Episode 302
Chapter 92: Vacation (3)
They were the elders.
About twenty of them. It was rare to see so many of the Rune Candelle elders traveling together like this.
The servants dared not raise their heads, and the guardian knights saluted them with precise formality whenever they crossed paths.
Everyone was curious about where the elders were headed, but no one dared to ask.
“Hey, those are the elders, right?”
Tona rubbed his eyes as he looked out the window, just having woken up.
“Where could they be going? Uncle Jed is with them too. Looks like the direction of the youngest’s room.”
As Tona had guessed, the elders were heading toward Jin’s room.
“Elder Jed, are you absolutely sure about this?”
“These people have been deceived all along! How many times do I have to tell you? Didn’t I clearly show you the advanced form of the final technique, ‘Falling Blossom’? It’s not something I achieved alone.”
The reason the elders were seeking out Jin was none other than the final technique.
After completing the improvements on ‘Falling Blossom,’ Jed had submitted it for review to the council of elders. Unaware of the full situation, the elders congratulated Jed and naturally suggested naming the new technique after him.
But Jed insisted that the name added to ‘Falling Blossom’ should be Jin’s, as he was the one who provided the crucial clue for its advancement.
“I just can’t wrap my head around it. To think that a kid who just became a swordsman discovered the key to advancing the final technique…”
“And Jin Rune Candelle only received the ‘Falling Blossom’ technique from Elder Jed a few days ago.”
“Damn it! You think I’d lie just to get the twelfth swordsman promoted? I’ve been suspicious all along. If that’s the case, you shouldn’t have followed me here!”
“Hey, that’s not what I meant. Calm down, calm down. I was wrong.”
“That’s right, that’s right. You were wrong. Elder Jed wouldn’t lie. Besides, last night the fourth swordsman came by and told us some strange story.”
Another elder gently rubbed Jed’s shoulder and continued.
“The twelfth swordsman supposedly used a sword superior to the sixth final technique, ‘Lightning Flash,’ on this mission. Maybe, just maybe, the twelfth swordsman is the key to advancing our Rune Candelle final techniques, as Elder Jed said.”
Dipus had deliberately leaked information about the ‘Thunder Edge’ sword technique Jin used to the elders.
Since Jin wouldn’t explain it himself, Dipus decided to let the elders’ curiosity do the talking. It was a brilliant move.
“The fourth swordsman isn’t one to spout nonsense either. Anyway, we gathered here to see for ourselves. We’re almost there, so let’s all calm our curiosity a bit.”
Ahem, hem! Clearing their throats, the elders cautiously glanced at Jed.
Finally, they stood before Jin’s door.
‘These old geezers… I can already picture them drooling and coveting the youngest’s swordsmanship if he shows it to them. And yet, they dare to doubt me?’
Grinding his teeth, Jed knocked firmly on the door.
“This is a summons from the Council of Elders! Twelfth swordsman Jin Rune Candelle, come out at once!”
Jed’s voice rang out confidently.
But there was no response from inside.
“Youngest! Come out quickly!”
When repeated calls went unanswered, Jed turned the doorknob sharply.
The lock broke with a crack, and the door swung open—but the room was empty.
“What? Where the hell is he? Hmm, hmm!”
Jed glanced nervously at the elders.
They just shrugged their shoulders with a ‘told you so’ expression.
“Too bad, Elder Jed. Everyone took time out of their busy schedules to come here…”
“Even if the youngest isn’t here, why do you all look so disappointed? Do you really not trust me?”
“Now, now, it’s not like that. We trust you, Elder Jed. The twelfth swordsman must have his reasons, haha. Let’s just head back for now.”
With a collective murmur, the elders turned and left, leaving Jed to curse Jin silently.
‘Where the hell did that brat go? Doesn’t he realize he’s just embarrassed his own uncle?’
Kreeek—kreeeek, kreeek!
Jin sat at a seaside tavern, sipping a cocktail as seagulls cried overhead in the open air.
In front of him, a neatly dressed Gilly was tossing food to the birds.
“Two more cocktails here, please. Same as before. By the way, shouldn’t everyone be arriving soon, my lord?”
“Yeah, there they come.”
Jin pointed skyward with his finger, and the seagulls scattered in a hurry.
A dragon was descending into view.
It was Murakan.
Riding on his back were Tikhan’s companions.
“Oh, my lord! Do you know how much I’ve missed you?”
“Woooah! Jin, my lord!”
The first to rush over were Jett and Enya.
They showed unmistakable joy, like puppies reunited with their long-lost master.
“Jett, Enya. How have you been?”
“Oh, thanks to you, my lord, I’ve been happy as ever. I heard things have been hectic since you went to the Garden of Blades.”
“Should I call you ‘Lord’ now instead of ‘Master’? You’re still as handsome as ever! First, sign this for me! And be sure to write ‘Rune Candelle’s Twelfth Swordsman.’ Right here, on my back!”
