C634
February 25, 1803, at dawn.
As expected, Jin was preparing to head to the Garden of Swords.
He even announced to everyone that he would return to the Garden of Swords on February 25 through Dino Zaglan.
Even the bulletin published by Dino himself subtly hinted that Jin would ascend to the position of "patriarch."
It was nothing less than a declaration of war against Runcandel.
"Are Kinzelo and Zipple really going to participate?" Talaris asked.
Jin's companions, who were nearby, alternated their gazes between her and Jin, looking concerned.
"They will surely come. If they are not even capable of recognizing such an important opportunity, then they are not qualified to be the leaders of a major faction."
Jin did not plan for the two forces to participate in the battle from the beginning.He was not sure of it when he decided to go to Runcandel 15 days ago, but now it became clear when seeing Runcandel respond to his return article.
The fact that the Prophet had already taken control of the clan.
Also, the fact that Kinzelo and Zipple did not touch the garden of swords because they assumed that Runcandel possessed a force powerful enough to be a burden.
That's why Jin overturned the odds.
He decided to create a grand stage that no one could ignore unless they were fools.
"Even if the enemy leaders are much more foolish than I anticipate and do not come, I must go. For the sake of those who may be resisting the Prophet within the clan."
Those who have never trusted or tried to trust the disgusting power of the Prophet.
Those who give advice until the end, the true knights of Runcandel, and the brothers.
They were supposed to be suffering in the Garden of Swords.
It was inevitable for Jin to go to them.
Furthermore, considering the articles about Temar published by Runcandel, there was a possibility that Valeria had been captured.
"As I said before, now is the right time when my clan does not know my strength."
"Huh, well... yes. I think my son-in-law's current strength should be enough to escape no matter how things go wrong. Seriously, when I said it wouldn't take you long to reach 10 stars, I never thought you would come back stronger than me. Does that make sense?"
"It's not exactly like that. You're praising me too much, Talaris-nim. And if it weren't for your help and Mort's, I would probably consider other options like the Red Owl."
"Yes, yes. There will come a day in my life when this Talaris Endorma will be nothing more than a means of transportation for someone."
While Talaris laughed, Jin shrugged and chuckled. Now they seemed more like intimate friends than superiors and subordinates.
Siris was amazed at herself for not hating that sight.
"Jin."
"Yes, Lady Syris."
"Since our Hidden Palace has protected you countless times, now it's your turn to protect the Hidden Palace."
Jin did not respond and made eye contact with Siris for a moment.
"So go and come back alive. You have to repay your debts by teaching me some of what you have learned."
"Of course, I will ensure rapid growth for you."
"Why is my daughter suddenly speaking like an adult?"
"Mother, you should also be careful. You shouldn't overexert yourself with a frail body."
"Young Master..."
Gilly placed her hand on Jin's shoulder.
"Please, come back safe and sound."
"As soon as you return, keep marching without a moment's rest. My lord, I apologize for not being able to provide support."
"Jin-nim... is it really okay to go alone?"
Jin's companions gathered around Gilly, expressing their concern for Jin.
Talaris sighed as if frustrated by their concerns.
"Haha, really. Now my son-in-law is not at a level where you have to worry about him. So stop acting like Jin is going to die. I'd rather see that nerd from the lab buried in his research."
Qwaul seemed completely absorbed in his research, apparently indifferent to whether Jin went alone to Runcandel or not.
He was completely obsessed with the objects that Jin brought from Lafrarosa.
For a magical engineer, those were the only materials worth sacrificing for.
The only downside was that Valeria, with whom he could share that happiness, was absent.
"As Talaris-nim said, don't worry too much. I will return. It won't happen, but if I don't return in three days, prepare for evacuation."
"Even my son-in-law adds unnecessary words at the end. Now, let's go!"
Jin boarded the Red Owl.
"I will return. As always, I will make sure to bring back what we need."
Garden of Swords.
For over a thousand years, it has been the home of the Runcandel Sword Masters, revered and feared by all beings in the world.
In the midst of it all, Rosa remained motionless.
She had a pale face and dry lips.
With a body so fragile that it seemed doubtful she was the Black Panther and had ever commanded Runcandel alongside Cyron, she looked up at the sky.
The sun, unseasonably bright, beat down.
However, Rosa felt no burning in her eyes, not even when she looked straight at it.
She just thought it was unnecessarily bright.
"The young one is coming..."
A woman in a black hood nodded.
Ilina Runcandel, the woman known as Joshua's unfortunate companion.
Now everyone in Runcandel knew her identity.
