Chapter 248: Villain (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 248: Villain (5)
Phew…
Jin let out a low breath, lowering the hand that had instinctively shot to his waist.
The moment Dino was attacked, Jin had unconsciously prepared to deflect the mana beam. Fortunately, he had stopped himself. Had his training been any less rigorous, he would have stepped forward, drawn everyone’s eyes, and ruined everything.
‘I figured Eldest Sister would block it if there was an attack, but… these lunatics actually tried to kill Dino with so many eyes watching?’
It was a testament to how explosively the White Night mages had reacted to Dino’s statement.
The mages who had fired the beams struggled to keep their faces blank. However, to the eyes of Jin and the other Runcandels, it was obvious—their insides were burning with anxiety.
From the perspective of the White Night mages, that attack had been a desperate gamble. Even if they had succeeded in killing Dino, they would have faced the condemnation of the entire world. Even Runcandel, the epitome of the "Path of the Overlord," rarely murdered a journalist so impulsively.
Of course, to the Zipples, that might have been preferable to the truth being exposed.
‘Regardless, Sister is still a monster.’
How many people in the world could deflect mana beams from 8-star mages with their bare hands? Especially a surprise attack like that. Setting the situation aside, Luna’s sheer physical power sent shivers down his spine.
Srrrng.
Following Luna’s command, Joshua obediently sheathed his sword. Before fully stowing the blade, he gave Luna a slight bow, acknowledging his mistake. Though his defiance was surging, he knew better than to make Runcandel look foolish in such a public setting.
The crowd was buzzing, unsettled by the White Night’s sudden aggression. However, what amazed them even more was the appearance of the "White Whale," Luna Runcandel.
She was a woman of many rumors, famous for rarely showing herself to the world. Despite her seclusion, bards sang songs of praise for her daily, depicting her as a noble warrior of overwhelming beauty and martial prowess.
As Luna lowered her hood, the crowd struggled to suppress their gasps of admiration. It wasn't merely because her beauty seemed to have stepped right out of those songs. The crowd was captivated by the dignity in her deep blue eyes and her infinitely bold attitude as she stood before the White Night and their flagship, the Kozec.
A few seconds of silence passed, so profound it was hard to believe such a massive crowd had gathered.
“Are you alright, Dino Jagrun?”
“Yes, thanks to you… Thank you, Lady Luna. And Lord Joshua.”
“You made a rather interesting claim. I would like to hear your story in more detail, so please visit the Runcandel delegation later.”
“Of course.”
Dino was currently living in Luna’s territory with the people of Colon, but they both feigned ignorance of each other.
“Greetings, mages of the White Night. And Karl Zipple. I am Luna Runcandel.”
Luna then shifted her gaze back to the White Night mages.
“...Greetings, Lady Luna. I am Maul Henserck, 2nd Captain of the White Night.”
Until a moment ago, Maul Henserck had been looking down upon the situation from the stairs of the Kozec.
“You? It seems the 2nd Captain has changed without my knowing.”
“My predecessor, Sir Drew Malaga, has retired—”
“If it were Drew, he would have been down those stairs before I even had a chance to greet him.”
Maul’s expression stiffened. Even at a glance, he was significantly older than Luna, and with no higher-ranking officers present, he was effectively the Zipples’ representative. Yet, from the very start, she was treating him like a mere subordinate.
As Luna and Maul’s gazes clashed, the square was instantly filled with taut tension. The crowd held their breath, overwhelmed by the psychological warfare between the two Great Families.
It wasn't just the crowd; the White Night mages were also visibly rigid. The only ones who looked unbothered by the tension were Luna, Jin, and Murakan.
There was a reason they weren't nervous.
‘To think Maul Henserck would make such a basic mistake against my sister. Looks like the 2nd Captain of the White Night will be replaced again after today.’
He should have shown proper etiquette before answering Luna. Even if he was older and belonged to the Zipples, for a mere 2nd Captain of the White Night to look down on the 1st Flagbearer of Runcandel was unthinkable. He had blundered against an opponent he had no hope of defeating in a fight.
Joshua glared at Maul, his eyes radiating pure killing intent. He had shown respect to Luna even in a situation he hated, so seeing a mere 2nd Captain of the White Night fail to do the same made his blood boil.
“Sir Maul. If you're finding it difficult to come down, I can always remove those stairs for you. Did you not hear the 1st Flagbearer's voice?”
As Joshua spoke in a low, threatening tone, Maul’s face turned red. His entire body trembled with humiliation and a sense of defeat. Fortunately, Maul wasn't a complete fool.
“...I have committed a discourtesy, Lady Luna.”
Maul descended the stairs. The other mages stationed on the Kozec followed behind him.
For the crowd, who were ignorant of the intricacies of high-society etiquette, the atmosphere was difficult to read. To them, the Zipples were the world’s greatest family, followed by the Runcandels, so they couldn't understand why Maul was acting so submissively after being insulted.
On the other hand, those who followed the affairs of the two families—especially the nobles—thought this was only natural.
“Now we can finally talk. I have one question, Sir Maul. Why did your subordinates attack this journalist?”
