Episode 17
Chapter 8. The Garden of Swords (2)
Veradin repaid his debt exactly as Jin had demanded.
He didn’t utter a single word until the moment the teleportation gate activated. Occasionally, he would sneak a glance at Jin, curious about what he was doing.
“Jin Runcandel… A few years from now, he’s going to shake the world up. Hm, I’m so curious! I want to talk more, but he told me to be quiet, so I guess I can’t.”
Veradin’s eyes sparkled with curiosity as he stole glances at Jin. Though they had only exchanged a few words, today’s encounter had left a strong impression on him.
There was even a hint of goodwill mixed in with his curiosity.
“If only he weren’t a Runcandel… we might have been good friends. I suppose I’ll have to settle for feeling like I’ve found a worthy rival. Maybe even a lifelong adversary!”
As Veradin let his youthful imagination run wild with a snort, Jin was thinking something quite different.
“Idolizing wizards before the regression? What a nuisance.”
Every time their eyes met, Veradin would blush and quickly look away.
“Judging by that flushed face and those eyes, he’s not exactly in his right mind. Hah, maybe I should’ve just chopped off a few fingers while I had the chance.”
With such an awkward gaze fixed on him, Jin couldn’t focus. He simply closed his notebook, petted Murakan, and waited for the teleportation gate to activate.
“Thank you for your patience. Teleportation will commence shortly. Due to the aftereffects, passengers may experience headaches or dizziness, so please…”
Vwoooosh!
The VIP waiting room began to glow with a deep blue magical energy. The soft, blooming magic enveloped both Jin’s group and Veradin’s.
“That was fun. Let’s meet again, Jin Runcandel!” Veradin called out excitedly. Since their paths would diverge immediately upon arrival, this was the only chance to say goodbye.
“Yeah, whatever.”
Jin didn’t even hear Veradin’s reply.
Veradin was teleported to the immigration checkpoint, while Jin, as a Runcandel, arrived at the VIP waiting room.
In Hupester, the Runcandel family wielded absolute power and sky-high prestige. In contrast, the Ziphl family were notorious villains, so the difference at immigration was stark.
Most of the world was divided between the influence of the Runcandel and Ziphl families. Few nations were free from their reach.
“Wheeeek, wheek…”
Pat pat!
Gilly, looking helpless, patted Murakan’s back.
“You really do all sorts of things. What kind of dragon are you…?”
“Wheugh, cough. Hah! In my day, there were no such devices. Ugh, my insides feel all twisted.”
The teleportation gate was developed by wizards about a hundred years ago.
Since the technology and devices were designed for humans, they weren’t exactly suited for dragons. Murakan, who had been retching for a while, finally took a deep breath as if feeling a bit better.
“Murakan-nim, are you alright?”
“I’m fine. It’s been a thousand years since I last threw up. Back then, there were idiots who used dragon vomit as perfume ingredients.”
“That’s still a thing. If you gave that to the nobles, they’d go crazy and pay you gold coins.”
“Oh? Still the same, huh? Strawberry pie, is there something you want? I could sell this…”
“Shut up, just throw it in the incinerator over there. There’ll be family members outside.”
Stepping outside the waiting room, they saw the quiet scene around the Hupester Federation’s teleportation gate.
Normally, even on weekdays, this place would be packed with people. But today, since the youngest Runcandel was arriving, extreme security measures were in place.
Clank, clatter!
A group of knights clad in ceremonial armor approached Jin’s party. They were the Runcandel’s guardian knights.
“We’ve been expecting you, Young Master. I am Petro, the second steward. It’s an honor to meet you.”
A middle-aged man standing among the knights spoke.
Jin’s group boarded the steel carriage prepared for them and headed toward the Garden of Swords.
The Garden of Swords.
A symbol of the Runcandel family.
True to its name, this vast garden seemed to have more swords planted in the ground than flowers or trees.
Thousands of swords belonged to deceased Runcandels or their vassals, but not every family member was granted the honor of planting their sword here.
It was a privilege reserved only for those who had contributed to the family’s prosperity.
As the carriage slowed upon entering the garden, Jin gazed out at the slowly passing swords and drifted into old memories.
“At one time, my greatest wish was to die and have my sword planted in this land.”
Why had he been so naive and foolish back then?
Had he faced reality sooner, the Jin of his previous life might have escaped the family earlier. After all, the “family disgrace” who only became a first-class knight at twenty-five would never have been given the chance to plant a sword here.
Why was he so naive and foolish?
He asked himself again, though he already knew the answer. Coming home was a chance to steel his resolve.
“Because I was weak. Weak, yet cunning enough not to take the initiative.”
Jin smiled faintly and closed his eyes.
