C653
She sighed and lowered her head.
"That child is no longer the Beradin Zipple you knew. He now... is almost like a newborn."
"A newborn? Could you explain it in simpler terms, Captain Specter?"
"It's literally as I said. Beradin has lost everything, including language, knowledge, magic, habits, and memories."
According to Octavia's expression, Beradin is currently in an expressionless state.
Jin also had the momentary sensation that his mind went blank upon hearing this news.
Ronil seemed slightly uncomfortable.
Jin wanted to immediately subdue Octavia and thrust a sword into her throat if she didn't explain everything related to Beradin properly.
Jin finally regained his composure, and his gaze settled on Euria.Soon, the Power of Truth manifested, and a blue thread became visible.
"Until yesterday, I was trapped in a life support device. Thanks to that, my clan won't be able to manipulate my mind for a while."
"So it seems you've lost all your mana."
"Not just mana, I also have some memory issues. I can't even remember the names of my siblings, and I've forgotten a lot of magic. It's a side effect of the commotion. I'm sure my mana will return, but I can't be sure about my memories. As for magic, I can learn it again."
A conversation Jin had with Beradin before departing for Lafrarosa.
At that time, despite starting to lose his memories, Beradin didn't forget a single thing about Jin and Dante.
Upon returning to the human world, Jin felt uneasy upon learning that Beradin hadn't engaged in any external activities during his absence.
Over time, his anxiety became reality and weighed heavily on Jin's mind.
Unconsciously, he found himself staring at Sandra.
She seemed different from usual, as if she too had been affected by Beradin's experimentation.
"Are you really saying he can't remember anything?"
"...I know very well that Beradin is close to you and to the Sword Emperor Castle Lord. So I asked him a lot about you because I hoped it would help him. But he didn't remember anything."
Jin couldn't speak for a while and struggled to contain his anger.
This was a negotiation room.
It wasn't a meeting to resolve personal grievances or resentments.
Moreover, Jin was the host of the meeting and the representative of the Vamel Alliance and its allies.
Octavia didn't underestimate Jin for acting this way. She simply thought that, despite having almost the strongest power in the world, he still had a youthful side.
It was imperative to deal with that aspect before it disappeared.
"Beradin is our young patriarch, and he was by far the most talented person of the next generation of our clan. His disintegration is even more heart-wrenching and painful for us than it is for you."
Jin didn't know what to do with Beradin immediately. The idea that Valeria's record magic would be useful briefly crossed his mind, but it was only a hope.
"You're talking nonsense. You're the ones who made Beradin like this. It's probably a side effect of the living golem experiment. You experimented on a person to make him look like that."
"I won't deny it. But that doesn't mean it's not painful."
"So what are you going to do with Beradin from now on?"
"We'll find a way to make him normal again, whatever it takes."
The blue thread appeared again. Jin stared at the thread for a while and then closed his eyes once.
"Even with your luxurious Demon God Stone, it's not easy, is it?"
"In the first place, that child is not responsible. Anyway, because of that, I couldn't send Beradin. Instead, Hedo-nim here will do the hard work for you."
"Since he is the strongest Tower Guardian on the Zipple side, we will send Zephyrin. Yes, even if Rosa Runcandel suddenly appears in the Five Eastern Regions, you won't die in vain. It seems this part is more or less settled."
The remaining tasks were to set the time for the temporary alliance to launch a joint attack in the Garden of Swords and to plan contingencies.
Opinions began to fly, but it was Orgal who took the initiative to lead the meeting.
Orgal had a deeper and broader knowledge than anyone else about Chaos, the attributes of that power that were only recently known to the general public, and about the evil god and the prophet.
"...So, it means Kinzelo has been checking the formation of the ship called Ram since that day."
At Jin's question, Orgal nodded.
"Yes. If my prediction is correct, the current completion level is less than 50%. Maybe not even 30%."
"Then we must attack before it's completed."
"I hope so, but it seems difficult at this rate."
"Ram... did she take the last letter of her name? The Prophet... no, Heluram seems very narcissistic."
When Jin said that, Orgal let out a low laugh.
"It seems you've been thinking of the prophet as Heluram all this time."
