Episode 42
Chapter 17: Enemies Inside and Out (Part 2)

Five riders came rushing into the main house at Rosa’s summons.

Her third son, Ran; her fourth son, Vigo; her fourth daughter, Mew; her fifth daughter, Anne; and her second daughter, Luntia.

Rosa lined them up and fixed them with a heavy gaze. The storm that had just raged moments ago had somewhat calmed.

But as Jin stepped inside, Rosa’s voice rose again.

“How on earth can riders handle things so recklessly?!”

With that sharp rebuke, piles of documents and pens scattered across the table. One pen even cracked in two, broken by the force behind her voice.

Huff!

Rosa sighed, then looked at Jin.

“…You’ve come.”

“Yes, Mother.”

All eyes turned to Jin.

Ran and Vigo’s expressions showed faint irritation—they hadn’t been involved in this mission assignment, so their reaction was natural.

Mew and Anne openly displayed hostility.

Though their lips smiled, their eyes burned red with resentment, as if daring anyone to cross them.

Luntia’s face was calm. She was simply curious whether her youngest sibling had truly reached the rank of five-star after so long.

“Have you heard that your next mission is at the Colon Ruins?”

“Yes, I have.”

“That mission is canceled. You won’t be going to Colon.”

“Mother!”

Mew and Anne shouted in unison.

“You two are just scheming to kill the youngest, aren’t you? So, now that you’re riders wielding some petty power, you think you can look down on me?”

Rosa’s cold gaze swept over her daughters.

But they didn’t back down.

“Mother, is it so strange that we want to kill the youngest?”

“What did you say…?”

“To be honest, I don’t understand why you keep protecting the youngest.”

Mew stared Rosa down.

“Keep talking like that. Are you crazy?”

“You and Father have always encouraged us to fight among ourselves through silence. Wasn’t that because our family needs competition?”

“That’s right, Mother. All of us here know how much we were checked and challenged by our older siblings growing up. Even I was assigned tough missions in the intermediate class because of them—many times.”

A brief silence fell.

Mew and Anne weren’t wrong. The battle for rank and the internal strife were lifelong burdens for the Runcandel family, and Siron and Rosa had never really interfered.

“Fine, you’re right. Competition is necessary, and there’s no need to hold back.”

Rosa smiled faintly, leaving Mew and Anne unsure of her true thoughts.

“But have any of you ever achieved five stars at fifteen?”

“Huh?”

“You’re different from the youngest. If you had achieved what the youngest did at that age, maybe I would have protected you too. But you didn’t.”

She openly admitted the reason for her favoritism.

“In other words, you two weren’t worth my care. And now, seeing you dare to argue with me just because you’re riders, I don’t even regret it.”

Mew and Anne’s faces twisted, blinking back the sting.

No matter how harsh a family’s rivalry, no child escapes feeling hurt by parental favoritism.

“…Ha. You’re right, Mother. I was thoughtless.”

“We understand your wishes, Mother.”

The two bowed politely and withdrew, but inside, their hatred simmered thick and sticky.

“Luntia, Ran, Vigo.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“You share some responsibility for this mess caused by Mew and Anne. Especially you, Luntia—I’m very disappointed in you. You will take some time to reflect, and Ran and Vigo, hand over one sword each.”

Luntia shrugged and accepted, but Ran and Vigo bristled.

“W-what? Surrender our swords?”

“Consider yourself lucky you only have to give up one each. Honestly, I want to confiscate all the fine swords you took from the family armory.”

The brothers reluctantly bowed their heads. Ran and Vigo felt unfairly targeted, and their anger naturally turned toward Jin.

What a mess. And this is going to be exhausting.

Jin clicked his tongue inwardly, watching it all unfold.

Rosa Runcandel.

Did she truly scold the riders out of love and care?

Jin was certain she did not.

Mother wants me to fight harder and more fiercely with my siblings. She’s deliberately provoking even my older siblings and Luntia, who have nothing to do with this, to harbor hostility toward me.

That was the truth.

Rosa had called not only Mew and Anne but all the riders to test Jin.

More precisely, she intended to test all her children, including Jin.

There was no better way to see how obsessively they would tear each other apart.

I wonder how the youngest will navigate this. She’s smart—she won’t just get cocky thinking I’m spoiling her…

Rosa thought, curious and intrigued, though still visibly angry.

If Jin had defended his older siblings and pretended to accept punishment, or if he showed satisfaction with her favoritism, that would be the end. No matter how much of a prodigy he was to reach five stars at fifteen, Rosa would immediately lose interest in him.

