Chapter 90
Chapter 90
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: Family Rotation
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There exists an ancient community among the Seven Families.
A small society of their own, dating back to the days when they exchanged information through human scrolls and demon ledgers.
Curiously, it has no name.
The reason being that names hold power, and formally naming the bond of the Seven Families could be interpreted as a challenge to the Supreme Emperor.
This judgment from the ancestral generation—to avoid needless controversy—has carried on to this day.
And so, their gatherings bear no name.
There is only the reason.
And right now.
On the 38th floor of Gilliart Hotel, in the hall reserved exclusively for VIPs, four men and women of similar ages had gathered.
Two men, two women.
Though it had been anywhere from a few months to a few years since they'd last seen each other, there was no sense of warm reunion.
If anything, an uncomfortable tension hung in the air.
The silence was finally broken by a low murmur.
"...We're all there is?"
The voice belonged to a strikingly handsome man with sharp features. He was dressed in a luxurious suit and polished shoes that gleamed, his unbuttoned dress shirt revealing the impressive outline of firm pectorals.
Charitably speaking, a refined wildness; in cruder terms, the kind of guy who could make a dozen women weep. His name was Kendrick Zahard.
The man known as the Cerebellum King spoke up.
"Three people not showing up feels pretty serious, doesn't it?"
The responses from the others varied.
The two beautiful women reacted differently—one furrowing her brow, the other sighing softly—both opting for silence.
The young man, who had been fidgeting nervously and gauging the others' moods with an awkward expression, managed a strained smile.
"Yeah, Ryukard bro and Carlos make sense, but Cecil sis is a surprise... haha."
Kendrick scowled in clear displeasure.
This was exactly why guys who wielded cold weapons were a pain.
Ryukard Anarion.
Carlos Gershtein.
One was obsessed with swords to the exclusion of all else in the world.
The other was such a natural slacker you'd wonder if he even knew how to breathe without effort.
And yet, one was hailed as an unparalleled swordsman, the other as the spear ghost—and word was, both had the family head positions locked up.
That fact grated on the Cerebellum King.
Some people slaved away from childhood, sacrificing sleep to earn Grandpa's favor through every hardship imaginable.
Those slackers got everything handed to them?
Even so, you show up to these meetings.
Not everyone has time to burn.
As Kendrick's expression hardened further, the young man—who had been watching his face like a stock chart—quickly poured some wine.
"Bro! Have some first!"
Kendrick's mood had tanked; time to throw water or booze at it.
That was how the youngest in this gathering survived.
Dayer Hakan.
From the Hakan family, wielders of the earth's power. Someone addressed the young representative.
"Cecil sis still unreachable?"
The question came from a woman in a white tee and jeans: Eanna.
Eanna Solad.
The beloved late daughter of the previous Solad family head, and the current head's youngest sister.
Once a comrade who had fought Jin tooth and nail.
In response, Dayer said,
"Yeah. Last call said she probably couldn't make it. Must be tied up with something."
A cold voice replied.
"Hah, busy with what? The girl who would've been sidelined by Thea and missed the rotation entirely is suddenly acting too high-class for this."
The woman who hadn't spoken until now snorted and turned her gaze to the night view outside.
As the mood chilled instantly, Dayer flashed a mechanical "ahaha" smile.
Kendrick, sipping his wine, sighed and spoke.
"...What a mess. And these are supposed to represent their families—with zero sense of responsibility."
He ragged on Ryukard as a disagreeable sword hack and Carlos as a slothful spear hack, but notably skipped over the absent Cecil entirely.
Talk about transparent.
Unlike the two who'd grown up hearing "genius" whispers and secured their head positions ahead of him, he showed little interest in direct lines overshadowed by Esquire.
It was so very him—obsessed with the throne, indifferent otherwise.
Guess if Cecil were here, he'd probably chat her up nicely.
After all, Kendrick was endlessly lenient toward non-competitors.
Of course, that was just idle speculation.
"Bro, another glass?"
Even now, Dayer was busy soothing his sulking bro.
The other one just sulked at the nightscape.
Eanna found the whole scene exhausting.
...No wonder she hadn't wanted to come.
A sigh escaped her.
This was all because her age put her in this awkward spot.
Her brothers, burdened with major family roles, were past the point of joining rotations.
The kids were too young or unprepared.
So the turn fell to her.
Though the doting family head had told her to throw the match if it looked dicey and come home safe.
"Hah—"
Regardless, as she sighed at the hopeless vibe,
Ding—
The distant elevator chime pierced her ears.
Someone stepped out, and Eanna instinctively glanced over.
There—a familiar profile.
Her surprised face parted her lips unbidden.
"......Jin?"
The man turned, a slow grin spreading.
"Eanna?"
At that voice, Kendrick whipped his head around.
Followed by a cheerful greeting.
"Yo, Cerebellum King!"
Wine erupted from Kendrick's mouth in a spectacular fountain.
*
"Whoa."
Jin was impressed.
The wine spraying from Kendrick's mouth had frozen mid-air into crystalline shards in an instant.
"......"
The icy-faced woman by the window slowly turned.
A woman with sharp, striking eyes—new to Jin.
But whatever.
The stuffy hotel vibe had already been grating on him.
Spotting two familiar faces, he headed straight over.
Smiling at Eanna as she stood to greet him.
