Chapter 248
Episode 77: The Villain (Part 5)
Huu…
Jin exhaled slowly, lowering the hand that had instinctively moved to his waist.
The moment Dino was attacked, Jin had also prepared to deflect the magical beam without even realizing it.
Fortunately, the attack had stopped. Had his training been insufficient, he might have stepped forward, drawing everyone’s attention—and ended up in a disastrous situation.
‘I figured if there was an attack, my sister would block it… But these lunatics actually tried to kill Dino, right in front of so many witnesses?’
This meant the White Night mages had taken Dino’s words very seriously.
Those who had fired the magic beams were forcing themselves to keep expressionless faces.
But to Jin and the Runcandel group, it was clear—they were burning up with frustration inside.
From the White Night mages’ perspective, the attack they’d just launched was reckless.
Even if it had succeeded and Dino had died, they would have faced the world’s condemnation.
Not even the Runcandel faction, who openly embraced lawlessness, would so rashly kill a journalist.
Of course, that would have been better than having the truth exposed.
‘Still, my sister really is a monster.’
How many people in the world could block the magical beams of eight-star mages with their bare hands?
Especially in a surprise attack like this. Regardless of the situation, Luna’s raw power sent chills down his spine.
Sssrrrk.
Joshua obediently sheathed his sword at Luna’s command. Before sheathing it, he even bowed slightly to Luna, acknowledging his mistake.
Though his pride flared, he knew better than to make a fool of Runcandel in a public setting.
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
The sudden attack by White Night had everyone whispering.
But what truly stunned the crowd was the appearance of ‘White Night’ Luna Runcandel herself.
She was known for rarely showing herself to the world, despite the many rumors.
Yet bards sang her praises daily, describing Luna as a noble warrior of overwhelming beauty and unmatched skill.
When Luna removed her hood, the crowd struggled to contain their awe.
Not because she looked exactly like the songs described.
They were captivated by the dignity in her deep blue eyes and her fearless stance before both White Night and Kozek.
A few seconds of silence passed—so quiet it was hard to believe so many people had gathered.
“Are you alright, Dino Jaglun?”
“Yes, thanks to you… Thank you, Lady Luna, and Lord Joshua.”
“You made quite an interesting claim. I’d like to hear more details, so please visit the Runcandel delegation later.”
“Of course.”
Though Dino was staying on Runcandel’s land with the Colonins, they all pretended not to know each other.
“Greetings, White Night mages. I am Luna Runcandel.”
Luna then turned her gaze back to the White Night mages.
“…Greetings, Lady Luna. I am Maul Hensark, second commander of White Night.”
Maul Hensark, the second commander of White Night, had been standing on Kozek’s steps, observing the situation.
“So you’re the new second commander? I wasn’t aware the position had changed.”
“My predecessor, Sir Drew Malaga, retired…”
“If it were Drew, he would have stepped down from those steps before I even greeted him.”
Maul’s expression stiffened.
He was clearly much older than Luna, and as there was no higher-ranking officer present, he was effectively the representative of Kozek.
Yet from the start, he was being completely disrespected.
The moment their eyes met, the square filled with tense energy.
The crowd held their breath, overwhelmed by the power struggle between these two great houses.
Not only the crowd, but even the White Night mages were visibly stiff.
Among them, only Luna, Jin, and Murakan remained calm.
The reason was clear.
‘Maul Hensark made such a basic mistake against my sister? Looks like White Night will have a new second commander after today.’
Before answering Luna, Maul should have shown proper respect.
Even if he was older and from Kozek, it was unthinkable for a second commander of White Night to look down on the first rider of Runcandel.
Especially when facing an opponent he couldn’t hope to defeat.
Joshua glared at Maul with a fierce, murderous look.
Despite his own displeasure, Joshua had shown Luna respect. But now, with the second commander of White Night making such a blunder, his anger was inevitable.
“Sir Maul, if you find it difficult to come down, I could remove those steps for you. Is it that you cannot hear the voice of the first rider?”
Joshua’s low voice made Maul’s face flush red. He trembled with shame and defeat.
Fortunately, Maul was not a fool.
“…I apologize for my rudeness, Lady Luna.”
Maul stepped down from the stairs. Other mages aboard Kozek followed him.
The crowd, unaware of the full context, found it hard to read the atmosphere.
Surely, the world’s top family was Jipl, followed by Runcandel. So why was Maul so submissive despite being insulted?
Those who usually paid attention to the two houses, especially nobles, thought this was the proper order.
“Now we can talk. I have one question, Sir Maul. Why did your subordinates attack this journalist?”
“Lord Kal Jipl came here to apologize under the family head’s orders. The fourth tower lord of Jipl personally came to pay with his life. This man has distorted that fact and insulted Jipl.”
