C755
Jin sighed as he reflected on the life of a man named Padler.
A thousand years ago, the Blue Thunder King, who had once guarded Runcandel as one of the ten great knights, was now imprisoned in the family’s underground dungeon, transformed into a monster.
“How is he doing?”
“Not very well.”
“Let’s go see him right now. The flagbearers will accompany me, and the rest of you can disperse and attend to your tasks.”
The underground dungeon was located on the opposite side of the mausoleum. Jin paused momentarily in front of it as he passed by the mausoleum.
Like the Garden of Swords, the mausoleum retained its original appearance.
Many ancestors were exiled due to the evil god, but the mausoleum remained the family's foundation.
“Elder Sister and Elder Brothers.”When Jin addressed them informally, their expressions visibly lightened.
“Yes, younger brother?”
“Let us be like our ancestors, who fought until the very end, even in death.”
Padler was on the lowest floor, in the room where Joshua had been confined in the past.
Jin squinted as soon as he saw him.
He had heard that Padler’s condition was bad, but it was much worse than he had expected.
His body was covered in a mist of blood, which seeped from just six fist-sized holes.
It was proof of a fierce battle with Bale. Jin had been informed in advance that Padler had separated from the battlefield with Bale to fight him alone.
The result was Bale’s complete victory. Although Padler had resisted, Bale had never been defeated by him since their days of active service.
However, there was a reason Bale hadn’t annihilated Padler.
The presence of the chain.
Jin focused his gaze on the chain that bound Padler’s heart within his pierced chest.
Bale had also recognized it during their battle and chose to spare Padler.
Although Padler’s state could not be considered “alive,” so to speak.
“Padler-nim.”
The chain binding his heart was already partially broken.
Jin’s emotions became complex as he looked at him.
After all, Padler was nothing more than a fallen ancestor.
However, his corruption was not solely the result of the evil god. Before his heart was bound by chains, he already harbored deep hatred toward Temar.
[Have you come?]
“You’re forcibly delaying your death.”
[Yes. There’s no chance of recovery or resurrection.]
“Do you have any lingering feelings?”
[No, none. I simply had something to tell you before I disappear from this world.]
“What do you want to talk about?”
[An old story....]
Padler smiled faintly.
He had no intention of resorting to clever excuses to survive.
His pupils, as Jin observed, were already filled with the emptiness that comes from letting go of life.
“What I desired wasn’t the rebirth of Runcandel, but its corruption and destruction.... When we first met, Sir, you said those words to me. I hope that thought has changed.”
—I don’t know everything about what happened a thousand years ago, Sir Padler. And when I mentioned the names of Sir Sylderay and Dame Sarah, I didn’t mean that you had to become like them... I simply meant that they seemed to hold you in high regard. Perhaps it was a point in time before the Idal Kingdom fell into their memories.
—I can’t replace everything; the heart that once belonged to them has disappeared.
A conversation Jin had with Padler during the first full-scale attack.
At that time, Padler had said he didn’t remember any other past except for Temar destroying the Idal Kingdom and that he didn’t want to remember.
[In reality, nothing has changed. The fact that Temar annihilated my kingdom without a trace... hasn’t changed.]
Black tears welled up in Padler’s eyes.
He was recalling the day Temar had attacked the Idal Kingdom.
[But as the power of the evil god fades, another memory comes to mind. The truth I had forgotten.]
“If it’s the truth...”
[Temar went mad because there was someone who turned him, the hope of the family and this world, into a crazed monster. There was a traitor in the family.]
Jin’s pupils widened.
“...Who is it?”
[It was Lokia. Lokia Ganesto.]
Padler spat out the words.
[She was a traitor... She joined forces with the witch and turned Temar into a monster. It was all part of Lokia’s plan. How Solderet left Temar for a while, the gods betraying us, and Zipple gaining power.]
—Patriarch, no! Brother. It doesn’t seem possible. I’ll go meet that witch who claims to be in the Black Sea. Lokia said there might be a way if it’s the witch. To prevent Zipple from manipulating history...
Jin recalled the conversation between Sarah and Temar, heard from the third tomb in the past.
At that time, Temar had lied to Sarah as if he could persuade the gods, and Sarah had secretly planned to meet with the witch with Lokia despite objections.
“Please, tell me more specifically.”
[Before killing me, Lokia claimed that her purpose was the resurrection of the Sun God. That’s why she killed all her comrades and only spared Bale. She wanted to completely erase the current world and restore a just world. She called it the original form of the world, and Lokia used everything for that. The Family, the witch, and even Zipple.]
“People are still saying similar things now.”
[It must be the Demon Beast King, Orgal. He must have suffered as well. Lokia was behind everything to ensure the Demon Beast King was erased from history. Even with the birth of the evil god this time, it’s highly likely that Lokia was involved.]
