Chapter 325: What Kind of Discipline Is This... (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 325: What Kind of Discipline Is This... (1)
In Tikan, the companions were gathered around the newly acquired Spirit Energy Orb, staring at it intently.
“Let me get this straight. You got this from raiding that bastard Joshua’s villa?” Murakan asked, stroking his chin.
Even he struggled to understand why Joshua would possess one of Solderet’s recording devices. The same went for everyone else in the room.
“How is this possible? Why would that guy have one of Solderet's recording devices? And on top of that, the demon you killed there was a Rontelgius?”
Beside the Spirit Energy Orb lay the Rontelgius’s grimoire, along with a bundle of papers the demon had dropped upon death.
“Is that a name you recognize? Or a family, I should say?” Jin asked.
“A family I know all too well. Listen up, kid. You and your friends weren’t just lucky; you were incredibly, unbelievably lucky. You ran into a demon from the Rontelgius clan and actually lived to tell the tale.”
“I just stabbed him in the neck and he died. He seemed pretty weak.”
“That’s why you were lucky! Rontelgius is a ducal house in the demon world. They're one of the 4 Great Ducal Houses, second in power only to the Demon King.”
The Demon King and the 4 Great Ducal Houses of the Demon World.
The companions couldn't quite grasp the weight of those titles or the influence they carried. They had never truly dealt with demons before.
“It’s no surprise you don’t know the name. Demons have all but vanished from the human world. But back in the day, even most dragons avoided picking a fight with the Rontelgius. It never ended with just one person getting hurt or killed.”
As evidenced by the curse lingering on the grimoire of the dead demon, Rontelgius Rampen, the Rontelgius were a family of demons who had mastered the art of curses.
“Curses aside, the Rontelgius were the closest confidants of the Beast Demon King Orgal. Murakan wouldn't know since he was asleep, but they were infamous during the Holy Kingdom Defense War,” Quicantel added.
However, after the Holy Kingdom Defense War ended in a victory for the human alliance, the demons retreated from the human world. They had been a rare sight to begin with, but after the war, they disappeared completely.
“Quicantel, looks like those demon bastards have fallen on hard times if one of them went down with a single swing from the kid,” Murakan remarked.
“He was in a weakened state. Besides, if Jin wasn't Solderet's contractor, he would have been helpless against the curse.”
Quicantel looked at Jin and continued.
“Your brother, the Second Flagbearer of Runcandel… We need to find out how in the world he made contact with the Rontelgius and whether he knows what the Spirit Energy Orb really is.”
How Joshua obtained the orb and what his relationship was with the demons remained a complete mystery.
“Do you think he knows the Spirit Energy Orb is a recording device?”
“Who knows? Either way, Joshua will probably approach me as soon as I return to the clan,” Jin replied.
“Young Master, Joshua has no grounds to accuse you. I made sure to erase every last trace as we escaped the Ekan Kingdom,” Kuzan interjected.
Jin smiled at Kuzan’s words.
“True, we erased all the evidence. But he'll be certain it was me based on suspicion alone. That's not a problem, though. It's just another part of the succession war, and there's no proof the dragons were involved.”
“So, kid, are you planning to ask Joshua directly? Ask him if he knows what it is?”
“I’ll have to read the room. I can’t predict how he’ll react.”
“Then while you’re gone, we’ll look into the Rontelgius. No matter how I think about it, it doesn't make sense for a demon like that to die so easily. Maybe he was an outcast, or maybe the Rontelgius line itself has fallen to ruin.”
“We also need to find someone who can decipher the grimoire and the papers. They seem like important clues. And…”
Jin’s gaze shifted to Julian, who was sitting dejectedly in a corner of the office.
“Let’s also discuss how to wake Julian’s guardian dragon.”
The Lightning Dragon, Kaltor.
He was currently in a deep slumber, unable to recover from the long and cruel torture he had endured. Because of this, even after being rescued, Julian hadn't been able to exchange a single word with his long-lost guardian.
“Like I told you, kid. A dragon like Kaltor has a shattered heart. It'll take at least five hundred years to recover—mmph!”
Gilly smoothly covered Murakan’s mouth.
“There has to be a way, Julian. So please don't lose hope and just wait a little longer.”
Julian looked at his companions with reddened eyes.
“Everyone… thank you.”
The companions blinked in surprise. It was the first time Julian had ever spoken to them so formally.
“That smart-mouthed brat is actually using honorifics? I'm touched, truly touched! This puts me in a great mood. This Great Murakan will find a way to wake your guardian dragon, so just sit tight. Come to think of it, since he isn't even a thousand years old, his heart might recover faster.”
“It seems things are mostly settled then,” Jin said. “Gilly, Murakan, and I will return to the main house the day after tomorrow. We've been away from the Garden of Swords too much lately, so it'll be hard to visit Tikan for a while—unless something urgent comes up.”
* * *
“I’ll see you next time, then.”
“Yes, yes. Thank you for always looking after us, Aria…”
Valeria bowed her head slightly and turned away.
