Chapter 22: What on Earth is the Mind's Eye? (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 22: What on Earth is the Mind's Eye? (5)
Cyron Runcandel, the world's only Creation Knight.
Four years ago, after welcoming his youngest son back to the Garden of Swords, he had immediately departed for the Black Sea. Something his youngest had said still weighed on his mind.
‘Can I be stronger than a god?’
The monsters of the Black Sea didn't dare attack Cyron. They maintained their own ecosystem, never venturing near the center of the sea where he sat in meditation.
Eating and being eaten.
Cyron liked the simplicity of the Black Sea. It was one of the many reasons he so often sought this place out.
A few days ago, a knight had arrived. He had spared no effort, slaughtering monsters day and night and drenching himself in their blood until he finally earned an audience with Cyron.
"It is Khan, Patriarch."
Without turning around, Cyron opened his eyes. His body, held in a meditative posture, was hovering a handspan off the ground.
"Speak, Khan."
Khan approached Cyron’s side, wiping blood from his armor.
With a stiff expression, he delivered a lengthy report. Cyron listened with a calm, stoic face, waiting for him to finish.
As the story unfolded, a faint smile occasionally touched Cyron’s lips.
“……That is all.”
Cyron’s hovering body slowly descended to the ground.
"So… that’s what the youngest has been up to."
"Yes, Patriarch."
Khan had reported the recent commotion Jin had caused in the beginner training class.
Garon had sworn the matter to secrecy, but he couldn't keep secrets from the master of the Runcandel clan. Thus, he had informed Khan, Cyron’s most trusted confidant.
Of course, Garon hadn't told anyone else. He didn't fear the Jin of today, but he certainly feared the Jin of the future.
"Khahaha!"
Suddenly, Cyron threw his head back and burst into laughter.
"So that is the boy's conviction. He intends to walk the Path of the Overlord while embracing the weak?"
Khan didn't answer, merely bowing his head in silence.
A broad grin remained on Cyron’s lips. He hadn't laughed this heartily in a long time, not since reaching the realm of a demigod.
"Then we must verify if that conviction holds any true worth. Khan."
"Yes, Patriarch."
"Return and tell Garon this. Before the youngest advances to the intermediate class, give him…"
Khan was destined to spend several more days cutting a bloody path through monsters just to deliver the Patriarch’s message.
* * *
January 1795.
Fifteen-year-old Jin, now a recognized 3-star knight, was enjoying his final days of rest in the beginner training class.
At the start of every year, cadets were granted two weeks of free time. It was the only break in a year of relentless, daily training.
It was, for all intents and purposes, a vacation.
Most cadets used this period to visit their hometowns. The more diligent ones conducted individual training and self-assessments, while the truly exceptional traveled to the forges of the Huphester Alliance to commission their own custom swords.
Why order a sword?
Because these cadets knew they were ‘candidates for advancement.’ Although the official results would be announced after the break, they didn't need to see a list to know where they stood.
From the intermediate class onward, cadets no longer used wooden training swords but their own blades, perfectly fitted to their hands.
This was why the top cadets of the beginner class, including Mesa Milkano, had briefly left the Garden of Swords to obtain new weapons. They knew their promotion was all but guaranteed.
"Jin, my little brother."
"First Sister."
Naturally, the top performer of this year's beginner class was Jin.
If Jin were an ordinary cadet, he would likely be touring the forges of Huphester with Mesa’s group right now.
But he was a Runcandel. He was the youngest son of a prestigious martial family where famous swords were so common they were practically lying around. He could simply pick any one he wanted from the family armory.
There was no need for a custom order. With thousands of masterpieces available, one of them was bound to feel perfect in his hand.
"Finding a sword that suits you has given me quite a headache for the first time in a while."
However, Jin couldn't choose a sword for himself. For the past month, Luna had been insisting that she would personally gift him one.
Since Luna’s eye for swords was a million times better than Jin’s, he had no reason to refuse.
"I’m looking forward to it, Sister."
Thump!
Luna set down a massive axe-sword she had been carrying on her back. It was different from her beloved sword, ‘Krantel.’
Jin couldn't help but look puzzled. The axe-sword was larger than his entire body.
Luna, on the other hand, had sparkling eyes.
"It was once called the 'Massacre of Vales.' A favorite of mine back in my teens."
What was an axe-sword?
As the name suggested, it was a weapon with an axe blade attached to the tip of a sword. The history of this large, heavy, and utterly brutal-looking weapon… was not very long.
That was because no one had used such a bizarre sword until Luna Runcandel designed it herself at the age of fifteen.
In other words, this axe-sword and its name, 'Massacre of Vales,' were products of Luna’s turbulent adolescence.
"How is it? Do you like it?" Luna asked with an innocent expression.
A chill ran down Jin’s spine. He cleared his throat.
"I think… this is a bit much."
Luna’s face instantly fell, and she let out an awkward laugh.
"Haha, I’m joking. Just a joke."
I don't think that was a joke, Jin thought to himself, forcing a laugh.
For a moment, it seemed Luna hadn't given up on the faint hope that he might accept the axe-sword. Soon, however, she sighed and pulled out another sword.
