Episode 30
Chapter 11: Advancement and Initiation (3)
Soaking in warm water, Jin took a moment to review the gains from his latest mission.
First and foremost, he had solidified the respect and trust of the cadets. Where else would you find a Runcandel willing to risk his life to save a single cadet? Maybe if a hundred cadets risked their lives to save Runcandel, but not the other way around.
Among the junior cadets, many showed great potential. Mesa and Bellop, of course, but most of the cadets who had gone on the mission were like that.
They would never forget this rescue for the rest of their lives.
“I didn’t do it just to earn respect and trust, but it turned out incredibly well.”
Saving Mesa wasn’t a cold, calculated move.
Between his past and current lives, Jin had lived a total of 43 years. He was old enough, skilled enough, and yet he couldn’t just stand by and watch a young girl suffer right before his eyes.
A warm sense of pride welled up inside him. Had he failed to save Mesa today, he might have been plagued by self-doubt for a long time. After all, he hadn’t come back through reincarnation just to witness such helplessness.
He had felt powerless enough in his previous life.
Now it was time to enjoy something different.
“Hmm.”
Buzz!
A dark sphere formed above his soapy palm.
“So this is the spirit energy of rank 4…”
Visually, it wasn’t much different from rank 3, but the weight was entirely different. The energy tingled sharply at his fingertips, heavier and more substantial.
Rank 4 spirit energy possessed destructive power comparable to the aura or mana of rank 6.
This was a whole different level from ordinary strength. Since spirit energy even had the advantage in elemental affinity, purely in terms of destructive power, Jin had already surpassed his previous life.
“Though my swordsmanship is still rank 3, so it’s hard to fully harness this spirit energy.”
Spirit energy is most efficiently used through a sword. Especially when wielding specially forged blades like ‘Bradamante’ or ‘Barisada,’ designed exclusively for spirit energy, its power is maximized.
Solderet was the god of shadows and swords.
Naturally, magic and spirit energy didn’t mesh well. Yet mages still revered Solderet because of the inherent superiority of spirit energy itself.
“Just because they don’t mix well doesn’t mean it’s useless.”
It’s all about efficiency.
And Jin could always choose the more efficient path—he could use both sword and magic simultaneously.
“I need to reach rank 6 in swordsmanship within the next five years.”
Rank 6 swordsmanship.
Generally, ranks 1 to 2 are considered beginner, 3 to 4 average knights, 5 advanced knights, and 6 exceptional knights. Mages had similar rankings.
Rank 7 was the realm of masters.
Still, there were quite a few masters in this vast world. With a continental population exceeding two billion, that was only natural.
Rank 7 was considered transcendent by ordinary people, but among warriors, anything above rank 8 was “beyond standard.”
From rank 8 onward, the number of those who achieved such heights dropped sharply.
Rank 9 was so rare that even searching among the world’s reclusive geniuses, there were fewer than a hundred. Rank 10 was even more elusive.
And then there was the one and only.
The unique realm: Creation Rank. It was the domain of demigods, transcending human limits.
“This life, I’ll reach that level. No, even beyond.”
But first, he had to successfully fend off the serious challenges his brothers would throw at him once he entered the intermediate class.
Earlier, Mew, Ann, and the Tona brothers had spoken in Jin’s absence.
But Jin already had a good idea of how the Tona brothers would act. After all, he had spent 25 years scraping the bottom of Runcandel in his previous life—he knew too well.
He had never experienced the intermediate class firsthand before, having dropped out in the junior class last time. But he understood well enough that it was a jungle, wild and unforgiving.
In that sense, the intermediate class wasn’t a place for logic.
The real jungle was the same. You might find cunning animals using tricks, but they usually ranked low or mid in the food chain.
So what kind of beast rules the jungle?
“The intermediate class is conquered by strength.”
A beast with overwhelming power and primal ferocity.
February, 1795.
The cadet results were announced.
Everyone who had gone on the mission, including Jin, was promoted to the intermediate class. As the junior class representative, Jin received a plaque and words of encouragement from the Runcandel elders, and the dormitories for the promoted cadets were reassigned.
Jin was also advised by Petro, the second steward, to move rooms. Rosa had offered him a large room in the center of the mansion.
It was the room once used by Jin’s eldest brother and head of the family, Joshua Runcandel, when he was a child. No one had used it since Joshua moved out.
“Petro, please tell Mother I’m fine. I want to keep using my current room.”
“Master, Joshua’s room is one of the best in the Sword Garden and carries great symbolic weight. It’s reserved only for the family’s heir.”
“I know that much, but I like it here. Please explain it well so no one gets upset, alright?”
Petro had come to understand Jin’s personality over the years. The youngest master had never once changed his mind after making a decision.
So Petro was deeply disappointed.
Why refuse a room symbolizing the heirship? The other brothers could only dream of such a place!
“Master, please reconsider just once more.”
“I appreciate your concern, but I’ve already said I don’t need it. If it’s that precious, you can have it.”
“Master!”
“Haha, it’s just a room after all. I don’t want a space that big or burdensome.”
Petro lowered his head, sensing something.
The youngest master, barely fifteen, possessed insight beyond belief.
‘She must have realized Mother’s offer wasn’t a reward, but a test!’
Petro returned to Rosa and relayed Jin’s decision.
