Chapter 942
Episode 234: To Hell (Part 2)

Footsteps echoed outside the office. It was Petro, the head steward.

“Lord Soga, preparations are complete.”

“Understood. Let’s go.”

As Jin and Luna rose, Petro bowed his head. The group passed through the corridor and crossed the garden where swords were planted upright.

When they stopped, Jin faced over three thousand knights lined up in formation. Luna stepped into the center of the ranks and received a flag from a knight. The other standard-bearers followed suit, gripping their flags tightly.

“Raise the banners!”

At Luna’s command, the knights lifted their flags in unison.

The reason the family’s knights had gathered was clear: to celebrate Lord Soga’s ascension.

But for Jin, ensuring there were no gaps in the family’s and alliance’s duties was far more important than celebrating his own achievement.

Originally, he hadn’t planned to hold any ceremony at all. If anything, he intended a modest gathering with only a handful of people. But Ruet and the elders had strongly opposed that, insisting that every member of the family deserved to commemorate this moment.

“Salute!”

The knights raised their swords in salute.

When Sir Shiron became the World’s Greatest Swordsman, even more knights from the family had saluted.

Back then, countless delegations had come not only from allied families but also from the Empire and the Lutero Federation.

Now, the scale was inevitably smaller. After the Demon War, the family’s knights had been reduced to less than half their former number, and Jin had forbidden envoys from any forces outside the Balmur Alliance.

Still, no one present felt this moment was any less grand than before.

On the contrary, the atmosphere was even more radiant and overwhelming. Though fewer in number, Runcandel was no weaker than it had been in those days.

Jin took a moment to carefully observe the knights before him.

The shining eyes of his brothers holding the flags, the ancestors who still upheld the family, the youngest division of the magic knights standing proudly in the front row, the knights beaming with pride.

“I said not to do this, but seeing all of you here like this… it really stirs my heart.”

Jin smiled faintly.

“It’s been a long time since all the family’s knights gathered like this. Usually, only the minimum number remained in the Sword Garden due to various missions.”

Yet even that small number was always busy, so the Sword Garden never felt empty.

“The fact that you’ve all come here to celebrate me means we’ve done well.”

Of course, with all the knights and standard-bearers gathered here, there would be some gaps in defending the alliance’s territory.

But those gaps were minimal. The Red-Eyed Tribe still refrained from attacking the Balmur Alliance, and the demonic realm’s transfer rifts had nearly vanished. Even if some knights were absent for the ceremony, the defense force wouldn’t suddenly become insufficient.

Besides, the alliance’s armies—including the Golden Fleet—were still on high alert, ready to repel any enemy incursion.

“So, I want to celebrate that fact more than my own achievement. You’ve all worked hard, and you’ll continue to do so. What can we do? This is the life of a knight, a life of struggle, and this is Runcandel.”

At the sound of Jin pronouncing “Runcandel,” the knights felt as if a drum was beating deep within their chests.

When Shiron became the World’s Greatest Swordsman and left for the Black Sea, the enemies thought Runcandel would weaken.

When Luna gave up the throne, they believed Runcandel’s future was uncertain.

When Rosa became a demon, they were sure Runcandel was finished.

But Runcandel had overcome all those chaotic, monstrous times.

It never allied with or exploited any corrupt force. It never fell in any crisis but fought on—and still fights.

At the center of it all was undoubtedly Jin.

“Whether you were born into Runcandel or came to the Sword Garden seeking to become part of it, our souls share the same shape. We cut down, stab, and topple anyone who tries to distort that shape. I became the Ascendant only to do that better. The true celebration will come after we finish off all those enemies. So, let’s keep today brief. That’s all! Return to your posts.”

“Salute!”

“Salute!”

Just like at the Soga Lord’s appointment ceremony, the knights dispersed immediately and in perfect order at Jin’s dismissal. Luna, who had just received the “Protect the Land” order, headed to the conference room. Only Ruet and the elders remained.

Though the speech had lasted less than ten minutes, no one would forget this day.

[Ha ha ha! Our great-grandson has once again kept the ceremony short and impactful. If the situation were better, we might have held a grand banquet on the narrow bridge and enjoyed some romance.]

“Jito, Jiple, Kinzelo, the Imperial Court, the Red-Eyed Tribe, the Sun God Church, Kanestoga. Once we’ve dealt with all of them, we can hold that banquet, great-grandfather.”

[Will this great-grandfather live to see that banquet?]

“Of course. But first, we must finish Jito.”

[Right. We have to deal with that monster before anything else can be settled. The world has changed so much since my time, when the great powers of the mortal realm clashed.]

[Soga Lord, what preparations should we make?]

“Ancestors, while I strike down hell, please keep the mortal realm’s forces in check.”

[Understood… Wait, are you planning to go to hell alone? You gathered the alliance’s troops at Groshie Castle, didn’t you?]

