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The group drew their swords quietly. Due to the hazy sandstorm, it was impossible to quickly identify who the approaching figure was.
The approaching shadow of a person showed no signs of being intimidated at all. This fact made the group a bit uneasy.
"...Doesn't seem to be Zipfel. Judging by the fact that they're not firing a signal flare right away," Joshua said in a hushed voice.
As he mentioned, if it were Zipfel, the person would have immediately fired a signal flare upon recognizing the presence of the Runcandels.
The distance between the group and person gradually closed.
"Oh, but the second flagbearer really has an excellent grasp of the situation, right? However, what's that on their back... a sword? Isn't it a bit too large to be called a sword? It looks peculiar. I've heard of someone using such a weapon in this world. Who was it again?"
A sword with an incredibly large and clunky shape.
"Ah! Eldest sister! Right, the eldest sister. White Whale uses a weapon like that, doesn't she?"
It could be called an axe rather than a sword. There was only one person in the world who used that weapon, Luna Runcandel.
At least until recently.
Jin and Murakan had encountered an individual who was wielding Luna's symbolic axe-sword like a toy not long ago at the Black King Mountain Hideout.
'No way...!'
'Darn it, that insane dragon?'
Both of them recalled the memories of that day at the same time, while the rest of the Runcandels had no clue about the person's true identity. After all, Luna was not present.
Finally, the party could see the approaching person's face.
A face so white and beautiful that it seemed to glow even in the sandstorm, and a physique so slender that it seemed strange to be carrying an axe sword.
The Demon Dragon, Zephyrin.
"Wow, Sir Jin, and the Black Dragon Murakan. What a coincidence? I never expected to meet you here!"
Sandra was the first to react to Zephyrin's appearance.
"Hey, who are you? Are you close with Mr. Jin?"
"Hmm? Ah, Sandra, right? Is there a reason why you are asking if we're close?"
"If you're close to him, I will either treat you like an elder sister or consider you a cute little sister."
Murakhan nudged Sandra on the shoulder. Sandra, who had been irritated by the clear sign that they were not in a relationship, began to show her hostility.
"I almost made a mistake there. What's the point of pretending to be close, acting all friendly?"
"Oh my, your words are quite harsh. Are you sure you won't end up in trouble if you criticize me with such confidence? Miss living golem."
"Huh? Would you like to see whether I die first or you die first?"
"How amusing. Did something go wrong with your head when you became a living golem?"
Seeing Zephyrin laugh cheerfully, Jin and Murakan recalled the challenging fight they had on that day.
-I think she might be the dragon of Kinzelo's Leader.
-That annoying guy? It's possible. The power he displayed during the Sword Emperor Castle attack was somewhat divine.
-...Lord Murakan, and the 12th flagbearer. It seems like there's no way out if the fight drags on.
-No way out if it drags on? It's not that simple. We can never defeat her.
Once they escaped the Hedo, facing Zephyrin seemed like out of the frying pan into the fire.
'If it were a different time, it would have truly been hopeless.'
But it wasn't the case now. Within Jin's embrace were the things for which Zephyrin had come.
Joshua, Diphus, and Jane still hadn't figured out Zephyrin's true identity, but they recognized that she was extraordinary.
It was because Murakan, who would have blurted out curses, showed no sign of fighting.
In fact, Murakan's mouth was so itchy that he was going crazy, but he was holding back because Jin could die if he fights Zephyrin now.
The issue wasn't just settling a score with Zephyrin. If they engaged in a battle with her, Zipfel's pursuit unit would inevitably join, and Kinzelo's forces, including Grenil, might also follow suit.
Sandra, on Murakan's behalf, was constantly cursing and swearing. Where she had learned such dreadful words was a mystery, but they were terrifying enough to make even the worst alley thugs cringe.
And Jin was silently sighing in relief.
'Fortunately, it's as expected.'
Just as other Runcandels were reading the atmosphere from Murakan's attitude,
Jin was grasping the situation through Zephyrin's actions.
'It's clear that the battleship's blueprints and machinery stolen from the 2nd Magic Tower's vault are crucial to Kinzelo as well.'
It had already been proven by the resources and manpower Kinzelo had invested, but Zephyrin's actions made it even more certain.
The Zephyrin that Jin remembered wasn't someone who prioritized talking when a problem arose. Her usual approach was to stab her opponent without warning.
But now, she was narrowing her eyes and speaking.
"Well, I guess there's no need to talk too much. I can't stand the squeaky voice of that living golem anymore. Sir Jin, hand over the items you stole from the vault."
"And if I refuse?"
"Then you'll be killed. By my hands. Are you curious about such an obvious thing?"
At the mention of being killed, the other Runcandels felt a renewed sense of shame. Both Hedo, whom they had fought a moment ago, and the woman in front of them were looking down on the Runcandels.
But there was no other way.
'We're weak.' That's what it was. Born as pure-blooded Runcandels, after becoming flagbearers, there had never been a moment where they experienced such consecutive disgrace.
While the siblings were grinding their teeth, Jin's inwardly concealed smile deepened.
'I almost won.'
