Chapter 32

Chapter 12. Struggle, Seize, Enjoy (2)

Phew!

Jin, who had returned to his room, took a deep breath. Locking the door and leaning against the wall, he finally felt some of the tension ease.

Or rather, he should say that he was now finally expressing his tension properly.

"Damn, I thought my heart was going to drop out."

Reflecting on the conversation he just had with his uncle, Jed Runkandel, he was amazed at himself.

Thanks to his regression, he knew Jed's personality, his own strengths, and what to say. Still, the opponent was formidable.

If he had shown any fear while provoking Jed, one of his limbs would have certainly been cut off. Perhaps, as Jed said, his head would have been severed.

But Jin did well. He left a strong impression on Jed and the cadets, and gained the upper hand in the ranking battle with the Tona brothers from the very beginning.

It might seem small compared to the life-risking price he paid to confront Jed.

But Jin knew better than anyone. In Runkandel, even small things could cost lives, and nothing could be gained without giving it your all.

"Struggle, seize, enjoy... I'm certain that not everyone who regressed can do what I did."

The three virtues of Runkandel, which he once despised in his previous life.

Now, Jin was closer to them than anyone else.

"Gilley."

"Yes, young master."

"The real ranking battle with the Tona brothers has started. But it seems that Ann and Mew are backing the Tona brothers."

Gilley, who was polishing a teacup, stopped her hand.

She had anticipated that Jin would start the ranking battle with the Tona brothers when he moved to the intermediate class. It was inevitable since they would be in the same environment.

However, the Tona brothers having supporters was unexpected. A deep sense of rivalry soon appeared in Gilley's eyes.

"Really, the young ladies... Is that true?"

"Yes. I killed a cadet who was with the Tona brothers today, and it turned out he was part of the young ladies' faction. The Tona brothers couldn't have already secured a 5-star knight as a faction member."

Even if they were direct descendants of Runkandel, factions usually consisted of people weaker than them. The Tona brothers were only at the mid-3-star level.

"Hmm, I didn't expect the young ladies to start restraining you so soon. They are already active as leaders."

Mew and Ann were 7-star knights who had earned their stripes in various battles, qualifying them as leaders of the family.

Among the thirteen children of Siron, only four had not yet become leaders: Jin, the Tona brothers, and the youngest daughter, Yona.

Gilley's face turned complicated as she fiddled with the dry cloth.

"It's actually a good thing that the young ladies are starting to restrain me. It means they are concerned about a much younger person who is already a leader."

"That's too much. You're only fifteen. Leaders should fight among themselves, not with cadets!"

Gilley was indignant.

"It's fine. I need to make them fear me, not just be concerned."

Bang!

Muran, who had been sunbathing in cat form, transformed back into a human.

"Why, why? What's going on? Let me in on it."

After Gilley gave a brief explanation, Muran sighed.

"I wish I could reveal my true identity. I could take out two 7-star knights in one bite. They're probably dying to eat you, the only one in the family who can chew on Ziph."

Being able to chew on Ziph.

Muran's expression was spot-on. With Soleret's power, once Jin's growth is complete, Runkandel will crush Ziph and rise to the top of the world.

For now, Ziph is still in the lead. If a full-scale war were to break out, Ziph would ultimately win.

There are two reasons why Ziph hasn't engaged in a full-scale war with Runkandel yet.

First, Ziph would also suffer irreparable damage if the war ended. Second, the existence of Siron Runkandel.

However, Ziph doesn't know one thing: the god they desperately wish for, Soleret, is currently with Jin.

"Do they not know you are Soleret's contractor?"

"No, I just don't like people who show their true colors. If they knew I was the contractor, they would probably restrain me ten times more than they do now. I might not even be alive by now."

"Still, it's a messed-up family, whether a thousand years ago or now. But the first patriarch, though rude, wasn't heartless."

"Then, what do you plan to do, young master?"

"What can I do? The young ladies have already taken a hit from me. The cadet I killed was one of the top in the intermediate class, and on the first day, he was officially transferred to the Tona brothers' faction."

Jin detailed the events at the training ground.

Kazin is no longer part of Ann's faction. The Tona brothers directly referred to him as "my cadet."

"This time, the Tona brothers will probably get a severe beating from the young ladies. They'll likely show up at the training ground with their faces swollen tomorrow. Essentially, it will be harder for them to pressure me as a faction in the intermediate class."

