Chapter 362
Episode 111: The Trace (2)

The reason Rosa had never shared any information about the first head of the family’s tomb with the Riders was obvious.

First, profit.

She had no intention of sharing the benefits that could be gained from Temar’s tomb with the other Riders. Whatever advantage came from it, she believed it was for the good of Runcandel that she and Joshua kept it entirely to themselves.

Second, chaos.

The moment details about Temar’s tomb became known to the Riders, it was inevitable that those like Mary and Dipus—Riders who hadn’t yet given up on the throne—would rebel. Even without concrete proof.

The fact that Rosa only shared information about Temar’s tomb with Joshua was a glaring problem.

“The brothers don’t mind that Mother favors Joshua.”

It hadn’t always been that way. They had simply outgrown that phase.

Like anyone, the Riders had many moments when they seethed with resentment over Rosa’s favoritism—and it lasted a long time.

Runcandel. This harsh family was a place where even finding one’s footing and surviving was a struggle.

There was no room to complain about a parent’s favoritism.

In their younger days, Siron and Rosa had been even less lenient with their children than they were now. Cadets and prospective Riders who hadn’t yet earned the right to carry the family’s banner couldn’t even dream of defying them.

Luna was an exception, but she was literally a monster born far outside any standard.

So everyone endured a bitter, painful, and agonizing period of growth before becoming Riders.

The Rider’s uniform was not something you earned simply by aging or achieving nothingness.

A strong human being.

Both outwardly and inwardly. Only those who were solid and unyielding could earn the right to raise Runcandel’s banner.

That was why the Riders no longer let “favoritism” wound their hearts. Rosa’s favoritism no longer sparked anger in them, not even a small scratch.

But that wasn’t because the feelings of the other Riders, aside from Joshua, had worn down or dulled.

“It was because they were certain. Certain that Mother’s favoritism toward Joshua was her best judgment for the family.”

In other words, the Riders had reached a stage where they respected Rosa Runcandel’s favoritism.

They didn’t think Joshua was as exceptional as Luna, nor did they believe supporting him was the path for Runcandel.

They simply trusted that Rosa’s favoritism wasn’t for personal gain.

“That said, sharing information about Temar’s tomb only with Joshua… from the other Riders’ perspective, that’s definitely not a decision made for the family’s sake.”

Temar Runcandel.

The ill-fated first head of the family who had built the house but was never laid to rest in the ancestral tomb.

The empty spot in the tomb was a symbol of shame and a painful memory of defeat for Runcandel.

“Do you know? The first head of the family, Temar Runcandel, was not buried here.”

“Yes, and I also know there is no grave for him anywhere in the Garden of Swords.”

“The dark power you possess—that’s exactly why we cannot honor the first head. Show me your spiritual energy.”

The conversation Siron and Jin had on the day Jin left the family as a prospective Rider.

The absence of Temar’s tomb in the ancestral crypt was due to an ancient pact—more precisely, a curse—between Runcandel and Ziphl long ago.

A thousand years ago, the gods of Ziphl joined forces to curse the bloodline of Runcandel. A curse that prevented any Runcandel after Temar from using magic.

To this day, Runcandel has no ritual to honor Temar.

Few in the world knew the full story. Even within Runcandel, only a handful were aware that the gods of Ziphl had directly cursed the family a millennium ago.

“But the senior Riders all know. Especially Joshua, who is trying to become the contractor of Solderet himself. Any Rider who has long competed with him couldn’t be unaware.”

Mary was the seventh Rider. Not high-ranking by number alone, but her practical rank was within the top five.

More importantly, unlike other mid- and low-ranking Riders, she had competed with Joshua for a long time and shared all information with Dipus.

So Mary could not “respect” Rosa’s recent decision.

“Damn it…!”

Mary gritted her teeth and continued.

“You’re smart, so you know exactly why I’m so angry.”

“Sister.”

“And… you probably expected this reaction from me.”

Jin remained silent, implying he wouldn’t deny it.

Mary, the seventh Rider of Runcandel, was someone who could become cold and sharp whenever she chose.

She fully understood that her beloved youngest brother hadn’t shared this information out of mere affection.

She knew he was using her.

But to what end?

Obviously, to oppose their mother and Joshua and to disrupt their plans.

So her mind raced through calculations.

She removed the word “beloved” from “beloved youngest brother” and replaced “youngest brother” with “12th Rider.”

