Episode 31
Chapter 12: Struggle, Seizure, Enjoyment (Part 1)
“Ugh… cough!”
The only sound breaking the silence of the training ground was the groan of the cadet whose arm had been slashed. Everyone else was so stunned they didn’t even dare breathe. The cadets couldn’t believe what they were seeing and hearing.
“Ahhh!”
“W-what is going on?!”
“What are you all doing? Call the medics, now!”
The Tona brothers raised their voices a beat too late. Jin stood before them, his face still expressionless.
“Jin! You bastard… Are you crazy?”
“Why did you just swing your sword like that?”
The Tona brothers’ eyes trembled with unease as they protested.
‘Could it be they’ve already caught on that we borrowed the sisters’ faction?’
‘How could he pinpoint and slash like that?’
They had to find a way to fix this mess.
The Tona brothers’ minds were consumed by two major problems.
First, they had injured the faction the sisters had lent them as mercenary support on the very first day. They’d have no excuse when the sisters tore them apart later.
Second, if they didn’t retaliate against Jin immediately, their own pride would plummet to rock bottom.
They’d been humiliated in front of all the intermediate cadets by their youngest brother. Watching Jin remain so calm sent chills down their spines, but if they backed down out of fear, it would be the end of them.
How could they explain this to the sisters? “We’re sorry, even with the cadets you lent us, the youngest was just too scary…” That kind of excuse wouldn’t fly.
Swish!
In the end, the Tona brothers drew their swords simultaneously.
“I’ll kill you!”
“How far do you think you can crawl back up?”
“Cadet.”
Ignoring the Tona brothers completely, Jin turned toward the cadet clutching his wounded arm. The cadet lifted his head at Jin’s call.
“What’s your name?”
“…Kazin Romero.”
“Do you know why I cut you?”
“Ugh… I don’t. Why did you do it?”
“Hey, Jin! Are you ignoring us? You bastard, draw your sword again. Let’s finish this today…”
“Brothers.”
Jin glanced briefly at the Tona brothers and met their eyes.
“Am I not talking to Kazin right now?”
“W-what?”
“I said, be quiet. If you want a duel, I’ll gladly accept anytime later.”
“How dare you cut my cadet…!”
“My cadet?”
Heytona nearly covered his mouth in shock.
“Was this guy part of your faction? I cut him because I sensed a strange hostility in his eyes when he looked at me.”
Silence fell over the training ground again. The Tona brothers were wide-eyed, unable to respond.
Trying to fight back only meant falling deeper into Jin’s control. By this conversation, Kazin Romero, the cadet Jin had cut, was now firmly labeled as part of the Tona brothers’ faction.
That meant what Jin was doing wasn’t some random outburst—it was the time-honored tradition of Runkandel.
A ‘Hierarchy War.’
Hierarchy wars in Runkandel were a favorite topic among bards and a staple gossip for the talkative townsfolk.
There was little more thrilling than the brutal blood feuds between brothers.
“The medics have arrived!”
Cadets standing at the back shouted and cleared a path. Unlike the Tona brothers and cadets, the medics moved with a casual air—it was their job to see blood and injuries every day in Runkandel.
Because of the medics’ presence, even the Tona brothers had to step aside. Even direct family couldn’t interfere with emergency treatment.
“Kazin. And all of you cadets, listen carefully!”
Suddenly, Jin’s eyes snapped wide open as he shouted.
“I am Jin Runkandel. From now on, any of you may suddenly draw your sword on me, or ambush me from behind when I’m off guard.”
The cadets stared at Jin, mouths agape.
“But know this—anyone who shows even the slightest hostility toward me, I will not hesitate to cut down. Just like I did now.”
Having said his piece, Jin calmly returned to his spot. The cadets standing nearby couldn’t help but swallow hard every time he passed.
He had caused a huge commotion. And all this while, Jed Runkandel, the elder, was watching with sharp eyes.
Yet Jin didn’t apologize to Jed. Knowing Jed’s personality, this was something he deserved praise for.
‘He’s the one in the family who loves hierarchy battles and guts more than anyone—even more than my father.’
The medics carried Kazin out on a stretcher, and the cadets waited anxiously to see what punishment Jed would hand down to Jin.
Most expected Jin to be scolded. The Tona brothers secretly hoped their uncle would crush the youngest brother hard.
“Jin Runkandel. The thirteenth son of the family’s head.”
“Yes, Elder.”
Jin deliberately avoided calling him ‘uncle.’ Whether father or uncle, the elders of Runkandel always liked to keep formal distinctions.
“You’ve done something incredible. Do you really think you can do this in front of me?”
The Tona brothers’ stiff faces brightened.
Jed Runkandel, the great uncle! No matter how much of a youngest son Jin was, he would have to shrink under the elder’s rebuke.
“That’s right.”
“You’re bold. Why?”
“I don’t think I fought the Tona brothers. I think I fought you, Elder.”
