[My ko-fi link:- https://ko-fi.com/punisher87 ]
Three days have passed since Kelliark went to the third prison of the Poison Demon Castle.
The Vamel alliance received a letter from a bar in the Mila Kingdom. The bar is called 'The Tabernacle,' a premium membership establishment, and it was one of Misha's main hiding spots.
"Wow... Impressive. They said they would establish a regular way of communication somewhere in the human world, but I didn't expect them to use this place."
The ones who sent the letter through the Tabernacle were none other than Tilias and Misol.
"Huh? How did those idiots find her hiding spot? They must be well-informed fellows. Kid, now that I've finished recovering, let's go together."
Jin and Murakan immediately boarded the Red owl and headed towards the Mila Kingdom.
"You have arrived."
The manger guided them to the waiting room. Tilius and Misol stood up and greeted the two as Jin and Murakan entered the room. Tilius and Misol were enjoying the fine food of the Tabernacle.
"Fortunately, it seems you've been doing well without much trouble since returning. Tilias, Misol."
"That's right."
"Hey, the food here is really delicious. Do you two eat this kind of stuff every day? We mostly process and consume the souls that fall into hell. Rather than that, is that Murakan, the Black Dragon, over there?"
"Why is she so fast with her words? Yes, I am Murakan."
"Nice to meet you, Murakan. I'm Misol. You know, this is Tilias. We formally greet you."
"This time as well, Tilias, you will handle most of the explanations... Misol, please understand."
"Of course, Jin Runcandel."
Jin took a seat and observed the two.
"How did you find this place?"
"We looked for public facilities that are difficult to access in the human world. Excluding the ones in Kinzelo and Zipfel, we focused on Huphester and neutral areas. Then we made a reservation under the name Silkia Arcia, and the only place that accepted it willingly was this place."
"Silkia Arcia?"
"She was a member of the True Demon World during the Holy Kingdom's protection war. Also a member of Visepps."
Although not widely known, Jin had heard from Zephyrin that during the protection war of the Holy Kingdom, the demon army was composed of both the True Demon World and the middle world.
"Huh? That devil helped the True Demon World during the Holy Kingdom's protection war? I've never heard such a thing. I mean, I do hate talking with that devil, but..."
"If you ask Black Dragon Misha directly, you might find out."
Since Misha was currently acting as Solderet's substitute, it wasn't an issue that could be easily confirmed.
Shortly after, Jin called the manager, and he confirmed what Tilias said was true.
"The owner has informed all the hiding places that conduct external business like our Tabernacle about the name 'Silkia Arcia'. Owner insisted on granting permission whenever someone who owed a debt asks for a reservation. Besides Silkia Arcia, there are a few more individuals like that. Most of them are dragons."
Once the manager left, Jin nodded. He wasn't the type of person who could be easily manipulated. Even if Tilias and Misol had brainwashing and mind control abilities, there was no reason for them to choose the Tabernacle. It would be better to choose someone in Tikan or Huphester if they possessed such abilities.
"A strange connection. Did Ms. Misha know that she was a member of the True Demon World?"
"Black dragon Misha was probably unaware of Silkia's background. At that time, Silkia was like many other demons, forcibly conscripted, and she chose to desert her position. She sustained injuries while evading pursuers and entered a cave, where she encountered the Black Dragon Misha."
"That devil wasn't someone who should help anyone, especially if they were demons."
"Well... I don't really know the reason why the Black Dragon Misha helped Silkia back then. If it weren't for her, Silkia would surely have died. Perhaps black dragon Misha saw something in Silkia."
"Like what?"
"Perhaps a love for the world."
There was silence for a moment at Misol's answer.
"...It wasn't long before we heard about this from Silkia. I first heard about it from her after our encounter. Silkia might have learned about our meeting and shared this fact. She mentioned contacting the top-tier taverns of the human world under the name Silkia Arcia. Thanks to that, we were able to establish a way of communication so quickly."
The connection between Misha and Silkia was intriguing, but it wasn't a crucial matter at the moment. In fact, it could be easily confirmed when Misha temporarily came to the human world.
"Alright, I understand and will move on. So, I'd like to hear the reason for contacting me this time."
"We've obtained new information that you need to know."
"What is it?"
"It's about your siblings."
Jin's eyes widened.
"...Siblings?"
"The ones who died and ended up in hell. Myu Runcandel and Anne Runcandel, as well as Ran Runcandel and Vigo Runcandel."
After the existence of the True Demon World, in other words hell, was revealed, Jin had often thought about individuals who would undoubtedly have ended up there.
When he went to confirm the first transfer fracture that opened in Romp, he thought of Kidard Hall. When he visited the main sea base of the True Demon World, he briefly pondered while watching the tormented souls of humans.
Somewhere there, there would be the villains he had killed, and his siblings. And now, Tilias was revealing that this was indeed true.
"They were all in hell?"
"Yes. And Paellito has plans to use them to strike against Luna Runcandel."
Of course, Paellito had never mentioned such plans to Tilias and Misol. He had merely ordered to stop the production of soul wine across the True Demon World.
