Chapter 395: Impossible to Hide (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 395: Impossible to Hide (5)
They couldn’t keep the Garden of Swords on a war footing forever, nor could they maintain the blockade of the entire Huphester region.
A real war hadn't broken out. No matter how much influence Runcandel wielded as the supreme power of Huphester, they couldn't indefinitely restrict the lives of all its residents without a clear justification.
Furthermore, the cause of the situation had already begun to spread secretly among the residents of Kalon and the various spies embedded there.
The word on the street was that Jin Runcandel had caused a massive incident.
Rumors were spreading. Like a buoy that resurfaces no matter how many times it’s pushed underwater, talk of Jin circulated among the people of Huphester.
It began with accurate reports that the 12th Flagbearer was in critical condition.
Then came rumors that a rebellion had occurred in the Garden of Swords—a claim that could be interpreted differently depending on one’s perspective. There were even dangerous whispers that the 12th Flagbearer had defeated every other flagbearer and even surpassed the Acting Patriarch.
Amidst this flood of uncontrollable rumors, Runcandel had to make a decision.
Ultimately, less than five days after Jin woke up, the clan lifted all blockade measures and restored Huphester to its original state.
Unless they intended to execute Jin, it was better to let a watered-down version of the truth spread rather than allow wild, unsubstantiated rumors to fester.
[Jin Runcandel, the 12th Flagbearer of the Continent’s Greatest Sword Clan, Destroys the Garden of Swords!]
[The Sword Clan Was Originally a Magic Sword Clan! Huphester Trembles at the Thrilling and Turbulent Declaration to Return Runcandel to Its Roots!]
[The Identity of the Lightning Energy Used by Jin Runcandel During His Time as a Reserve Flagbearer… A Fortuitous Encounter with the Power of an Ancient Beastmen Tribe That Vanished Millennia Ago!]
[Will Runcandel View Jin Runcandel as a Traitor or a Pioneer of Evolution?]
[“I Will Become the Patriarch.” The Words That Echoed Through the Garden of Swords… 3rd Flagbearer Luntia Runcandel Reportedly Makes the Same Declaration! High Possibility of the Runcandel Succession Race Turning into a Three-Way Struggle!]
[The Declaration for the Patriarchate Spreads Like a Fever! 4th Flagbearer Dipus Runcandel and 7th Flagbearer Mary Runcandel Reaffirm Their Will to Claim the Throne! Will It Become a Five-Way Race?]
[Is 2nd Flagbearer Joshua Runcandel’s Position Still Secure?]
[The People of Huphester Rally Behind Jin Runcandel—But Where Is He Now?]
The moment the blockade was lifted, articles began pouring out like a tidal wave.
As always, led by Dino Jagrun, journalists favorable to Jin didn't let their pens rest for a single moment.
The appearance of a hero is always exhilarating. The public had been enthusiastic about Jin Runcandel ever since the Holy Kingdom Incident, and his name had long since become synonymous with "hero."
Normally, Runcandel would have cracked down on any news outlets publishing such articles.
At this point, however, suppressing the media was more trouble than it was worth. There was nothing to be gained by silencing those friendly to Jin.
In fact, it would only backfire. Moreover, similar articles were already popping up one after another outside of Huphester. Jin’s name had become something that could no longer be hidden, no matter how hard they tried.
Of course, alongside the endless praise, journalists from factions opposing Jin were working just as frantically.
[Runcandel Was a Magic Sword Clan? Groundless Slander! Runcandel Is the Family That Became Hegemon of the Continent with a Single Sword! How Dare the 12th Flagbearer Tarnish That Brilliant History?]
[Denying the Family’s Legitimacy Is Treason! The Time Has Come for Runcandel’s Stern Judgment!]
[The Limits of Magic Swordsmen Have Been Proven Countless Times Throughout Human History! Do Not Be Deceived by the 12th Flagbearer’s Hollow Ambitions!]
[An Act Far Too Excessive to Be Seen as a Simple Deviation! Those Who Describe This Merely as "Unconventional" Should Have Their Heads Split with an Axe and Displayed at the Entrance of the Garden of Swords!]
[Lower-Ranking Flagbearers Have Declared for the Patriarchate, but the 2nd Flagbearer Remains Steadfast. The 2nd Flagbearer Offers Encouragement, Stating, “Healthy Competition Is Always Necessary”… Truly the Dignity Befitting the Next Patriarch!]
[Where on Earth Is That Madman Now?]
[Strip 12th Flagbearer Jin Runcandel of His Status!]
While articles filled with both praise and malice stirred up the world, there was only one thing both sides of the media desperately wanted to know.
Where was Jin Runcandel now?
After his visit to the Mausoleum, the only news was that Jin had left the Garden of Swords. His whereabouts remained a mystery.
“Haha…!”
In Zipple’s 1st Magic Tower, the Tower of Stories, Kelliark Zipple was spending his time as usual, sitting before the crystal ball on the top floor. Beside him, newsletters from various countries he had already read were piled up in a messy stack.
Contrary to public perception, his face was deceptively youthful. As he read the newsletters, underlining certain passages, he looked for all the world like a young, white-haired noble.
[What could possibly be so funny!]
The Fire Dragon Kadun stood a short distance away, using his fiery breath to roast a skewer that was nearly five meters long. Despite being in his true form, his face was contorted with irritation.
“I’ve thought this for a while now, but Runcandel’s youngest… he’s quite an interesting fellow.”
[Interesting? Have you lost your mind?]
