Chapter 393
Episode 118: What Can’t Be Hidden (3)
When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was the two of them.
Gilly, her eyes red and brimming with tears, and Murakan, gently holding her shoulder, comforting her.
Knowing they had been by my side the whole time wrapped me in a warmth so delicate and pure it felt like silk.
“Kid!”
“My lord!”
Gilly and Murakan crouched down to check on me.
“Gilly, Murakan.”
“My lord, are you really okay? Is there anywhere you feel uncomfortable or suffocated?”
“Not at all. The dead… are there any knights who died by my hand?”
That had been my biggest worry before I collapsed.
I never wanted innocent knights to die in the fight between my family and me.
Of course, most of those knights were ‘enemies’—clearly weaker than me and loyal to the family.
Even when the time comes to take down those knights, I want it to be through honorable battles or justified purges, not through surprise attacks like this. Just like when I dealt with Joshua’s knights who followed me in Samil.
“There are none, my lord.”
“That’s a relief.”
-[And I hereby give one order to all members of the family below the rank of knight.]
-[Protect them with all your might so that not a single guardian knight dies by my sword.]
It was also significant that my words, spoken while wielding the Sovereign’s Reigning Sword, had been kept.
Though the family members below the rank of knight hadn’t exactly thrown themselves into harm’s way just to obey me, the outcome looked that way nonetheless.
“Is it normal to worry about the knights first thing after waking up, kid? Strawberry Pie and I were going through hell while you were out cold…”
“I know. Sorry for making you worry.”
I gently pulled them both into a hug. Gilly let out a relieved sigh, but Murakan, calling it gross, quickly pulled away.
“No, it’s me who caused you great worry the moment you returned, my lord.”
“What worry did Gilly cause? The family just treated her too harshly.”
I naturally shifted my gaze to Murakan.
“Murakan, did Lord Telrot really treat Gilly humanely?”
“Yeah, that guy knows a thing or two. He seemed to make sure she was more comfortable than when she was taking care of you here.”
“Of course, Chairman Homin would do that. But after the incident, I had a feeling that the Jordens or other elders might have needlessly targeted Gilly.”
“If that had happened, do you think I would have just stood by?”
“True.”
“Besides, who would dare make a move against you four in this situation? Ha ha, it’s chaos. Your mother and the three knights are still under intensive care, and the younglings in the elders’ council are all too nervous to act.”
The Garden of Blades was still in shock. The power I had displayed far exceeded everyone’s expectations in Runcandel.
Of course, everyone knew I had risked my life by unleashing such a dangerous sword technique, since I lost consciousness immediately afterward.
But I was only nineteen.
Just on the cusp of adulthood. At that age, who else could risk their life and turn Runcandel upside down like that?
Those who had witnessed it all agreed: I was the only one. Even Luna, at her peak, might not have been able to do what I did.
I had even seriously wounded Rosa in the end. Rosa and Runtia were still under intensive medical care.
Even those who disliked me had to admit I had potential beyond Luna.
“Quite a show, huh.”
“Damn kid, how many days were you out just from using a little power like that?”
“A little? I was pretty amazing, you know.”
Amazing.
In the sluggish atmosphere of the Garden of Blades, I felt I had shown something worthy of that word. Though it cost me two severed arms and a near brush with death.
“Yeah, you were amazing. But if you get that ‘amazing’ again, there won’t be any saving you.”
“How long was I out?”
“Ten days.”
“Almost died, huh? Looks like I’ve been relying on Rani too much lately.”
“You were in a state that even a holy power from a religious fanatic couldn’t guarantee recovery, kid.”
“Then who healed me? The family’s medical staff alone wouldn’t have been enough…”
Suddenly, I stopped talking and looked over my body. Now that I thought about it, I was in surprisingly good shape for someone who just woke up.
“…Was it the blood of Numerus?”
Murakan and Gilly nodded.
Until just three minutes ago, my pulse was faint, breathing irregular, and I was unconscious. Even my vital energy was extinguished like a candle’s flame.
But after absorbing a single drop of the blood left by the vanished god, my body instantly regained vitality. It was as if the incredible battle had been nothing but a dream.
“Who exactly?”
“Your father.”
“You’re joking, right?”
