Episode 22
Chapter 9: What Exactly Is the Eye of the Mind? (5)
Sir Shiron Runcandel, the world’s only Creation Knight.
Four years ago, after welcoming his youngest son at the Garden of Swords, he immediately returned to the Black Sea. The riddle his youngest son had posed still gnawed at him.
“Can I be stronger than a god?”
The monsters of the Black Sea never dared challenge Shiron. They kept their distance from the center of the sea where he sat, maintaining their own simple ecosystem.
Eat or be eaten.
Shiron liked the straightforwardness of the Black Sea. It was one of the many reasons he kept coming back.
A few days ago, a knight came seeking him. Without regard for day or night, he tirelessly cut down monsters, drenched in their blood, until finally meeting Shiron.
“It’s Khan, Master.”
Without turning, Shiron opened his closed eyes. His seated form hovered about a hand’s breadth above the ground.
“Speak, Khan.”
Wiping blood off his armor, Khan approached Shiron.
With a tense expression, Khan reported for a long while. Shiron listened quietly, waiting for the report to end, a faint smile flickering across his face now and then.
“…That is all.”
Shiron’s body slowly descended back to the floor.
“So, the youngest… is responsible.”
“Yes, Master.”
Khan’s report concerned the recent disturbance caused by Jin in the beginner training class.
Garon had sworn to keep it strictly confidential, but it was impossible to keep it from the master of the Runcandel family. So Khan, Shiron’s trusted aide, was informed.
Of course, no one else was told. Garon wasn’t afraid of the Jin of today, but he feared the Jin of the future.
“Hahaha.”
Suddenly, Shiron threw his head back and laughed.
“So that is the youngest’s conviction. To walk the path of the outlaw, yet sometimes embrace even the weak-hearted.”
Khan said nothing, bowing silently.
A broad smile spread across Shiron’s lips. Since reaching the demi-god stage, he hadn’t laughed this much in a long time.
“Then it’s worth testing whether that conviction truly holds value. Khan.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Go back and tell Garon this: before advancing to the intermediate class, the youngest must…”
Khan was set to brave the monsters again for several days to deliver the master’s message.
January, 1795.
Fifteen-year-old Jin had been recognized as a third-rank knight and was enjoying his final break in the beginner training class.
At the start of each year, cadets were granted two weeks of free time—the only rest period in a year of relentless training.
It was essentially a vacation.
Most cadets used this time to visit their hometowns. The exceptional ones trained individually or underwent evaluations, while the elite toured the blacksmiths of the Hupester Union, commissioning their own swords.
Why commission a sword?
Because the cadet clearly understood they were a candidate for advancement. The results would be announced after the break, but it was an open secret.
From the intermediate class onward, they no longer used wooden training swords but wielded custom-made blades.
This was why the top cadets, including Mesa Milkano, had briefly left the Garden of Swords—to acquire their weapons. They already knew they were advancing before the results came out.
“Jin, youngest.”
“Eldest sister.”
Naturally, Jin was the top performer in this year’s beginner class.
If Jin were an ordinary cadet, he’d probably be touring the Hupester forges with Mesa’s group right now.
But he was a Runcandel. The youngest son of a famed swordsmanship family, where legendary blades were so common they rotted underfoot. He could pick any sword from the family armory.
No need for custom orders. Among thousands of famous swords, at least one would fit his hand perfectly.
“I had quite a headache trying to find a sword that suits you.”
Yet Jin couldn’t choose his own sword. Luna had insisted on gifting one herself, pestering him for a month.
Since Luna’s eye for swords was a million times better than Jin’s, it was hardly a bad choice.
“I’m looking forward to it, sister.”
Thud!
Luna set down a massive axe-sword she carried on her back. It was different from her beloved ‘Krantel.’
Jin couldn’t help but look puzzled. The axe-sword looked even bigger than his own body.
But Luna’s eyes sparkled with excitement.
“This was once called the ‘Massacre of Veils.’ It’s the one I loved to use as a teenager.”
An axe-sword? As the name suggests, it’s a weapon with an axe blade attached to the tip of a sword. Large, heavy, and brutal-looking, its history wasn’t long.
No one used such a bizarre weapon before Luna Runcandel invented it herself at fifteen.
In other words, the ‘Massacre of Veils’ and its name were the product of Luna’s turbulent adolescence.
“How do you like it? Does it suit you?”
Luna asked with an innocent face. Jin shivered and cleared his throat.
“I don’t think this is quite right.”
Luna’s face instantly fell, but she forced a smile.
“Ha ha, just kidding.”
Jin swallowed the words that said otherwise and laughed awkwardly.
After a few seconds of hoping Jin might accept the axe-sword, Luna sighed and pulled out another sword.