Based on this order, Visepps speculated about the reasons and had recently obtained information that turned those speculations into certainties.
-Is that so? Hm, whatever! If the day comes when I meet those wayward guys again, even then, I'll definitely scold them.
-Will there be a day to meet them again?
-Well, I'll also grow old and die someday, so wouldn't we eventually meet in some place like the afterlife?
-Even if a place like the afterlife exists, elder sister, you and they would probably be in different places.
-Huh? Anyway, that's how I feel. I'll definitely scold them. Whenever it happens, I'll give them a piece of my mind.
A conversation between Jin and Luna on the day she returned from the Black Sea to the Garden of Swords.
At the time, Luna, burdened by guilt over the deaths of her siblings, including Joshua, had said that she would definitely scold them when they met again. But deep down, Jin was concerned about what might happen if such a confrontation occurred.
"There's something called 'Soul Wine.' It's a demonic drink made by processing the human souls that have fallen in hell. Paellito halted the production of Soul Wine to find them, but Misol and I went to the Poison Demon Castle before fighting White Whale. However, Ragal, the owner of Poison Demon Castle, was consuming Soul Wine."
There were spies of Visepps in Poison Demon Castle as well. One of them was the warden of the dungeon, who didn't directly oversee 1st, 2nd and 3rd prisons that are present on the lowest level, but he was in a position to gather information about them to some extent.
"Ragal... Wasn't he the demon that injured Elona Zipfel? The one who deals with poison."
"That's right. Ragal Fun. He's an individual who's always trying to surpass Paellito and eagerly seeks opportunities. Somehow, he's also receiving the favor of Zito. In any case, according to the spy planted in Poison Demon Castle, Ragal has secured individuals believed to be your siblings."
Ragal is the one who threatened even Elona Zipfel using a despicable method. Jin felt a sense of frustration after thinking that such Ragal was holding a hand that could be Luna's weakness.
"So that's why Ragal was consuming Soul Wine. Can you secure them?"
"At the moment, it's not possible. The lowest-level prisons in Poison Demon Castle are under special management, so even our spies can't get closer to them."
"What about informing Paellito about the fact that Ragal is holding them?"
"Though those two undoubtedly have a significant difference in skills, their status is at a similar level. Ragal won't receive punishment for disobeying someone like Paellito. There's a high chance that Zito will cover for him... Moreover, whether your siblings are with Ragal or Paellito, the outcome will be the same. It will deliver a psychological blow to White Whale."
The demons were still constantly forming fractures across various places in the human world. Luna, who was standing at the forefront suppressing them, couldn't be excluded from the battlefield for the time being.
As it stood, Luna meeting her siblings was inevitable.
"Can you tell me the day they'll be deployed in battle?"
"We can probably guess to that extent. Our spies only need to confirm the day when the lowest-level prisons of Poison Demon Castle are opened."
Jin nodded and handed them a portable communication device.
"Take this communication device. Install it in the Tabernacle and notify me immediately when my siblings in hell are brought onto the battlefield."
"During that time, should you keep the White Whale on standby while you plan to engage in the battle personally?"
"Yes. But Tilias, if I were to kill souls that have already died... What would happen?"
"They would be annihilated. They would cease to exist anywhere in this world. Not in hell, nor in the cycle of reincarnation."
Jin nodded heavily in understanding.
"Is there any more information you can provide?"
"There's an individual named Layla Belgasyum, Paellito's younger sister. It seems like she's been given separate orders under Zito's command... But we haven't obtained the details yet. However, Layla Belgasyum will also appear in the human world soon. She's different from other Demon Kings you have encountered so far, so be cautious."
"Understood."
"We'll contact you through here the next time we want to meet. We were allowed to rest for a while after the last battle, so we should be able to communicate more freely with you for a while."
***
At the same time, in Poison Demon Castle.
Kelliark was enjoying a dinner with Ragal, thanks to his kindness.
"To think you've already found five souls suitable for the Zipfel side... It's fortunate to meet some like you. That's why I've brought you out of the prison today. Drinking only in such gloomy places doesn't feel good, right?"
Kelliark smiled without answering. And just as the two were about to toast, a servant suddenly rushed over.
"Lord Ragal!"
"What's the matter?"
"There's a problem in the lowest-level prison... All four prisoners have disappeared!"
"What!"
Ragal immediately rushed to the dungeon. The guards had all lost consciousness, and 1st, 2nd and 3rd prisons were wide open and completely empty.
"Immediately seal off the entire extreme poison zone and find them!"
Then, belatedly, Ragal turned to Kelliark, who had followed him.
"Kelliark Zipfel... I thought of you as a friend. How dare you stab me in the back like this? Let me personally show you what the real hell is like….."
[T/L: You can read more chapters and support me here: https://ko-fi.com/punisher87 & https://bmc.link/punisher87 ]
[T/L: Join $29 membership on my "buymeacoffee" page and read 55 chapters ahead and daily 1 new chapter update. I have introduced new memberships, and you can read upto 75 or 85 chapters ahead.]