Episode 538
Chapter 145. Omen (7)
For the Runcandel faction watching everything unfold outside the Sword Emperor’s Fortress, it was nothing short of a series of shocks.
If it were simply a matter of annihilating the enemy, Rosa wouldn’t have needed to step in. Even just the Cavalry, some Black Knights, or the first squad of the Black Sword Society could have handled it easily.
But to do so without losing a single ally—that was an entirely different level.
Silence hung heavily over the barracks.
Everyone seemed lost for words, still reeling from the divine prowess Jin had displayed.
The elders cleared their throats nervously, glancing at Rosa.
“The Twelve Cavalry keep showing more and more astonishing feats. Can such power even be called human?”
“What they revealed when declaring the return of the Demon Sword was nothing compared to this. Now, no one can belittle the Twelve Cavalry’s Demon Swords by claiming legitimacy anymore…”
Ran, Vigo, Mu, and Ann were also present in the barracks.
While the brothers kept shaking or nodding their heads, unable to shake off their shock, the sisters wore expressionless faces.
Rosa’s gaze lingered on the sisters.
‘Since I took down Joshua, those two have definitely changed somehow.’
Until now, Rosa had never paid them much attention—just as she had with her other children who never stood out.
Among them, Mu and Ann were especially unimpressive.
They were so insignificant that even scolding or pushing them to improve felt like a waste of time.
But since that day, the change was too stark.
Normally, they would be running wild, clueless and babbling nonsense, yet now they were calm—an eerie composure.
That’s why Rosa had been keeping a close eye on them lately.
‘They’re not the type to gain weight and depth through some sudden enlightenment.’
What had changed her daughters?
‘They remain composed even after witnessing the youngest’s overwhelming power… but they don’t look like they’ve given up, waiting for death.’
Rosa quickly reached a conclusion.
‘They must have met a prophet. Perhaps they believe there’s a power even greater than what the youngest showed, one that stands with them.’
Rosa withdrew her gaze and spoke.
“There must be some limitation.”
The murmurs ceased.
“If the youngest could wield that power without any restrictions, the family’s succession war would have ended long ago.”
“That’s… true.”
“Exactly. Since the Twelve Cavalry are bound by a shadow contract, they must have borrowed Solderet’s power under certain conditions.”
“There were reports of artifact use as well. It could be a divine relic.”
“Also, the youngest probably didn’t even know they could use that much power. If they had, they would have revealed it at the start of the war. Unlike before the Demon Sword’s return was declared, the youngest no longer needs to hide their strength.”
Everyone in the barracks nodded in agreement.
If there was a contract and divine aid, such power was understandable.
Runcandel was a family far removed from divine contracts, so no one had considered it amid their shock.
“The first battle ended in a complete victory for the Sword Emperor’s Fortress. But I doubt Jiple will give up on that White Stone.”
The barracks door opened, and two Black Knights entered.
“Acting Head of the Family, we’ve confirmed troop movements from Jiple.”
“What’s the scale?”
“Over fifty flying ships, including Kozek, and it’s estimated that at least three hundred top-tier mages, including the Phantom Corps, are aboard. Octavia Jiple is in overall command, but there’s a possibility Keliak Jiple is involved as well.”
“Keliak Jiple…?”
“Yes.”
It wasn’t confirmed yet—just a report suggesting it was possible.
But the scale of the second reinforcements made Keliak’s presence far from surprising.
Keliak Jiple.
The head of the world’s greatest family and the pinnacle of magic.
For him to move personally from Jiple was equivalent to Siron stepping out for Runcandel.
Rosa’s eyes narrowed.
“What’s the basis for believing Keliak might join?”
“We spotted the fire dragon Kadun leaving the First Mage Tower. Also, the composition of the First Mage Tower’s mages has rapidly shifted to the second squad.”
“Then Keliak’s involvement is almost certain.”
“I agree, Acting Head.”
“How long until they reach the Sword Emperor’s Fortress?”
“Two days. It seems the teleportation ability they used in the past Gaipa Archipelago and the first battle of this war is currently unusable.”
“That’s a technique we don’t understand. It must have some limitations.”
A heavy silence fell again.
Runcandel and Jiple had fought countless battles over a thousand years.
Their war was less a war now and more a part of daily life.
The fiercest clashes happened when Siron and Keliak were young.
Before they became heads of their families, the two clans fought more fiercely than ever.
After each became head, things stabilized.
Because when the heads themselves clashed, one side was guaranteed to be utterly destroyed, and the other pushed to the brink of ruin.
