Episode 700
Chapter 178: Deepening Dilemmas (4)
Jin was pleased with all the unexpected outbursts Veil had shown since arriving at Kinzello’s divine headquarters.
Though Zephyrin’s threats had been unpleasant, and Orgal’s not-so-joking remarks had stung, Veil was stepping up boldly on his behalf.
Kinzello blinked silently for a moment, seemingly at a loss for words in response to Veil’s bluntness.
“Well, Veil, maybe you should hold back a bit? If you rush in recklessly, you might be the one who ends up snapping.”
Jin’s words sounded like a warning to Veil, but in truth, they served the opposite purpose.
What Jin said had a twofold effect: it provoked Veil even more, and it subtly showed Kinzello’s side that Jin had at least tried to keep Veil in check.
As expected, Veil’s anger flared even higher, and he shouted back.
“That’s not true!”
“Not true? Come on, you’re definitely losing here. Orgal really is the Demon King. So stop causing trouble and just stay put.”
Jin was curious to see how Orgal would handle Veil.
‘During the final battle, I probably won’t get a good look at Orgal’s fighting style. I’ll have to focus entirely on Rosa.’
So it wouldn’t hurt to observe how Orgal fights now that he’s regained some strength. It would be on a whole different level than during the Steel Emperor Star incident.
“Ha, Jin. You really don’t understand, do you? Sure, he might be stronger than me. But I can feel it.”
“Feel what?”
“He can’t kill me.”
“That’s obvious. We’re temporary allies, after all. You’re one of our most important assets.”
“It’s not just that. It’s more fundamental. With his power, he can’t erase my existence. That’s why, even if I get hit, I want to hit back.”
Jin looked at Orgal, silently asking for clarification.
“The energy of creation—or something equivalent—is necessary to completely erase traces of life. There are very few beings capable of that… like the Black Sea King you faced before.”
“Adding ‘completely’ means he can’t kill, but sealing or other methods are possible. That’s why you guys didn’t show up at all when Gliek awakened…”
Jin clenched his teeth, recalling the Steel Emperor Star battle. Back then, Kinzello demanded Jin’s loyalty as a condition for participating in the Gliek war.
“Sir Veil, if you truly want to fight me, I’ll have no choice but to partially seal your power. To avoid any fatal problems for our alliance. So Jin will try even harder to hold you back.”
“Yeah, that’s the plan. Today’s just an unlucky day for you, Orgal.”
“Same to you.”
Without the energy of creation or something similar, erasing the trace of life is impossible.
Jin pondered this for a moment.
‘So, to kill Orgal later, I’ll definitely need the power of creation.’
Given Orgal’s strength, even discounting the Sun God’s authority, the power of creation was naturally essential.
But something felt off.
‘Then why did Veil admit defeat to me like that at the sealing site? According to Orgal, I shouldn’t be able to kill Veil.’
Veil wasn’t the type to surrender just because his opponent was stronger, judging by how fiercely he was arguing with Orgal now.
Veil had never met the Sun God but knew he was a divine being, which made him arrogant and willful.
‘Could it be because he knows I’m Lady Sara’s heir?’
But that wasn’t a question to dwell on now.
When Jin gave a subtle nod, Veil turned away from glaring at Orgal, pouting.
“Well, I guess we’ve roughly kept our promises, Orgal. Now, let’s talk about Rosa—as allies.”
“You want to discuss why Rosa is progressing faster than expected?”
“Exactly. There are some strange things about Rosa’s behavior.”
“Go on.”
“First, Rosa has become such a massive evil that she no longer needs powerful warriors like Sir Padler, who nearly killed you in the Caldaran snowfields. It’s hard to explain why—I just feel it.”
“Since you’re not one to spout nonsense, I’ll trust you. It’s not entirely impossible.”
“But then, Rosa suddenly started using Joshua again. And he seems even more useless than before. He’s failed every recent mission I blocked. That’s the part I find strange.”
“You mean the Demon God wouldn’t bother with such a worthless pawn?”
“Exactly. Ever since I met him in Akin, I’ve been wondering why Rosa keeps such a dead weight around.”
Jin paused to gather his thoughts, then locked eyes with Orgal.
“Suddenly, I remembered what you said at our first meeting.”