"Long time no see."
A warm greeting led to a light hug.
Though Eanna had extended her hand for a shake, leaving it awkwardly stiff.
"Ah."
Before her flustered look faded, Jin pulled away and stepped sideways.
"Hey, Little Brain King."
"Y-You, here, why?"
"Yeah, good to see you too."
Uncharacteristically flustered, Kendrick got a couple shoulder pats as Jin took the seat beside him.
Turning to the opposite pair with their "who're you?" faces.
"Name's Jin. Nice to meet ya."
An abrupt introduction.
Normally, no reason to respond—but someone chummy with prickly Kendrick and hugging Eanna? Different story.
"Dayer Hakan."
"...Katrina Margie."
Jin's eyes widened at their replies.
"Oh, I know you guys. Hakan, Margie!"
He clapped like a student spotting a familiar problem after cramming.
He'd spent recent weeks researching families for the rotation.
Not deep history, but names and traits? Check.
His eager mouth blurted first.
"Hakan's earth, Margie's ice, right?"
Basic stuff any Purist kid knew at five—but his confident delivery swept Dayer up, nodding along.
"Y-Yeah?"
Realizing he'd shaken hands with Jin mid-reply, he smiled faintly.
The stifling mood had melted away with the newcomer.
For the gathering's baby bro, constantly minding elders' tempers, this was a godsend.
TL;DR: instant like.
"Wine?"
"Nah, can't drink. Cola instead."
"Ah, got it! Cola here!"
As Dayer called out,
Kendrick shoved Jin—now shoulder-to-shoulder—back to his earlier question.
"Answer. Why are you here?"
"Me? To join the rotation."
"What?! I clearly..."
Kendrick paused, all eyes on him.
Misstep here, and Grandpa's interest in this coltish punk slips out. He sorted his words carefully.
"D-Did the family extend an invitation to join?"
"Nope?"
Nope. Relief for now.
Not panicking over the head reaching out—Kendrick frowned anyway.
"Then why bother with the rotation?"
"It's my business, man. Do I gotta report every move to you?"
Grumpy retort, then Jin turned.
"Figures from the Cerebellum King. Zero flexibility. Why the interrogation? Right?"
Dayer dodged the agreeing glance.
But his tucked lips screamed held-back laugh.
He'd caught it. Cerebellum^King.
Jin's likability spiked in Dayer's mind.
Meanwhile, a fancy glass of cola arrived; Jin shrugged at the bowing staff.
"Canned would've been fine."
Fancy hotel lived up to it. He raised his glass for a toast.
"Cheers, good to meet everyone."
Arms thrust center; Dayer and Eanna clinked theirs in.
Katrina Margie joined too.
Clear chimes rang as glasses parted to lips. Except Kendrick's.
His face was stonier than when cursing no-shows—pure shock and fury.
Plus belated shame from the fountain show in front of the young'uns. Wine-flushed red.
Unforgivable.
Crimes listed.
Stealing Grandpa's attention.
Blindside rotation entry causing panic.
Humiliating him before siblings.
Death sentence.
Make finals. I'll crush you personally.
While the Cerebellum King burned solo, the rest warmed up nicely.
"Can I call you bro?"
"Kid, sure thing."
Jin's insane rapport had Dayer bro-ing out fast.
Dayer's friendly nature helped; soon grilling Jin with questions.
Jin answered what he could, glossing sensitive stuff.
Like how he met Eanna.
Can't spill her ex-search at Anecdote without permission.
Just "time passed, memory fuzzy."
Otherwise, he chatted lively.
Soon, all knew his feats.
"Heard of the Mute Town civil war. You stopped it? Impressive, bro."
"You fought Elina Vincent? Got Kikard from her?"
Solid reactions rolling.
Katrina, scrolling Solo intranet on her device, smirked faintly.
Her frosty face thawed slightly—like acknowledging baseline quals.
First question to Jin.
"Looks like an awakened variant branch. Why not join Zahard? Esquire status barring rotation entry?"
But no answer came.
Grrrrumble—
Jin clutched his gut, rising awkwardly.
"Sorry, talk later."
"...Why suddenly?"
"Ate too much meatball spaghetti earlier. Signal's here. Gotta go."
Shameless reply as he backed away, eyeing the stunned direct heirs.
"Stay sharp, folks. I'm here to win."
Then he spun and bolted.
"......"
"......"
Mood plunged like a lie.
Dayer belatedly eyed Kendrick.
Yup—glares at fleeing Jin sparked lightning; Katrina's eyes iced too, frost creeping windows.
Gulp. Dayer swallowed dryly.
"Then, I'll head out too."
Eanna up and leaving like she'd waited.
"S-Sis?"
Caught between two fuming heirs, his face darkened fast.
"You two, calm down first..."
The next day.
After a palace-like suite breakfast, Jin left the hotel.
No time to soak in Area 8's exotic sights; asked around to the registration desk.
Long line was obvious; he joined.
Finally his turn—a pale blue light scanned him head to toe.
"Name?"
"Jin Evernight."
"Registration complete. Good luck."
Blazingly fast post-wait; Jin scratched his head, stepping aside.
The status window, quiet for nearly ten days, popped up with a hello.
"Ah."
Jin squeezed his eyes shut, indirectly spoiled on the difficulty.