If a king provides a general with a powerful army, and the general loses it all on the first day, the king won't give the general another chance.

The situation with Mew, Ann, and the Tona brothers is exactly like that.

"Moreover, the young ladies, who are already leaders, can't directly come to the intermediate class to crush me. So, the only way they can pressure me is one."

Gilley sighed, understanding what he meant.

"A mission!"

"Exactly. They will likely use their authority as leaders to adjust my mission schedule. They'll pick the most difficult missions and send me on them, hoping I'll die or get injured."

"I'll talk to the young ladies' nannies. I can't let this happen."

The kind and simple Gilley didn't know how to think cunningly.

"No, Gilley. If you do that, the young ladies might discipline you for overstepping your bounds. Besides, mission management is the leaders' authority, so we have no grounds to stop them."

"Damn, damn! Damn it, ah, sorry, young master. I didn't mean to."

"It's fine, strawberry pie."

Muran answered for him, and Jin smiled and continued.

"But there's one thing the young ladies don't know. High-difficulty missions often involve solo missions... In solo missions, I don't need to limit my abilities."

Unlike group missions, using magic and spirit energy in solo missions wouldn't be a problem.

As long as he didn't create witnesses or eliminated all of them, it would be fine.

"So, solo missions are actually an opportunity. I'll be grateful if the young ladies send me on solo missions. I was getting frustrated just using a sword, so I can go and sweep everything away using my hidden strength and build up my record."

Mission records are the absolute standard for evaluating the intermediate class.

Even if one's sword skills are excellent, they might be weak in real combat, and vice versa. Naturally, real combat is more important.

Among high-difficulty solo missions, they are the highest scoring because they are the most dangerous, involving assassinations and espionage.

"Good thinking, kid."

"......If you use all your hidden strength, you should be able to handle even the lower ranks of the advanced class."

Muran and Gilley knew Jin's true combat power well. His sword skills were also growing rapidly, and he would likely reach 4-star before his first mission.

"Besides, if a mission seems impossible for you, I can go with you. Even in a solo mission, bringing a cat shouldn't be a problem."

"True, but you have your own tasks."

"What are they?"

"I'll tell you later. Since we've discussed this, I need to go to Luna's training. Don't cause trouble while I'm gone."

* * *

The official training for the intermediate class began.

The training content was the same as the beginner class, except for the use of real swords and increased intensity.

However, when the afternoon training started, Jin and the Tona brothers received direct instruction in "Runkandel Swordsmanship" from Jed in a secret space within the training ground. It was a privilege granted only to purebloods.

"Our family's swordsmanship is, in a word, tyrannical. It is destructive and relentless, reflecting the character of Runkandel."

Jin and Tona, sitting in seiza, nodded.

The Tona brothers' faces were swollen like buns, thanks to their sisters' beatings the previous night.

However, Jed didn't even ask why their faces were like that. He had already sensed that the Tona brothers were not at the highest level, even before Jin arrived.

'Even the Tona brothers look pitiful. Well, they brought it upon themselves.'

Though he was a mad killer in his past life and is still growing into one, the Tona brothers were considered geniuses outside the family. However, in Jed's eyes, they were far from it and didn't receive any special attention.

Especially after being humiliated by Jin yesterday, Jed found the Tona brothers even more annoying.

Still, Jed wasn't entirely without affection for them.

-Don't provoke the youngest until you're strong enough. If you want to live long, that is. He's not someone you can handle.

This was what Jed told the Tona brothers after they were left alone in the training ground yesterday.

"You should know that our family's swordsmanship has no fixed form. There are secret techniques and ultimate moves, but you can only learn them after becoming a leader."

The swordsmanship taught to the direct descendants of Runkandel is formless, different from what the cadets learn.

It has no form, no rules, no footwork, and no fixed shape. This is the biggest distinction from other martial arts.

"Do you know why our family's swordsmanship has no form?"

"Because of the unique physical abilities and senses of the Runkandel bloodline."

"Exactly. The blessed Runkandel bloodline is born with a sense of the body and the sword that ordinary humans can't even imagine. One hundred out of one hundred, one thousand out of one thousand! Without exception."

While the timing and level of the bloodline's blessing varied, no Runkandel in a thousand years has failed to enjoy it.

In exchange, their affinity for magic was so low that it was almost non-existent. This is why Jin is a very special existence in Runkandel.

Jed continued his explanation.

"Therefore, what you will learn from me is simple and brutal. Stand up."