章節 235: Chapter 394
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***
Amidst the solemn atmosphere, Runcandel was agitated by the declaration of the "Magic Swordsman."
Both the flagbearers, the elders, and the knights who followed them talked about Jin whenever there was an opportunity.
Would Jin really wake up, and if he did, what kind of punishment would he face? How many of the Swordmasters would align themselves with him?
Among these questions, there was only one thing that Runcandel and the others could predict.
The fact that about 10% of the knights would support Jin. Therefore, Runcandels thought it would be difficult to completely turn the table, even if the situation changed.
"...It's this kind of atmosphere. So, unnie. It might be a good time for you to start moving a little more actively than before."
Myu and Anne had come to find Luntia and had been making such claims.
They had explained in great detail for over 30 minutes, about how the youngest had bared his fangs, and about properly empowering Joshua.
It wasn't something Joshua had ordered. However, they wanted to reaffirm their loyalty to the next patriarch during this opportunity.
'If Joshua Orabeoni becomes the next patriarch, the governing rights of the Eastern Five Regions will be ours.'
'Even if we don't bother looking for that human named Hister.'
Since they decided to become Joshua's people a long time ago, they had never dreamed of becoming the patriarch even once. They only desired control over the Eastern Five Regions and other territories through Joshua, and survival.
They expected that if Joshua became the patriarch, he would most likely purge most of the other siblings.
"Luntia, unnie?"
Luntia only stared at the pure white ceiling.
Due to the nature of her rigid body, it would take some more time for her to fully recover, but the important treatment had already been completed a few days ago.
"Are you listening to us?"
During all the chatter, Luntia hadn't answered once.
Is it my fault...?
For the past twelve days, she hadn't spoken to anyone who came to see her. She simply remained silent, like someone with aphasia, lost in thought.
"...Unnie, it's understandable that you're shocked by the serious injuries you received."
"But continuing to be like this will only make you a laughingstock."
Myu and Anne avoided using the word 'defeat,' instead, they referred to it as a 'serious injury.'
In reality, they didn't think Luntia had been defeated by Jin. Her defeat was nothing more than an accident, and they were confident that if she were to face him again in an official duel, the outcome would be different.
It wasn't just Myu and Anne; everyone in Runcandel had similar thoughts.
But Luntia herself didn't think so.
She had been doing nothing but reflecting on her battle with Jin for twelve days, every minute without rest.
Even if she were to fight again, even if she were to remain vigilant and give her all from the start, she still couldn't be sure whether she could change the outcome. It is true that there are things she hadn't shown, and Jin likely had many hidden cards as well.
A strange fervor was building in Luntia's vacant eyes, something that Myu and Anne couldn't yet grasp, the level of her determination.
Myu and Anne exchanged glances and nodded.
"Well, think about what we said. Besides, you already believed that Joshua Orabeoni would become the patriarch."
"At a time like this, if unnie helps, it will be a great strength. We'll be waiting, so contact us anytime when you're feeling better."
After Myu and Anne left, an elderly woman entered the room. Luntia's maid, 'Lisham.'
"Young lady."
Luntia turned her head slightly to face Lisham.
"It seems the youngest master has awakened just now."
Suddenly, Luntia jumped to her feet, and Lisham smiled. This was the first time she had seen Luntia react like this in almost twenty years.
"How is he? Can he wield his sword again?"
Luntia still didn't know that Jin had consumed Numerus's blood. That's why she asked this question first.
"I heard he is surprisingly well. Enough to recreate that fight right away."
"My sword and flagbearer coat..."
"I thought you would be looking for them."
Lisham handed Luntia her beloved sword, Charles, and the Flagbearer Coat that she had prepared in advance.
As she watched Luntia hurriedly putting on her clothes, Lisham remembered her childhood.
Young Luntia often used to say that she wanted to become the strongest in the clan.
