Chapter 291
Episode 91: Power, and the Worship of Power (Part 2)
“The God of Shells holds the key to Temar’s second tomb? That’s ridiculous. Me and Misha—the guardian dragons—don’t know a thing. I can understand you, mustachioed one, but what was Solderet thinking, entrusting something so precious to some minor deity like that?”
Murakan sounded genuinely disappointed.
[That’s something I don’t know either. I’m just passing along what Solderet told me.]
“Do you know where that guy is?”
[No idea.]
“Ugh, this is going to be a headache again.”
Murakan spoke with irritation. But the moment Jin heard the name Olmango, he quietly rejoiced inside. It meant they didn’t have to struggle to find the person’s whereabouts.
“Murakan, the God of Shells’ contract holder is in the Kingdom of Shcheron. I found out when I checked the compass’s functions.”
—That’s strange. It seemed like the compass had a function to track contract holders. Three days ago, a red dot appeared over the Kingdom of Shcheron, and this morning, a small report came out saying someone there had contracted with the God of Shells…
—The God of Shells? Was the name Olmango or Olrungo? Anyway, even minor gods like that show up as red dots? That guy’s so useless it’s hard to even call him a god.
This was a conversation Jin had with Tikan’s comrades right after stealing the compass.
It was highly likely the God of Shells’ contract holder was still in the Kingdom of Shcheron.
“Oh! Right, I remember now.”
“Murakan.”
“Yeah?”
“I’m heading back to the main house first. You go to Tikan and ask Lord Kashmir to send someone to Shcheron to pinpoint the exact location of Olmango’s contract holder.”
“Right now?”
“You can talk with Pikon for a bit and leave slowly. We just need to find out before the Black Knight assassination mission starts.”
“Got it. Hey, mustache, by the way—you said you used iron manipulation powers to make a sword, right? Is that normally a power the God of Blacksmiths has?”
[Of course. He’s a god, so he uses such powers. Why ask such an obvious question?]
“I’m just curious. You know Kinzelro, right? That weird captain also used iron manipulation powers…”
Murakan then explained his conversation with Captain Kinzelro, his appearance, and his powers. Pikon shrugged.
[That’s strange. That power should only be usable by the God of Blacksmiths… Hmm… The previous one, Groller? No, Groller’s dead, and the power was definitely passed to me. If I meet that guy again, I’ll try to get some of the iron he used.]
“Do you think you can learn something from that?”
[Let me take a look. At least when it comes to iron, this Pikon Minche can figure out most things. Maybe we’ll find a clue.]
By the time Jin returned to the Garden of Swords, night had fallen. It was March 4, 1799—four days before the mission was set to begin.
Barton Vichena wasn’t waiting at the Garden of Swords. He was staying at his villa and planned to join them directly at the mission site in Ventica.
“I wanted to talk to him at least once before the mission started.”
“You mean the target, Barton Vichena, sir?”
“Yeah. You’ve never met him, have you?”
“No. I’ve never even heard rumors about him as a warrior. I think Barton Vichena is an alias. He probably used a different name during his prime.”
“Gili’s right.”
Jin was carefully reading the document Rosa had given him about ‘Barton Vichena.’
“His real name is Rigaf Kleber. He’s the older brother of Sir Lantz Kleber, the strongest warrior.”
“Sir Rigaf? No way.”
Gili had met him before.
“Before I became your nanny, I participated in a martial arts tournament hosted by 25 warrior families of Hupester. It was only for warriors under 20. Sir Rigaf was the judge, and I won first place, receiving the trophy from him.”
That was more than ten years ago.
“What was he like back then?”
“Nowadays, Lantz Kleber is known as the greatest warrior, but back then, Sir Rigaf was overwhelming. He was the confirmed next head of the family, but about three months after I won, he suddenly died from an unknown fever…”
That’s what Gili knew.
She had even attended Rigaf’s funeral as a rider for McLoran.
But in truth, Rigaf had already been scheduled to begin new training as the Black Knight of Runcandel.
So instead of becoming the head of the Kleber family, he was officially declared dead and donned the black helmet of Runcandel.
“According to the documents, even the Kleber family doesn’t know this. They all believe Rigaf Kleber really died.”
Of course, not everyone in the Kleber family was unaware of Rigaf’s conscription as a Black Knight.
A few people knew—but they were no longer alive.
Next to the names of those who realized Rigaf’s appointment was a cold note: ‘Executed for security reasons.’
In other words, no one in the Kleber family currently alive knows that Barton Vichena is actually Rigaf Kleber.
Jin pressed his palm to his forehead.
“They not only stole the next head of the alliance’s family but killed everyone who knew the truth…”
And yet, the Kleber family remained loyal to Runcandel, completely unaware.
A bitter taste rose in his throat.
“I think I understand why Rigaf Kleber betrayed Runcandel. The whole Kleber family was held hostage, so he had no choice but to become a Black Knight.”
“I never imagined a family would conscript a Black Knight like this.”
