Chapter 291: Power, and the Worship of Power (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 291: Power, and the Worship of Power (2)
“The God of Clams has the key to Temar’s second tomb? That’s ridiculous. Even as his guardian dragons, Misha and I don’t know a thing about it. I can understand you, Mustache, but what was Solderet thinking, entrusting something so precious to a petty god like that?”
Murakan sounded genuinely hurt by the revelation.
[I would not know. I am merely relaying what Solderet told me.]
“Do you know where that fellow is?”
[I do not.]
“Sigh… I suppose we’ll have to run ourselves ragged trying to find him again.”
Murakan spoke with clear irritation.
However, the moment Jin heard the name Olmango, he cheered inwardly. This was one person he wouldn’t have to struggle to find.
“Murakan, the God of Clams’ contractor is in the Schuteron Kingdom. I found out when I was testing the Compass’s functions.”
—It’s strange. It seems there is a function to search for contractors. Three days ago, a red dot appeared near the Schuteron Kingdom, and this morning, a small article came out saying a person contracted with the God of Clams appeared there…
—The God of Clams? Was his name Olmango or Olungo? Anyway, that thing even marks petty gods like that with a red dot? That guy is so incompetent it’s embarrassing to even call him a god.
This was a conversation he had shared with his comrades in Tikan right after seizing the Compass. There was a high probability that the contractor was still in the Schuteron Kingdom.
“Oh! Right, I remember now.”
“Murakan.”
“Yeah?”
“I’m going back to the main house first. You head to Tikan and ask Sir Casimir to send people to Schuteron. Have them secure the exact location of Olmango’s contractor.”
“Right now?”
“You can take your time after chatting with Lord Picon. I just need the information before the Black Knight assassination mission ends.”
“Got it. Hey, Mustache. By the way, you said you used the power to manipulate iron to forge swords and such. Is that originally an authority held by the God of Blacksmiths?”
[Of course. I use such power because I am a god. You ask the most obvious things.]
“I’m only asking because something’s been bothering me. You know Kinzelo? That strange bastard who leads them also wielded an authority that manipulates iron…”
As Murakan explained the conversation he’d had with the Kinzelo Leader, as well as the man’s appearance and power, Picon shrugged.
[That is strange. That is an authority that cannot be used by anyone other than the God of Blacksmiths. Hmm… could it be my predecessor, Groller? No, Groller is dead, and his authority was definitely transferred to me. If you ever meet that man again, try to obtain some of the iron he used.]
“You think you’ll know something if you see it?”
[I shall examine it. When it comes to iron, there is very little this Picon Minche cannot figure out. It might yield some sort of clue.]
*
It was night when Jin returned to the Garden of Swords. It was March 4th, 1799, four days before the start of the mission.
Barton Vichena was not waiting at the Garden of Swords. He was staying at his own villa and was scheduled to join them directly at the mission site, Ventica.
“I was hoping to have a conversation with him before the mission started, if I had the chance.”
“You mean the target, Barton Vichena, Young Master?”
“Yeah. You’ve never seen him either, Gilly?”
“No. I’ve never even heard rumors about his prowess. Barton Vichena is likely a pseudonym; he probably used a different name during his prime.”
“You’re right, Gilly.”
In his room, Jin was reading through the documents Rosa had given him regarding ‘Barton Vichena.’
“His real name is Rigaf Clever. A member of the Clever family… he’s the older brother of Sir Lantz Clever, their strongest warrior.”
“My goodness… it was Sir Rigaf?”
Gilly had met him before.
“Before I became your nanny, I once participated in a martial arts tournament co-hosted by twenty-five warrior families of Huphester. It was a competition only for warriors under the age of twenty. Sir Rigaf was a judge back then, and I received my trophy from him after winning.”
That was a story from over ten years ago.
“What was he like back then?”
“While Lantz Clever is known as their greatest warrior now, Sir Rigaf was overwhelming at the time. He was the guaranteed next Patriarch, but about three months after I won, he suddenly passed away. They said he succumbed to a fever of unknown origin…”
That was what Gilly had believed. She had even attended Rigaf’s funeral as a Flagbearer of the McLoran family.
In reality, however, Rigaf had already been scheduled to undergo training as a Runcandel Black Knight. Instead of becoming the Patriarch of the Clever family, he was ‘processed as deceased’ and forced to don the black helmet of Runcandel.
“According to the documents, even the Clever family doesn’t know this. They truly believe Rigaf Clever is dead.”
Of course, it wasn’t as if every single member of the Clever family at the time was ignorant of Rigaf being drafted as a Black Knight. A few knew. However, they were no longer among the living.
Next to the names of the Clever family members who had noticed Rigaf’s appointment, a cold sentence was written: ‘Executed for security purposes.’
As of now, not a single person in the Clever family knew that Barton Vichena was actually Rigaf Clever.
Jin pressed a hand to his forehead.
“Not only did they steal the next Patriarch of an allied family, but they also killed everyone who realized it…”
Even now, the Clever family continued to show absolute loyalty to Runcandel, knowing nothing of the truth. A bitter taste rose in Jin’s throat.
“I think I can understand why Rigaf Clever decided to betray Runcandel. For him, his entire family was essentially held hostage. He had no choice but to become a Black Knight.”
“I never knew the clan drafted Black Knights in such a manner.”
For a long time, Jin’s gaze remained fixed on the bottom of the final page. There, the signature of his father, Cyron Runcandel, was inscribed.
