Chapter 950
Episode 234: To Hell (10)
“I should have insisted from the start that I would go with him. With Jin Runcandel of the Spear Star and Keliak Ziphl here in Changseong, what on earth was I thinking, leaving the family head to face this alone…!”
Each step Elona took made the Tower of Stories tremble. The tower itself seemed to resonate with her fury.
Most of the residents within the tower dared not even lift their heads to look at Elona. The sheer pressure of the concentrated magical energy in the area was overwhelming.
“…Lady Elona, I too am worried about the family head. But please, calm yourself for now.”
Only Ronil, among the leaders, stepped forward to block her path and speak.
“Sir Ronil.”
“The family’s magicians are falling one by one. If you leave, they will have to prepare for attacks from the Red-Eyed Tribe and other forces.”
Ronil’s words were perfectly reasonable.
Yet Elona felt a strange disappointment in his clinical tone. Veradin valued Ronil as a trusted aide, but Elona suspected that Ronil’s true loyalty was to Ziphl, not to Veradin himself.
Looking back, it was obvious—everyone in the family felt the same way.
“…It’s becoming clear.”
Elona withdrew her energy and spoke quietly.
“May I ask what has become clear?”
“To me, the family is precious. But the family head is even more so. I know I’m inexperienced. I’m sorry, but I must go.”
Ronil bowed his head.
“There’s no need to apologize. Besides, this isn’t your unilateral decision—the family head himself sent the signal to Hroti. We will defend the mainland well. Salion is here, so take him with you to Groshie Castle.”
“Understood.”
As Elona ascended to the tower’s highest floor, the Wind Dragon Salion had already transformed into his true form, ready to take flight.
[Octavia had me on standby here, just in case something like this happened.]
Salion said as he soared into the sky.
“I see.”
[Unlike the others, Octavia believes that Veradin is absolutely necessary to maintain Ziphl’s current state. And, whether you like it or not, Octavia cares for Veradin deeply on a personal level. Much like you do.]
Salion read Elona’s feelings perfectly. Though embarrassed to have her inner thoughts exposed, she didn’t dislike hearing it.
“That’s a relief. I… I’m not sure, Salion. Sometimes I wonder if the family head isn’t truly the ruler of Ziphl, but just a puppet who only appears to be in control.”
[That’s how the family has always been. Either the head turns everyone into puppets, or everyone turns the head into one. It’s not just a Ziphl problem—every power structure in the world works that way.]
“That’s true.”
[Besides, since becoming family head, Veradin has ruled with an iron fist, purging dissenters. Everyone fears him. How could he be a puppet?]
The reason Elona felt differently was simple.
She knew that Veradin’s current state wasn’t the result of his own will. Those closest to him, his inner circle, had been deeply involved in manipulating his mind.
But Elona didn’t know the full details of the mental manipulation experiments.
Veradin had deliberately kept her in the dark about it, so she wouldn’t despise the leaders. He judged that any rift between Elona and them would only harm the family.
‘The family head has definitely been changing lately. He seems shaken by something, longing for something.’
Elona hoped to see more of Veradin’s human side.
If she kept ignoring it, she feared he would eventually become a monster like his former self—existing solely for Ziphl’s sake.
‘I will do whatever it takes to prevent the family head from becoming like I was a thousand years ago. Even if it hinders the family’s prosperity.’
Her heart burned with anxiety. Despite Salion’s increasing speed, Groshie Castle felt impossibly far away.
Dark thoughts kept creeping in. What if Veradin was already dead?
[We’ve arrived.]
As dusk fell, Groshie Castle came into view.
Most of the fleets and troops from various factions waiting at Groshie had already entered Hell, but some of the Golden Fleet and Runcandel’s forces remained.
The Golden Fleet stood in formation, guarding the entrance to Hell. Shortly after Salion left the Tower of Stories, the Union had received an anonymous report and was aware of Elona’s approach.
[Elona, they knew we were coming.]
Salion’s voice was tense.
Suddenly, Elona thought that if the Union planned to attack the Lutero Federation, now might be the perfect moment.
Ziphl had sent its family head and the most important fleet into Hell, leaving only Jin and his group behind.
Though Elona was Ziphl’s strongest Spear Star magician, the Union held the overall advantage for now.
And if the Union had made some deal with the Red-Eyed Tribe? Elona couldn’t handle all of that alone.
“…Let’s try talking first.”
