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Veradin's eyes narrowed.
“...What?”
“You must think you're doing quite well right now. Pulling Kelliark down, strengthening and solidifying the new Zipfel as its patriarch. Maybe some of it is true. However, you're ultimately being used.”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“You're losing yourself to mind manipulation and turning into a monster. You didn't become a cold-hearted person like this of your own accord.”
“We're not allies, but we have to fight together against Zito. So, I came here to greet you and exchange some words, but I didn't expect to hear this kind of nonsense. Has your demonization already progressed after becoming the Genesis knight? Choose your words carefully, Jin Runcandel.”
“Demonization, yes. You're in a similar state. That's why I'm offering to help. I can't just leave you in that state any longer.”
“I refuse.”
“I refuse your refusal.”
“...Are you joking with me right now?”
“No, I'm serious.”
Veradin was speechless and stared at Jin.
But on the other hand, he found it strangely intriguing that he could feel anger at this level of provocation. He wouldn't have cared at all if it had been someone other than Jin.
'Strangely enough, Jin Runcandel's eyes looking at me seem to resemble Lady Elona, which makes me uncomfortable....'
Not too long ago, when Elona had released the curse that sought to consume Veradin, she had glimpsed his anxiety.
The anxiety he felt about Kelliark, the concern for his friends, and Elona had decided that she would make Veradin confront those feelings directly someday.
It was only natural that Veradin would feel similar emotions towards Jin right now.
“Alright, let's drop this conversation. Go down and make sure you don't die at the hands of Zito. It's my Zipfel that will defeat you.”
“Just say you're worried. Where are you going?”
Veradin was about to respond, but then he sighed deeply and returned to the ranks of the Zipfel.
“He seems to be getting a bit better, don't you think? Or is it my imagination?”
“I felt it too, Murakan. The mind manipulation wasn't perfect, so he must be experiencing ongoing issues inside.”
“We'll find some clues when we examine the records of Veradin Zipfel and Elona Zipfel later.”
"Indeed... looking at the records of Elona Zipfel left in the Hidden Palace, there's a high possibility that Elona was also manipulated and used by Zipfel to carry out massacres in the past."
According to the records left in the Hidden Palace, Elona seemed to have tried to avoid committing murder as soon as she woke up and was confused about her own existence. She didn't seem to have the personality of a killer who would destroy the whole world and kill people.
"If Elona was truly manipulated like Veradin Zipfel, then Zipfel will have no choice but to relinquish its position as the world's best if they realize this fact and rebel against Zipfel."
"That only happens if you include the possibility of the Demon God's Orb being destroyed, Bale. In any case, we need to create an opportunity for Valeria to examine the records of these two. And this expedition is a good stage to make that happen."
No one knows what will happen during the battle in Hell. Perhaps Jin and Veradin might be located in distant areas during the entire battle. However, it was almost certain that Jin would rarely be this close to Veradin after subjugating Zito.
They would naturally have no reason to meet unless another public enemy emerges, or Runcandel and the Zipfel finally engage in an all-out war.
‘It's a shame that Elona isn't here because of inland defense. But she will immediately provide support to the Hell expedition if Veradin is ever in danger. At that time, we might be able to talk or examine her records if we're lucky.’
As he was thinking that far, Orgal arrived with his group.
[Jin.]
Valeria immediately thought of the ‘Dream Ability’ of the Chief of Dreamwalkers, Pirops Bachma, as soon as she saw Orgal. She trembled inwardly as she recalled how she had to review the records of key alliance members every day because of the Dream Ability.
[I've come to explain about the passage in the Grosch Castle.]
"Alright. Go ahead, Orgal."
[This passage leads to the Dark Zone in the True Demon World. When you enter there, you'll find a dark and vast space, just as the name suggests.]
"And then?"
[If you continue north from there, you'll reach the Castle of An family. It's the castle where Videluce, who was killed by the master of the hidden palace, used to live. The battle will start from there.]
"Do you also know the way from the Castle of An family to Zito's residence?"
Orgal nodded.
[I do now, thanks to recalling more memories recently. However, Zito's residence is not an area you can enter at will, even if you know the way. You need a key.]
"You mean this sword."
[That's right.]
Jin raised the sword he had brought from the Golden Ship and showed it to Orgal.
Bascala, Paellito's sword, remained intact and undamaged even after his death, and stood on the battlefield in pristine condition.
[...Hoo, how did you know?]
"I heard it from Paellito."