“I’ll be taking Murakan, Valeria, and Veil with me. The Golden Fleet and some superhumans from the gathered forces will remain on standby, just in case the battle’s aftermath reaches the mortal realm or if I’m defeated.”

Among the chosen companions, only Murakan would fight Jito directly.

Veil was strong enough to fight alongside them, but his role was to protect Valeria in hell. Valeria’s task was to awaken the truth records to the demons in hell and to resolve any issues with Murakan’s “memories” if they arose.

Murakan’s power wasn’t just about healing a broken heart—it was deeply connected to Jin’s achievement.

As Jin’s spiritual energy grew stronger, so did Murakan’s power. Currently, Murakan had fully regained his strength from a thousand years ago, but the heart’s wound caused side effects.

Using his full power like in his prime sometimes distorted his memories. He would forget truths confirmed in Keitam’s painting and show signs of rampaging.

However, these episodes were infrequent and mild. Valeria’s record magic could easily stabilize him.

It was a problem that would resolve over time. As Jin reached ascension, his strengthened spiritual energy was gradually healing the thousand-year-old wound in Murakan’s heart.

[Defeat? Great-grandson, you’re practically invincible now.]

“That’s only if it happens. One Ascendant swordsman has already been defeated by him, so caution is wise.”

[True. Honestly, this great-grandfather isn’t too worried whether you go alone or with three others.]

[Your words and expression don’t match, 59th generation.]

[Well, even an Ascendant is still a great-grandson, 21st generation.]

“Ancestors, please gather intelligence on other enemies while I’m gone. Especially Kanestoga… They’re linked with Keliak Jiple, but aside from their base in the world of Rokia, nothing else is known.”

Since dealing with Anne last time, the alliance had no clue about Kanestoga’s whereabouts or movements.

The chaos in the demonic realm left no time to track them.

[Understood, Soga Lord. Petro has grown a lot recently, so I’ll delegate internal affairs to him for now and personally search the mortal realm for records on them.]

Ruet said.

“Oh? Has Petro earned the head steward’s trust now?”

[He’s been the steward dedicated to the Soga Lord since his days as a trainee knight. He can be a bit excitable, but he’s undoubtedly a fine steward worthy of the Soga Lord. He’s never even embezzled a small allowance.]

Jin chuckled, recalling Petro’s moments of fussiness. Looking back, Petro had always supported him quietly.

“I’m lucky to have such loyal people. Head steward, please reward him appropriately for acting on my behalf.”

[Yes, Soga Lord. When do you plan to depart for the demonic realm?]

“I’m leaving immediately.”

“Right now!?”

“Yes, great-grandfather. I wanted to leave sooner, but awakening the souls of the Holy Kingdom delayed me. I’ve already finished talks with Biceps, so now it’s just me.”

Biceps—the last resistance in the demonic realm—was currently waiting for Jin, preparing for the final battle to liberate the demonic realm.

Ruet and the elders said nothing further. Their duty was to faithfully carry out the orders left by the Soga Lord.

“Then I’ll see you when I return.”

Jin headed straight to the backyard where the red owl was perched.

[Good luck, Soga Lord.]

[Show the demonic realm the might of Runcandel and come back.]

In an instant, the red owl transported Jin to the assembly point at Groshie Castle.

The fleets of each faction were still gathered there, forming a protective barrier. Neither Jiple nor Kinzelo dared to enter the passage leading to the demonic realm’s mainland recklessly.

Jin stopped briefly at the Golden Ark to exchange greetings with the Union members. They had already received word from Tikan that Jin was about to descend into Hell.

Meanwhile, the leaders of Ziphl and Kinzello showed signs of moving as soon as the Red Owl appeared at Grosh Castle. The enemy had been waiting for Jin, too.

“So, you’re here, kid?”

“Yeah, Murakan.”

“Before you face Jito, you didn’t even make it to your own ceremony to receive the Historian’s Memory Protection spell.”

“His… Historian?”

“I can’t keep calling you the Guardian of History every time.”

“You could just call me Valeria.”

“That’s a mouthful. Anyway, since you’re here, let’s get moving, you invincible, immortal, and yet mortal—great Sir Veil, bane of all.”

“Hey, stop calling me that!”

As the group left the Golden Ark and approached the passage to Grosh Castle, someone stepped forward.

“Jin Runkandel.”

It was Veradin Ziphl. Behind him stood Betty, Almatia, and Kun.

“Oh, Veradin. You usually send the underlings for the Grosh Castle assault, but this time you’re heading straight to Hell yourself?”

Despite the words, there was no sarcasm in his tone. Instead, Jin’s voice carried a hint of warmth.

“Down there isn’t just Jito. There’s also a traitor from our Ziphl. I have to go myself and put an end to that miserable existence.”

He was talking about Keliak.

Jin briefly felt a bitter pang imagining Veradin killing Keliak and watching him fall further into corruption, but he answered with a smile.

“Veradin, take it easy and come back like you used to. That kind of line really doesn’t suit you.”