Chapter 31: Struggle, Acquisition, Enjoyment (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 31: Struggle, Acquisition, Enjoyment (1)
"Kuhk… Hngh!"
The training ground fell so silent that not a single breath could be heard. Only the groans of the cadet clutching his slashed arm echoed through the air. The other cadets doubted their own eyes and ears, unable to process what had just happened.
"Ugh…"
"W-What do you think you're doing?!"
"What are you all standing around for? Call the medical team, now!"
The Tona brothers raised their voices a beat too late. Jin stood before them, his face a mask of indifference.
"Jin! You bastard…! Have you lost your mind?"
"Why did you swing your sword out of nowhere!"
Though they shouted in protest, the Tona brothers' eyes trembled with anxiety.
Don't tell me he already knows we're using people from our sisters' faction.
How could he have picked out that exact person to cut?
They had to resolve this situation somehow. It was the only thought in their minds. There were two major problems.
First, they had allowed a member of the faction their sisters provided—essentially mercenaries—to be injured on the very first day. They would have no excuse when their sisters eventually tore them to shreds for this.
Second, if they didn't retaliate against Jin right now, their prestige would instantly plummet.
They had been humiliated by their youngest brother in front of every intermediate cadet. The sight of the composed Jin sent shivers down their spines, but if they tucked their tails and ran now, it would be the end of them.
How would they explain this to their sisters? They couldn't offer excuses like, 'We're so sorry. We had the cadets you lent us, but our youngest brother was just too scary…'
Sring!
Finally, the Tona brothers drew their swords in unison.
"I'll kill you!"
"Just how high do you think you can climb!"
"Cadet."
Ignoring the Tona brothers completely, Jin turned toward the cadet clutching his arm. At Jin’s call, the cadet looked up.
"What is your name?"
"…Kajin Romero."
"Do you know why I cut you?"
"Kuh… I don't know. Why on earth would you do this?"
"Hey, Jin! Are you ignoring us? You little rat, draw your sword again. Today, we finish this—"
"Brothers."
Jin turned his head slightly to meet the Tona brothers' eyes.
"Am I not speaking with Kajin right now?"
"W-What?"
"I'm telling you to be quiet. If you want a duel, I'll oblige you anytime. Later."
"You dare, after cutting my cadet…!"
"Your cadet?"
Heitona almost clapped a hand over his own mouth.
"So this man was part of your faction, brothers? I cut him because I sensed a strange murderous intent in the way he looked at me."
Silence fell over the grounds once more. The Tona brothers could only stare with wide eyes.
In their attempt to retaliate, they had played right into his hands. That single exchange had effectively branded Kajin Romero as one of the 'Tona brothers' forces.'
If that was the case, then Jin's actions were not an impulsive outburst but the enactment of a long-standing Runcandel tradition.
A 'Ranking War.'
The Runcandel Ranking Wars were a constant source of material for bards and a favorite topic of gossip among the common folk. After all, few stories were more provocative than the brutal blood feuds between siblings.
"The medical team has arrived!"
The cadets at the back of the formation shouted as they cleared a path. Unlike the Tona brothers or the other cadets, the medical team was all business. Seeing blood and wounded people was simply part of their daily job in the Runcandel Clan.
The medical team’s movements forced the Tona brothers to step aside. Even as direct descendants, they could not interfere with emergency treatment.
"Kajin. And all cadets gathered here, listen well!"
Jin suddenly shouted, his eyes flashing.
"I am Jin Runcandel. From this day forward, you may all do to me what I just did to Kajin. You may suddenly point a blade at me or ambush me from behind when my guard is down."
The cadets stared at Jin, their mouths agape.
"But know this. To anyone who shows even a shred of hostility toward me, I will not hesitate to cut you down in return. Just as I did now."
Having finished his speech, Jin leisurely returned to his spot. The cadets standing nearby couldn't help but swallow hard as he passed.
He had caused a massive scene. And he had done so while Zed Runcandel was watching from the platform with hawk-like eyes.
However, Jin did not apologize to Zed. Based on what he knew of Zed's personality, this was an act that deserved praise, not punishment.
Because he's a man who loves ranking wars and audacity more than anyone in the family. Even more than Father.
The medical team left the training ground with Kajin on a stretcher. The remaining cadets waited to see what kind of punishment Zed would hand down to Jin.
Most expected a harsh scolding. The Tona brothers inwardly prayed their uncle would ruthlessly crush their youngest brother.
"Jin Runcandel. The Patriarch's thirteenth son, the youngest."
"Yes, Elder."
Jin deliberately avoided using the term 'Uncle.' Whether it was his father or his uncle, the elders of Runcandel always preferred a clear distinction between public and private matters.
"You've done something quite extraordinary. To dare… in front of me… Did you think this was acceptable?"
Color returned to the Tona brothers' frozen faces.
Yes! Elder Zed is truly a great uncle! Under his thunderous rebuke, even the youngest will have no choice but to cower.
"I did."
"How bold. And why is that?"
"Because I did not consider myself to be fighting my brothers, but you, Elder."
After slashing Kajin, Jin dropped another bombshell.
At this point, even the Tona brothers, who had been praying for Jin's downfall, couldn't help but feel a sense of horror.
Has he actually lost his mind? My god. How can he be like this?
Every cadet, including the Tona brothers, felt the same way.
"You and I… fought. A very, very interesting story. Why do you think so?"
