Chapter 201: Vanessa Olson (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 201: Vanessa Olson (1)
They spent their time visiting Tikan’s finest restaurants, enjoying tea at exquisite teahouses, and ascending to the island’s highest point at night to admire the cityscape.
Throughout it all, Vanessa never revealed her true intentions, perfectly playing the part of a refined elderly lady.
On the table, the final refreshments of the day were served.
“These cookies are made with a blend of figs, green grapes, and walnuts. They’re called Litra cookies. It’s my first time trying them as well, but I heard there’s always a long line in front of the bakery on the third floor just to get a taste.”
“Oh, is that so?”
“I’m told most people have to turn back empty-handed.”
“Mm, I suppose I get to eat quite comfortably thanks to being your host. The powerful figures of Tikan don’t have to stand in line for a bakery, do they?”
“No, actually. From the moment I began escorting you, a subordinate of mine named Jet stood in line the entire time. Fortunately, he managed to snag the very last batch.”
Vanessa let out a soft chuckle and took a bite. Crunch. The sound of the cookie breaking in her mouth was crisp and pleasant.
A cool night breeze swept across the table. Vanessa’s smile lingered for a long while, as if she were thoroughly satisfied with the flavor.
Jin waited patiently for her to finish. When the last cookie finally vanished, he looked her straight in the eye and spoke.
“At this point, my curiosity is getting the better of me, Lady Vanessa Olson.”
Vanessa had been using a pseudonym in Tikan.
However, she didn't seem the least bit flustered that Jin had used her real name. Her expression remained as composed and relaxed as it had been all along.
“The scent of dragons was thick in that mansion. I suppose they told you my name. What is it you’re so curious about, Jin Runcandel?”
Her expression was the same, but her tone had shifted completely. The image of the soft, modest old woman was gone. In her place stood a warrior, her gaze as deep and piercing as only the strongest possess.
“Did my father send you to test me? You’ve been acting as if we were just a grandmother and grandson out on a picnic, so I was starting to wonder if I’d been mistaken.”
“No, your intuition was correct. Lord Cyron sent me a letter asking me to meet you. As for enjoying this peaceful time… that was just a whim. Seeing you reminded me of a certain era.”
Jin breathed a silent sigh of relief. Until that very moment, he hadn’t completely ruled out the possibility that Vanessa Olson had no connection to Cyron at all.
“You don’t seem surprised.”
“I am surprised, actually. Surprised that I’ve never heard of a martial artist of your caliber until now, Lady Vanessa.”
“The world is vast, Jin Runcandel. That is why someone like you can exist—a master of swordsmanship, magic, and even Spirit Energy…”
“Father must trust you deeply.”
“Deeply enough for Lord Cyron to entrust his back to me.”
Jin couldn’t help but be startled by that statement. Cyron Runcandel, the Creation Knight—his father. He couldn’t even imagine a scenario where that man would trust his back to anyone.
“…I heard that among dragons, you were known as the Terror of the Ante Mountains.”
“I reminisce about my days as a Black Knight far more often than I do that childish moniker.”
Jin’s eyes widened.
I couldn’t quite grasp her relationship with Father, but she was a former Black Knight…!
Vanessa Olson.
Before her name became known to the world, she had stood by Cyron’s side as a Black Knight of Runcandel. She had followed him in silence, always concealed in black armor and a helm.
I’ve heard of this. The previous generation of Black Knights was the strongest in the clan’s history. Among them, those who always accompanied Father during the subjugation of the Black Sea were said to be particularly extraordinary.
Vanessa Olson was one of them.
How a woman who hunted dragons in the Ante Mountains became a Black Knight, what feats she achieved after joining their ranks, and how many enemies she cut down alongside Cyron—Jin couldn’t know all the details right now. But he could finally understand the source of her overwhelming power.
And then, a sudden thought struck him.
The reason Father handed the Black Knights over to Joshua was because the ones he gave him weren’t the true strongest. It’s highly likely that all the retired Black Knights of the previous generation are still Father’s people, just like Vanessa Olson.
It had to be. After meeting her, he was certain of it.
If that’s the case, it means those Black Knights could one day become my people as well.
Or, they could be the ones to cut him down—should they conclude that Jin had disappointed Cyron or was unfit to lead the clan.
Quickly organizing his thoughts, Jin dropped to one knee.
“A Reserve Flagbearer of Runcandel greets the Great Sword who dedicated herself to the clan.”
Tradition dictated that even a Flagbearer must show respect first to a retired Black Knight. While many Flagbearers and Elders of Runcandel were not laid to rest in the Mausoleum, a Black Knight’s name was guaranteed to be engraved there after death, provided they hadn’t committed a crime on the level of treason.
“So, you aren’t completely lacking in manners.”
“I apologize for the late greeting.”
“Gather your weapons and tell the gatekeeper of the Tikan Teleport Gate that we are going to the Schuteron Kingdom. I shall punish you there.”
Punish?
Jin wanted to ask for clarification, but he silently returned to the mansion to pack his gear.
As soon as the front gate opened, he saw his comrades waiting for him with anxious faces.
“Young Master! We were all worried that person might harm you.”
“Young Master, it’s nothing serious, right? I was shocked when I heard from Lady Quicantel. Why would such a legendary recluse suddenly come looking for you…?”
