Chapter 383
Episode 117: Who Is the True Runcandel? (3)
Murakan, having heard the news late, was about to throw another tantrum, but Petro desperately blocked his way.
“Those lunatics—how dare they cut off the arm of the last contractor of Solderet…? And I’m the guardian dragon! Hah! I’m already furious about Strawberry Pie being imprisoned, but are they really trying to push me to the edge?”
“Lord Murakan, please calm down. I’m sure the young master has a plan.”
“Damn bastards! I’ll tear them all apart and feed them to the wild dogs.”
“You mustn’t go out there, Lord Murakan! Please! If you do, no—without a doubt, the young master will be in even deeper trouble!”
Petro stood firm, blocking Murakan’s path with all his might.
Of course, no mere scholar’s strength could physically restrain Murakan. Instead, Petro kept emphasizing how much trouble Jin would be in if Murakan acted rashly.
“We’re talking about an arm. The arm of a warrior! If it doesn’t heal properly, he’ll never wield his sword the same way again.”
The room trembled with Murakan’s rage.
Everyone in the Sword Garden could feel his overwhelming presence. Outside, hundreds of knights stood tensely on alert.
“I know that too. But you’re the guardian dragon, aren’t you? Then you must make the choice that’s best for the young master. Stay put and wait until the surgery is over.”
“Hmph.”
“When the young master is truly in danger, then you can unleash your anger. Please, Lord Murakan, I beg you… think of Gili as well!”
Petro’s lips trembled, pale as death, nearly suffocating under Murakan’s furious aura.
“Graaah!”
Murakan roared, and Petro clung desperately to his pant leg.
Fortunately, Petro’s plea got through. Murakan reluctantly accepted his words.
“…Fine, you’re right. Good call, steward. Not just the kid, but Strawberry Pie could be in trouble too.”
“Well thought! I’ll go prepare a drink to help you cool down—”
Murakan brushed past Petro.
“W-where are you going, Lord Murakan!?”
“Even so, I’m the guardian dragon. I can’t just stand by. At least I have to issue a warning. There are places I need to visit.”
Whoosh…!
Murakan stepped into the hallway and transformed into his true form. Petro could only watch, stunned once again.
Crack! Crunch!
Murakan’s massive body smashed through the walls and ceiling, sending debris raining down. The servants fled in panic as Murakan burst through the roof and soared high into the night sky.
‘The Sword Garden has been destroyed again…’
Not just Petro, but everyone in the family had never seen anything like this before. The Sword Garden being wrecked repeatedly within days was unprecedented.
Murakan pointed toward the moon, gazing down at the Sword Garden. The darkness of the night deepened as knights conducted their examinations below.
“If the arm of Jin Runcandel, the contractor of Solderet, does not fully recover…”
Murakan’s eyes gleamed as he continued.
“Then the day of Runcandel’s destruction will begin.”
His voice carried so that all of Runcandel could hear. They knew well that Murakan alone could not bring ruin to Runcandel.
It was just words.
But chilling words of a curse. Perhaps because the family sometimes indulged in strange superstitions, those words weighed heavily on their hearts.
Without another word, Murakan took flight, leaving the Sword Garden behind.
The surgery continued through the night.
Healing a severed limb required extreme concentration. The family’s healers all looked as if they were about to collapse from exhaustion.
“Director, the reattached arm is experiencing intermittent spasms…! We can’t control it!”
“I have eyes and a brain too, so shut up and focus your magic. We’re not dealing with an ordinary person—the arm belongs to the Runcandel rider.”
Though the arm had been reattached some time ago, mysterious spasms persisted.
It was driving the medical team mad. If they couldn’t fully control the spasms, the surgery would be a failure.
“If we can’t perfectly restore the arm of the twelfth rider, the entire medical team should be prepared to die together. Damn it, there was no necrosis, so what the hell is this spasm? Hey! Go fetch more data, now!”
Screech!
Suddenly, the surgery room door burst open. The medical director jumped up, shouting.
“Who the hell barges into an operating room in the middle of surgery!?”
Even in the Sword Garden, the medical director held supreme authority in the operating room. Even if the intruder was Siron himself, the director’s outburst was justified.
Runcandel treated its medical staff with utmost respect. Whether injured on duty or in wartime, without the medical corps, no one could fight properly.
Naturally, the director assumed this reckless intruder was a troublemaker from the Elder Council.
That only fueled his anger.
No matter what internal conflicts or power struggles were happening, the medical corps’ authority had to be respected. It was tradition for the medical corps to remain completely neutral within the family.
“Get out immediately! I said scram—”
The director’s angry tirade was cut short.
When the intruder pulled back their hood, the medical staff’s eyes nearly popped out in shock.
