Episode 701
Chapter 178: Deepening Dilemmas (5)

Right after returning to the Tikan launch site on the back of the Red Owl, Veil explained that the sword Jin had obtained possessed a unique trait—it simply wouldn’t disappear.

“Won’t disappear?”

“Yeah. I thought you’d know that already, but you seem completely clueless.”

“It’s a sword I perfected after facing you for several days. The moment I saw that flame manifest, I had a feeling I could easily overpower you.”

Jin still hadn’t named his new magic sword.

He’d added his name to secret techniques or finishing moves passed down from others before, but this was the first time he’d created a sword entirely on his own.

So naming it felt awkward. Giving it a grand, impressive title like ‘Runcandel’s Finishing Move,’ ‘Sara’s Karma,’ or ‘Demon King’s Sword God Technique’ felt even more embarrassing.

“The fire you wield sticks to its target once it’s ignited. It probably won’t go out even if you die.”

“Really? How do you know something I don’t?”

“Hmph. I have divine status, so I possess transcendent insight. Ever since you bested me, I’ve been pondering what that flame really is. If you had cut me that day, I’m certain I wouldn’t have been able to extinguish it on my own.”

Veil’s power came from the Sun God.

According to Orgal’s explanation, the Sun God was a being of far higher rank than the other gods known in this world.

If Veil couldn’t put out Jin’s fire, then those with lesser divine status likely couldn’t either.

Of course, Veil only wielded a fraction of the Sun God’s power, but even that was enough to surpass most mid- to low-level deities.

“Interesting, but I’m still not convinced.”

“I can hardly believe you created such a flame, even after seeing it. That’s the realm Sara sought to reach… Since you’re her successor, it’s not entirely unpleasant. If Sara were here, she’d definitely be pleased. Try cutting me with that flame.”

“Just like that?”

“You don’t believe me, do you? Besides, you should understand the effect of your fire clearly if you want to use it well when avenging Sara later.”

Veil opened his power and extended one arm toward Jin, silently urging him to strike.

“I’m a bit uneasy. If the fire really doesn’t go out, then…”

[You’ve reached the realm Sara desired, but you can’t control your own fire? That can’t be. Cut me quickly. Just lightly, enough to leave a scratch!]

Jin ignited the Bradamante and lightly sliced Veil’s forearm. The cut was so shallow that even an ordinary person wouldn’t need ointment.

[Ouch, that’s annoyingly hot and painful!]

Veil pulled his arm back, wincing. Jin realized Veil’s words were true.

‘Veil really can’t extinguish the fire left on the wound…’

Veil summoned golden energy in his other hand and pressed it against the injured arm as if to staunch the bleeding.

But the tiny flame on the wound showed no sign of fading.

No matter how much he covered or rubbed it with his divine power, the faint shape of the fire remained.

[See? Even someone like me can’t erase it. So that Orgal guy probably can’t either. His Sun God power didn’t seem higher than mine. Unless a phoenix-like being or the fire god themselves intervene, there’s nothing to be done.]

“Looks like you’re back, Jin.”

While the two were talking, Hedo and Yuria entered the launch site.

“Yes, Lord Hedo.”

Jin found himself glancing back and forth between Hedo and Yuria.

It felt strange seeing Hedo standing with Yuria instead of Sandra.

But oddly, Yuria’s expression wasn’t good.

“Hello, Yuria.”

“Hi… Jin oppa.”

“Why do you look so down? Is something wrong?”

Because she was contracted to Az Mil, Yuria had endured many hardships and indirectly experienced various tragedies since childhood. Her comrades had made special efforts to protect her mental health.

Thanks to that, Yuria was usually cheerful and bright.

She was also perceptive as a princess and loved by everyone in the Tikan Kingdom.

“No, nothing in particular, but I just feel strangely down. So Hedo uncle’s been trying to cheer me up.”

“Hmm… Did you know? Well, you do have the power of truth.”

Hedo said awkwardly, and Yuria smiled.

“Thank you for caring, uncle. Seeing you and Jin oppa return safely makes me feel a little better.”

Yuria suspected her sudden unease was because of Jin’s situation.

She’d felt a bad omen ever since he headed to Kinzel’s divine headquarters.

“If I was any help, I’m glad. But why is Veil still twisting around like that? Is he hurt?”

[It’s because you guys showed up and he won’t put out the fire!]

“Fire?”

Jin explained the whole story and retrieved the flame from Veil’s wound.

As Veil had expected, the fire faded easily once Jin’s will was transmitted.

“I knew you crossed a boundary that day, but to think your new sword has such power… Try it on me too.”

