Chapter 386: Who is the Real Runcandel? (6)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 386: Who is the Real Runcandel? (6)
“Insulting the Patriarch is a crime punishable by death!”
Two elders from the Black Sword Council lunged toward Jin.
Though long retired, they were once knights of great renown. Their swords, coated in brilliant aura, let out sharp, piercing screams as they sliced through the air.
Their movements were no less impressive than those of the younger Guardian Knights. The angles of their blades were exquisite, and the flickering trajectories they traced were difficult to follow.
However, Jin rotated his body with ease, effortlessly evading their attack. Their swords cut through empty air, failing to graze even the hem of his coat.
The moment Jin vanished from their sight, a chill like thin ice creeping up their spines washed over the elders.
“How dare I?”
The elders whipped their heads around toward the source of the voice.
What met their eyes was a fist rocketing toward them, the air visibly distorting along its path.
Clang—! Boom!
The elders barely managed to block the ensuing flurry of punches, but their stances shattered under the force. As they were pushed back, heels scraping against the floor, Jin threw another punch toward their faces before they could regain their balance.
If it landed, their heads would vanish without a trace.
That was the thought that flashed through both elders’ minds simultaneously.
They couldn’t avoid it. All they could do was keep their eyes wide open, determined not to appear cowardly in their final moments.
Their vision went dark.
It was because of the fist that had stopped just inches from their faces. Frozen like stone statues, the elders were too stunned to react to the mercy Jin had shown.
“Was he someone who could be insulted by a few mere words?”
Jin turned his back, withdrawing his fist.
“I won’t stop next time. Return to your seats.”
Most of the onlookers were utterly dumbfounded.
‘I heard the 12th Flagbearer’s martial prowess was great, but to handle two elders of the Black Sword Council like that…'
‘He suppressed them without even drawing his sword…!’
‘Was he truly this powerful?’
Myu and Anne, who had been the first to try and attack Jin, looked particularly dazed.
You should be grateful to me. He probably wouldn't have spared you. They had no choice but to acknowledge the truth in Mary’s whispered words.
“Hup, ugh!”
The Tona brothers let out an involuntary gasp before hurriedly covering their mouths.
Normally, anyone would have scolded them for such a pathetic display, asking where they learned to act so foolishly. But today, no one uttered a word of criticism. Everyone was rendered speechless by the shock that pierced their minds like a blade.
Of course, not everyone was so flustered.
“That’s enough. Return to your seats! Stop embarrassing yourselves further.”
It was Lin Milkano, the President of the Guardian Association. She had been showing signs of displeasure ever since the elders first raised their voices.
“Furthermore, you two are no longer part of the Elder Council.”
“President…!”
“Enough. Or do you really want to drown in a bowl of water, as the 12th Flagbearer said?”
As Lin’s eyes sharpened, the two elders were forced to return to their seats in silence. They knew that saying anything more at a time like this would cost them their lives.
“12th Flagbearer.”
“Yes, President.”
Jin and Lin’s gazes met.
“For a Flagbearer to be showing off his strength against old men… it isn't a very pleasant sight.”
“If I were truly showing off my strength, this sparring hall would have vanished without a trace.”
“Your spirit is always excessive.”
“Was what I just showed even modest enough to be called a display of strength?”
As he replied, Jin revised the information he had on Lin in his head.
‘Lin Milkano. Despite being the Guardian Association President, she exerts significant influence over even the elders of the Black Sword Council. She’s been a greater concern to me than my granduncle Jorden.’
It was difficult to read any hidden intentions from Lin’s expression, which had already returned to a state of calm.
‘If possible, it would be ideal to bring the Guardian Association President to my side.’
To become the Patriarch, the support of the Elder Council was an absolute necessity. Of course, if he achieved a level of power incomparable to his current state and simply slaughtered all who opposed him, it wouldn't be an issue. But realistically, that was a difficult task—unless he reached the Realm of Creation before Joshua became the Patriarch.
‘For now, Chairman Homin and Uncle Zed are tentative allies, but it’s not enough.’
What kind of person was Lin Milkano? What did she want?
While these questions briefly surfaced, Lin spoke again.
“Modest, you say. In that case, I suppose it wouldn't be a bad idea to see a proper display.”
Srrrng…
Lin smoothly drew her sword.
“That method you mentioned for defeating the Zipple—it refers to your talent as a magic swordsman, does it not?”
“It does.”
“Then go ahead. Show me your strength.”
“Will you not regret this?”
“That will depend on what you show me.”
“Very well.” Jin drew Bradamante as he finished his sentence. “I… shall restore the name of Runcandel as a clan of magic swordsmen.”
A heavy silence descended upon the sparring hall.
This time, however, chastened by the elders’ earlier disgrace, the others merely refrained from acting out. Their faces betrayed a burning desire to tear the arrogant 12th Flagbearer apart right then and there.
“…No one is speaking, yet it feels as though my ears are filled with a deafening roar. Your statement just now directly denies the legitimacy of this great sword clan.”
