Chapter 49

Chapter 19. Banquet (4)

Wu Ge’s jovial expression turned as stiff as stone.

One second, two seconds, three seconds, four seconds, five seconds.

Jin waited for Wu Ge to make amends during this time, but Wu Ge’s face soon twisted with displeasure.

It’s not a big deal. Even Jonshina and Ferrel, who were in their fifties, showed him proper respect, so how could a man not even in his thirties speak to him so informally?

"Wu Ge, I wonder if those dishes will suit your impudent mouth."

As Jin added a gentle remark, Wu Ge’s ears turned red. Quite a few people were watching the two of them, and the mix of humiliation and anger made his blood boil.

"Hey, impressive kid. You wouldn’t be embarrassing me just because I spoke to you informally, would you? No matter how much you are Runkandel, in the world of warriors, I’m a senior. I’m just impressed by your outstanding abilities, but you need to learn some manners!"

Wu Ge asked, sounding incredulous.

Jin thought he needed to explain the situation to this foolish young man.

"Listen carefully, Wu Ge of the Tukoga. Your actions just now not only disrespected me but also all those who have shown me respect. If you were the type to care about seniority, you should have been even more cautious."

"What?"

"Kenga’s first and second generations, Sir Jonshina and Sir Ferrel of the Dragon King Knights, and so on. Most of them are your seniors, aren’t they? If you had your eyes and ears open, you would have seen how they treated me."

Jin’s words were echoed by Ken and Siger Ken, who nodded, while Jonshina looked intrigued.

The onlookers let out small sighs or whispered to each other.

"If you act like that, what does it make them? Admit your mistake and apologize. Since I’ve already scolded you, we can consider it a non-event."

Just as Wu Ge was about to retort angrily.

Oh-!

The onlookers gasped and whistled.

"Nice one, Wu Ge!"

"Ha ha, I’ve been telling you to be more careful. Wu Ge, you’ve just received a great lesson from the young lord of Runkandel."

"Thanks to the youngest lord, you’ve saved your life. You’ll surely get into trouble because of your mouth one day. Heh, follow the lord’s advice."

"Surely you’re not going to challenge him to a duel out of embarrassment? I don’t want to think you’re that petty."

The onlookers, who had naturally gathered, patted Wu Ge on the shoulder to ease the tension. They were all senior warriors who were close to Wu Ge.

And Wu Ge is a very simple person. He soon lightened up and said:

"Hmm, if the seniors say so... Well, it seems I did make a mistake. Sir Jonshina and the other seniors, please forgive this junior’s mistake. I would be grateful if Lord Jin would do the same."

"Of course, Sir Wu Ge."

A potentially explosive situation was resolved amicably.

Wu Ge, looking a bit embarrassed, laughed loudly and disappeared in the direction of his family.

After the people dispersed, Luna, who had been watching the scene from a corner of the banquet hall, approached Jin.

"Luna-nee."

"Hehe, the youngest really has a talent for making enemies. Sometimes it would be nice to act like a normal kid and be cute."

Snap. Their glasses clinked lightly.

"If there hadn’t been so many people watching, I would have let it slide. Just now, I had to be difficult because I’m practically the representative of Runkandel. I needed to be a difficult person."

"You’re right. But what would you have done if Wu Ge had challenged you to a duel? He’s still stronger than you, probably around 6th rank."

"I didn’t think that was a possibility. If he had challenged me, the head and elders of the Tukoga family, who were looking at us with worried eyes from the table in front, would have come and taken him away."

Luna looked at the Tukoga family’s table, where the head of the family was scolding Wu Ge.

"...Wow. You were even calculating the situation with them in mind?"

"Yes. Moreover, the head of the Tukoga family had already frowned when Wu Ge spoke to me informally. He was well aware that his subordinate had made a mistake."

"I’m exhausted. Where did you learn all this political maneuvering and social skills from the nobles?"

"If there were someone to teach me, it wouldn’t be bad to have them around. In the Garden of Swords, the only thing I improve every day is my swordsmanship."

"That’s enough, isn’t it? Do you need something else?"

"Good heavens, someone like you probably doesn’t need anything else. But for someone like me, who is often disliked, there are countless things needed for survival."

"Is that so...?"

