Chapter 266: Ember (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 266: Ember (3)
Just as Anne was about to whip her hand across Jin’s face, Myu grabbed her by the shoulder.
“Let’s just go, Anne.”
Her tone was less a suggestion and more a command.
Anne knew better than anyone that defying Myu in moments like this never ended well. Though the two were usually so close that they seemed to ignore their respective ranks, a clear hierarchy existed between them.
“Tch!”
Anne snapped her head away.
Sister Myu is sharper than I thought.
It would be foolish to assault Jin or pick a fight with him now. Not only had they yet to fully grasp the extent of his current strength, but more importantly, Cyron had personally declared that the ‘Flagbearer Investiture Ceremony’ would take place the moment Jin woke up.
If they were to injure him or cause an unseemly incident now, it would be tantamount to defying Cyron’s direct order.
Furthermore, Myu and Anne had to be especially careful, given that they had once assigned Jin a preposterous mission intended to kill him just before Cyron hosted a banquet.
Grind!
Myu gnashed her teeth. She felt a rage even more potent than Anne’s, but her determination not to fall into her youngest brother’s trap and suffer a setback was stronger.
“…I can’t bring myself to offer congratulations. Go to Father at once.”
“I shall do just that, sisters.”
“And Emma Niltro, don’t do anything you’ll regret. This is your first and last warning.”
As Myu and Anne brushed past Jin and walked away, the Tona brothers’ mouths, already agape, fell even wider.
Those crazy hags are actually wary of the youngest?!
What am I even looking at?
Meanwhile, Emma was barely suppressing a laugh that threatened to burst from deep within her chest like a firework.
“Brothers, your jaws are going to fall off.”
“Ah, right. Closing them now.”
“Thank you…!”
The Tona brothers hesitated for a moment before each pulled Jin into a quick, tight hug. They realized that, thanks to Jin, Myu and Anne’s pride had been dragged through the dirt—something they had only ever experienced in their dreams.
“Have you two been well?” Jin asked, naturally peeling the Tona brothers off him.
It reminds me of the day I cut down the versions of them created by the mirage in the Great Desert.
Loath as he was to admit it, Jin did feel a slight flicker of something resembling brotherly affection for them. It was nothing compared to what he felt for Luna or Yona, but perhaps it was the kind of bond forged through mutual spite since their days at Storm Castle. Seeing them approach him while timidly gauging his mood was almost… cute.
“Yeah, we’ve been fine. Aside from Myu and Anne being… well, a bit overbearing every single day.”
“I didn’t think I’d ever see you again, youngest. I’m so happy.”
“Me too!”
“Is that so? I’m not quite that happy to see you.”
At Jin’s cold reply, the Tona brothers’ shoulders slumped instantly.
“Oh.”
“Ah… right, sorry. W-we were being too loud, weren’t we?”
There was a reason Jin chose to respond that way.
“Instead, let’s take our time getting to know each other from now on. I don’t exactly hate you two, either.”
He was sending a message to Emma: a warning never to step forward and use him for her own ends without permission again, regardless of who was watching. It was also a demand for a more definitive display of loyalty.
The quick-witted Emma immediately bowed her head, grasping Jin’s intent. Conversely, the Tona brothers seemed deeply moved by the mere fact that Jin said they should ‘get to know each other,’ nodding their heads vigorously.
“We shall take our leave now, 12th Flagbearer.”
“Just call me Young Master Jin, Emma.”
“Yes, Young Master Jin. Should you ever find yourself longing for the scent of fine tea, please visit this nanny’s room at any time. I shall ensure that rare teas, difficult to find even outside the Garden of Swords, are always prepared.”
It was an invitation to come find her if he was curious about the family’s internal affairs. Satisfied with the answer, Jin made brief eye contact with her.
“I’ll drop by soon. I hope the tea leaves are to my satisfaction.”
Once Emma and the Tona brothers disappeared, the servants who had been lingering nearby hurriedly returned to their posts. The guardian knights saluted Jin before going about their business. Now that he was a Flagbearer, his rank was officially higher than that of an ordinary guardian knight.
Cyron’s office was in the inner chamber. However, before heading there, Jin intended to stop somewhere else first—the sacred underground located at the deepest part of the Garden of Swords’ courtyard.
The Mausoleum.
Before I see Father, I must first pay my respects to the heroes who protected Runcandel.
While he genuinely felt that way, there were two major strategic reasons behind his decision to visit the Mausoleum first.
First, Cyron had not explicitly ordered Jin to come to him immediately.
Second, among all the siblings, not a single one had ever visited the Mausoleum immediately after finishing their term as a reserve flagbearer.
The second point was the crucial one.
There are Elders who will look upon me more favorably simply for the act of visiting the Mausoleum first.
Among the Elders, many valued etiquette to an extreme degree or were sensitive to history and tradition. Currently, the Garden of Swords was no different from an enemy stronghold to Jin. To take down Joshua and seize the throne, he needed allies—and many of them. If a simple gesture could earn him the favor of some Elders, there was no reason not to stop by.