Paellito had died without revealing this information. It was Visepps who had informed Jin that Bascala was the key.
Jin had already heard all the information Orgal was providing from Visepps. He was double-checking to ensure that Orgal's and Visepps' information matched.
[Ah, I see. If you use that sword like a key, the sealed demon gods within the sword will awaken all at once. They are like a kind of guardian.]
"Then, shouldn’t Jin just break down the door instead of using Bascala as a key?"
Orgal shook his head at Bale’s question.
[Of course, now that Jin has become a Genesis knight, there might be nothing in the world that he can't cut, probably. But that door leads to another subspace within the True Demon World. We would have to take a very long detour to find Zito without opening it correctly.]
"So, does that mean I have to kill all the demon gods sealed in Bascala to meet Zito?"
[It's not just that. There are likely to be True Demon World forces blocking our way until we reach the door.]
The forces of the True Demon World.
To Jin, they now appeared to be victims of Zito as well. They were fighting in a war they did not want, just like Paellito.
Because of this, Jin was willing to postpone their death like the subjects of the Holy kingdom if he dealt with them. He couldn't awaken their souls into spirit forms without Numerus's will, but still.
"Understood, Orgal."
Jin looked closely at Orgal as he returned to Kinzelo's ranks.
"Zito wanted Orgal to be his successor."
Orgal seemed unaware of the reason behind this, but Jin had one possibility in mind.
"So, maybe if things go south, Zito might offer Orgal his power or some kind of legacy. We must stop him if there's even a hint of that, so be vigilant."
"He hasn't deceived us at all for now. The information Visepps provided matches with his words, kid."
The group slowly moved through the passage.
The passage appeared to be like a sheer cliff. Demonic energy was rising from below the darkness beyond.
"Let's go."
Woosh!
Murakan transformed into his true form and carried the group on his back. In an instant, he disappeared into the darkness and vanished from Zipfel and Kinzelo's sight.
The passage seemed endlessly deep. There was no sign of reaching the bottom even after descending for over an hour.
"At this rate, it will take quite some time for Zipfel and Kinzelo's fleet to descend. The reconnaissance team will probably arrive faster, but we're already heading north."
[It's not just the distance. Right now, we are constantly traversing through subspaces formed by the broken gap in the Demon Seal Wall. It might take the fleet a couple of days to pass through these subspaces, kid.]
It took a total of two hours to reach the True Demon World’s Dark Zone. And the Dark Zone looked completely different from what Orgal and Visepps described.
"...This is something I didn't hear from Visepps."
It was indeed an area of vast darkness. However, the bodies of demons were literally forming mountains in that darkness. At first glance, it was clear that there were over tens of millions of bodies filling the Dark Zone as if livestock was culled.
However, these dead demons were not livestock but people.
They met Jin as enemies, but the reason for that was solely because they had been brainwashed by Zito. They were simply people born in Hell before being brainwashed.
‘The last time I contacted Visepps was a week ago. They said we couldn't communicate due to preparations for the final battle. So, does that mean all this happened within a week... No, it seems otherwise judging by the state of the corpses.’
A warm energy was rising from the corpses.
"They all died fighting each other... I can't find any other record other than that."
[It doesn't seem to be the result of a battle between Visepps and Zito's subordinates either. Visepps didn't have that many combatants to begin with.]
Jin had a hunch.
That Zito had used them to enhance his authority "pain." His Genesis knight insight was showing him what had happened here, and the direction where the souls of the demons were headed.
[T/L: You shall know pain.]
And he could feel Zito's will within that. Zito’s will was speaking to him, saying that all of these demons were killed by you, not me.
"It seems like Zito is afraid of me."
[What do you mean, kid?]
"Otherwise, he wouldn't have killed all these demons like this. Probably, we will keep encountering these mountains of corpses to reach his residence."
Hwaaaaah...!
Jin formed a lump of golden energy in his palm.
Then, he placed the energy on the ground as if showing respect, and suddenly, the golden energy spread out among the corpses like a vein.
If he hadn't obtained the ability of regeneration after reaching the Genesis knight, Jin would have been overwhelmed by an unbearable anger at this moment.
Naturally, it would soon lead to demonic nature.
But now, Jin was strengthening his inside and recalling the words Ayula had said.
-So don't let guilt crush you, Jin. You must never fall under the weight of it. You must bring those back to life who have died before, and those who will die in the future.
"I will defeat Zito and give them their lives back."
The group began flying north while leaving the corpses behind.
Amazing