The words slipped out before I could stop them.
In my entire life, not once had I imagined Sir Shiron Runcandel would help me like this.
I had always known my father thought well of me, but this was something else entirely.
He had directly lent his strength in the hierarchy war.
No other sibling had ever received such support from Shiron.
“My lord, the butler personally brought it just now. He said it’s the only one of its kind in the family.”
“Why the dumbfounded look? Doesn’t suit you.”
“I’m just… honestly surprised.”
I was so stunned I couldn’t think of what to say.
“Besides me, Murakan, and the butler, no one else in the family knows that Numerus’s blood was used on you.”
“No one knows?”
“Yes.”
The family members thought Heinz had come to check on your condition only. No one expected the family head to have personally bestowed the blood of Numerus.
I chuckled.
“My lord?”
“Why are you laughing?”
“There must be a reason my father secretly gave me Numerus’s blood. Maybe I’ve misunderstood him all this time.”
“A reason?”
“If he wants to keep it hidden, there’s no need to tell anyone. We can spend a quiet couple of days together, then leave. If we leave too soon, the butler might get suspicious.”
“Ah!”
Gilly clapped her hands, catching on.
“So you plan not to reveal that you received Numerus’s blood from the family head?”
“Exactly. At least half of the people outside want me dead. I’m curious to see their faces a few days from now.”
“Is that okay? Since you suddenly woke up, it’ll be obvious that you used Numerus’s divine artifact.”
“I’ll just say I got it during my trainee days. Whether they believe it or not, they have no proof it came from my father.”
“But since it’s a divine artifact personally bestowed by the family head… I worry it might anger him.”
“If he wanted credit, he wouldn’t have given it secretly. Since he gave it to me, I can handle it as I see fit. More importantly, tell me more about the family’s atmosphere. How many are trying to side with me?”
“I can’t say for sure. But Petro sensed that about ten percent of the first division of guardian knights and a few execution knights seem to favor you.”
“Right now, it’s hard to tell friend from foe. If about twenty percent are neutral or from other divisions, the rest are the elders’ council and Joshua’s faction.”
“Exactly.”
Even if we gathered all the neutral forces—which wouldn’t be easy—the elders and Joshua’s faction still held overwhelming advantage.
It was clear I had caused a huge stir.
Still, ‘entrenched interests’ rarely fall easily. That’s true not only in Runcandel but in every group in the world.
“Besides, most of the other houses in Huepester have long been recruited by Joshua, so those loyal to him won’t easily switch sides.”
“Humans are incomprehensible. You single-handedly wreck the Garden of Blades, and they still won’t switch?”
“No one died.”
It was fortunate that none of the protected knights died.
But it also showed the limits of my individual power.
In that horrific battle of cursed and thunder swords, not a single casualty occurred because this was Runcandel.
“Back when I was a trainee, even Luna came to meet me and my father and got into trouble. Individual strength is important, but no one can face Runcandel alone. Everyone knows that, so they keep supporting Joshua. It’s stable.”
“So if about ten percent seem to favor you, we should start by securing them. Should I meet them?”
“Me?”
“I’m still a pretty symbolic figure in this damn Runcandel. If I start recruiting knights seriously, it’ll be quite effective…”
Gilly and I burst out laughing at the thought.
“Funny?”
“It’ll just bruise your pride, Murakan. If they were going to turn their backs on you, they would have done it already.”
“Get your strength back quickly, will you?”
“And I have no intention of meeting those who favor me.”
“What? Why?”
“If they seem to like me, have them join my side. That’s not very appealing on its own. I want them to swear loyalty on their own, following me without me having to say a word. And when necessary, put on a little show to keep things balanced. That’s how I’ll expand my influence in Runcandel…”
Jin met the eyes of the two others and continued.
“First, though, we need to meet with the other factions directly.”
As always, Jin planned to build power from the outside in.
“The families of the Biment and Lutero Magic Federation, the Mu-ga clan of Huepester who might still be open to recruitment, top-tier mercenary groups like the Black King’s Order and the Ghost Corps, and other major neutral forces. That’s where the expansion has to start.”
Jin intended to prove through them that his strength wasn’t limited to just the formidable Mu-wi alone.