Chapter 439: Someday, When You Have Forgotten, Like a Disaster Without Warning (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 439: Someday, When You Have Forgotten, Like a Disaster Without Warning (2)
A sharp, thunderous voice rang out, as if to tear the dark night sky asunder.
The sheer force imbued in the shout caused the raindrops to scatter in a circle, unable to touch the exile.
"Knight Rosa Runcandel! Come forth and hear our tale...!"
It was a voice that made everyone living in the Garden of Swords doubt their own ears.
Neither an Enforcement Knight nor even a Black Knight would ever dare to address Rosa in such a manner.
Some wondered if they were dreaming. To the subordinates and Guardian Knights passing nearby, the scene was so incomprehensible that it could only be explained as a dream.
‘I knew this ominous weather was a bad sign… This is what it was warning me about.’
‘I knew something was wrong when he was just standing there in front of the inner chamber!’
Shring!
The Guardian Knights drawing their swords were in a state of mental chaos. Judging by his powerful and heavy aura, he was undoubtedly an Enforcement Knight, yet they had no way of knowing why he was committing such an act.
They were certainly no match for him. However, other Enforcement Knights or Flagbearers on standby within the estate would soon emerge, so they only needed to hold out until then.
The exile easily parried the blades of the Guardian Knights flying at him from two directions.
With a single strike, the Guardian Knights were sent flying, tumbling across the wet grass. The exile shouted once more.
"You must remember my voice, Rosa Runcandel! Show yourself!"
From various points in the inner chamber, the Flagbearers looked down upon the scene.
"Wow… I thought my ears were playing tricks on me."
"I’ve never seen such a madman in my life. What on earth is happening?"
Myu and Anne were in the study. The sisters nearly dropped their teacups—as did Ran and Vigo, who were sitting across from them.
"...Judging by his skill, he really is an Enforcement Knight."
"That old-model armor… Is he someone who was purged from the family long ago?"
As Ran and Vigo spoke, the veins in Myu’s neck bulged.
"Damn it! What has happened to the family’s discipline? Ever since the youngest started causing trouble all the time, even the underlings are going wild. Don't you agree, brothers?"
Dipus and Mary were also looking down at the exile from another room. For a while, they were speechless, unable to find the words.
"...Ha, what is this? Brother, do you have any idea who he is?"
"No. But somehow… he feels like someone related to the youngest."
"The youngest? Looking at that armor, he was an Enforcement Knight before the youngest was even born. You think so?"
"It’s just a gut feeling."
"Well, it is the youngest’s style. Turning the family upside down out of nowhere like this. Hmm… Let’s go down for now. I want to hear what could possess an Enforcement Knight to do something like this before he gets killed. And to see if he really is related to the youngest."
The exile continued to push back the Guardian Knights, who had joined forces with other patrollers to attack him.
It was a display of the dignity of a 9-star knight, often called a 'one-man army,' but this was the Garden of Swords.
He could not keep fighting so many Guardian Knights alone forever, and high-ranking knights who had recognized the emergency were beginning to appear one by one.
Knights wearing grey armor almost identical to the exile’s began to emerge from all corners of the garden. They were the family’s Enforcement Knights.
They showed no sign of agitation despite the unprecedented situation.
They didn't care why the exile was doing this or which unit of Enforcement Knights he belonged to. Their only thought was to subdue him as quickly as possible so that the masters of the family could make a quiet decision.
Roooooar—!
The Guardian Knights in close proximity recoiled at the exile’s roar.
That was the exile’s final act of defiance. The blades of nearly ten Enforcement Knights moved in through the gaps between the Guardian Knights, and he no longer had the means to hold them off.
He managed to parry the first few blades. But soon, Enforcement Knights of equal or superior skill pierced his sword and armor in an instant.
Like a dizzying haze, swords glowing with aura tore through the exile’s old grey armor.
His vambraces were pierced, his breastplate slashed, his mail crushed, and his greaves shattered.
Blood and muddy water splashed wildly, but the fierce rain gave his blood no chance to leave a red stain.
"Cough…!"
A mouthful of blood poured out from within the exile’s helmet.
Finally, the Enforcement Knights were able to force the exile to his knees in the center of the courtyard.
Thud, thud!
To ensure he could no longer rampage, the Enforcement Knights drove their swords through the exile’s thighs, pinning him to the ground. They stepped on his back to force him down, preventing him from raising his head with dignity.
The sight looked exactly like that of young hunters who had captured and displayed an old, ferocious beast.
The exile did not let out a single scream, even as the swords pierced his thighs and knees to pin him to the floor.
It was the same when his arms were broken by the Enforcement Knights' kicks until they dangled uselessly.
The suppression was complete. All that remained was the judgment of the decision-makers.
All the Flagbearers, except for Luna, who had gone to the Black Sea, and Luntia, who was on a mission on the continent, were walking toward the courtyard.
When Joshua appeared, the Enforcement Knights moved to cut off the helmet so he could see the exile’s face clearly.
