C666
Sword.....?
At first glance, Beradin's hand lacked the calluses typical of those who wield swords.
-We couldn't send the young patriarch, Jin Runcandel.
-I wonder what the reason is.
-That boy is no longer the Beradin Zipple you knew. Now...... he's almost like a newborn.
-A newborn? Can you explain it in simpler terms, Spectre Captain?
-It literally means what I said. Currently, Beradin has lost all his language, knowledge, magic, habits, and memories.
A conversation that Jin had with Octavia not long ago, during the first meeting of the temporary alliance.
Euria confirmed that all this was true. At the time of the first meeting of the temporary alliance, Beradin was really no different from a disabled person."Has something changed in Beradin during this short time?"
It was hard to even imagine that he seemed like a newborn, and Beradin was displaying a very businesslike and stable attitude.
Jin even felt a certain sharpness in his steps as he walked at a moderate pace, and along with that, he sensed a familiar energy.
Aura...
It was at such a weak level that it didn't even reach one star, but it was definitely an aura.
Curiously, there was only a tiny amount of mana compared to the aura.
A magical swordsman.
The premonition that the experiments with living golems that Zipple had been doing so far might have been to create a magical swordsman had already been brought up several years ago.
However, Jin never expected to glimpse the result through Beradin at this moment, which could be the product of those experiments.
"Beradin Zipple."
"Why are you calling me?"
"I heard that until recently you were in a state where all your memories were erased, and you couldn't do anything, but it seems your condition has suddenly improved."
"I've been able to live without anyone's help for about a week."
"Haven't you recovered any memories about me and Dante?"
Beradin stopped walking and turned to look back. Jin was slowly following him while holding Valeria, who was still sealed, in his arms.
He couldn't walk fast. During the five days of flight, Jin had kept Valeria's seal uninterrupted, and he was still doing so now. His mana wasn't exhausted, but the mental energy consumption was too great. Jin was sweating.
"A lot of people have asked about you and the lord of the Sword Emperor Castle," said Beradin, moving next to Jin and placing his hand on Valeria's seal.
As he did so, mana effortlessly flowed into the complex seal, even though he hadn't taken any special measures like Jin.
"I don't remember anything."
"Oh, really?"
Thanks to Beradin maintaining the seal, Jin was able to walk more comfortably.
Jin didn't ask any questions about Beradin's abilities.
"But there's something I'm curious about. Why did so many people only talk about you or the lord of the Sword Emperor Castle, and not about clan members, when trying to find my memory?"
The two synchronized their steps.
"Why were you curious?"
"It's strange, isn't it? I don't know the lord of the Sword Emperor Castle, but your clan and mine have been enemies for a thousand years. Recently, we had to form a temporary alliance, but before that, we were always ready to destroy each other whenever we had the chance."
"Well, it was strange. Especially your personality."
"Was it strange?"
As he asked, confused, Jin felt that there was still a trace of his old self.
He even wondered if Beradin was just messing with him.
But that was all, even without Euria's verification, the current Beradin is not the person Jin knew.
"Yes. You were strange from the first time we met."
"Now I'm even more curious. Can you tell me more?"
"No, I can't."
At Jin's firm refusal, Beradin shrugged as if he were disappointed.
But after a few more minutes, Beradin subtly released Valeria's seal.
"If you're not going to tell me, I see no need to be so generous."
"What great generosity? It just makes things a bit uncomfortable. But even without you, I can maintain the seal."
"Hmm."
"Besides, your actions don't even align with the purpose of opening the Holy Land. Although I have no doubt I can maintain the seal, there's always the possibility that something unexpected might happen. I wonder how your clan would react in that case."
"You really have a way with words that is quite annoying..."
Beradin put his hand back on Valeria's seal, but he showed no change in expression despite the uncomfortable situation.
The path leading to the Holy Land beyond the door had a strange landscape.
The ordinary corridor made of stone and various metals became more blurry as he ventured into it.
Like the vague form of Orgal's body.
It wasn't a landscape that could be seen in the human world.
'There wasn't an independent entrance to the subspace, but at some point, I started to feel the boundaries of the world becoming blurry.'
The colors and textures that made up the space left traces as if washed by watercolors.
"How much further do we have to go?"
"I can't tell you."
"It's not difficult to measure the time myself, but is it a secret?"
"No, it's because the time it takes to reach the Holy Land is different each time. It depends on how welcoming the Holy Land is to the three of us."
"As mysterious as its great name suggests."
"The last time I came, I heard it took 15 days. It was just before I completely lost my memory."
"So it could take 15 days, but there must be a reason why we didn't prepare extra food."
"Yes, since the remains of the corridor disappeared... we don't feel hunger in the Holy Land. Instead, the more we walk, the lighter our bodies feel."