Fsssss!
A pure white sword formed in Zed's hand. Shaping a blade from pure aura was a feat possible only for those who were exceptional even among 8-star knights.
"Speak. Depending on your answer, I might just take your head right here."
"Despite the fact that I was standing among the cadets, you encouraged the initiation ritual unique to the intermediate training class. I perceived that as an attack from you, Elder."
Swish!
Zed lightly swung his sword from the platform, the blade of aura grazing Jin's left cheek. Jin maintained his posture and gaze, waiting for Zed's response.
"So, because you were displeased that I encouraged the initiation, you caused this mess? Because you thought I attacked you?"
"I wasn't displeased in the slightest, but otherwise, that is exactly right, Elder."
"Then you should have aimed your blade at me. Why did you cut a mere cadet?"
"Because I cannot defeat you yet, Elder. If I had judged myself to have even a chance of winning, I would have cut you, not Kajin or my brothers."
"It seems you don't value your life. Or perhaps you rely too much on being the Patriarch's son."
"I simply believe that standing by and taking it just because the opponent is stronger… is not a Runcandel virtue."
The nearby cadets felt their legs shaking. They couldn't comprehend what kind of audacity allowed a fifteen-year-old boy to speak so brazenly to an Elder.
Several moments passed before Zed spoke again.
"A life can be forgotten in an instant, but honor is eternal… is that it? How foolish."
The brilliant aura glowing in Zed's hand dissipated.
"It's a foolish kind of audacity, but one that puts this uncle in a good mood. Fine. I will acknowledge it. You have proven yourself worthy of the Runcandel name."
"Khahahat!"
Suddenly, Zed burst into a booming laugh.
"Cadets, do not forget this day. Today, you have witnessed Runcandel itself. What this brat has shown you is the very identity of us Sword Ghosts!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Struggle every day. That is all! Daytona and Heitona, stay behind. Everyone else is dismissed. Training begins tomorrow."
The cadets began to file out of the training ground in an orderly fashion. The Tona brothers felt the blood drain from their faces. As Jin passed them, he said:
"As your younger brother, I'll give you one piece of advice."
The Tona brothers turned their heads, their expressions vacant.
"Always think about the future. Right now, the other siblings might be scarier than me, but will that still be true later?"
The Tona brothers couldn't find a single word to say to the smiling Jin.
*
"Wow, seriously… what was that pressure? Was what we saw even real?"
"The rumors about him killing a White Wolf warrior must be true. He's a Young Master you'd be in deep trouble with if you made him an enemy just because you're in a different faction."
"Even so, he's the thirteenth of thirteen. If you get charmed by this and join the wrong faction, you'll regret it. Someone like that is finished the moment they slip up. Think about how formidable the other siblings are…"
"That's true, but he really was incredible. Who else could act like that in front of Elder Zed?"
"And who knows? Maybe Young Master Jin will seize power. It's public knowledge that the Patriarch isn't entirely satisfied with Lord Joshua…"
"Shh! You'll get us in trouble. What if someone hears? Are you trying to get the whole intermediate class turned upside down?"
The incident had an immense impact on the cadets. Not a single one gathered in the dormitory was talking about anything other than Jin.
Scott, Mesa, Vellop, and the other nine cadets who had advanced alongside Jin were already being classified as the 'Youngest's Division.' Consequently, they had to endure the heavy gazes of their seniors.
They moved together in a group, just as Jin had instructed.
"Since Young Master Jin cut Kajin, there might be retaliation before the day is over. Everyone, stay sharp!"
About an hour after Mesa, acting as the group's leader, gave her warning, a group of intermediate cadets visited the room where the Youngest's Division was gathered.
The members of the Youngest's Division exchanged glances and prepared for a fight before cautiously opening the door.
Just as their young master had done, they intended to throw a punch the moment the visitors showed even a hint of hostility.
"Nice to meet you, juniors."
However, the intermediate cadets who arrived were carrying various luxury goods, including tobacco and alcohol.
It was as if an enemy envoy had suddenly arrived to establish friendly relations.
The Youngest's Division was caught off guard and could only accept the baskets offered by their seniors with dazed expressions.
In truth, they had been extremely tense, anticipating days of violence in the dormitory after the intermediate class initiation. It wasn't that they were afraid of being beaten.
Rather, they worried that if they were beaten down every night, it would reflect poorly on Jin.
"We didn't know what you'd like, so we just brought a bit of everything. The tobacco is from Mount Mila, and the alcohol is a famous brew from the Kurano Duchy. It's expensive stuff. We didn't put any poison in it, so just relax and take it."
"Why are you suddenly giving us these things?"
"Why? To get on your good side, of course. We don't belong to any faction, so while we can't participate in the Ranking War, we secretly want to cheer for Young Master Jin."
In Runcandel, not belonging to any faction usually meant one's skills were lacking.
The reason these mediocre cadets had sought out the Youngest's Division was none other than the Tona brothers.
They had suffered countless instances of bullying in the year since the Tona brothers had advanced to the intermediate class. Now, they wanted to express their gratitude to Jin.
The Tona brothers were like lambs in front of Jin or their other siblings, but to everyone else, they were absolute tyrants.
There was a reason the Tona brothers had made a name for themselves as vicious, murderous maniacs in Jin's past life.
"Well then, we'll be off. We hope your future is much brighter than ours."