The Prophet of Calamity. The one who saved Rosa and other members of Runcandel from Chaos.
"You sound disappointed. Do you think things would have been different if he had come a little faster?"
Swoosh!
Rosa quickly drew her Frenzy Sword and stabbed Ilina's neck.
Ilina immediately collapsed, gasping, and then convulsed for a few seconds before getting back up.
Instead of blood, Chaos flowed from the affected area.
"Ah, really. How many times do I have to explain that it doesn't cost one or two human lives every time something like this happens?"
"It's unacceptable for a member of Runcandel to speak to me like this. Even if it were your last life, I would not hesitate to kill you."
"You could do it painlessly..."
"Are you eager to die again? The pain of death is something I have also experienced, and it's not something I imagine you would take lightly."
Ilina lowered her head at Rosa's deep voice.
"I'm sorry, I'll be more careful in the future."
Rosa looked back at the main door in silence.
The main door. In retrospect, for Rosa Runcandel, that door represented countless lonely years of waiting.
With how much desperation and fervor she had longed for the day when Cyron, who had passed through that door to complete his task, would return and save the Family...
But that day never came.
Instead, what came was her younger son, who in the end would refuse to bend or yield, forcing her to bend him herself.
That fact was bitter.
"All Runcandel Knights, prepare to welcome the Twelfth Flagbearer of the Family."
Rosa's words were solemn and swift as the wind.
Like Cyron's voice, no matter how small, there was no place where it did not reach, and there was no one who could not hear it.
Knights rushed from all directions and lined up in front of her.
It was also the same as when the Family prepared to welcome Cyron.
The Flagbearers stood at the front, followed by the Black Knights, the Black Sword Association, the Execution Knights, and the Guardian Knights.
It was a much larger number than Jin remembered, but the Flagbearers were only four.
"Rosa-nim."
It was Stam, the Captain of the Black Knights.
"Speak."
"What should I do with the clandestine knights?"
The clandestine knights were those who rebelled against Rosa to the end.
Release all except the Fourth Flagbearer."
"Very well. And... can I return the weapons they were using?"
The reason Stam said that was no different.
Although they had now turned their backs on Rosa and the Family, they were all knights who had once dedicated themselves to the Family.
Their rejection of Rosa was not betrayal; they simply could not reconcile with the logic of power and corruption that Rosa now embodied.
So Stam wanted to offer them one last chance: to fight for the "honor" they believed in, alongside Jin.
Ilina wanted to protest loudly, but Rosa did not dislike Stam's suggestion.
People like that were necessary.
"Do it. Also, all their swords will be planted in the garden."
"...thank you."
"May I dare say something? I think it's dangerous. Jin Runcandel's fate has already derailed once. Even the smallest thing can become a big problem."
Rosa dismissed his opinion.
And she began to focus on the energy of her younger son, who was rapidly approaching from afar.
She remembered the day when Jin first returned to the Family after completing his Reserve Flagbearer training.
It seems that someone else is trying to welcome this elder.
Patriarch, what do you mean by that?
Rosa, I think you have also become boring. A fairly powerful force is approaching the Garden of Swords at a very fast pace.
'Now I can see what you felt then... Cyron.'
Excellent.
The first emotion that filled Rosa's heart was no different from Cyron's at that time.
Slowly, the main door began to open.
Jin advanced towards Rosa, despite the change in the Family and the black energy of the Knights tainted by Chaos.
As the distance closed between them, the two felt as if everything around them was being erased.
Among these countless human and non-human beings, mother and son focused all their senses on each other.
Everything was like that day.
The day Jin proved he met the requirements to become a Flagbearer by receiving Cyron's sword.
But today was not that day.
"The Twelfth Flagbearer, Jin Runcandel, has returned to the Family after completing closed-door training."
Jin did not raise his sword.
Rosa did not respond and looked at Jin in silence. As Runcandel, as a human being, as a mother, she wanted to hold on a little longer to this brief moment with her younger son.
So, just as Cyron did that day, she wanted to draw her sword. Just once, she wanted to savor her son's sword, which had grown so much.
However, Jin did not allow that time to prolong.
"But mother... you have broken our promise."
Disappointing.
You no longer have the right to test me.
As Jin continued, Rosa's hand, which had instinctively reached for her waist, stopped unknowingly.
That was the last emotion Rosa felt as a human being. A trickle of black blood flowed from Rosa's chapped lips. She wiped it with the back of her hand as she responded.
"The promise still stands. If you can prove to me what you set out to prove to me, I will return everything in the Family to its original state right now."
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