Chapter 851
Episode 211. Orgal’s Negotiation (5)
“…A successor?”
[Let’s get inside first.]
After stepping back into the conference room, Orgal took a long, steadying breath. He showed no intention of hiding his defeat or injuries from Jin and Murakan.
[Zito has wanted me to succeed him for a long time.]
“I heard from Ameris that Zito is someone who rules the world through violence and pain.”
[That’s right. Long ago, he unified the underground realm through exactly that method. The underworld I experienced back then… it was a hell unlike anything Insen has ever seen. There have been countless tyrants and mass murderers on the surface, but compared to when he unified the underground, they were mere children’s play.]
“Why would a madman like that want you as his successor? Your Kinzello clan talks about purification and all, which isn’t exactly normal either, but your paths seem clearly different.”
[I don’t know either. He always showed me an odd kindness, despite the fact that I never once agreed with his ideology. Maybe he saw something in me, or maybe there’s no reason at all.]
No reason at all.
Orgal truly believed that. As far as he knew, Zito was the kind of being who could do just that.
“Do you have any idea why Zito has awakened?”
[There are many reasons. Some factions underground have been trying to awaken Zito for ages. Even five hundred years ago, during the Holy Kingdom’s defense, they made deals with witches to restore Zito’s sight. In the end, they succeeded. Loki Kanesto might be involved.]
—[Before killing me, Loki said his goal was the resurrection of the Sun God. That’s why he killed all his comrades except for Veil. He wants to completely erase the current world and restore a proper one. The original form of the world, he said. For that, he used everything—his clan, witches, even Ziphl.]
—[There’s a high chance Loki was involved in the birth of the Tyrant God this time as well.]
Jin suddenly recalled what Fadler said just before disappearing.
‘The Tyrant God and Zito share some commonalities. If Loki truly wants to erase and rebuild the world, Zito is one of the most suitable pieces.’
Even if Loki didn’t directly influence Zito’s resurrection, Zito’s pursuit of violence and pain would still serve her purpose.
[And now… it’s no longer just some factions. Even the demon lord who used to lead the anti-Zito forces now follows him.]
“Oh? So you were defeated by that demon lord?”
Murakan sneered, and Orgal shrugged.
[His name is Faelito Velgasium. Known as the Sword Demon in the demon realm. The sword he wields, Vaskala, has the power to nullify abilities. I couldn’t even properly use my powers before I was taken down.]
“You’re a demon of your caliber, and you got beaten so badly just because you lost some powers? Huh, maybe you’re weaker than I thought.”
[Think whatever you want.]
“You haven’t found any news about Loki yet, right?”
[The person most needed to find Loki hasn’t arrived yet. We’ll have to talk again once he starts his work.]
‘He’ referred to the head of the Bahma family in the Third Demon Realm of the Intermediate World—the Demon Lord of the Phantom Beast. Orgal had already sent Shagal Bahma to summon him as soon as he regained his memories of Loki.
“But it’s strange that Zito wants a successor.”
[What’s strange?]
“If he’s fully intact and powerful, why would he need to find a successor in advance? Of course, he might be a godlike being who could kill you anytime, but right now, he’s only regaining his strength. It’s odd that he’s keeping the flame alive.”
That was something Orgal hadn’t considered at all.
[That’s… true.]
“Also, assuming Loki was involved in Zito’s resurrection, there’s something odd. Loki’s goal is the resurrection of the Sun God, which is completely different from what Zito pursues. If Loki resurrected Zito, it means she has a way to control him. After enough destruction, she’d have to discard Zito. The same assumption applies to the Tyrant God’s case.”
[That’s a good point. Damn it, I still don’t understand what kind of world that worm wants to create through the Sun God’s resurrection.]
Whatever it was, it was far from Kinzello’s ideals. Sanna’s Sun God cult, Kinzello, the Red-Eyed tribe, Loki—they all want the Sun God’s resurrection, but their desired outcomes differ.
[I don’t even know what basis they have to believe they can control Zito. For now, it’s all just speculation.]
“Do you have any rough idea when the sealing wall will fully collapse and the underground demons will rise?”
[Even if the demons come to the surface within a few days, it wouldn’t be surprising.]
“That soon?”
