CHAPTER 242

The place where the gate led to was the land of the beastmen.

It was the residence of the current great warrior of the White Wolf Tribe, 'Berakt Sidriker', and where the Kinzelo Group were presently meeting.

"Leader!"

"Leader!"

As the leader and Joe walked out from the door, humans and beastmen all bowed their heads.

At the same time, several beastmen quickly went to their side and helped by holding the leader's arms.

Sighs of relief were heard all around.

It was because the leader and Joe had returned safely.

"Joe, even when you die, you must not forget the leader's kindness. Do you think it was reasonable for the leader, who's in worse condition than usual, to take that risk for you?"

Berakt spoke, glaring at Joe as if he was about to kill him. Joe lowered his head, not daring to meet their gaze.

The leader's visit to Oterium was literally a disaster for the Kinzelo Group.

Although there were no significant signs of action from the most dangerous forces, the Zipfel and Runcandel Clans, no one expected Jin and Murakan would suddenly attack the headquarters of the Dark Magic Association.

It might have been different if only Chukon and Susan had been there. However, Joe was a key personnel needed to complete the 'master'.

If Joe died, then the development of the master would be delayed, meaning that the realization of their great cause would also be delayed.

That's why the leader risked his life to save Joe.

Because in a situation like that, where every minute and every second were critical, he was the only one with the ability to move through space.

[Don't be so harsh, Berakt. I did return with no problems, after all.]

"Next time, even if the great cause is to be delayed, take greater care of your own safety, Leader. At least for the sake of the countless comrades who look up only to you."

[I'll try to do that from now on. However, when I went, I found some interesting information.]

"What information?"

[Vamel, he was the youngest child of the Runcandels. I wonder if Zipfel and Vermont are aware of this fact?]

"Wh-What!"

As soon as the leader finished speaking, a man shouted in shock.

[What's wrong, Vice Leader?]

Kinzelo's vice leader, Vishukel Yvliano.

When he, who was known for his cool-headedness, reacted so strongly, everyone's eyes naturally fell on him.

"No, it's… nothing. That's shocking news, Leader. I never would have thought that Jin Runcandel was Vamel."

[From what I saw through Joe's eyes, not only does he use magic and the power of the Land of the Illustrious Legends, he is also the contractor of Solderet. So, he has gone against the contract with Zipfel. Regardless, it looks like the Runcandel Clan have decided to have a go at Zipfel, so we need to prepare as well.]

Other than Jin, the leader was the person who knew about the power of the Illustrious Legend Tribe the most.

Vishukel found it difficult to calm his pounding heart.

'Becoming involved with Bouvard at the party, and visiting the Fragmented Workshop a few months ago… Could it be that he purposefully approached? Because he knew of my and Bouvard's identities? Then, since when, and how?!'

He shivered, a cold sweat running down his spine.

There was no way Jin could have discovered their identities alone.

The Runcandel Clan must have given him information and issued orders to Jin at the family level.

'Knowing that our agents were planted everywhere in the forces of the flag bearers, they ordered Jin, a provisional flag-bearer, to figure out our movements! Judging that we wouldn't even pay attention to a provisional flag-bearer!'

Vishukel, who had let his imagination and assumptions run wild, gritted his teeth.

He thought that everything was his fault.

'From the moment I thought that Jin and Bouvard were strangely involved, I should have attached someone to monitor Jin.'

That was the duty of the vice leader.

Especially in the last meeting.

On the day when Jin came to the Fragmented Workshop saying he wanted to compete with him, using Bouvard as an excuse, Jin's behavior was clearly unusual.

—After becoming a provisional flag-bearer, I fought quite a few people. However, perhaps it was because the opponents were inadequate, but I never once felt the desperation I did when I competed with you. The feeling of unsheathing my mind's blade.

—I acknowledge my arrogance and insolence, Lord Vishukel. I am still just a child who cannot dare to cross swords with you. However, this person insulting the Runcandel Clan is another matter… If you move even one step, I will cut you down, Bouvard.

He kept speaking and acting in an extreme manner in an attempt to somehow draw attention to himself.

At the time, Vishukel had thought it was just because Jin was an adolescent going through puberty. Now, though, he was able to understand why Jin acted like that.

'Right, that day, when Jin left and I was talking to Bouvard about retrieving the compass, I felt the faint trace of someone. The reason Jin tried so hard to draw all my attention was to plant a listener within the Fragmented Workshop!'

He also remembered saying everything about the recovery of the compass to Bouvard that day. He remembered revealing the location and date, as well as top-secret information that the alliance with the Zipfel Clan had been completely broken.

And on the first day of June, Vamel, a man who had just been revealed to be Jin Runcandel, appeared at the Bellard Empire, a location known only to Zipfel and Kinzelo executives.

After failing to retrieve the compass, the number of emergency meetings that were held within the Kinzelo Group… The number of investigations that took place… and the number of insults that were thrown around while trying to track down who leaked the information and their routes…

Vishukel couldn't help but feel like all the blood had drained from his body.

'I have to take responsibility.'

"Leader, I have something to tell you…"

The moment when Vishukel spoke with a voice full of distraught…

[Ah! Shit!]

Suddenly, the leader held his forehead and sighed.

"Are you okay, Leader?"

[I left it behind. Damn it, the situation was so desperate that I didn't even think to bring it back. Ahh, how could I make such a mistake…!]

"What was it? Ah, no way…!"

In response to Berakt's question, the leader lowered his head and sighed again.

[The Ring of Erupting Flames Massacre by the Empress of Magic Final Form. Liol Zipfel's legacy stored in the headquarters of the Dark Magic Association… I didn't take it with me. Joe, did you by any chance bring it with you? Please tell me you did.]

