Chapter 339: Debt and Debt and Debt (6)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 339: Debt and Debt and Debt (6)
The Guardian Knights of the 4th and 5th squads quickly split up to engage the beastmen. The remaining Guardian Knights moved as one, deploying a sword formation.
Sharply gleaming blades instantly formed a wide perimeter around the Wraith Squad. The killing intent radiating from the knights was so thick it felt as if it could slaughter the mages at any moment.
These were Mary and Dipus’s most loyal knights, all of whom were candidates currently under review for promotion to “Enforcement Knight.”
In other words, they were knights just one step below the level of a Black Knight.
Even for the Wraith Squad, this will be suffocating. Brother Dipus and Sister Mary alone would be a headache, but fifty knights at the level of an Enforcement Knight as well…
Unlike Jin, Mary and Dipus had spent many years as active flagbearers. Naturally, the knights who followed them were all top-tier veterans, a far cry from Jin’s own forces.
The Wraith Squad ceased their attacks and shifted into a defensive posture.
They had expected Runcandel to show up eventually, but they had never calculated that they would arrive this quickly.
The Wraith Squad’s plan had not accounted for Jin’s presence, the Myoin tribe’s barrier, or Verakt Sidriker.
Their original plan was to simply crush the beastmen while they were busy counting their money and then vanish before Kinzelo or Runcandel could arrive.
But everything had gone wrong from the start. The Myoin tribe’s barrier was so sturdy it required two days of constant effort to break, and the moment they finally breached it, one of their five members was killed.
And by none other than the 12th Flagbearer of Runcandel.
Despite that, the moment they first saw Jin, they had thought their luck had turned.
Capturing Jin alive and taking him back would be of far greater value to Zipple than merely killing the Myoin and destroying a cosmetics business.
But in the end, the result was a complete mess.
Now, destroying the business or capturing Jin was no longer the issue. Their top priority was to escape Runcandel territory alive and return home.
However, even that had become an impossible task—though the two members of the Wraith Squad present here didn't know it yet. Back at the cave, one of their comrades had already become Verakt’s dinner.
“Hey, kid.”
While a tension sharp enough to pierce the lungs hung between the Guardian Knights and the Wraith Squad, Mary called out to Jin in a casual voice.
“By the way, why are you here? Weren’t you assigned to rescue some Count or Duke in the Kingdom of Ekan? I’m pretty sure I saw you heading out for that mission.”
Even though she clearly recognized that the mages before her were 10-star monsters, she felt only the same level of mild surprise one might feel when encountering a wild boar while hiking.
Of course, to an ordinary person, even that would be a source of immense terror. But to someone like Mary, it was more like discovering a hearty meal.
“Well, about that…”
A wide grin spread across Mary’s lips.
“So, there’s a story behind this?”
“Sister, do you remember what we talked about last time, when we decided to fight once every three months?”
—Every time we fight, the winner is decided by a knockout. The first one to fall is the loser, and the loser must carry out one command from the winner. Of course, we’ll draw up a contract so there’s no backing out.
—I like it. Though the contract part is a bit tedious.
Mary nodded, recalling the thrill of that day.
“Let’s count that as my win. That means you owe me one command, Sister.”
Mary’s eyes widened at Jin’s words.
“What? That was a draw. In fact, I was even going easy on you.”
“What do you mean you were going easy on me? You rained down mana bombs in a surprise attack. Just help me out here.”
“I’m already helping you.”
“No one saw me here today.”
Mary’s eyes narrowed.
When she didn't answer for a moment, Jin thought, Did I overstep?
But Mary was simply savoring the joy. She loved this audacity from her youngest brother. It was always fresh and thrilling.
“You brat, what do you take me for? Do I look like some petty snitch who’d tattle on her little brother for a bit of rebellion? Huh?”
“You don't look like that at all.”
“And here I was wondering what grand favor you were going to ask for with that nonsense. You and I are family, kid. Family! Blood! Not all your siblings look at you with spite like Myu or Anne.”
This time, it was Jin’s eyes that widened.
He had never imagined he would hear such words from any of his siblings other than Luna or Yona.
It wasn't that Jin disliked Mary, but he had always tried to maintain a certain distance. He believed that no matter how close they became, they were destined to eventually become enemies.
“I’ll make sure these guys keep their mouths shut, too. And even if it reaches the Elders' ears, I’ll block it as much as I can. So don't worry, just get back to the clan. Second Brother?”
“What?”
“You do the same.”
“…Understood.”
Dipus had intended to do so anyway, even if Mary hadn't spoken up.
Though he had unintentionally ended up saving Jin—they had come here without knowing he was present—this was, in a way, ‘repaying the debt’ from the Black Knight assassination mission.
“Alright, then I guess we’re done talking. See you at home, kid. Oh, and that fight every three months? It’s about that time, so be ready. Got it?”
“Hey!”
Mary spun around and called out to the Wraith Squad mages, who stood with their backs to the river.