'When I look back, after the First Flagbearer gave up everything, Young lady lived like someone who had lost the meaning of life…'
Lisham's eyes welled up with tears. She, too, had once dreamed like all the other clan members, wanting to see her young lady stand at the pinnacle of the clan, ruling the world.
But Luntia had lost her goal too early. Climbing to the top and facing the giant star Luna, proving that she could shine even brighter than her, was the only thing that had driven Luntia.
After that giant star disappeared, a sense of boredom had set in. Her life was filled with silence and meaningless inner peace.
And Lisham had a gut feeling.
When the sword of the Twelfth Flagbearer cut through Luntia's chest, when her young lady fell in front of that pale blade, she sensed that a new star had been born in her young lady's heart.
"Where is the youngest? Is he going to see mother?"
"No, I heard he's heading to the mausoleum."
Lisham spoke as Luntia was about to leave the room.
"Young lady."
"Yes?"
"I wish you good luck. As I always have, and forever."
As Luntia turned away, she watched Lisham for a moment.
And then she started walking with renewed vigor, like a general setting out for a campaign.
There was no longer a sense of heavy boredom in her eyes. The desire that Myu and Anne had not discovered was gradually shining brighter.
The flagbearers, elders, and the knights who followed them had already gone to the mausoleum to confirm Jin's awakening.
Having so many people heading to the mausoleum at once was a first in several years.
But amidst the crowd at the mausoleum, Luntia saw nothing but Jin. Seeing the youngest stand tall among the people surrounding him, she couldn't help but smile.
"It seems like you were never in a coma until yesterday, looking so fine."
"How on earth did you wake up?"
"You should have visited the acting matriarch first if he woke up. Why did you come to the mausoleum first, 12th flagbearer?"
Jin remained silent in response to the voices of the elders.
Instead, his gaze wandered around until it locked onto Joshua.
"2nd flagbearer, I heard you had a hard time with the aftermath and you had already summoned the knights, which was very commendable."
After Jin's declaration as the Magic Swordsman, Joshua had quickly stabilized the Garden of Swords by using the knights he had pre-summoned when Jin's arms were severed. He showed himself as the next patriarch.
If Joshua had left the situation to develop without predicting it and kept the knights as they were, there would have been several more confusing days. In the worst-case scenario, there could have been an invasion by external forces who took advantage of the situation.
With most of the combatants, including Rosa and Luntia, having suffered injuries of varying degrees, it was the most opportune moment for outsiders to attack Runcandel.
No one dared to rebuke Jin even though the 12th flagbearer was talking as if he was assessing the 2nd flagbearer,. Even Joshua, the person in question, didn't show any signs of discomfort.
"The flagbearers exist not to disrupt the clan but to organize and lead it. I simply did what was expected."
He spoke in an easy-to-understand language that sounded humble but carried a message that anyone could grasp. While I did what was expected of me, you put the clan at risk.
"In a way, I just cleared a path through stagnant waters. Isn't that why the acting matriarch didn't punish me because she knows that?"
"The reason mother isn't punishing you is because she believes you have value. It's also related to why you went to the mausoleum as soon as you woke up."
The legacy of Temar and ancient Runcandel.
Everyone had watched that power carefully. The power of Jin, who was just the 12th flagbearer, overturning the Garden of Swords in an instant.
Greed-filled eyes were fixed on Jin. They have expectations that if Jin could enshrine the knights of ancient Runcandel to the mausoleum, that power would not be limited to just the 12th flagbearer.
So, what the elders wanted to hear from Jin now was only one thing.
Is there a way for you to make us 'Magic Swordsmen' right away?
Jin was sure. If he were to say, "I will immediately share that secret with those who follow me," at that moment, a considerable number of elders would show favor towards Jin.
"You must have a plan for how to bring the first patriarch and ancestors into this mausoleum."
"It seems there are only idiots everywhere."
Suddenly, Jin frowned as if uncomfortable.
"If you want to know that, go outside. Challenge me, struggle, and seize it. I'm telling you to follow what I showed you that day. Otherwise, you will disappear from history without leaving a single mark until the day you die."
