Chapter 362: Traces (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 362: Traces (2)
The reason Rosa had not disclosed the information regarding the First Patriarch’s tomb to the flagbearers was obvious.
First, there was the matter of profit. She had no intention of sharing the benefits gained from Temar’s tomb with the other flagbearers. She believed that whatever was found, it was in Runcandel’s best interest for the spoils to belong entirely to herself and Joshua.
Second, there was the certainty of chaos. The moment the details of Temar’s tomb were revealed, it was inevitable that flagbearers who had not yet given up on the throne—like Mary and Dipus—would revolt. Even without concrete evidence, Rosa sharing information about Temar’s tomb exclusively with Joshua was a glaring transgression.
‘My siblings have no objection to Mother’s favoritism toward Joshua.’
It hadn’t always been that way. It was simply that the time for such feelings had long since passed.
As the flagbearers were only human, there were many long moments when resentment toward Rosa’s favoritism had welled up within them. But Runcandel was a harsh family, a place where simply finding one's place and surviving was an exhausting struggle. There was no room to whine to a parent about their bias.
In their younger days, Cyron and Rosa had been even less indulgent with their children than they were now. For a cadet or a reserve flagbearer, who had not yet earned the right to hold the family’s flag, the idea of rebelling was an impossible dream.
There was the exception of Luna, but she was quite literally a monster who had been off the charts since birth.
Thus, every flagbearer had endured a period of growth filled with injustice, horror, and pain. The formal uniform of a flagbearer was not something one could ever earn simply by aging or reaching a certain level of martial prowess.
A strong human.
Only those who were solid and sturdy—both internally and externally—earned the right to raise the Runcandel flag.
Because of this, the flagbearers were no longer wounded by something like "favoritism." Rosa’s bias had become a phenomenon that no longer ignited anger in their hearts, failing to leave even a small scratch.
However, this wasn't because the emotions of the flagbearers, excluding Joshua, had been worn down or dulled.
‘It was because they had a conviction. A conviction that Mother’s favoritism toward Joshua was the best judgment she could make for the sake of the clan.’
In a sense, the flagbearers had reached a stage where they respected the favoritism of Rosa Runcandel, their mother.
It wasn't that they thought Joshua was as outstanding as Luna, or that supporting him was the only path for Runcandel. Rather, it was the certainty that Rosa’s favoritism was not for her own personal gain. That was why the flagbearers respected her bias.
‘But sharing information about Temar’s tomb only with Joshua… in the eyes of the other flagbearers, that is by no means a decision made for the sake of the clan.’
Temar Runcandel.
The ill-fated First Patriarch who, despite establishing the clan, could not be interred in the Mausoleum. The fact that his place in the Mausoleum remained empty was a symbol of disgrace for Runcandel and a memory of defeat.
— Do you know? The First Patriarch, Temar Runcandel. He was not buried here.
— Yes. I also know that there is no grave for him anywhere in the Garden of Swords.
— That dark power you possess. That is the reason we cannot honor the First Patriarch. Unleash your spirit energy.
This was the conversation Cyron and Jin had shared on the day Jin left the clan as a reserve flagbearer.
The absence of Temar’s grave in the Mausoleum was due to an ancient covenant—more accurately, a curse—made between Runcandel and Zipple long ago. A thousand years ago, the gods of Zipple had joined forces to place a curse on the Runcandel bloodline. A curse that prevented every Runcandel after Temar from using mana.
In the current Runcandel, there wasn't even a ritual to commemorate Temar.
Not many people in the world knew the detailed circumstances behind this. Even within Runcandel, only a very small number were aware that the gods of Zipple had directly cursed the clan a thousand years ago.
‘But all the high-ranking flagbearers must know. Especially since Joshua is trying to become a Contractor of Solderet himself; the flagbearers who have competed with him for so long couldn't possibly be ignorant of it.’
Mary was the 7th Flagbearer, a position that couldn't be called high-ranking based on number alone. However, her actual standing among the flagbearers was within the top five. Above all, unlike other middle or low-ranking flagbearers, she had competed with Joshua for a long time and shared all her information with Dipus.
A person like Mary could not "respect" Rosa’s current judgment.
"Damn it…!" Mary grit her teeth as she continued. "You're clever, so you must know exactly why I'm this angry."
"Sister."
"And… you probably fully expected me to react this way."
Jin remained silent, his lack of denial serving as his answer.
Mary Runcandel, the 7th Flagbearer, was a person who could become cold and sharp whenever she wished. She recognized perfectly well that her beloved youngest brother hadn't given her this information simply because he liked her.
She knew he was telling her this to use her.
And for what purpose?
To oppose their mother and Joshua, and to sabotage their plans.
