Episode 980
Chapter 242. Eltiot (3)
“Di…disciple?”
“Didn’t we make a promise? The loser must unconditionally follow one wish of the winner. So, just now, you became this Eltiot’s disciple. Of course, teaching someone like you, who falls short of the standard, is a sad thing even for me. But what can I do? Fate has cruelly bound us together like this.”
“H-Hold on, you really mean to take me as your disciple? Eltiot…”
“Ptooey!”
Luna found it hard to regain her composure after the relentless scolding.
“Why? Why again?”
“Since ancient times, a disciple must not even step on their master’s shadow. And yet, you dared to casually call your master’s name? That’s unacceptable. Even if the Sun God has died and chaos has come to the world, an intelligent being must uphold certain principles.”
By this point, Jin, Veradin, and Dante were barely holding back laughter, their faces strained.
‘I mustn’t laugh, I have to hold it in… But honestly, I never expected Eltiot to beat Luna like this.’
In truth, Jin hadn’t anticipated Luna’s defeat.
He had imagined a scenario where the injured Eltiot would still put up a fight worthy of Luna’s respect, ending things on a warm note.
“Cough! Hack! This is ridiculous, my injury’s flaring up again. Didn’t you think to hand me a handkerchief while your master was coughing up blood? And how old do you think I am, to be spoken to so bluntly like that?”
Luna handed over a handkerchief.
As Eltiot coughed up blood, Luna gathered her thoughts and recalled what he had said.
“The finest sword resembles the wind…”
It wasn’t a difficult concept.
The wind can be a fierce gale that topples mountains or a biting cold breeze that tears through an opponent in an instant.
A sword that resembles the wind must be the most flexible sword—one that can change form at will.
“The pinnacle of grace. Eltiot showed me such a sword.”
The swords of Runcandel were cold and destructive.
Though there were graceful sword techniques among their ultimate moves or secret arts, they were not the mainstream.
For Luna, who always overwhelmed opponents with sheer power, this was a particularly lacking trait.
Meanwhile, Eltiot continued to scold, and the others tried to calm him down.
Eventually, Luna stepped forward and bowed her head to Eltiot.
“A promise is a promise. Very well, El… no, from now on, may I call you Master?”
“Hmph! Finally, you speak like an intelligent being. I was about to expel you if you slipped up again.”
“Maybe I should have been more rude…”
“Now that we’ve each called each other once as master and disciple, there’s no turning back. It’s truly regrettable, but what can be done?”
Eltiot sat properly and looked up at Luna.
“…Why?”
“You must bow.”
“Bow?”
“In our Cheongmyeong tribe, when a master-disciple bond is formed, it’s customary for the disciple to visit the master every morning and bow. But times have changed, so we’ll settle for a single bow now. Considering your position in Inse, this is a gesture of my consideration. Be grateful.”
Luna was no longer surprised. She sighed and looked at Jin.
For a Runcandel knight to bow to someone else required the permission of the clan head or acting leader.
“Eltiot.”
“What is it?”
“Luna is incredibly precious to me. If she bows, then from that moment on, she truly becomes your disciple.”
“That is so.”
“Because you are her master, you must not treat her carelessly, disrespect her, or diminish her dignity in front of others like you did just now. And this is not a request, but a warning—from me, as the head of Runcandel.”
“You worry too much. Even if she falls short of the standard, a disciple is a disciple. That means she will inherit me, Eltiot. To disrespect my disciple is to spit on my own face, and anyone who diminishes a disciple’s dignity damages mine as well. But—”
“But?”
“When we’re alone or among close, comfortable company, I’ll scold her as I please. She may be precious to you, but to me, she’s a disciple with many flaws to fix. Changing her breathing alone won’t be easy. Especially someone who’s lived so long unaware of her own faults, praised all the while. I suppose you’ve never properly taught anyone either.”
This time, Jin looked at Luna. She shrugged, as if accepting Eltiot’s meaning.
“Alright then. I’ll bow.”
“Good.”
Luna bowed slowly.
Just as she was about to rise, Eltiot’s radiant heart glowed, briefly imprinting a human figure in its center.
It was Luna’s image.
“You foolish, ignorant one who doesn’t even understand what it means for the Cheongmyeong tribe to carve a person into their chest—you’ve stubbornly become my disciple. Now, it’s time for the next ritual.”
“Another ritual?”
“Yes. Jin, where did you place the bodies of my brothers?”
“In the royal medical facility’s mortuary.”
“Lead the way, disciple. Let’s go there.”
Inside the mortuary were 59 Cheongmyeong tribe corpses brought from the royal hideout.
