Episode 313
Chapter 95: Those Searching for Her (3)
Hister? To hear that name again, here and now, in a place like this—it was something I never expected.
‘Could the feat Joshua accomplished have something to do with the Hister family?’
My heart pounded rapidly.
As of now, there was only one living Hister: Valeria.
“I’ve never heard of them,” Jin said, forcing his expression into a calm mask.
“They were the only family that once threatened Ziphl with ancient magic. The reason you’ve never heard of them is because Ziphl wiped them out completely, erasing them from history. Almost no records remain.”
“Oh, now that you mention it… I think I might have heard the name once during my preliminary training days. It makes sense why there’s so little documentation—Ziphl must have destroyed everything.”
“Exactly. Ziphl clearly still fears them. Even after hundreds of years since their extinction, there’s still a bounty on their heads.”
“Is there a survivor?”
“Only one. We at Runcandel have known for years that Ziphl is searching for this person. That’s why the family has been secretly tracking Hister’s whereabouts.”
This was the first time I’d heard that Runcandel was looking for Valeria.
In my previous life, I was treated like garbage in the family, never becoming a knight, so I had no access to such information.
‘My master never mentioned that Runcandel was after me. Did he not realize it? No, that can’t be. He must have kept it from me to avoid burdening me.’
In my past life, Valeria and I rarely spoke about Runcandel. To me, that name was a symbol of my greatest wounds and failures.
“So, the feat accomplished by the second knight—was it capturing her?”
Though unlikely, I couldn’t completely rule out the possibility that Valeria had been captured. Maybe she was caught and then released before my return, or perhaps she escaped.
“No, that’s not it.”
I breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
Zed paused briefly, glancing around. Though no one could be eavesdropping in the training grounds, his hesitation emphasized the secrecy of the information.
“…They haven’t captured her, but they’ve discovered the alias she’s currently using.”
“So, they haven’t located her or secured any new recruits—just learned her name. That’s why Mother went to Kelliac to propose negotiations herself.”
“That’s why I told you to keep this strictly confidential.”
“It’s surprising. For a descendant of a destroyed family to have such influence… It really feels like Ziphl fears the Hister family.”
—I can’t say what Hister’s true intentions were in shaping history. But the reason I paid attention to them was because Ziphl couldn’t distort their record magic.
Misha’s words suddenly came to mind.
A magic that leaves records impossible to falsify. Ziphl genuinely feared that magic resurfacing in the world.
“Well, is that enough for now?”
“Uncle, may I ask—”
“Again? What is it now?”
“Do you know her name? And what exactly Mother hopes to gain through negotiation?”
“Seriously? Where did you lose all sense of shame? Your greed is astounding. Or do you think you can fool me?”
“I apologize. I just thought your dignity was worth more than such details.”
“Have you been cozying up to the flatterers outside? I can’t share that with you.”
“Honestly, don’t you care about me? You won’t regret telling me.”
“You’ve been hanging out with shameless scoundrels… Didn’t I just say I don’t know the exact feat Joshua accomplished? I don’t know her alias either. Nor does the acting head of the family.”
“That’s disappointing.”
Not really.
‘Just knowing the family is interested in my master is a huge gain.’
I’d received precious information practically for free.
If I could figure out Rosa’s true intentions, that would be icing on the cake—but that was something I could uncover in time.
“Disappointed? You little—say one more word about the final battle, and you’ll find yourself in quite an interesting situation.”
“Of course, Uncle. Thank you.”
I bowed my head.
Zed clicked his tongue at my cheeky attitude.
He wasn’t truly annoyed. After a long time, seeing his nephew act so boldly was actually amusing.
If it were just bravado, he’d have put a stop to it immediately. But to him, I was simply shrewdly looking out for my own interests.
A low hum filled the air as Zed’s sword glowed with aura.
“If you’re grateful, then later make sure the elders recognize that you’ve uncovered clues to the family’s final battle technique.”
Zed began demonstrating the technique.
An improved version of Runcandel’s Fourth Final Battle Technique: Falling Petals.
I focused intently on my uncle’s sword. The aura surrounding the blade deliberately fragmented and became unstable before forming into petal shapes—just as it had the first time I saw it.
The petals scattered in unpredictable patterns all around.
But the moment the blade, falling like a bell, was retrieved—
KRAAAASH!
Suddenly, a pillar of aura shot up from where the petals had spread.
The petals gathered around the pillar, then dispersed repeatedly, like a massive tree made of aura swaying in the wind.
“The ‘Plummeting King’s Sword’ technique you showed me—the ‘Waterfall’—rained lightning down along the blade’s path. In contrast, ‘Falling Petals’ is an ascending form. Instead of lightning, I focused on the most efficient way to use aura.”
