Chapter 943

## Chapter 943

Beradin’s eyes narrowed.

—…What?

—You must think you’re doing very well right now. Taking down Kelliark, strengthening and consolidating the new Zipple as its patriarch. Perhaps some of that is true. However, in the end, you’re being used.

—What are you talking about all of a sudden?

—You’re losing yourself due to mind manipulation and becoming a monster. You didn’t become a cold-hearted person of your own free will.

—We’re not allies, but we have to fight Zito together. I came here to greet you and exchange a few words, but I didn’t expect to hear this kind of nonsense. Has your demonization progressed after becoming the Genesis Knight? Choose your words carefully, Jin Runcandel.

—Demonization, yes. You’re in a similar state. That’s why I offer to help you. I can’t simply leave you in that state any longer.

—I refuse.

—I refuse your refusal.

—…Are you kidding me right now?

—No, I’m serious.

Beradin was speechless and stared at Jin.

But, on the other hand, he found it strangely intriguing to feel anger at this level of provocation. He wouldn’t have cared at all if it had been anyone else but Jin.

*—Curiously, Jin Runcandel’s eyes looking at me seem to resemble Lady Elona’s, which makes me uncomfortable…*

Not long ago, when Elona had unleashed the curse that sought to consume Beradin, she had glimpsed his anxiety.

The anxiety he felt for Kelliark, the concern for his friends, and Elona had decided that someday she would make Beradin face those feelings directly.

It was natural for Beradin to feel similar emotions towards Jin at that moment.

—Alright, let’s drop this conversation. Go down and make sure you don’t die at the hands of Zito. It will be my Zipple that defeats you.

—Just say you care. Where are you going?

Beradin was about to respond, but then he sighed deeply and returned to the Zipple ranks.

—It seems he’s getting a little better, don’t you think? Or is it my imagination?

—I felt it too, Murakan. The mind manipulation wasn’t perfect, so he must be experiencing internal problems continuously.

—We’ll find some clues when we examine Beradin’s Zipple records and Elona’s Zipple records later.

—Indeed… looking at Elona’s Zipple records that remained in the Hidden Palace, there’s a high possibility that Elona was also manipulated and used by Zipple to carry out massacres in the past.

According to the Hidden Palace records, Elona seemed to have tried to avoid committing murders as soon as she woke up, as she was confused about her own existence. She didn’t seem to have the personality of an assassin who would destroy the entire world and kill people.

—If Elona was truly manipulated like Beradin’s Zipple, then Zipple will have no choice but to give up its position as the best in the world if they realize this fact and rebel against Zipple.

—That only happens if the possibility of the Demon Orb being destroyed is included, Bale. In any case, we need to create an opportunity for Valeria to examine both of their records. And this expedition is a good occasion to achieve it.

No one knows what will happen during the battle in Hell. Perhaps Jin and Beradin will find themselves in distant areas throughout the entire conflict. However, it was almost certain that Jin would rarely be so close to Beradin after subduing Zito.

Naturally, they wouldn’t have reason to meet unless another public enemy emerged, or Runcandel and Zipple finally clashed in a total war.

*—It’s a shame that Elona isn’t here for the interior defense. But she will provide immediate support to the Hell expedition if Beradin is ever in danger. At that time, we could talk or examine their records, if we’re lucky.*

While thinking that, Orgal arrived with his group.

[Jin.]

As soon as she saw Orgal, Valeria immediately remembered the “Dream Ability” of the Dreamwalkers’ Chief, Pirops Bachma, and internally trembled as she recalled how she had to review the records of key alliance members every day because of that ability.

[I’ve come to explain the passage in Grosch Castle.]

—Alright. Go ahead, Orgal.

[This passage leads to the Dark Zone of the True Demon World. When you enter there, you will find a dark and vast space, just as the name suggests.]

—And then?

[If you continue north from there, you will reach the An Family Castle. It’s the castle where Videluce lived, who was murdered by the Hidden Palace Master. The battle will begin from there.]

—Do you also know the way from the An Family Castle to Zito’s residence?

Orgal nodded.

[I know now, thanks to having recalled more memories recently. However, Zito’s residence is not an area you can enter at will, even if you know the way. You need a key.]

—Are you referring to this sword?

[That’s right.]

Jin raised the sword he had brought from the Golden Ship and showed it to Orgal.

Bascala, Paellito’s sword, remained intact and undamaged even after his death, and it was kept on the battlefield in perfect condition.

[…Wow, how did you know?]

—I heard it from Paellito.

