible to restrain her from within Runkandel.
Moreover, there was no longer any need to restrain her. As a fiend, she was naturally spreading despair across the world.
[Then why not just reclaim your power and erase me? I don’t understand why you bother with all this complicated nonsense.]
Before Rosa could answer, Ilina spoke first.
“Sir Paddler, you seem quite exhausted. It hasn’t been long since you returned to the mortal realm, yet your mind is already filled with thoughts of ending your pitiful existence.”
[Paddler.]
“But Sir Paddler, you are no longer human—you are a god now. Your existence depends solely on the head of the family, and from what I know… most gods tend to respect the fate of mortals.”
[Fate? What are you talking about all of a sudden?]
“It means only those who have fulfilled their destiny can find rest in oblivion. If your revenge were truly over, the head of the family would have erased you instantly, regardless of your wishes. But that hasn’t happened. You still have work to do.”
Paddler glared at Ilina.
“How laughable it is for someone once revered as a knight of the ten to rely entirely on others to complete their revenge. Shouldn’t you have done at least a little yourself to deserve rest? And conveniently, the one you hate so much has awakened…”
[You mean Veil?]
“Yes, Veil Runkandel. Presumed to be another god’s remnant. You must eliminate him yourself. Only then will the head of the family recognize your struggle to fulfill your fate and grant you peace.”
Paddler remained silent for a moment, then turned as if to leave.
[…Veil will be no different from me the moment he stands before Lady Rosa. I cannot understand why you, the head of the family, who is already prepared to end the world alone, would bother with such pointless games.]
“You do not need to understand the head of the family’s will.”
[I am but a remnant, so I will join your game one last time.]
As he left the cabin, Ilina bowed her head to Rosa.
“If I have overstepped, my apologies, Lady. He leaves mocking to the end. Those who have nothing to lose and no special desires are always a problem. Though it’s better than being incompetent and greedy.”
[Just as Sir Paddler said. I was about to erase him, but you stopped me.]
“I thought it a waste.”
[From your perspective, that makes sense. Your actions were arrogant, but since your intent was no longer to insult me as before, I will let it pass.]
“Thank you for your understanding.”
[I respect neither Sir Paddler nor the fates of mortals. Only the youngest deserves respect. But if today’s events somehow benefit the conversation between me and the youngest, I may even reward you. Perhaps my thoughts will change a little.]
Ilina’s expression brightened.
“That will surely happen. Even if my mother awakens later, I will remain your most loyal servant…”
[Bring the second battalion tomorrow. Tell them they will be punished for their previous failure.]
“Understood.”
Meanwhile, the Balmur Alliance gazed up at the sky after the battle beneath the sea had ended.
Perhaps because Paddler had suddenly disappeared, Veil spread his golden aura across the sky, his anger palpable.
Rosa had only summoned Paddler back to Ram.
[You worthless fools, tell me where Paddler fled!]
The remaining chaos dragons, black ships, knights, and even Lionel and Stam bore the full brunt of Veil’s wrath.
[Or else you run too, and I’ll destroy your strongholds. Where is it? The castle of Runkandel?]
Lionel and Stam were already unable to answer. They had been torn apart by Veil’s energy after recklessly giving ground to save Paddler.
‘Why did Rosa save only Sir Paddler? It can’t be because she lacks the power to summon the others again.’
When Rosa looked down at the seabed through Paddler’s eyes, Jin felt Rosa’s power press down on him for a moment.
It was the overwhelming force of a god.
‘…So she doesn’t even need to save the rest?’
The thought that everyone below Paddler was utterly useless to Rosa sent chills down Jin’s spine.
Rosa was growing stronger faster than anyone.
If only she could move beyond Hupester directly, Jin was certain she could destroy the world within days.
An enormous, unbreakable wall awaited him beyond this sea.
“Jin?”
Valeria grabbed Jin’s shoulder. Turning around, he saw all his comrades watching him with worried expressions. Since Paddler’s disappearance, Jin had unconsciously worn a troubled look.
He glanced at them briefly, then shook his head.
“Rosa has grown stronger. I don’t even understand why she bothered saving Paddler.”
His comrades nodded in understanding.
“…Maybe the day we face Rosa in battle will come sooner than Orgal predicted.”
At that moment, Jin had a premonition that Rosa would handle everyone alone, even those like Paddler, without concern.
But unlike that monster, he would not fight alone.
“But this isn’t the time to worry about that. First, we need to calm down that reckless former teenage knight over there.”
“Oh, Jin. Should I tell him to stop now?”
Jin shook his head at Sandra, smiling.
“He’ll stop on his own. Everyone who meant to harm you is already dead. But we do need to help Kyung face the truth.”
Swish!
Jin drew his sword again.
“So, you tell Lord Veil to take care of me. And if any harm comes to the others because of me, threaten him that he’ll never see Lord Veil again.”
“What if something happens to you, Jin!?”
“As long as I fight with the certainty that Lord Veil would never attack his comrades, that will never happen.”