Episode 87
Chapter 30. Defeat Alisa! (3)
September 22, 1795.
The unprotected eastern region of the continent, commonly called the Black Sea.
It had already been three days since Khan, the Rune Kandel Guardian Knight, arrived here. That meant Khan hadn’t slept a single moment in those three days—and that he had already slain nearly five hundred monsters.
The monsters of the Black Sea were far stronger and more dangerous than even the weakest beasts found in protected zones. They grew up breathing in pure, concentrated magical energy from birth.
Even a knight of Khan’s caliber could easily meet death here with the slightest lapse in vigilance.
Crunch, crunch!
As he cut through the monsters, Khan’s expression remained stoic, though the dark circles under his eyes betrayed his exhaustion.
This time, it seemed like even more monsters were attacking than usual.
“What on earth… could be written in that letter? I’m getting more curious by the minute.”
The reason Khan was enduring this ordeal was clear.
He was here to deliver a letter from Kashimir to Sir Siron. It was the first letter since Siron had given him the secret address.
“It must be about the youngest master’s progress… but it’s only been a month since he returned to Tikan. Could there really be any significant development worth reporting to the head of the family already?”
Khan couldn’t help but wonder.
He remembered how, back in his days as a Rune Kandel cadet, he was called a ‘monster’ by his peers and struggled greatly to break through the five-star rank.
“Surely he hasn’t reached six stars already? Hah… I wish the head of the family would just tell me what’s inside.”
After five more hours of slaying monsters, Khan finally reached Siron, who was seated cross-legged in the middle of the Black Sea as usual.
“Master, this is Guardian Knight Khan.”
Siron, who had sensed his presence long ago, slowly opened his eyes. Khan saluted crisply, and Siron waved his hand once through the air.
At that gesture, the massive monsters lurking nearby hurriedly disappeared into hiding, like insects retreating into their burrows when exposed to light.
It was a scene brimming with the dignity of a legendary knight.
But in truth, Siron was simply suppressing his joy.
“The youngest one’s news…!”
Khan handed over the letter with utmost respect.
“This letter from Kashimir arrived ten days ago. I tried to come as quickly as possible, but the monsters were more aggressive than usual, so I’m a bit late.”
Siron’s expression darkened as he took the letter.
“I’ll have to clear out the monsters near the Black Sea’s entrance tomorrow. If it weren’t for them, I could have received this a day earlier.”
Rustle.
Siron lightly flicked his fingers and broke the seal. The letter was quite thick.
Like an old man discovering a childhood diary, he read each word slowly, savoring the contents.
(Dear Sir Siron Rune Kandel,
I cannot express in words how honored I am that a humble knight from this small city dares to put pen to paper and send you this letter.
How is the weather in the Garden of Blades over there?
Here in the free city of Tikan, it is night. The stars scattered across the velvet-soft night sky seem to sing of your greatness, Sir Siron.
Once again, I offer my deepest gratitude for granting me, Kashimir Alfrion, a mere swordsman, this honor. With every word, I hope to satisfy you with my sincerity and dedication…)
Siron’s brow twitched.
“I felt this before, but this guy really has some issues… Why such a long preamble?”
Though irritated, Siron summoned the patience of a legendary knight and turned the page.
But the next page was filled with more lengthy greetings and pleasantries, and even by the third page, there was not a single mention of Jin.
“Hmph.”
Siron sighed in frustration and shook his head, making Khan feel as if he had committed some offense.
“Has the master… become angry? Could something have happened to Master Jin?”
But as soon as Siron opened the fourth page, his face brightened. His eyes softened, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.
“Heh heh.”
He even chuckled quietly.
Khan, who had served Siron for nearly twenty years, had never seen this side of him before. Since Luna declared she had no interest in the Rune Kandel throne, Siron had always been cold toward his children.
So Khan was dying of curiosity. What kind of achievement could Master Jin have made to bring such joy?
“Khan.”
“Yes, Master.”
“I hear the youngest has been getting beaten by Kashimir’s wife every day lately. Ha ha, by the time this letter was written, they’d sparred nearly forty times, and he lost every single one.”
Khan couldn’t believe his ears.
Normally, Siron would have clicked his tongue at such incompetence, but now he was clearly pleased, which confused Khan.
“That’s quite a lot of losses.”
“The first spar ended in three moves, the second lasted five. By the seventh, he held out for ten moves, the twentieth for twenty-five, and the thirtieth for forty.”
“If Master Jin used magic and spiritual energy, it makes sense he could hold out that long against a seven-star opponent. Especially since it’s the same person sparring with him consistently.”
