Chapter 155
Episode 53: The Prize (Part 1)
After mastering Swordsmanship at 7 stars, Magic at 7 stars, and Spirit Energy at 5 stars,
it seemed Jin was about to gain a body immune to all poisons. Though he hadn’t yet taken the full dose of the Ten-Thousand-Poison Elixir.
“When exactly are these guys planning to leave?”
It had already been two days since Jin, Veradin, and Dante left Samil. But Veradin and Dante showed no sign of letting Jin go.
“Isn’t it about time we parted ways…?”
“What are you talking about? Finding you was a nightmare, and it only got worse after we did. If you have any conscience, you’ll hang out with us a few more days before you go.”
“Veradin’s right.”
“You two aren’t the next heads of your families? Isn’t this a time you can’t afford to waste even a day?”
“No, I’m pretty secure in my family’s standing. Even if I slack off, I’m almost guaranteed to be the next head. And Dante’s already confirmed. Do you know how much Lord Ron Hyland values him?”
Dante cleared his throat awkwardly.
“Yeah, I know that much. But unlike you two, I have to work my tail off. I need to rack up achievements while I’m still a candidate.”
“You just killed Kidard Hall recently. That should count for a lot.”
“Well, I didn’t kill Kidard Hall.”
“Oh, come on. Stop denying it.”
“Looks like Jin has some complicated reasons he can’t explain, Veradin. Maybe it’s best not to press him.”
“You guys are always drawing lines with me!”
“Have you ever thought maybe it’s weird that you don’t draw any lines at all?”
“Besides, Dante says you’ve already reached 7 stars in Aura, right? You’re more than ready to become a Knight.”
“But if I become a Knight now, won’t I have less time to spend with you? Though it’s already too little as it is.”
Over the past two days with Veradin and Dante, Jin had realized one thing: no matter how the conversation flowed, they somehow only said what they wanted to say.
“Just because your Aura is at 7 stars doesn’t mean you’re a true 7-star Knight. Swordsmanship is what really matters.”
“I’ve heard your swordsmanship is even better than an average 7-star Knight. Right, Dante?”
“That’s right. It showed in the arena too. Honestly, I don’t get why Jin’s still a candidate. Your third older sister, Lady Mary Runcandel, became a Knight at 19 with 6 stars, didn’t she?”
As Dante said, the Runcandel children usually became Knights around 6 or 7 stars. Only after becoming Knights did they start mastering the Runcandel family’s secret techniques, known as the ‘Decisive Arts,’ and truly begin their growth.
The ‘Decisive Arts’ were legendary among all martial families, unmatched in power.
“I don’t have the reputation Mary has. As a swordsman, Jin Gray is still unknown.”
In truth, reputation was something Jin could build in a few months if he wanted. But he had only five years, given by Sir Siron, to become a complete Magic Swordsman. He couldn’t explain that to them, so he gave a vague excuse.
“Oh, so that’s part of why you came to Samil—to spread the rumor that the young swordsman Jin Gray survived in the assassins’ sanctuary.”
“Exactly.”
“Want me to help?”
“What?”
“Who am I? Veradin Zipple. When we get back, I’ll make sure our family newsletters run stories about this. That something like this happened in Samil.”
“Then I’ll help too. I’ll ask the newsletters indebted to Hyland. You must want to become a Knight as soon as possible.”
“No thanks. Don’t.”
Jin cut them off sharply, but they quickly pulled out another card.
“Or how about this: why don’t you come adventuring with us? Dante and I will hide our identities completely and just support you. Like your pack mules.”
“Oh! That’s a brilliant idea. The three of us together could crush any den of evil. And if all the credit goes to Jin, your fame will grow even faster.”
“And every time, we’ll get the newsletters to run stories titled, ‘Jin Gray and His Pack Mules: Defenders of Justice.’”
“Then we should start by hunting down some big villains!”
“There are plenty! The Kings of Mamit, Jack Glow the Mad Dog of Western Bimont, remnants of the Dark Magic Council, the Fallen Knight Hirok of Vankela, the Red Wolf Tribe’s assault captain Phanta…”
“The thought of the three of us setting off to take down those wicked scoundrels already makes my heart race.”
Ignoring Jin’s wishes, they excitedly spun their fantasies aloud.
“What a mess.”
Jin was speechless but didn’t mind watching these two fools.
“By the way, you mentioned some perfect villains to gain experience. Most of those names are ancient evils I’d almost forgotten.”
The villains Veradin named were mostly mid- to high-level threats. They avoided mentioning the era’s top-tier mages, as even massive factions wouldn’t dare challenge them.
Jin shook his head silently.
“You guys are just playing around. If a novel about the three of us adventuring ever comes out, let me know. I’ll buy a copy.”
“You mean you won’t do it?”
“Of course not.”
“Adventure, adventure! Don’t you have any romance?”
“My life’s already full of romance and adventure.”
“Ugh…!”
“Jin, this time I won’t back down. I really want to do this!”