"I suppose it can't be helped. Then, how about this one…?"
The sword Luna held out was encased in a plain black scabbard without a single decoration.
It looked like an ordinary object at first glance, but Jin’s eyes began to tremble the moment he took it.
"…Since you chose Barisada during the Selection Ceremony, I thought this would suit you best. It should fit your swordsmanship well, too."
Screee.
As he slowly drew the blade, a snow-white edge was revealed.
‘Bradamante!’
Jin marveled, shouting the sword's name in his mind. Even without sunlight, the blade sparkled from countless angles like a diamond, threatening to enchant him.
Bradamante.
The sister sword and prototype of Barisada, the blade used by the first patriarch, Temar Runcandel. Excluding Barisada itself, there weren't many swords in the Runcandel armory superior to Bradamante.
Even though it was a prototype forged by the legendary blacksmith Picon Minche before he created Barisada, it stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the world's most famous masterpieces.
"You seem to like it."
"Of course, Sister. It’s an exceptional piece, even among the family’s famous swords. Thank you."
He spoke calmly, but inside, he was so happy he felt like jumping for joy.
‘If it weren't for Sister Luna, I would never have gotten my hands on this, even if I had chosen it myself. To think she gave me Bradamante… the very sword Murakan told me I had to obtain someday!’
Since Bradamante was such an outstanding sword, many of his siblings coveted it.
However, there was another reason why this sword was special to Jin.
Spirit Energy.
Barisada and Bradamante were swords that only revealed their true power when imbued with spirit energy.
That was a secret known only to those who could manipulate shadows.
"Bradamante is a sword many of our siblings desire… I don't know how I can ever repay you, Sister."
"Repay me? You still seem so distant. It hurts my feelings, you know."
"Sister, it’s not that."
"To soothe my wounded heart, I'll have to torment you. Close your eyes, little brother. We’re starting your training."
"Yes…"
Luna chuckled and ruffled Jin’s hair.
"Today, I will once again tell you to look with your Mind's Eye."
"I know."
"But unlike usual, today I will tell you one more thing you must see with your Mind's Eye."
"What is that, Sister?"
Leaning down, Luna wrapped her hands around Jin’s.
"That even among us siblings, who are so busy fighting and trampling one another, there is at least one love that asks for nothing in return. So, don't make your big sister feel hurt anymore."
"I’m sorry, Sister."
"I was lonely enough among my own blood relatives even before you were born. You don't have to be."
Jin decided that he would no longer harbor a single doubt about Luna’s goodwill.
Even if it was true that this same warm eldest sister had thoroughly ignored him in his past life, he felt he could overlook it now.
‘I don't know what circumstances Sister Luna was facing in my previous life.’
* * *
"It’s too early."
"What?"
"Your spirit energy manipulation is still too clumsy to wake Bradamante, you brat. You need to reach at least 3-star spirit energy release before you can even pretend to awaken that sword."
"3-star, huh? I feel like I’ll reach it soon. Then I’ll be able to use it in no time."
Slap!
Murakan slammed his erotic picture book shut and glared at Jin.
"Listen well, kid. Barisada and Bradamante. Those two spirit swords are dangerous items that shouldn't be awakened recklessly. 3-star is just the bare minimum. Until you reach 5-star, just use it as a normal sword. Got it?"
"I’m not exactly the patient type. I guess I’ll just have to reach 5-star within a year."
"Yeah, right. Even if you were the grand champion of the Children’s Spirit Energy Competition and lived on spirit energy instead of food, that’s just nonsense. Impossible. Even a passing dog would laugh at that claim."
So childish. It was hard to believe this was a dragon who had lived for three thousand years.
Thinking that, Jin narrowed his eyes and snatched Murakan’s book away.
"What did you just say? The what? The Children’s Spirit Energy Competition? I didn't hear you clearly. Say it again."
"Put that down! Put it down right now! Hey! I went through so much trouble to get that…"
"Young Master!"
The two bickering figures turned their heads toward Gilly, who was rushing toward them. Her expression was one of extreme urgency.
"Is something wrong, Gilly?"
"Instructor Garon is looking for you, Young Master."
"Garon has no reason to look for me during the break. And if he has something to say, tell him to come here himself."
"Well, the thing is…"
With a worried look, Gilly stepped closer to Jin.
"He said you must come in person. He needs to go over an operation outline with you on a map."
"An operation?"
"Yes. Instructor Garon has assigned you your first 'mission.' He also said you are to depart immediately after the break ends."
Jin set the picture book down.
‘A mission… Now that I’m a 3-star, it’s about time. But right after the break?’
It was strange.
'Missions' usually began in the intermediate class. Since they involved assassination, combat, and monster subjugation, the beginner class was typically excluded.
Furthermore, promotions for Runcandel cadets usually happened a month after the break ended.
‘Well, I’m practically in the intermediate class anyway. Maybe he decided it doesn't matter?’
The moment Jin nodded, Gilly delivered one last piece of information.
"And for this mission… ten cadets from the beginner class, including you, Young Master, will be deployed together. Something feels off. You should go see him right away."