“How can you be so sure?”
[Because the evil god inherited Ganesto’s blood. Only after the chains of my heart were released could I know. It seems Bale also recently discovered that she was a descendant of Ganesto. However, he may not have realized Lokia’s involvement.]
The reason Padler came to know was that he had been probing deep into the evil god for a long time.
[If it weren’t for Lokia, if she hadn’t betrayed us, Temar wouldn’t have gone mad, my kingdom wouldn’t have disappeared, and there wouldn’t have been any need for my comrades and Sarah to die like this...]
Padler let out a sob.
He trembled and convulsed, gasping for the breath he had forcibly held until Jin’s arrival.
“Padler-nim!”
[All I remember is this... No matter how much I resented Temar, in the end, I became the same puppet, threatening the Family under the same cunning plan... I became a monster that killed many people.]
Padler grabbed Jin by the shoulder.
[Jin Runcandel. I endured to deliver the truth because I believe that if it’s you, you can break free from this curse... Lokia Ganesto, that demon, is undoubtedly still alive.]
The holes in Padler’s body were gradually widening.
His death was approaching.
[She received immortality from the witch. With my own eyes, I witnessed Lokia’s resurrection several times. Neither the patriarch’s sword nor Elona’s magic could kill Lokia! You must find Lokia, but do not fall victim to her!]
Padler’s eyes, in contact with Jin’s, were fading into darkness.
Now...
I must also tell Sarah, the family, and my comrades...
With those final words, Padler completely vanished.
Jin and his siblings remained for a while, staring at the empty space where Padler had disappeared.
“What the hell...? Could all of this, all these events, have originated from the betrayal a thousand years ago?”
“If the evil god was used by that traitor, then, younger brother, couldn’t Dr. Qwaul also be manipulated by Lokia?”
“Dr. Qwaul also recently discovered he’s a descendant of Ganesto, right?”
Soon, the siblings Tona and Mary spoke.
“Now that Sir Padler is gone, it doesn’t seem like he was lying, but there are inconsistencies. If Lokia is the traitor, why was she completely erased from history until recently?”
“That part could be explained by Lokia using Zuooke’s manipulation of history to protect herself. The strangest part is the idea that Lokia planned against Orgal, who shares the same goal.”
“That’s correct.......”
“The important thing is Lokia’s true identity and whether she’s alive or not. If she’s alive and it’s proven that she’s a traitor, we must find her and eliminate her, as Sir Padler suggested.”
They still couldn’t fully trust everything Padler said.
It wasn’t because they doubted him, but because there was no guarantee that his memories were entirely accurate.
However, if Padler’s story turned out to be true, Lokia had been the greatest puppeteer behind the scenes for the past thousand years.
And even now, she extended her influence.
“The clues are insufficient, so let’s investigate this matter step by step. First, let’s stabilize the situation and prepare for the visible enemies,” Jin said as he opened the prison door and saw Bale leaning against the wall.
Jin knew Bale had been listening to their conversation while leaning against the wall.
“This is a place you shouldn’t enter without my permission, Bale.”
“I know, but can’t you cut me some slack since I’m a former knight?”
“That’s why I only mentioned it.”
“The things he said... They’re probably all true.”
“Did you know?”
“No. Padler may be an unfortunate guy, but his feelings toward the clan and Sarah were genuine. If what he said is true, then Lokia is Sarah’s enemy. I will not only find Zipple but also Lokia and make sure they suffer.”
“Do you remember anything about Lokia?”
“She was a suspicious woman. I never thought she was a traitor, but it’s true that Lokia frequently interacted with the witch. But I have no knowledge of her whereabouts after being sealed. Oh, by the way... The one who insisted strongly on sealing me instead of killing me was Lokia.”
“Understood. Notify me immediately if you think of anything special.”
“By the way, what will you do with Padler’s belongings?”
“Belongings?”
“Silus. His sword.”
Padler’s sword was currently stored in the warehouse.
As an old comrade, give me your opinion. What should I do?
“You can’t place it in the mausoleum or the garden right now.”
“Yes. Although there were circumstances, Sir Padler killed numerous people.”
“In the end, he intentionally lured me and fought me to prevent me from killing others. I know it’s a wild idea.”
Bale harbored hatred toward Padler, but now that Padler had regained his senses and faded away, Bale found himself trapped in strange emotions.
Although they had always argued with Sarah in the middle, there had been a time when they were comrades.
“...So don’t give that sword to anyone and keep it for now. If Padler’s words are proven true and as a result, the family regains its former glory, then perhaps you can place it in the mausoleum. If not the mausoleum, at least the garden. That’s my request.”
Jin looked at Bale in silence and replied, “Understood.”
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