Of course, she would still love him as her youngest son, but in the ‘succession game,’ he would be completely out.

She believed a child who was content to accept favors without thought could never lead the Runcandel family.

“Mother.”

“Speak, my son.”

Rosa answered in a low voice, hiding her anticipation.

“I’m very pleased with the mission my sisters assigned.”

“Do you know where the Colon Ruins are?”

Rosa scoffed.

“Yes. It’s in the land of Ziphl, a place Runcandel once tried and failed to conquer. Before I was even born.”

“You know well. Back then, Elder Telrot and thirty Paladins went on an expedition and were defeated. It’s just a tourist spot now, but for some reason, Ziphl is very protective of it. What do you think you can do there?”

Jin’s mission was to ‘seize’—to steal some of the ancient relics Ziphl was excavating at the Colon Ruins. He hadn’t yet seen the full list of relics to be taken, but there would be at least three.

“That remains to be seen. It’s a dangerous place, but I don’t think it’s unreasonable. My sisters must have judged I’m capable enough to handle it.”

“You’re being reckless. Or maybe testing me.”

Reckless.

Not a bad word, but not the response Rosa expected.

“Also, if the mission assignment suddenly changes, that only shows our system is weak to the family’s vassals.”

“No vassal doubts Runcandel over something so trivial. Your sisters just want to harm you. They can’t fight you directly, so they use their rider authority.”

“That’s exactly what I want to say, Mother.”

Jin smiled faintly.

“I have no intention of backing down from this fight. If I dueled my sisters directly, I’d lose for sure, but if I succeed in my mission, it’ll be a big blow to them.”

Rosa’s eyes gleamed.

“In other words, this fight is winnable for me. It’s wiser to keep my head down and improve my skills before facing them directly… but I don’t like my sisters enough to wait that long.”

“The Colon Ruins are deadly. Are you confident?”

“Yes. And if I return successful, the swords my older siblings surrendered should be given to me. Since Mother considers this mission dangerous, I want at least that much.”

“What did you say?”

Ran and Vigo instinctively glared at Jin, while Rosa concealed a pleased smile.

It was as if the youngest had read her mind and was now properly provoking his siblings.

“Brother, why should you have the swords we gave up…?”

“Fine. I allow it.”

Rosa cut off Vigo.

Ran sighed and said,

“Little brother, if you want a sword, I’ll give you one of mine. But give up this mission. Your achievement is already known to the world. You have to stay alive until Father returns.”

If Siron came to the Sword Garden a month later and Jin wasn’t there, everyone who came to Runcandel would be disappointed.

That would lead to rumors that the family had fabricated the story of a five-star at fifteen and covered it up with death.

Ran meant to warn him, but Jin tilted his head.

“That’s strange, Ran. If that was such a big issue, you should have stopped my sisters when they assigned the mission.”

Even when Ran spoke generously, Jin sharpened his tone—he was also a bystander. Neither Ran nor Vigo had opposed sending Jin to the Colon Ruins.

Jin saw through Ran’s attempt to curry favor with Mother by acting magnanimous.

“Hahaha… This is quite embarrassing, Ran. You should have just stayed quiet like your sisters.”

Ran couldn’t hide the heat rising in her ears.

“I’m curious to see if the youngest can really take the swords from his older brothers. Whether this will end as mere provocation or become reality, I’ll be watching closely. Everyone, you may leave now.”

As the children filed out, Rosa rested her chin on her hand.

‘…I did trample on the pride of the others, worried the youngest might end up like Luna. It was just a mother’s worry.’

The youngest was practically starving for a fight. Today, it wasn’t swords but words, yet he completely toyed with his much older brothers.

‘When Siron returns and sees the youngest, he’ll be glad to see how well he’s grown.’

Of course, that’s assuming Jin makes it back alive from the Kolon ruins—otherwise, it’s all just wishful thinking.

As soon as they left the main house, Ran and Viego headed straight to their rooms. Runtia hesitated for a moment, wondering if she should speak to the youngest, but the thought of dealing with him felt too bothersome, so she just turned and left.

“Do you think luck will be on your side this time?”

Mew, waiting for Jin outside the main house, spoke up. They stood with their backs to the wall, not even glancing in Jin’s direction.

“Well, you sisters might not know, but I’m not exactly lucky.”

“This is your last chance to be cocky. It’s not a solo mission, so at least you won’t be going alone.”

“Ha, thanks for the consideration, sisters. I’ll see you later, then.”

The two women glared at Jin’s retreating figure until he disappeared from sight.