Episode 698
Chapter 178: Deepening Concerns (2)
“Did I ask some awkward question? Your reaction seems pretty intense.”
“Jin Kyung, how do you know that name?” Zephyrin narrowed his eyes as Vishkel handed a handkerchief to Orgal.
“I just know.”
“That’s not a name you can just ‘know’.”
“Let’s not dig too deep into each other’s business.”
“Kyung, you’ve always grilled us about how we got our information. Have some conscience. Last time, you took Princess Bianca and Prince Lanke under the pretense of protection and made them do things that went too far.”
“Did Bianca and Lanke really overstep? The rescue operation for Sister Yona was in Akin. After the mission, Ziphl’s arrival created a tense atmosphere for a while. They seemed to be debating whether to attack us. Without Bianca and Lanke, they might have struck.”
“It’s strange to say those two kept the peace. Have you forgotten? Ziphl is also our temporary ally. Though the betrayal by the Tower Keeper was upsetting, they’re not foolish enough to break the alliance before the final battle with the Dark God.”
“Didn’t Lanke and Bianca tell you? Ziphl threatened us, saying the alliance was no longer necessary. The situation has changed.”
“I’ve said it before, but looking back, Kinzello has always shown goodwill toward you. I’ve had to help you more than once, too. Of course, there were many times we tried to kill each other, but if this keeps up, we’ll be no different from Ziphl.”
“Is that so?”
Jin’s eyes sharpened.
“This is frustrating… Both sides treat this temporary alliance lightly—it’s ridiculous. If you want to break the alliance, just say so. I’ll agree. But if you’re making pathetic threats as a warning, you’d better stop. Because next time, I’ll be the one to break it first.”
As Jin spoke, he gathered his energy, sending a heavy vibration rippling through the surroundings.
Veil hesitated, wondering if he should also release his power, but recalled Sandra’s strict order to act only when Jin commanded.
In truth, Jin had no intention of breaking the alliance.
If Zephyrin had simply said, “Fine, the temporary alliance ends today,” Jin would have laughed it off, saying it was just a joke and asking why everyone was so serious.
But with Ziphl lost to Hedo, and now Kinzello acting this way, Jin felt it was necessary to set things straight.
In other words, Jin was bluffing to make sure Kinzello never dared to issue such empty warnings under the guise of the alliance again.
The tension with Ziphl was already enough of a headache.
Faced with Jin’s counter-threat, Kinzello’s side fell silent for a moment. Unlike others, Jin never made empty threats.
“Hah, what did you say? You bastard…”
Zephyrin was about to explode with curses, but Orgal cut in.
“Ahem, Zephyrin, calm down. It’s obvious how Jin learned about Zito… The Holy King told him. The Holy King must have received a revelation from Ayula. Since you suddenly brought up Zito, it seems there’s a problem with his body, which the Holy Kingdom is keeping.”
Orgal met Jin’s gaze.
Jin was always secretly amazed whenever Orgal spoke so casually about the world’s hidden truths.
“Now, you too should calm down, Jin Runkandel. I have no intention of breaking the alliance, so don’t put on airs like that again. Is it really so hard to get along?”
Aside from the reckless mention of breaking the alliance, Zephyrin’s words weren’t wrong. Kinzello had always seemed eager to maintain good relations with Jin.
Still, Jin treated Kinzello harshly for one reason.
To Jin, they were still terrorists who killed ordinary people and conducted experiments without remorse. After ending Rosa, they were enemies who had to be wiped out.
So Jin couldn’t look kindly on Kinzello. They were not worthy of any moral consideration. Besides, Jin had never received help from them without strings attached.
“It’s not an easy matter. Anyway, you seem to know everything, Orgal.”
“I’ve lived a long time. To answer your question—cough—Zito is a disgrace to our demon race. But to me, he’s like a mentor.”
“So that’s why, when I was a trainee, I tried to swallow the Holy Kingdom? To reclaim my mentor’s body. The biological experiments were just a side project.”
“Think what you will. But that’s a separate issue from facing the Dark God.”
“No, they’re connected. Because of that, the Holy Kingdom is unstable, delaying the healing of key forces.”
“One thing I can say for sure is that I can’t control the problem with Zito’s body.”