Luna, looking genuinely puzzled, tilted her head in an innocent manner. To Luna, who was born a predator and had never once read the room, Jin was fascinating.

Jin, looking at his sister, inwardly sighed.

Meanwhile, Luna was thinking:

'This kid has talent equal to or greater than mine, and he’s also very smart. That’s why he almost got assassinated in Storm City... I wonder which of my siblings recognized the youngest’s potential early on.'

People watching the siblings chatting so warmly wondered if Luna was really the rumored 'White Spirit.'

She hadn’t attended any noble parties since her 5th-rank achievement celebration at fifteen. At that party, she had dragged everyone who approached her to the dueling arena and nearly killed them.

People thought she disliked banquets because she was as aloof as the mythical White Spirit, but in fact, Luna loved parties.

Specifically, she loved dancing at small street tavern parties while hiding her identity.

"Anyway, I came to this celebration for you, but I don’t really like it here. I’m going to find a more interesting place."

"Already leaving?"

"Yeah. You’re still a bit too short to dance with me. When you grow up, I’ll take you to a nice place."

The siblings smiled at each other.

"I look forward to it, Nee-san."

"And before I go, I should leave a message for the people like you did."

Luna, standing up, hugged Jin from behind.

'Hmm, why is she doing this all of a sudden? It’s giving me goosebumps.'

He really did get goosebumps.

'If I do this, these people will realize how much I cherish you. That will reduce the chances of them making mistakes out of fear of me. See you later.'

As she expected, the guests could barely hide their shock. The White Spirit, who even her siblings found hard to approach, had openly shown affection for the youngest.

Especially the men who secretly harbored feelings for her were divided into two groups: those who now resolved to impress Jin to get a chance to meet her, and those who were envious.

"Ugh... This is so envy-inducing! Damn! Lady Bishkel, I want to hug Luna too! Ugh, what a lucky guy!"

He was envious to the point of madness. This man, Bubarr Gaston, was a self-proclaimed superfan of hers.

"Ah! Lady Bishkel, I have to write a poem about Luna tonight. Ah, even my perfect disguise can’t make someone as beautiful as her... "

Bishkel Ebliano, listening to this, felt a headache coming on.

He attended the banquet as the next head of the Ebliano family to gather information on Runkandel for Kinsello.

Originally, he planned to attend alone, but Bubarr, acting like a madman, begged to be his escort, so he had to bring him along.

How many exhausting things did he have to endure in the process?

No 'escorts' were allowed in Runkandel’s banquet hall. Therefore, Bishkel had to plead for hours, even using his disabled sister as an excuse.

And for what?

Just to see Luna. Bishkel hid his trembling fists in his coat.

"Ah, Lady Bishkel, I’ll write a poem for Luna tonight and sing all night long. All night long!"

"Shut up, Bubarr Gaston."

"Brother, don’t be so harsh. It might be an important issue for Bubarr. Also, thanks to Bubarr, I got to see Runkandel’s tightrope party."

The girl sitting in the wheelchair Bubarr was pushing, her eyes shining, was Bishkel’s only sister, Margiella Ebliano.

"Margiella, you really understand me. Miss, heh, I’ll tour this vast banquet hall for you, corner by corner, starting today."

"Sure, Bubarr."

Jin had noticed this conspicuous group due to the wheelchair but didn’t know Bishkel and Bubarr’s identities.

Bishkel being the deputy of Kinsello was information he didn’t have even in his past life, and Bubarr was in disguise.

Jin soon turned his attention elsewhere. People were approaching him one by one, so he had no time to focus on them.

'Being the host is tiring. By the way, where are the Zipel kids...?'

Jin was looking for the Zipel family’s young members who had arrived late. The Zipels were his top priority to watch, so it was natural.

However, the Zipel children seemed to be hiding in a corner of the banquet hall, not easily visible.

'Hmm, it’s annoying, but should I go around and look for them myself?'

Just as Jin was about to stand up.

Clunk!

Someone placed a glass on Jin’s table.

"May this girl dare to offer a drink to the sacred Runkandel?"

The content was polite, but the tone was not. The girl’s voice had a challenging undertone.

Jin, meeting her eyes, inwardly chuckled.

"Ah, you are..."

"I am Syris Endorma of the Inner Palace. It’s an honor to meet you."

Syris gave a thin-lipped smile.