Episode 351
Chapter 107: Kinzello’s Visit (3)
The Bimant Royal Palace.
The Seins—those humans often called the noble bloodline, the mysterious imperial family, rulers of the empire. Never in a million years had anyone imagined they would be searching for Temar’s tomb.
Why?
More than the fact that their movements had been exposed, a more fundamental question came to mind.
“What do they intend to do by finding Temar’s tomb?”
Only a contract holder of the shadow can use the legacy left by Solderet.
So if a third party is searching for the tomb, it’s likely to prevent the contract holder from accessing the legacy.
Or perhaps there was something else inside Temar’s tomb that Jin didn’t know about.
“You don’t look very surprised. I’m sure you were, though.”
“I am surprised.”
“Wow, I’ve never seen anyone manage their expression as well as my brother does in moments like this.”
Looking at how Vishkel dealt with Bubar, it seemed he wasn’t very good at hiding his emotions, but that wasn’t the main issue.
“Let’s say the Bimant royal family is indeed searching for Temar’s tomb, just like Ziphl. How did you find out?”
“Well, there’s not much our leader doesn’t know. Is that explanation not enough?”
Marjiela answered with an innocent smile, and Jin’s lips curled slightly.
“It’s not that it’s insufficient. Kinzello isn’t obligated to report everything to me in detail. I was just asking.”
“You’re very straightforward.”
“Even if the source is unclear, the intention is obvious. It doesn’t seem like false information.”
Jin was curious about the source, but she figured they wouldn’t tell her anyway.
“Do you know why?”
“You mean why the Bimant royal family is looking for the tomb of the first head of the Runkandel family?”
“Yes.”
“Heh, I don’t quite remember. If you join us in the revolution, Lord Jin, it might just come to me in a flash.”
“Just keep forgetting, please.”
“Don’t you find that a shame? It’s the most incredible piece of information you’ve given me so far.”
Marjiela was no ordinary person.
Her identity was unknown, she was suspected to be tainted by chaotic energy, thick-skinned, sly, and even relaxed. Dealing with her was exhausting.
Fortunately, Jin knew how to handle people like this.
“That will be all. I won’t charge you for the tea.”
“Charge for tea?”
“It was the finest Milasan tea. Even I save it for special occasions. But that’s not important. Gilly, please see Lord Vishkel and Miss Marjiela out.”
“Understood, my lord.”
“Are you joking?”
“I’m serious.”
“W-wait a moment!”
Jin didn’t even hear the rest and turned sharply away.
“Just a little hint! Come back and sit for a moment—”
But Jin had already entered another room and closed the door.
Marjiela stared blankly at the closed door for a while, then shook her head.
“In society, they call this a game of push and pull. Did I push too hard, brother? What do you think?”
“…That doesn’t seem like an appropriate expression.”
“Hmm, Lord Gilly McLoran? If I apologize for my rudeness, will Lord Jin come back out?”
Gilly shook his head.
“He definitely won’t. Follow me.”
As Gilly stepped out first, Vishkel had no choice but to push his wheelchair and follow.
Marjiela looked deeply disappointed, and Vishkel’s face was cold. It seemed he was angry that Jin had embarrassed his sister.
“Lord Gilly McLoran.”
“Yes, Miss Marjiela?”
“The royal family is searching for the body of Temar Runkandel. Please tell Lord Jin.”
Gilly didn’t answer, just kept walking.
But though he showed no outward sign, his heart pounded wildly.
He had once seen Sara, the guardian created at the second tomb, alive and well.
So maybe Temar was also preserved in some form inside a tomb, appearing as a ‘living’ person.
At the same time, a dark feeling crept in.
“If the first head of the family exists somewhere in that tomb… would he be friendly toward my lord?”
Sara attacked Jin the moment she saw him. And Jin had told him the same was true of the guardian they met at the first tomb, Sildray Runkandel.
“It’s ominous somehow, but it’s not my place to judge. That’s for my lord to decide.”
When Gilly didn’t respond, Marjiela sighed, sounding disappointed.
“I just want to be on Lord Jin’s side, but he doesn’t seem to like me. It feels like unrequited love.”
Suddenly, Gilly stopped and looked back at Marjiela.
“Kinzello has always clashed with my lord. Back in their student days, he kidnapped my lord’s people, allied with Ziphl to create strange devices that threatened the world, and many innocent people were sacrificed in the process.”
That wasn’t all.
“Moreover, using the compass you made, Ziphl collected contract holders like they were rare curiosities, and Kinzello’s dark magic society turned the empire’s citizens into living golems.”
“Ah…”
“I heard you witnessed the victims of the empire’s incident firsthand—the living golems, their bodies horribly deformed, their lives lost. Did you feel no guilt at all?”
“That’s—”
“Don’t fool yourself just because you helped my lord a little. My lord could have overcome this crisis without you. What he hates most in this world is people like you.”