“Her daughters’ only wish is one thing: the reincarnation of my old lover, Helluram.”
“So that’s why she uses humans as sacrifices?”
“Not exactly humans themselves. Flesh and bones are needed, but they’re inefficient. What really matters is despair. Only pure, massive despair can awaken Helluram.”
Despair.
Jin had considered the possibility that Rosa was using Joshua to harvest pure despair.
When Jin explained this, Orgal’s eyes widened in surprise.
“If not, then there’s no reason for Rosa to keep that trash around.”
“That’s a very interesting theory, Jin Runcandel. So the accelerated completion of the Demon God might be related.”
“Do you think I’m right?”
“I’d forgotten about Runcandel’s second disciple because he was so insignificant. But human jealousy can astonish even the gods. If his inferiority complex is deep and dark enough to affect the Demon God, it’s entirely possible. It’s a realm I hadn’t considered.”
“So… if Joshua succeeds at his tasks, it’s actually inconvenient for Rosa.”
But Rosa couldn’t just let Joshua lose on purpose. If he succeeded, it meant Jin and his allies would get hurt or killed.
There was only one solution.
Find Joshua and eliminate him completely. Prevent Rosa from using him at all.
“That’s right.”
“Completely eradicating Joshua is the only way.”
“The Demon God will be protecting him, so it won’t be easy.”
Of course.
Rosa wouldn’t leave such a useful pawn unguarded. The protection would be subtle enough to evade Joshua’s detection but thorough enough that no one could finish him off.
That was why Veil had lost Joshua in the Akin forest.
“Protection, huh… ugh.”
Suddenly, Jin was overwhelmed by a wave of nausea.
It was disgust.
At the thought that even after falling to a despair-producing puppet, some humans never escape the grasp of those who made them.
At the thought that some mothers would send their children deeper into the abyss without hesitation, as long as it served their own needs.
“Are you okay?”
Jin barely suppressed his dry heaves and nodded.
“I’m fine. Anyway, whether my theory is right or not, Joshua must be eliminated before the final battle.”
“I agree. If Joshua Runcandel lives to see a day without despair, that day will become your despair. You’re far more important to the Demon God than Joshua… Your despair will be a much better fuel to awaken Helluram…”
Jin began to doubt whether despair was truly meant to awaken Helluram.
The Rosa he had seen recently seemed less like someone trying to awaken Helluram and more like someone preparing to become a disaster herself.
Above all, Jin couldn’t picture Rosa pledging loyalty to Helluram like a prophet. So whose side was she really on?
“Damn it… these worries just keep piling up.”
At least there was one relief.
Orgal had just regained part of his old power.
“Then your task is clear now, Orgal. You’ve rested enough in bed; it’s time to move.”
“You want me to kill Joshua?”
“You’re not going to say it’s impossible with your current strength, right?”
“Well, it depends on how much the Demon God cares. But even if you hadn’t said it, I was already thinking of finding him. If the Demon God’s blessing is too deep for me to handle, I’ll at least confirm whether his despair is truly being used.”
“Good. You’re making me feel more and more glad I brought Veil along. Next time we meet, I expect meaningful news.”
As Jin stood to leave, Orgal waved his hand, opening a steel dimensional gate. Beyond it, the territorial waters of Tikan were visible.
“Use it if you want.”
Though it seemed considerate, Jin recognized it as a veiled warning.
If he acted recklessly as an ally, Orgal could reach Tikan in an instant.
Unlike before, opening the dimensional gate no longer seemed to strain Orgal.
“I have a ship waiting. You know how teleportation works.”
Jin returned the warning with one of his own, and Orgal grinned.
“Well, as you said, we’re even. See you next time.”
After leaving Kinzello’s divine headquarters and boarding the Red Owl, Veil looked at Jin with curiosity.
“Hey, Jin.”
“What is it?”
“The reason I lost to you the first time was because of the fire you have.”
Jin was about to ask why he suddenly said that, but then he remembered how he’d been pondering the reason earlier in Kinzello’s conference room.
“Really? I was wondering about that myself just now. It didn’t seem like I was simply stronger, but if it was because of the fire, then maybe that’s true.”
“No, you don’t realize it, but the fire you have is very special. And that fire will work on him too. So, one day, we have to team up and defeat him together. Got it?”