Chapter 298: Power, and the Worship of Power (9)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 298: Power, and the Worship of Power (9)
Induce a natural death during the battle with the Zipples.
That had been the order from Rosa, and the current situation was clearly anything but. It wasn't the ideal outcome Jin had envisioned, either. However, considering the variable that was Veradin, it was close to the best possible result.
"Respect, you say...?"
Barton let out a dry, rasping chuckle.
The Guardian Knights shifted into formation, effectively boxing Barton in. Shring! The sharp friction of steel leaving scabbards rang out, and murderous intent flared in Dipus’s eyes.
"Since the day I tied my fate to Runcandel, I have never once expected such a thing. You tell a boring story, 12th Flagbearer."
Rigaf Clever.
Barton Vichena’s real name surfaced in Jin's thoughts—the tragic Black Knight, conscripted against his will, stripped of the right to choose his own life, and forced to watch in silence as his kin and vassals were slaughtered. That was the man Jin believed Barton Vichena to be. Therefore, it felt natural that Barton would scoff at the mention of "respect."
But there was one strange detail.
For some reason... I don't feel any resentment or rage coming from Barton.
Runcandel had not only stolen Barton's life and murdered his relatives but had likely used the entire Clever family as hostages. Was his resentment toward Runcandel so deep, dark, and massive that it couldn't be easily perceived?
Barton’s eyes, visible behind his visor, appeared utterly calm.
"I’ve had quite a hard time enduring your disgusting acting, Barton Vichena. To think that despite wearing the Black Helmet, you had nowhere else to go, so you became a Zipple spy!"
Whoosh!
Dipus’s greatsword swung toward the back of Barton’s head. Simultaneously, Jin drew Sigmund, aiming for Barton's throat. The Guardian Knights didn't budge; their role wasn't to strike, but to maintain the sword formation, restricting Barton’s movements.
Clang!
With a draw so fast it was nearly invisible to the eye, Barton easily parried both blades and shifted his footing. Though he was injured, the prowess of a 10-star knight had not lost its luster. Barton spun his body, closing the distance with Dipus. Jin immediately thrust his blade at Barton’s back, but it only managed to pierce his cloak.
"Is that a crime? Dipus Runcandel."
The question, posed in the heat of battle, made Dipus’s head feel as though it were about to explode.
"You traitorous bastard, you’re asking if it’s a crime? You have the nerve to spout such nonsense."
"Dipus. That is why you can never best Joshua. Your fighting spirit is the greatest among your siblings, but your thoughts lack depth."
Barton and Dipus clashed blades, engaging in a brief struggle of strength. Barton was the first to back away, but not because he lacked power. It was to avoid the Pluto Sword Basic Form: Lightning that Jin had just begun to channel.
Barton nodded as he looked at the spot where the lightning had struck.
"Ah, I suppose I can’t even call your fighting spirit the greatest anymore. Lord Cyron used to praise the 12th Flagbearer’s fighting spirit even when he was just a cadet. Now, I ask you again, Dipus. Is my betrayal a crime?"
Neither Jin nor Dipus replied, both maintaining expressionless faces. However, while Jin was truly calm, Dipus was struggling to maintain his composure.
"Why can't you answer, Dipus Runcandel? Do you truly believe my becoming a Zipple spy was a crime!"
Barton’s shouting was laced with profound disappointment. It was a strange sight—the traitor rebuking a Flagbearer of Runcandel. It was at that moment that Jin finally read the emotion Barton held for Runcandel: love-hate. It was a simple, volatile cocktail.
"It seems you're spouting whatever nonsense comes to mind because you're about to die. I can't listen to this anymore."
"Then you, 12th Flagbearer, Jin Runcandel. You answer me."
Barton whirled around and began thrusting his sword at Jin. Even though turning his back to Dipus was more dangerous, he did not hesitate to switch positions. He looked as if he had already made his peace with death. He had used too much aura to orchestrate the aerial battle with the Kozec, and the wounds from the space explosion were by no means shallow. If it were only Dipus and the Guardian Knights, there might have been a sliver of hope, but with Jin present, Barton could not expect to survive.
The only thing Runcandel had to worry about was how to take Barton’s head with the least amount of damage.
"Sir Barton. Why are you acting like a child?"
Barton faltered, locking eyes with Jin. In that split second of vulnerability, he allowed one of Dipus’s attacks to land, though he avoided a fatal blow.
"Are you hoping for an apology? For the fact that Runcandel ruined your life?"
"What?"
At that, Barton’s aura flared in fury.
"When exactly did Runcandel ruin my life?"
"Before coming here, I looked through the documents regarding you. According to those records, you became a Black Knight against your will and lost your kin and relatives."
Barton’s eyes trembled as if he had heard something utterly absurd. Even Dipus had a similar atmosphere. Because of this, Jin couldn't help but feel for a moment that he had misspoken.
"...Puhuhu."