"Don't think that only you can use that power, 12th flagbearer."
"Do not think that the 2nd flagbearer is on the same level as me by committing all sorts of wicked deeds with the help of the Prophet."
The Prophet. Jin mentioned her directly, and Joshua didn't seem surprised.
A few elders already knew about the existence of the Prophet.
From the reaction, Jin could expect that Joshua would also soon reveal the Prophet to the clan.
'I must let them know that the legacy of ancient Runcandel has the power to counter Zipfel. Kinzelo and Vermont will soon start to weaponize golems in earnest. Joshua probably knows that much.'
Even in the previous life, when Zipfel began to possess "Mass produced Mages," the balance of world power shifted significantly.
The Plutonian-type and Majin living golems that Kinzelo and Vermont were producing could wield power far beyond that of Mass produced mages.
It was not easy to deal with them in a "normal" way.
Flicker-
After igniting the flames in the center of the mausoleum using mana, Jin took a step forward, passing Joshua. And just as he was about to leave the mausoleum, Luntia blocked his way.
Jin and Luntia stared at each other for a few seconds in silence.
"I, too, will become the patriarch."
As Luntia uttered those words, everyone gathered at the mausoleum had to doubt their ears. Even Joshua seemed to find it difficult to hide his emotions this time, his eyes widening in surprise.
Smirk, Jin responded with a smile, "I thought there were only fools, but it seems there's a real one. Let's do our best, elder sister."
章節 236: Chapter 395
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It was impossible to keep the Garden of Sword in state of war and block off the entire Huphester territory.
This was because the war had not actually broken out. No matter how much authority Runcandel had as ruler clan of Huphester, they couldn't continue to suppress the convenience of all residents without a special justification.
Furthermore, the cause of the incident had already spread among the Kalon residents and spies.
The rumor was that Jin Runcandel had caused the accident.
And the rumors were spreading like a buoy that would float back to the surface no matter how much it was pushed down, there were words about Jin circulating among the Huphester residents.
Starting with the news that the 12th flagbearer had fallen into a critical condition.
And rumors that a rebellion had occurred in the Garden of Swords (which could be interpreted differently depending on one's viewpoint). Dangerous rumors even suggested that the 12th flagbearer had defeated all the flagbearers and even suppressed the acting matriarch.
Amidst the overwhelming flood of rumors, Runcandel had to make a decision.
In the end, before Jin could wake up and before a week had passed, Runcandel lifted all the blockades and restored Huphester to its original state.
Unless they were going to eliminate Jin, it was better for the reduced truth to spread rather than rumors.
Jin Runcandel, the 12th flagbearer of Runcandel, the greatest swordmaster on the continent, had destroyed the Garden of Swords!
The Sword Clan originally belonged to the Magic Swordsmen. An exciting and turbulent declaration of reinstating Runcandel status as a Magic Swordsman clan, Huphester vibrated.
The true identity of the thunderbolts that Jin Runcandel had used in his early days as a reserve flagbearer was the power of the ancient beastmen tribe that disappeared thousands of years ago...
Would Runcandel consider Jin Runcandel a traitor or a flagbearer of evolution?
I will become the Patriarch, a single sentence that rang in the Garden of Swords... It was also reported that the 3rd flagbearer, Luntia Runcandel, had made the same declaration. The possibility of a three-way battle in the Runcandel succession battle was high.
The declarations spread like a raging fever! The 4th flagbearer, Diphus Runcandel, and the 7th flagbearer, Mary Runcandel, reaffirmed their determination not to give up the throne. Would it become a five-way battle?
What about the position of the 2nd flagbearer, Joshua Runcandel?
Where is Jin Runcandel, the one whom the people of Huphester wanted to see?
From the moment the blockade was lifted, articles poured in like wildfire.
As always, led by Dino Zaglan, journalists who were sympathetic to Jin had no rest for a while.
The appearance of a hero is always exhilarating. The public had been enthusiastic about Jin Runcandel since the Holy Kingdom incident, and his name had long been synonymous with a hero.
