Chapter 634
Episode 163: Return to the Family (3)
February 25, 1803, early dawn.
Jin was preparing to head toward the Garden of Swords, just as everyone expected.
Not only that, but through Dino Jagglun, he had publicly announced to the entire world that he would return to the Garden of Swords on February 25.
Dino’s special report even subtly hinted that Jin was about to ascend as the new head of the family.
It was, in effect, a declaration of war against Runcandel.
“Do you really think Kinzelro and Ziphl will join the battle?” Talaris asked.
Her companions glanced anxiously between her and Jin.
“They definitely will. If they can’t read an opportunity this big, they don’t deserve to be leaders of such a powerful faction,” Jin replied.
From the start, Jin hadn’t planned for both major factions to intervene.
When he decided to visit Runcandel two weeks ago, he wasn’t certain. But seeing Runcandel’s response to his return announcement made it clear.
The prophet had already taken control of the family.
And the reason Kinzelro and Ziphl hadn’t provoked the Garden of Swords was because Runcandel possessed a power strong enough to intimidate them.
That’s why Jin took a bold gamble.
He resolved to create a grand stage that no fool could resist following.
“Even if the enemy leaders turn out to be far more foolish than I expect and don’t come, I still have to go. For the sake of those within the family who are resisting the prophet.”
He had never relied on the prophet’s dirty power, nor had he ever intended to.
Those who had remained steadfast—the true knights of Runcandel, his brothers—they were surely suffering in the Garden of Swords.
It was unthinkable for him not to seek them out.
Besides, judging from the article Runcandel released about Temar, Valeria might have been captured.
“As I said before, now is the perfect time to strike, while the family still underestimates my strength.”
“Hmm, well… with the force you have now, even if things go wrong, you should be able to escape. I never thought you’d come back stronger than me after all this time. Is that even possible?”
“Not quite. You’re giving me too much credit. And if it weren’t for your help, Talaris, I’d probably be considering other options. With the Moth and the Red Owl ship, I do have choices.”
“Ha, ha. I never thought I’d see the day when Talaris Endorma would be nothing more than someone’s mode of transportation.”
Talaris laughed, and Jin shrugged with a smirk.
They no longer seemed like superior and subordinate, but like close comrades.
Siris found herself surprisingly fond of that sight.
“Jin.”
“Yes, Siris.”
“Our secret bow has protected you countless times. Now it’s your turn to protect it.”
Jin met Siris’s gaze silently for a moment.
“So, don’t die out there. You still owe me a debt. I need to teach you some swordsmanship.”
“Of course. I guarantee rapid progress.”
“Our daughter’s being unusually mature today.”
“Mother, please take care of yourself. Don’t overexert your fragile body.”
“My lord…”
Gilly placed a hand on Jin’s shoulder.
“Please, return safely.”
“No rest for me once I get back. It’s going to be a relentless march. My lord, I’m sorry I can’t be more help.”
“Lord Jin… are you really okay going alone?”
The companions gathered around Gilly, their worry evident.
Talaris sighed, clearly frustrated.
“Honestly, you don’t need to worry about him anymore. So stop acting like Jin’s off to die. At this point, that guy holed up in the lab looks better off.”
Kwal was engrossed in his research, indifferent to whether Jin went to Runcandel alone or not.
He was completely absorbed in the artifacts Jin had brought from Lafrarosa.
For a magical engineer, these were priceless materials worth selling his soul for.
The only downside was that Valeria, who would have shared in this joy, was absent.
“As Talaris said, don’t worry so much. I’ll come back. If, by some chance, I don’t return within three days, prepare to evacuate.”
“Our son-in-law just can’t help adding unnecessary words. Now, let’s go!”
Jin boarded the Red Owl ship.
“I’ll be back. As always, I’ll bring back what we want.”
For over a thousand years, the Garden of Swords had been the sacred home of Runcandel’s sword ghosts, revered and feared by all warriors in the world.
In its very center, Rosa stood silently.
Her face was pale, lips dry.
Her body, once the black panther who ruled the family alongside Siron, was now gaunt and emaciated.
She lifted her head to gaze at the sky.
The sun blazed fiercely, out of place in the winter.
Yet Rosa felt no burning sensation in her eyes as she faced it directly.
Only a sense of pointless brightness.
“The youngest… is coming.”
A woman in a black hood nodded.
Ilina Runcandel, once known as Joshua’s ill-fated partner.
Now, everyone in Runcandel knew exactly who she was.
