Episode 437
Chapter 125: The Assailants, the Brothers (5)
“Revenge, huh? There was no grudge between you and me—at least, not until today. So, the reason you attacked me must be to exact revenge through the power of the Elder Council.”
As Jin spoke, Luton’s gaze shifted toward Thalaris—not pleading for his life by invoking old ties, but sizing him up.
“Hmph, why look at me? Even without me, you wouldn’t have been able to handle Tikan. You’re not so out of touch that you missed that, are you?”
The attackers who struck Tikan wielded power capable of destroying a minor nation.
Without Quikantel, Tikan would have suffered devastating losses—or ceased to exist altogether.
“…I know. We hadn’t heard that the Silver Dragon was here. Just as our swords have dulled, it seems the Elder Council has grown quite incompetent. This whole affair was riddled with misinformation and unpredictable variables.”
“Yet, isn’t it the duty of the Execution Knights of Runcandel to carry out their missions no matter the odds?”
“That’s true, Thalaris. But now, we’re nothing but exiles—not Execution Knights anymore. Still, it feels strange that you’re moving on behalf of the Twelfth Order.”
“What’s strange about it? I was just helping out a son-in-law.”
A twisted laugh escaped from the exiles’ cracked lips.
“I always had a feeling I’d die like this—so empty and meaningless. Whether meeting an old friend at the end is a curse or a blessing, I can’t say.”
“If I had to choose, I’d say it’s closer to a blessing. You used to get sentimental over nonsense like this when you were younger. Luton, tell me what happened. I haven’t heard from you in ages—I thought some of you might have become Black Knights.”
Thalaris looked genuinely curious about how they had fallen so far. They weren’t exactly friends, but there was a bond of sorts.
Jin, too, was puzzled that men who had once been Execution Knights had been cast out.
Aside from the ten Black Helmets, Execution Knights were the highest-ranking knights within Runcandel.
“If they had committed treason, they wouldn’t have been exiled—they’d have been executed. But barring betrayal, there’s no punishment harsher than exile for an Execution Knight.”
The word “purge” came to mind.
“I think I understand now.”
Their eyes met again—Jin and Luton.
Luton stared at Jin silently for a long moment. Never once had he imagined that the Twelfth Order would be the ones to mark their end.
A strange, bitter laugh slipped out as Luton finally spoke.
“The Twelfth Order… We were knights of Runcandel and swords of the family long before you were born. Though we never wore the Black Helmets, we prided ourselves on being among the best Execution Knights of our time.”
If not for the severe injuries that disfigured his face and body, Luton might have become a Black Knight himself.
“When Sir Siron Runcandel spent more time in the Black Sea, we were reassigned under the First Order by the family head’s command.”
“Luna’s older sister?”
That was news to Thalaris. Luna, known as the White Whale, was famous for her solitary nature.
“There was a time when everyone was certain the First Order would produce the next family head. But around the time you were born, the First Order declared they would not take the throne.”
Luton continued, his expression bitter despite his battered face.
“From family guardians to Execution Knights, to the family head’s knights, and then to the First Order’s knights… over decades, our affiliations shifted like that.”
Next would have been becoming knights of another order or serving as family Execution Knights under the Elder Council.
But Luton and his comrades faced a future they never expected.
“The Second Order…”
He paused, saying the name Joshua Runcandel.
“We thought we’d serve him. Even before the First Order gave up the throne, Lady Rosa often showed signs of supporting the Second Order.”
At that time, Siron spent more time in the Black Sea than in the Sword Garden.
So, the family’s actual leadership fell to Rosa.
But Rosa did not appoint the exiles as knights of the Second Order.
Even though Luton’s group numbered fifteen—meaning fifteen top-tier Execution Knights.
“They discarded us as if we were worthless.”
Just as Jin had predicted, Rosa began purging them.
As if trying to erase Luton and his comrades from existence, she destroyed everything: their lives, families, dependents, animals, and acquaintances.
Though their martial skills were formidable, they were helpless against betrayal by the family they trusted.
They never imagined the family would abandon them.