As he spoke, Jin felt his stamina recovering rapidly since crossing the "Boundary." His mind, which had been confused by maintaining the seal, was also much clearer.
Still, Jin wanted to calculate the time by measuring his steps, but, strangely, as his body and mind became healthier, the concept of "time" became more tenuous.
Even roughly calculating that each step was a second was difficult. After several attempts, Jin resumed counting a second.
"Is it because there's a time gap between the Holy Land and the human world, like in other dimensions? It's a strange feeling."
Therefore, Jin couldn't know how long it took, but the two soon discovered a distant green light.
"It's residual energy."
It was the same energy that Jin had glimpsed through Orgal's steel door.
In the dark and blurry landscape, only the residual energy shone intensely.
"We have arrived."
The two stood in front of the green energy and placed their hands on it at the same time, as if they had made a promise.
Suddenly, as if the whole world had brightened, the surroundings turned blue in an instant.
The "Holy Land from a few hundred years ago" that Orgal had shown was no different from this.
A green and bright sea or a desert landscape.
"Now release the seal on Histor. As soon as Histor recovers, we will leave the Holy Land."
Anxiety arose when Jin reached the Holy Land and tried to break the seal.
What if the residual energy of the Holy Land had no effect on Valeria? What if there was no way to reseal her?
In the midst of that confusion, Jin realized that Valeria, within the seal, had shuddered.
Valeria started reacting to the residual energy of the Holy Land even before the seal was broken.
The pale seal was already turning green.
"You come all this way and worry about everything."
Beradin said as if he had seen Jin's intentions.
"As you said, since your clan and mine are mortal enemies."
"There's a reason we are trying to save Histor even by opening the Holy Land to the enemy, Runcandel. You know it better than anyone, right?"
"It sounds like you're going to deal with me here right after Histor's recovery."
"There were those who insisted on doing so."
"Are they Octavia and Kadun?"
"No, mostly the elders."
Jin came alone with Valeria, who was wounded, deep into enemy territory.
"The fact that only I can deal with Rosa makes my shoulders feel a bit heavy. Kinzelo still has a variable called Orgal's recovery, but doesn't Zipple have any hidden moves?"
"...Yes, they do."
"I didn't know I would be happy to hear that the enemy has hidden powers. Please tell me what it's about. I suppose it's a question that needs answering. Facing the public enemy."
"It's the manipulation of history. However, it's a means that can never be achieved without its ally, Histor."
During the first meeting of the temporary alliance, Ronil said that Zipple could face Rosa through "history manipulation."
So, in fact, it's crazy that Jin came to this place at this moment.
It was a decision that Jin would never have made if not for Valeria or his companions.
Jin can't escape from here with the help of the red owl or Mort.
If Zipple doesn't keep its promise, Jin would inevitably be in mortal danger.
"But my father was directly against it. Aren't you curious about the reason?"
"It's probably because he has to keep using me to deal with Rosa."
Zipple and Kinzelo didn't want to lose Jin since he is the only one immune to chaos at this moment. That's why even the high-level staff of each faction came to support them in the Kaldran Snowfield.
As Jin ventured deep into enemy territory, the only thing he believed in was this fact and his own strength.
"Exactly, and I thought the same. It's unlikely we can complete the manipulation of history through Histor faster than the moment the evil god fully awakens. At this moment, you are definitely more important than Histor to our clan."
Whether it was a lie or the truth, Beradin didn't seem to have any reason to hide anything about the manipulation of history now.
"I suppose it doesn't sound attractive that I am the most important asset of Zipple. If someone else were the guide, they would have attacked me at least once during this part."
Jin began to unseal Valeria slowly.
It wasn't because he believed everything Beradin said, but because he judged it best to heal her as planned and leave.
"And, Jin Runcandel."
"Yes?"
"We made a promise before I lost my memory."
"Promise?"
"Once, I promised that even if you came to our family unannounced, I would spare your life at least once."
Be grateful that this is a banquet hall.
Haha, aren't you too straightforward? I know, your father spared my uncle. Since we're at it, let me make a promise too. Even if you come to the Zipple banquet unannounced someday, I won't harm you.
That conversation took place at the banquet of the unique bridge, just before Jin became the Provisional Flagbearer.
Beradin didn't remember the conversation, but the remaining diary notes did.
"It was written that I would spare your life once even if you caused terrorism in my family, so I couldn't help but wonder about our relationship."
"I said before that the old you was a weirdo. It wasn't a time when we were particularly close, we weren't even friends."
"I suppose at that time I was the only one who considered you a friend. Anyway, if I tell you now that I'll keep that promise, would it ease your mind a bit?"
Jin suppressed his bitter expression at those words and replied.
"I don't believe it, but it doesn't seem bad."
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