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A long time passed, and the heat continued to emanate from Valeria.
Now, there was no trace of dye left in her hair. Hot stream rose from her sweaty robe, and her red hair, fluttering in the mana, looked like a bundle of flames.
[Hister's descendant, huh. Where did you meet that child?]
"I met her in the lawless city of Mamit."
Jin didn't tell her more details because Sheila didn't seem overly curious.
Sheila's pupils deepened.
[Fortunately, she is a strong child who doesn't need your protection. However, not only humans but all living beings must ultimately protect each other. There is no life that can exist alone.]
It was a sudden conversation, but Jin nodded in agreement. He didn't mind Sheila's words.
[While my friends and your ally are suffering, we should think about the variables.]
"Are there other issues you're considering aside from the Zipfel's mages?"
[This is the land of Vermont. Among my kin, some might be collaborating with them.]
"Well, it's not likely that the splitted fragments of your absolute power would have gone to just one person like Myla. Vermont... It's quite possible."
[Furthermore, there might be some attached to your Runcandel.]
"That's something I hope isn't the case. Already dealing with both Zipfel and Vermont together is headache enough. For now, it's best to assume that we will definitely encounter Zipfel and Vermont."
Vermont is searching for the body of Temar. Jin thought, keeping that fact in mind.
'There's almost a 100% chance that among the descendants of the fairy tribe, someone is colluded with Vermont.'
Jin remembered what Kashmir had accidentally heard as a child about the former emperors and advisors. Perhaps their negotiations with the Wantaramo Forest were related to information about the insider.
'Perhaps Vermont began searching for the body of Temar because a descendant of the Fairy tribe had leaked information about his tomb from the start.'
If not, Vermont could not be searching for Temar's tomb, which even Runcandel might not know about, except for Chiron, Rosa, and a few key elders(even this is speculation).
"Vermont will likely send the special task force or Imperial guards. Large-scale troop movements would only advertise that there's something in the Wantaramo Forest."
I might come face to face with familiar faces.
Jin thought so and shrugged his shoulders.
[Special task force and Imperial guards. Are they stronger than you?]
Jin could answer without hesitation.
"The commanders might be stronger than me. However, I can easily subdue those below that rank."
Jin concluded this based on his encounters with the commander of the special task force, Latz, and Alisa, the former commander, during his days as a reserve flagbearer.
"There are four of them. They won't all gather at once."
Commander and Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard and Special Task Force,. If all four of them came at once, even Luna would find it burdensome, let alone Jin.
"Ms. Sheila, how much combat strength do you possess?"
Asking such a question to the descendant of the fairy tribe's ruler felt a bit strange. However, it was a matter that needed to be known. Understanding the strength of allies was a natural thing.
'Not only Zipfel and Vermont, but I might also have to fight against the guardian of the fourth tomb.'
Guardian, Zipfel, Vermont. Regardless of which side they fought first, Jin needed to conserve enough stamina to face the final opponent.
Of course, if there were no guardians like in the case of the third tomb, it would be the best scenario, but it was necessary to consider worse possibilities.
[Well, I haven't experienced fighting for a very long time, so I'm not quite sure. Just know that I'm not very weak.]
"Can you give me a more specific answer?"
At that, Sheila seemed to be in thought, crossed her arms, and closed her eyes.
[...I really don't know. Even when my kin kills intruders, I've hardly used my strength.]
"Understood."
It seemed that he would have to fight without relying on Sheila's strength. Jin felt a bit regretful for not bringing Murakan. There are two reasons why Jin hadn't brought him.
First, it was to assist in Bellop's undercover mission (if it were to be revealed that Bellop was performing Jin's duties, it could become a significant problem). Second, it was because Valeria hadn't met Murakan yet.
Although their cooperative relationship had improved since, Jin still felt a bit uneasy about confronting Valeria with a powerful ally. It might trigger her caution again, which she had loosen up a little.
'If the situation becomes dire, I might have to create a three-front battle formation.'
Jin had a rough plan, but there were too many variables. He didn't know which enemies they would encounter first, whether they should prioritize dealing with them or directly find the tomb, and what if they had to retreat after the enemy found their location...
While Jin was thinking, Sheila spoke up.
[Jin Runcandel.]
"Yes."
[There's one thing I want to tell you. The battles must take place only within the limits that the forest can regenerate without permanent damage.]
The Wantaramo Forest was a 'common good' of beings at the pinnacle of power. They were all consumers of the Drink of Regal Hymn.
The fact that Jin and his allies hadn't known about the existence of the forest until now was not due to ignorance but the result of the powerful beings concealing it to avoid any issues arising within the forest.
If the forest were to be damaged, those beings would undoubtedly scrutinize the situation and hold the one most responsible accountable for appropriate compensation.
Jin smirked.