“Thanks to the Black Sword Council’s help, four of the fifteen survived. Though we look like this now. But one of the four died soon after, and another died a few years ago while assisting the Elder Council.”
“So only you two remain?”
“Yes.”
Despite a lifetime of devotion to Runcandel, they were left wondering why they had been purged so cruelly and pitifully.
Exiled Execution Knights could never free themselves from that question.
“Your mother must have judged you too difficult for the Second Order to handle.”
“…Probably. Otherwise, there’d be no reason to purge us.”
Even when they were Siron’s knights, they sometimes attacked Thalaris without his orders. Thalaris had called them “wild beasts” for their reckless behavior.
That’s why Rosa never made them Joshua’s knights.
Nor did she assign them as family Execution Knights under the Elder Council, fearing the council gaining too much power.
They were purged without even a chance to pledge loyalty to other brothers who had yet to become knights or had just become so.
Of course, they couldn’t accept such reasons.
But they had no power to resist such unreasonable injustice. Rosa Runcandel was their opponent.
“Hmph… Luton, I have one question about all this.”
Thalaris furrowed his brow.
“What was Siron doing while all this happened? Did he just stand by while Lady Rosa wiped you out without cause?”
Slowly, Luton nodded.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“You’re not asking because you don’t know, are you, Thalaris?”
Thalaris sighed.
He recalled the friend who had grown as emotionally barren as a desert in the dry season.
“Even so, thirty years ago, Siron cared for you quite a bit… Are you saying he really took no action as things got this bad?”
“After the First Order gave up the throne, the family head acted as if everything in the world was disappointing. So, we probably meant even less to him. You never once wondered about our fate, did you?”
“That’s because I assumed you were safe. How could I know what goes on inside Runcandel? It wouldn’t be right for an outsider like me to pry or for Siron to compare himself to me.”
“That’s true. If the family head isn’t watching, there’s no reason for you to check on us. But aside from the family head, you were the closest to us.”
Seeing Thalaris hesitate, Luton added:
“Of course, I’m not telling you this to blame you.”
“Good. You know me well enough not to blame me. If you had come to the Secret Palace asking for help after surviving, that would be different.”
“Exactly. We didn’t seek you out because we believed you had nothing to do with this. We lived isolated lives, so you were the closest thing we had—but that wasn’t objectively anything special. To you, we were just a past connection.”
Thalaris shrugged.
Still, if they had come, he would have helped them somehow.
But he kept that thought to himself—it was pointless.
A brief silence followed.
“I have nothing more to say.”
“That’s for me to decide. I still have a few questions.”
Jin spoke up.
“You said you attacked me for revenge. Is your target my mother?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“The Black Sword Council gave me orders for their own benefit. Everything they do is to become the family head.”
“Do you really think Elder Jorden can defeat Joshua and become family head?”
Jin’s eyes showed genuine doubt. Luton shook his head.
“How likely it is doesn’t matter. We have no other choice.”
“In other words, you’re using the Black Sword Council to exact revenge. Judging by how you speak, it doesn’t seem like you’re acting out of gratitude for being saved.”
“Gratitude? Jorden used us like dogs whenever he wanted. We’ve repaid that debt. I might have been a little more thankful if he’d saved me without leaving me like this.”
The exiled Execution Knights were driven purely by revenge.
“Alright, one last question.”
“What is it?”
“You said you survived thanks to the Black Sword Council and Jorden Runcandel. Does your mother know about that?”
“No, she doesn’t.”
“That’s true. If Mother had found out, you wouldn’t have survived this long. And that fact… it’s the only way you can realistically get your revenge on her. I’ll offer you a death with more meaning.”
“A death with more meaning?”
“You’ll never see the future where the Black Sword Chairman becomes the head of the family. If you die by my hand now, it’s over—your revenge will never come to pass.”
“What are you trying to say, Twelfth Generation?”
As Luten looked up, Jin continued.
“Return to the Garden of Swords. Go and tell them that the Black Sword Chairman dared to defy Mother’s strict orders. Tarnish her authority. That’s the most significant revenge you can achieve.”