Episode 234. To Hell (2)
The sound of movement was heard outside the office. It was the butler chief Petro's footsteps.
"Lord, all preparations are complete."
"Understood, let's head out."
As Jin and Luna stood up, Petro bowed his head. The group walked down the hallway and crossed the garden where the swords were planted.
When he stopped walking, Jin could face about three thousand knights 1opening their ranks. Luna, mixed in the center of the ranks, received a flag from a knight. Other knights also took flags in response.
"Raise your spirit!"
In response to Luna's shout, the knights raised their flags in unison.
The reason why the family's knights gathered was clear. It was to celebrate the accomplishments of the lord who had reached Genesis.
Jin considered ensuring no gaps were left in the tasks of the family and the alliance to be more important than celebrating his own achievements.
Therefore, he didn't initially plan to hold a commemoration at all, and even if he did, he intended to proceed modestly with a minimum number of people. However, Loret and the elders vehemently opposed it. They claimed that the members of the 11 family also had the right to commemorate this moment.
"Salute!"
The knights raised their swords in salute.
When Siron had reached Genesis, many more knights of the family had saluted with their swords than now.
In addition, not only numerous delegations sent from allied families but also delegations sent from the Empire and the Lutero Federation had arrived.
Now, it had to be smaller in scale compared to that time. After the Monstrosity War, the number of family knights had decreased to less than half, and Jin did not allow envoys from outside the Barmel Alliance.
Despite this, those who saw this spectacle, those standing here, no one felt that now was no more inferior than that time.
Rather, they thought it was filled with a brighter and overwhelming atmosphere. Even though the visible numbers have decreased, it was because the current Runkandelwas not weaker than it was at that time.
Jin took a moment to carefully examine the faces of the knights.
The shining eyes of the brothers holding the flags, the ancestors still supporting the family, the youngest regiment standing at the front of the magic knight squad with emotional faces, the proud knights.
'I told them not to, but when faced with this scene... it's a bit overwhelming.'
Jin smiled softly.
"It's been a long time since I've seen all the knights of the family gathered like this. Due to various tasks, there were always only a minimum number of people left in the Garden of Swords."
Still, those minimum members were always busy running around, so the Garden of Swords was never empty.
"The fact that you all gathered in the Garden of Swords to celebrate with me means that we've done well."
Of course, since all knights and flag bearers gathered in the Garden of Swords, there would be gaps in defending the territory of the Alliance.
But it was a very small gap. The enemy tribes were still not bothering the Barmel Alliance, and the transitional rifts of the underworld had almost completely disappeared. Even if they were absent for a moment for the celebration, there was no way the defense forces could suddenly be insufficient.
Moreover, the alliance's forces, including the Golden Fleet, were still on high alert for the invasion of enemies.
"So I'd rather commemorate that fact than my own achievements. Everyone has worked hard, and will continue to have to work hard. How about that? That's the life of a knight, a life of struggle, and that's Runkandal."
Upon hearing the name 'Runkandal' spoken by Jin, the knights felt as if a drum was pounding in their hearts.
When Cyron became the world's best sword and immediately left for the Black Sea, the enemies predicted that Runkandal would now weaken.
When Luna abandoned the throne, the enemies thought the future of Runkandal was now uncertain.
When Rosa became a monster, the enemies were sure that Runkandal was over.
But Runkandal survived all these chaotic times, the monstrous times.
They did not collaborate with anything that dirties their reputation and did not use anything. They never fell in any crisis, always fought, and are still fighting.
At the center of it all, no doubt, was Jin.
"Whether you were Runkandal from birth, or whether you came to the Sword Garden to become Runkandal, all of our souls will be the same shape. We slash, stab, and knock down those who try to destroy that shape in any way. My becoming a world champion is solely to do that job better, so the real celebration will be after we've finished them all. So, let's keep today short and end here. That's all! Return to your places."
"Loyalty!"
"Loyalty!"
As with the appointment ceremony of the chieftain, the knights dispersed quickly as soon as Jin's dismissal command fell. Luna, who had just received the 'Guardian of the Earth' command from Jin, also headed for the conference room. The only ones left were Lert and the elders.
It was a short speech that didn't even last 10 minutes, but nobody forgot today.
[Ha ha ha! Our grandson, you ended the event short and strong again this time. If the situation was a bit better, we could have held a gala and enjoyed the romance.]
"Zito,Zipple, Kinsello, Royal family, enemy tribe, Sun religion, Ganesto. After dealing with them all, we can hold a party, great-grandfather."