As a cadet, he naturally lacked the authority to enter the Mausoleum, but that was no longer the case.
As he left the corridor and headed toward the courtyard, more eyes followed him. However, he didn't run into any other siblings and reached the Mausoleum without incident.
The underground was filled with stone sarcophagi, devoid of a single light.
It occurs to me once again that Temar’s grave isn't here. The Covenant…
The humiliating covenant signed between the Zipple and Runcandel clans after Temar Runcandel’s death. The terms were simple: do not worship the magic-wielding magic swordsman ancestors, and never use magic again. Because of this, Jin had been told he had violated the covenant every time he encountered the Zipple clan.
I’ve seen them foam at the mouth about the violation several times, but even after the truth about me was revealed to the world, the Zipples haven't been able to do anything to Runcandel.
The meaning behind that fact was clear. They were intimidated by the prospect of attacking Runcandel. And there was only one reason for that: Cyron Runcandel, the world’s only 10-star Knight in the Realm of Creation.
If he were to disappear, the Zipple clan would never hesitate to strike. In other words, as long as Cyron remained, the Zipples would likely maintain their current stance.
I was worried that a major war might break out with them immediately, but now I’m certain. There will be no all-out war for the time being.
While he was lost in thought, offering a silent prayer toward the sarcophagi, he sensed a presence slowly approaching from the entrance. Someone else had entered the Mausoleum.
“You’ve come, Father.”
It was Cyron. Even though he had been in his office, he had sensed the moment Jin woke up and had come to the Mausoleum to find him. He had come to speak with his son.
Outside, flagbearers and guardian knights were already preparing for the investiture ceremony under Cyron’s instructions.
“I am disappointed.”
Those were the first words Cyron spoke.
Disappointment. Looking back, it was a phrase Jin had heard countless times in his previous life, but this was the first time in this one. However, Cyron didn't speak with a tone of rebuke; it sounded more like a casual jest between father and son.
Thanks to that, Jin was able to answer while inwardly breathing a sigh of relief.
“Is it because I woke up too late?”
“The last time I gave you an opportunity in front of everyone was just now. You should have used everything you had to produce a better result.”
Contrary to Cyron’s words, Jin had left an incredibly powerful impression on everyone in the Garden of Swords by successfully withstanding the single strike that contained Cyron’s essence. Yet, Cyron felt it was insufficient.
To be precise, he didn't think Jin’s training or growth was lacking. After all, even Cyron himself couldn't claim to have been more impressive than Jin at the age of nineteen.
“Are you saying I should have used Spirit Energy?”
Jin had not used Spirit Energy at all when receiving Cyron’s strike. He had relied solely on Aura and the lightning energy of the Pluto tribe. Had he used Spirit Energy, the result would have been slightly different. He wouldn't have been able to ‘strike back’ against Cyron’s blade, but he likely wouldn't have lost consciousness.
Why hadn't he used it? Jin simply didn't want to show all his cards to his enemies from the start.
Currently, everyone except Sister Luna is my enemy.
His enemies knew he was Solderet’s contractor and a magic swordsman, and that he possessed immense power for his age. However, they did not yet know the ‘exact level’ of his martial prowess. As always in a fight, the less the opponent knew about one’s hand, the greater the advantage.
Father’s opinion is that I should have shown an even more overwhelming side by using Spirit Energy.
Cyron did not respond, simply closing his eyes in front of a sarcophagus. A long silence followed.
Jin didn't find the silence particularly uncomfortable. The fact that his father had offered an ‘opinion’ rather than a reprimand or a command was incredibly significant. It meant Cyron acknowledged him to that extent.
“Youngest.”
“Yes, Father.”
“Appointing you as a Flagbearer is a great loss for Runcandel.”
Jin bowed his head instead of answering.
“I shall watch to see if you are a person worthy of making up for that loss.”
“I understand.”
“For me…” Cyron said, turning around. “There is not much time left. The ceremony will begin in an hour. Stay here until then, and then come out.”
Before Jin could say anything, Cyron exited the Mausoleum. Watching his father’s receding back, Jin couldn't help but ponder for a long time.
Father… doesn't have much time?
What could that possibly mean? A chronic illness? No such thing could affect the body of a 10-star Knight. Aging? That, too, held little meaning for the current Cyron.
His mind went blank for a moment. This wasn't a casual remark. Since Cyron seemed unwilling to say more, Jin didn't dare ask.
However, even if he didn't know the reason why Cyron’s time was running out, he felt he understood the hidden meaning behind the words.
He means I must become the Patriarch before his time is up. And Father has declared that he will no longer provide me with direct opportunities or help.
For some reason, Cyron’s back as he left the Mausoleum seemed a bit lonely. It was a feeling Jin had never felt while looking at Cyron before—an emotion none of his other siblings had ever experienced. The only ones in Runcandel who had ever felt something similar toward Cyron were the former Black Knights who had fought alongside him and Rosa in her youth.
After organizing his thoughts, Jin used his mana to spark a flame, lighting small embers in the Mausoleum’s candelabras before stepping out.
He then turned his steps toward the Flagbearer’s Corridor.