“Well, I guess I have no choice. Then this sword…”
The sword Luna offered was sheathed in a plain, unadorned scabbard.
At first glance, it looked ordinary, but when Jin took it, his eyes trembled.
“…You must have chosen Barisada in your consciousness, youngest. This will suit you best. It’ll complement your swordsmanship well.”
Ssshh.
As he slowly drew the sword, a pure white blade gleamed like fresh snow.
‘Bradamante!’
Jin silently whispered the sword’s name in awe. Though not bathed in sunlight, the blade sparkled like a diamond from every angle, almost enchanting him.
Bradamante.
The first family head, Temar Runcandel’s brother sword and prototype of Barisada. Aside from Barisada, few swords in the Runcandel armory surpassed Bradamante.
Though it was a test piece made before the legendary blacksmith Picon Mintze forged Barisada, it stood shoulder to shoulder with renowned blades.
“You seem to like it.”
“Of course, sister. It’s one of the family’s finest swords. Thank you.”
Though he spoke calmly, Jin was so thrilled he wanted to jump around like a child.
‘If not for Luna, even if I picked it myself, it wouldn’t have been easy to get Bradamante. Murakan told me to get this sword someday!’
Because Bradamante was especially excellent, many of his siblings coveted it.
But what made this sword even more special to Jin was something else.
Spirit energy.
Barisada and Bradamante revealed their true power only when infused with spirit energy.
This secret was reserved for those who wielded shadows.
“Bradamante is coveted by the others too… I don’t know how I can ever repay you, sister.”
“Repay me? You still find me uncomfortable, don’t you? That makes me sad.”
“Sister, that’s not it.”
“To soothe this sadness, I’ll have to torment you. Close your eyes now, little brother. Training begins.”
“Yes…”
Luna chuckled and tousled Jin’s hair.
“Today, as always, I’ll tell you to see with the eye of the mind.”
“I know.”
“But unlike usual, today I’ll teach you one more thing you must see with the eye of the mind.”
“What is it, sister?”
Bowing, Luna clasped Jin’s hands.
“Among our siblings, who are always fighting and trampling each other, there is one love that asks for nothing in return. So don’t ever make this sister feel sad again.”
“I’m sorry, sister.”
“I was already lonely enough among blood relatives before you were born. You don’t have to be.”
Jin decided not to doubt Luna’s kindness any longer.
Even though this warm eldest sister had thoroughly ignored his past life, he felt he could forgive that now.
‘I don’t even fully know what happened to her in that past life.’
“Too soon.”
“What?”
“You’re still too inexperienced with spirit energy to awaken Bradamante, kid. You need to reach at least third-rank spirit energy release before you can even mimic awakening the sword.”
“Third-rank, huh? I’m close, so I’ll be able to try it soon.”
Slap!
Murakan slammed his book shut and glared at Jin.
“Listen carefully, kid. Barisada and Bradamante are dangerous swords you mustn’t awaken recklessly. Third-rank is the minimum standard. Until you reach fifth-rank, just use them as ordinary swords. Got it?”
“I’m not very patient. Looks like I’ll have to reach fifth-rank within a year.”
“Yeah, even if you’re the kid who won first place in the Children’s Spirit Energy Tournament and lives on spirit energy instead of food, that’s nonsense. Impossible. Even passing dogs would laugh.”
Childish, childish. It was hard to believe this was a dragon who had existed for three thousand years.
Jin furrowed his brows, then suddenly snatched Murakan’s erotic art book.
“What did you just say? What? A children’s spirit competition? I must have misheard—say that again.”
“Put the book down. Right now. Hey, that was really hard to get…”
“Young master!”
Both of them turned their heads toward Gilly, who was running over, looking extremely urgent.
“What’s going on, Gilly?”
“Instructor Garon is looking for you, young master.”
“Garon wouldn’t be looking for me during the break. And if he has something to say, tell him to come here himself.”
“Well…”
Gilly approached Jin with a worried look.
“He said you need to come in person to review the operation plan with him.”
“An operation?”
“Yes. Instructor Garon has assigned you your first ‘mission.’ And it’s supposed to start right after the break ends.”
Jin put the erotic art book down.
‘A mission… Since I’ve reached three stars, it’s about time I got one. But right after the break?’
Something felt off.
‘Missions usually start from the intermediate class and above. Since they involve assassinations, combat, and monster hunts, the beginner training class is excluded.’
Besides, the Rune Kandel cadets only advance a month after the break ends.
‘Well, I’m practically in the intermediate class anyway. Maybe they figured it wouldn’t be a problem.’
Just as Jin nodded, Gilly shared more information.
“And this mission… includes ten members from the beginner training class, including you, young master. Something feels strange about this. You should go check it out right away.”