Episode 54
Chapter 19: The Banquet (9)
Though officially an 8-star knight, Vishkel was publicly known as a 7-star. The gap between him and Jin was simply insurmountable.
“A duel against a 7-star knight, huh.”
For Jin, this was nothing short of a windfall.
Win or lose, it was guaranteed to boost his reputation. Even just putting on a decent show would bring him plenty of benefits.
Besides, experiencing the swordsmanship of an Ibliano was a valuable lesson in itself. The previous head of the family was a formidable warrior even Sir Sironzo acknowledged—Jin had long wanted to face such a fighter at least once.
But still.
“Margiela Ibliano… what a strange woman.”
Jin was fully aware that she was enjoying this situation. All the noble reasons she gave were lies; her true purpose was simply to watch an entertaining fight unfold.
Or perhaps she took pleasure in putting her brother in a difficult spot. Either way, Jin didn’t like it one bit.
“Sir Vishkel seems to cherish his sister dearly.”
Jin stretched out his arm toward the guardian knights. One of them respectfully placed a sword into Jin’s hand and stepped back.
A low hum filled the air, and the blade immediately began to glow with a radiant aura, like a magical lamp lighting up.
“…You ask the obvious, Lord Jin.”
“I cherish my sister as well. So please, make sure your servants keep their tongues in check from now on.”
Calling Bubar Gaston—a 6-star martial artist—a mere ‘servant’ was bold, to say the least.
The audience was reminded once again that Runcandel was truly Runcandel.
“Bubar Gaston, whom you just beat up, is not a servant but an attendant. Did he make some kind of mistake?”
Vishkel feigned ignorance and asked for an explanation. The moment Jin heard the name ‘Bubar Gaston,’ a chill ran down his spine.
It wasn’t a common name. Despite having beaten the man without even asking his name due to his insolence, it was Bubar Gaston. Jin needed to confirm.
“Did you just say that man’s name is Bubar Gaston?”
“Yes. He came only to assist my ailing sister. He’s originally an artist, not someone suited for a Runcandel banquet. Whatever happened, there was no ill intent. I hope you can understand generously, Lord Jin.”
An artist.
That was all the confirmation Jin needed. Bubar, brought here by Vishkel, was definitely the shapeshifter he had been searching for.
The world still didn’t know Bubar Gaston’s true identity as a shapeshifter. Even the Biment Special Task Force investigating transformation crimes had found no solid leads so far.
That’s why Vishkel had only asked Bubar for a simple disguise at the banquet. Since his name wasn’t known, there was no need for an alias.
He assumed no one would pay attention to Bubar, so even a disguise seemed unnecessary.
Of course, they had no idea Jin was a time traveler.
“I should have introduced him properly earlier. His face is different, and given the setting, no one would have suspected it was Bubar. If I’d known, I wouldn’t have let it end so easily.”
Bubar had joined the assassination attempt against him right after leaving Pukseong Fortress, using his abilities only to sow chaos. He was also the one who had casually called Jin ‘brother-in-law.’
A man better off dead and turned into fertilizer.
If Jin had been certain Bubar had no connection to Vishkel Ibliano, he wouldn’t have hesitated for a second to find fault and kill him.
“Bubar Gaston and Vishkel Ibliano… what’s their relationship? Does Vishkel know Bubar is a shapeshifter?”
His mind raced. When Bubar was caught by the Special Task Force in his previous life, not a single line in the news mentioned the Ibliano family’s involvement.
They emphasized it was Bubar’s solo crime. At the time, Jin read the articles without much thought, but assuming Vishkel knew Bubar’s true identity, it felt off.
But there was no time to dwell. Many eyes were watching, and the duel between Jin and Vishkel was ongoing.
“…Very well. Since I beat him under the pretense of a duel, let’s consider the matter closed.”
“Thank you. Then let us begin. I look forward to your skill, Lord Jin.”
“I’ll take your lesson.”
As the guardian knight handed Vishkel his sword, the duel commenced.
Jin wiped away all the questions swirling in his mind. Showing any change in behavior or suspicion after hearing Bubar’s name would do him no good.
“After Ziple, now I have to start investigating the Ibliano family too. Especially this Vishkel Ibliano.”
Clang!
The first strike revealed everything.
“Not a 7-star after all.”
It was a gut feeling. Vishkel wasn’t going all out against Jin, but the flow of his blade was anything but ordinary.
His swordsmanship had a depth comparable to Uncle Zed’s. Jin couldn’t explain it precisely, but from the moment their blades clashed, he realized Vishkel had been hiding his true strength.
Some spectators noticed it too during the opening exchange.
“That guy must have made a big breakthrough recently. His movements have deepened.”
“Indeed, worthy of being called the hope of the Ibliano family.”
The crowd watching the duel wore serious expressions.
Though it was just a sensational mismatch, it was a rare chance to witness the sword styles of the Ibliano family’s pillar and Runcandel’s prodigy.
Swish!