At a glance, the difference from the original Falling Petals was clear.
“What do you think?”
“When I first saw Falling Petals, I thought it was inferior to Waterfall. But now, I see them as equals. If Waterfall suits one-on-one combat, the improved Falling Petals seems better for facing multiple opponents.”
Zed grinned ear to ear.
“You see it perfectly. The original Falling Petals was weaker because it was essentially the same technique as Waterfall, just without the lightning. Naturally, its power was limited.”
It had only been about a month since I showed Zed Waterfall.
In that short time, he studied the sword I’d shown him once and advanced the Falling Petals technique.
‘It’s not just an improvement—it’s practically perfection.’
I swallowed my admiration and spoke.
“Thank you for your hard work. But, Uncle—”
“Speak.”
“Are you really going to name the improved Falling Petals after me? I’ve thought it over many times, and this isn’t my achievement—it’s yours.”
“I already said I’d name it after you. No take-backs.”
“But—”
“As you said, the elders don’t like you. And I believe you’ll find a way to overturn their opinion of you, with or without the technique bearing your name. You always have.”
“Then why insist on giving me credit for your accomplishment? Is it because you’ve already told the elders you had my help?”
Zed shook his head.
“Not at all. It’s not because I’m particularly fond of you. I just think it’s good to have you owe me one. Besides, you’ve done great things for the family recently.”
The ‘great thing’ Zed referred to was the assassination of Barton Vichena.
“So when I decide to support you, make sure you behave accordingly. But as I said before, if you stray, I’ll be the first to draw my sword against you.”
“Understood.”
“And one more thing—I’ve changed my mind.”
“What is it?”
“It’s better to hold off on showing the elders proof of the final battle technique. Wait until after you’ve completed improvements on the Sixth Final Battle Technique: Lightning Flash. Show me that other technique the Plummeting King’s Sword experienced.”
“I will. But please understand one thing, Uncle.”
“What is it?”
“If you were any other elder, or from another family, I’d stop you from recklessly modifying the final battle techniques I possess. And if I succeed in improving the Sixth Final Battle Technique, please make sure your name is attached to it.”
“No way. That one will bear your name. Now, show me.”
The two of us stayed in the training grounds until nightfall, practicing the Plummeting King’s Sword and its final battle techniques.
Every time I revealed a new sword form, Zed’s smile grew wider, already imagining how the elders would come crawling to us.
Phew!
Joshua sighed, slumping into his chair. Lighting his cigarette, the exhaustion on his face was clear.
A woman approached him.
“Joshua, how did it go?”
She was his wife.
“…Kelliac Ziphl refused Mother’s offer.”
The negotiations between Rosa and Kelliac had failed.
But just hearing that Rosa had discovered the Hister name was already a gain for Kelliac.
“The acting head and we both expected this to some extent. Don’t be too discouraged.”
“A name alone isn’t enough. We need to capture Hister herself for Mother to truly pressure Kelliac.”
The woman smiled softly, wrapping her arms gently around Joshua’s neck.
“Anyway… now that we know her name, catching her is only a matter of time. She’s good at hiding like a filthy rat, so it’ll take a while. But in the end, we’ll catch her before Ziphl does.”
Zipple still didn’t know the name ‘Aria Owlheart.’
So it was far more likely that Runcandel would be the one to find Valeria first.
“When the time comes, Keliak will have to spill even more than what he’s already revealed. So don’t rush things, Joshua…”
The last day of March, 1799.
The scorching sun beat down mercilessly over a city teeming with villains, crawling like insects in every corner.
A barren land where not a single weed grew—a city ruled by the lowest of the low.
Mamit.
‘This place brings back memories.’
The first time Jin had come here in his current life was at fifteen, during intermediate training.
Since then, Jin had grown in ways beyond measure, but Mamit remained exactly the same.
The city’s residents still boasted about their horrific crimes as if they were trophies, and the streets were littered with filth—and the occasional discarded entrails, fingers, or even severed heads, tossed about without a second thought.
Just like four years ago, the criminals of Mamit were stunned to see Jin, who had just arrived in the city.
But there was one thing that had changed.
“J-Jin Runcandel…”
“Damn it, why would a big shot like him come to this cesspool?”
“Don’t make eye contact, idiots. One wrong move and your neck’s as good as gone.”
Their attitude.
Fear was now evident in the eyes of Mamit’s criminals whenever they looked at Jin.
“Mesa.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Go to the Moonlight Well Inn and tell the kings of Mamit this: until I arrive, every single one of them will come out and kneel before me. No exceptions.”