Originally, Runcandel would not have let such articles from news outlets go unnoticed.
However, at this point, suppressing the media was quite burdensome. There was no benefit in killing those who were friendly to Jin.
On the contrary, it could be detrimental. Moreover, similar articles were already emerging from outside of Huphester, so Jin's presence had become impossible to conceal.
Of course, alongside the endless praising sentences, journalists from the opposing camp to Jin were also having hectic days.
Was Runcandel really a Magic Swordsman clan? Baseless rumors, Runcandel was a clan that had become conqueror of the continent solely with a single sword. Could the 12th flagbearer dare to tarnish that glorious history?
Denying the legitimacy of the clan was equivalent to rebellion, and it was a time when Runcandel's strict judgment was needed...
The limitations of a Magic Swordsman had already been extensively proven in the history of humanity, so one shouldn't be fooled by the extravagant stories of the 12th flagbearer...
It was an excessively radical move to consider this simply as a form of rebellion. Those who referred to it as merely "radical" should have their heads split open with an axe and displayed at the entrance to the Garden of Swords.
While the lower-ranking flagbearer had made declarations of patriarchy, the 2nd flagbearer remained steadfast. The 2nd flagbearer encouraged the lower-ranking flagbearer, saying, "Healthy competition is always necessary," and displayed dignity befitting the next patriarch.
Where is that madman right now?
Strip Jin Runcandel of his flagbearer status!
Amidst the praising and maliciously articles that stirred up the world, there was one thing both media outlets were equally interested in: where Jin Runcandel is right now. After visiting the Garden of Swords, all that could be heard was the news that Jin had left the Garden of Swords, and his whereabouts were still unknown.
"Haha...!"
Zipfel, the 1st Magic Tower, the Tower of Stories.
As usual, Kelliark Zipfel was sitting in front of the crystal orb on the top floor, passing his time. Beside him, various newspapers from different countries were piled up in a mess.
Contrary to what was known to the public, there was a boyish look on his face. He underlined the newspapers as he read them, and he was unmistakably a nobleman with gray hair.
[What's so funny, again!]
Kadun, the Fire Dragon, was grilling skewers reaching almost 5 meters using his fiery breath, standing a good distance away. Despite his true form, his face was filled with irritation.
"I have felt it before, Runcandel's youngest has always been quite an interesting fellow."
[Interesting? Are you in your right mind?]
"Why not? At his age, he single-handedly turned Runcandel into a complete mess. Even I couldn't do what he's doing. It's refreshing, isn't it?"
Crunch!
Kadun angrily bit into a cooked skewer.
[How much damage have we suffered because of that damn brat? Your brother died, and the Demon God's Orb was destroyed, not to mention our alliance with Kinzelo. The Holy Kingdom incident... I can't even bring myself to mention it. And just a while ago, we lost a Black Knight spy, Kelliark!]
"Including the fact that we lost some of the Spectres."
[Yes, that too. Is that all? A Magic Swordsman...! That brat is breaking the oath!]
The reason for Kadun's anger was that.
A thousand years ago, he and Zipfel of that time had taken away Runcandel's magic with so much difficulty.
Kadun could understand that Jin, as an individual, was overturning the world as a Magic Swordsman. The problem was that Jin had declared his intention to turn the entire Runcandel back into a Magic Swordsman clan.
It was unbearable.
Thinking back to how mighty Runcandel was in those days, it made his teeth chatter and sent shivers down his spine.
"Calm down, Kadun."
[You haven't experienced it a thousand years ago, so you wouldn't know. If it weren't for those bastards... the world would have been entirely ours since then. It's because of those terrible Magic Swordsmen that I had to wait an extra thousand years.]
"A thousand years isn't that long for a dragon, is it?"
[A thousand years is long for a dragon too! Damn it, can't you see that I'm reacting so sensitively to this?]
"I understand. It's about how important this matter is."
