Chapter 83: Meeting Cyron (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 83: Meeting Cyron (3)
Fsssh...
In the silence, dust that had been a door only moments ago drifted quietly through the air.
‘I’ve heard of this before. That my father’s swordplay has reached a realm where it can completely annihilate its target.’
While the presence of dust meant it wasn't total annihilation, the swordsmanship Cyron had just displayed was undoubtedly transcendent.
Furthermore, he wasn't even holding a sword. Only the lingering glow of aura at his fingertips remained—a trace of the temporary aura sword he had formed.
To an outsider, the disappearance of the door would have looked like a terrifying threat. To Jin, however, it felt like a gift.
‘He showed me something close to the ultimate end of the sword.’
Cyron stared down at Jin with wide eyes. This time, even Jin found it difficult to gauge the exact reason for his father’s expression.
‘Hmm... Did I choose the wrong greeting? Well, seeing as my head hasn't rolled yet, I suppose it wasn't too bad.’
Meanwhile, Cyron was being swept up in a rather peculiar emotion.
He remained silent for five long minutes, a stretch of time that made Jin’s throat feel bone-dry from the tension.
The reason was...
‘I believe this is the first time I’ve ever heard one of my children say they missed me.’
It was true.
Though he had fathered thirteen children, Cyron was a father in name only. He had never once built a rapport or a bond with any of them.
In Runcandel, child-rearing was entirely the responsibility of nannies. As soon as the children turned one and completed the Selection Ceremony, they were sent to the Storm Castle in the Mitel Kingdom to spend their childhood.
By the time they returned to the Garden of Swords at age ten, they were invariably terrified of both Cyron and Rosa.
This was because, during their lessons and upbringing at the Storm Castle, they came to a realization: their parents were more than just family—they were the absolute rulers of this massive clan. They were the power players who held the world in their palms, and they would ruthlessly discard even their own flesh and blood if they failed to produce results.
Naturally, in such an environment, neither Cyron nor Rosa expected to hear words like "I missed you" from their children.
What mattered to them was which child would become the next Patriarch, and who would inherit Cyron’s prestige to become the world’s strongest swordsman.
‘...It’s not half bad.’
It had been a very long time since he had indulged in such sentiment.
Looking back, ever since he reached the realm of a demigod, it was always his youngest son who managed to stir even the slightest ripple in his heart.
‘Moving your father’s heart is commendable, but that alone is far from enough. Very well, let’s hear what you’ve brought me.’
The corners of Cyron’s mouth twitched upward ever so slightly.
“You came because you missed me... It seems you’ve developed some lukewarm familial affection after getting a taste of the outside world. That was not what I expected from you.”
It was definitely not a negative reaction.
Confident in that assessment, Jin bowed his head and decided to push the lie a little further.
“It’s not because I’ve tasted the world outside. I’ve always liked you, Father.”
Cyron suppressed the urge to burst out laughing and instead released a surge of killing intent. The air in the study became as sharp as a blade.
With every breath, Jin felt as if needles were being driven into his lungs. He gritted his teeth and maintained eye contact with Cyron.
“Enough with the nonsense. Tell me why you’ve returned to the clan. Your sister’s fate and your own will be decided by your answer.”
He was serious.
If Jin spoke of anything trivial, Cyron was truly prepared to strike his head from his shoulders. He would then erase the boy from his heart just as quickly.
Just as he had cut down his own brothers and comrades before becoming the Patriarch.
“Andrei Zipple, the Vice-Patriarch of Zipple whom you insulted at the banquet, is dead.”
“What? Are you claiming you killed him?”
“No, Elder Sister Luna cut him down a few days ago. I was the one who called her. Will you permit me to report on all I have experienced since becoming a reserve flagbearer?”
“How audacious... A reserve flagbearer receiving help from Luna, of all people. Continue.”
Cyron stroked his beard, looking intrigued. For the next several minutes, Jin recounted the events of his travels between Akin, Tikan, and Viment.
Of course, he didn't disclose everything. He omitted his suspicions about Spider-Hand Alu having ties to Runcandel, as well as the Rune of Mul-ta, Chenmi’s Magic Tome, and his alliance with the Seven-Colored Bird.
“You’ve experienced quite a lot in a short time. So, you came to inform me of Andrei Zipple’s death? Expecting that the balance of power would shift now that Zipple’s second-in-command is gone?”
“That is not all, Father. Furthermore, from what I saw personally, I do not believe Andrei was the true second-in-command.”
Cyron raised an eyebrow.
“Oh? And why do you think that?”
“A man of that caliber could not possibly be the Vice-Patriarch of the only family capable of rivaling Runcandel. It is merely a hunch, however.”
“Your intuition is sharp. As you said, he was merely the Vice-Patriarch; he could not be called the true second-in-command. The real power second only to Kelliark is someone else entirely. Though that is not information I am ready to share with you yet.”
“I am grateful that you have confirmed my instincts. Father, what I truly wanted to inform you of was the existence of a strange artifact Andrei was using.”
“An artifact?”