“Why not? At his age, he’s single-handedly turning Runcandel completely upside down. That’s something even we Zipples haven’t managed to do. I find it quite refreshing.”
Crunch!
Kadun irritably chewed and swallowed a piece of the undercooked skewer.
[Do you have any idea how much we’ve lost because of that damn brat? Your brother died, the Demon God Stone was destroyed, and on top of that, the alliance with Kinzelo fell through! The Holy Kingdom Incident… I don’t even want to talk about it. And not long ago, we even lost our Black Knight spy, Kelliark!]
“You should also include the loss of part of the Wraith Squad.”
[Yes, include that too! And is that all? A magic swordsman…! That brat is violating the Covenant!]
That was the true source of Kadun’s anger.
A thousand years ago, he and the Zipple of that era had worked tirelessly to strip Runcandel of one specific right: the use of magic.
He could tolerate Jin stirring up the world as an individual magic swordsman. That was a problem they could solve by finding and killing him when the opportunity arose.
However, Jin’s declaration to return the entirety of Runcandel to a Magic Sword Clan was utterly intolerable.
Just thinking about how powerful the Runcandels of that era had been made his scales crawl and his blood run cold.
“Calm down, Kadun.”
[You weren't there a thousand years ago, so you don't understand! If it weren't for them… the world would have been perfectly ours since then! Because of those damnable magic swordsmen, we had to wait another thousand years!]
“A thousand years isn’t that long for a dragon, is it?”
[A thousand years is long even for a dragon! Damn it, can’t you see why I’m reacting so sensitively?]
“I know. I know how important this matter is.”
[You must meet with Runcandel’s Acting Patriarch again and pressure her! Tell her to remember the Covenant!]
At that, Kelliark smirked.
“No, there’s no need for that.”
[You’d better have a convincing explanation.]
“Of course. Think about it, Kadun. From what we’ve seen, Runcandel’s 12th Flagbearer is not the type to act without thinking. He only brought up the Magic Sword Clan so openly because he has a certain safety net.”
[Are you talking about Cyron Runcandel?]
“Yes, Cyron Runcandel. The 12th Flagbearer must be trusting in his father. I don’t know how much Cyron has shared the secrets of the Black Sea with his youngest son, but what is certain is…”
Kelliark continued, and Kadun’s eyes widened.
“Cyron Runcandel has not yet entered the territory of the Five Kings of the Black Sea.”
[…No way. He’s been exploring for decades with Runcandel’s strongest knights. By now, he should have definitely found the territory of the Five Kings.]
“I also expected that Cyron and his knights would have done so. But looking at the 12th Flagbearer’s actions, it’s highly likely that instead of finding the domain of the Black Sea Kings, he is still just wandering aimlessly.”
If Cyron had already found the territory of the Black Sea Kings, entered it, and become trapped for some time, Jin would never have made the Magic Sword declaration.
That was Kelliark’s judgment.
“The Black Sea is a truly unknown land. It wouldn't be strange if Cyron still hasn't found the kings' domain.”
[Hmm, I suppose so.]
“Or perhaps he’s given up on finding it. So, while he is still in his prime, he might be using the 12th Flagbearer as a vanguard to find an opportunity to break the Covenant.”
[Either way, it’s infuriating.]
“Kadun, Cyron is only human, after all. And he will not get what he wants.”
Kadun nodded silently at those words. A human—and one whose allotted time was running out.
Once Cyron was gone, Runcandel would no longer be a problem.
“Besides, the Covenant is just a symbol. What’s actually engraved in Runcandel’s blood is a curse. So let’s not be hasty. Let’s just watch. It’s quite entertaining, after all.”
[Fine. But we should at least confirm Jin Runcandel’s location. This whole thing leaves a bad taste in my mouth.]
“That’s true. Let’s see, the crystal ball for a moment…”
[You can't see anything through that!]
As Kadun shouted in exasperation, Kelliark’s gaze fell on the area beneath the crystal ball.
There lay a sealed letter. It was addressed to his precious son, Veradin Zipple.
“…No need to look. I’ve found him. He’s definitely going here.”
Kelliark waved the letter.
[What is it?]
* * *
While the entire world was curious about Jin’s whereabouts, he was simply spending time with his comrades at their mansion in Tikan Free City.
He was leisurely reading the newsletters while eating Litra cookies.
Just then, Jet came running over and handed a letter to Jin.
“My lord! A letter addressed to your alias arrived in Tikan. It looks like an invitation.”
“Let me see.”
Jin reacted as if he had been expecting it.
Rip—!
Upon breaking the seal, the first thing he saw was the image of a lion biting a sword—the ‘Seal of the Sword Emperor.’
It was a seal only the Lord of the Sword Emperor Castle could use.
[To Paul Gray Mick! I invite you to the Sword Emperor’s Banquet.
Attend to enjoy the elegance of the Sword Emperor Castle and let your name shine.
Lord of the Sword Emperor Castle, Ron Hairan.
P.S. I’m only sending this invitation because of my grandson. If possible, don’t come.
Do. Not. Come!]
After reading the contents, Jin burst into a chuckle.
He could clearly picture how earnestly Dante must have pleaded with Ron Hairan to hold a banquet and invite him.
Jet, who had peeked over his shoulder, let out a sigh.
“Jeez, if he’s going to be like that, he should’ve just told you not to come. Why even send the invitation? That Sword Emperor fellow is pretty petty.”
“Jet.”
“Yes, my lord!”
“Do you have any clothes suitable for a banquet?”
“I do, but… why do you ask?”
“Then get ready. Inform the other comrades, too. We’re all going to pay a visit to this petty old man.”