Chapter 29

Chapter 11. Enrolment, Entrance Ceremony (2)

As soon as the report on the mission of the初级训练班 ended, the Sword Garden was turned upside down.

The mission was flawlessly successful, and upon hearing this from Garon, Rosa displayed an incomparably satisfied expression.

The other Runkandels waiting at the main house seemed to find it utterly unbelievable.

"What? Jin fought and defeated a White Wolf Tribe warrior!?"

"No way. It must have been a bandit in a wolf mask, not a White Wolf. How could a newly minted 3-star knight like him kill a White Wolf?"

It was the fourth daughter, Myu Runkandel, and the fifth daughter, Anne Runkandel. They were each ten and nine years older than Jin, and both were 7-star knights.

A formidable White Wolf warrior was not an easy opponent even for them, who were at the beginning of the 7-star rank. It was natural that Myu and Anne did not believe in Jin's achievement.

"Even if the opponent he faced was particularly weak, it's still impossible for a 3-star to take down a White Wolf."

"Right, right. Did Mother really believe that?"

As the two women shook their heads in disbelief, the other boys could only turn pale.

They were the brothers Daytona and Haytona.

Due to the bad blood that started from Storm Castle, Jin was more of a monster than a younger brother to these brothers.

"Jin... Could it really be true?"

Haytona grabbed Daytona's shoulder and said, his grip trembling slightly.

"No matter how much of a monster he is, the White Wolf is still out of his league."

"Of course, right?"

Just as a relieved smile was about to appear on Haytona's lips, Daytona continued with wide eyes.

"But whether or not he killed the White Wolf, that's not the point, Haytona. If he moves up to the intermediate class, we're doomed!"

Despair clouded the eyes of the Ton brothers.

They had secretly hoped that Jin would 'completely mess up' this mission. If that happened, his enrolment could be postponed, giving them time to become stronger so they wouldn't have to tiptoe around him anymore.

But now, everything was wrong. Jin not only rescued the target but also defeated a White Wolf. He was even hailed as a hero among the junior students.

'Damn, damn, damn! When we were in Storm Castle, we were young, so it's understandable. But we should have left him alone when he joined the junior class...!'

Daytona sighed, recalling the past.

During their second year in the junior class, the Ton brothers had a history of tormenting Jin. Having arrived at the main house two years earlier, they had the opportunity to learn swordsmanship first, making them temporarily stronger than Jin.

The first few months were like honey.

Beating up Jin, who had treated them as equals in Storm Castle, under the pretext of a duel was, without exaggeration, the greatest pleasure in the Ton brothers' lives.

But the sweet times were short-lived. A few months after Jin joined the training class, the brothers found themselves being beaten up by him in front of the other students every day.

And now, in just a few days!

The Ton brothers would have to face that devilish younger brother every day...

"I'm so depressed..."

Haytona, recalling the same past as Daytona, said with a voice that seemed to have lost its soul.

"No, no! Maybe it's okay. We might be able to beat him, right? We haven't been slacking off in the intermediate class either!"

Haytona raised his head and spoke again.

"...No. We can't win. Honestly, I don't believe he defeated a White Wolf, but it can't be just a rumor."

"Ah."

The brothers bowed their heads again. They were aware that they were clearly 'below' Jin in the food chain.

As the Ton brothers were enveloped in a gloomy atmosphere, Myu and Anne, who had been watching, snorted in disdain. They found it absurd.

"Oh, our brothers include such idiots, huh?"

"Are they scared of the younger brother moving up to the intermediate class? Hahaha."

"Yip!"

The Ton brothers glared, but only for about two seconds. At just the mid-3-star rank, they had no chance against their 7-star sisters.

"Daytona. Did you just make a yipping sound? Huh?"

"Should I break your arm and put it in the stable?"

"That... no!"

"Nu? Your words are short?"

"Nu..."

The sisters burst into laughter at the sight of the Ton brothers. Then, Myu and Anne each grabbed one of the brothers and lightly kissed their foreheads.

"Oh, it's just a joke! Our little brothers are so cute."

"Right! Sometimes they're so cute I want to crush them to pieces?"

As the brothers trembled, trying to endure their sisters' excessive affection, Myu suddenly smiled.

"Hmm, our little brothers. You're scared of the youngest, right?"

"Sister, surely you don't think we... Ha ha, that's impossible..."

"Tsk! It's okay to be honest. I really hate liars."

"I'm scared."

This time, Anne nodded with an evil smile. Myu and Anne were sisters who got along just as well as the Ton brothers.

"Then, should these big sisters help you?"

"How?"

"Of course, there's a way. It's just the intermediate class, after all."

The Runkandel intermediate training class.

It was on a different level from the junior class. The lowest achievement among the students was 3-star, and the highest was 5-star.