“Quicantel was making such a fuss about how dangerous she was that I couldn’t even transform into a cat to stay near you. This Vanessa person, what the hell is she?”
Casimir, Gilly, and Murakan spoke in turn.
“She’s not a ‘what,’ she’s a former Black Knight—Sir Vanessa. Murakan, it’s a good thing you listened to Lady Quicantel. She recognized the scent of a dragon immediately. And yes, Father did send her. Um… she said she came to punish me.”
“W-What!?”
“So the reason she suddenly vanished from the Ante Mountains was because she became a Runcandel Black Knight? But punishment? What’s that about?”
“I thought it was a test, so I’m a bit confused as to why she called it a punishment. We don’t have much time. I have to go to the Schuteron Kingdom. Sir Casimir, please prepare the Teleport Gate.”
“Young Master, will you be alright? This Vanessa Olson is certainly an incredible person, but… her being a former Black Knight is just her word, isn’t it? Did she show you some kind of token from Lord Cyron?”
“She didn’t show me anything like that.”
“Hey, kid, why are you being so simple-minded all of a sudden? You’re going to follow her all the way to the Schuteron Kingdom just based on her word?”
“I’m being simple because I have to be. Of course, there’s a chance Sir Vanessa isn’t a Black Knight. But what if she is? If she really came to punish me on Father’s orders, the moment I show doubt or refusal, it’s over.”
Jin wasn't complying with the demand to go to Schuteron because he was a fool. If he wasted time trying to verify her identity, he might receive a severe punishment instead of a regular one. Above all, in the worst-case scenario, he had at least one card he could play to escape.
“Besides, there’s no other way to explain that level of martial prowess unless she truly is a former Black Knight from the generation said to be the strongest in history.”
“Sigh, that is true, but… punishment? What on earth did you do wrong, Young Master? The crime of being born a Runcandel and impersonating a Zipple? The crime of impersonating the Special Task Force recently? The crime of staying in contact with Lady Luna? Or meeting Lady Yona?”
“…That sounds like quite a lot, Strawberry Pie.”
“Dammit! Ah, sorry. Anyway, you have committed quite a few sins, Young Master. Now that I’ve said it myself, there are so many that I can’t even guess which one it is.”
Murakan shook his head as he patted Gilly on the back.
“Wait, even if Runcandel’s intelligence network is great, how would they know all that?”
“Exactly! At least the impersonation part shouldn’t be known. Unless there’s a spy among us reporting your every move to Runcandel, Young Master Jin!”
As Enya spoke up loudly, Casimir’s eyes flickered. His face turned pale instantly, the very picture of a man with a guilty conscience.
Jin swallowed a laugh as he watched him.
Sir Casimir wouldn't have reported all of that. Even if he did report everything to Father, it wouldn't be a major issue. There must be another reason Father wants to punish me.
He wanted to tell Casimir that it was okay and that he didn't need to feel so guilty, but he held back out of consideration for Casimir’s position. Casimir was likely just doing his duty.
“Don’t worry too much, everyone. If it were a grave sin, Father wouldn’t have sent someone like this. He would have had me killed quietly or summoned me to the Black Sea to interrogate me himself. Perhaps the word ‘punishment’ is just a formality.”
“Hmm, if it’s a formal punishment, it might actually be a reward in disguise. Like when he overlooked the matter with Yona and the Ten Thousand Poison Liquor and gave you the Black Light Armor.”
“Anyway, I shouldn’t keep Sir Vanessa waiting any longer. I’ll head back up. Please let me know as soon as the Teleport Gate is ready.”
*
As soon as they arrived in the Schuteron Kingdom, they secured a carriage. Vanessa drove it herself for three days straight until they reached the Tolkar Wilderness.
It was a barren land with nothing but dry grass and rocks. There was a specific reason Vanessa had chosen this place.
“Here, you can use your full strength without restraint, Jin Runcandel.”
Vanessa spoke as she unhitched the horses from the carriage. As the horses galloped away into the distance, the two of them were left completely alone in the wilderness.
“Is this punishment a duel with you, Sir Vanessa?”
“In a sense. Did you think about what your sin was during the journey?”
With the silent Vanessa before him, he had spent the last three days thinking hard about why he was being punished. But he hadn’t reached a conclusion.
“I do not know.”
“I like your honesty. Though it seems that honesty is exactly why you’re being punished. This is your crime: making baseless claims.”
“Baseless claims…?”
“Do you truly believe you can trade a blow with Lord Cyron?”
Ah…!
—I think I can trade a blow with Father now, Sir Casimir.
—Oh, Young Master Jin. Is that true?
—I was killed ninety thousand times by the Fighting God Brothers before I realized it.
It came back to him. He had said those words to Casimir over drinks after the Compass Theft Incident.
Good grief, he reported that to Father exactly as I said it…!?
The image of Casimir turning pale when Enya mentioned a ‘spy’ flashed through his mind. He had never dreamed that would be the reason.
Shring!
Vanessa slowly drew her sword.
“The path to proving your innocence is simple. You must take responsibility for your arrogant words and back them up with everything you have.”
“Um, what happens if I fail to prove it?”
Vanessa replied with an expressionless face.
“What do you imagine is the price for insulting Cyron Runcandel? In all my years, the very least I’ve seen is death.”