Episode 82
Chapter 28: Meeting Siron (Part 2)

Because it was early morning, the Hupester Union’s transit gate was relatively quiet.

Still, the moment Jin, Luna, and Gilly arrived, the few people present immediately turned their attention to them.

It was because of Luna.

Jin’s face wasn’t widely known yet, but Luna was recognized everywhere she went—especially here, at the Hupester Union, the stronghold of Runcandel.

Yet no one dared to approach Luna or pretend to know her. Instead, the nearby taverns would be buzzing all night with stories about her.

“This is exactly why I hate going out. I prefer this countryside where no one knows me. It’s ridiculous that I feel more comfortable outside than at home,” Luna grumbled.

As she muttered, Jin pulled his hood over his head.

At that moment, the guards waiting inside the transit gate suddenly sprinted toward their group.

“Attention!”

“Attention! We honor the First Rider of Runcandel!”

“We’ll be heading to the Garden of Blades. Please summon a carriage.”

Luna accepted their salute and gave the order.

“Understood!”

The guards dashed off. Though they weren’t part of the Garden of Blades, they were paid by Runcandel, just like all other soldiers within the Hupester Union.

After about ten minutes, a steel carriage bearing the Runcandel emblem arrived right in front of the VIP waiting room.

The driver was Petro, the second steward, who happened to be at the transit gate to send documents to an allied family.

“Miss Luna! Your sudden disappearance threw the main house into chaos. Where have you been? And with Master Jin… and Gilly? Why are you with the First Miss?”

Petro’s eyes widened in disbelief.

As far as he knew, this trio shouldn’t exist together. A prospective rider traveling with the First Rider was unheard of.

“…There must be some reason. Let’s go, First Miss. Too many eyes are watching. You three should ride ahead on horseback and inform the main house.”

Petro glanced around nervously as he spoke to the knights escorting him. He worried rumors might spread about Luna and Jin traveling together.

Clatter, clatter.

Though the carriage set off, Petro couldn’t hide his unease.

‘What on earth is going on? If we bring Master Jin back to the family like this…’

This time, the Garden of Blades would truly be turned upside down.

Luna disappearing suddenly was common enough that no one thought much of it.

But a prospective rider returning without permission less than a month after leaving?

It was an incident that could easily spark a bloodbath in the Garden of Blades today.

“Um, Miss Luna, Master Jin! Sorry to be so forward, but may I ask something?”

“Quiet, Petro. I’m just as unsettled as you are.”

“Y-Yes…”

Unaware of Petro’s burning anxiety, the carriage steadily made its way toward the Garden of Blades.

‘We came together, but what if Father throws a fit? Should I try to hold him off while Gilly helps Jin escape?’

There were too many knights stationed at the Garden for that to be possible. Even ignoring the knights, Gilly alone couldn’t shake off the other siblings. Besides, Gilly’s powers were still sealed.

As they neared the Garden, Luna’s anxiety grew.

‘I don’t know. Maybe it’ll work out somehow. Surely Father wouldn’t actually kill him… No, if it’s Father, he just might.’

Giving up on the thought, Luna glanced quietly at Jin.

‘I’m sweating nervously, but he looks annoyingly calm.’

Jin rested his chin on his spear, deep in thought—pondering the most reasonable and justifiable request to make of Siron.

“Little one.”

“Yes, sister.”

“You really need to treat me well.”

“Of course.”

The carriage came to a stop.

In the vast garden, densely planted with countless swords like stars, a few servants were working. As the carriage arrived, the gatekeepers immediately saluted.

Petro opened the door, and Luna stepped out.

When Gilly and Jin followed, the gatekeepers and servants flinched. Even the lowest-ranking staff sensed something serious was unfolding.

At the same time, the siblings who had just been informed by the arriving knights appeared from the mansion.

“Have you lost your mind? Little brother! You think you can just leave the family and show up at the Garden of Blades? A prospective rider daring to visit the Garden!”

The first to shout was the fourth son, Vigo Runcandel. Beside him stood the fourth and fifth daughters, Mew and Anne.

“Must be the result of the eldest sister spoiling him.”

“This time, even the eldest sister won’t be able to stop him. This is really unacceptable.”

Luna, Jin, and Gilly stood silently, saying nothing.

Only Petro, who had brought them, felt like he was sitting on a bed of nails.

‘Ha, just as I expected, we’re in deep trouble!’

The servants didn’t dare whisper among themselves. They even stopped their work and hurriedly retreated to the servant quarters.

That much tension meant Jin’s presence here was a grave matter.

Finally, the second daughter, Luntia, the third daughter, Mary, and the second son, Dipus, emerged from the mansion.

“Wow… seeing it in person is even more shocking. What’s this, little brother? Have you given up your rider qualification? Or is this some teenage death wish?”