But at that moment, Mary shouted.
"Stop! Grant him the mercy of removing his helmet himself."
Mary believed that regardless of the reason for the exile’s treason, it was right to preserve at least the honor of allowing him to remove his own helmet.
The Enforcement Knights only carried out Mary’s order after Joshua nodded.
It took a long time for the exile to remove his helmet with his trembling, broken arms. In the meantime, the Flagbearers and key figures of the family arrived before him.
The steel carriages of the elders, including Jorden, also entered the courtyard. The exile’s face was revealed as he took off his helmet—it was the mangled and distorted face of a former Enforcement Knight.
Jorden, who had just arrived, felt like his chest was going to burst from anxiety. The moment that man started spewing nonsense, his own position would surely be in jeopardy.
However, he couldn't very well start shouting to kill him right away. Jorden had no choice but to suppress his unease and watch the situation unfold.
"State your name."
Joshua’s eyes met the exile’s.
Instead of telling him his name, the exile raised his voice again.
"Rosa Runcandel! You refuse to come out until the very end. But I know you are listening."
"I told you to state your name."
"I have no name to give to the likes of you, 2nd Flagbearer. We were broken and trampled by Rosa before we even had the chance to become your knights. If you are curious about my name, ask your mother."
Joshua’s eyes widened.
He had no idea that the former Enforcement Knights had been purged by Rosa because of him.
"...What do you mean by that?"
"Puhuhu, what do I mean? Do you truly mean to say you know nothing? I can’t help but laugh."
"Speak so that I can understand."
"My comrades and I once served the Patriarch, and we served the 1st Flagbearer. But we could not serve you, 2nd Flagbearer. That was the result of Rosa Runcandel’s judgment that we were not the right swords for you. She decided that you could not command us as the 1st Flagbearer did."
Direct comparison with Luna was always the catalyst that triggered the inferiority complex deep within Joshua.
However, Joshua appeared relatively unfazed by those words.
"So, you committed treason because you felt wronged by that?"
"Treason? I am merely revealing the truth. The ones who committed treason are elsewhere. Isn't it strange, 2nd Flagbearer? That I am still alive even though the Black Panther purged us personally."
The exile painfully turned his head to find Jorden and the elders. When their eyes met, Jorden was overcome with the urge to cut him down, but he managed to restrain himself.
"Head of the Black Sword Council, Jorden Runcandel. That man saved me and some of my comrades. Without your mother’s knowledge."
At those words, the Flagbearers shifted their gaze to Jorden.
Among the Flagbearers, only Joshua looked at Jin instead of Jorden.
‘This is… your doing.’
‘Your Runcandel is so full of lies and betrayal, Joshua.’
While their thoughts crossed, Jorden finally let his anger explode.
"What nonsense are you babbling, you filthy traitor! I saved you? It was I who personally confirmed the heads of your lot until the very end, following the orders of the Acting Patriarch!"
"And so you made fake heads to save us. Your acting is quite superb, Head of the Black Sword Council."
"Furthermore, you lot were purged not because the 2nd Flagbearer was lacking, but because you committed acts of treason! Have you fabricated these lies now that you're facing death because you've suddenly developed a desire for honor?"
"Lies? I came to the Garden of Swords, to my death, on my own two feet. Nothing but the truth could be the reason for that."
Just as Jorden was about to respond to that desperate cry, Joshua spoke.
"As the Head of the Black Sword Council said, there is no evidence that you are not a traitor," Joshua said.
"And everything the Acting Patriarch does is for the sake of the family. The few words of a filthy traitor cannot tarnish the faith that all of Runcandel holds. Your plan has failed."
Those words were also directed at Jin.
Shring. The black blade of the Black Sword Kiner slid from its scabbard.
"If you have any last words, speak them. I shall listen."
"Someday."
As the exile began his final testament, his gaze was fixed on Jin.
"When you have forgotten, like a disaster without warning."
The exile wore a faint smile on his torn lips, and Jin decided to forget the fact that this man had once tried to kill his comrades.
"A resentful soul will appear and reveal your filth to the entire world."
Slash—!
‘Thank you, 12th Flagbearer.’
The moment his head was severed by the Black Sword Kiner, the exile thought of one thing.
The day when the last remaining exile, Luton Perman, would one day be reinstated through the 12th Flagbearer and step on this land again. The day when the souls of the Enforcement Knights who died unjustly would return.
Thud...
The exile’s head fell to the ground.
"Leave the corpse for the dogs to eat."
As Joshua spoke and turned away, those gathered in the courtyard began to disperse.
Everyone who witnessed the exile’s end could not help but harbor a single question.
Was he truly a traitor?
In the midst of betrayal, doubt, and death, Jin stood tall, remaining in his place until everyone had left the courtyard.
Then, he took out a single condolence flower he had prepared in his robe, placed it on the exile’s chest, and recovered his broken sword.
It was so that he could one day plant it back in the Garden of Swords.