Chapter 265: Ember (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 265: Ember (2)
Jin was trapped in a nightmare.
A pitch-black tentacle monster seemed to be crushing his entire body. A low groan escaped his lips at the horrific sensation, particularly the feeling of something clinging to his face, refusing to let go.
“Ugh!”
Barely managing to force his eyes open and push himself up, Jin discovered the source of his nightmare.
Meow, meow-meow!
Murakan was standing on his face, kneading him with his paws.
“This feels… familiar. Get off me, already!”
He gently pushed Murakan aside and checked his physical condition.
I’m perfectly fine.
The Runcandel medical staff was exceptional, but there weren't many people in the world who could wake up feeling so refreshed after taking a direct strike from Cyron.
Jin was well aware of this fact.
I’ve become incredibly strong thanks to my siblings in Laprarosa. Without that training, receiving Father’s sword would have been an impossible dream.
He looked around. The scenery was familiar—the very room he had used during his days as a cadet.
A moment later, he sensed someone approaching.
“Are you awake, Young Master?”
Gilly. She had returned to the Garden of Swords immediately after Jin withstood Cyron’s strike. And just as she had during his cadet days, she was by his side.
“Gilly.”
“It has been a long time.”
Gilly gave him a bright smile.
It was their first reunion in about a year and two months. Immediately after leaving Laprarosa, Jin had only met with Misha and Murakan.
“I missed you.”
“I missed you as well. You have no idea how much the others longed for you, Young Master.”
Jin nodded and naturally glanced at Gilly’s wrist.
The ‘iron needles’—the restraints driven into her to suppress her power—were gone. The Runcandel medical staff had removed them as soon as she returned.
Gilly scratched the back of her head, looking a bit bashful.
“You’ve been through a lot, Gilly.”
“It’s something every nanny in Runcandel goes through. Thanks to you, Young Master, I finished my time as a reserve flagbearer’s nanny quite comfortably.”
Soon, Gilly’s expression turned solemn. She slowly knelt on one knee and bowed her head.
“Knight Gilly McLoran will continue to serve with loyalty as the nanny of the 12th Flagbearer of Runcandel, Sir Jin Runcandel. It is an honor to serve you once again.”
The moment stirred a deep well of emotion within Jin.
In his previous life, Gilly had been exiled, her powers sealed, all because of him. But now, he had become a flagbearer, and she had become a flagbearer’s nanny.
He felt a surge of warmth welling up in his chest.
Now, no one will ever be able to ruin Gilly’s life again.
Jin suppressed his emotions and smiled.
“The honor is mine, having you as my nanny. This is awkward, so please, stand up.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
Poof!
Murakan transformed into his human form and helped Gilly up.
“I really don’t see what’s so great about this kid that our Strawberry Pie offers such loyalty. Oh, Strawberry Pie! Did you not miss this Murakan? I am hurt! You can’t do this! Is the kid the only one you love, and I’m just some dragon you know?”
“M-Murakan. Why would you say such a thing… Of course I missed you too.”
“Then why are you so indifferent toward me?”
“Well, it’s because you and I were together in Tikan until just a week ago.”
“So, what Strawberry Pie is saying is that since we were only apart for a week, you didn’t miss me all that desperately. Is that it?”
“Well… I suppose so?”
When Gilly answered like that, Murakan was left speechless. In truth, being apart for a week wasn't exactly a grand ordeal.
Murakan and Gilly were still not in a romantic relationship.
“Hmph, hmph! Even so…”
“Hey, hey. Why are you bothering Strawber—no, Gilly over nothing again? And is this Tikan? You can’t just transform like that here. You have to stay as Nabi Runcandel, just like when I was a cadet.”
“What are you talking about, kid! The whole world knows I’m your guardian dragon now. Why should I have to hide my identity by turning into a cat?”
“I guess that’s true. Anyway, Gilly. How long was I out?”
“About three hours, Young Master.”
“Right, three hours… What?”
Jin looked outside, startled. The lineup before Cyron had been around noon, and the bright sun was still blanketing the Garden of Swords.
I woke up from those injuries in just three hours?
— You’re practically a vampire! Just how many buckets of the Fighting God Brothers' blood are you going to take? Honestly.
Those were the words of 5th Fighting King Boras in Laprarosa during last year's training.
Jin had received a blood transfusion from Fighting God Ban this time as well. Twice, in fact. Each transfusion weakened Ban slightly, as she was essentially transferring her ‘True Energy,’ but in turn, it further reinforced Jin’s blessed body and Heart of Light.
That was the reason he could wake up only three hours after receiving Cyron’s strike.
“The Garden of Swords will be in an uproar when they find out you’re already awake. The Chief of Medicine seemed to have expected it to some extent, but the general consensus was that you wouldn't wake up for at least three days.”
“Then, what about the flagbearer investiture ceremony?”
“Since the Patriarch ordered it himself, it’s highly likely it will proceed today. It would be best to go see the Patriarch first, Young Master.”
Gilly opened the wardrobe.
Inside hung the official uniform of a Runcandel flagbearer, prepared specifically for Jin. It was a black coat embroidered with ornate patterns in gold thread.
Gilly’s eyes grew red as she took out the coat and held it out.
“Seeing you wear this makes me act like a sentimental old woman. Please, go ahead. Ah, is there anything you need me to do?”
“Hmm… make Murakan a strawberry pie. He was singing about it the whole way here.”
