Chapter 82

Chapter 28. Meeting Shiron (2)

It was early morning, so the Hufester Union's transfer gate was rather quiet.

Nevertheless, the moment Jin, Luna, and Gilly arrived, the few people present immediately focused their attention on them.

It was because of Luna.

While Jin was not yet widely recognized, Luna was known wherever she went. Especially in the Hufester Union, the main base of Runkandel.

However, no one approached Luna casually or pretended to know her. Instead, the nearby taverns would be filled with stories about Luna well into the night.

“I hate going out because of this. After all, it’s more comfortable in a place where no one recognizes me. It’s strange that I find it more comfortable outside than at home.”

As Luna grumbled, Jin pulled his hood over his head.

At the same time, the guards waiting at the transfer gate rushed over to the group.

“Hail!”

“Hail! We greet the First Knight of Runkandel!”

“We will call a carriage to take you to the Garden of Swords.”

Luna said this while receiving their salute.

“Understood!”

The guards ran off somewhere. They were not part of the Garden of Swords but were paid by Runkandel, just like all other soldiers in the Hufester Union.

After about ten minutes, a steel carriage from Runkandel arrived right in front of the VIP waiting room.

The person driving the carriage was the Second Butler, Petro. He had been at the transfer gate to send documents to an allied family.

“Miss Luna! Your sudden disappearance caused a commotion at the main house. Where have you been? Oh? And Lord Jin... Gilly!? Why are you with the First Miss?”

Petro’s eyes widened.

As far as he knew, this combination of the three should not exist. It was unheard of for a reserve knight to move with the First Knight.

“...It seems there was some situation. Let’s go, First Miss. There are too many eyes watching. You two, ride ahead and inform the main house.”

Petro said this to the guardian knights accompanying him, looking around. He was worried that the news of Luna and Jin being together today might spread.

Clatter, clatter.

The carriage started moving, but Petro found it hard to hide his unease.

‘What is going on here? If I bring Lord Jin to the house...’

This time, the Garden of Swords would be completely turned upside down.

While Luna’s sudden disappearances were common and generally accepted, a reserve knight returning without permission after less than a month was a different matter.

It would not be surprising if a storm broke out in the Garden of Swords by tonight.

“Miss Luna, Lord Jin! May I ask one question, though it may be presumptuous.”

“Be quiet, it’s presumptuous. I’m as anxious as you are.”

“Yes...”

Unaware of Petro’s burning anxiety, the carriage continued toward the Garden of Swords.

‘We came together, but what if Father really goes ballistic? Should I hope that Gilly can escape with Jin while I hold Father off?’

There were too many guardian knights waiting in the Garden of Swords. Even ignoring the knights, it would be impossible for Gilly to outmaneuver the other siblings, especially since Gilly’s power was sealed.

As the Garden of Swords drew closer, Luna became increasingly anxious.

‘I don’t know. It will somehow work out. Surely, Father wouldn’t really kill us, right? No... Father is capable of that.’

Luna gave up thinking and stared blankly at Jin.

‘I’m breaking out in a cold sweat, but this guy looks annoyingly calm.’

Jin, however, was deep in thought, considering the most reasonable and justified demands he could make to Shiron.

“Little brother.”

“Yes, Sister.”

“You really need to be on your best behavior with me.”

“Of course.”

The carriage stopped.

In the vast garden, where swords were densely planted like stars, a few servants were working. The gatekeepers immediately performed a sword salute as the carriage arrived.

As Petro opened the carriage door, Luna stepped out.

When Gilly and Jin followed, the gatekeepers and servants were taken aback. Even the low-ranking servants could sense that something unusual was about to happen.

At the same time, the siblings, who had received reports from the first arriving guardian knights, appeared from the mansion.

“What the hell is this? Little brother! Did you see nothing when you left the house? A reserve knight daring to come to the Garden of Swords!”

The first to speak was the fourth son, Vigo Runkandel. Next to him stood the fourth and fifth daughters, Miu and Anne.

“This is the result of the eldest sister’s indulgence.”

“This time, even the eldest sister can’t protect you. This is really unacceptable.”

Luna, Jin, and Gilly stood silently.

Petro, who had brought them, felt as if he were sitting on a bed of thorns.

‘Oh, as expected, it’s a mess!’

The servants dared not even whisper among themselves. Some even stopped their work and hurried to the servants’ quarters.

This indicated how significant Jin’s arrival was.

Finally, the second daughter, Runtia, the third daughter, Mary, and the second son, Diphus, walked out from the mansion.

“Wow... It’s even more shocking to see it in person. What’s going on, little brother? Did you decide to give up your knight status? Or did you suddenly feel like dying during your teenage years?”