As always, Enya pounded his chest excitedly like an overenthusiastic primate.
“Haah, alright. Enya, you like getting autographs, don’t you? Yeah, you must. Good to see you, Jin.”
“How have you been, Quikantel?”
“Fine. Except Enya, Yuria, and Pinte have been whining nonstop about missing you.”
Quikantel no longer bothered telling Enya to keep up appearances as an Oltar’s contractor.
“Lord Jin, you used to seem like a kid, but now you really seem like an adult.”
“Alisa, just call me like before. Enya too.”
“Is that so?”
Jin and Alisa shook hands and shared a light hug.
“I remember the day we first met the master.”
Kashimir approached and met Jin’s gaze.
“Lord Kashimir.”
“Thanks to the master’s rescue, my daughter is growing up well. She’s already nine.”
“Time flies. She was five when we first met.”
It had been over four years since Jin had formed ties with Tikhan’s people.
To Jin, they felt more like family than his real siblings, and Tikhan felt more like home than the Garden of Blades.
“Neither my daughter nor Latri could come. The bakery’s been busy… Veris is helping out there too. Kuzan and Julian are still carrying out the missions the master assigned.”
It was surprising that Veris, given her personality, was working at a bakery.
Kashimir handed over a basket filled with cookies—the signature ‘Litra Cookies’ from the Litra Bakery, crisp and tangy.
But these weren’t prepared for Jin.
After checking the cookies’ condition, Jin closed the basket again.
“I hope they like them.”
“Most likely. Our informants confirmed that the Oltar’s contractor has been desperate to get these cookies…”
Jin and Kashimir shared a wry smile.
The Seven-Colored Bird had already pinpointed the exact location of the Oltar’s contractor long ago, even before Jin gave the order.
As a result, they learned that the Oltar’s contractor had a strange obsession with Litra Cookies.
Since last year, Litra Cookies had gained worldwide fame for their unique taste and aroma.
Even prominent figures from various countries lined up to get them.
They were frequently featured in magazines and newsletters. For those who considered themselves connoisseurs of tea and snacks, Litra Cookies were the ultimate dream treat.
Some bards even preached that one must visit Tikhan’s Free City at least once before dying—just to taste these cookies.
But only wealthy nobles and tycoons with plenty of time could afford such a trip.
Unfortunately, the Oltar’s contractor was not among them.
“In any case, for now…”
Jin looked at his companions and continued.
“Let’s enjoy a few days of vacation. We probably won’t have many chances to gather like this again.”
From then on, they did nothing but relax by the sea like carefree idlers.
They shared stories, rekindled old bonds, invited city bards to sing, brought in chefs for impromptu feasts, swam, and fished.
Before they knew it, three nights and four days had vanished in the blink of an eye.
The companions had long forgotten just how joyful it was to simply ‘have fun.’
“You all seem very close. Thanks to you, I think this month’s sales will break records.”
A young tavern clerk said to Jin.
He looked barely twenty, with a youthful face and unusually smooth skin.
He didn’t yet know who Jin and his companions really were. Had he known, he wouldn’t have dared speak so casually.
“Jogebi.”
The sudden call of his name made the clerk flinch.
Since Jin and his group hadn’t revealed their names, his reaction was natural.
“…Yes, sir?”
Thud.
Jin placed the basket full of Litra Cookies on the table.
“I am Jin Rune Candelle, the twelfth swordsman of Rune Candelle and the contractor of Solderet. And this is a gift.”
The reason Jin and his companions had spent several days vacationing at this quiet seaside tavern was none other than this.
This was the very place where Jogubi, Olmango’s contractor, carried out his work.
For a moment, Jogubi froze like a statue, his mouth twitching as if trying to speak.
With trembling hands, he opened the box, and a warm, fragrant scent of freshly baked cookies wafted up.
“I’ve come because I have something to receive from your deity. If it’s alright, could you call Olmango for me?”
He seemed utterly stunned.
Not because he had just learned the identity of the deity, but because his eyes were fixated on the pile of cookies before him.
“Are you… really giving all of these to me?”
“Of course.”
“May I… eat one while we talk?”
When Jin nodded, Jogubi picked up a cookie with shaking hands.
The moment he bit into it, his face flushed a deep red.
Then, moments later, his eyes rolled back, leaving only the whites visible.
The taste of the cookie was shocking, but that reaction was typical when a god manifested.
It was almost identical to when Picon entered the body of Vin Blanche.
[This is killer! Yeah, I’m so done with seafood now!]
“…Olmango?”
[Hold on a moment, contractor of Solderet. I’ll give you what you’re looking for once I finish these.]
With his head buried in the basket, devouring cookies, Olmango gave off none of the usual divine authority or dignity one might expect.