For a moment, Gilly’s eyes flashed with deadly intent, but then he returned to his usual indifferent expression.
‘…I got carried away thinking about these madmen’s past. I shouldn’t have said that.’
Just as he was about to turn and escort the Ibliano siblings away—
“This may be hard to understand.”
Marjiela smiled faintly and spoke.
“And surely we seem like villains. But Kinzello, in a broad sense, is working for the world’s sake.”
“What did you say…?”
“We will create a better world than this one. And we sincerely hope Lord Jin will join us. Once he understands our intentions, he will think positively.”
That almost made Jin lose her composure.
If someone hadn’t grabbed Gilly’s shoulder, she would have.
“…Miss Fourth.”
The hand on Gilly’s shoulder belonged to Mew.
“Miss Fourth? Are you sure you can call me that?”
“Apologies, Eighth Rank.”
“That’s right. Next time, I won’t just warn you, Gilly McLoran.”
“Yes, understood.”
Gilly bowed respectfully.
Mew’s gaze was fixed on the Ibliano siblings. She had been walking down the corridor and overheard their conversation.
“There are crazy people everywhere. Working for the world? Those third-rate terrorists? That’s the best they can say? Just shut up and get lost before I break your wheelchair and make sure you can’t use your arms.”
Vishkel’s eyes instantly flashed with murderous intent.
But Mew scoffed, unfazed.
“Why? Don’t like that, Lord Vishkel? Feeling insulted?”
“That’s enough, Lady Mew Runkandel.”
“Want to settle this in the dueling grounds? It’s not during the banquet, but I have that authority as a rank holder.”
Marjiela smiled brightly, wanting to keep her beloved brother from embarrassment or mistakes born of anger.
“Oh my, you must be Lady Mew Runkandel. I’ve always had a thing for pretty faces with rough tongues. What a treat to see this.”
“What?”
“It was nice meeting you. I didn’t mean to offend, but as the rank holder of the Hupester Patza family, I hope you’ll show some generosity. Well then!”
With a swift motion, Marjiela pushed her wheelchair past Mew.
The speed was unbelievable for such slender arms.
“Oh, and Lord Gilly, thanks for the escort! Next time, I’ll treat you to tea.”
Vishkel glared at Mew for a moment, then hurried after his sister.
In that moment, he added one more person to the list of those he wanted to kill, right alongside Bubar.
“Gilly.”
“Yes, Eighth Rank?”
“Didn’t you just try to cut them down? A nanny? Are you crazy?”
Gilly lowered his head, unable to answer, as Mew raised her hand to slap his cheek.
Fortunately, that didn’t happen.
“Hey, Mew. Are you seriously going to hit the youngest nanny? Put your hand down.”
This time it was Mary.
Coincidentally, they were standing in front of Mary’s room. She had been listening in with interest and came out into the corridor, expecting trouble.
“Sister Mary?”
“Is that what you want me to call you?”
“…Seventh Rank.”
“Good. I won’t say much. If you don’t want to die, just go on your way.”
“Sis!”
“Calling me ‘sis’ again? You idiot. You set up a situation to get on the youngest’s good side, then why stir up trouble and lose points? After hitting Gilly, can you even handle the consequences?”
Of course, Mew hadn’t insulted the Ibliano siblings to win Jin’s favor.
She just hated hearing the Iblianos—or Kinzello ‘and the like’—spout nonsense in the Garden of Swords without a shred of fear.
No other motive.
“Hah.”
“Hah? Try me.”
Click—!
Mew clenched her teeth and glared at Mary.
“…I’m backing off for today, but you should know your limits too. Beating someone into obedience is what you do to animals—I’m human. Don’t think I’ll just keep putting up with this forever.”
“You talk a big game. Even animals listen when you hit them. Humans should listen even better, right?”
As Mu stormed off, fists clenched and trembling, Mary shrugged.
“Now I get why Luna finds dealing with those two so exhausting.”
“…Thank you, Miss Mary.”
“Mu might’ve been a bit rude, but you should be thanking him, not me. If he’d actually attacked the Ibriano siblings just now, there’d have been no way out.”
Gilly knew that better than anyone.
If Mu had lost control and attacked the Ibriano siblings, Jin would’ve been in a real bind.
That thought made Gilly suddenly dislike herself.
Instead of helping Jin, she almost let petty emotions lead her into a mistake.
“Well, still, I kinda like that sense of justice you all have. That pure bloodline and that nanny spirit—my nanny would’ve done the same.”
Mary grinned and gave Gilly a friendly pat on the shoulder.
“Tell the youngest to set a date and event for the duel soon. And Gilly.”
“Yes?”
“From what I see, the youngest only loses control and goes berserk when their comrades are in danger. Especially when it comes to you, they’ll be extra protective. So from now on, be smarter about it. You’re the most precious person to the youngest, more than anyone else.”