[T.L: punisher87]
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Jin sighed as he pondered the life of a man named Padler.
A thousand years ago, the Blue Thunder King, who had once guarded Runcandel as one of ten great knights, was now imprisoned in the underground dungeon of the clan, transformed into a monster.
"How is he doing?"
"Not well."
"Let's go see him right away. The flagbearers will accompany me, and the rest of you can disband and attend to your tasks."
The underground dungeon was located on the opposite side of the mausoleum. Jin paused momentarily in front of it as he passed by the mausoleum.
Just like the Garden of Swords, the mausoleum retained its original appearance. Many ancestors were exiled due to the evil god, but the mausoleum remained the foundation of the clan.
"Elder sister and brothers."
When Jin addressed them with informal titles, the expressions of his siblings visibly lightened.
"Yes, youngest brother?"
"Let us be like our ancestors who fought to the end even in death."
Padler was on the lowest floor, in the room where Joshua had held in the past, and was locked up.
Jin narrowed his eyes as soon as he saw him.
He had heard that Padler's condition was not good, but it was far worse than he expected. His body was covered in blood mist, gushing out from only six fist-sized holes.
It was evidence of a fierce battle with Bale. Jin was informed in advance that Padler had separated from the battlefield with Bale to fight him alone.
The result was Bale's complete victory. Although Padler had put up a fight, Bale had never once been defeated by him since their active duty days.
Yet, there was one reason Bale had not annihilated Padler.
The presence of the chain.
Jin focused his gaze on the chain that bound Padler's heart inside his hole-ridden chest.
Bale also recognized it during their battle and chose to spare Padler. Although Padler's condition couldn't be considered "alive," so to speak.
"Sir Padler."
The chain binding his heart was already partially broken. Jin's emotions became complex as he looked down at him.
In the end, Padler was nothing more than a fallen ancestor.
However, his corruption was not merely the result of the evil god. Before his heart was bound by the chains, he already held a deep hatred for Temar.
[Have you come?]
"You are forcibly delaying your death."
[Yes. There is no possibility of recovery or resurrection.]
"Do you have any lingering feelings left?"
[No, there isn't. I simply had something to say to you before disappearing from this world.]
"What do you want to talk about?"
[An old story...."]
Padler gave a faint smile.
He had no intention of resorting to cunning excuses to survive. The pupils of his eyes, as Jin observed, were already filled with the sense of emptiness that comes from letting go of life.
"What I desired was not the revival of Runcandel but corruption and destruction.... When we first met, sir, you told me those words. I hope that thought has changed."
-I do not know everything about what happened a thousand years ago, Sir Padler. And when I mentioned the names of Sir Sylderay and Dame Sarah, I didn't mean that you had to become like them... I simply wanted to say that you seemed to hold each other in high regard. Perhaps it was a point in time before the Idal Kingdom fell in your memories.
-[I cannot replace everything, the heart that once belonged to them has disappeared.]
A conversation Jin had with Padler during the first all out attack.
At that time, Padler said he didn't remember any other past except for Temar destroying the Idal Kingdom, and he didn't want to remember.
[In reality, nothing has changed. The fact that Temar annihilated my kingdom without leaving a trace... It hasn't changed.]
Black tears streamed from Padler's eyes. He was recalling the day Temar had attacked the Idal Kingdom.
[But as the evil god's power fades away, one more memory comes to mind. The truth that I had forgotten.]
"If it's the truth..."
[Temar went mad because there was someone who turned him, the hope of the clan and this world, into a crazy monster. There was a traitor in the family.]
Jin's pupils widened.
"... Who is it?"
[It was Lokia. Lokia Ganesto.]
Padler spat out the words.
[She was a traitor... She joined forces with the witch and turned Temar into a monster. It was all Lokia's scheme. How Solderet left Temar for a while, the gods betraying us, and Zipfel gaining power.]
-Patriarch, no! Brother. It doesn't seem possible. I'll go meet that witch who claims to be in the Black Sea. Lokia said there might be a way if it's the witch. To prevent Zipfel's manipulation of history...
Jin remembered the conversation between Sarah and Temar, heard from the third tomb in the past.
At that time, Temar lied to Sarah as if he could persuade the gods, and Sarah secretly planned to meet the witch with Lokia despite his objections.
"Please tell me more specifically."
[Before killing me, Lokia claimed that her purpose was the resurrection of the Sun God. That's why she killed all her comrades and spared only Bale. She wanted to completely erase the current world and regain a righteous world. She called it the original form of the world, and Lokia used everything for that. The clan, the witch, and even Zipfel.]
"There are still people saying similar things now."
[It must be the Demon Beast King, Orgal. He must have suffered as well. Lokia was behind everything to ensure that the Demon Beast King was erased from history. Even with the birth of the evil god this time, it is highly likely that Lokia was involved.]