Even though pure force might not be on his side, the situation and conditions were all turning in his favor.
'Even back at the Black King Mountain Hideout, Zephyrin clearly had no intention of killing me. Killing me could pose a problem for obtaining the Solderet's contract.'
If that was the case then, it was probably the same now.
Unless Kinzelo had achieved some extraordinary progress in the meantime, Zephyrin still couldn't kill Jin.
And this place was Lutero Magic Federation, near Drakka. If a fight were to break out and it turned into a confrontation where members of Kinzelo and Zipfels gathered to fight over Jin, there was a very high possibility that the one taking Jin wouldn't be Kinzelo but Zipfel.
In that case, not only would they lose the items, but they would also lose Jin, making it a substantial loss for Kinzelo.
"Kill? You speak of it too easily, Zephyrin."
"Do you think I can't do it?"
"That's right."
"You seem so confident, believing that I was caught off guard last time and got hit, but I'm not in a good mood today."
Murakan had evaluated Zephyrin as someone he couldn't beat at that time. Furthermore, she, like Murakan, seemed unable to use her full power for some reason.
In the Black King Mountain Hideout, Zephyrin had left the battlefield without gaining anything. It was because she suffered unexpected damage from Tess's power.
'That blow back then probably hasn't fully healed yet.'
Of course, it couldn't be determined for sure, but intuition was speaking.
It said that there wouldn't be a problem even if he went all out.
"So what are you suggesting? Are you asking me to comply while complaining?"
"Are you going to remain uncooperative until the end? Ah, it's probably because you believe that I won't kill you unless it's necessary."
"Why make useless threats when you know very well?"
"I said unless it's necessary. And even if I keep you alive, killing your youngest sister whom you are carrying, your brothers, and the Black Knights won't be a problem. Wouldn't that be sad?"
"Then stop talking so much that it hurts your mouth and try it."
"Sure, do as Mr. Jin says! Stop barking if you can't bite!"
As Jin and Sandra spoke at the same time, Zephyrin's lips twitched. The effort to maintain composure and a smile despite the boiling anger appeared as a spasm.
For a moment, a tense silence filled the air.
The group acknowledged that Zephyrin was exercising extreme patience. In reality, she was contemplating whether it would be better to just kill them all, considering the circumstances.
Jin handed Yona to Murakan and carefully pulled out the blueprints and machinery from his embrace. Then he held one in each hand and waved it gently towards Zephyrin.
"You look so intimidating that I had no choice but to take these out."
"...Hand them over."
"You still don't seem to understand, huh? Huh? Huh? Don't move. If you continue threatening us, I wonder what will happen to the items we and you have worked so hard to obtain... I don't know either."
Fwoosh!
Suddenly, a flickering flame appeared in Jin's left hand, which held the blueprints. It was a fire formed with mana.
Zephyrin stood like a stone statue and opened her eyes round, and the Runcandels showed similar reactions.
Didn't you know how hard we tried to get these!
"Stop it!"
"You, stop your clumsy threats, Zephyrin. Not feeling good today? Me too. That's why I might really just throw these away. After the blueprints burn, I won't hesitate for even a second to destroy the machinery."
Fwoosh, crackle...!
The flame contained at most a 3-star level of mana, but it looked like a disaster to everyone's eyes. Of course, Sandra was once again internally expressing admiration.
"Jin Runcandel, you bastard…..!"
"This is what you have to do to make a threat, right? You came to us with an attitude as if you were grabbing straws, don't you think you're being too arrogant, Zephyrin."
"If anything happens to those items, you'll all die."
"I know that, okay? I'm just gambling in a way. Let's see whose hand is stronger."
Naturally, the blueprints were protected by defensive magic.
However, at best, it protected a single sheet of paper, and as there were sensitive runic characters all over it, the paper would have been irreparably damaged within seconds.
As if grabbing at straws.
Jin's words were not wrong. Kinzelo and Zephyrin were also clearly aware that the entire situation was unfavorable from the moment she came to visit them.
However, she had no idea Jin would come out this strong.
More precisely, Bishkel and Margiella had expected it, but they hadn't anticipated Jin to be this unyielding.
Or rather, they thought Jin might cut them some slack, especially since they had been pushed by Zipfel and Hedo to their limits throughout the journey.
Jin was not taken aback. Once again, he used his means without hesitation.
"...Put it out!"
"Just putting it out won't be that easy."
"I won't attack, so put it out, right now!"
Yes, I think you can put it out, youngest. Hurry. It's burning, it's burning!
The brothers had the same thought as Zephyrin. Jin hadn't explained, but they almost perfectly understood the situation now.
But Jin shook his head once again.
Joshua almost yelled at that point, telling him to put out the fire.
"That's not enough. There's one more condition."
"Damn it, what else do you want, you devil!"
Jin smirked and said:
"You and Kinzelo lost in the gamble, so you have to pay the price."
"Speak quickly!"
"Zephyrin, until we leave the Lutero Magic Federation, you must escort the Runcandels away from Zipfel. If you agree, then I'll put out the fire."
Zephyrin was already nodding her head even before Jin finished speaking.