Episode 128
Chapter 42: Taimun Marius (1)
In the Hupester Federation, magical crimes are met with severe punishment. Especially, serial murders committed through high-level magic are considered the gravest offenses.
That’s why the prince himself was leading the knights in pursuit of the suspect.
Dangerous tasks are always for the most precious to take on first. This was one of the core values emphasized by the current king, who had won the civil war against the royalist faction twenty years ago.
“I am Laika Delki, third prince of Delki! Drop your weapons, all of you!”
The prince shouted, having spotted both Kuzan and Beris.
‘Damn it, right now of all times…! I was just about to finish that bastard off!’
Kuzan glanced back and forth between Jin and the prince’s forces. Jin was in attack stance but was barely conscious, gasping for breath.
Behind Kuzan, Beris was convulsing, caught in a reflux, completely unaware of the approaching knights.
Gritting his teeth, Kuzan thought,
‘I will find you again and kill you for sure!’
As Kuzan turned away, cradling Beris, archers opened fire. Meanwhile, the knights rushed Jin, knocking him down and subduing him.
Even as he fell, Jin couldn’t utter a single groan. His entire body had gone numb; he felt no pain.
Laika dismounted and pulled back Jin’s hood.
‘Hah, this boy is definitely…!?’
Jin Runkandel.
Laika clearly remembered his face from last year’s Runkandel banquet. Swallowing hard, he confirmed Jin’s identity once more.
“The culprits are those two…”
Jin whispered, squeezing out his last strength.
Turning quickly, Laika saw Kuzan carrying Beris and fleeing. Despite the archers’ shots, they were already putting considerable distance between themselves and the knights.
“After them! And healers, tend to this man immediately!”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
With a sudden jolt, Jin sat up, scanning his surroundings.
“You’re awake?”
It was Laika.
“This is my private villa, Your Highness. Considering your current status, I chose a place where no one would intrude. You woke up after three hours.”
“Three hours?”
“Count yourself lucky to be alive. The healers said the poison used on you was so potent that even an 8-star warrior would struggle to survive it. If you weren’t Runkandel, you’d be dead.”
Kuzan and Beris.
They were the strongest opponents Jin had ever faced one-on-one. Surviving Kuzan’s poison was nothing short of a miracle.
Had Laika arrived even a moment later, Jin wouldn’t have made it.
“What happened to them?”
“They escaped. I don’t know how you managed to wound that monster so badly, but he fled, carrying the woman, and lost all my knights.”
Laika knew Jin’s power was rated 5 stars. Even injured, Kuzan was a foe beyond the knights’ ability to handle.
‘Even if Jin’s strength rose to 6 stars since the official announcement, matching that man would be impossible.’
That’s why Laika believed someone else had been on the scene.
“First, I must thank you, Prince Laika.”
“It’s only natural for Hupester’s knights to save Runkandel in danger. You’re a trainee knight, but…”
“If you plan to report this to your family…”
Jin met Laika’s gaze.
“No, I won’t. I’d probably be killed if I did. You haven’t been a trainee knight for long, but it seems you’ve already built a solid power base.”
“Huh?”
“As soon as we brought the unconscious prince here, powerful figures started scouring eastern Delki like a storm. If I acted clumsily just because you’re a trainee knight, I’d lose my head.”
Jin smiled awkwardly without replying.
‘So Tikan’s comrades were looking for me? For Prince Laika to be this deferential… I feel so sorry for both my comrades and the prince.’
“I’m sorry, Prince Laika. I caused you trouble.”
“Not at all, Your Highness. Considering your situation, we’ll keep this matter strictly confidential.”
The true master of the Hupester Federation was the Runkandel family.
No matter his royal blood, Laika could never outrank Jin.
“But when you become a full knight, I have a favor to ask. I think that’s a reasonable request, right? After all, I saved your life and gave you exceptional assistance.”
From his tone, Jin could read Laika’s intentions.
Laika wasn’t holding Jin’s weakness over him just because he feared the powerful men searching for Jin.
“You want something from me. Speak, Prince Laika.”
“When you become a knight, please send more guardian knights to Delki. And return a small share of the Delki gold mine owned by Runkandel.”
Jin smiled.
“You’re valuing my life very cheaply. When I become a knight, I’ll return all shares of the Delki gold mine owned by Runkandel. And I’ll double the number of guardian knights you have now. Give me a piece of paper—I’ll write it out myself.”
Laika’s eyes sparkled.
“Y-You’d really do that?”
“There will be nothing I can’t do in Hupester in the future.”
After finishing the contract and leaving the villa, Laika couldn’t help but tremble with joy.
‘What a windfall! Thanks to the serial killer, I’ve finally made a proper connection with Runkandel’s rising star. And he even agreed to sign a contract… The heavens must truly be watching over us Delki!’
