Chapter 782
***
The Garden of Swords.
There was a huge explosion in the Tower of Stories, presumably caused by a battle.
Moreover, after the explosion, the sky near the Tower of Stories darkened as if night had fallen.
That was all the information reported by informants about the incident that occurred in the Lutero Magical Federation three days ago.
There was no explanation as to who exactly had participated in the battle.
Naturally, Zipple had completely concealed the incident.
If the infiltrated spies hadn't discovered it, Runcandel would still be unaware of the explosion that occurred in the Tower of Stories.
"Inform the spies in the Federation to withdraw immediately. Beradin possesses abilities similar to Record Magic, so if a significant event occurred, he will surely thoroughly investigate the surroundings.""Yes, fortunately, the spies have already begun their withdrawal in anticipation of that. They are agile fellows, so they won't be caught."
"That's good to hear. Chief Butler, make sure to generously reward the spies upon their return."
[Understood.]
"A battle, huh? Young Patriarch-nim. Since Kadun has been causing trouble frequently, there could be some connection, don't you think?"
"It seems likely to be an internal issue, Elder Brother Haytona. The only forces capable of attacking the Tower of Stories are us and Kinzelo, and there have been no suspicious movements from Kinzelo."
[We cannot exclude the possibility that Beradin Zipple, who became the new young patriarch, and the Fire Dragon Kadun had a conflict.]
"That could be true. However, the Tower of Stories is like the heart of Zipple. It's quite strange that a battle occurred there. If our spies, who were considerably far from the Tower of Stories, were able to observe it, then it must have been a large-scale battle."
After the explosion, the sky near the tower darkened as if it were night…
Jin was paying attention to that particular passage.
'Since it was a battle that took place in the Magic Tower, it's entirely possible that several powerful magic spells overlapping could darken the sky. Assuming the use of the Demon God Orb, its peculiar chaos could easily darken the sky alone.'
However, Jin had a strange uneasiness that suggested something else.
-Runcandel still didn't know exactly how Zipple was manipulating history.
Jin only knew that the manipulation occurred after the Zipple Magicians gathered in large numbers at the Tower of Stories.
This information was confirmed in the third tomb in Temar.
'The Tower of Stories is considered a key space for manipulating history according to the records seen in Solderet's device... and it's Zipple's domain. Moreover, Kadun is a being who would never betray Zipple. Even if he truly had a conflict with Beradin, there would be no reason to choose that place as a battlefield.'
Zipple would already be concerned about the fact that the power of manipulating history had recently weakened. There was no reason to create a situation where the Tower of Stories could be in trouble.
Above all, the Tower of Stories was Zipple's strongest fortress.
It was an area that was believed to be even more difficult to conquer than Drakka, where Zipple's main house was located.
'Whether it's Kadun or someone else, starting a battle for rebellion in the Tower of Stories is insane. It's too difficult to occupy the Tower of Stories, and even if they succeeded, the damage would be too great.'
Of course, if it were Kadun, whom Jin knew, he could cause a ruckus without considering the consequences.
However, on second thought, Kadun had shown a tendency to retreat when he realized he was in a disadvantageous situation.
This was evident in his various arguments with Jin. Even during his confrontation with Zephyrin, he had backed down once he realized he was at a disadvantage.
It was difficult to imagine Kadun's determination to risk his life and confront Beradin in the Tower of Stories.
‘In that case, we have to assume that even Kadun was in a fight he couldn't retreat from. The only reason that could justify it…’
Kelliark Zipple.
Suddenly, Jin remembered his name and condition.
Kelliark Zipple, the current patriarch of Zipple, who was kept alive inside the life-support device on the top floor of the Tower.
At the same time, two possibilities arose.
"...What if Beradin was trying to kill Kelliark Zipple? In that case, if Kadun was the one who participated in the battle, he could never retreat."
Jin explained his thoughts, trying to organize them.
[The young patriarch of Zipple, and the current patriarch...? Hm, Young Patriarch-nim, you said that Beradin Zipple was a just and upright individual until the mental manipulation. He also had a strong aversion to his clan.]
"But based on Beradin Zipple's recent behavior, it doesn't seem like his sanity has returned. If we consider the possibility that Beradin was trying to kill Kelliark, it could mean that Beradin set him aside to seize power. The same could have happened when Kelliark was already in a situation where he couldn't defend himself, or..."
Mary's pupils widened as she spoke to that point.
"...Runaway. If Kelliark went crazy like the evil god, a runaway is a plausible explanation. The part where the sky turned dark, that could be due to chaos rather than magic."
She continued with her thoughts.
