Episode 861
Chapter 215: Reunion with the Gods (Part 2)

“Got it. We’re leaving right now. Luna, Runtia, please get ready immediately.”

“We’re always ready. Let’s go, Commander Jin.”

Jin quickly wrapped up the meeting and headed to Tikan.

The reason for bringing Luna and Runtia along was clear. No matter how frivolous or weak Paytel had seemed back in the Qingse Military Isles, he was, at his core, a higher-tier god.

Even if a battle broke out with him, having those two by their side would be an immense reassurance. Murakan and Valeria would be coming along as well.

“Welcome, Nari! And the riders!”

As the Red Owl arrived at Tikan, Zett greeted the group.

“So, where are Julian and Kaltor?”

“They’re in the infirmary.”

Even before entering, they could hear Julian’s sobbing. But it wasn’t sorrow—it was tears of joy.

“Tch… How long are you going to keep crying? There are plenty of eyes watching. Now that Commander Jin is here, why don’t you stop and say hello, you big crybaby?”

Though Beris’s words were sharp, he was genuinely happy about Kaltor’s recovery. Kuzan standing beside him felt the same.

In a way, the three of them were like comrades who had joined the Balmel Alliance together.

While Kuzan and Beris had quickly adapted to life in Tikan, Julian had struggled to open up to his companions until recently. Though he had fought bravely in various battles, as long as Kaltor remained unconscious, Julian couldn’t truly connect with anyone.

But now that Kaltor had awakened, Julian’s long loneliness and despair had finally come to an end.

“Commander Jin…”

Julian looked at Jin, voice trembling.

“You don’t regret coming to Tikan now, do you?”

“Not at all. I’ve felt grateful from the start, but now I truly feel like I’ve regained my entire life.”

“That’s good to hear. Don’t get too sentimental, though. Kaltor, it’s good to see you. We’ve seen you almost every day since rescuing you in 1799, but this must be your first time seeing us.”

Kaltor sat up in bed and met Jin’s gaze. Though fully conscious, his body was still frail from the long ordeal.

Jin recalled the day they rescued Kaltor at Joshua’s villa—how battered he had been, with massive nails driven into his limbs and his body covered in horrific torture marks.

“You saved me, Commander…”

“I didn’t do it alone. My comrades helped. Julian was part of the mission, too. Later, when we retrieved the core of the monster Ozdok, seven riders from Runkandel joined us.”

“I don’t know how to express my gratitude…”

Overcome with emotion, Kaltor suddenly embraced Julian and broke down in tears. The others thought the two made a perfect pair. For such gentle, tearful souls, the time spent as Joshua’s hunting dogs had been pure hell.

“Hey, kid. You’re here?”

“Murakan.”

“Wah, Murakan!?”

Startled by Murakan’s voice, Kaltor looked at him wide-eyed.

“What’s with the surprise?”

“Ah… Murakan, sir?”

“Do you know me?”

“No dragon doesn’t know Murakan, sir.”

“Haha, that figures. Don’t worry, I’m not going to hit you. You’re on our side, after all.”

“Th-Thank goodness.”

“Still, knowing me means you must be at least a thousand years old. How old are you?”

“Just under two thousand.”

“Oh? So you were active a thousand years ago?”

“No, I don’t know much about the wars back then. I was hiding with Paytel at the time…”

“Oh… hiding, huh? Well, that figures.”

Back when Runkandel and Ziphl were at war a thousand years ago, Paytel had hidden with his dragons, afraid of the conflict.

Murakan recalled Paytel’s nature and thought, “That’s so like him,” but he refrained from speaking ill of him in front of Kaltor. Insulting a god was like insulting a parent to a dragon.

No matter how flawed, you don’t insult a comrade’s parent.

“That’s understandable. Don’t be so self-conscious.”

“It’s just… embarrassing.”

“Huh? What’s embarrassing?”

“Though I hid by Paytel’s choice, I turned my back on Runkandel at the time. Yet Runkandel saved me now. And that war is still ongoing. So this time, I won’t hide—I’ll fight alongside you all, even if it goes against Paytel’s wishes…”

For the first time, Kaltor’s face showed firm resolve.

“Hmm… That’s a commendable mindset. It’s not easy for a dragon to openly defy a god’s will. You need that much conviction to even say it.”

“I heard Runkandel and the Balmel Alliance need Paytel’s help right now.”

“That’s right. We might need his power manifested as a weapon, or even the power of the storm itself. Julian, have you been able to communicate with Paytel?”

“No… It’s been a long time since I heard Paytel’s voice. Since what happened in the Qingse Isles with Murakan and Commander Jin, I haven’t heard from him even once.”

Murakan nodded thoughtfully. That made sense—he himself would be too ashamed to communicate with his contractor again.