“Master!”
“Kid!”
Gilly, Murakan, and the others jumped up to greet Jin as he returned.
“How long has it been since the chaos in Colon? Why do you keep scaring me like this, Master? If you died, I… For hours, I felt like I was in hell until I knew you were alive.”
“Fighting alone against 8-star knights and mages? You’re getting too strong too fast—you’ve lost all sense of caution. I heard that if it weren’t for Prince Delki, you’d be dead.”
“Everyone was so worried. As soon as Zett came back alone, even Quikantel disguised himself and went to Delki to look for you.”
When Jin heard Quikantel’s name, he immediately understood why Laika said, ‘If I reported this, I’d be dead.’
“I’m sorry, everyone. It won’t happen again. But if I’d lost Den there, we’d never have found any information on Taimun. And running from those guys seemed impossible.”
“Oh dear, oh dear! My lord! You’ve returned!”
Zett’s face was swollen from beatings he’d taken for abandoning Jin, making Jin feel embarrassed by comparison.
“Zett, you didn’t lose Den, did you?”
“My lord, even if I died, I was determined to send him to Tikan. I completed your orders. Den and his daughter are safe! Whose lives did I risk to save them?”
“Well done!”
Jin grabbed Zett’s shoulder and shouted. After all that, if Zett had lost Den, everything would have been for nothing.
“Even though I explained I ran because of orders, they still beat me up so badly!”
“Alright, alright. You did well. Did Den Marius say anything while I was gone?”
“No, Your Highness. He said he wouldn’t speak until you arrived. And I’m sorry—my informants failed to realize there were twelve Marius siblings, almost causing you trouble…”
“Don’t say that, Lord Kashimir. Bring Den here.”
A moment later, Den was dragged in, unable to meet Jin’s eyes. Everyone except Jin glared at him as if ready to kill.
“Enough talk, Den Marius. I nearly lost my life trying to save you and your daughter. Now it’s your turn to pay the price.”
“W-What about Beris and Kuzan… are they dead?”
“No. What are those two? Unlike your other siblings, they’re real powerhouses.”
Den trembled but met Jin’s gaze with resolve.
“Beris and Kuzan are hunting dogs who continued training even after the Moon Sacrifice was sealed, unlike us.”
“Who trained them?”
“Taimun Marius… the one who now serves as a nanny in Runkandel herself.”
Gilly gasped, covering her mouth.
Though she knew nothing of the curse’s details, the fact that Taimun raised Kuzan and Beris was shocking.
According to Den, the ones who attacked Jin were Taimun’s minions. And for Runkandel’s own servants to attack Runkandel—that was unthinkable.
Treason of the highest order.
If the family found out, not only Taimun but everyone connected to her would be executed. Even the other servants of Runkandel who were close to Taimun—none would be spared.
“That one, huh? Your other brother, Tagan Marius, mentioned her too. That ‘one’ must be Taimun, right?”
“Tagan… was he also eliminated by Beris and Kuzan like the others? I haven’t heard from him in a long time since he left Delki.”
“No, I killed Tagan.”
“Excuse me…?”
“Tagan used the name Alura. Before he died by my hand, he said ‘that one’ failed once but would eventually kill me. Den Marius, my name is Jin Runkandel.”
“Hah.”
“If the person Tagan mentioned was also referring to Taimun like you did, then that means she tried to kill Runkandel.”
This time, Zett’s eyes went wide. He had just learned for the first time that Jin was Runkandel.
Runkandel? Nari was Runkandel? I almost blurted it out without thinking, but thankfully, I kept my mouth shut.
“W-wait a minute. Are you saying Tagan really said something like that before he died?”
“Yes. That’s why I traced his past, and through that, I found out the surname Marius and learned about the Sacrifice of the Moon. Then, when I came looking for you, I found you being attacked by Veris and Kuzan. You were lucky to be discovered by me before they got to you.”
As Jin explained everything in detail, Den took a deep breath, his face clouded with confusion.
“…Now I’m starting to understand why Veris and Kuzan were eliminating our brothers. About fifteen years ago, when Tagan left Delki, he said something to me.”
Jin’s eyes flickered with interest.
“What did he say?”
“Taimun made some kind of deal with a high-ranking Runkandel. He warned me to be careful because if things went wrong, all the brothers could be killed. I think it was out of affection that he told me that.”
“Did you ever hear exactly what the deal was?”
“No, I didn’t. After the Sacrifice of the Moon was sealed off, the rest of us brothers, including me, were basically abandoned. Only Tagan occasionally took young Kuzan and Veris to meet with Taimun.”
“So, if what you say is true, Tagan was Taimun’s right hand. At least during that time.”
“Yes… that’s right.”
Den couldn’t get any more information than that.
Now, it was time to meet Taimun Marius.