“Th-the Holy King…! The Holy King of Vankela!”
The director couldn’t help but say it aloud.
Holy King Rani Salome.
She had just arrived at the Sword Garden. Murakan had personally gone to the Holy Kingdom to bring her here while she was resting.
Only Jin and Murakan could summon the Holy King from her private quarters for personal matters.
“You bring a religious fanatic—or rather, the Holy King—and they don’t even get the proper title? Huh?”
Murakan growled from behind Rani, and the medical staff bowed deeply.
“Your Majesty, we welcome you!”
“Your Majesty, we welcome you!”
For the medical team, it felt like a savior had arrived.
“Today, I come not as the ruler of the Holy Kingdom, but as a friend of Jin. So please, don’t treat me too formally.”
Rani knelt beside Jin.
“What’s the situation?”
“The reattachment is complete, but the spasms of unknown origin continue.”
Rani nodded knowingly.
“I will examine him.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
With Rani’s arrival, the medical team naturally centered their efforts around her.
Though they were the best healers in Huepester, no one could surpass the Holy King.
A low hum filled the room.
As Rani began to release her energy, the operating room was instantly bathed in a bright yellow holy light.
Even after becoming Holy King, her divine power deepened day by day.
“Ayura will protect my friend.”
Jin awoke from anesthesia in the morning.
Seeing Rani sitting beside him, he smiled as if he had been expecting her.
“You’re awake.”
“Rani.”
There was no need to ask if the surgery had succeeded—his expression said it all.
“Thank you.”
“You treat me like your personal healer.”
A few months ago, Rani had come to Tikhan to treat Valeria, who had suffered from magical reflux.
“There was a black cat at the window at dawn, and it made me think of Lord Murakan. But I never expected it to actually be him.”
Jin’s expression grew serious.
“Isn’t the security in the Holy King’s chambers a bit lax? Should I lend you a sword?”
“Hmm, I’ll think about it. I’m already receiving quite a bit of money from the Lord, so I feel a bit guilty asking for more support.”
Jin had been steadily funneling state funds to the Holy Kingdom. Since his cosmetics business took off, astronomical sums flowed into the kingdom every month.
The Holy Kingdom’s financial crisis, triggered by Giple’s threats and bribes, was rapidly resolving thanks to that funding.
“My arm’s value is worth that much. Honestly, it feels better than before it was cut off.”
He swung his arm experimentally—it felt surprisingly light.
“The fate of the Holy Kingdom, saved by the Lord and Murakan, was worth even more. So don’t worry about it.”
“You religious fanatic! You’ve worked hard, kid.”
Murakan entered the room, holding the drink Petro had prepared, and ruffled Rani’s hair roughly.
“I’d like to send you off with a proper drink, but the situation won’t allow it. There are mountains of bastards I want to beat to death. Next time, I’ll drop by without business—stock up some good liquor in your chambers.”
Murakan treated Rani like a close cousin.
“…Murakan, no matter how casual you get, how can you even think about drinking in the Holy King’s chambers?”
“I’m fine with it. The Lord should come too. Stop just calling me back and forth all the time.”
“I’m fine with it too. Why are you the only one so stubborn, kid?”
The two chuckled together for a while, and Jin let out a small smile. To Rani, these two were more precious friends than anyone else.
“I should get going soon.”
“Yeah. I don’t think I can see you off.”
“I understand. The Sword Garden is already notorious for being deadly serious, and now it’s practically boiling with tension.”
Rani had already been briefed by Murakan about the situation before Jin woke.
“Hopefully, I won’t have to come here again at dawn to treat the Lord.”
“That won’t happen. Our medical team might be a bit busy today, but…”
“Aren’t you even a little sorry for the arm? It just barely reattached.”
Lani could only wish for the well-being of the Runcandel medical team, who must be utterly exhausted after treating Jin all night.
“The arm deserves a chance to prove itself too.”
Shaking her head, Lani said, “You’re not seriously planning a rebellion, are you?”
“Do I look that foolish to you, Lani?”
“Not exactly. Still, I hope I don’t get called in again today. See you around. And try to take it easy once in a while.”
As Lani left, as if on cue, a deadly gleam sparked in the eyes of both Jin and Murakan.
“You held back well, Murakan.”
“I’m still holding back. Honestly, I want to tear apart the elders—the bunch of reckless fools. Yeah, you must have some plan brewing in that head of yours. What’s your move?”
“I’m going to make a declaration.”
“A declaration? What kind of declaration?”
The answer Jin gave next was clear:
“To restore Runcandel to the House of the Demon Swordsmen.”
A war to claim the family throne.
In that war, Jin intended to achieve a feat only he could accomplish in Runcandel.