“Everyone else, please step outside. Just the two of us remain.”
The others left the mortuary.
Luna looked at Eltiot’s calm profile. He gazed quietly at the coffins holding his brothers.
He was crying with his heart.
A common expression in Inse.
But Luna was witnessing it not as a metaphor, but literally.
Eltiot’s radiant heart shone ceaselessly, carving human shapes within.
They were the faces of his deceased brothers.
Each time a figure appeared and vanished, brain energy flowed down like tears from the radiant heart.
He was confronting his grief in the Cheongmyeong way.
Luna bowed silently.
“…It’s done. We’ll bury the brothers on a good day, someday.”
“Agreed.”
“Next time, we should bring a pig’s head. When we hold rites for the dead, we like to place a pig’s head on the altar, and put money in its nostrils, following the customs of the small Suin tribe. We believe the dead will use that money well in the afterlife.”
“Interesting custom. In some regions of Inse, they also place money on the bodies as funeral offerings.”
“Remember: pig’s head.”
“Yes, pig’s head.”
“You do have some sense. Now, let’s return to training.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to get treated first?”
“If I’m to break down your walls, not a moment can be wasted. The Melka have fallen, and the Jeokmyeong tribe has revived. Soon, their champion will appear.”
The Jeokmyeong champion.
The Bamal Alliance still had no clue about his whereabouts.
Whether he survived the Great Seal, where he was, or in what condition—nothing was known.
They only assumed it wasn’t an immediate threat since the Jeokmyeong tribe had never sent out a champion despite being on the defensive multiple times.
“At the meeting, we confirmed that the Jeokmyeong tribe regained strength in the recent Meisil battle. There was talk that they might soon send out a champion, having secured a large amount of blood. But you, Master, seem certain.”
“Yes, he’s alive.”
“How do you know?”
“The royal family was using him. I heard it when I was brainwashed.”
“You didn’t see him yourself.”
“One thing is certain. Whether soon or at most within two weeks, he will appear.”
“That soon?”
“He’s exceptional. Even in my prime, I couldn’t guarantee his strength. But what’s more notable is his leadership and strategy. In ancient times, we were barely losing to the Jeokmyeong tribe. That was because of him. And you, as my disciple, have the duty to defeat him.”
“Even without you, our alliance has countless reasons to eliminate him. Do you know where this Jeokmyeong champion is?”
The Sun God Cult’s Aether Space, Second Sun Temple.
“Priest Luke.”
Sanna found Luke.
Luke knelt before the statue of the Sun God, dressed in the cult’s priestly robes.
The statue depicted various manifestations of the Sun God, with a human figure in the center holding a golden, glowing fragment.
It was a broken piece of the Sun God’s body. Particles flowed from it, slowly seeping into Luke.
Luke didn’t respond, continuing his fervent prayers.
‘…Since that day, I have prayed before this statue every single day without rest, yet the wound remains so deep.’
Sanna looked at Luke’s back.
His white priestly robe was soaked in bright red blood.
The blood had pooled and soaked his pants.
Only after two hours did Luke turn to look at Sanna.
“…Just now, the bones barely started to knit. It’s certain. Jin Runcandel, upon reaching Changseong, bore the will of regeneration like the Sun God. That’s why this sacred body’s power is hindered, and recovery is slow.”
“Then… that’s truly strange. If Jin Runcandel carries the Sun God’s will so deeply, he shouldn’t be normal yet. But at Meisil, there was no sign of him being consumed by the Sun God, was there?”
—The phrase ‘becoming part of’ is inappropriate. ‘Being devoured’ or ‘buried’ fits better. If he is devoured by the Sun God, from that moment on, he will have no choice but to be with us. Even if neither he nor any of us wish it.
“That makes sense. Oh… that will definitely help the revival of the Sun God’s faith.”
This was the conversation Luke and Sanna had the moment Jin ascended to Changseong.
But contrary to Luke’s expectations, Jin remained completely unchanged, even while harboring a fragment of the Sun God’s will.
“Yes, there was nothing. Until the reason is clearly revealed, it’s best to avoid direct combat with him. It’s been a long time since I felt the threat of death so keenly…”
“Phew. Then we can only hope for two things. One, that Jin Runkandel will be consumed by the Sun God’s will in due course, or two, that other powerful enemies will deal with him for us. Orgal, Ziphl, Ganesto, the Jeokmyeong tribe—any of them. Even the Jeokmyeong tribe is worth counting on now. Airan said their warrior spirit, Simat, is expected to awaken within days.”