"Uh… S-So… Leader, I was also in a state of panic…"

"You absolutely useless idiot! Joe, you, the head of the Dark Magic Association, forgot that? Must the leader even pay attention to such things?!"

Berakt grabbed Joe by the collar and glared daggers at him.

"G-Great Warrior Berakt. Let go of me and let's talk! I tried to b-bring it with me, but I was too occupied!"

"You think that's an excuse? That makes me so angry that I might just go insane. Keaagh!"

"Hey! Someone, get this insect out of my sight and make sure he stays out of my sight. Since I think I'll kill him if I see him again."

"Ugh!"

Slump!

Berakt, who had thrown Joe to the floor, reflexively raised his foot as if to crush an insect. Unable to overcome his anger, he'd moved to trample Joe's head.

"Oh my, Great Warrior!"

"Great Warrior, he's someone the leader managed to bring back alive with great difficulty! Please compose yourself!"

Fortunately, the other beastmen blocked him with their bodies, so Joe's head, which the leader worked so hard to save, did not end up meeting the same fate as a burst watermelon.

Even after the commotion had passed, Berakt seemed unable to calm his anger, breathing heavily.

[…This is an abject failure. I lost one of the most important cards I could have used against Zipfel. I'm losing my mind here. I planned to make a deal with Kelliark regarding the Ring of Erupting Flames Massacre by the Empress of Magic Final Form.]

"Damn it! There's not a single thing you humans do right! Whew."

Berakt's gaze landed on the frozen Vishukel.

"Hm, hmhm! Of course, excluding you, Vice Leader. If these human insects were even half as good as our Vice Leader, then I wouldn't be so angry. How can they be of the same species but be so different?"

The leader nodded as if he agreed while watching Joe being dragged away by the beastmen.

Vishukel felt as if his heart was locking up.

[This incident is also my mistake, so there's nothing we can do about it. It's already happened, so I should think about making up for it. Berakt, send the fastest of the beasts to Oterium. There's a chance that Jin, that brat, didn't take the magic tome with him. There's also a high possibility that he doesn't know the magic tome is there in the first place, so let's not despair.]

"I understand, Leader. I'll send them right away."

[Vishukel. From now on, you will oversee Kal Zipfel yourself. If we are unable to bring back the magic tome, then we'll have to take and use him for our negotiations instead.]

Vishukel nodded.

[Oh right, didn't you say you had something to tell me?]

In the brief moment of eye contact with the leader, countless thoughts passed through Vishukel's mind.

Should he really confess his mistake in such an atmosphere…

The answer to that question was exactly what the leader said ten seconds ago.

'It's already happened, so I should think about making up for it. Nothing good will come of me revealing my mistake now. We have to start by putting out the fire at the Kinzelo Group's feet.'

Enduring his torturously heavy conscience, Vishukel opened his mouth.

"…It's a matter related to the holy kingdom. Jin may report the truth to the holy kingdom and bring to the surface the fact that there were Living Golem experiments conducted in Oterium. For the Runcandel Clan, this is the best opportunity to intervene in the holy kingdom."

"Ohoh, as expected of the vice leader. What the vice leader says is correct. They will definitely try to use this politically, since that's what humans are best at."

[Hm, that's true. Since that bastard doesn't seem to be an ordinary provisional flag-bearer, he may be able to escalate the incident by cooperating with the Garden of Swords. What would be the best course of action, then?]

"I think the reason he attacked the old capital out of nowhere was because he received a request from the holy kingdom's loyal subjects. In the process, he must've discovered that the holy kingdom was divided between us and the Zipfel Clan."

[Keep talking.]

"If you were in Runcandel's position, you would want to drive Zipfel out of the holy kingdom first rather than us. They can't drive us both out since we're an organization that the public knows too little about. So, no one will believe them if they say that we conducted the Living Golem experiments."

[What you're saying is that Jin may frame the experiments on the Zipfel Clan, right?]

"Yes."

[It makes sense. It's known that Zipfel has conducted biological experiments in Kollon.]

"For now, I think we will have to take a wait-and-see approach and adjust to his actions. If things go as I expect them to, then regretfully… We have to empower his actions. If we want to keep hold of even half the holy kingdom, that is."

The reason why Berakt regarded Vishukel so highly and acted with reserve around him was precisely because of this.

Refreshingly outspoken comments and brilliant insight.

Berakt felt like the rage he had been feeling because of Joe was gradually subsiding.

[The vice-leader is right. It's ridiculous to think we may have to dance along to his beat again, but… But that seems to be the best course of action. Let's wait, and see how Jin proceeds.]

* * *

Meanwhile, Jin and Murakan were staring blankly at the blue fire that was still burning without going out.

What on earth was that metal door?

Did they really run away?

They used space transportation magic?

Just as they were about to ask each other the same question.

In the middle of the blue flames, a pure white sparkle was spreading that caught the attention of the two.

Since Jin and Murakan didn't know exactly what the leader's abilities were, they naturally thought that the glow was some sort of attack magic or a trap that he had left behind.

But it wasn't an attack.

The sparkle took the form of an ordinary protective shield.

"That's…?"

With his eyes opened wide, Jin hurriedly started running toward that sparkle.

The Ring of Erupting Flames Massacre by the Empress of Magic Final Form.

The magic tome that Misha told them they must find was shining amidst the blue flames.

The sparkle surrounding the magic tome was 'protection magic'.

Two generations ago, the woman who was the head of the Zipfel Clan engraved it onto the magic tome out of concern that it might be lost.

"It m-might get burnt. Murakan! Hurry up and blow out the flames!"

Murakan quickly threw himself into the fire, rolling over the flames near the magic circle.

"Oww, it's hot!"

It's a shame that his hair got burned, but thanks to that, Jin was able to secure the magic tome before the shield's magic ran out.