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As Murakan had predicted when he first used the passage of Grosch castle, it seemed that it would take at least two days for Kinzelo and Zipfel's fleet to cross that subspace.
"Consul, Commander of the Magic Golem Corps."
Satrin and Betty approached at Veradin's call.
"Yes, Patriarch. Please speak."
"I just received a report from the reconnaissance unit that Kinzelo's demon dragon has separated and started to move ahead of the main force."
"Zephyrin... So it seems she intends to reach hell before us."
"Indeed. I don't think Zephyrin acted alone."
"Are you saying Orgal went down with Zephyrin?"
Veradin nodded.
"Yes. There is probably something Orgal wants to obtain from the True Demon World. It could be power or something special that will complete him. The Demon God's Orb predicted something like that as well."
Of course, Orgal and Kinzelo becoming strong was not something that Runcandel and Zipfel wanted.
Orgal is still a being shrouded in mystery, especially given his close connection to the True Demon World. Veradin had no choice but to be wary of Orgal’s betrayal in Hell.
"We need to pursue him. If we continue to match the speed of the entire fleet, it will be too late to confirm Jin Runcandel's movements. He probably arrived in Hell several times faster than us."
Jin showed no consideration for Zipfel and Kinzelo whatsoever.
They were never in a relationship where consideration was warranted in the first place, but Jin acted as if he could handle Zito on his own without the help of other two major factions.
However, Veradin continued to be concerned about Jin.
Ideally, he hoped that Jin would either die fighting Zito, or an opportunity to kill him would arise, but his heart did not agree with that.
-Veradin, take it easy and regain your usual self. These kinds of lines really don't suit you.
His inner turmoil had intensified significantly after hearing those words from Jin just before using the passage of Grosch castle.
In that sense, saying he would chase Orgal now was a kind of pretext. Satrin and Betty had no idea about this.
"I understand, Patriarch. I will make preparations immediately."
"I will go down with Tuyan and Pinia. I will delegate command of the fleet to Almatia."
Veradin stepped out of the bridge, and two guardian dragons landed on the deck of the Kozec.
[It seems like it's because of Zephyrin, Veradin.]
"Yeah, pick up the pace and chase after her."
[Understood. However, she's familiar with this subspace, so it won't be easy for us to catch up.]
"Let's start by descending into the True Demon World and then we look for her trail."
The dragons carrying them began their descent.
Once the fleet was excluded, their speed crossing the subspace became unbelievably fast.
About an hour later, Veradin and his group reached the dark region of the True Demon World.
A vast dark area and a mountain of tens of millions of corpses awaited them. It was a scale of death unlike anything they had ever seen before.
"It wasn't Jin Runcandel who killed them. They fought each other and died."
"It seems so, Patriarch. Just as the evil god used others' despair in the past, it appears that Zito uses their pain."
"Similar to the Holy Kingdom, Jin Runcandel seems to have left some of his authority within these corpses."
However, unlike when Jin first arrived, Veradin and his group saw a golden energy enveloping the countless corpses.
"According to reports from Vamel Alliance newspapers, Ayula mentioned before her death that this golden energy could resurrect the dead. She said Jin Runcandel obtained the authority of regeneration after reaching Genesis Knight."
While Betty was speaking, Veradin reached out his hand toward the golden energy passing in front of him.
"Ugh."
He felt a strong dizziness as soon as his hand touched the energy.
Forgotten scenes, moments from his youth with Jin, and times with Dante flashed through his mind.
"Patriarch, are you okay?"
"It's an unpleasant power. It's like the curse left behind by Kelliark Zipfel last time."
However, everyone else except Veradin was unaffected by the golden energy.
Veradin quickly began to retreat from the dark region as if running away. He felt that if he continued to face this golden energy, his mind would become unstable.
'...This is dangerous.'
If things continued like this, he might lose his sense of self.
Veradin had been feeling this sense of danger lately.
The personality he had lost due to mind manipulation was fluctuating in his subconscious.
These emotions were not suitable for leading the clan forward.
Another Genesis knight was born in Runcandel, clan’s greatest enemy, and Kinzelo's potential remained largely unknown. The Demon God's Orb was still incomplete.
If Elona hadn't returned, Zipfel would have faced its most precarious days among the three factions.
What they had gained through their alliance with the Sun God Religion was gradually starting to hinder Veradin's ambitions.
Moreover, Kelliark Zipfel, who had been thought to have lost everything, was still alive and gaining power in hell.
Veradin couldn't afford to be shaken and confused in this situation. For him, that meant defeat.
‘But why am I so obsessed with the clan's victory and prosperity? Why am I even fighting?’
Suddenly, Veradin looked around in surprise.
Betty hesitantly took out a dry cloth used for cleaning her sword and held it out to Veradin.