'Then whether it's fighting individually or in a three-front battle formation, I'll have an overwhelming advantage.'
A melee battle while refraining from damaging the surrounding.
Given the nature of the power called "shadow force," there was likely no arrangement where Jin could be more effective than that.
"I understand. Actually, that might be better."
[In that case, lucky for us. Even after a thousand years, the influence of your ancestor is still shaking the world.]
"It seems you know my ancestor well."
[I don't remember many details. You have looked back at the past tombs, so you might know, the Runcandels of that era have almost been forgotten. However, I distinctly remember that Temar's actions at that time had a vast impact on the world.]
Sheila looked into Jin's eyes.
[Now, you'll have to replace his shadow. Or cast a new shadow called Jin Runcandel upon the world.]
The Felinoid tribesmen and Valeria had finished their work by then.
[Hooah!]
[We're done...!]
An hour and thirty minutes.
The Felinoid tribesmen found it hard to believe that they had created passageways leading to the red lake and trap routes to confuse Zipfel, all in such a short time.
Fourteen purple entrances they had made shimmered on the cave walls. Among them, only one was the real passage to the red lake; the others were fake, leading to the middle of the forest.
[The entrances change location randomly each time they're used. Unless Zipfel's mages are incredibly lucky and not very smart, they won't be able to guess the correct one on their first try.]
With fourteen entrances to choose from, splitting up and entering was the obvious choice. As Lulu had said, unless they were an astoundingly dim-witted bunch, it was unlikely they would get it right in one go.
Slam!
Jin handed a water pouch to Valeria. She received it with her throat parched and immediately started gulping it down.
"Jin Runcandel, give me a moment to refine my mana before we depart. I think I have bought that much time."
Seeing Valeria stabilize her mana while sitting cross-legged, Lulu and Miru grinned and gave a thumbs-up.
[Thanks to her, we saved our artifact.]
[We were able to save half of it!]
Lulu and Miru displayed the felinoid god's claw, of which only half remained, and smiled.
Wobbling a bit, Valeria stood up, and when she staggered, Jin steadied her.
"Are you alright?"
"I just got a bit dizzy for a moment."
She didn't add that she had exerted herself more than she intended to protect half of the artifact. It was an action that even Valeria herself couldn't quite understand.
Initially, she had offered to help the Felinoid tribesmen due to efficiency concerns, but using more power than necessary for the sake of the Felinoid tribe had been an impulsive decision.
"You can rest for about ten more minutes."
"No need. I know my body. Just keep the promise you made on the way here."
Unlike when she initially volunteered to help the Felinoid tribe, her tone now sounded somewhat assertive.
Valeria was afraid that she might be acting strangely since meeting Jin.
-Last time, you said you obtained the recording device from the Felinoid Tribe's hideout... was it actually the tomb of Runcandel's first patriarch?
-The tomb of the first patriarch was located in the hideout of the felinoid tribe.
-You're playing with words.
-We're in the stage of getting to know each other, aren't we? You also must have many things you haven't told me. No, you're probably hiding much more than I am. Since I told you about Temar's tomb, my secrets are nearly over.
-Well, fine. I won't think you deceived me. After hearing your explanation about Temar's tomb, I can imagine how surprised you must have been when you obtained the Helluram's shadow force marble at Joshua Runcandel's mansion.
-It was more surprising when you examined that shadow force marble and misunderstood me.
-Anyway, we need to get clues about Temar's fourth tomb from the Felinoid tribe... When we discover the fourth tomb, let me take a look too. Can you make that happen?
-I will do that. Promise.
Valeria recalled her conversation with Jin as they came to the Wantaramo Forest. The promise she mentioned referred to entering the tomb together with Jin.
'It's only been a few hours since I had that conversation with Jin Runcandel, and yet I didn't expect to find the fourth tomb this quickly. I thought it would take at least a few months to save the felinoid tribe and get clues about the tomb from them.'
Could she confirm new traces left by her ancestors in that tomb?
Alone, without any help.
Tracing the messages left by her ancestors, reclaiming the magic of Hister—truly, these were unspeakably lonely tasks.
Somewhere along the line, she didn't realize just how lonely it was. Her life had been all about practicing magic, finding the messages and legacy of her ancestors, and roaming the world since she opened her eyes.
However, now, so easily...
If she were to anticipate a new discovery about Hister thanks to someone other than herself, and if she were to find the traces of her ancestors through another's doing...
Then, were the dark, bitter times of the past a futile struggle?
It was due to such thoughts that her tone had sharpened without her realizing it.
"...I was a bit on edge."
"You must have been tired. I didn't feel bad, there's no need to apologize."
Valeria's brow trembled slightly.
"Now we need to enter the passage. It should be fine for me to support you until we reach the red lake. If you're uncomfortable with that, let me know."
Jin said while taking the water pouch from Valeria.