That’s why Siron and Keliak rarely led their forces into battle.
Even when they did, the war ended the moment they appeared.
They were, quite literally, the absolute rulers of the world.
And now, Keliak was moving personally.
Though he was heading not toward Huepester but the Sword Emperor’s Fortress, blocking his path meant full-scale war.
Everyone immediately thought of all-out conflict at the mention of his name, but Rosa thought differently.
“Keliak, unlike the family heads, prioritizes negotiation. Even though he’s in the Black Sea, he wouldn’t dare start a full-scale war with us recklessly. Has everyone forgotten? He fears the family heads.”
Rosa judged that Keliak was coming to negotiate with her personally.
“But we can’t completely rule out all-out war. Black Knights, head to the Black Sea immediately and report the situation to the family head.”
Siron had likely already gone deep into the Black Sea, so even Black Knights might find it difficult to report quickly.
They might not even be able to meet him.
But Rosa deliberately ordered the knights to ensure the report would get through, so no one would worry.
The Black Knights understood immediately.
“Yes, ma’am!”
“Also, summon all Black Knights except the messengers, the Execution Knights, the first squad of the Black Sword Society, the Guardian Knights, and all Cavalry. Have our allies on standby. Once I give the order, move according to the war scenario immediately.”
“Understood!”
Some elders and strategists of the Black Sword Society hurried out of the barracks to carry out Rosa’s orders.
“Full-scale war is still avoidable, but the real issue is the White Stone. It’s already proven essential to them—first by summoning the fleet in the first battle, and now with these massive reinforcements. Yet we still don’t know what it actually is.”
“Should we send someone into the Sword Emperor’s Fortress?”
At the strategist’s suggestion, Rosa shook her head.
“No. If the youngest knew exactly what the White Stone was and was certain it was vital to the family, they would have asked for help already. The youngest is probably still deciding. Besides, the Second Lady is with them. We don’t want to provoke her unnecessarily. We have two days; let’s observe a bit longer.”
“Hmm. I can’t figure out why the Twelve Cavalry haven’t left the Sword Emperor’s Fortress. If their goal was to rescue Dante and Hyland, they should have left by now, but there’s no sign of that.”
Rosa found that strange too.
‘Logically, the youngest should be leading Dante and Hyland’s knights in retreat right now. They must know reinforcements are coming. Usually, the youngest would absorb Hyland, start a propaganda campaign to shake Jiple and the Empire, and push the family to act. So why haven’t they left the Sword Emperor’s Fortress?’
Is it because they can’t leave?
If it were just Dante stubbornly refusing, the youngest would have forced him out—by any means necessary.
The same applied if they were rescuing other knights of Hyland.
Rosa knew the youngest well enough to believe they could have taken Dante hostage or used harsher threats to get all of Hyland’s forces out of the fortress.
“It’s suspicious that Kinzel isn’t moving either. So far, there’s been no troop movement reported from the beastmen lands.”
“Like during the Sword Emperor’s Fortress terror attack, they could suddenly appear on the battlefield using dimensional gates. Keep a close watch.”
Unbeknownst to Runcandel, Kinzel was currently unable to use the leader’s power.
So if they were to join the battle at the Sword Emperor’s Fortress, troop movements should have already started.
“The last magic the Twelve Cavalry used was the legacy of Riol Jiple. Acting Head, perhaps Keliak’s movement isn’t just about the White Stone. Recovering Riol Jiple’s magic might also be a goal. The artifact the Twelve Cavalry used could also belong to Jiple.”
When Telrot Runcandel, the Chairman of the Hommin Council, spoke, Rosa nodded.
She read the hidden meaning behind his words clearly.
“That makes sense. You’re worried about the youngest, Chairman.”
“…Joshua is finished, and aside from the First Cavalry, he’s the family’s strongest. Worry is inevitable.”
“If Keliak aims not only for the White Stone but also to reclaim their magic and artifacts, and wants to negotiate with me, that won’t be part of the talks. There’s no way I’d simply agree to return what was taken.”
Even if negotiations happened instead of all-out war, Rosa was determined not to let Jin suffer losses.
“You worry too much. Do you think I’m an idiot, Chairman?”
Though she joked, no one laughed.
Only Telrot chuckled softly and bowed his head.
There were only a handful of people in the entire family who could handle Rosa’s jokes like that.
“All right, that’s the end of the meeting. Everyone, head back to your posts. Mew and Ann, you two stay behind for a moment.”