Chapter 352: The Final Stage of Bradamante's Strengthening (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 352: The Final Stage of Bradamante's Strengthening (1)
Gilly couldn't quite understand herself.
It’s true they were disgusting. But was it really so bad that I should have lost control like that?
She could have just endured it and let it pass. Yet, an inexplicable surge of rage had welled up from within, nearly driving her to strike down the Ivliano siblings before she even knew what was happening.
"Even if you had attacked them, it wouldn't have been a big deal," Jin said with a shrug after Gilly explained what had happened in the hallway.
"I am deeply ashamed. I almost put you in a difficult position, Young Master."
"No, it might have caused some tedious paperwork, but it wouldn't have caused me any real harm."
Jin wasn't just saying that to comfort her; he truly believed it.
The first reason was Vishkel.
A man like him would have definitely reacted to Gilly's attack.
Even if Myu hadn't passed by and Gilly had actually struck, Vishkel would have easily parried the blow. Gilly’s current strength was at the 7-star level. While she was exceptionally skilled for her rank and possessed immense potential, Vishkel was a martial artist several levels beyond her.
The second reason was that they were in the Garden of Swords.
Even if Vishkel had failed to block the strike, they could have easily smoothed things over. The justification that their opponent had ‘insulted a Flagbearer of Runcandel’ was more than enough, especially since the Ivlianos were uninvited guests who had arrived without notice.
But the strange part is Gilly’s uncontrollable rage. Did she overreact because it involved me? Or has she been under some kind of unconscious stress lately?
If that were the case, she would have been even more cautious. Gilly always flew into a righteous rage whenever someone tried to harm Jin, but she was always cold and calculated when her own actions could bring him harm.
Or is it because of the energy of Chaos that Margiella is suspected to possess?
Regardless, Jin didn't think Gilly needed to feel so discouraged. It was a fact that the woman named Margiella possessed some kind of bizarre power.
"If I had been in your shoes, I would have done the same. So don't worry about it."
"Indeed, Strawberry Pie. Humans have always spouted such nonsense. They should just be honest and say they want to satisfy their own desires, but no, they always have to attach some grand cause like 'a better world' to it."
"It’s honestly surprising to me too, Murakan, that cults thrive in every era with that kind of rhetoric."
"It’s because humans are a pathetically weak race. That’s why back in the day, some crazy dragons used to argue day and night that we should just kill everyone except the useful ones. What was it, kill off eighty percent of the population?"
"That’s insane in its own right."
"So I slaughtered them. Well, it wasn't exactly for the sake of humans; I just found their behavior pathetic and annoying."
"You’re something else. Anyway, Gilly. You said Sister Mary wants to set a date for a duel?"
"Yes, Young Master."
"I did promise to duel her once every three months, but it’s a headache. Trading blows with her takes quite a toll."
Jin recalled the sight of Mary unleashing a variation of the Decisive Technique: Volcano when they were rescuing the small beastmen.
If she gets excited during a spar and uses that… just thinking about it gives me the chills.
A cold sweat ran down his spine.
"Since she suggested choosing the event, why don't you look for something other than a duel?"
"I probably should. Murakan, did you hear anything specific in the drawing room?"
"I only confirmed that the fellow named Verakt wasn't telling your mother the whole truth. He only told her that Zipple is looking for Temar’s tomb. After that, it was all just small talk."
Verakt had not informed Rosa about the Viment Imperial Family.
"Your mother didn't seem to doubt him much. It seems she and that Verakt fellow fought quite intensely in the past. Perhaps she feels a certain rival's respect for him?"
"The clan will start investigating the tomb in earnest anyway, so Mother will eventually find out that Viment is involved. Still, for the time being, I’ll have the upper hand in information regarding the tomb."
Rosa had not called for Jin even after all the Kinzelo members had left, despite hearing that the tomb Verakt mentioned belonged to Temar.
There was only one reason for that.
Mother already knew that Temar’s tomb existed. Perhaps she even knew that Zipple was searching for it.
It wasn't as if he hadn't anticipated this.
Mother must have been waiting for the right time to find Temar’s tomb, even if it meant breaking the covenant with Zipple. Or, she thought there was no need to find it.
Whichever it was, the situation was about to change. Now that Kinzelo had mentioned the tomb's existence and knew Jin was searching for it, it was only natural for Rosa to finally make her move.
"Temar. That bastard can't catch a break even in death. I wonder why those Viment fellows want to find his body. To think great powers are acting no different from common grave robbers," Murakan said with a bitter expression. The reason Viment was seeking Temar’s remains continued to weigh on Jin’s mind as well.
"First, I need to meet Lady Misha. I have to tell her about Aria Hister, too."
"Ah, do I have to see her again?"
