Chapter 314: People Looking for Her (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 314: People Looking for Her (4)
“As you command.”
Mesa replied, her voice crisp and disciplined.
She had recently passed the final examination for the Guardian Knight commission and had been officially assigned to the 12th Flagbearer’s command. Standing beside her was her fellow graduate, Scut Lyman.
“Scut.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Clean up the trash on these streets.”
Banditry, murder, assault—with a mere turn of the head, one could witness outlaws committing crimes in real-time. There were still those who hadn't realized that Jin Runcandel had arrived in Mamit. While the bottom-feeders fighting amongst themselves was their own business, several individuals appearing to be ordinary civilians were caught in the crossfire.
The ones Jin ordered to be cleared out were those causing trouble for the commoners.
“Executing orders.”
Clink, clank!
Mesa and Scut moved past Jin. Not even a few seconds later, the screams of outlaws echoed from various corners nearby. The frequency of the cries died down just as quickly as they had begun.
It was because everyone grasped the situation the moment Scut cut down a few of the ringleaders. They realized that this wasn't just a single Guardian Knight out on a solo mission, but that a Flagbearer of Runcandel had graced this desolate land.
In an instant, the streets fell silent.
Regardless, Scut moved through the alleys like a ghost, wordlessly continuing the cleanup. The area became deserted. The criminals of Mamit were busy scurrying into their homes or taverns like beasts encountering a natural predator.
Whooooosh…
A cold wind swept through the empty street. It was the first time in years that Mamit had been this quiet.
‘Mesa, Scut. You’ve both grown quite a bit.’
Jin smiled softly. It felt strange, yet undeniably rewarding, to see the two of them evolve into proper Guardian Knights.
‘Vellop should be returning from the snow mountains in southeastern Mitel soon, too.’
The remaining seven members of the Youngest’s Division would soon be taking their final exams.
‘Once they all become Guardian Knights, it wouldn't be a bad idea to send them all on some hellish training together. Ideally, I’d like them to become strong enough to be drafted as Black Knights before they hit fifty. Actually, should I just put them through the wringer until they have no choice but to get that strong?’
Unaware that Jin was entertaining such thoughts, Mesa and Scut suppressed their racing hearts as they intimidated the outlaws of Mamit. They were ready to give their all, driven by the privilege of being by Jin’s side once again.
Jin’s pace toward the Moonlight Well was slow and deliberate.
‘Just as the lives of the Youngest’s Division have changed, my Master’s life will also differ from my previous life now that she’s met me. Perhaps Joshua finding out Master’s alias at this time is also a result of my regression.’
A chill ran down his spine. Since his regression, he had always been acutely aware that his every action could alter the future of those around him. That was why he had tried to choose paths that would have a positive influence on everyone he cared about.
However, it was difficult to make a judgment regarding Valeria. He had no idea whether meeting her would be a blessing or a curse for her life. But now was not the time to worry about such things.
‘I must keep her close and provide a safety net. In my previous life, neither Runcandel nor Zipple could catch Master, but I can never be certain how things will turn out in this life.’
Valeria was undoubtedly a strong person. She was among the few people Jin knew whose capability could be counted on one hand. It wasn't just about combat ability; the sheer force of will that the human named Valeria possessed was something truly brilliant, enough to be admired.
But there were certainly things in the world that could not be solved by will alone. For instance, a lone genius mage who had only just turned seventeen trying to evade the pursuit of two Great Powers. Valeria didn't have brothers to hide her in Laprarosa like Jin did during his time as a reserve flagbearer, nor did she have comrades who would risk their lives to protect her.
‘No matter how I think about it, it’s impossible for Master to evade the pursuit of both families indefinitely. If I don’t help her, she’ll be caught soon.’
As her disciple, it was time to repay the debt he owed his Master from his previous life. As he drew closer to the Moonlight Well, his turbulent mind gradually settled.
“You have arrived, my lord.”
Mesa and Scut bowed as Jin reached the entrance of the Moonlight Well. Behind them, five local bosses and their lackeys were kneeling in neat rows. There were about a hundred lackeys present—the total number even with only the executives of each faction gathered.
Jin looked down at the outlaws in silence for a moment. He was scanning the crowd for Valeria.
‘She’s not here.’
In that case, the next step was to find out which of the bosses knew her.
“Fortunately, one familiar face remains. You there. What is your name?”
Jin spoke, locking eyes with the man sitting at the very front of the bosses.
“It is York. Have I met your lordship somewhere before?”
The boss identified himself and replied politely. York was someone Jin had met once in the past.
— Kid. You seem impressive for your age, but relying on that and staying in this neighborhood for long won't do you any good. It’ll be a problem if you act out recklessly, too.
— Thank you for the advice. But there is someone I must find. I’ll make sure not to cause any trouble for the people living here.
— Hoho, I heard you killed those tavern bums yesterday with a single strike. Now you’re acting like a gentle lamb.