Naturally, as the Patriarch, Cyron would have ordered this mission personally. Even if he hadn’t ordered it directly, there was no way he was unaware of it.
“I don’t understand. If this is true… I’m disappointed.”
“Are you saying you are disappointed in the clan?”
“No, not the clan. In Father. The clan is more than capable of such things. This clan can do far worse.”
Jin closed the document and continued.
“Father is certainly a ruthless man. But he isn’t a vile one—at least, that’s how I’ve always felt. Furthermore, he isn’t so weak that he needs to resort to threats to command people. So why? I don’t understand why he felt the need to acquire Barton Vichena this way.”
Gilly agreed with his sentiment, but she merely bowed her head, as it was not her place to judge the Patriarch.
Jin’s eyes shimmered in the lamplight.
“…Barton Vichena. I’ll probably find out something once I meet him. Gilly.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“I’m going to the Holy Kingdom tomorrow. I’ll receive treatment there until the mission begins.”
Gilly let out a deep sigh.
“I thought there wouldn’t be any major issues since Lord Murakan went with you, but to think you returned with such deep internal injuries… The mission is right around the corner, and it breaks my heart to see you so troubled in both body and mind.”
“Don’t be too upset. It’s a mission I’m doing with Brother Dipus, anyway. Even if I can’t use my full strength, the chances of success are high.”
The Black Knight assassination mission was an event of great significance.
“Mother would have assigned someone who could succeed even without me. Since it’s an important mission, she would have chosen the most certain card. And that’s Brother Dipus.”
Just as Jin said, Rosa hadn’t put him on this mission solely to corner him. She had put him there to observe Dipus—to see how her second son would treat her youngest.
Although Dipus was still at the 9-star stage, as a Runcandel, he was someone who could cause an upset even against a 10-star knight. And in a situation where he was meant to cause a death during a battle with the Zipple, it was actually easier for Dipus to deal with Barton.
The White Night was unaware that Barton was a Zipple spy, and Barton was unaware that he had been found out.
“Even so, you are facing a Black Knight.”
“I met and fought one of the Ten Great Knights from Runcandel’s peak and came back in one piece, didn’t I? Don’t worry, and have fun with Murakan while I’m gone.”
“Is Lord Murakan not participating in this mission?”
“No. I can’t very well bring my guardian dragon on my first mission as a Flagbearer. I can’t even imagine how much the clan elders would point fingers. Even the cadets might think of me as a coward.”
“Sigh. I suppose so, since they don’t know the kind of person you are. Although I spoke out of worry, I have no doubt that you will prove yourself in the end, just as you always do.”
Jin smiled.
“Ah, that reminds me. Gilly, you should take some vacation time after this mission is over.”
“Pardon? A vacation? Why so suddenly…? You’ve been in a constant state of war since your return, Young Master. How can you ask me to leave your side?”
It’s because Murakan seems to be looking forward to a date quite a bit.
He couldn’t bring himself to say that.
“Just go. Things are going to get hectic from here on out, so clear your head in advance. Isn’t it customary to send nannies on vacation right after one becomes a Flagbearer anyway?”
Just as Gilly was about to refuse again, Jin shook his head.
“I think it’s important for you to have time for yourself, Gilly. Go out, spend some money, and enjoy some leisure without thinking about anything.”
“…I understand.”
Gilly had sacrificed her entire youth for Jin. Furthermore, she was prepared to sacrifice the rest of her life as well. She always called it ‘entirely her own choice’ and truly believed it to be so, but Jin always felt a deep sense of debt. He simply didn't show it because she didn't want him to.
“Thank you. Always.”
“The same goes for me, Young Master.”
*
Jin entered the Holy Kingdom in secret. If the clan found out about his treatment, it would only expose a weakness.
Rani and her loyal subjects treated Jin with the utmost sincerity for two days. For forty-eight hours straight, at least two Saints remained by Jin’s side at all times. It was the first time in his life he had received such luxurious treatment.
Thanks to their efforts, by the time he returned to the Garden of Swords, Jin had recovered to near-perfect condition.
‘Using Pluto’s Sovereign Sword might be a stretch, but this is enough.’
In the first place, Pluto’s Sovereign Sword was a technique Rosa didn’t know about. Therefore, it wasn’t factored into the elements required for the mission’s success. The martial power Rosa recognized in Jin was around the mid-to-late 8-star level.
Dipus and ten Guardian Knights were standing in front of the teleport gate reserved for Flagbearer missions. The Guardian Knights were all faces Jin didn’t recognize. After this mission, about half of them would likely be promoted to Enforcement Knights.
“You’ve arrived, 12th Flagbearer,” Dipus said.
Without looking at Jin, he was wiping his greatsword, ‘Volgar,’ with a cloth.
“Yes, 4th Flagbearer.”
If you get in my way, I’ll kill you. I hope you don’t disappoint me. I’ll tell you the operation outline now, so follow along…
Dipus did not add any such warnings or advice. In a way, as Jin had said a few days ago, he didn’t needlessly degrade the dignity of Runcandel. On one hand, he had acknowledged Jin, and on the other, it was for Mary’s sake.
A terrifying fellow.
That was how Dipus had perceived Jin since that day.
And so, he was conflicted. If an opportunity arose during this mission, would it be better to kill Jin? Or would it be better to keep him alive and have him keep Rosa and Joshua in check? He couldn’t easily reach a decision.
“…Let’s depart.”
Dipus said, incinerating the cloth with his aura. Ashes scattered into the wind.