“Maybe it’s embarrassment, but there could be other reasons. Paytel manifested through me back then, but he still suffered severe damage… His true form might have taken a heavy hit.”

“So he might still be recovering.”

“Exactly.”

“Hmm. Is there any way to try communicating with Paytel?”

“Julian and I can’t do anything here. Julian tried several times to reach out to Paytel to help me recover, but never succeeded. Same for me. But maybe we should go to the Qingse Isles directly.”

“The Qingse Isles…”

There were about a hundred islands in the Qingse Isles.

Jin and Murakan had operated on Island 32, but that island vanished without a trace after the battle with Garmund, summoned by Joshua and the Black Roar.

Therefore, the monument believed to be the tomb of the Thunder God Gram on Island 32 had also disappeared.

“As far as I know, even if the monument or barrier protecting a god’s tomb is damaged, as long as the remains or fundamental energy of the god remain nearby, it doesn’t completely vanish. So even if we go back now, Commander Jin’s sword might still react to Gram’s energy.”

Jin had worried about what to do if Kaltor refused to cooperate.

From Jin’s perspective, he had saved Julian and Kaltor, but from Kaltor’s point of view, his god—like a parent—had been harmed by Jin and his comrades.

But those worries were unfounded. Kaltor was willing to make choices for his comrades rather than for Paytel.

‘Well, Paytel did nothing when he was tortured and dying… And it seems a thousand years ago, Kaltor wanted to fight but had to hide because of Paytel. Not surprising.’

Kaltor stood and opened his clothes.

“I’m ready. We can leave immediately.”

“You could rest a few more days if you want.”

“No, if my combat strength is needed, now is the time. Besides, there are many strong people here…”

Jin, Murakan, Luna, and Runtia.

With those four in the room, even if Paytel manifested again, they could easily subdue him like a student. Back then, Murakan alone, even with temporarily restored strength, had overwhelmed Paytel.

Of course, Paytel might manifest in a state with stronger influence over the mortal world, but Jin wasn’t too worried.

“Then I’ll have the Red Owl on standby. Come out when you’re ready.”

“Yes, Commander Jin.”

“And please, speak casually. It feels strange to be addressed so formally by a dragon over two thousand years old. Don’t think of me as so difficult. Kaltor, you’re part of Tikan’s family now.”

“R-Really…?”

Soon after, Jin, the riders, Valeria, and Murakan left the infirmary, followed by Beris and Kuzan.

“Commander Jin.”

“Beris?”

“I… just wanted to say thank you, so I followed you.”

Jin’s eyes widened. Beris was known as Enya’s strict, foul-mouthed mentor.

“Without you, me, Kuzan, and Julian would have been nothing but Joshua’s hunting dogs, doing trash work until we were discarded or killed.”

“No need to be so formal.”

“I just saw that idiot crying with Kaltor today… and felt like I had to thank you once more. Well, take care out there. I’ll be dispatched to the Sword Garden in a couple of hours to check on the riders’ magic and the magic knights’ unit.”

“Thanks, Beris. Take care of the training—don’t spare the elders, riders, or knights. Scold and push them hard. That’s an order. If they don’t follow, discipline them as you see fit.”

“Glad to hear it. Understood.”

A short while later, Julian and Kaltor stepped out to the deployment area.

They set the coordinates, and in an instant, the Red Owl transported the group to the area where Island 32 of the Cheongsae Archipelago once stood.

“Ugh… Kreeeek!”

“Every time we teleport, it’s the same… Even though dragons are supposed to be vulnerable to spatial movement, the others don’t seem to have this problem. Lord Kaltor, weakened as he is, struggles just the same.”

“Damn it, I just can’t get used to this feeling. Maybe the other dragons aren’t as sensitive as I am.”

“Yeah, probably.”

From above, the Cheongsae Archipelago looked like a flock of birds in flight, despite several islands having been destroyed in past battles.

Since it was winter, the archipelago’s usual lightning storms and fierce winds were milder than usual. The group landed the Red Owl on the sea and settled atop the massive reef that had once been Island 32.

“Try drawing the Bongroe Sword… no, just draw it, Jin.”

As Sigmund unsheathed his blade, Jin and the others immediately noticed a pattern glowing along the sword’s surface.

“Oh, it’s the same symbol we saw before. That’s the Mark of Gram, kid. Just as Kaltor said, it seems Gram’s power still lingers here. Hey, Julian, what’s wrong all of a sudden?”

At that moment, Julian’s eyes rolled back, and his body trembled uncontrollably.

“Could this be a sign of an impending incarnation? Julian, are you okay?”

“I-I can hear Lord Feitel’s voice…!”

“What’s he saying?”

Julian moved his lips briefly before answering in a shaky voice.

“H-he’s begging… begging to be saved…”