"You know you have to."
Murakan pressed a hand to his forehead. The information obtained from Kinzelo absolutely had to be shared with Misha.
"And you held back well," Jin said. "You were in a position where you could have easily gotten angry at my mother."
"I didn't hold back, though."
"What?"
"I gave your mother a piece of my mind. I asked her if she knew where his tomb was. She gave me some vague excuse, probably because she didn't want to fight. Though I don't believe for a second that she didn't know."
He had mixed in a few foul words during the process, but Rosa had simply humored Murakan before sending him away.
"In the old days, I wouldn't have ended it with just words. I was about to flip the whole clan upside down, but I, uh, held back for your sake."
"Sure, sure. Good job. Gilly, any word from Tikan?"
News from Tikan meant updates on the Catfolk and the Demon Clan of Rontelgius.
About two months had passed since their last meeting, but Valeria had yet to find the whereabouts of the Catfolk. Quicantel also hadn't discovered anything regarding Rontelgius.
Even with Record Magic, finding the Catfolk was no easy task. And since Quicantel was still a wanted fugitive of the Empire, there were limits to how much she could search for information directly. It was a matter that required time.
Jin could only hope that the Catfolk were safe.
"Yes, Young Master. It seems the Seven-Colored Bird is also finding it difficult to move lately."
"It can't be helped since there are more eyes on us now. It’s frustrating. I can't exactly go out and do it myself."
Creak.
Petro, the butler, entered Jin’s room.
"Young Master, a letter has arrived from the Lord of Volta."
To the Honorable Sir Jin Runcandel, lately the fief of Volta has been… thanks to you…
The letter from the Lord of Volta began with such pleasantries and was filled with mundane stories and flattery. However, the seemingly empty letter held a very important meaning. It was the signal Picon Minche had arranged, instructing Bin Branche to have the Lord send a letter to convey news about the strengthening of Bradamante.
"Just in case, I’ll wait for Mother’s summons until tomorrow. If there’s no word, I’ll have to head out immediately."
*
Rosa did not call for Jin by the following afternoon.
A few routine missions were assigned as usual, but Jin sent Vellop in disguise to handle them and headed for The Veil in the Mila Kingdom.
"The master is currently away."
However, he was unable to meet Misha. She had been gone for over a month, leaving without telling her employees when she would return.
"It happens often. We will send a letter as soon as she returns."
Since she was handling all the tasks Solderet used to perform by proxy, it was only natural that Misha was incredibly busy.
"Figures. A wasted trip," Murakan grumbled, though he seemed rather pleased that he didn't have to see Misha.
The two immediately went to Volta and headed to Bin Branche’s house.
"Sir Jin Runcandel! Welcome— gack."
Unfortunately, before Bin could finish his greeting, his eyes rolled back into his head. He began to convulse as Picon’s consciousness manifested.
[You’ve come?]
"Have you been well, Lord Picon?"
"Cut the useless greetings, Picon. Since you called for this Great One, you must have something prepared. Is the strengthening of Bradamante finished?"
[I don't recall asking you to come, Murakan.]
"Oh, is that so?"
Jin let out a small laugh as he watched the two bicker.
[Huff, huff. Always the same, nothing but brute strength and no brains. Hey, stop! I surrender, I lose!] Picon gasped for breath, then retrieved a single sword from the underground forge.
It was Bradamante.
At a glance, nothing seemed to have changed, but Jin could tell instantly. He could feel that his beloved sword had become harder and sharper.
As Jin carefully inspected Bradamante with a satisfied smile, Picon spoke in a triumphant voice.
[Killer, isn't it?]
"I want to swing it right now."
[But it’s not finished yet.]
"You mean it can get even better than this?"
[There’s one function I haven't been able to add yet.]
Jin recalled the conversation he'd had with Picon during their first meeting.
…However, the only flaw of Bradamante is that it cannot protect its user.
Protection? It’s not armor.
I have made countless suits of armor in my life, but I have never seen anything better than armor formed from Spirit Energy. That is why when I made Barisada, I installed a device so that armor would form when Spirit Energy was injected.
"You mean the function to form Spirit Energy Armor," Jin said.
[Yeah. Thanks to you providing materials from Temar’s tombs, including the Ancient Ten Thousand-Year Steel, the work is nearing its end. But I need one more thing.]
"What is it?"
[A monster’s inner core.]
At that, Murakan shouted.
"What? A monster’s inner core? Why do you need something like that to make a sword?"
[I need it,] Picon retorted. [I need the inner core of a thousand-year-old monster to activate that function. Otherwise, I’d need several Dragon Hearts, but we can't exactly use those, can we?]
"Where can I find one?" Jin asked, just as Murakan was about to argue further.