[We need to meet with Runcandel's acting matriarch again and put pressure on them to remember the oath.]
At that, Kelliark smiled slyly.
"No, there's no need for that."
[You should give a convincing explanation.]
"Of course. Think about it, Kadun. Based on what we've observed so far, the 12th flagbearer of Runcandel is not the kind to recklessly cause trouble. The fact that he openly mentioned reinstating the Runcandel status as a Magic Swordsman clan is because he has a reliable safety net."
[Are you talking about Chiron Runcandel?]
"Yes, Chiron Runcandel. What the 12th flagbearer believes in is his father. I don't know how much of the Black Sea's secret Chiron has shared with his youngest son, but one thing is for sure..."
Chiron Runcandel had not yet entered the territory of five kings of the Black Sea.
As Kelliark continued, Kadun's pupils dilated.
[...No way. The Runcandel's strongest knights, along with the demigod, have been searching for several decades by now. By this time, they should have undoubtedly found the territory of the five Kings.]
"I also expected that from Chiron and his knights. However, judging by the actions of the 12th flagbearer, it's more likely that he's still wandering, unable to find the Five Kings' territory."
If Chiron had already found the territory of the Black Sea Kings and he couldn't get out for a while, Jin wouldn't have made the declaration of Magic Swordsman.
That was Kelliark's judgment.
"The Black Sea is truly an unknown land. Even if Chiron hasn't found the Five Kings' territory yet, it wouldn't be surprising."
[Hmm, that's true.]
"Maybe he gave up on finding the Five Kings' territory. So, while he is still alive, he might be looking for an opportunity to break the oath with the 12th flagbearer."
[Either way, it's annoying.]
"Kadun, Chiron is just a human after all. And he won't get what he wants."
Kadun nodded silently. A human, and one with limited time left at that.
Once Chiron disappear, Runcandel wouldn't be a problem anymore.
"Besides, the oath is just a symbol. What's actually carved into Runcandel's blood is a curse. So don't rush it, let's keep an eye on it. It's quite interesting, you know."
[Alright. But still, it's a good idea to confirm Jin Runcandel's whereabouts for now. It's unsettling.]
"That's a valid point. Let's see, I'll check the crystal ball..."
[You can't see anything in there!]
As Kadun exclaimed in frustration, something caught Kelliark's eye below the crystal ball.
There was a sealed letter. It had arrived for his precious son, Veradin Zipfel.
"...We might not need to look. I'm pretty sure he's coming here."
Kelliark shook the letter in his hand.
[What is it?]
***
While everyone was curious about Jin's whereabouts, he was simply spending his time with his comrades at the mansion in the Tikan Free City.
He was leisurely checking the newspapers while enjoying some Latrie cookies.
However, Jet suddenly rushed over and handed Jin a letter.
"Lord! A letter has arrived in Tikan under your pseudonym. It seems like an invitation of some sort."
"Give it here."
Jin already expected it to be an invitation, so his reaction was rather calm.
When he opened the seal, the first thing he saw was the image of a lion holding a sword, the "Seal of the Sword Emperor."
Only the Lord of the Sword Emperor Castle could use it.
(Paul Gray Mick! I invite you to the Sword Emperor's Banquet.
Join us to enjoy the splendors of the Sword Emperor Castle and to shine your name.
Lord of the Sword Emperor Castle, Ron Hairan.
P.S.: Regrettably, I am sending this invitation to you because of my grandson. Please refrain from coming if possible.
Don't come!)
After reading the contents, Jin chuckled.
He could almost vividly imagine how desperately Dante must have pleaded with Ron Hairan to invite him to the banquet.
Jet, who glanced over the contents, sighed.
"My lord, why did he bother sending the invitation if he didn't want you to come? Ron Hairan is quite petty."
"Jet."
"Yes, my lord."
"Do you have suitable attire for the banquet?"
"Yes, I do, but... Why do you ask?"
"Then prepare it. Let the others know too. We're all going together to meet this petty lord."
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