Chapter 45: Unexpected Variable (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 45: Unexpected Variable (3)
"What in the hell do you think you're doing, you wretches!"
Slap! Slap!
Luna struck both women across the face with all her might. Each slap carried the full physical force of a 9-star knight. The sound of tearing air nearly drowned out the women's brief groans.
Thud!
The two slammed into the stone wall simultaneously, their bodies convulsing.
They were Myu and Anne. Though they had instinctively manifested their aura to protect themselves the moment they were struck, a mouthful of crimson blood still surged up their throats and spilled from their lips.
"Sending a child into Zipple territory? Myu, he's ten years younger than you! Have you lost your mind?"
Luna had just returned to the Garden of Swords after handling some personal business. Upon her arrival, she had immediately summoned the two sisters who assigned the mission to Jin.
The sisters didn't dare meet their eldest sister’s eyes.
To them, Luna was not merely their eldest sibling; she was a presence more terrifying than their father.
"Stand up."
The two staggered to their feet. They, too, were Jin’s siblings—Luna’s own flesh and blood. Seeing them with their heads bowed stirred a flicker of pity in her heart, but Luna was determined to deliver a clear warning today.
"Why did you do it?"
Myu and Anne remained silent for a long time, their heads lowered.
It wasn't because they had no answer. They were simply resentful that their eldest sister was asking ‘why’ when she clearly knew that sending Jin to Colon was part of the rank war.
"…Sister Luna. You aren't asking because you truly don't know, are you?"
Luna snorted as she looked at Myu, who had finally managed to speak.
"And what if I am? Are you telling me that Flagbearers of this clan have started a rank war with our youngest brother—a mere cadet in the intermediate class?"
The two sisters trembled, unable to retort.
They were ashamed. While the rank war was a long-standing tradition in Runcandel, a Flagbearer targeting someone who wasn't even a Flagbearer was nothing short of a mismatch.
Flagbearers against Flagbearers, non-Flagbearers against non-Flagbearers.
That was the implicit rule of the Runcandel rank war. While not a rule that was strictly enforced, Myu and Anne’s recent actions had crossed a line.
Luna glared at her sisters for a moment before speaking again. The mockery on her face had been replaced by cold, murderous intent.
"Have some shame. I am disgraced that you two are even considered Flagbearers of this clan."
"Sister!"
The sisters shouted back in unison, bristling with indignation. But Luna merely smiled, unperturbed.
"What? Are my words too harsh? Do you hate being ridiculed by me? Does your pride as Flagbearers come first?"
"You’ve never even cared about the clan’s succession struggle, Sister. By what right do you—"
"If you had actually won after messing with the youngest, I wouldn't have gone this far."
"…What?"
Myu and Anne’s eyes widened.
"You’ve already lost to the youngest. He succeeded in the Colon Ruins mission. Jin returned just a moment ago and went to report to Mother. I confirmed it myself when I ran into him on my way in."
The two women bit their lips hard.
"Now do you understand why I said I was disgraced? In the end, you two have effectively given him wings. I wonder if there has ever been a time in Runcandel history where a Flagbearer looked so pathetic while trying to keep a mere cadet in check."
Luna continued her sarcasm, but the sisters remained silent, their ears turning red. They felt like they would go mad from the humiliation. At the same time, a sense of dread began to take root.
For the time being, they would not be able to move against Jin recklessly. Their plan to crush the youngest before he could grow had ended in total failure.
Myu and Anne had no confidence that they could win a fight against Jin once his growth was complete.
That meant all that remained was the youngest’s retaliation, which would begin in a few years. The thought of that time sent a chill down their spines.
As the two turned to leave with devastated expressions, Luna added one last thing before they exited the room.
"From what I've observed, our youngest brother is not a particularly merciful child. You two had better be careful from now on."
"…Is there still more for you to mock, Sister?"
A bitter smile spread across Luna’s lips.
"No. I’m saying this because I’m genuinely worried about you. You may have gone astray, but you are still my sisters."
Myu and Anne left the room without answering. Watching them go, Luna let out a deep sigh.
Clink.
A teacup was placed on the desk in front of Luna. It was set down by Taimun, Luna’s nanny, who had been in the adjacent room.
"Ah, Nanny. Thank you."
"Hoho, this old nanny thought your rebellious phase had flared up again, seeing as you started beating your sisters the moment you returned."
"Rebellious phase at my age? Don't be ridiculous…"
"Well, your rebellious phase was quite spectacular, wasn't it? Oh dear. Regardless, I am worried about Lady Myu and Lady Anne. Knowing the Young Master’s personality, he will certainly never forget this."
"You don't think they’ll be a match for Jin either, do you, Nanny?"
"Hmm, I suspect that in just five years, they won't even be able to stand against him in a formal duel. In that sense, it’s as if Lady Myu and Lady Anne have less than five years of their lives remaining."