“Yes. An artifact he called the ‘Demon God Stone.’”
Jin then began to explain the Demon God Stone—how it was an imitation of the gods' ‘Origin Stones’ and how it grew stronger the more it consumed its contractor.
To Jin’s surprise, Cyron looked quite shocked, his eyes widening.
“An imitation of an Origin Stone... Is this the truth? There is no way you would have known its effects the moment you saw it. I assume your guardian dragon, Murakan, told you of it.”
“Yes, my guardian dragon... Wait, you knew he had awakened?”
Jin flinched and looked up at Cyron.
“Is that all? I also know that you use magic. Surely you didn't think you could deceive me?”
“I suspected you might know, but I didn't realize you were aware of Murakan’s presence as well.”
“Hahaha!”
Cyron suddenly burst into boisterous laughter. In truth, he had wanted to laugh at his youngest son’s cleverness for a while now, but the mention of Murakan made it impossible to hold back any longer.
“I was merely guessing about Murakan’s awakening! But seeing you spill the beans so readily is quite refreshing. Nabi Runcandel? Pfft... To think the great Black Dragon has been reduced to a mere house cat!”
Jin was too embarrassed to join in the laughter.
He felt completely exposed, his earlobes burning hot, but he couldn't exactly tell Cyron to stop laughing. Left with no choice, Jin simply scratched the back of his head.
‘Is Nabi Runcandel really that funny? Regardless, the flow is good...’
Snap.
The moment Cyron stopped laughing, Jin straightened his posture. The jovial atmosphere vanished instantly, replaced once again by a heavy, rock-like tension.
“An imitation of an Origin Stone. You have indeed brought back a significant lead. I shall have to speak with Luna, who broke it herself.”
Cyron already knew very well what an Origin Stone was.
‘I wonder if the Kings of the Black Sea know of this. I’ll have to return there. That power is certainly dangerous... though I don't know to what extent Zipple has implemented it.’
The Black Sea—the place where Cyron spent most of his time after reaching the realm of a demigod. He had clashed with the Kings of the Black Sea several times, and each of them was a ‘fragment’ of an Origin Stone.
“I shall pardon your violation of the laws this once. But a boy like you wouldn't be satisfied with just that. Not when you came all this way to tell me in person instead of sending a letter.”
As Jin bowed, Cyron gave a faint smile.
“Tell me one thing you desire.”
Everything had gone perfectly. Cyron had offered a reward before Jin even had to propose a deal.
However, Jin knew better.
‘Father is not the type to give something away for free. He will surely attach a condition once I state my request...!’
He had to think carefully. If he asked for something too big, the condition would be equally difficult. But he couldn't just back down either, not when it was Cyron sitting at the negotiating table.
“Please ensure that no other Runcandels are allowed to enter the Free City of Tikan for the time being.”
“Tikan? Now that is an interesting request.”
A strange light flickered in Cyron’s eyes.
‘Oho, my youngest. It seems he’s already established a base of operations? The Free City of Tikan...’
True to its name, Tikan was a land that belonged to no one—not Runcandel, Zipple, nor Viment. At the same time, it was a territory all three powers kept an eye on. While it lacked great military strength or vast resources, capturing Tikan meant gaining the Seven-Colored Bird’s intelligence network and a major trade hub all at once.
In a sense, it was a minor prize—not worth starting a war over, yet too precious to simply ignore.
‘If the youngest has a base there, the possibility of Tikan becoming a Runcandel influence in the future increases. There’s no way this whelp has already charmed Casimir, the real power of Tikan... Let’s see where this goes.’
Cyron hid his pride and continued.
“I will grant it, provided you pass a test.”
“Yes, Father. Please tell me what the test is.”
“Ghost Sword Casimir. Make him your man and prove it to me. If you succeed, no Runcandel shall set foot on Tikan soil without your permission.”
Jin, momentarily doubting his ears, cheered inwardly.
Casimir was already his man.
“Yes, Father. I was already planning to build a relationship with him. Tikan is too valuable a place to leave alone.”
While other reserve flagbearers were only concerned with building their own reputations, Cyron found it fascinating that Jin was already looking toward expanding the clan’s influence.
“The time limit is one year. That arrogant fellow has turned down the position of instructor for Runcandel’s beginner cadets multiple times... I shall see if you, my youngest, can charm him.”
“I will bring him before you shortly.”
“You may leave.”
Jin bowed and exited the study. He almost hummed a tune the moment he stepped out.
‘In my past life, nothing ever went my way, but in this life, everything feels so easy.’
As he descended the stairs, hiding his expression, he saw two boys rushing toward him.
“M-Maknae! Are you okay...!?”
“Did Father say he’d let you live? Why on earth did you cause such a scene!”
It was the Tona brothers, who had been worrying about their youngest brother’s life ever since the incident occurred. Terrified of their other siblings, they hadn't dared to step outside and had spent the whole time biting their nails in their room.
“You know, you two can be quite cute sometimes. I’m fine. By the way, brothers, I’m going to need you to do me a favor.”