— Because they and you are of a different caliber. I am someone who knows his place.
— Your manners pass. Fine, I’ll allow you to stay here for a few more days.
— Thank you. I won't forget the consideration shown by the Kings of Mamit even after I return.
That was the conversation he had shared with the Kings of Mamit, including York, when he was out on his Intermediate Class mission.
“Indeed, York. Four years ago, the fellow who lectured me about manners in the lobby of the Moonlight Well had his head taken by a sword of the Secret Palace. Do you remember now?”
“Ah…!”
At those words, the boss’s eyes widened, and he bowed his head low. There was no way he could forget.
After Jin had attacked the Moonlight Well while pretending to be an outside mage to complete his Intermediate Class mission, the bosses of Mamit had been tormented relentlessly by Siris for a long time. It was because Ryu and Hiten of the 7 Swords of the Secret Palace had ultimately failed to find the mage (Jin) who had dropped a ‘Lightning Call’ on the Moonlight Well.
Even after that day, Siris had continued to trample over the bosses, claiming she would root out the culprit. Then, she had suddenly reached the conclusion that the boy she had let go, Jin, might be the culprit. So, Siris had ordered the bosses to investigate the movements of the boy who had visited Mamit. Every single detail—the date of his visit, his purpose, and everything he did while he was there.
For the bosses, it was like a bolt from the blue, but they lacked the power to refuse Siris’s orders.
— Lady Siris. As soon as that boy arrived in Mamit, he took the head of a small fry named Tonk in a tavern and acted as if he were looking for someone. After that, he visited the Moonlight Well, and he did nothing else in Mamit.
— Is that all?
— Yes, as far as I can see. I don't think he’s the culprit. Honestly, doesn't it make no sense for a mere child like that to use 6th or 7th-star magic?
— If it wasn't him, are you saying my subordinates let a mage escape?
— It’s not that… Even if he were the culprit as you say, Lady Siris, he probably didn't intend to attack the Secret Palace. Someone among us must have offended him or held a grudge.
— Who was the person he was looking for?
— Well, he said he was looking for someone named Whizta or Fester.
The one who had shared this conversation with Siris back then was the very boss standing before Jin: York. York had intentionally said Whizta or Fester because Siris was annoying him. In truth, he had clearly confirmed that the person the fifteen-year-old Jin was looking for was ‘Hister.’ And Siris had wasted even more time trying to find people with the names Whizta and Fester.
“I apologize for not recognizing you immediately, Sir Jin.”
“Only York remains. The rest of you, vanish from my sight at once.”
As Jin spoke in a low voice, the other bosses and executives scrambled away like scattering cockroaches. The weight of the name Runcandel within Huphester was not something outlaws could dare to withstand.
“Let’s go inside and talk.”
At those words, York could sense it. Jin had visited Mamit to meet the person he had been looking for four years ago.
“Yes!”
As the two entered the Moonlight Well, Scut and Mesa stood guard in front of the inn like gatekeepers. The empty lobby was desolate.
“I am looking for someone.”
“Yes, Sir Jin. Please tell me what kind of person they are. If you give me a name, appearance, or anything like that, I can find them for you immediately, at least here in Mamit.”
“Is there a girl among the current residents of Mamit who is roughly seventeen years old? She should have red hair and a Silver Pine Staff.”
“Red hair and a staff…”
York searched his memory. As far as he knew, there was no girl in Mamit with red hair and a Silver Pine Staff. In the first place, it was impossible for a seventeen-year-old girl to survive in this harsh city. However, there was someone who came to mind.
“There is no girl with red hair and a staff, but there is a girl around that age among the low-level members who recently joined our organization.”
“What is her name?”
“She goes by Aria. She has no surname. She seems to be a veteran of the back alleys herself…”
Thump!
His heart rate quickened.
“Anyone else?”
“No one. She’s the only mere child under twenty. Shall I bring her here for now?”
“I’ll check for myself.”
“Yes, Sir Jin. Please wait a moment. I will go outside and tell my subordinates to find Aria—”
Crack!
The moment York tried to stand up, the world exploded.
Suddenly, the lobby ceiling collapsed, and a spear fell through. It was a brilliant blue spear made of lightning-attribute mana. It was a modified magic that Jin had experienced once before in the Mitra Great Desert.
The spear pierced through the crown of York’s head and slammed into the floor. York couldn't even let out a single scream at the sudden strike.
Jin slowly raised his head to look up. Through the gap in the ceiling pierced by the lightning spear, he saw a person wearing a pulled-down hood.
Even with the face hidden, he could recognize her. He could be certain even after seeing the unfamiliar brown hair peeking out from the hood.
That she was Valeria Hister, his Master.
‘Valeria…!’
For a moment, time seemed to stop. He wanted to call out her name. He wanted to tell her it had been a long time. All sorts of indescribable emotions were piercing through his chest like rays of light spreading out haphazardly.
“…Jin?”
Valeria said, locking eyes with him.