[When I went down to negotiate, I honestly never imagined I’d lose. Even if the strongest demon appeared, I was sure it would take tremendous power to cross the sealing wall’s cracks and reach the Intermediate World. But Faelito didn’t seem very tired even after crossing.]
That meant the cracks in the sealing wall were far larger than Orgal had expected.
[If he had been tired, even considering Vaskala, I wouldn’t have been defeated so easily. Of course, ‘within a few days’ is the worst-case scenario. I don’t know the exact timing. We can only hope the surface prepares for even one more day.]
“Is it possible to repair the sealing wall now?”
[Impossible. With the power the Great Serpent currently holds, it’s difficult even to prevent the cracks from widening.]
Ameris didn’t even know that part of the sealing wall had already cracked.
“Still, shouldn’t we try?”
[It’s too dangerous. Even if we tell the Great Serpent, it would probably react like I did. The cracks tend to repair themselves when near the Great Serpent, but if its power is insufficient, it could cause side effects.]
As Orgal said, it was only a matter of time before the true demon realm’s forces rose to the surface.
[There aren’t many things we can hope for, Jin Runkandel. First, that the sealing wall holds much longer than we expect. Second, that there’s a reason Zito is so obsessed with finding a successor—maybe he’s about to perish soon.]
“The third is whether the surface can handle the underground forces even if they fully awaken.”
[…Right. For example, Zito could become a common enemy like the Tyrant God. But unlike then, the situation isn’t right for a temporary alliance.]
Ziphl is already at war with the Red-Eyed tribe, and unlike the Tyrant God’s time, the underground forces haven’t even fully revealed their strength.
There was no reason to rush into a temporary alliance. Jin didn’t want to join hands again with enemies they would eventually have to destroy.
Especially after uncovering the truth from a thousand years ago.
Ziphl and Runkandel were fated never to coexist under the same sky. Even setting aside the Red Demon War, Murakan would never allow an alliance with Ziphl. The head of the family, Jin, felt the same.
But since Zito was a ‘common enemy,’ Ziphl would inevitably fight them unless they allied with the underground.
From the Barmel Union’s perspective, the best outcome would be the mutual destruction of Elona, Ziphl’s main forces, and the underground.
“I have no intention of that. The only case where the three factions would form a temporary alliance is if Zito brings a threat even greater than the Tyrant God’s, forcing us to choose between the world’s destruction or alliance.”
[I agree. But Jin Runkandel, our Kinzello wants to make you one promise.]
“A promise?”
[Even if we don’t form a temporary alliance, if the Barmel Union fights the underground, we won’t hold back any support.]
“With no strings attached?”
[Exactly. Whether it’s information about the underground or troops, we’ll provide whatever is needed.]
“Trying to get something for nothing?”
[You’re waiting for us to find Loki with the same mindset. We’re both the same. Let’s use each other when the time comes.]
Jin shrugged and nodded.
“Well, if they’re offering free help, there’s no reason to refuse. I’m personally used to getting things for free from Kinzello.”
[…Hearing that makes me want to take back what I just said.]
“My great-grandfather used to say, ‘Once a deal is made, it cannot be undone.’ Let’s look forward to Kinzello’s unlimited support without expecting anything in return. And also, information on Loki Kanesto.”
Though irritating, Orgal was relieved that Jin had decided to accept the support. Even if not an alliance, cooperation was clearly necessary.
“I should get going. Take care of yourself, Orgal.”
At the Tower of Stories.
Veradin was drinking tea with Elona when she suddenly flinched in surprise.
“What’s wrong, Lady Elona?”
“…Something powerful has awakened.”
“Something powerful has awakened…? Could it be the Red-Eyed tribe?”
“I thought the power awakening underground would be the Red-Eyed tribe, too, but no. The energy feels completely different from theirs. It’s similar to the demons.”
“Demons… Wait, you said underground. Are you sensing more than one power?”
Elona pointed far off beyond the window.
“I feel an indescribably immense power over there, too. And this power is definitely… human.”
Veradin quietly stared at the spot her fingers were pointing to. The vast, open expanse of the Theia Plains stretched out before her.
Suddenly, Veradin thought beyond the Theia Plains—past several kingdoms and unprotected territories—to a certain domain. She pictured a human said to be there.
“…The Black Sea?”
At her words, Elona slowly nodded. The power she sensed was definitely coming from a human located near the Black Sea.