Chapter 437: Raiders, Brothers (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 437: Raiders, Brothers (5)
"Revenge, is it? There was no grudge between us. Not until today, at least. If that's the case, you must have attacked me to enact your revenge through the Elder Council."
As Jin replied, Luton’s gaze shifted toward Talaris. He wasn't looking at her to beg for his life by exploiting their past acquaintance.
"Hmph, why are you looking at me? Even if I weren't here, you couldn't have done a thing to Tikan. You haven't gotten so rusty that you couldn't calculate at least that much, have you?"
The raiders who attacked Tikan possessed enough martial prowess to destroy a small nation.
Had it not been for Quicantel, Tikan would have suffered immense damage or been wiped off the map entirely.
"…I am aware. We hadn't heard that the Silver Dragon was here. Just as our swords have dulled, it seems the Elder Council has become quite incompetent compared to my memories of them. This entire mission was riddled with inconsistent intelligence and unexpected variables."
"Isn't it the duty of Runcandel’s Enforcement Knights to carry out their assigned tasks regardless of such variables?"
"That is true, Talaris. But we are merely exiles now, not Enforcement Knights. Regardless, it feels strange to see you acting on behalf of the 12th Flagbearer."
"Why is it strange? I was just helping my son-in-law."
Hiss… A grotesque laugh leaked from the exiles’ distorted mouths.
"I had a premonition that I would one day die such a pointless death. I don't know if meeting an old friend at the end is a curse or a blessing."
"If I had to choose, it’s closer to a blessing. Even when you were young, you always had a flair for such uselessly sentimental talk. Luton, tell me what happened. I hadn't heard a word about you for ages, so I assumed some of you had become Black Knights."
Talaris seemed genuinely curious about how they had ended up in such a state. Even if they weren't exactly friends, they had shared enough history for her to feel a certain level of concern.
Jin also had questions about how individuals of the Enforcement Knights' caliber had been exiled.
Excluding the ten Black Helmets, an Enforcement Knight was generally the highest position a Runcandel knight could achieve.
‘If they’d committed treason, they would have been executed regardless of their contributions, not just exiled. But aside from treason or betrayal, there’s no reason for an Enforcement Knight to receive a punishment as severe as exile.’
Purge.
The word came to mind.
‘I think I understand.’
Jin and Luton’s gazes met once more.
Luton stared at Jin in silence for a long time. He had never once imagined that the 12th Flagbearer would be the one to bring about their end.
Hiss, keee… Letting out another choked laugh, Luton finally spoke.
"12th Flagbearer, we were Runcandel knights and the Patriarch’s swords since before you were even born. Though we never wore the Black Helmets, we were proud enough to be considered among the best of the Enforcement Knights of our time."
Had his face not been crushed and his body not suffered such horrific injuries, Luton was a man who could have potentially become a Black Knight.
"Around the time Cyron Runcandel began spending more time in the Black Sea, we were placed under the 1st Flagbearer by the Patriarch’s command."
"Under Sister Luna?"
That was news to Jin. True to her epithet, White Whale, Luna was famous for not forming factions.
"It was a time when everyone was certain the 1st Flagbearer would become the next Patriarch. However, that must have been around the time you were born, 12th Flagbearer."
That was when the 1st Flagbearer declared she would not take the throne.
Luton continued his story. Despite his mangled face, Jin could tell he was wearing a very bitter expression.
"From Guardian Knights to Enforcement Knights, from the Patriarch’s knights to the 1st Flagbearer’s knights… over the decades, our allegiances shifted in such a manner."
Normally, the next step would have been to become the knights of another Flagbearer or to serve as Enforcement Knights under the Elder Council.
However, Luton and his squad members were forced to face a future they had never anticipated.
"The 2nd Flagbearer…"
Joshua Runcandel. Luton paused for a moment after mentioning his name.
"We thought we would become his knights. Even before the 1st Flagbearer gave up the throne, Madam Rosa had often shown her desire to bolster the 2nd Flagbearer’s power."
Even back then, Cyron spent an overwhelming amount of time in the Black Sea rather than the Garden of Swords. Consequently, it fell to Rosa to command the clan, much as she does now.
But Rosa did not appoint the exiles as the 2nd Flagbearer’s knights.
This was despite the fact that Luton’s squad numbered fifteen at the time—fifteen top-tier Enforcement Knights.
"She simply discarded us, as if we had no value."
Just as Jin had predicted, Rosa had purged them.
As if trying to erase their very existence from the world, Rosa destroyed everything they had.
Their lives, their families, their retainers, their pets, and even their acquaintances. No matter how great the martial prowess of Luton and his squad was, they were helpless against a blade wielded by those they trusted.