"Don't say such gruesome things. They’re still blood relatives. The thought of the youngest growing up and killing them… it’s dizzying. Anyway, Nanny, did you look into what I asked about last time?"
The matter she had asked about was the identity of the sibling who had tried to assassinate Jin within the Storm Castle. To be precise, it wasn't an assassination but a curse, though Luna was unaware of that fact.
Furthermore, Luna was under the misconception that the attempt on Jin’s life in the Storm Castle had occurred when he was five or six, not one. This was because Jin had never told her that he possessed memories from when he was a year old.
"Yes. First of all, it wasn't Lady Myu or Lady Anne, whom you just thrashed. At that time, they weren't Flagbearers but were still in the intermediate class, so there wasn't much to investigate there."
"Hmm… that makes sense. It definitely wouldn't be Mary or Yona. The Tona brothers are the same."
"Then the remaining suspects are Masters Joshua, Dipus, Ran, and Vigo, and Lady Luntia. Even if we set aside Masters Ran and Vigo, we can't exactly investigate the others as we please."
"Right. Joshua, Dipus, and Luntia have such solid foundations. Investigating them would likely just lead to a massive headache."
"Shall we start by looking into Masters Ran and Vigo?"
Luna tapped her finger on the desk, seemingly lost in thought.
"No. It’s better to just watch for now. If we keep poking around based on mere suspicion, you’ll be the one in trouble, Nanny."
"A wise decision. Although there was an assassination attempt in the Storm Castle, Master Jin is growing up well now, so you needn't worry too much."
"Whoever the culprit is, they must know by now that I’m looking out for Jin, so they won't move recklessly. Anyway, good work, Nanny."
"It was nothing. Shall I prepare a meal?"
"Yes. And some alcohol, please. The usual."
*
Rosa had many things she wanted to ask her youngest son, who had once again returned successful from his mission, but she showed no sign of it.
Mamit and the Colon Ruins. The youngest was succeeding in missions that everyone expected him to fail, as if to prove them all wrong.
She couldn't tell if it was heavenly luck or if he had an outside collaborator helping him.
However, after this incident, Rosa was certain it was the latter.
‘There must be someone extraordinary by the youngest’s side. And he is using them to complete these missions.’
Completing a mission with the help of an outsider was against the unwritten rules. The only support one could request when a mission became too difficult was from the clan itself.
Rosa decided not to interrogate or blame him.
In a short while, influential figures from all walks of life would visit the Garden of Swords to see the youngest. It was a banquet hosted by Cyron, and the youngest was the guest of honor.
Even if he had received help from a collaborator behind the clan’s back, the fact that he had returned alive was a relief in itself.
Reprimands could be dealt out later, once she had secured evidence.
"Well done. You may skip the reports to the Flagbearers and rest well today. I will inform them."
"Thank you, Mother."
As soon as he stepped out of the inner chamber where Rosa resided, Jin felt gazes from all directions. The cadets all looked at him with admiration, the Guardian Knights with astonishment, and the Flagbearers with contempt.
‘Mother and my other siblings probably think I succeeded in the mission with someone else's help.’
Let them think what they want.
Jin had no intention of clearing up the misunderstanding for the time being. He could reveal the fact that he was a magic swordsman contracted with Solderet once he had gained enough power.
As soon as he returned to his room, Gilly pulled Jin into a hug. Feeling the wetness of her tears on his cheek, Jin realized just how much she had worried about him.
"It's okay, Gilly. I'm strong. Soon, even you won't be able to beat me."
"If something had happened to you, Young Master, this nanny would have given her life to take revenge on the young ladies."
"Whoa, Strawberry Pie. Why so scary? You're far too hot-tempered. Isn't it better that everything turned out well?"
"More importantly, Gilly, wait a second. Murakan, look at this."
Jin took out the bio-golem heart he had brought in a glass jar.
"A bio-golem heart. You're lucky, kid. The fact that it's still perfectly intact means the experiment was a failure. Did you find this in the Colon Ruins?"
"Suddenly, two warehouse guards turned into monsters and attacked me. They kept regenerating no matter where I cut them, but when I pierced their hearts, this came out."
As Jin explained the situation, Gilly’s face turned pale, while Murakan calmly explained what bio-golems and forbidden magic were.
‘First a Grave Giant, and now a bio-golem? Those Zipple bastards… what on earth are they up to?’
Murakan shook his head.
"Anyway, if what you say is true, this is Zipple's handiwork. Since you said the Colon Ruins are Zipple territory."
"Exactly."
"We need to make time soon and go back there together. I need to ask those bastards what's going on to be sure."
While the bio-golems made him hesitant to return, being with Murakan would be incomparably safer than his last mission.
‘If things go well, I might be able to find the Mirror and the Well of Mana then. Even if something happens there again, the Zipples will have to keep it hidden because of the forbidden magic anyway.’
Jin nodded.