Paellito had died without revealing that information. It was Visepps who informed Jin that Bascala was the key.

Jin had already heard all the information that Orgal provided through Visepps. He was verifying to make sure that Orgal’s and Visepps’ information matched.

[Ah, I see. If you use that sword as a key, the demons sealed in Bascala will awaken at once. They are like a kind of guardian.]

—Then, shouldn’t Jin just knock down the door instead of using Bascala as a key?

Orgal shook his head at Bale’s question.

[Of course, now that Jin has become a Genesis Knight, there’s probably nothing in the world he can’t cut. But that door leads to another subspace within the True Demon World. We would have to take a very long detour to find Zito without opening it properly.]

—So, does that mean I have to kill all the demons sealed in Bascala to find Zito?

[It’s not just that. There are likely True Demon World forces blocking our way until we reach the door.]

The True Demon World forces.

For Jin, they now seemed to be victims of Zito as well. They were fighting a war they didn’t want, just like Paellito.

Therefore, Jin was willing to postpone their death, just like the Holy Kingdom subjects, if he took care of them. He couldn’t awaken their souls in spirit form without Numerus’ will, but still.

—Understood, Orgal.

Jin stared at Orgal as he returned to the Kinzelo ranks.

—Zito wanted Orgal to be his successor.

Orgal seemed unaware of the reason behind that, but Jin had a possibility in mind.

—Then, maybe if things get bad, Zito might offer Orgal his power or some kind of legacy. We must stop him if there’s even a hint of that, so stay alert.

—For now, he hasn’t deceived us at all. The information provided by Visepps coincides with his words, boy.

The group slowly advanced through the passage.

The passage looked like a sheer cliff. Demonic energy emerged from beneath the darkness that stretched beyond.

—Let’s go.

Woosh!

Murakan transformed into his true form and carried the group on his back. In an instant, he disappeared into the darkness and vanished from the sight of Zipple and Kinzelo.

The passage seemed infinitely deep. There was no sign of reaching the bottom even after descending for more than an hour.

—At this rate, it will take quite a while for the Zipple and Kinzelo fleet to descend. Probably, the reconnaissance team will get there faster, but we’re already heading north.

[It’s not just the distance. Right now, we’re going through subspaces formed by the broken gap in the Demon Seal Wall. The fleet might take a couple of days to pass through these subspaces, boy.]

It took a total of two hours to reach the Dark Zone of the True Demon World. And the Dark Zone looked completely different from what Orgal and Visepps had described.

—…This is something I didn’t hear from Visepps.

It was indeed a zone of vast darkness. However, the bodies of demons literally formed mountains in that gloom. At first glance, it was clear that tens of millions of corpses filled the Dark Zone, as if they were sacrificial livestock.

However, those dead demons weren’t livestock, but people.

They faced Jin as enemies, but the reason for that was solely that they had been brainwashed by Zito. They were simply people born in Hell before being subjected to that brainwashing.

*—The last time I contacted Visepps was a week ago. They said we couldn’t communicate due to preparations for the final battle. So, does that mean all of this happened in a week…? No, it seems not, judging by the state of the corpses.*

A warm energy emerged from the remains.

—They all died fighting each other… I don’t find any other record besides that.

[It doesn’t seem to be the result of a battle between Visepps and Zito’s subordinates. Visepps didn’t have that many fighters from the beginning.]

Jin had a hunch.

That Zito had used them to increase his authority, his “pain.” His Genesis Knight intuition showed him what had happened there and the direction where the souls of those demons were heading.

[T/L: You will know pain.]

And he could feel Zito’s will in it. Zito’s will spoke to him, saying that all those demons were killed by you, not by me.

—It seems Zito fears me.

[What do you mean, boy?]

—Otherwise, he wouldn’t have killed all those demons in this way. Probably, we’ll keep finding these mountains of corpses until we reach his residence.

Hwaaaaah…!

Jin formed a cluster of golden energy in the palm of his hand.

Then, he placed it on the ground as a sign of respect, and suddenly, the golden energy spread among the corpses like a vein.

If he hadn’t obtained the regeneration ability after becoming a Genesis Knight, Jin would have been overwhelmed by unbearable anger at that moment.

Naturally, that would have soon led him to his demonic nature.

But now, Jin was strengthening his inner self and remembering the words Ayula had told him:

—Don’t let guilt crush you, Jin. You must never succumb to its weight. You must bring back to life those who have died before, and those who will die in the future.

—I will defeat Zito and bring them back to life.

The group began to fly north, leaving the corpses behind.

—