"How can you be so sure?"
[Because the evil god inherited Ganesto's blood. It was only after the chains of my heart were released that I could know. It seems that Bale also found out recently that she was a descendant of Ganesto. However, she may not have realized Lokia's involvement.]
[T/L:- I told you.]
The reason Padler came to know this was because he had been peering into the inner realm of the evil god for a long time.
[If it weren't for Lokia, if she hadn't betrayed us. Temar wouldn't have gone mad, my kingdom wouldn't have disappeared, and there would have been no need for my comrades and Sarah to die like that...!]
Padler let out a sob.
He trembled and convulsed, gasping for breath that he had forcibly held onto until Jin arrived.
"Sir Padler!"
[All I remember is this... No matter how much I resented Temar, in the end, I became the same puppet, threatening the clan under the same cunning plan... I became a monster who killed many people.]
Padler grabbed Jin's shoulder.
[Jin Runcandel. I endured to deliver the truth because I believe that if it's you, you can break free from this curse... Lokia Ganesto, that demon, is undoubtedly still alive.]
Holes were gradually widening on Padler's body. His death was approaching.
[She received immortality from the witch. With my own eyes, I witnessed Lokia's resurrection multiple times. Neither the patriarch's sword nor Elona's magic could kill Lokia! You must find Lokia, but don't fall victim to her!]
Padler's eyes, in contact with Jin, were disappearing into the darkness.
Now... I must also tell Sarah, the family, and my comrades...
With those final words, Padler completely vanished.
Jin and his siblings stared at the empty space where Padler had disappeared for a while.
"What on earth... Could all of this, all these events, have originated from the betrayal a thousand years ago?"
"If the evil god was used by that traitor, then, youngest, couldn't Dr. Qwaul also be manipulated by Lokia?"
"Dr. Qwaul also recently discovered that he is a descendant of Ganesto, right?"
Soon, Mary and Tona brothers spoke up.
"Now that Sir Padler is gone, it doesn't seem like he was lying, but there are inconsistencies. If Lokia is the traitor, why was she completely erased from history until recently?"
"That part could be explained by Lokia using Zipfel's manipulation of history to protect herself. The stranger thing is the part where Lokia planned against Orgal, who shares the same goal."
"That's right...…."
"The important thing is Lokia's true identity and whether she is alive or not. If she is alive and the fact that she is a traitor is proven true, we must find her and eliminate her, as Sir Padler suggested."
They couldn't fully trust everything Padler said yet. It wasn't because they doubted him, but because there was no guarantee that his memories were entirely accurate.
However, if Padler's story turned out to be true, Lokia had been the greatest puppeteer behind the scenes for the past thousand years. And even now, she extended her influence.
"The clues are insufficient, so let's investigate this matter step by step. First, let's stabilize the situation and prepare for the visible enemies," Jin said as he opened the prison door and saw Bale leaning against the wall.
Jin knew that Bale had been eavesdropping on their conversation while leaning against the wall.
"This is a place you shouldn't enter without my permission, Bale."
"I know, but can't you cut me some slack since I'm a former ten great knight?"
"That's why I only said it."
"The things he said... They're probably all true."
"You knew?"
"No. Padler may be an unlucky guy, but his feelings towards the clan and Sarah were genuine. If what he said is true, then Lokia is Sarah's enemy. I will find not only Zipfel but also Lokia and make sure they suffer."
"Do you remember anything about Lokia?"
"She was a shady woman. I never thought she was a traitor, but it's true that Lokia frequently interacted with the witch. But I have no knowledge of her whereabouts after I was sealed. Oh, by the way... The one who strongly insisted on sealing me instead of killing me was Lokia."
"Understood. Let me know immediately if anything special comes to mind."
"By the way, what will you do with Padler's belongings?"
"Belongings?"
"Silus. His sword."
Padler's sword was currently stored in the warehouse.
As an old comrade, give me your opinion. What should I do?"
"You can't just put it in the mausoleum or stick it in the garden right now."
"Yeah. Even if there were circumstances, Sir Padler killed numerous people."
"In the end, he intentionally lured me out and fought me to prevent him from killing others. I know it's a far-fetched idea."
Bale harbored hatred towards Padler, but now that he regained his senses and vanished, Bale found himself caught in strange emotions.
Although they always argued with each other with Sarah in the middle, there had been a time when they were comrades.
"...So, don't give that sword to anyone and keep it for now. If Padler's words are proven to be true and as a result, the clan regains its former glory, then maybe you can place it in the mausoleum. If not the mausoleum, at least in the garden. That's my request."
Jin looked at Bale quietly and replied, "Okay."
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