Jin was also considering that possibility. If Kelliark, consumed by chaos, went berserk, it could easily explain the occurrence of a battle in the Tower of Stories.
Zipple would have no choice but to subdue Kelliark.
"Moreover, if Kelliark really went berserk, it could be related to Lokia Ganesto. Sir Padler was convinced that Lokia Ganesto was involved in the birth of the evil god."
There was a moment of silence.
That statement meant that another evil god could potentially emerge, not from Runcandel but originating from Zipple.
"Zipple would never desire the birth of another evil god. What Zipple wants is to rule the world, not its destruction."
[So you're suggesting that the battle in the Tower of Stories could be the result of Zipple intervening before Kelliark becomes a being similar to an evil god.]
"Of course, these are all assumptions, and we don't have any definitive conclusions. I need to verify it firsthand."
[Are you suggesting going there yourself?]
"Yes. I'm thinking of forming an elite infiltration team, including myself, to examine the records near the Tower of Stories. It seems like a good idea."
[Unlike spies, Young Patriarch-nim won't be in mortal danger even in enemy territory. If it's an elite infiltration team, Lady Yona and the Nameless King will probably be included as well. However, if you are exposed, it could escalate to a delicate issue.]
"Even if we were exposed, we would have justifiable reasons, so it's fine. If there are concerns about the emergence of another evil god, Zipple wouldn't have strong grounds to oppose it strongly. If they can go to war just because it's unpleasant, they should have done it before."
"Well, Zipple doesn't necessarily have plans to turn Kelliark into a being similar to an evil god, but we can't rule it out either. We must investigate it thoroughly. Having spies planted in each other's organizations is a well-known secret anyway."
[Understood. Should I contact Nameless immediately and make the necessary preparations?]
"Please do. The infiltration will take place in a week. In the meantime, gather as much information as possible about Kadun's whereabouts and condition, as well as the current situation of Zipple's leadership, including Beradin."
[Yes, Young Patriarch-nim.]
***
Lutero Magical Federation, Gate of the Holy Land.
"Aarghh...!"
For three days straight, Beradin's screams echoed from the infirmary inside the gate.
Ronil and Octavia stood outside the infirmary door with somber and uneasy expressions.
"Haah, Ronil. Can the young patriarch really recover this way?"
Octavia asked, watching the living golems that had been entering the infirmary every hour since Beradin's arrival.
They were the same living golems that Jin had seen when he came to heal Valeria.
"I don't know for sure. Let's wait and see, since the sanctuary priestess said the treatment will end soon."
"The sanctuary priestess... Who is that person? Why have you kept her existence hidden from me until now? Did the young patriarch know about her?"
"That's not an area I can talk about. Please ask the young patriarch directly when he wakes up."
Octavia seemed frustrated, unable to understand many things despite witnessing the fact that Kadun had betrayed them and that Kelliark had gone berserk.
She had suspicions about Beradin.
Perhaps Kadun's betrayal and Kelliark's rampage were part of Beradin's plan to seize real power.
But one thing was for sure.
The power Beradin displayed in the battle three days ago surpassed Kelliark's peak.
If Beradin hadn't been there, the berserk Kelliark and the Fire Dragon Kadun would have brought down the Tower of Stories in an instant.
Clearly, Beradin had the power to fill Kelliark's void.
The battle was so intense that towards the latter half, everyone except Beradin and his guardian dragons had no choice but to retreat from the battlefield.
After another three hours passed, the screams coming from inside the infirmary finally ceased.
When Beradin emerged from the infirmary, he was unscathed and in perfect condition.
‘He lost both his arms and got his heart pierced in the battle three days ago. It was a level of injury that couldn't be healed without using the Tears of Numerus, so what is this?’
When Octavia's eyes met Beradin's, she unconsciously lowered her head.
It sent chills down her spine, as if Beradin could see through her.
"Elder Brother Ronil."
Beradin immediately displayed a domineering attitude, as if nothing had happened.
"Please speak."
"Soon, Jin Runcandel will come to the scene. He will bring the Record Magician with him."
"How should we respond?"
"Don't do anything. If Jin Runcandel doesn't come in a week, leak some information about the battle that took place in the Tower of Stories to Runcandel. I'm curious to see what kind of information the Record Magician will uncover from there."
"Understood."
"Where are Tuyan and Pinia?"
"The two dragons have been continuing their investigation of the site where the battle took place since that day. They mentioned that due to the remaining chaos, it's not easy to access."
In response to Ronil's answer, Beradin narrowed his eyes and added the following.
"...If Tuyan and Pinia are still investigating the site, it means my father's death hasn't been confirmed."
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