Chapter 87: Defeat Alisa! (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 87: Defeat Alisa! (3)
September 22, 1795.
The Black Sea, an unprotected region on the eastern edge of the continent.
Three days had passed since Khan, a Guardian Knight of Runcandel, arrived here. For three days, he hadn't slept a wink, cutting down nearly five hundred monsters in that time.
Even the weakest monsters in the Black Sea were incomparably stronger and more dangerous than those in protected zones. They were steeped in high-purity demonic energy from birth. The Black Sea was a place where even a knight of Khan's caliber couldn't afford a single moment of carelessness, or death would be certain.
Slash, slash!
His face was a mask of indifference as he carved through the monsters, but the dark circles under his eyes betrayed his exhaustion.
An unusual number of monsters seemed to be swarming him this time.
‘I’m starting to get incredibly curious… what exactly is written in that letter?’
Khan endured this ordeal for one reason: to deliver Casimir’s letter to Cyron. It was the first letter to arrive since the secret address had been provided.
‘It’s likely about the Youngest Young Master’s growth… but it’s only been a month since he returned to Tikan. Could he have grown so much in just a month that it warrants a report to the Patriarch?’
It was a point Khan couldn't help but question.
Even Khan himself, who had been called a "monster" by his peers during his cadet days, remembered struggling to break through the 5-star wall.
‘Surely he hasn't reached 6-star already? Sigh… I wish the Patriarch would share the contents with me.’
With those thoughts, Khan spent another five hours slaughtering monsters before he finally encountered Cyron, who was sitting in a meditative posture in the middle of the Black Sea, as he always was.
“Patriarch, it is Guardian Knight Khan.”
Cyron, who had sensed his presence long ago, slowly opened his eyes. As Khan offered a disciplined sword salute, Cyron swept a hand through the air.
At his gesture, the massive monsters lurking nearby, which had been holding their breath, scrambled to hide. They scurried into their burrows like insects fleeing the light.
It was a display worthy of a Creation Knight's dignity.
In truth, Cyron was desperately suppressing his glee.
‘News of the youngest…!’
Khan handed over the letter with extreme politeness.
“This is the letter from Casimir that arrived ten days ago. I made my way here as fast as I could, but the monsters were more aggressive than usual, causing a slight delay.”
Cyron took the letter, a look of displeasure crossing his face.
‘I'll have to clear out the monsters near the entrance tomorrow. If not for them, I would've gotten this a day sooner.’
Crinkle.
Cyron flicked his finger, slicing the seal. The letter was quite thick.
Like an old man discovering a childhood diary, Cyron began to read each word slowly, savoring it.
[To the esteemed Sir Cyron Runcandel,
I am overcome with emotion, lamenting that mere words cannot express the honor I feel as a humble knight of a small city, daring to put pen to paper and address you.
How is the weather there in the Garden of Swords?
Here in the Free City of Tikan, it is night. The stars embedded in the velvet night sky seem to sing of your greatness, Sir Cyron.
Once again.
You have granted me, Casimir Alfrion, a mere swordsman, the opportunity to enjoy such an honor. I offer my deepest, most heartfelt gratitude. With every character I write, I shall pour my passion and sincerity into this letter, hoping to satisfy you, Sir Cyron…]
Cyron’s brow twitched.
‘I felt this last time, too. This fellow has a few screws loose… Why is the introduction so long?’
Though thoroughly annoyed, he exercised the patience of a Creation Knight and turned to the next page.
However, the next page was also plastered with long-winded pleasantries. Even by the third page, there wasn't a single mention of Jin.
“Sigh.”
When Cyron let out a heavy sigh and shook his head, Khan felt as if he were the one who had committed a crime.
‘The Patriarch… is angry. Did something happen to Young Master Jin?’
But the moment he flipped to the fourth page, Cyron’s entire face brightened. His eyes grew gentle, and a faint smile played on his lips.
“Ho ho.”
He even let out a low chuckle.
Khan had served Cyron for nearly twenty years, but this was the first time he had seen him like this. Ever since Luna declared she had no interest in the Runcandel throne, Cyron had always been cold toward his children.
Naturally, Khan was dying of curiosity. What incredible achievement could Young Master Jin have possibly managed to elicit such a reaction?
“Khan.”
“Yes, Patriarch.”
“It says here the youngest is getting beaten up by Casimir's wife every day. Hahaha! By the time this was written, he'd already sparred with her forty times and lost every single one.”
Khan doubted his own ears.
Normally, Cyron would have clicked his tongue in disgust at such incompetence. His joyful reaction was utterly baffling.
“He has lost quite a lot.”
“In the first duel, he was defeated in three moves. The second, five. By the seventh duel, he lasted ten moves. By the twentieth, twenty-five. And by the thirtieth, he managed to hold out for forty moves.”