“Jin refused?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Rosa rested her chin on her hand, humming lightly. She seemed pleased that Jin had turned down Joshua’s room.
“Jin, our youngest son, sometimes it’s hard to tell if he’s just not greedy or if he wants too much.”
Jin’s refusal of the prestigious Runcandel heir’s room was for a simple reason.
Since Joshua moved out, the room had remained empty. It was tacitly understood to be reserved only for the child destined to lead the family. Moving in meant receiving support befitting that status.
And Jin immediately saw through the sweet bait on the hook. The moment he moved into Joshua’s room, he would become the target of every brother who didn’t get it.
“Mother can be quite mischievous.”
Click.
Jin strapped Bradamante to his waist and left the room.
He was going to check on the cadets who would begin training in the intermediate class starting tomorrow.
“Welcome back, Master!”
“Scout, gather all the cadets who advanced this time.”
“Yes, sir!”
Nine cadets, including Mesa and Bellop, rushed out and gathered in Scout’s room. Though they held back, a hint of nervousness showed on their faces.
“Starting tomorrow, you’re all in the intermediate class. Are you ready?”
“Yes!”
“As you know, from the intermediate class onward, various factions form under the guise of ‘cliques.’ You understand that, right?”
The cadets nodded. They knew better than anyone that they were Jin’s sole faction.
And that meant they would face all sorts of territorial bullying and harassment.
It was inevitable. No crazy cadet would openly attack pureblood Runcandel Jin, but his faction was fair game.
“Don’t be too afraid. That’s why I called you here.”
“Yes!”
The cadets answered with determined faces. Jin thought they were adorable kids.
The ones who would threaten these kids starting tomorrow were obvious.
“First, the Tona brothers.”
They were already intimidated by Jin but surely had some scheme in mind.
“And whoever is helping the Tona brothers to keep me in check. Probably Mew or Ann. Or maybe Brother Vigo.”
Whoever was aiding the Tona brothers,
Jin planned to decisively seize the initiative from the start.
“See you tomorrow. Oh, and outside of training, always move in groups of at least three. No solo actions until I’ve completely dominated the intermediate class.”
“Yes, sir!”
From the intermediate training class onward, instruction was not given by invited instructors like Garon Artemiro, but directly by Runcandel elders.
Training the intermediate class was a duty assigned to elders who had served as rank 8 or higher knights but had not become family heads.
Currently, about 150 cadets were in the intermediate class, and the elder in charge was Jed Runcandel. Once a renowned rank 8 knight, he was the younger brother of Siron.
“Attention.”
“Attention!”
The cadets gathered in the training ground echoed Jed’s command.
“This year, ten new cadets joined, and twenty-seven dropped out.”
Jed stood on the platform, glaring down at the cadets with displeasure. He was unhappy that the number of dropouts exceeded the newcomers.
“New cadets, learn everything about intermediate cadet life from your seniors. I am only here to teach and evaluate swordsmanship. You are responsible for handling any incidents or accidents, except murder.”
“Yes, sir!”
“To the seniors, I ask again: what do I always emphasize?”
“No weaklings are needed in Runcandel!”
“No weaklings are needed in Runcandel!”
Suddenly, the intermediate cadets shouted in unison. They all stared at the newcomers with unmistakable hostility.
The cadets of Jin’s unit looked crushed beneath the weight of their voices, barely able to keep their heads raised.
Anyone suddenly thrown into such an initiation would feel suffocated by the pressure.
Among the crowd shouting that the weak were unnecessary stood the Tona brothers. Around them were half a dozen knights of four and five stars—the faction of Mew and Anne.
‘So noisy. The Tona brothers are over there… and a few unpleasant types nearby. That must be Anne’s faction.’
“No weaklings needed!”
“No weaklings needed!”
The chant went on relentlessly. The intermediate cadets seemed determined to keep shouting until the rookies’ heads were bowed in defeat.
Suddenly, Jin stepped forward, approaching the Tona brothers’ side. His stride was light and calm, as if on a casual stroll.
“W-why is he coming this way all of a sudden?”
“Don’t chicken out. From today on, we’re gonna crush the rookies!”
The Tona brothers exchanged fierce glances and grew even more aggressive. Jed stroked his beard, clearly intrigued by Jin’s approach.
Jin was about to get right in front of the Tona brothers when, at that exact moment, the intermediate cadets’ gazes—all focused on him—were shattered by a sudden sound.
Swish!
Without warning, Jin drew his sword, Bradamante, and slashed something.
“Ahhh!”
The hostile chants from the cadets stopped instantly. They were too stunned to even close their mouths.
The Tona brothers froze completely, like statues. Even Jed stopped stroking his beard.
What Jin had cut was the forearm of a cadet standing next to the Tona brothers.
He was a five-star knight from Anne’s faction, which meant he was at the very top of the intermediate class hierarchy.
But there was no way to prepare for such a surprise attack in this situation.
No matter how pure-blooded a Runkandel you were, who draws a sword on the very first day of enrollment? Especially during an initiation ritual encouraged by Jed?
Blood poured from the cadet’s arm, and while the Tona brothers were at a loss, the tension in the room evaporated completely.
All 150 pairs of eyes were locked on Jin without exception. Yet he offered no explanation for his actions. Instead, he calmly sheathed his sword.
“Call the medical team.”
Jin thought to himself.
The ones who should be initiated were not him—but them.