Because of this, calculations flashed rapidly through her mind. She stripped the word "beloved" from "beloved youngest brother" and replaced "youngest brother" with "12th Flagbearer."
Mary’s calculation was simple.
She was weighing how she should act upon hearing the youngest's story to benefit the clan—and herself.
While she deliberated, Jin began to organize his own thoughts.
‘Mother must have judged that I would never share the details of Temar’s tomb with my siblings. She likely thought that doing so would interfere with my ability to monopolize the tomb’s legacy.’
But there was no interference with his monopoly. In the first place, unless one was a Contractor of Solderet, they could not claim the legacy left in the tomb.
‘Mother has known about the tomb’s existence for a while, but she doesn't know the exact details. She doesn't realize that if someone who isn't a Contractor of Shadows finds the tomb, they will have no choice but to face the guardian.’
That was why Rosa was tacitly allowing Jin a certain degree of freedom. Since she didn't know the exact details of the tomb and the thousand-year contractor, she was waiting for Jin to find and obtain everything first.
So that when Jin finally grasped it all, she could take it from him in one fell swoop.
‘If there is a problem, it’s not that I won't be able to monopolize the legacy and the arrangements… it’s the possibility that no one, including me, will be able to obtain them.’
While the legacy and arrangements could only be obtained by a Contractor of Solderet, it was possible for someone else to destroy them. This was the reason Zipple was still desperately searching for Temar’s tomb even now, a thousand years later.
Furthermore, Viment’s goal was not the destruction of the legacy, but obtaining Temar’s body.
‘I don't know how much Viment knows about the legacy and the arrangements, or how they found out. But they are certain they can use Temar’s body even if they aren't a contractor.’
If so, the worst possible outcome for Jin and Runcandel was this: Jin failing to obtain the legacy, Runcandel failing to overcome the humiliation of a thousand years ago, Zipple destroying the entire tomb, and Viment obtaining Temar’s body.
‘If I keep searching for Temar’s tomb alone, there’s a high probability it will end that way.’
In the end, he would need the clan’s help anyway. Power was required to protect the legacy. However, the only flagbearer he could perfectly trust was Luna, and she was currently absent.
Therefore, he had to take the risk. The answer to whether it was more dangerous to make the matter of Temar’s tomb public or to continue investigating it alone was already clear.
Eventually, Mary finished her deliberations.
"I will officially bring this issue to the table at the next meeting."
Fortunately, she gave the answer Jin wanted. Mary had judged that this was the path for Runcandel.
To find the First Patriarch’s legacy, return it to Runcandel, and reclaim the clan’s ancient prestige that even Zipple couldn't suppress. To her, nothing was more important for the current Runcandel than that.
Furthermore, a thought crossed her mind.
‘There’s no way Father doesn't know about this. Absolutely not!’
If so, could the reason Father was so obsessed with the Black Sea be related to Temar’s tomb?
Having reached that conclusion, Mary nodded. She was certain it must be so.
The trust and respect Mary held for Rosa had been wavering for some time, and Jin’s confession had just caused it to collapse completely. However, her belief that Cyron’s ultimate goal was the revival and restoration of the clan remained firm. That was an immutable truth.
"How much do you know about Temar’s tomb?"
"The First Patriarch was a Contractor of Solderet. That is why Murakan was his guardian dragon. In the First Patriarch’s tomb, along with the legacy of the First Patriarch and the old Runcandel, there are things Solderet left behind for me."
Mary’s eyes widened.
"Things Solderet left for you… Is that because you are the first contractor from Runcandel to appear in a thousand years?"
"Yes, Sister."
"I see."
Mary brushed her hair back as if frustrated and continued.
"You tried to seize what Solderet left behind without the clan knowing. But then Kinzelo appeared and suddenly told you that other forces were looking for the tomb, so you judged that you couldn't handle it alone. Is that right?"
Jin couldn't help but be inwardly surprised by Mary’s sharp insight.
"You are exactly right."
A dark killing intent flickered in Mary’s eyes. This time, it was clearly directed at Jin. As the 7th Flagbearer, rage welled up within her at the fact that Jin had been hiding such a crucial matter.
However, unlike when she thought of Rosa, she could understand him on some level. In Mary’s view, most of the family hated Jin.
‘The youngest is what, nineteen? If it were me at that age, I might have never told the family, even if it meant I couldn't have what was in the tomb. I would have been burning with resentment and hatred.’
Mary slowly withdrew her killing intent.
"Hah, you. You really are obnoxious."
Jin didn't bother adding an apology. It wasn't something to be sorry for. He hadn't come whining for help simply because things were difficult.
"Anyway, you made the right choice, Jin. If you had kept hiding this out of greed and I had found out, I wouldn't have let it slide like this."