“Distorted?”
“While it’s true he made a mistake against my lord, you also just interfered with Jipl’s affairs. If this escalates between families, no one benefits. We want to take this journalist, Dino, with us.”
Maul steadied his gaze as he spoke.
Despite the humiliation Luna had inflicted, he still represented Jipl. A careless retreat would bring more than just shame.
“That won’t do.”
“On what grounds do you refuse?”
“Didn’t you hear me? I clearly told him to visit the Runcandel delegation. That means Dino Jaglun is my guest from this moment.”
“This is not a personal matter.”
“Not a personal matter… I don’t think that’s something you say in front of Runcandel’s riders. Don’t you think you’re making a lot of mistakes?”
“If you won’t back down, then we have no choice but to use force.”
Though he spoke calmly, neither Maul nor anyone present believed White Night could overcome Luna and Joshua.
“Sir Maul, life is precious. That chunk of metal floating in the sky is probably more valuable to Jipl than your own life. You wouldn’t want to die and be shattered, would you?”
Luna smiled coldly.
Maul’s mind raced with calculations. He felt like dying.
‘Could it be that this journalist’s exposé was a Runcandel scheme to create this situation? How much information has leaked to Runcandel? If I fight Luna Runcandel now…’
It would be a massacre. Not even a battle, just a slaughter.
Before even boarding Kozek again, they’d all be beheaded.
Even if they moved to a battlefield and fought aboard Kozek, victory was uncertain.
Still.
They could never back down. Even if it meant annihilation, Jipl’s honor had to be preserved.
After all, the reason they brought Kal Jipl here was to protect that honor.
“Both of you, calm down.”
Rani had just finished treating Kal Jipl.
“Runcandel and Jipl both possess far greater power than our kingdom. But you two haven’t even begun the king’s funeral rites yet. This isn’t the place for such conflict.”
To Maul, Rani’s words sounded like a lifeline—a reason to retreat.
He was about to feel genuine gratitude when—
“But the Runcandel riders did a great service. They almost punished an innocent man.”
“Innocent? Listen, Rani Salome. The family head personally sent the fourth tower lord, his own son! Knowing he might be stoned to death. Do you think that journalist’s claims could disgrace the family head’s decision?”
Thunk.
Jin jabbed Murakan’s side.
‘Why?’
‘Shut up and tell her to get lost.’
‘What?’
‘If someone breaks the tension now, this will turn into chaos.’
From the moment Maul snapped at Rani, the faces of the kingdom’s citizens reddened.
Anyone but a fool could see he was trying to cover the sky with his palm.
The problem was, the palm called Jipl was big enough to block the sky.
‘That’s your job! I’m a dragon, remember?’
‘Joshua will understand my voice. Since all eyes are on us, I’ll step aside for a moment…’
At that moment—
“Shut up! You filthy Jipl scum! Do you intend to continue desecrating this land, blessed by Ayula herself?”
A woman shouted angrily.
She sat in a wheelchair, her legs apparently disabled, wearing a robe emblazoned with a large symbol of the dormant volcano.
‘I don’t need to do this.’
‘Right. She’s stepping in at just the right moment.’
Following her lead, the other citizens raised their voices.
“Don’t kill the journalist who stood up for the kingdom! We can’t do this before the truth is fully revealed!”
“If you want to kill him, kill us too!”
“Runcandel wouldn’t do such a thing!”
Jin watched the scene for a moment, then suddenly felt a strange sense of unease and turned his gaze toward the woman who had shouted first.
Now that he thought about it, there was something vaguely familiar about her.
“That woman… where have I seen her before? Or maybe she just looks like someone I know?”
Jin stared at her quietly.
Though she probably didn’t notice his gaze, the woman slowly turned her head and looked back at him.
A smile played on her lips, as if silently asking, “Did I do well?”
And then it hit him—he remembered who she was.
“Vishkel’s sister…!”
Margiela Ivliano. The woman who, back at the Runkandel single-plank bridge party, had pushed Vishkel and Jin into a duel.
At first, he hadn’t recognized her because she was in disguise. But the mischievous curve of her lips and that unmistakably innocent expression—there was no doubt it was Margiela.
“Prince Jin, you were too harsh on someone weaker. That person lying there is our friend. Are you just going to stand by and watch? Brother, I’m very disappointed in you.”
“…You want me to duel Prince Jin?”
“Yes. I want you to teach him a lesson. But in a more honorable way than what he just showed us.”
Jin recalled the conversation between Margiela and Vishkel from back then.
“Barmel, Kinzello will help you. So let’s cut them some slack. It’s better that way, isn’t it?”
Margiela had smiled with a teasing eye-roll, mouthing those words.