Diphus clicked his tongue and looked at Mary, but she did not react, keeping her gaze fixed on Jin.

‘Little brother... You mustn’t give up. You need to grow and challenge this sister one day.’

Mary had been looking forward to the day she would fight the grown-up Jin ever since she gave him the phoenix heart.

While the main culprits stood like statues, Runtia sighed and approached them.

“Sister Luna... Why did you bring the little brother here?”

Her tone was gentle, but her eyes were filled with cold killing intent.

“I didn’t bring him; he came on his own.”

“If that’s the case, you should have talked some sense into him. What will we do if you act like this, too?”

Runtia’s loud voice left Luna speechless.

She knew Runtia was right.

“Ah... I don’t know! Where is Father, then?”

Luna turned her head irritably. She had always been intimidated by Runtia since childhood, while Runtia was the only one among the siblings who could scold Luna.

“Oh my, little brother. You didn’t come to see Father, did you?”

“Yes, Second Sister.”

Runtia covered her forehead, and curses echoed around.

The siblings, who would have torn Jin apart on the spot if Luna were not there, glared at him.

‘What a beautiful family.’

While Jin thought this, Runtia shook her head.

“Sigh. I don’t know, Eldest Sister. Little brother, I don’t know why you came to see Father, but you need to be prepared. Go, he’s in the study.”

As Jin started to walk, Luna was about to follow.

Swish!

All the guardian knights, including the siblings, drew their swords.

“...From this moment on, the First Knight must discard her weapon and wait. The head of the house has strictly ordered that only Jin Runkandel is to be allowed in.”

Father is the head of the house, and the eldest sister is the First Knight.

Runtia’s change in terms indicated that this situation would be handled officially, as per Shiron’s orders.

‘Oh, this is an unexpected turn of events.’

Luna thought. This meant she could not shield Jin if Father decided to kill him.

“What if I don’t?”

As Luna glared and reached for her sword, a guardian knight who had silently positioned himself behind Gilly pressed a blade to her neck. Gilly, whose power was still sealed, could not even sense his presence.

“Stop, First Knight. It’s the head of the house’s order.”

“These guys...! They won’t put away their swords?”

“You’ve crossed the line. If you don’t have a satisfactory explanation for Father, the little brother will not leave alive. The First Knight will also be dismissed.”

“Discard your weapon. Resistance will be met with lethal force.”

Gritting her teeth, Luna.

‘This is bad... Should I just escape with Jin now? Damn, I thought too lightly. I assumed nothing would happen because Father favors Jin...!’

If they fought and escaped now, they would succeed.

However, Gilly would not survive, and Jin and Luna would have to live in hiding, pursued by Runkandel for the rest of their lives.

Of course, losing a genius who reached the fifth rank at fifteen and the strongest knight since Shiron would be a significant loss for Runkandel.

However, Runkandel was not a rational family that would weigh such losses. The head of the house’s orders were absolute, even if it weakened the family’s power.

In this situation,

The only way was for Jin to move Shiron’s heart.

And Jin still looked calm.

“...Brothers, sisters. Everyone is too agitated. I just came to inform Father as a son and a member of Runkandel. Please calm down.”

The siblings did not glare at Jin or shout as they had before.

They just watched Luna with an extremely businesslike attitude.

“And Sister Luna, Gilly. I’m sorry to put you in this difficult situation.”

Jin started walking toward the mansion.

While he had anticipated such a strong reaction, he was not entirely calm.

‘The other siblings don’t know Father well. While a reserve knight visiting the main house is against the rules, Father is not that strict about rules.’

It was impossible to get something from Shiron without taking risks. Some level of gambling was unavoidable.

Moreover, after the regression, Jin found it easiest to read Father.

In the past, he would shrink back and avoid eye contact with Father, but in this life, he always felt most at ease when facing Father.

‘If I keep my mind clear, I can do it this time too. If I’m given a chance to speak, I will definitely succeed.’

Huff.

Jin took a deep breath and knocked on the study door.

Knock, knock.

A very cautious knock.

And at the same time,

Swish!

A streak of sword light grazed Jin’s forehead, a speed he could not even perceive.

“I must have overestimated you. I clearly gave you five years.”

Shiron’s low voice followed, and the study door literally turned to dust, scattered by the sword light.

Seeing Shiron, Jin smiled inwardly.

For some reason, he felt at ease and the words he needed to say came to mind.

‘I shouldn’t apologize. I need to maintain a confident attitude, but not to the point of being arrogant.’

The immediate, measured response was:

“I came because I missed you, Father.”