Episode 595
Chapter 155. Once Again, to Laprarosa (3)
The time for Rosa Runcandel would come to an end within three years.
Whether it would be death, transformation into a monster like Smarion Prochi, or something else entirely, no one could say.
Though the chances were slim, if she could somehow overcome the corruption of the demonic influence, she might reach Changseong like Ron.
But Jin had already ruled out the possibility of Rosa ascending to Changseong.
It was Rosa herself who had said she could “endure it,” implying she couldn’t fully overcome the demonic corruption by her own strength.
Even Sironjo, who had already reached Changseong, was aware that his remaining time was limited. Rosa knew his condition better than anyone.
“What you should really worry about isn’t me, but Keliak Ziphl’s recovery. That man is currently unable to move, but… he’ll probably regain his strength faster than I will.”
Rosa wasn’t the only one in the family afflicted by the demonic corruption.
The Black Knights who survived the war, as well as the elite knights, had all been exposed to varying degrees of chaos. Ziphl was no exception.
“No matter when they regain their strength, they won’t be able to act recklessly during the truce period.”
“That’s true. But you know as well as I do that it won’t matter. When the truce ends, if they hold overwhelming power over us, that day will mark the beginning of our destruction.”
The official truce period was five years.
While the masses hoped the truce would last forever, the two great families knew this was merely the last respite in a thousand-year war—a calm before the storm.
Once the truce ended, there would be a final victor and a final loser.
“So this is your last chance. Use every means at your disposal to prove you were right. If you succeed, you will inherit everything the family holds.”
‘If you can stop their demonic corruption, complete the mechanical devices and fleets, and lead the thousand-year war to victory…’
You will become the head of the family. Rosa said these words plainly.
Jin was now on the final journey to claim the throne of Runcandel. Yet, despite the gravity of the moment, he didn’t take Rosa’s words at face value.
“Youngest.”
“Yes, Mother.”
“The prophet said you could carry out everything you intend to do immediately. Yet I’m giving you this chance because Siron trusts you… and because you’ve moved me, even if just a little.”
“The day I hear jokes from you, Mother, has finally come. I know you’re weighing me against the prophet.”
Rosa smiled at the sharpness in Jin’s voice.
“I hope that scale tips in your favor.”
“Mother, the prophet, and even Joshua Runcandel, the former Second Knight locked away in the underground prison.”
Jin paused briefly after turning away.
“I will end it with my own hands. Until then, I wish you well.”
“Such touching words. It seems our talk is over. Let’s go.”
Jin naturally followed Rosa out of the study.
Now that he thought about it, this was probably the first time he’d walked alongside Rosa through the Sword Garden.
And Rosa’s steps were light, as if she carried good news.
It was the first time Jin had seen her like that.
“Have all family members on standby line up in the garden.”
She didn’t call anyone specifically or raise her voice. She simply murmured into the air, and her command spread instantly.
Though she wasn’t in full health, the level she had reached still radiated authority.
Within three minutes, the knights, elders, stewards, scribes, and servants gathered in the garden.
Rosa stopped walking, and Jin stood beside her, looking down at the assembled family members.
“Starting today, the Twelfth Knights will begin their seclusion training. I have gathered you to announce this, so please wish them good fortune.”
Despite the family’s precarious state and the chaos everyone was enduring, the announcement of seclusion training shocked most—but no one dared show it.
Because Rosa had acknowledged it.
“When the Twelfth Knights return, everyone here must show improvement from their current state. Just as the Twelfth Knights always have.”
In effect, Rosa’s declaration was a proclamation that the current generation’s internal ranking battles among the knights were over.
Once their training was complete, Jin would immediately become the head of the family.
All the knights except Luna, Runtia, and Joshua were present.
‘The youngest… is going to become the head?’
‘After the seclusion training ends!?’
The Tona brothers barely concealed their stunned feelings.
Ran and Viego flinched briefly but quickly lowered their gazes. They had never been active contenders for the family headship.
Mew and Anne showed no particular reaction either. It was now common knowledge that they had changed.
But Dipus and Mary, like Jin in the study, were certain this was not the end.
Dipus especially recalled the conversation he had with Jin right after Joshua’s fall.
—So you’re saying Mother plans to bind the prophet, then pin everything on him later, and reinstate Joshua?
—Not only that, by bringing Joshua down, Mother has reasserted her authority. The stain from the exile incident will vanish. She showed the resolve to defeat the Second Knight she once supported. Regardless of the details, the family members will fear her even more.
—After raising your power to its limit, she’ll bring Joshua back to the surface and hand over all authority… while the prophet bears the blame and justification.
‘Until Mother, Joshua, and the prophet die, the ranking war will never end.’