“You’d better not think about getting out of here alive. Instead, I’ll kill you as painlessly as possible. It’s been a while since I’ve had a fun fight.”
Vroooooom!
Mary’s entire body began to glow with aura. Her hair fluttered eerily in the radiating fluctuations, and the ground she stood on cracked under the sheer pressure.
She wasn't at this level when she fought me.
The aura Mary was emitting was so intense that just being near it made his entire body tingle with pain.
Mary had a secret.
She, too, had a family Decisive Technique named after her.
And the one who had permitted it wasn't the family Elders, but the Patriarch, Cyron Runcandel himself.
Is this… Volcanic Burst…!? No, something is different.
It was the Runcandel 7th Decisive Technique: Volcanic Burst, which he had seen on Island 32 of the Blue Bird Archipelago.
The aura erupting from Mary’s body looked very similar to what he had seen then. As her appearance suggested, what she was about to unleash was a variation of Volcanic Burst.
But the Volcanic Burst she performed was not a self-destructive move.
I think I understand why Father always seemed to have such expectations for Sister Mary.
Just looking at Mary’s back sent shivers down his spine.
Clearly, she was not stronger than Luna, Joshua, Luntia, or Dipus.
However, if they had to choose the one opponent they least wanted to fight, they would all, without exception, pick Mary. She possessed a power that could weary an opponent through sheer wildness and fighting spirit, regardless of their level of cultivation.
“It seems Mary is quite angry. It wouldn't be a bad idea to offer a prayer for those Wraith Squad bastards in advance.”
Dipus spoke as he, too, prepared a Decisive Technique.
“Is it because they trespassed on Runcandel land?”
“No. It’s because they touched you.”
In the past, Jin wouldn't have thought much of Dipus’s answer.
He would have assumed her anger stemmed from the fact that her enemies, who were no different from mortal foes, had tried to desecrate her source of amusement.
But not anymore.
He could feel that his third sister was angry for him, not for herself.
He also felt a sense of relief.
If any of his other siblings besides Mary or Dipus had come, he would never have witnessed such a heartwarming sight.
“Go on now. And congratulations.”
“Suddenly? For what?”
“I’m saying this because Zipple’s invasion will give your cosmetics business wings.”
*
“Young Master! Young Master Jin!”
As always, the first to greet the returning Jin was Petro’s urgent voice.
“I was wondering if you were going to come running to find me today. So, what is it this time? Did I cause some accident I don't know about?”
“It’s not that, but all hell broke loose while you were away on your mission. A secret Zipple unit called the Wraith Squad attacked the Jhan Kingdom, and the reason… they say it was to destroy your cosmetics business.”
“What? My business?”
Jin replied, feigning ignorance.
Judging by the atmosphere, it seemed Mary and Dipus had kept their promise. And Vellop hadn't been caught while disguised as him.
“They sent such elite mages just to destroy a mere cosmetics business?”
“Yes, because of that, an emergency meeting was convened. You should head inside quickly as well, Young Master.”
“What happened to those mages?”
“The 4th and 7th Flagbearers handled them.”
“Are the two of them safe?” Jin asked, schooling his expression.
“Yes, Young Master. I heard they both returned with only minor injuries. Along with the heads of the enemies who raided our territory…”
No one in Zipple could have ever imagined they would lose five members of the Wraith Squad so absurdly.
Three to Runcandel, and two to Kinzelo.
I hate to admit it, but I guess I was in sync with those lunatics this time.
Jin felt a sense of relief inwardly. In any case, it was a relief that Mary wasn't seriously hurt.
Now, is it time for my business to take flight?
What Dipus had said back in the Jhan Kingdom was exactly what Jin had expected.
That Zipple had sent an elite secret mage unit into Runcandel territory to ruin a business run by a Runcandel flagbearer.
That was, without question, a grave act of aggression that could be taken as a declaration of war. No, it had to be. Letting it slide was out of the question.
Creeeeak.
As he entered the conference room, he saw all the flagbearers and Elders gathered.
They glanced at Jin for a moment, then immediately resumed their heated discussion.
“Those murderous bastards! Do they take us for fools?! As of today, the Black Sword Council will strike every single one of the enemy's magic product production sites without exception! We will kill them all!”
“You are right, Elder Council Head! What Zipple did is no different from us unleashing Black Knights in the middle of the Lutero Magic Federation! Those sons of bitches wouldn't have dared do this if they weren’t looking down on us.”
“Even civilians could have been hurt. Did they throw the war treaties to the dogs?!”
“Even if the 12th Flagbearer is on their wanted list, this is too much. If we let this pass without retaliation, the whole world will laugh at Runcandel.”
Even if the whole world laughed, Zipple would be the ones feeling sick to their stomachs if Runcandel let it pass quietly. It was only natural, as they had lost five of their top combatants so pointlessly.
In fact, Runcandel had already profited immensely.
However, Jin had no intention of being satisfied with just that.
“Elders. May I say a word regarding this situation?”
As he spoke up, all eyes in the room converged on him at once.