章 278: Chapter 437
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"Revenge, huh? There was no grudge between you and me. Until today, that is. So, if you attacked me, it must mean you wanted to seek revenge through the power of the Elder Council."
When Jin replied, Luton's gaze turned towards Talaris. He hadn't used the past to beg for his life.
"Hmm, why are you looking at me? Even if I weren't here, you couldn't have done much against Tikan. You haven't lost your senses so much that you couldn't calculate that much, right?"
The assassins who attacked Tikan possessed enough power to potentially annihilate a small country.
If Tikan didn't have Cuicantelle, it would have suffered significant damage or even disappeared completely.
"...I know. We haven't heard any about silver dragon being here either. It seems the Elder Council has become quite incompetent, just like our dull swords. The information about this mission was full of variables from the start."
"Aren't the enforcement knights of Runcandel supposed to carry out their assigned missions without fail even in the midst of those variables?"
"That's true, Talaris. But we are just exiles, not enforcement knights anymore. Anyway, it feels strange that you're working for the 12th Flagbearer."
"Why is it strange? I'm just helping my son-in-law."
Pffft, a bizarre laughter emerged from the distorted lips of the exiles.
"I had a premonition that I would die a pitiful death someday. I don't know whether meeting an old friend in that process is a curse or a blessing."
"If I have to say, it's closer to a blessing. You used to indulge in such pointless sentimental things even when you were young. Luton, tell me what happened. I thought some of you had become the Black knight since I haven't heard from you for a while."
Talaris had a curious look in her eyes, wondering how they had ended up in this situation. While they might not be considered friends, they had built a certain bond, so it was natural for Talaris to be curious.
Jin also had his doubts about them as they were "enforcement knights" before being exiled. Apart from the ten black helmets, being an enforcement knight was typically the highest position a knight of Runcandel could achieve.
'If they were accused of treason, no matter how great their merits, they would have lost their lives instead of just being exiled. But apart from treason or betrayal, there's usually no punishment more severe than exile for enforcement knights.'
Purge.
That word came to mind.
'I get it roughly.'
Jin and Luton's gazes met once again.
Luton had been silently staring at Jin for quite a while. He had never once thought that the 12th Flagbearer would decorate his final moments.
Smirk, Luton opened his mouth with a smile.
"The 12th Flagbearer, we were knights of Runcandel long before you were born, and we were the swords of the patriarch. Although we couldn't wear the black helmets, we could boast of being among the best of the enforcement knights at the time."
If his face hadn't been disfigured, and if he hadn't suffered terrible injuries all over his body, Luton could have become a Black Knight.
"When Chiron Runcandel spent an extended period in the Black Sea, we went under the 1st Flagbearer according to the patriarch's orders."
"Elder sister Luna?"
That was the first time Jin had heard this. Luna was famous for her unfriendly behavior, true to her nickname the White Whale.
"During that time, everyone was convinced that the 1st Flagbearer would undoubtedly become the next patriarch. But, 12th Flagbearer, it must have been around the time you were born."
When the 1st Flagbearer declared that she wouldn't become the patriarch.
Luton continued speaking, and Jin could still see a deeply bitter expression on his face even though his face was completely disfigured.
"Over the decades, our affiliations have changed from being the clan's Guardian knights to enforcement knights, then becoming the knights of the patriarch, and finally, knights of the 1st Flagbearer."
If that was the case, then the next would have been for them to become knights of another Flagbearer or to join the Elder Council as clan enforcement knights.
However, Luton and his comrades had to face a future they had never imagined.
"The 2nd Flagbearer..."
Joshua Runcandel. Luton paused momentarily as he mentioned the name.
"We thought we would become his knights. Even before the 1st Flagbearer gave up the throne, Madame Rosa often showed signs of wanting to support the 2nd Flagbearer."
Back then, Chiron had spent more time in the Black Sea than in the Garden of Swords.
Therefore, managing the clan was mainly Rosa's responsibility at that time. Rosa did not appoint the exiled knights as knights of the 2nd Flagbearer.
Luton and his comrades were a total of fifteen at that time, which meant there were fifteen high-ranking enforcement knights.
"She simply cast us aside as if we had no worth."
Rosa purged them just as Jin predicted at the beginning of the conversation.
Rosa got rid of everything related to them as if they had never existed in the world.
She took away their lives, their families, their fellow swordsmen, the animals they had raised, and even their acquaintances.
Even though Luton and his comrades believed in their skills as high-ranking enforcement knights, they were helpless when they were stabbed by the very swords they trusted.
They had never thought that the clan would eventually abandon them.