Mew and Anne had some kind of connection with the prophet. Though no proof had been found yet, Dipus and Mary suspected as much.
Their task was to keep the prophet in check until Jin returned.
One reason Jin could leave so confidently was his trust in them and Runtia.
Unlike the others, Runtia’s relationship with them wasn’t clearly friendly, but her pure fighting spirit wouldn’t easily fall prey to the prophet’s schemes.
“Go.”
At Rosa’s command, the knights parted to form a path leading out of the Sword Garden.
The first journey to Laprarosa in 1796, during their trainee days, was a choice to escape from Ziphl and Kinzel, who had compasses.
The second journey in 1798 was to hide from the manhunt by Runcandel and Ziphl.
And now, the third journey to Laprarosa—
For the first time, Jin was leaving not as a fugitive, but proudly, to achieve a complete success. And with the entire family’s send-off.
As Jin walked slowly, the knights raised their swords in salute as he passed.
Watching his youngest son’s retreating figure, Rosa thought of the name ‘Ganesto,’ the family’s fate, and Siron.
Shortly after the Sword Emperor War ended, Siron’s expedition force settled the battle with Kial.
The fight ended in victory for the expedition, with no casualties.
Though the expedition’s power was extraordinary, Siron had expected to lose a few knights.
At the height of the battle, when Gliek met his death, it affected Kial deeply.
The moment Kial realized Gliek had vanished, he lost his mind in a frenzy.
Though no one died, the expedition suffered significant damage.
A month had already passed since the battle, but the expedition was still recovering, unable to move forward.
All had been exposed to chaos.
“Ha, ha ha. Elder! The meal is ready… If everyone takes their seats, this Ozdok will bring it to you!”
Ozdok spoke as he placed the food made from the remnants of chaos into bowls.
Even Ozdok, who had been knocked unconscious far from the battlefield, had a faint trace of chaos within him. But it was not enough to affect his mind.
In fact, he was the only one in the expedition still in good condition.
The knights discovered an unexpected side of him. After the battle, when most knights were near death, Ozdok could have fled at any time.
But he stayed, helping the knights recover.
Not because he feared a brutal death at Siron’s hands upon their return.
Simply because he felt loyalty as a member of the expedition and believed it was the right thing to do.
The knights knew this.
“Thank you… Ozdok.”
“Thank you.”
Hearing Luna and the knights’ voices, Ozdok felt his heart swell.
But it also hurt. Though they were alive, most knights had been irreversibly corrupted by chaos.
Their future held only becoming monsters or death during the expedition.
As the story’s strength waned, Ozdok regained some old memories.
From what he faintly recalled, only the witch Helluram knew how to remove chaos.
‘I think I heard that Helluram disappeared somewhere in the Black Sea a thousand years ago. Ugh, even though some memories are returning, they’re still hazy. With the elder’s condition, I can’t even ask if he knows anything…’
Naturally, Siron had been the most exposed to chaos. Since the war’s end, he had remained silent, sitting with his family crest displayed.
“Ozdok.”
“Eguh, eguhmuna!”
Ozdok fell on his backside and looked up.
After a month of being like a statue, Siron suddenly called him, making his heart leap.
“Oh, Elder! Are you alright? You’ve awakened!”
“Family head!”
Ozdok moved swiftly, and Luna along with the knights practically crawled toward Siron.
Siron slowly rose to his feet, radiating his energy toward them.
It was a blend of the aura of creation and magical power. His energy seemed to instantly sweep away the chaos clinging to his daughter and the knights.
The corruption wasn’t completely gone, but it was enough for the expedition party to pull themselves up as if their very lives depended on it.
“Do you always have to be this easily startled?”
[I’ll be careful not to seem frivolous! It’s just that seeing you finally get back on your feet, Elder, was so moving that I couldn’t help it…]
Siron gave a faint smile at those words.
Not only Ozdok, but the knights were all taken aback by the sight.
In fact, Siron’s condition was better now than before Kial’s chaos had begun to consume him. Everyone could feel his energy had become purer, more refined.
“From today on, bring any food made from the remnants of chaos only to me. I will purify it with my energy and redistribute it.”
[Yes! We’ll do just that, Elder!]
While Ozdok practically bounced around collecting the knights’ rations, Siron turned toward Inse and lifted Barisada up.
It was a gesture of respect for Ron, who had fought to the death defending Gliek in Inse.
And suddenly, a surge of curiosity and trust toward the youngest arose within him.
‘Even now, I can faintly sense Ron’s life force lingering… The youngest must have helped him reach his final realization. In the end, restoring the family to its rightful place will surely be the youngest’s responsibility.’
Luna, now fully recovered, stirred her magic and naturally lent her energy to Siron’s aura. She shared the same thoughts as him.