Chapter 56

Chapter 20. Beyond the World (2)

The first thing the cadets who have left the Garden of Swords must do to build their reputation is to leave the Hufester Union.

All traces that could reveal that Jin and his party are from Runkandel have been erased. The robes they wear over their clothes bear no emblem of Runkandel’s black sword, and there are no family crests in the bags they carry.

Jin’s appearance has not yet been known to the world, so there is no need for a disguise, but he has made some adjustments to his looks.

He has trimmed his black hair, which used to fall to his shoulders. Ironically, the more famous identity among the common people is that of the 'nameless Gillian McLoran' before she became a wet nurse, but fortunately, her heyday was short-lived.

The names on the identity cards and travel permits of the two are also pseudonyms.

Jin Gray, Gillian Piten. Even though they are fake, they are sophisticated enough to allow free entry and exit from the capital of Viment.

Nevertheless.

Anyone in the Hufester Union can guess that they are cadets from Runkandel. The Hufester Union is practically the base of Runkandel, so it is only natural.

Therefore, they had to leave for lands beyond the sea where Runkandel’s influence does not reach.

“Miss Luna will be disappointed. The faction students will be too. Is it really okay to leave without saying goodbye?”

“Just. Luna is a free-spirited person, and the students are a bit awkward. It’s not like we’re going to die.”

However, just as they were about to pass through the main gate of the Garden of Swords, Jin encountered nine students.

“What, isn’t it training time? Uncle Jed will be disappointed.”

“Have a safe journey!”

“Have a safe journey!”

The students all performed a sword salute. Jin looked at them for a moment and smiled.

“I hope you all come back stronger than I expect. Don’t let anyone die or fall behind. Also, endure the punishment for skipping training to see me off.”

He lightly bumped fists with each of them, and Jin’s party headed for the pier.

‘It feels strange, completely different from back then.’

In his previous life, he was stripped of his title at the age of twenty-five and driven out of this place. But now, at fifteen, he is leaving as a cadet, which makes him feel excited all over again.

Reborn and now fifteen years later.

It took five years to gain this freedom. It felt especially long since he had been fully aware from the age of one.

He found himself humming a tune.

Originally, Sirion does not allow a cadet a long period of five years. The standard is to build a reputation within six months to two years and return to the family.

‘The reason Father gave me five years is one and only one. To find the ultimate spirit and return.’

Of course, Jin is not a good son who just listens to his father. His goal is to complete his training in both spirit and magic.

Meanwhile, Sirion is left alone in the spirit temple, thinking.

‘Youngest. I wonder if that child will gain the power to free Runkandel from Zephl… I’m looking forward to it.’

He himself reached the realm of a demigod with just a sword but could not break the pact the ancestors made with Zephl.

Only the youngest, the contractor of Solderet, is Runkandel’s only hope. It’s a hope as fragile as a candle in the wind, but still.

* * *

A day passed, and the three were walking on a quiet forest path.

Most of Runkandel’s cadets choose the Mamit lawless zone as their first destination to build their reputation. It’s a place where evil ringleaders, like cockroaches, can be killed without hesitation.

Jin did consider going to Mamit, but not to kill ringleaders. Perhaps it was because he wondered if his old magic teacher, who now goes by the name ‘Hister,’ might be there around this time.

However, he cannot waste time out of nostalgia for his former teacher.

‘He wouldn’t recognize me anyway.’

A reunion can be arranged at any time later,

Jin’s first journey, instead of the Mamit lawless zone, is to the ‘Akin Kingdom’.

‘The land where I met my death in my previous life.’

There, he was killed in his sleep by the ambush of three 9-star knights. After that, he was reborn.

“Master, why Akin Kingdom?”

“Gillian, have you been to Akin?”

“No.”

“When I went on a mission to the Kolon ruins, I overheard the mages there talking. It seems that unregistered mages are causing quite a stir in Akin recently.”

“Unregistered mages?”

Unregistered mages, as the name suggests, are those who are not listed in the Mage Association, and most of them live as criminals or rogue mercenaries.

“Right. They move in teams with rogue mercenaries and are causing a lot of trouble for the people of Akin. I thought I’d take them down first.”

Of course, Jin has never overheard such a conversation. It’s information from his previous life. The fact that unregistered mages and mercenaries are causing trouble in Akin is something everyone who has been there knows.

The unregistered mages and mercenaries who are making a name for themselves in Akin are all underlings of the ‘Tessing’ black market.

Jin’s real business is with that black market. The underground auction hosted by Tessing is likely to be filled with items whose true value is yet to be known.

‘I must buy a few magic books and one ring.’

The magic described in the old magic books, written in gore and code, is mostly overshadowed by improved modern magic, but occasionally, a timeless masterpiece can be found.

And Jin, thanks to a good teacher, knows the precise method to distinguish the good from the bad.

Moreover, in about five or six years, an artifact helmet will be revealed and given a proper name. The helmet artifact, made in the form of a ring, was the dream item for all warriors in his previous life.

“That’s a good idea, Master. I used to love catching bad guys when I was active. I’m already getting excited!”

Gillian clenched her fist and said.

Her 7-star martial prowess, accumulated over a lifetime, was sealed just yesterday, but she was excited about traveling the world with Jin and Murakan.