Jin lightly cut Hedo as well.

Hedo rubbed the small, faint flame on his wound with his iron-like hands, but it wouldn’t go out.

“Oh… it really doesn’t disappear. It’s not as painful as Veil’s, but if you cut deeply, there’s no way to deal with it.”

“Do you think it would be unbearable if cut deeply?”

“Hard to say without experiencing it, but it would be excruciating—like untreated burn victims. Have you named the sword yet?”

“Not yet.”

“How about ‘Eternal Flame’?”

“…Eternal Flame?”

“Yeah, a fire that never goes out. Everyone who’s faced you probably felt that way—you’re like an unquenchable flame. The sword’s effect matches that perfectly. It suits the name.”

“That sounds too grandiose. I’m embarrassed.”

Jin shuddered, recalling the moment Cosmos had nicknamed him ‘Black Prince.’

“That’s how secret techniques are usually named. The ones you’ve learned were probably named the same way. If you’re okay with it, it’s a fitting name.”

And so, the secret technique was named Eternal Flame.

Hedo, pleased to have named Jin’s sword as a fellow warrior, reached for his pipe but then remembered Yuria was still nearby and put it away.

“Did you gain anything from meeting Kinzel?”

“Let’s go to the conference room and I’ll explain everything step by step.”

On the way to the conference room, Jin carefully observed Yuria.

Her expression seemed a little better but still more subdued than usual.

‘I hope Az Mil’s power isn’t hinting at some dark future for Yuria…’

Once they arrived, all the comrades quickly gathered.

For a while, Jin detailed everything he’d learned from Orgal.

He spoke of the Sun God, the Demon King Zito, and the role Joshua was presumed to play.

Most of the comrades felt the same heavy emotions as Jin.

Their worries deepened amid the already overwhelming situation.

“Phew, it’s suffocating to think that even if we eliminate the fiend gods, it won’t be the end. But what choice do we have? We had to settle things with the fiend gods eventually, even with our temporary allies.”

Kashimir spoke first.

“If we can’t handle them all, the world we know will cease to exist. It will either be transformed by Kinzel’s so-called purification, turned into hell by the descended Demon King, rewritten by Ziphl as the sole god, or destroyed by the fiend gods. No matter how tough it gets, we have to keep fighting.”

Though he was stating the obvious, Kashimir carried the dignity of Tikan’s king. He was growing into a true royal presence.

“Exactly as Lord Kashimir said. We’ve handled things step by step so far, and we’ll continue to do so. For now, let’s set aside problems like the Sun God or the Demon King and focus on Rosa.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“As you all know, Rosa is growing stronger faster than Orgal expected, likely due to the despair Joshua generates. Orgal has taken charge of monitoring him, so once we get word, we’ll coordinate to eliminate him. And…”

Jin met the eyes of his comrades carefully.

“I think we should bring the battle with Rosa forward as much as possible.”

Joshua’s despair wasn’t the only thing empowering Rosa.

Chaos was spreading worldwide, infecting ordinary humans.

The Balmur Alliance and temporary allies were doing their best to suppress it by sending missions to contaminated areas, but there were limits.

Especially in the Hupester region, the corruption was so severe even they couldn’t intervene. Half the world was already a cauldron of despair.

“Of course, the longer the fight is delayed, the more despair will be generated. This is just a hunch, but I think Rosa is waiting for the moment when we’re fully prepared. That’s when she’ll strike, because defeating us then will maximize despair.”

Jin couldn’t accept any other reason for Rosa’s power or why she remained confined to the Sword Garden.

“Of course, I don’t mean we should rush recklessly. We need to find a moment Rosa doesn’t expect. We must avoid despairing more than she wants and strike before she’s fully realized…”

It was a somewhat abstract plan, but understanding that Rosa ‘uses despair’ was difficult enough.

Jin and his comrades had to piece together such theories every time, never fully certain.

After all, they were facing not humans, but fiend gods.

“Starting today, we’ll coordinate with our temporary allies to begin verifying some of these predictions. Once we can roughly confirm the relationship between the speed at which Rosa is being completed and the level of despair, we’ll set the date for the final battle.”

Just as Jin finished speaking, a member of the Seven-Colored Birds burst urgently into the conference room.

“Your Majesty, Lord Jin! Lady Mary has just returned!”

“Show her in immediately!”

Mary had recently gone on a rescue mission alongside the Tona brothers and others to save survivors within Huepester.

She had just returned after rescuing some of them, her entire body covered in wounds.

The moment she saw Jin, she squeezed her eyes shut in pain.

She had entered Huepester and come face-to-face with Diphus.