Jin’s gaze lingered on the bottom of the last page of the document.
There was the signature of his father, Sir Shiron Runcandel.
Of course, Shiron, as the family head, must have directly ordered this mission. Even if not directly, he couldn’t have been unaware.
“I just can’t understand it. If this is true, I’m disappointed.”
“Are you disappointed in the family?”
“No, not the family. My father. The family is capable of worse. They’re a place that can do far worse things.”
Jin closed the document and continued.
“My father is definitely ruthless. But he’s not a cowardly man, at least not how I see him. He’s not weak enough to command people through threats. So why? Why did he have to get Barton Vichena like this?”
Gili agreed but dared not judge the family head, so she just nodded.
Jin’s eyes shimmered in the light.
“…Barton Vichena. Maybe if I meet him, I’ll understand something. Gili.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I’m going to the Holy Kingdom tomorrow to get treatment until the mission starts.”
Gili sighed deeply.
“I thought it wouldn’t be a big problem since Murakan went with you, but to come back with such a deep injury… The mission is so close, and you seem troubled both physically and mentally. It’s upsetting.”
“Don’t worry so much. Since I’m doing this mission with Brother Dipus, even if I can’t perform at my best, there’s a good chance we’ll succeed.”
The Black Knight assassination mission was definitely a major operation.
“Mother would have assigned someone who could succeed even without me. For such an important mission, she would have chosen the surest card. That’s Brother Dipus.”
As Jin said, Rosa wasn’t sending him on this mission just to corner him.
She was sending him to observe Dipus—to see how the second son would treat the youngest.
Although Dipus was still at the 9-star rank, as a Runcandel, he was capable of causing surprises even against 10-star knights.
Especially since the mission required inducing death in battle with Ziphl, Dipus would find it easier to face Barton.
Because Baekya didn’t know Barton was Ziphl’s spy, and Barton didn’t know he’d been exposed.
“Still, facing a Black Knight is no small matter.”
“You came back fine after fighting a teenage knight from Runcandel’s strongest era, didn’t you? Don’t worry. While I’m gone, have fun with Murakan.”
“Is Murakan not participating in this mission?”
“No, you can’t bring a guardian dragon on your first mission. The elders would be all over me. Maybe even the cadets would think I’m a coward.”
“Hoo. Well, they don’t know what kind of person you are. I may have sounded worried, but as always, I have no doubt you’ll prove yourself.”
Jin smiled.
“Oh, by the way, Gili, take some leave after this mission.”
“Leave? What? Sir, you just got back, and every day is a battle. How can you ask me to be away?”
It wasn’t that. Murakan seemed to be looking forward to a date, so Jin couldn’t say that.
“Just go. Things will get hectic soon, so clear your head in advance. It’s customary to give nannies leave right after they become riders, isn’t it?”
Just as Gili was about to refuse again, Jin shook his head.
“I think it’s important for you to have your own time. Sometimes you need to go out, spend money, and enjoy leisure without a care.”
“…Understood.”
Gili had given up her youth for Jin.
More than that, she was ready to give up the rest of her life as well.
She always called it her “fully own choice,” and truly believed it to be so. Yet Jin constantly felt a deep sense of guilt.
It was only because she didn’t want it that she never showed any sign of it.
“Thank you. Always.”
“Likewise, Master Jin.”
Jin had entered the kingdom in secret. If her family found out about the treatment, it would only expose a weakness.
Rani and her loyal followers devoted themselves wholeheartedly to Jin’s care over two days. For a full 48 hours, at least two saints stayed by Jin’s side at all times. It was the first time in her life she had ever received such attentive treatment.
Thanks to their efforts, when she returned to the Sword Garden, Jin had nearly fully recovered.
“Using the Reign of the Underworld Blade might be too much, but this should be enough.”
The Reign of the Underworld Blade was a technique Rosa didn’t even know about.
So it wasn’t considered a factor in the mission’s success.
Rosa estimated Jin’s combat ability to be in the latter half of the 8th rank.
Before the portal reserved for the 4th squad’s mission stood Diffus and ten guardian knights. None of the knights were familiar faces to Jin.
After this mission, about half of them would be promoted to executioners.
“You’re here, 12th squad,” Diffus said, not looking at Jin as he wiped his greatsword, Volgar, with a cloth.
“Yes, 4th squad,” Jin replied.
If you get in the way, I’ll kill you. Don’t disappoint me. I’ll brief you on the operation now—follow carefully…
But Diffus didn’t add any warnings or advice.
In other words, as Jin had said a few days ago, he hadn’t lowered the dignity of Runcandel for no reason. On one hand, it was an acknowledgment of Jin; on the other, it was for Mary’s sake.
A terrifying man.
Since that day, Diffus had come to see Jin that way.
And it troubled him.
If the opportunity arose during this mission, would it be better to kill Jin?
Or to keep her alive and use her to keep Rosa and Joshua in check?
He couldn’t decide easily.
“…Let’s move out.”
Diffus burned the cloth with his aura. Ashes scattered in the air.