The prophet of calamity. The one who had saved Rosa and the others from chaos.
“You speak as if you regret it. Do you think things would have been different if you’d come sooner?”
Suddenly—
Rosa drew her Frenzy sword in an instant and stabbed Ilina’s neck.
Ilina collapsed, breathless, then convulsed for a few seconds before rising again.
From her wound flowed not blood, but chaos.
“Oh, really. How many lives do I have to explain this to before it sinks in?”
“No Runcandel member would ever speak to me like that. Even if this were your last breath, I wouldn’t hesitate to kill you.”
“You could have at least tried to reason with me…”
“Do you want to die again? I’ve felt the pain of death myself. It’s not something you can take lightly.”
Rosa’s low voice made Ilina bow her head.
“I’m sorry. I’ll be more careful from now on.”
Rosa said nothing more, turning her gaze toward the main gate.
The main gate.
Looking back, for Rosa Runcandel, that gate had been a long, lonely wait.
How desperately, how painfully she had hoped for the day Siron would return through it, having completed his mission and saved the family…
But that day never came.
Instead, what was certain to come was the youngest son who would never yield or compromise, forcing her to break him herself.
That truth stung a little.
“All former knights of Runcandel, prepare for the arrival of the 12th Knight.”
Rosa’s words were like the wind—solemn and unyielding.
No matter how small, they spread everywhere; no one failed to hear them. Just like Siron’s voice had.
Knights poured out from every corner of the estate, lining up before her.
It was the same as when the family had prepared for Siron’s hospitalization.
The knights stood at the front, followed by the Black Knights, the Black Sword Order, the Execution Knights, and the Guardian Knights.
The number far exceeded what Jin remembered, yet there were only four knights.
“Lady Rosa.”
The captain of the Black Knights, Stam, spoke.
“Speak.”
“What should we do about the underground knights?”
The underground knights—those who had defied Rosa until the very end.
“Release all except the four knights.”
“Understood. And… may we return their weapons as well?”
Stam’s request was not without reason.
Though they had turned their backs on Rosa and the family, they had once been devoted knights.
Their rejection of Rosa was not betrayal.
They simply could not overcome the power and tyranny she now wielded.
So Stam wanted to give them one last chance.
A chance to fight alongside Jin for the ‘honor’ they believed in.
Ilina wanted to shout that he was crazy, but Rosa didn’t dislike Stam for it.
People like him were necessary.
“Do as you say. Also, all their swords will be planted in the Garden.”
“…Thank you.”
“May I speak freely? I think it’s dangerous. Jin Runcandel’s fate has already veered off course once. Even the smallest factor could cause a huge problem!”
Rosa ignored her opinion.
Instead, she focused on the rapidly approaching energy of her youngest son.
She recalled the day Jin returned to the family after completing his preliminary knight training.
-So there’s someone else welcoming this old man.
-Head of the family? What do you mean?
-Rosa, you’ve grown dull. A powerful energy is approaching the Garden of Swords. At a very fast pace.
‘Now I can see what you felt back then… Siron.’
Impressive.
The first feeling to fill Rosa’s chest was no different from what she had felt with Siron.
Slowly, the main gate was opening.
Jin strode forward, paying no mind to the changed state of the family or the chaotic energy of the knights.
As the distance closed, the two felt as if all the surroundings faded away.
Among all these people and beings, mother and son focused every sense solely on each other.
Everything was just like that day.
The day Jin had proven his worth as a knight by receiving Siron’s sword.
But this was not that day.
“12th Knight Jin Runcandel has completed his secluded training and returned to the family.”
Jin did not salute.
Rosa remained silent, quietly gazing down at Jin.
As a Luncandel, as a human, and as a mother, she longed to hold onto these fleeting final moments with her youngest child for just a little longer.
That’s why, just like Siron had done that day, she wanted to draw her sword.
She wanted to savor the clash of blades with her son—her son who had grown strong through a single duel.
But Jin wouldn’t allow that moment to stretch on.
“Mother… you’ve broken your promise to me.”
How disappointing.
You no longer have the right to test me.
As Jin’s words trailed off, Rosa instinctively stopped her hand as it rose to her waist.
That was the last stir of emotion she felt as a human.
A thin line of black blood trickled from the cracked corners of her lips.
Wiping it away with the back of her hand, she replied, “The promise still stands. If you can prove to me here and now what you vowed, I will immediately restore everything to the family as it was.”