A woman appeared at the head of the Golden Fleet.
“Elona Ziphl, Wind Dragon Salion. Halt for a moment—we have something to discuss.”
It was Runtia. Behind her appeared the entire Black Knight squadron and Hedda.
“Do you want to fight me?”
Elona’s glare stirred the waters near the castle.
“Are you hard of hearing? I said we have something to talk about.”
Runtia met Elona’s murderous intent without flinching. Though not yet a Spear Star, she was more than capable of a proper fight—and there were many skilled warriors here.
Besides, the Union had teleportation means like the Red Owl and Motra, so reinforcements could arrive in an instant.
“If you want to fight, I won’t back down. But it seems you came here for urgent reasons. If you want to avoid ruining that, you’d better cooperate.”
“…Fine. I’ll listen.”
“Good. Our young lord said that if you came to the Hell Gate, it could only be because Veradin Ziphl is in danger. Is that right?”
Of course, the family head’s status was a closely guarded secret.
But Elona nodded immediately—there was no time for argument.
“Yes. I received a request for support from the family head.”
“In that case, we have no reason to let you through. Nothing would please Runcandel more than seeing the family head perish in Hell.”
“Are you playing games with me…?”
“Normally, yes. But our young lord doesn’t seem to want him dead right now. You may not know, but our young lord and your family head were once close friends. Strange as it is, we’re the only ones listening here.”
[Hey, Runtia Runcandel, what’s with that nonsense all of a sudden?]
“Wind Dragon, you’d better keep your mouth shut. Don’t you get it? If you really want to save Veradin Ziphl, you’ll have to accept whatever we demand—at least for now. Do you have the confidence to fight us and then save Veradin? Even if you defeat us all, Lady Elona, you won’t come out unscathed. This won’t be a battle that ends in a day or two.”
Salion clenched his teeth, unable to argue.
“…I understand. Speak quickly—tell us what you want.”
Elona forced herself to sound calm. In truth, she wanted to beg them to step aside immediately.
If she fought the Union now, the chance to save Veradin would vanish forever.
“Lady Elona Ziphl, if you swear on your honor to one promise, we will clear the way for you immediately.”
“What promise?”
“Once you safely reach Hell and rescue Veradin Ziphl, meet with our record mage and face your past.”
“…What?”
“That’s all Runcandel asks. Just like the secret talks between Runcandel and Ziphl at the Gui Valley Star, we want to look over your past without any attacks—just a calm meeting. It’s not a bad deal for you, is it?”
Elona hadn’t expected such a request.
And as Runtia said, it wasn’t a bad condition. Elona wanted to recover her lost past.
Even if some terrible truth awaited her.
“Is that… really all?”
“Yes.”
Salion hesitated, but Elona nodded as if she had no other choice.
“Very well. I agree.”
“That’s refreshing. We trust you will keep your promise.”
“I swear on myself, my family, and the family head’s honor. I, Elona Ziphl, will save the family head and return safely from Hell, then meet Valeria Hister to face my past. However—”
Elona glanced at the Union forces.
“…If the one who endangered the family head isn’t the demons but Jin Runcandel, I will kill him in Hell. And when I return, I will reduce all of you to ashes. Even if it means destroying the entire world.”
“Haha, you must be a Spear Star to be so confident. But you don’t know our young lord well. Jin Runcandel isn’t the type to betray a close friend like that. If the youngest had wanted, Veradin Ziphl would have died many times over already.”
Runtia shrugged.
“If this were the old days, it would be unthinkable. The lord of Runcandel showing consideration and care for the head of Ziphl? Let alone sending the enemy’s master of creation magic into the battlefield where the lord himself stands, all to save Veradin? But that’s how our youngest of Runcandel is. And everyone respects his wishes—beyond the bounds of protocol, no less.”
Elona swallowed the unspoken words and glanced at her. She wasn’t sure if her father, who was in the Black Sea, felt the same way yet…
“So now, go. Runcandel will be watching closely to see if you keep your promise.”
The golden chest rose, opening the gate to the underworld.
As Elona passed beneath it, heading through the gate, her thoughts drifted to Runcandel.
There was a clear difference between how Runcandel looked at Jin and how Ziphl looked at Veradin.
For a moment, Elona felt a strange stirring in her heart.
Though long sealed away and forgotten, a thousand years ago, Elona had once harbored the very same feeling she did now.
It was envy—for Runcandel.