"The four out of the fifteen of us managed to survive with the help of the Black Sword Association's Chief. We ended up in this miserable situation. However, one of us died not long after, and another died while helping the Elder Council with their work a few years ago."
"So, that's why only the two of you are left?"
"That's right."
They had devoted their entire lives to Runcandel, but why were they purged so brutally?
The exiled enforcement knights could never escape that lingering question throughout their lives.
"It seems my mother judged that it would be difficult for the 2nd Flagbearer to handle swords like you."
"…That's probably the case. Otherwise, there would have been no reason to purge us."
Luton and his comrades had been knights of Chiron knights back in the day, and they had attacked Talaris without his orders. They had a wild aspect that even Talaris described them as 'ferocious beasts.'
That's why Rosa didn't assign them to Joshua.
They also weren't assigned as clan enforcement knights to the Elder Council because Rosa judged that the Elder Council might gain more power than necessary.
They were left to face purge without even having the chance to swear loyalty to other siblings who had not yet become Flagbearers or those who had recently become Flagbearers.
Of course, it was an unreasonable situation for them.
But in the face of an incomprehensible and irrational situation, they had no power to resist. The adversary was Rosa Runcandel, after all.
"Hmm... Luton, there's one thing I'm curious about in this story."
Talaris narrowed his eyes slightly and spoke up.
"What the hell was Chiron when things got to that point? Did Chiron sit still while Dame Rosa was executing you without any legitimate reason?"
Luton slowly nodded his head.
"Yes."
"Why in the world?"
"...I doubt you're asking because you genuinely don't know, Talaris."
Talaris sighed.
It was because she remembered her friend, who had become even more emotionally parched than the desert.
"Chiron used to care about you guys quite a bit 30 years ago. So, he really did nothing to intervene until it got to this point?"
"After the 1st Flagbearer gave up the throne, the patriarch seemed disappointed with everything in the world for a while. Maybe that's why he didn't care about us all the more. You've never shown any curiosity about our well-being, have you?"
"Well, of course, I thought there wouldn't be any major problems with your safety. How could I possibly know the inner workings of Runcandel? And comparing me and Chiron in terms of looking after you would be inappropriate."
"That's true. Since the patriarch didn't take an interest, there was no reason for you to know about us. But, apart from the patriarch, you were closest to us."
Luton continued as he observed Talaris, who paused.
"Of course, I'm not bringing this up to hold any grudges."
"Yeah, I understand that. And you shouldn't hold a grudge against me. Unless you came to the Hidden palace seeking help after surviving, perhaps."
"That's right. We never came to you because we thought you had nothing to do with this. You were the closest person to me and my comrades, but objectively, it wasn't anything exceptional. To you, we were just a passing relationship."
Talaris shrugged.
However, if you had come to me, I would have certainly tried to help you in some way.
Talaris didn't say this out loud because it was pointless.
There was a brief silence.
"I have nothing more to say."
"That's something I'll decide. I still have a few questions," Jin spoke.
"You mentioned earlier that the reason you attacked me was for revenge. Is the target of your revenge my mother?"
"Yes, that's right."
"How did it turn out this way?"
"The Chief of Black Sword Association ordered me for his own gain. And everything he does is in pursuit of becoming the patriarch."
"Do you really think Elder Council President Jorden can defeat Joshua and become the patriarch? Seriously?"
Jin gave a genuinely puzzled look, and Lutan nodded.
"It doesn't matter what the odds are. We have no other option."
"In other words, you're trying to achieve revenge through the Chief of Black Sword Association. Judging by what you're saying, it doesn't seem like you are acting out of gratitude for him saving you."
"Gratitude? Jorden used us like dogs whenever he pleased, so we've already repaid that debt. Maybe we could have been more thankful if he had spared us from this ordeal and let us live, but alas."
Indeed, the exiled enforcement knights were motivated by revenge.
"Okay, then let me ask one last question."
"What is it?"
"You mentioned that you survived with the help of the Chief of Black Sword Association, Jorden Runcandel. However, does my mother know about this?"
"She doesn't know."
"I guess so. You wouldn't have survived until now if my mother knew. And that fact is your only practical means of revenge against her... I can offer you a more worthy death."
"A worthy death?"
"You'll never see a future where the Chief of Black Sword Association becomes the patriarch in any case. It will be over if you die by my hand now, and your revenge cannot come true."
"What are you trying to say, 12th Flagbearer?"
When Lutan raised his head, Jin continued.
"Go back to the Garden of Swords. Go there and let it be known that the Chief of Black Sword Association disobeyed my mother's orders. Blemish her authority. That's the most meaningful revenge you can achieve."
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