"Patriarch... blood is coming from your mouth."
"Ah."
Only then did Veradin realize that he had been biting his lip hard enough to make it bleed.
"Thank you."
Satrin was riding Pinia and couldn't see this. Veradin was grateful for that.
He could fully trust Betty, but not Satrin. He could not trust anyone in the clan except for Elona and Betty, Almatia, and Kun.
Even Octavia, who had tried to save him from his past rampage, was not completely trusted by Veradin.
‘It's probably because I became the patriarch after dragging Kelliark Zipfel down, so I think it could happen to me at any time.’
Betty scratched her head nervously.
A living golem that was no different from a human being modeled after himself, and her kindness was clearly an element that did not exist in his current self.
Veradin and his group had fled the dark region, where Jin's energy lingered, but they had to face the golden energy remaining in the piles of other corpses as they continued north.
[It seems like Satrin's prediction about Zito using pain as his power is correct. Wherever we go, all we find are armies that died fighting each other, Veradin. Jin Runcandel seems to have left his authority as a mark on most of them.]
"There's no need to examine Jin Runcandel's movements any further at this point. However, just in case, Satrin and Pinia keep tracking Jin Runcandel following this golden energy. Betty and I, along with Tuyan, will search for the traces of Orgal and the demon dragon."
Once again, he had found a plausible excuse. Veradin felt that his inner turmoil might be exposed if he continued to encounter Jin's energy.
Following the orders, Pinia and Satrin departed and followed the golden energy.
[It seems that there's a foreign demonic energy presence mixed in with the wind blowing from the west, Veradin.]
"In that case, head in that direction. Jin Runcandel even left these markers, but if Orgal and the demon dragon are heading in different directions, they must have a different goal."
[Understood.]
The golden energy was no longer in sight as they started flying west. Veradin regained his composure. He felt his head becoming clearer as he got further away from Jin's energy.
[We cannot rule out the possibility that Zephyrin and Orgal will suddenly attack us, Veradin. Of course, it doesn't look like we'll be pushed back at the moment, but if they've already gotten stronger by acquiring some object or power, it could be a headache.]
"No matter what power they acquire, they won't suddenly become the Genesis Knight. It sounds like you are suggesting we should stop chasing them, Tuyan."
[That's not what I mean. but… I think it would be better to contact Jin Runcandel and move together. Or bring Elona down now.]
"Calling Lady Elona to True Demon World is a last resort. Why have you suddenly started having such unnecessary worries? It's unlike you."
[It's just that, I have a bad feeling for some reason.]
Veradin didn't reply and instead focused on the energy emanating from the area.
As they moved west, the foreign demonic energy presence that Tuyan had mentioned was indeed becoming thicker and more pronounced.
About ten minutes later, Veradin and his group came face to face with a massive dimensional portal suspended in the sky. It was also the point where the foreign demonic energy was suddenly cut off.
"They've crossed this portal..."
[It’s become clear after coming here. What remains nearby is undoubtedly Zephyrin's energy.]
"We'll cross it. Whatever Kinzelo has prepared, we can't just let the situation play out as they intended. They first said we would deal with public enemies together, but as expected, they had something up their sleeves."
Veradin and his group crossed the dimensional portal.
As soon as they exited the portal, what lay before them was a desolate land with rivers of poisonous water flowing here and there.
It was an extremely poisonous region of the True Demon World.
"... this is? This miasma is undoubtedly the same one that threatened Lady Elona!"
Veradin filled with killing intent as he faced the poison of this extremely poisonous region. Uncontainable anger was erupting within Veradin's chest.
It was the same poison that had harmed Elona Zipfel, the person most precious to Veradin. They had used the citizens of the Lutero Magic Federation as hostages.
"Ragal Fun! It’s that son of bitch’s territory. Could it be that those Kinzelo scoundrels are allied with Ragal? Lady Elona's injuries might have something to do with it. Tuyan, head to the castle you see over there...!"
The moment he said that, Veradin jerked back and scanned his surroundings.
On the ground, the strongest fighting unit of the True Demon World led by Layla Belgasyum was encircling them, and in the sky, a massive fireball suddenly appeared and shone like a sun.
It was Kelliark's flame orb.
The dimensional portal they had just passed through was closing behind them.
‘Kelliark Zipfel...!’
The light emanating from the fireball distorted Veradin's face. Kelliark gazed down at Veradin with the fireball behind him.
"It's been a while, my son. I figured that with your current self, you'd avoid Jin Runcandel's energy and come here."
Betty stepped forward in front of Veradin while drawing her sword. Tuyan quickly cast a shield. However, it seemed unlikely that they could block these flames.
"Now, it's time for you to return everything you've stolen from your father... Veradin Zipfel, my most cherished son."
Amazing