“Understood.”
After a quick wash, combing his hair, and tidying his clothes, Jin stepped out into the hallway.
Immediately, he felt eyes on him.
The servants, guardian knights, and cadets passing through the hallway—none of them dared to look at him openly, but every single one of them was glancing at him, suppressing a burning curiosity.
And then, he ran into some of his siblings who happened to be passing by.
“It’s been a while. Sister Myu, Sister Anne.”
Myu and Anne.
They were on their way to report to Rosa regarding a flagbearer mission when they passed by Jin’s room.
Flinch!
The two of them stopped in their tracks and turned their heads simultaneously.
I wonder how much my sisters will sneer. Or will they not be able to ignore me as much as they used to?
They stood frozen, staring at Jin in silence for a long time. They even blinked several times, like people who had seen something they shouldn't have.
He’s already awake?
After taking Father’s sword? Am I seeing things?
The two of them looked back and forth between each other and Jin, confirming it several times. Naturally, it didn't take long for them to realize that Jin was not an illusion.
“You… no, never mind. Let’s go, Anne.”
Myu was the first to speak. She merely frowned, appearing as though she had no desire to converse with Jin.
“Sister?”
Anne was actually surprised by Myu's reaction. While it was true that Anne was also flustered to see Jin, she had intended to pour out a torrent of vitriol now that they had crossed paths. From now on, she and Jin would be engaged in a proper rank war.
And Anne believed there was no way they would lose. It was true that Jin had become strong, but there were many ways to win a rank war other than one-on-one duels.
“How can we just walk past when a guy who was a fugitive until this morning is wearing a flagbearer’s coat? What do you mean? I’m going to tear it off him right—”
“I said, let’s just go.”
“Young Master Jin!”
Simultaneous with Myu’s reply, a boisterous voice rang out from behind.
The owner of that voice—which carried a mix of genuine joy and groveling, heavily laced with flattery—was none other than Emma Niltro, the nanny of the Tona brothers.
Standing beside her were the Tona brothers, their mouths agape with stupid expressions. They, too, were quite shocked by the fact that Jin was awake.
“I heard the news from the servants just now that you had awakened, and I came running at once. Have you been well? Seeing the Youngest Young Master safe and sound… Oh, my. Look at me. I should be calling you the 12th Flagbearer now, shouldn't I?”
As she spoke, she rubbed her hands together and maintained a bowing posture.
“Ha! Emma Niltro, have you lost your mind? Where did you learn the manners to interrupt flagbearers while they are speaking?”
“Ah, my apologies, Lady Anne. Regardless, the 12th Flagbearer has truly grown into a fine man! This Emma never doubted for a moment that the Young Master would become a great person one day.”
Having said that, Emma nudged the Tona brothers in the ribs. It was a signal for them to hurry up and greet him.
“Y-Youngest brother. Good to see you… how have you been?”
“A-Are you feeling okay? You blocked Father’s sword! You have no idea how shocked everyone was, r-right, Heitona?”
“Yeah—! Daytona. It was really cool.”
Watching the Tona brothers ramble with exaggerated gestures made a smirk escape Jin's lips. However, at the same time, he felt a chill at Emma’s sharp judgment.
Emma is certain that I will become the Patriarch. Or even if she isn't, she wants to believe it, since there’s no other rope for the Tona brothers to hold onto. She’s planning to get on my good side starting now to secure the Tona brothers' future.
Back in the Storm Castle, she had observed him so blatantly that it was unpleasant, and he had even warned her once. Back then, while Emma subtly flattered Jin, she had desperately hoped he would remain inferior to the Tona brothers.
The moment Jin became less than the Tona brothers, she had intended to have them trample him or order them to recruit him as a subordinate.
But that was no longer the case.
Emma had long since accepted that the Tona brothers could not challenge for the throne. Therefore, she was looking for an ally to help them survive the rank war.
While her days had been filled with frustration as the superior siblings ignored the Tona brothers and siblings like Myu and Anne were constantly looking for chances to devour them, Jin had returned like a comet. And he had returned as a powerhouse that everyone had to acknowledge.
From the looks of it, this Myu has a bit more sense than that Anne wench and realized she shouldn't treat Young Master Jin recklessly anymore. Hehe, you miserable things. You just got humiliated by me thanks to Young Master Jin, didn't you?
Even if it wasn't a grand humiliation, Emma was ecstatic just from the fact that she had interrupted Myu and Anne while relying on Jin. Considering how Myu and Anne had bullied the Tona brothers all this time, she felt like she could grind them up and it still wouldn't be enough.
I will give you my full loyalty. So please, just back me up once, Young Master Jin!
Naturally, Jin saw right through Emma’s psychological state.
Well, I’ll give her credit for being the first in this Garden of Swords to come and side with me. I’ll join in on this little revenge, Emma. I’ll have uses for the Tona brothers one way or another anyway.
Having made his decision, Jin swallowed a laugh.
“Have you all gone mad? Hey, Emma. What are you? I asked you where you learned those man—”
“Sister Anne, your words are excessive. While it’s true she committed a slight discourtesy, Emma is the nanny of the 10th and 11th Flagbearers. She is someone who has dedicated herself to the clan for a long time. There are many eyes watching, so it would be best if you didn't act like that.”
As Jin cut her off, Anne’s eyes widened as if they were about to pop out.