“Karl Zipple came here under the Patriarch’s orders to apologize. The 4th Tower Master of the Zipples came to pay for his sins with his own life. That man over there willfully distorted the truth to insult the Zipples.”
“Distorted?”
“I may have committed a discourtesy, My Lady, but you have just obstructed Zipple business. It benefits neither of us if this escalates into a conflict between our families, so we would like to take this journalist, Dino, with us.”
Maul said, his gaze steadying. Regardless of the humiliating display he had just put on under Luna’s pressure, he still represented the Zipples. If he backed down clumsily now, it wouldn't end with a simple embarrassment.
“I’m afraid I can’t allow that.”
“On what grounds do you refuse?”
“Did you not hear me just now? I clearly told this man to visit the Runcandel delegation. In other words, as of this moment, Dino Jagrun is my guest.”
“This is not a personal matter.”
“A personal matter, you say… That doesn't seem like something you should say in front of the Runcandel Flagbearers. Don't you think you're making quite a few slips of the tongue today?”
“If you cannot step aside, we will have no choice but to use force.”
Though he spoke in a forced, calm voice, neither Maul himself nor anyone present believed the White Night could do anything against Luna and Joshua.
“Sir Maul, life is a precious thing. And that hunk of iron floating in the sky is likely more precious to the Zipples than your life. It would be a shame for both you and it to return broken, wouldn't it?”
Luna smiled coldly.
Countless calculations ran through Maul’s head; he felt like he was dying.
‘Could that journalist’s revelation have been a Runcandel plot to create this very situation? How much information has leaked to the Runcandels? If I fight this monster, Luna Runcandel, right now…'
It would be a total massacre. It wouldn't even be a battle. Everyone’s heads would be severed before they could even re-board the Kozec. Even if they moved to an open field suitable for a battlefield and fought from within the Kozec, victory was uncertain.
And yet.
He could not back down. Even if they were annihilated, he had to protect the Zipples' prestige. Wasn't the very reason they brought Karl Zipple here to preserve that prestige?
“Please, both of you, calm down.”
It was Rani, who had just finished treating Karl Zipple.
“Everyone knows that both Runcandel and Zipple possess power far greater than our Holy Kingdom. However, we have not even been able to begin His Majesty’s state funeral yet. You must not behave like this on this land.”
To Maul, Rani’s words sounded like a voice of salvation—a justification to back down. Just as he was about to feel genuinely grateful…
“However, the Runcandel Flagbearers have done a great service. We were nearly on the verge of punishing an innocent man.”
“An innocent man! Listen here, Rani Salome. The Patriarch himself sent the 4th Tower Master, his own son! Knowing full well he might be stoned to death. Do you really think the claims of a mere journalist can insult the decision of the Zipple Patriarch?”
Poke.
Jin nudged Murakan in the ribs.
‘What?’
‘Tell him to shut up and get lost.’
‘What?’
‘The atmosphere is ripe for a riot. Someone just needs to break the dam.’
From the moment Maul began browbeating Rani, the faces of the Holy Kingdom’s citizens turned red. Unless they were fools, they couldn't help but see that he was trying to cover the sky with his palm. The problem was that the "palm" known as the Zipples was indeed large enough to shroud the heavens.
‘You can do that yourself! I’m a dragon, you know?’
‘Joshua will recognize my voice. All eyes will be on me, so I’m going to step over there for a second…’
At that moment.
“Shut up! You filthy Zipples, do you intend to desecrate this land granted by Ayula until the very end?!”
A woman screamed out. She sat in a wheelchair, her legs apparently infirm, and wore a robe embroidered with the large pattern of a dormant volcano.
‘I guess I don't need to do it.’
‘Indeed. She helped out at the perfect time.’
Following the woman’s lead, the rest of the citizens raised their voices.
“Do not kill the journalist who stood up for the Holy Kingdom! This cannot happen before the truth is revealed!”
“If you’re going to kill him, kill us too!”
“Even the Runcandels don't do things like this!”
Jin watched the scene for a moment, then, feeling a sudden sense of dissonance, turned his gaze toward the woman who had shouted first. Come to think of it, she looked strangely familiar.
‘That woman… where have I seen her? No, does she just look like someone?’
Jin stared intently at her. Although she shouldn't have been able to feel his gaze, the woman slowly turned her head and looked at Jin. A smile that seemed to ask, “Did I do well?” played on her lips.
He remembered. He knew who that woman was.
‘Vishkel’s younger sister…!’
Margiella Ivliano. The person who had goaded him and Vishkel into a duel during the Runcandel's Single-log Bridge Party in the past.
At first, he hadn't recognized her because of her disguise. However, those playful lips and that uniquely innocent expression were unmistakably Margiella’s.
—Young Master Jin, you were too harsh on the weak. That person who fell is our friend, after all. Are you just going to watch? Brother, I am so disappointed in you.
—…Are you telling me to duel Young Master Jin?
—Yes, I want you to teach Young Master Jin a lesson. In a more honorable way than what he just showed us.
The conversation he'd overheard between Margiella and Vishkel back then also came to mind.
‘Barmul, Kinzelo will help you. So go easy on us. Let's keep things friendly, shall we?’
Margiella mouthed those words with a wink.