With the swordsmanship talent regained through his contract with Solderet, his innate magical abilities, the cunning gained from living thirty-eight years, the guts earned from having died once, and the knowledge only a regressor could have—
Plus Gilly and Murakan, strong comrades who shared his secret. One of them was even a legendary black dragon.
“Yeah, this time, even in this miserable place, life will be worth living.”
This was just the beginning.
Though he had expected to be nervous before arriving, seeing the swords in the garden only filled him with confidence and fighting spirit.
“Chung!”
“Chung!”
As the carriage stopped in the center of the Garden of Swords, the Runcandel guardian knights standing at attention saluted with their swords.
And before them stood Jin’s twelve siblings… and his parents.
The family head and all potential heirs had gathered in one place. Such a gathering was rare.
Creak…
Petro opened the carriage door. Jin and Gilly stepped lightly onto the ground, Jin carrying Murakan. Gilly bowed respectfully to Siron immediately, and Jin gave a slight nod.
“Long time no see, youngest.”
His mother, Rosa Runcandel, was the first to speak.
“Yes, Mother.”
Step by step, Jin walked toward Siron. The gazes of his siblings lined up on either side weighed on him.
Because of Murakan. The youngest, who was receiving their father’s attention, was carrying a mere cat on his shoulder—an absurd sight to them.
Siron furrowed his brows and asked Jin,
“Did you find it?”
He meant Murakan.
Jin had expected his father to ask this before any greetings. He also knew how to answer to satisfy this notoriously difficult and powerful man.
“I took it in, Father.”
“Not ‘found it,’ but ‘took it in’…”
A faint smile appeared on Siron’s lips.
“Confident and bold. Good. Yes, a Runcandel should always have that attitude when gaining something.”
Some of the siblings’ expressions hardened.
Most had painful memories of being scolded harshly after getting attached to cute animals in their youth.
Or maybe they just didn’t like Jin.
Jin turned his head to study their faces.
“Among them… there’s someone who cursed me.”
Who could it be?
Since witnessing the curse with his own eyes nine years ago in the nursery, it had been a question that never left his mind.
And why?
Why would they try to place a curse worse than death on their one-year-old youngest sibling, who had yet to prove anything?
“Was it just because I chose Barisada? Or was it a simple attempt to eliminate a rival early?”
He wanted to grab each one and find out immediately, but now was not the time.
None of his twelve siblings were weaker than him. Even Tona, who had been treated like a subordinate in the Storm Castle, had trained in Runcandel swordsmanship for two years and was likely stronger now.
Above all—
Today was a rare happy occasion where the family gathered.
There would be plenty of bloodshed ahead.
With that thought, Jin smiled and gently set Murakan down.
“Meow.”
Murakan leapt into Rosa’s arms. Surprisingly, she calmly stroked him.
“My son, what is this child’s name?”
“Nabi Runcandel, Mother.”
Pfft.
Rosa burst out laughing, while most of the siblings’ faces twisted into scowls. Siron silently watched Jin.
“Father, Mother! No matter how young the youngest is, this is unacceptable.”
“How dare you give a Runcandel name to such a trivial creature? I agree with our fourth brother.”
“Gilly! How could you raise the youngest like this? Carrying a cat on his shoulder…!”
As the siblings voiced their complaints, Siron spoke quietly, and the room instantly fell silent.
“Why did you choose to give it the Runcandel name?”
Jin met Siron’s gaze and answered,
“To give myself a sense of responsibility. Even if it’s just a beast, this is the first life I’ve taken in by my own will. I thought the name should carry weight.”
The siblings’ eyes widened in shock, but Siron quietly nodded.
“Interesting. But, youngest… do you truly understand the weight that comes with the name Runcandel?”
Without hesitation, Jin nodded firmly at the heavy question.
“I do. It means that if anyone dares to harm Nabi, I will be the one to make them pay.”
The expressions of the Tona brothers, who had been glaring at Jin as if ready to kill, instantly twisted in surprise.
They had thought they wouldn’t fear the youngest anymore, but seeing this brought back memories of the stormy days at the fortress.
“Youngest, you have a talent for making enemies. Just look at how your brothers are glaring at you.”
That was Siron’s warning—not aimed at Jin, who had just stirred trouble with a few words upon entering the main house, but at the other sons who dared to show such deadly intent in front of him.
In an instant, the brothers straightened their expressions and posture.
“Seems so. But I’m sure I have a talent for killing my enemies too, Father.”
“Ha ha ha… Looks like everyone’s going to have to stay on their toes if they want to handle this sharp-witted youngest.”
The brothers responded with bowed heads.
As all the Runcandels gathered and entered the mansion, a banquet in Jin’s honor began.
Throughout the meal, most of the brothers couldn’t help but feel a strange mix of emotions as they watched their audacious youngest sibling.