Soon, Barton burst into a hollow laugh. Dipus adjusted his stance, coating his greatsword with a fresh layer of aura.
"It seems Mother didn't hand over all the documents regarding Barton to you. Youngest, that man never had his life stolen by Runcandel. On the contrary, he was a man obsessed with becoming a Black Knight."
Jin’s eyes widened.
"...Don't tell me, the fact that Runcandel killed the Clever family vassals who knew Sir Barton’s identity... was Sir Barton’s own wish?"
"Yes. The documents you saw were created as a measure to ensure that Flagbearers below the 5th wouldn't despise him if they went on missions with him in the future. That man abandoned his family and killed his own kin just because he wanted to be a Black Knight."
It felt like being struck in the back of the head with a hammer.
— I don't quite understand. If this is true, I think I'll be disappointed.
— Are you saying you're disappointed in the clan?
— No, not the clan, but Father. The clan is more than capable of such things. The clan is a place that can do things far worse than this. Father is certainly a cold-hearted man. But he isn't a base or cowardly one, at least in my eyes. Nor is he a man so weak that he would use threats to command people. So why? I don't understand why he had to acquire Barton Vichena in such a way.
This was the conversation he had shared with Gilly just before arriving in Ventica. On one hand, he felt relieved. Relieved that Cyron had not made Barton a Black Knight through such petty means. Then, a feeling of disgust surged within him.
"For what reason?"
Crackle!
Lightning energy was surging through Sigmund’s blade. While Barton was dealing with Dipus, Jin had already finished preparing to unleash a Pluto Sword Ultimate Technique by drawing on the power of his Heart of Light.
"For what reason did you go that far to become a Black Knight?"
He no longer saw any value in using honorifics. No matter how much he had dedicated himself to Runcandel before his betrayal, he was now nothing more than a despicable human being who happened to be strong.
In the next moment, only a single word escaped Barton’s mouth.
"Power."
"The ultimate power to manipulate the world. That is the only thing I worship. Kin, relatives, family! Such things mean nothing. To obtain the strongest power within the greatest family—that was my sole reason for existing."
It had been a long time since Jin was rendered speechless by sheer absurdity.
"That is why Lord Cyron’s Runcandel was nothing short of a paradise for me..."
"You seem to have a severe mental illness."
"Do you think someone like me, who wasn't even born with a blessed body, could have reached the 10-star realm without that level of obsession? No, it would have been impossible. I made my choice long ago between humanity and power."
Emotionally, Jin couldn't accept a single word. But rationally, he could understand. He had met people who spoke and acted like this in the past. Kidad of the Reverse Flow. He saw an overlap between Kidad and Barton. The two were very much alike in that they did not care about the means or the ends as long as they became stronger. Both were vile, but in terms of pure obsession, Barton was the more tenacious of the two.
"What a pathetic life, riddled with betrayal."
"So, are you also going to tell me I was wrong, just like Dipus? If it were Lord Cyron, he would never have reacted that way."
"You're right, Barton. Father would have said this: So, that is your value. Then prove that your value is correct. Is that what you wanted to hear?"
Barton nodded, looking satisfied. He had betrayed Runcandel, but he still held infinite respect for the superhuman known as Cyron Runcandel.
"Then prove it. Prove that you're right. You seem to want Father's way, and I happen to like it too. If you can convince me, I'll let you live."
Dipus did not bother to object to Jin’s words, even though they bordered on overstepping his authority. It was because there was nothing Barton could do anyway.
"It is impossible right now. I will likely meet my death at your hands today."
"Then your choice was wrong."
"When I was in Lord Cyron’s Runcandel, I thought death was failure and the end of everything. But after meeting Lord Kelliark, I realized. Death is not the end, Jin Runcandel. All I need is time."
"Are you planning to spout sophistry? Can that 10-star martial power you gained by abandoning and betraying so much, and your new master, not save you right now?"
"Even if you kill me today, there are truths that will never change. First, Runcandel will surely perish once Lord Cyron is gone. And second, even if my body is destroyed, I can exist longer than any of you."
The lightning energy gathered on Sigmund was growing increasingly violent.
"When that time comes, you will eventually have no choice but to admit that Barton Vichena’s choice was not wrong."
Jin felt a sickeningly firm conviction radiating from Barton. Barton seemed to be rambling, yet he held an absolute certainty that the Zipples would destroy Runcandel. It was a disturbingly solid belief. Had he lost his mind due to his worship and obsession with power? Or had he suddenly become hollow in the face of an unexpected execution?
Either way, Jin felt a shiver of disgust at the fact that he had felt even a shred of pity for Barton just a few minutes ago.
"Youngest, that’s enough. There’s no need to keep listening to this madman’s barking. Let’s finish what we started."
Dipus spoke as he coated his greatsword with the aura he had saved by sending the Kozec away. Just as Jin had drawn lightning into his Heart of Light to unleash a Pluto Sword Ultimate Technique, Dipus was also fully prepared to unleash a Decisive Technique.