"I suspected that."
"If that's the case, wouldn't your Ruby Cat have reacted to something in the Garden of Swords? The Prophet isn't Heluram, but her daughter. She's just one of many daughters..."
"Many daughters? Does that mean there might be more beings like the Prophet in the world?"
"At least not in the human world. If there's a space that Heluram hasn't fixed, there might be some, but it's not really significant. After all, they can never come out in the human world until Heluram awakens. Anyway, the only thing her daughters are waiting for is the resurrection of my former lover, Heluram."
"Is that why she uses humans as sacrifices?"
"Not exactly humans themselves. Of course, things like flesh and bones are necessary, but their effectiveness isn't as great. What is truly needed is despair. Only pure and massive despair can awaken Heluram."
"It seems you know a lot about Heluram. It seems like you want to awaken her."
"That's not something people who have never been in love would say. Awakening Heluram wouldn't benefit me at all. I don't even want to hope for it."
Euria's authority continued to form a blue thread, but Jin felt uncomfortable relying so much on Orgal's knowledge and experience in that way.
'Once I find Valeria, I have to somehow learn more about Heluram and the Prophet. Dr. Qwaul said that before the mistress left Tikan for the last time, she talked about the marble I got in Joshua's village.'
The magical tomb of Schugiel Histor.
Before departing for Lafrarosa, Jin had entrusted half of Schugiel Histor's magical tomb to Gilly.
Valeria discovered a year ago that Gilly had the magical tomb, and through it, she obtained a clue about the record magic.
Thanks to that, she was able to proceed with the restoration of Joshua's marble and Solderet's recording device. However, she is currently missing.
"Anyway, there's no way to avoid the restoration of Ram at this point, so we have to assume that the final battle will proceed with Ram completed. What we're going to do is, will we take care of Ram and send the Twelfth Flagbearer to where Rosa is?"
Orgal nodded at Ronil's words.
"Very astute. Until then, let's hope that Kelliark Zipple recovers and that the Demon God Orb reaches its final stage."
"Twelfth Flagbearer, I want to ask you something."
"What is it, Ronil Zipple?"
"Do you have any means to purify Chaos?"
Jin had intentionally placed Knights from his Family on the route to the conference room.
This was to demonstrate that they had a perfect means of purification, unlike other forces that use Chaos as a means of control.
"Yes."
Ronil and Octavia's pupils widened as the blue thread appeared.
"Then... please use the purification method on my father."
"Didn't you say earlier that you couldn't accurately inform me of Kelliark Zipple's condition?"
"Because I needed to be careful."
"My purification method isn't perfect. If there has been a physical transformation due to Chaos or if the enchantment has already been completed, purification may not be possible."
Ronil showed hesitation for the first time as another blue thread emerged.
"Seeing the reaction, it seems he is already in that state."
"I think this is not only about the survival of our Family but also about the fate of the world. Whether my father can fight in his full state or not."
"During the final battle, I also need Kelliark's power. Of course, it's unpleasant, but if the purification method is improved before the battle and if his power is needed at that time, I will allow you to use the purification method on him."
"...Understood."
The meeting continued for over two days, and the temporary alliance of the three forces made the world buzz from that day on.
---------------------
March 7, 1803.
As discussed in the meeting, Jin's group had entered the Kaldran Snow Field.
This time he didn't use the Red Owl.
He went with Zephyrin, Hedo, and Sandra Zipple.
Fortunately, unlike during the meeting, Sandra was showing the same side Jin knew.
"Hahaha, Jin! My performance was really convincing, wasn't it? I wanted to express my immense love for you during the meeting. But no, no, Sandra! Wake up. If not, we won't have the chance to see each other separately like this! That's why I persisted with this farce!"
"...Initially, I didn't plan on asking Zipple and Kinzelo to send someone."
"Only those who are prepared can seize the opportunity at any moment. Since I acted like a madwoman that day when nothing was confirmed, I could be with you like this as soon as the opportunity presented itself."
After saying that, Sandra smiled widely and linked her prosthetic arm with Jin's.
Jin didn't immediately separate it.
It was because he felt relieved.
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