“If the Young Master is using his magic and spiritual energy, it's understandable that he could last that long against a 7-star knight. Especially in consistent spars against the same person.”
As one of Cyron’s most cherished and trusted confidants, Khan was aware of Jin’s secrets. He was a man who would take those secrets to his grave, even if Cyron were to cast him out for no reason.
“Indeed. But do you know what happened in the fortieth duel?”
“What happened?”
“He lasted over one hundred and twenty moves. He broke through a wall—gained enlightenment.”
While it was impressive for a 5-star to achieve such results against a 7-star in a short period, it was still a feat Khan could comprehend, as it wasn't accomplished with swordsmanship alone.
However, Khan’s pupils dilated as Cyron continued.
“And it turns out Casimir’s wife, Alisa Badger, is a veteran of the Viment Special Task Force's Unit 2. Ho ho, how can I not laugh at this? She must be rusty after so long in retirement, but the boy is still commendable.”
The Viment Special Task Force.
Khan was well aware of their reputation, especially the martial prowess of Unit 2, whose primary mission was to protect the Imperial Family.
“…If she is from Special Task Force Unit 2, then she is certainly not an opponent the Young Master could handle with mere luck or tricks. Congratulations, Patriarch.”
“It’s too early for congratulations. He hasn't defeated her yet. Casimir said he gave him six months to try and defeat her.”
“If he maintains this momentum, it seems possible he could do it even sooner.”
“If this boy were the eldest, I would have left the clan without any lingering regrets. Khan, what do you think of the youngest?”
“I share your opinion, Patriarch. If he had been born first, Young Master Joshua’s position would belong to Young Master Jin right now.”
“That is not what I meant.”
Khan flinched and looked at Cyron.
“Could it be… you mean as a successor?”
Cyron nodded.
Khan was shocked, but not because of Jin’s age—he was only fifteen.
‘This is the first time the Patriarch has directly mentioned the succession…!’
Cyron had never once designated a successor. While he had subtly shown expectations for a few of his children, including Luna, this was the first time he had expressed it so blatantly.
Everyone simply assumed Joshua was the next Patriarch because Luna had stepped down; Cyron had never personally appointed him. The same was true for the other candidates: Mary, Dipus, and Luntia.
After taking a moment to compose himself, Khan spoke.
“I feel he is still too young and needs to be observed further. While he is certainly growing at a dazzling pace, I cannot definitively say he is suitable as the successor at this moment.”
“Why do you think so?”
“He lacks cold-bloodedness. Risking himself to save a novice cadet during his training days speaks to his nature. I judge him to be kind, but soft-hearted.”
“You're right. Unlike Joshua, the youngest has shown a weakness for sentimentality on several occasions. What do you think he would become if he were to cut all of that away?”
“If necessary… if he becomes cold enough to even eliminate Lady Luna, and if he maintains this level of growth, he would be more than suitable.”
Cyron gave a satisfied smile.
“Yes. That is Runcandel. You may leave now.”
“Yes, Patriarch.”
Despite having slaughtered monsters for three days straight without rest, Khan didn't hesitate. He turned and began to head back the way he came.
Once he left Cyron's domain, another three days of high-stakes slaughter awaited him.
Just before drawing his sword, Khan had a thought.
‘Perhaps the Patriarch was smiling because he expects Young Master Jin to transcend the shackles of Runcandel.’
*
Mid-November, 1795.
Before they knew it, over three months had passed since Jin and Alisa began their sparring.
Now, Jin no longer pre-cast his magic before meeting Alisa.
“Whew! Young Master Jin. Today was a close one, even for me,” Alisa said, wiping her brow. She had just knocked Jin down in their ninety-fifth duel.
“Haha, you said the same thing yesterday. This makes ninety-five losses. It’s depressing…”
“The small differences have piled up. Now, it takes a full fifteen minutes of fighting before we can determine a winner. Anyway, you’re going to do that before heading in today too, right?”
“Yes. Please go ahead, Lady Alisa.”
Alisa shook her head, feigning exasperation.
For the past week, Jin would only leave the training ground after their spar was over and he had completed ten thousand vertical swings.
Ten thousand times.
‘Manifesting will through the sword…’
A state only achievable if the first of ten thousand swings was identical to the last. Having grown through his duels with Alisa, Jin could now perform three thousand identical swings, even in his exhausted state.
‘Physical strength isn't the point. Whether I'm exhausted or in peak condition, what matters is that the will I pour into the sword remains constant.’
As Jin took his stance to begin his vertical swing training, Alisa walked outside.
‘Sigh, I never imagined he’d start catching up this quickly. But seeing that hellish training regimen… I can’t even feel my pride being hurt.’
After watching Jin’s vertical swings for a while, Alisa quietly closed the training ground door for him.
“He’s certainly a man who deserves his strength.”
And the next day, something she never expected happened.