Khan knew many of Jin’s secrets, as he was one of Siron’s most trusted aides.
Of course, he would never reveal them to anyone, even if Siron cast him aside without reason.
“That’s right. But do you know what happened on the fortieth spar?”
“What happened?”
“He lasted over 120 moves. He broke through a wall. He gained an awakening.”
It was impressive for a five-star to achieve that much against a seven-star in such a short time. But since it wasn’t purely through swordsmanship, Khan could still accept it.
However, when Siron continued, Khan’s pupils dilated.
“And Kashimir’s wife, Alisa Batzer, was from the Bimant Special Unit, Second Squad. Ha ha, no wonder I can’t help but laugh. Though she’s long retired and probably a bit rusty, it’s quite admirable.”
The Bimant Special Unit.
And the Second Squad, which mainly handled royal protection duties, was well known even to Khan.
“If she’s from the Second Squad, then Master Jin is no opponent to be taken lightly or hoped to beat by chance. Congratulations, Master.”
“It’s too soon to celebrate. Kashimir gave him six months. He told him to try and defeat her within that time.”
“If he keeps this momentum, it might happen even sooner.”
“If he were the eldest, I would have let him leave the family without hesitation. It’s a shame. Khan, what do you think of the youngest?”
“I share your opinion, Master. If he were the firstborn, the position of Master Joshua would belong to Master Jin.”
“That’s not what I mean.”
Khan flinched and looked at Siron.
“Could you mean… as the heir?”
Siron nodded.
What surprised Khan wasn’t Jin’s young age—only fifteen—but that Siron had openly mentioned the succession for the first time.
Siron had never once named an heir before. Though he had subtly shown hope for some of his children, including Luna, this was the first time he was so explicit.
Even Joshua, the next head of the family, was only considered so because Luna had stepped down voluntarily. Siron had never directly appointed him.
The same went for other candidates like Mary, Dipus, and Runtia.
Gathering himself, Khan spoke.
“I believe he is still too young, and we must watch him longer. Though he is growing at a dazzling pace, I cannot yet say he is fit to be heir.”
“Why do you think so?”
“He lacks coldness. The story of him risking himself to save a junior cadet during training stems from his nature. I judge him to be kind but somewhat soft-hearted.”
“You’re right. Unlike Joshua, the youngest has shown weakness in sentimentality a few times. What if he cuts all that away?”
“If necessary, he could become cold enough to even remove Miss Luna. If he maintains this growth, he would be perfectly suitable.”
Siron smiled with satisfaction.
“Yes, that’s Rune Kandel. You may step back now.”
“Yes, Master.”
Though Khan had been slaying monsters nonstop for three days, he didn’t hesitate for a second when ordered and began retracing his path.
Once he left Siron’s domain, he would have to endure another three days of tense slaughter.
Just before drawing his sword, Khan thought:
“Perhaps the master smiled because he expects Master Jin to transcend the Rune Kandel legacy.”
Mid-November, 1795.
It had now been over three months since Jin and Alisa began their sparring sessions.
Jin no longer formed magic in advance before meeting Alisa.
“Phew! Lord Jin, today was a close one for me too.”
After defeating Jin in their ninety-fifth spar, Alisa wiped her forehead.
“Haha, you said that yesterday too. That’s your ninety-fifth loss. How depressing…”
“Small differences have piled up, and now it takes over fifteen minutes of fighting to decide the outcome. By the way, Lord Jin, you’re going to do that thing again before we start, right?”
“Yes, please go ahead first, Alisa.”
Alisa shook her head as if exasperated.
For the past week, Jin didn’t leave the training hall until after sparring with Dalian and completing ten thousand vertical sword strikes.
Ten thousand times.
“Manifesting one’s will through the sword…”
It was a realm where the first and last strike were identical after ten thousand swings. Having grown through sparring with Alisa, Jin could now make three thousand consecutive strikes perfectly consistent—even with his body utterly exhausted.
“It’s not about stamina. Whether I’m drained or fresh, what matters is that the will I pour into the sword remains the same.”
As Jin settled in to begin his vertical strike training, Alisa stepped outside.
“Hah… I never imagined I’d be caught up this quickly. Watching him endure that brutal training… it doesn’t even bruise my pride anymore.”
After watching Jin’s vertical strikes for a while, Alisa gently closed the training hall door behind her.
“Honestly, he’s more than worthy of becoming strong.”
Then, the very next day, something completely unexpected happened.