Vishkel’s blade whipped like a whip, grazing Jin’s shoulder. The cut wasn’t deep, but a spray of blood splattered onto the floor.
Trying to dodge the follow-up, Jin was slashed again across his thigh. The strange trajectory of Vishkel’s sword was beyond Jin’s current understanding.
“As expected, Lord Jin is starting to falter. I know better than anyone how tricky Ibliano swordsmanship can be.”
“The gap’s too wide. A 7-star versus a 5-star, it can’t be helped. Still, holding your own for a few exchanges is impressive…”
The Ibliano style was cunning and unorthodox. Those who had suffered under it often avoided fighting Iblianos altogether.
“Hmph, you all don’t understand. Runcandel shines brightest in moments like this.”
If Ibliano’s sword was like a sly snake, Runcandel’s was a charging musk ox—willing to ram headfirst even if its horns broke.
Runcandel’s swordsmanship specialized in facing stronger opponents. But since Runcandel was always the stronger side, they rarely needed to unleash its full power.
Despite blood spurting from his thigh and shoulder, Jin pressed on with fierce attacks. The less he spent on defense, the sharper his senses became, and the bolder his choices.
Just like now, when he was cut across the chest but still stepped forward, aiming for Vishkel’s neck.
“Excellent, Lord Jin!”
Vishkel narrowly avoided Jin’s blade and shouted. Though facing a boy far below his level, the wild, untamed Runcandel swordsmanship made his skin crawl.
“Ugh.”
Jin let out a low groan as his chest wound—about twenty centimeters long—rendered his attack useless. Unlike the shoulder or thigh wounds, this one severely sapped his fighting ability.
At least no bones or organs were damaged.
“This reminds me of the day I fought the White Wolf tribe.”
Facing Vishkel was just as hopeless. His exceptional physical prowess and tough swordsmanship were beyond Jin’s reach.
Defeat was inevitable.
But for the first time in a long while, Jin’s heart raced with satisfaction.
“It’s clear Vishkel is holding back. But it’s also true that I’m managing to put up a decent fight.”
That was enough for now.
Not all 8-stars were equal, nor all 5-stars.
Even if every 5-star student in Runcandel were here, none could put on a show like this against Vishkel. No matter how much he held back.
And Jin was fighting with two of his abilities sealed.
“My vision’s starting to blur… but strangely, I feel like I can read Vishkel’s next move.”
He’d lost too much blood.
Jin decided it was time to end the duel. Just as his sight began to darken, he felt the breakthrough from the mental training he’d done with Luna.
Jin’s stance shifted.
With eyes closed, he held his sword vertically in front of his body—a pose more suited for a ceremony. The crowd thought he was finished.
Vishkel thought so too. Secretly praising Jin’s spirit, he was the first to cloak his sword in a thick aura, intending to break Jin’s blade and end the duel.
He thought it fitting to respond to Jin’s grit.
“A fine match, Lord Jin.”
Flash!
Vishkel struck without holding back. His sword, blazing with the aura of an 8-star knight, cut horizontally through the air alongside his body.
“Whoa!”
Those who knew this was one of the Ibliano family’s highest secret techniques gasped in awe.
A sword and body moving at lightning speed—a tribute from Vishkel to Runcandel’s youngest lord for a well-fought duel.
Clang!
Almost the moment Vishkel unleashed his technique, Jin’s vertically poised sword shattered into pieces.
Ibliano’s secret move, which had broken the sword and advanced forward, stopped just inches from Jin’s neck. Had it not been halted, it would have sliced through cleanly.
Jin stood there for about two seconds as if unconscious, then collapsed right where he was.
“The winner is Sir Vishkel!”
As soon as the announcer declared the result, the waiting medical team rushed out. The audience watched tensely, reading the atmosphere, and moments later, the medics signaled that Jin’s life was not in danger.
Clap, clap, clap!
Applause erupted for the spectacular match. The warriors, in particular, were deeply impressed by Vishkel’s secret technique displayed at the end.
But Vishkel and a few exceptional fighters knew something else—just before Jin fell, a near catastrophe had almost occurred.
‘What was that at the end…? Could it be that during our sparring, he suddenly awakened to the realm of the Heart Sword?’
Vishkel had clearly shattered Jin’s sword completely. Yet, the instant the blade broke, he felt something sharp pierce upward through his jaw.
It was an instinctive sensation—an awareness of what would have happened if his attack had been delayed by just 0.1 seconds.
If Jin had reacted even a fraction faster, Vishkel himself would have been in serious trouble. The vertically standing sword would have pierced through his jaw without question.
And with Jin already half-conscious, he wouldn’t have stopped his form before killing his opponent, unlike Vishkel.
Of course, closing that 0.1-second gap is precisely the domain of true masters.
‘Jin Runkandel… a terrifying opponent.’
Perhaps, when Kinzel embarks on his grand ambitions, Jin might become a genuine threat.
‘Thank goodness he’s still too young to become the clan head, surpassing his brothers.’
Vishkel sheathed his sword with trembling hands, lost in thought.