“Even if you could, I doubt you’d want to.”
“You might find it hard to believe, but me waking him now would be a huge burden.”
“That sounds like you think it’s better for him to wake after you’re fully recovered.”
“Since the Holy Kingdom acquired Zito’s body, why do you think Ayula and the ancient saints hid this fact from future generations?”
Orgal chuckled.
“Because someone might covet that power.”
Jin nodded immediately.
“Almost got it right. Zito’s energy itself is seductive. So my advice is to always be suspicious of your friend from now on.”
“What?”
“I hope the current Holy King, Rani Salome, has faith strong enough to resist that temptation. If she falls and revives Zito, it’ll be a disaster for everyone.”
Just as Jin was about to respond, Orgal laughed again.
“Just kidding. If Zito’s body had that effect, the Holy Kingdom would have collapsed long ago. Now that I’ve put Jin in his place, Zephyrin, I hope you feel a bit better. Cough!”
Zephyrin smiled, clearly pleased to see Jin’s expression sour.
“It’s been a while since our lord did something worth thanking. It’s rare to see Jin Kyung like that; I think I’ll be in a good mood for a week.”
“That’s a relief.”
Though Orgal said it was a joke, Jin couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling.
He wasn’t sure if the reason Ayula and the ancient saints hid Zito’s body from future generations was unrelated to Orgal’s joke.
“Feels like I’m getting the short end of the stick again. I’ll remember that joke well.”
Knowing how much Kinzello cared about Zito wasn’t all bad.
“Anyway, Zito won’t wake before the final battle with the Dark God. I can’t control it, but I can predict that much…”
Just as Orgal finished, Margiela rolled in briskly in her wheelchair.
“Sorry I’m late, I was napping. Nice to see you, Jin Kyung! I heard you brought Veil along?”
Margiela bowed to Veil, who had stood silently beside Jin like a shadow.
Her eyes sparkled with genuine delight.
“Nice to meet you, Sir Veil. I’m Margiela Ibliano.”
“…Who are you? You know me?”
“Of course! You are the very essence of life born from the sun, the noblest being. We’ve been searching for you for a long time.”
“You’ve been searching for me?”
Jin mulled over the word “sun.”
Come to think of it, Quikantel said that Veil once introduced himself as a creature of the sun…
Suddenly, Jin glanced at the large Kinzello banner hanging behind Orgal.
The banner bore Kinzello’s emblem: a complex design of the “Broken Sun.”
Jin couldn’t take his eyes off it for several seconds, feeling a chill run down his spine.
Could the “parent of life” Kinzello claims to resurrect for ultimate purification really be the Sun God?
There are countless gods in the world—from minor deities dismissed by some to mighty gods governing nature.
Most of these gods have made contracts with humans and become known by name.
But neither Jin nor most people had ever heard of a “Sun God.”
That title only comes up when some cultish mage claims to be the Sun God, causing social upheaval.
No active god bears the name “Sun.”
In hindsight, it was strange.
The sun is instinctively the most worshipped object by humans, yet no god symbolizing it existed.
Orgal smiled quietly at Jin.
“You’re probably right, Jin Runkandel.”
While Jin was shocked, Veil seemed unfazed by Kinzello’s mention of the Sun God.
That was because Veil had never met the one who created him.
When he first appeared in the world, Veil only knew he was born from the sun.
He had never met the sun itself or received any special message.
That’s why, like Hedo a thousand years ago, Veil had been caught up in various incidents, eventually meeting Sarah and becoming one of Runkandel’s ten knights.
“Orgal, I brought Veil because it would help your recovery. If I see you trying to take anything more for your own purposes, I’ll take Veil and leave immediately.”
“Don’t worry about that.”
“Of course, just your recovery alone would be a huge advantage for you all. One side has the Sun God, another has Helluram, and the other has the Demon God’s Stone. Each is striving to complete something quite different.”
[You’ve been struggling to reconnect with Solderet as well, haven’t you?]
“That’s true, but I’d prefer not to be lumped in the same category. I don’t believe that simply regaining communication with Solderet means my goal is fulfilled. More than that, I’ve often wondered about the meaning behind the name Kinzello… Is that the name of the god you’re trying to resurrect?”
[Yes, it’s the name of the being who created everyone here.]