The elderly residents of Donkey Village waved their hands, their few remaining teeth on display, until she disappeared beyond the village outskirts.
The moment she was out of their sight, Valeria gritted her teeth and pressed a hand to her forehead.
For the past few years, no pursuer from any faction had ever come this close. They had all wasted their time lingering near shelters she had long since abandoned or searching in entirely wrong places.
But this time was different.
The shelter in Donkey Village has been discovered… and the pursuers’ movements have become more sophisticated.
Zzzzt—!
As Valeria channeled her mana, a blue light spread from her staff. The mana soon formed a semi-transparent, rectangular ‘Record Window,’ and words began to materialize on its surface.
[A 29-year-old female with the surname Clever visited Donkey Village and intimidated the elderly. No further records available.]
[A 34-year-old male with the surname McLoran visited Donkey Village, attempted to win over the elderly, and asked for the whereabouts of Aria Owlheart. No further records...]
Clever and McLoran—surnames of prestigious martial families in Huphester.
Thanks to those names, Valeria could guess which faction was searching for her: the Guardian Knights of Runcandel.
— My mother and eldest brother are looking for you. I heard they found out the name you’re currently using: Aria Owlheart.
— That’s not my only alias. I’m moving while thoroughly erasing my tracks.
— Anka Ropman, Lailin Hazard, Lucille Scope, Hartia Ben. Aren't those your aliases? And you say you’ve erased your tracks well… yet here we are, having a perfectly fine conversation.
She recalled her conversation with Jin in Mamit not long ago.
…It seems I underestimated the Great Houses. The pursuers’ methods have changed.
The only silver lining was that Runcandel had found Donkey Village, not Zipple.
Whoosh!
Valeria deactivated the record magic and glanced back toward Donkey Village.
The elders will contact Runcandel soon.
Until a few days ago, they had treated her like a savior. Most of the elderly in Donkey Village were people abandoned by their own children, living without a shred of hope.
Yet those same elders had told Runcandel everything they knew about her—which, thankfully, was very little.
She had never expected loyalty from them. In fact, Valeria didn't expect loyalty from any human.
Still, she couldn't help the bitter feeling that rose from the pit of her stomach.
At least it’s a relief they weren't all slaughtered because of me. I need to move quickly. To the shelter in the Lutero Magic Federation.
She traveled relentlessly until nightfall.
Switching between land routes, sea routes, and teleport gates, she used more than five different identification cards. Along the way, she stopped by ‘Samil’ to pick up letters and items that had been sent to her.
She finally arrived safely in the ‘Pailin Kingdom’ of the Lutero Magic Federation. And as soon as she stepped out of the teleport gate…
Right in the middle of the entrance, she saw Jin Runcandel’s face.
[Your beauty, guaranteed by Jin Runcandel. Gold Snow Color Cosmetics.]
Gasp!
Valeria reflexively caught her breath as she stared up at the massive advertisement.
A cosmetics ad…? What on earth is this man thinking?
Valeria stood there dazed, unable to look away from the billboard for a long moment before finally forcing herself to move on.
It was dawn by the time she reached her shelter in the Pailin Kingdom. Only then could she check the letters and items she had retrieved from Samil.
[This is the first letter. These are cosmetics and disguise tools. Just spread them on your face for a plausible look. They should be a big help for your clumsy disguises.
If you think you’re about to be caught, contact Tikan. That is all.]
Valeria shook her head as she examined the items.
There was one more letter.
[I didn't expect to send a second letter so soon. It’s nothing major, but another recording device has turned up. It would be good if we could meet soon. Contact Tikan so we can set a meeting place.]
He got another Spirit Energy Orb?!
Ha! A sigh of disbelief escaped Valeria’s lips.
Some people searched every corner of the world and couldn't find a single one, yet this youngest Runcandel seemed to trip over them constantly.
For the sake of her research alone, Valeria knew she would have to meet Jin Runcandel again.
Regardless, this is a gain for me. Jin Runcandel, I will make good use of you.
* * *
The moment Jin returned to Huphester, Butler Petro rushed to find him.
“Young Master!”
“What is it, Petro?”
“It’s terrible! The Elder Council has ordered disciplinary action against you!”
“Discipline? For what? Calm down and tell me everything. What kind of discipline?”
He was asking, but he had been expecting this.
The cosmetics business he had started with the Gold Snow tribe. That had to be it.
They’ve probably ordered house arrest or a remote assignment. A remote assignment might actually be better than staying in the Garden of Swords.
After living as a flagbearer, he felt that being stuck in a remote region for a year or so wouldn't be so bad.
There were too many eyes in the Garden of Swords. Every time he needed to act as Solderet’s contractor—like searching for Temar’s tomb or Solderet’s arrangements—he had to worry about too many things.
Even if I’m sent to a remote post, it’s easy enough to build up achievements and create a reason to return to the main house. This might actually be for the best…
Just as his thoughts reached that point, the disciplinary measure that came out of Petro’s mouth was something Jin hadn't anticipated at all.
“The discipline is… you’re confined to the estate. The duration is three years…”