Compared to the junior class, the number of students was much larger, making it a true survival of the fittest. The Runkandel intermediate class was like a wild jungle.

For example, 3-star students were herbivores, 4-star students were strong herbivores, and 5-star students were predators.

The atmosphere was vastly different from the current junior class, where everyone pushed and pulled each other as 'classmates'.

With a wide range of student achievements from 3-star to 5-star, many students stayed in the intermediate class for over ten years. Myu and Anne were currently using a few of these 'perpetual intermediate students' like slaves.

"I'll tell my intermediate class slaves to help you. Use them to crush the youngest."

"They're 5-star, but they're just incompetent. They'll be somewhat useful. Got it?"

"Oh, oh...!"

The Ton brothers' eyes sparkled.

"Are you saying you'll transfer your intermediate class faction to us? Really?"

With thirteen siblings, it was natural that various factions existed within the Runkandels.

Even the Ton brothers had formed their own faction within the intermediate class. Jin, up until now, was no different from the junior students in his faction.

"Hahaha, I'm lending them to you, you dimwits. I don't like seeing the youngest grow either. He's a bit creepy."

"If you can't crush Jin even with our slaves, you'd better be prepared. My dear little brothers."

The Ton brothers clenched their fists and nodded.

If they could use the 5-star students, defeating Jin didn't seem like an impossible dream.

* * *

'Someone keeps talking about me.'

Jin scratched his ear and returned to his room after finishing his report.

"I heard you successfully completed your first mission. Congratulations, young master. I'm very moved..."

"Thanks, Gilli. I want to take a bath, so can you prepare some warm water for me?"

"It's already ready."

"Of course."

Home is the best. Jin whistled. After a week of camping, he longed for a warm bathtub and the scent of soap.

"Hey, kid."

Just as he was about to enter the bath.

Murakand, with a very angry face, blocked Jin's path.

"Oh, our Nabi Runkandel. I missed you..."

"Are you crazy?"

"Ah, why."

Jin, feeling a pang, turned his head to avoid Murakand's gaze.

"I said, no. Sword opening. Don't do it. How many times have I told you? It could kill you. Is it your ears or your brain that's the problem? Tell me, which one."

"Haha... Why is the great Black Dragon using such harsh words? There were circumstances."

"Circumstances? Circumstances? More important than your life? The only, the only! Contract partner of Soldaret. Where in the world could there be a reason more important than your life? Huh?"

"Lord Murakand. The young master just returned, so..."

"Strawberry pie, get lost. This is serious."

"Understood."

"No, Murakand. I didn't do it on purpose. How could I just let it go when my student was being kidnapped right in front of me? He almost became minced meat for the White Wolves."

"Pendant! Is the Orgal pendant around your neck just a decoration? You could have summoned your sister with it!"

"That's a waste! Who knows what strong enemies I'll face in the future? How could I use it?"

"A waste? More important than your life? Oh, my. Ugh!"

Murakand grabbed his neck and fell over. Gilli, startled, quickly rushed to support him.

"Are you okay, Lord Murakand?"

"Hey, are you okay? If you faint, what will I do?"

"...Fine. Damn, it's already over, so getting angry won't help. I almost fainted from the shock."

But Murakand, supported by Gilli, had a rather satisfied look on his face. It almost seemed like his purpose was to get Gilli to support him rather than to scold Jin.

"Um, Murakand. How did you know I opened my sword?"

"Your spirit energy suddenly jumped to mid-4-star. How could I not know? Damn brat. Does a thousand-year-old contract partner just suddenly get stronger and gain a star like that?"

"I felt I had become stronger after the spirit energy surge, but I didn't realize I had gained a star."

Jin couldn't help but feel relieved. He had been worried about the sudden increase in spirit energy, but seeing Murakand's reaction, it seemed he didn't need to worry.

"Be grateful to Soldaret for watching over you. I've seen ten people experience a spirit energy surge in my life, and nine of them died. Now, it's nine out of eleven."

"Who is the other survivor? The first patriarch?"

"No. It's me. If it were Temar, he would have died."

Ha.

Murakand and Jin burst into laughter simultaneously.

"Anyway, if you do it again, you'll be excited about gaining a star, right? That's the price of a life-risking gamble. If you get drunk on sweet growth and open your sword before reaching 5-star, you'll definitely die."

"I don't want to go through that pain again. So, I'll stop being scolded here and go take a bath?"

Jin quickly ran into the bathroom.

"Strawberry pie, don't feed him today. A brat like him needs to be starved for a day or two to come to his senses. Got it?"

But Murakand, seeing his back, said:

"Sorry... Lord Murakand. I have a duty to assist the young master."

"Kya, I envy you, I envy you. I envy you so much it hurts. What a brat with unnecessary luck."