After cutting Kazin, Jin dropped a bombshell.
Even the Tona brothers, who hoped Jin would break, were stunned.
‘Is he really insane? How can someone be like this?’
All the cadets thought the same.
“You say you fought me. Fascinating. Why do you think so?”
Swish, click!
Jed lightly slashed Jin’s left cheek with his sword while standing still. Jin held his stance and gaze, waiting for the elder’s response.
“So, you caused this mess because you were displeased with the initiation ceremony I ordered? Because you thought I attacked you?”
“Except for the fact that I wasn’t displeased at all, yes, Elder.”
“Then why cut a cadet instead of attacking me directly?”
“Because I can’t beat you yet. If I thought I had a chance, I would have cut you, not Kazin or the Tona brothers.”
“You’re either reckless or too confident because you’re the family head’s son.”
“I just think it’s not Runkandel’s way to stand by and take it just because the opponent is stronger.”
The cadets nearby were trembling in their boots. How could a fifteen-year-old kid have such nerve to talk back like this?
Several minutes passed before Jed spoke again.
“A life can be lost in an instant, but honor lasts forever. Foolish.”
The aura that had formed the brilliant white sword in Jed’s hand dissipated.
“You have the kind of foolish courage that can make this uncle smile. Fine, I acknowledge you. You’re someone worth living as a Runkandel.”
Ha ha ha!
Suddenly, Jed burst into a booming laugh.
“Cadets, don’t forget this day. Today, you witnessed Runkandel itself. What this kid showed you is the true identity of our sword spirits.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Fight every day. That’s all! Only Daytona and Heytona remain; the rest are dismissed. Training starts tomorrow.”
The cadets began filing out of the training ground in perfect order. The Tona brothers felt the blood drain from their faces, and Jin passed by them, saying:
“As your younger brother, I have one piece of advice.”
The Tona brothers turned their dazed faces toward him.
“Always think about the future. You might be scarier than me now, but will that always be the case?”
The Tona brothers couldn’t find any words to respond to Jin’s sly smile.
“Wow, Jin… what kind of presence was that? Did we really just see that?”
“Is it true he killed a White Wolf warrior? I heard the factions turned against him because of that.”
“He’s the thirteenth son of thirteen, after all. If you pick the wrong faction and get involved, you might not see tomorrow. One slip and it’s over. The other brothers are all formidable…”
“That’s true, but still, he’s incredible. Who else could pull that off in front of Elder Jed?”
“Who knows? Maybe Jin will take the reins someday. Everyone knows the family head isn’t too fond of Joshua…”
“Shh! Don’t say things like that. If anyone hears, they’ll think you’re trying to overturn the entire intermediate class.”
This incident spread like wildfire among the cadets. Not a single intermediate cadet in the dorm wasn’t talking about Jin.
And Skut, Mesa, Bellop, and the others—
The nine cadets who advanced with Jin were already being labeled the ‘Youngest Division.’ Because of that, they too had to endure the heavy gazes of their seniors.
They stuck together, just as Jin had instructed.
“Since Jin cut Kazin, there might be retaliation today. Everyone, stay sharp!”
About an hour after Mesa, the de facto leader, had given his instructions, a group of intermediate cadets came looking for the youngest squad’s room.
The youngest squad exchanged wary glances, ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice, then cautiously opened the door.
Just like the young master had done earlier today, they were prepared to throw a punch the instant any hostility showed.
“Good to see you, juniors.”
But in both hands, the visiting cadets carried cigarettes, alcohol, and various other treats.
It felt as if envoys from an enemy nation had suddenly come bearing gifts of friendship.
Caught off guard, the youngest squad could only accept the baskets with blank expressions.
In truth, ever since their initiation into the intermediate class, they’d been on edge, dreading the violent days ahead in the dormitory.
Not because they feared getting beaten by their seniors.
Rather, they worried that if they kept getting roughed up every night, Jin might start to look weak in their eyes.
“We weren’t sure what you’d like, so we just grabbed a few things. The cigarettes are from Mila, and the liquor’s a fine sake from the Kurano Principality. It’s expensive stuff. Don’t worry, it’s not poisoned or anything—just take it easy and accept it.”
“Why are you giving us all this out of the blue?”
“Why? To make a good impression, of course. We don’t belong to any faction, so we can’t join the hierarchy wars, but we want to quietly support Young Master Jin.”
Not belonging to any faction in Runcandel basically meant you weren’t strong enough to be taken seriously.
The reason these middling cadets came to see the youngest squad was because of the Tona brothers.
After the Tonas entered the intermediate class, they’d endured endless bullying for a whole year. The cadets wanted to express their gratitude to Jin.
The Tona brothers might be lambs in front of Jin and the others, but in everyday life, they were downright tyrants.
It wasn’t without reason that the Tonas had earned a notorious reputation as vicious murderers in Jin’s past life.
“Well then, we’re off. We hope your futures shine brighter than ours.”