However, there was a significant problem.

“Master, but we can’t use the teleportation gate to get to Akin Kingdom. We’ll probably have to get the cheapest boat fare…”

They had no money.

In the Garden of Swords, there was no need to worry about money, but the only money they had was ten gold coins.

With this amount, they couldn’t even afford a teleportation gate, let alone a first-class ship ticket. The wealthy life of the youngest son of a martial arts family, who could spend three thousand gold coins today and five thousand tomorrow, was now a thing of the past.

Bang!

Murakan, who was in the basket, transformed into a human and stood on the road.

“Strawberry Pie! I knew this would happen, so I secretly brought a few limited edition collections. Hehe, I can sell just one of these and get a first-class ship ticket.”

“Lord Murakan. When did you… Isn’t it a bit embarrassing to sell them?”

“Put them away, Murakan. We’re not so stingy that we have to sell your treasures. We’ll think of something.”

“Master, if I endure and give them to the city peddlers, I think we can get about a hundred gold coins.”

“A hundred! I bought them for two thousand. I can’t sell them for that price.”

For a moment, Murakan and Gillian haggled over the price of the erotic books. Jin thought they were cute and shook his head.

“Both of you, stop. I have a plan for the money. Before we go to Akin, let’s stop by the Chan Kingdom tonight. There’s someone there I can take advantage of.”

“The Chan Kingdom? How are we going to get there?”

“We can ride Murakan. What’s the problem? Transform.”

It had been a day since they left the Garden of Swords, but it was still broad daylight. It was not the right time for the legendary black dragon to transform and wander around.

“Oh, kid. Are you sure it’s okay?”

“No, no! Master. What if someone recognizes us? We haven’t even left Runkandel’s territory yet.”

“It’s fine. What’s the harm in a little rebellion? Transform quickly, we have a long way to go.”

Before Gillian could protest further,

Roar! Murakan had already transformed into his true form and held the two in his claws.

[Hold on tight. We need to fly diligently until night to reach the Chan Kingdom.]

The three crossed the sky of Hufester and headed for the Chan Kingdom.

For a while afterward, a rumor spread in the central part of the Hufester Union that a dragon had been seen, but no one confirmed its existence.

Except for one person, Jin’s older sister.

“Still, he’s a bold one, riding a dragon right after becoming a cadet?”

Luna was sitting on the balcony of her villa, drinking alone, thinking about her youngest brother who had left so abruptly. She saw not only Murakan flying but also the two people riding behind him.

“To your heartless brother, cheers, hah.”

* * *

“Ugh… Ugh.”

Unfortunately, Gillian had a severe fear of heights. As soon as they landed on a hill near the capital of the Chan Kingdom, she trembled with fear for a while.

“Strawberry Pie, are you okay? Hey! Kid! It’s because of you that Strawberry Pie is scared!”

“Why is it my fault? You flew strangely.”

“You suggested we ride you! Ah, Strawberry Pie. Breathe slowly, slowly. That’s right.”

For a while, Jin and Murakan comforted Strawberry Pie, or rather, Gillian. Her face was pale, and she was shivering.

Murakan took the opportunity to tightly embrace her, and Gillian, whether she noticed or not, did not push him away.

“I can’t do this. I’ll take care of Strawberry Pie, so you get the money quickly, kid.”

Crazy. What is this?

Although he had this thought, Jin decided to follow Murakan’s advice.

After running through the mountain paths and main roads for two hours, Jin arrived at the Bilga mansion.

As expected of the mansion of the largest merchant family in the Chan Kingdom, it was a grand mansion visible from anywhere in the capital. As Jin approached the gate, the guards blocked his way.

“What? Go away, kid.”

Crack!

Hearing that cliché line, Jin felt a strange sense of nostalgia. In his previous life, when he was rolling around the city like a vagrant, he had heard this line countless times.

His hair was disheveled from the long flight, and his travel clothes bore no emblem of the black sword. To the guards, the boy who appeared in the middle of the night was nothing but a nuisance.

“Is Sembe Bil inside?”

When Jin mentioned the name of the eldest grandson of the Bil family, the guards exchanged glances. Moreover, his casual attitude.

“Yes, he is. Excuse me, who are you?”

I am Jin Runkandel.

Or, an old friend. I’m passing by and thought I’d drop in, so tell Sembe to come out.

Both options were not good. The former would violate the rules a cadet should follow, and the latter would make the guards drag out the procedure, making him wait until morning.

“Thank you. And I’m sorry.”

Snap!

Without thinking, Jin struck the back of the two guards’ necks with the edge of his hand, knocking them out. He then took out his entire fortune of ten gold coins, placed them on the guards’ stomachs, and entered the Bil mansion.

Fortunately, Sembe was sitting by the lake in the middle of the mansion, meditating. Thanks to this, Jin did not have to knock out the other guards inside the mansion.

“Sembe.”

“Who, uh, uh!”

“Don’t scream, it’s me. Jin. The one who saved your life from Kinsel.”

“Phew! No, Master Jin. How did you get here?”

“I told you to call me if you ever needed help. Do you remember?”

“Of course. How could I forget Master Jin’s kindness? If it weren’t for you, I would be—”

“Great. I’ll wait here, so go inside and bring some gold and jewelry.”