Dipus clicked his tongue and glanced at Mary, but she didn’t react and kept her eyes fixed on Jin.

‘Little brother… you can’t break now. You’ll have to face this sister someday.’

Since Mary had gifted Jin the heart of a phoenix, she had been looking forward to the day they would clash. It was a complicated feeling.

While the main players stood like statues, Luntia sighed and approached.

“Luna… why on earth did you bring the little one here?”

Her tone was calm, but her eyes were filled with cold menace.

“I didn’t bring him. He came on his own.”

“If that’s the case, you should have talked him out of it. How can you let him do something so reckless?”

Even as Luntia raised her voice, Luna had no real response.

Because Luntia was right.

“Ah… whatever! So where is Father?”

Luna snapped irritably and turned her head sharply. She had always found Luntia difficult since childhood, while Luntia was the only sibling who dared to ‘scold’ Luna.

“Oh my, little brother. You didn’t come here to see Father, did you?”

“That’s right, second sister.”

Luntia pressed her forehead, and curses echoed around.

If Luna hadn’t been here, the siblings would have torn Jin apart on the spot.

‘What a lovely family.’

As Jin thought this, Luntia shook her head.

“Sigh. I don’t know, eldest sister. I don’t know why you and the little one came to see Father, but be prepared. He’s in the study.”

Jin started walking, and Luna followed.

Suddenly—

Swish!

All the siblings and knights in the garden drew their swords.

“…As of this moment, First Rider, please disarm and stand down. The head of the family has ordered that only Jin Runcandel be allowed to proceed.”

Father is the family head, and the eldest sister is the First Rider.

Luntia’s words made it clear this was now an official matter, following Siron’s orders.

‘Ah, I didn’t see this coming.’

Luna thought. If it came to this, she couldn’t shield Jin if Father decided to kill him.

“What if we refuse?”

Luna’s eyes blazed as she reached for her sword.

But before she could, a knight appeared behind Gilly, pressing a blade to her throat. Gilly hadn’t yet unsealed her powers and didn’t sense his presence.

“Stand down, First Rider. This is the head of the family’s command.”

“Those bastards… won’t they put their swords away?”

“You’ve crossed the line. If Father isn’t satisfied with the explanation, the little one will never return alive. And the First Rider will be dismissed.”

“Disarm immediately. Resistance will be met with lethal force.”

Luna gritted her teeth.

‘I’m screwed… Should I just take Jin and run now? Damn it, I was too naive to think Father cared for Jin enough that nothing bad would happen…!’

If they fought and escaped now, they might succeed.

But Gilly wouldn’t survive, and Jin and Luna would spend the rest of their lives hiding from Runcandel’s pursuit.

Of course, losing a prodigy who reached five stars at fifteen and Luna, considered the strongest knight since Siron, would be a huge blow to Runcandel.

But Runcandel wasn’t a rational family that weighed such losses. Even if it weakened the family’s power, the head’s orders were absolute.

At this point, the only option was for Jin to move Siron’s heart.

And even then, Jin remained calm.

“Brothers, sisters. You’re all too agitated. I came only to inform Father, as his son and a member of Runcandel. Please calm yourselves.”

The siblings no longer glared or spat insults at Jin.

They simply watched Luna with cold, businesslike eyes.

“And Luna noona, Gili. I’m sorry for putting you both in such an awkward position.”

Jin began walking toward the mansion.

He hadn’t been entirely unprepared for such a strong reaction, but to say he wasn’t at all nervous would be a lie.

‘The other siblings don’t really know Father. It’s definitely against protocol for a prospective heir to visit the main house unannounced, but Father isn’t as strict about the rules as people think.’

Trying to get anything from Siron without some risk was impossible. Taking a gamble was inevitable.

Besides, since his return, Jin found reading his father surprisingly easy.

In the past, just seeing Father would make him shrink back, unable to meet his gaze. But this time around, facing Father was the one thing that brought him the most peace.

‘As long as I keep my wits about me, I can pull this off again. If only I get the chance to speak, I will—without fail.’

He exhaled deeply as he reached the study door and knocked carefully.

Tap, tap.

A cautious knock.

Then, suddenly—

Swoosh!

A streak of sword light brushed across Jin’s forehead. It was a strike so swift and sharp that, in his current state, he couldn’t even fully register it.

“You must have overestimated me,” came Siron’s low voice. “I gave you five years, didn’t I?”

Almost instantly, the study door began to crumble to dust, disintegrating under the touch of Siron’s sword light.

But the moment Jin saw his father, a smile crept onto his face.

For some reason, just looking at him again brought a calmness that flooded his mind with everything he needed to say.

‘I can’t start with an apology. I have to stay confident, but not so arrogant that I come off as insolent.’

His answer was ready immediately.

“I came because I wanted to see you, Father.”