They had never once imagined the clan would abandon them.
"With the help of the Head of the Black Sword Council, four of the fifteen of us managed to survive. Though we were left in this state. However, one of the four died shortly after, and another died a few years ago while assisting the Elder Council."
"So only the two of you remain?"
"That is correct."
They had dedicated their entire lives to Runcandel. What could have been the reason for them to be purged so cruelly and miserably?
The exiled Enforcement Knights could never escape that question for the rest of their lives.
"It seems my mother judged that you were swords the 2nd Flagbearer would find difficult to control."
"…Likely so. There is no other reason to purge us."
Even when they were Cyron’s knights, Luton and his squad were the type who would attack Talaris without his orders. They had a wild streak that had led Talaris to describe them as 'violent beasts.'
That was why Rosa did not make them Joshua’s knights.
Furthermore, the reason she did not assign them as Enforcement Knights under the Elder Council was to prevent the Council from gaining more power than necessary.
They were purged without even being given the chance to pledge loyalty to the other siblings, who had either not yet become Flagbearers or had just earned the title at the time.
Of course, it was a reason they could not accept.
But they lacked the power to resist such an outrageous injustice. Their opponent was Rosa Runcandel.
"Hmph… Luton, there’s one thing I’m curious about in that story."
Talaris spoke up, narrowing her eyes.
"What on earth was Cyron doing while all this was happening? Did Cyron just stand by while Madam Rosa slaughtered you all without justification?"
Slowly, Luton nodded.
"He did."
"But why?"
"…Surely you aren't asking because you truly don't know, Talaris."
Talaris let out a sigh. She recalled the image of her friend, whose emotions had, at some point, become drier than a desert.
"Even so, Cyron cherished you all quite a bit thirty years ago… Did he really do nothing, even when it got that bad?"
"After the 1st Flagbearer gave up the throne, the Patriarch acted for a while as if everything in the world was a disappointment. Because of that, people like us might have been even further from his mind. You never wondered where we were either, did you?"
"That’s obviously because I assumed nothing major would happen to you. How would I know the internal affairs of Runcandel? Besides, I, an outsider, shouldn't be compared to Cyron when it comes to looking after you."
"That is true. If the Patriarch himself didn't look after us, there was no reason for you to check on us. Still, aside from the Patriarch, we were closest to you."
Seeing Talaris hesitate, Luton added, "Of course, I'm not saying this to blame you."
"Right. You know better than to blame me. It's not like you came to the Secret Palace to ask for help after you survived."
"Correct. We did not seek you out because we believed this had nothing to do with you. My squad and I lived our lives without many people by our sides, so you were the closest we had to a friend. But objectively, it wasn't a special bond. To you, we were just a past connection."
Talaris shrugged.
Still, if you had come, I definitely would have helped you in some way.
Talaris did not voice those words. They were meaningless now.
A brief silence followed.
"I have nothing more to say."
"That’s for me to decide. I still have a few things I want to ask," Jin spoke. "You said earlier that the reason you attacked me was revenge. Is the target of that revenge my mother?"
"It is."
"How does that work?"
"The Head of the Black Sword Council likely gave us orders for his own benefit. Everything he does is a bid to become the next Patriarch."
"Do you truly believe Jorden, the Head of the Black Sword Council, can defeat Joshua and become Patriarch?"
When Jin looked at him with genuine bewilderment, Luton shook his head.
"Whether it's possible or not is irrelevant. We have no other choice."
"In other words, you intend to enact your revenge through the Head of the Black Sword Council. From the way you speak, it doesn't sound like you're acting out of gratitude for him saving you."
"Gratitude? We paid that back in full by being used like dogs whenever Jorden wanted. We might have been a bit more grateful if he had saved us without leaving us in this state."
Indeed, the exiled Enforcement Knights were moving with revenge as their only fuel.
"Fine. Then I’ll ask one last thing."
"What is it?"
"You said you survived with the help of the Head of the Black Sword Council, Jorden Runcandel. Does my mother know that?"
"She does not."
"I thought so. If my mother knew, you would never have stayed alive until now. And that fact is your only realistic means of getting revenge on her… I will offer you a more valuable death."
"…A valuable death?"
"You will never see a day where the Head of the Black Sword Council becomes Patriarch anyway. If you die by my hand here, it’s simply the end, and your revenge can never be realized."
"What are you trying to say, 12th Flagbearer?"
As Luton lifted his head, Jin continued.
"Return to the Garden of Swords. Go and reveal that someone like the Head of the Black Sword Council defied my mother’s absolute command. Leave a scar on my mother’s authority. That is the most meaningful revenge you can achieve."