Jin sighed inwardly.
They’d been pestering him like this for two days straight.
“Once they get an idea in their heads, they never give up.”
That much was clear just from the fact they came all the way to Samil looking for him.
Fortunately, Jin was slowly learning how to handle them.
“I get where you’re coming from, but not right now.”
He deliberately emphasized ‘right now.’
“Not right now?”
“So you’re saying maybe later?”
They’d taken the bait.
Jin smiled slyly and met their eyes.
“Yeah. Honestly, I don’t mind hanging out with you guys. But I have my reasons. Actually, I have a prior engagement and need to get back soon. You’ve already made the person I’m meeting wait two days.”
Of course, there was no prior engagement. The only ones waiting for Jin were his comrades in Tikan.
“Who and what kind of engagement?”
“That’s too personal, Veradin. Respect my privacy. Anyway, adventure can wait.”
“When later?”
“I’ll write.”
“To where?”
Jin felt like an uncle entertaining his nephews. Kids can be placated with vague promises, but these were nineteen-year-old boys.
“Give me your address.”
Veradin immediately scribbled an address on a note and handed it over.
“It’s my villa. Nothing that happens there is monitored or interfered with by the family.”
“I don’t have a villa like that.”
“If a letter comes for Jin, I’ll be sure to contact Dante too. Don’t worry. Since it’s come to this, let’s use this villa as our hideout. I’ll tell the butler your names so you can come anytime.”
Veradin’s villa was surprisingly on an uninhabited island in the Western Sea. He’d bought it deliberately under the influence of the Hidden Palace to avoid family surveillance.
Though his position as the next family head was solid, Veradin still faced opposition from siblings and rival factions. That’s why he had this secret place.
“Are you sure it’s okay to tell me all this?”
“You wouldn’t snitch to my siblings, right? Just like I wouldn’t report to yours that Jin Runcandel is hanging out with us.”
A subtle warning.
Jin shrugged and pocketed the note.
“Well, fair enough. So, are we done? I have to leave today.”
“Where are you going? I gave you a hideout, and if you call, Dante and I are ready to come running anytime.”
Veradin and Dante didn’t know Jin was staying in Tikan.
“You’re not completely heartless. With Zipple’s power, it wouldn’t have been hard to find where I live.”
“I know we can’t be close. Especially you and me. If I used the family’s power to find info on you, I’d lose my autonomy. Then I wouldn’t be able to meet you, or if I did, I’d be pressured to fight to the death.”
“A sad reality… Actually, my grandfather doesn’t even know I’m close with Jin. He only knows I have some unnamed friend.”
Seeing the two grow suddenly gloomy made Jin feel a bit guilty.
“Alright, since you’re so insistent, I’ll buy you a beer to celebrate our new hideout before I leave.”
After drinking their fill, Jin finally returned to Tikan at night.
As always, his comrades greeted him warmly. But Kashimir, who had left for the Black Sea at Sir Siron’s summons, had not yet returned.
“He must be having a tough time in the Black Sea. Knowing my father’s personality, he probably didn’t send any friendly guides.”
Jin first sought out Quikantel.
He had to thank her first this time.
“Thank you, Lady Quikantel. Thanks to you, I returned safely.”
“Oh, no need to be so formal. Did you make any progress in Samil? Hey! Is that… the Ten-Thousand-Poison Elixir?”
When Jin pulled the elixir from his pocket, Quikantel jumped up, shouting in surprise.
“I wanted to show it to you first before taking it, Quikantel.”
“My goodness. How on earth did you get your hands on that? They say those guys consider the Silver Dragon’s Claw a sacred relic, but there’s no way they would’ve just traded it away.”
As Jin recounted everything he’d been through in Samil in detail, Quikantel just blinked in astonishment.
“The more I see you, the more incredible you become. Not only did you get your hands on the Venomous Wine, but you even managed to toy with the Nameless King himself… and you even got a chance to borrow his power.”
“None of that would have been possible without your claw, Quikantel. If I’d been empty-handed, I would’ve had to unleash all the hidden strength I’ve been holding back. Thanks to you, I avoided a real mess.”
“Heh, no need to thank me. I’m proud—my hundred years were put to very good use.”
“Hundred years?”
“That’s how long it takes for a claw to grow back.”
“Oh…”
Jin had thought it was a small price to pay, nothing too serious.
But to a dragon, a claw is no different from a human’s finger. Quikantel had essentially sacrificed one of his own fingers, just in case Jin didn’t make it out alive.
“To a human, a hundred years might as well be a lifetime, but to a dragon, it’s not that long. So don’t hold it against me. Now, hand over that Venomous Wine. I’ll refine it so it absorbs faster.”
“You’ve made too great a sacrifice because of me.”
“No, if it weren’t for you, Enya would’ve been dead long ago. That alone means I owe you more than you owe me. So don’t look at me with that guilty face, you brat.”
As Quikantel handled the Venomous Wine, Jin wondered why he was so deeply loved in this life.