Mary’s calculation was simple.

She was figuring out how to act upon hearing the youngest’s story in a way that would benefit both the family and herself.

While Mary pondered, Jin began organizing his thoughts.

“Mother must have assumed I would never share information about Temar’s tomb with the brothers. She probably thought that would prevent me from monopolizing the tomb’s legacy.”

But there would be no disruption to the monopoly.

Because unless one was the contractor of Solderet, one could not claim the legacy left in the tomb.

“Mother has known about the tomb’s existence for some time but doesn’t know the full details. She probably doesn’t realize that anyone who isn’t the contractor of the Shadow who finds the tomb will have to face the guardian.”

That was why Rosa tacitly allowed Jin a certain degree of freedom.

Not knowing the full story of the tomb and the thousand-year-old contractor, she was waiting for Jin to uncover everything and claim it first.

So that when Jin finally seized it all, she could take it all at once.

“If there’s a disruption, it won’t be because I can’t monopolize the legacy and arrangement… but because none of us will get it.”

The legacy and arrangement could only be obtained by the contractor of Solderet.

But even if one wasn’t the contractor, destroying the legacy and arrangement was possible. That was why Ziphl was still desperately searching for Temar’s tomb a thousand years later.

Also, Biment’s goal wasn’t to destroy the legacy but to obtain Temar’s body.

“I don’t know how much Biment knows about the legacy and arrangement, or how they found out, but they are certain they can use Temar’s body even if they’re not the contractor.”

If that was the case, the worst outcome Jin and Runcandel could face was this:

Jin fails to obtain the legacy, Runcandel fails to overcome the humiliation of a thousand years ago, Ziphl destroys the tomb, and Biment obtains Temar’s body.

“If I keep searching for Temar’s tomb alone, that’s probably how it’ll end.”

In any case, he would eventually need the family’s help. Strength was necessary to protect the legacy.

But the only Rider he could fully trust was Luna—and she was absent.

So he had no choice but to take the risk.

The question of whether it was more dangerous to publicize information about Temar’s tomb or to continue investigating it alone had already been answered.

Finally, Mary made up her mind.

“At the next meeting, I will formally bring this issue into the open.”

Fortunately, she gave the answer Jin wanted.

Mary judged that was the path for Runcandel.

To find the first head’s legacy, return it to Runcandel, and restore the family’s former glory that even Ziphl couldn’t touch.

Nothing was more important to the current Runcandel.

A thought also crossed her mind.

“Father can’t not know this. Absolutely not!”

Could his obsession with the Black Sea be connected to Temar’s tomb?

Mary nodded, convinced that was the case.

Her faith and respect for Rosa had been wavering for some time and had completely collapsed after Jin’s confession.

But her belief in Siron’s absolute goal—the family’s revival and restoration of power—remained unshaken. That was an unchanging truth.

“How much do you know about Temar’s tomb?”

“The first head was the contractor of Solderet. That’s why Murakan was his guardian dragon. In the tomb, along with the first head and the old Runcandel’s legacy, there are things Solderet left for me.”

Mary’s eyes widened.

“Solderet left something for you… because you’re the contractor from Runcandel who appeared after a thousand years?”

“Yes, sister.”

“I see.”

Mary ran her hand through her hair in frustration and continued.

“You tried to claim what Solderet left without telling the family. But then Kinzello appeared and said other forces besides you are also searching the tomb, so you decided you couldn’t handle it alone. Am I right?”

Mary’s sharp insight caught Jin off guard.

“Exactly.”

A dark murderous intent flickered in Mary’s eyes.

This time, it was clearly directed at Jin. As the seventh Rider, she was furious that he had hidden such an important matter.

But unlike with Rosa, she also understood.

Because, in Mary’s view, most of the family hated Jin anyway.

“The youngest one’s nineteen, huh? If that had been me back then, I wouldn’t have told the family—even if it meant I’d end up six feet under. Burning with revenge and hatred.”

Mary exhaled slowly, as if letting go of a heavy burden.

“Hah, this kid… can be so damn infuriating.”

Jin didn’t bother apologizing.

There was no need to. She wasn’t whining or asking for help just because it was too much to handle.

“Anyway, you made the right call, Jin. If you’d kept this secret out of greed and I’d found out later, it wouldn’t have ended as easily as it is now.”