“Legitimacy.”
Mana began to coat the blade of Bradamante.
“I wonder if there is any Runcandel here who can speak of legitimacy in front of me. A thousand years ago, Runcandel was a clan of magic swordsmen.”
This was a secret part of the clan’s history, not something known to everyone. To those who were unaware, Jin’s words sounded like nothing more than the ravings of a madman.
“After being defeated by the Zipple, the clan entered into a humiliating covenant and lost its magic…”
Fwoosh—!
The mana surrounding Bradamante erupted into flames.
“The brilliant history of old was erased, and in time, even the names and pride of the ancestors who protected Runcandel were forgotten.”
As the blue flames of Tess’s power and the darkness of Solderet’s spirit energy colored the blade even deeper, the sound of swords being drawn echoed from all directions.
“I am the legitimate heir to the magic swords of Runcandel, the contractor of Solderet, the God of Swords, and the sole descendant who honors the souls of our ancestors. I am the one who has inherited the shining will of the Runcandel from a thousand years ago.”
Fierce flames enveloped Jin’s entire body, and fire ignited within his eyes.
Lin could no longer maintain her calm expression and gripped her sword tighter.
Who dares speak of legitimacy to me?
Who is the real Runcandel?
A deep resonance hammered against the chests of everyone gathered in the hall. It was the energy of the old Runcandel, beginning to pour out from Jin.
“This fire belongs to one of the Ten Great Knights, Sarah Runcandel.”
Runcandel Magic Sword Secret Technique:
Karma Fire – Sarah Runcandel
Suddenly, it felt as if a volcano had erupted in the middle of the sparring hall.
The flames spread along the rune characters engraved all over Jin’s body, connecting from points to lines, and from lines to planes, instantly covering the hall in a sea of red.
At that moment, the first among the Flagbearers to recognize the crisis was Luntia.
She, who always acted as if she were drowsy and bored, threw herself in front of Lin faster than anyone.
“President!”
“3rd Flagbearer…!”
“Forgive my rudeness. This is for the sake of order in the Guardian Association, so please understand. Guardian Knights, deploy the sword formation and assume defensive positions!”
Clang, clang!
Following Luntia’s command, the Guardian Knights deployed their sword formation.
The other Flagbearers did the same. The fact that Luntia was moving with such urgency made them realize the severity of the situation.
Rumble—!
The flames that formed the Karma Fire began to explode.
If Luntia had moved even a moment later, there would have already been casualties. The Guardian Knights, their swords crossed, were barely managing to hold back the explosions.
Screams erupted from all sides, but they were drowned out by the roar of the Karma Fire. Those with relatively little martial prowess had already fainted, their lives now in their comrades’ hands. Various parts of the sparring hall were already bursting and melting, losing their original form.
And yet, the Magic Sword Secret Technique was only just beginning.
Amidst the blazing inferno, navy-blue sword energy poured out.
Jin considered the Karma Fire he had unleashed to be Sarah’s rebuke—a punishment for those who dared to speak of legitimacy while using the name their ancestors had sacrificed their lives, and even their afterlives, to protect.
The sword energy, imbued with fire and spirit energy, constricted the Runcandels.
If they blocked, their swords melted. If they dodged, they were met with a curtain of fire. Most of the Guardian Knights and elders lacked the strength to break through that curtain and advance.
Death.
If this had been a battlefield, they would have all turned to ash within ten seconds. The only reason they held on was thanks to the other warriors who had reached a superhuman level.
The Flagbearers, the core members of the Elder Council, and the Enforcement Knights—they were all swinging their swords incessantly to protect those on the verge of death. They didn't even have the luxury to be shocked by the majesty of the ancient Magic Sword Secret Technique. They could only desperately push back the flames, their minds focused on preventing a single casualty.
Pressure was embedded within the scorching Karma Fire. The Azure Fire, as eerie as the blue lips of a corpse that died with a grudge, weighed down on the Runcandels.
It was a scene of carnage, a demonic realm.
Amidst the rampant fire and blades, Jin cried out once more.
Who is the real Runcandel!
To the Runcandels, it sounded like the voice of the fire itself. Even as screams like the howling of a beast pack were being drowned out, Jin’s question was clearly conveyed to everyone.
The fire grew increasingly dense.
A gaze that shone exceptionally bright, even within the inferno, was undoubtedly Jin’s. And his sword was aimed at Luntia.
He had been curious for a long time.
Among the Flagbearers, excluding Luna, who was the strongest?
And what would happen when he extended his sword with all his might toward that person?
Fwoosh, shhh—!
Bradamante, wreathed in fire, fell toward Luntia’s forehead.
As Luntia deflected the strike, the flames clustered around her were flung away, setting off explosions in all directions.
Jin and Luntia’s gazes collided.
“…You make things so bothersome for me every single time.”
At that, Jin broke into a wide grin.
“If you hate it that much, you’d better cut my throat right now.”