[Will I be able to see that party before I go to the afterlife again?]
"Of course. So, we have to finish off Zito first."
[Yes, defeating that monster will sort everything out. The world has changed too much, even though it was my era when only the huge forces in the human world were competing.]
[Chieftain, what should we prepare?]
"Ancestors, please keep the human world's forces in check while I hit hell."
[Understood... Wait, you're not planning to go to hell alone, are you? You've concentrated the alliance's forces at Grosch Castle, haven't you?]
"I'm taking Murakan, Valeria, and Bale with me. I plan to keep the Golden Fleet and some of the superhumans, who are among the gathered forces, on standby. To prepare for the aftermath of the battle reaching the human world, or just in case I lose."
Among the selected comrades, only Murakan will directly combat with Zito.
Of course, Vail is also strong enough to fight alongside, but his role is to protect Valeria from hell. Valeria awakened the truth to the demons of hell and was responsible for resolving any problems that might occur in Murakan's 'memories'.
Murakan's power not only recovers the broken heart, but is also deeply related to Jin's achievements.
As Jin's spiritual energy grows stronger, so does his power. So Murakan has fully recovered its glory from a thousand years ago, but there were side effects due to the heart's wound.
When using the same power as in its heyday, sometimes memories get distorted. He would forget the truth confirmed from Keitam's picture, showing signs of running amok.
However, the frequency was neither frequent nor serious. It was to the extent that it was okay again as soon as Valeria lightly captured it with a recording magic.
It was also a problem that would be perfectly solved over time. As soon as Jin reached Changseong, his strengthened spiritual energy was gradually healing the thousand-year-old heart wound.
[Defeat! Grandson, you are now almost invincible.]
"It's just an assumption. Since one Genesis knight swordsman has already lost to him, it won't hurt to be careful."
[Well, that's true. Actually, this great-grandfather doesn't worry much whether you go alone or all four of you.]
[Your words and expressions are separate, 59th generation.]
[Well, even if he's Changseong, a grandson is a grandson, so that can happen, 21st generation.]
"Ancestors, please find out about other enemies until I return. Especially Ganesto... They are linked to Kelleryak Zip. But apart from Lokiya's world, their base, nothing else has been revealed yet."
After dealing with Anne last time, the Alliance had not yet been able to determine the whereabouts and trends of Ganesto.
It was because the underworld was causing trouble and there was hardly any room to track them.
u
[Okay, Jin. Petro has grown a lot recently, so I will temporarily delegate domestic management to him and I will personally look around for their records.]
Leet said.
"Oh, has Petro received recognition from the housekeeper?"
[He has been a dedicated butler to Jin since his preliminary knight days. Although he occasionally makes a fuss, it's clear that he's a great butler fit for Jin. He never even embezzled small amounts claiming it as pocket money.]
Jin laughed at the memory of Petro's fussing moments. Looking back, Petro had always been silently assisting him.
"I do have some people. Please provide a suitable reward while the housekeeper takes charge."
[Yes, Young Lord. Then when are you planning to go to the underworld?]
"I plan to leave right now."
[Right now!?]
"Yes, great-grandfather. I originally wanted to leave earlier, but it was delayed waking up the souls of the Holy Kingdom. Since I have already finished talking with Bisekhs, I just need to move."
"Biseps, the only remaining resistance in the Demon Realm. They were currently waiting for Jin, preparing for the final battle to liberate the Demon Realm.
Leth and the elders did not comment on Jin's decision. What they had to do was to faithfully execute the orders left by the lord.
"Then I'll go and see you when I return."
Jin immediately walked towards the backyard where the red owl was stationed.
"We wish you luck, lord."
"Show the dignity of Runecandle in the Demon Realm and come back."
The red owl instantly transported Jin to the gathering place of Groshi Castle.
At Groshi Castle, there were fleets from various factions gathered, just as they had when forming a barrier. Both the Ziphel and Kinzel forces were unable to rashly enter the pathway leading to the mainland of the Demon Realm.
Jin briefly stopped by the Golden Fleet to exchange greetings with the members of the coalition. The coalition members, having received word from Tikan, knew that Jin was now descending into hell.
And the leaders of the Ziphel and Kinzel also showed signs of movement as soon as the red owl appeared at Groshi Castle. The enemies were waiting for Jin, too.
"Did you arrive, kid?"
"Yes, Murakan."
"Before fighting with Jito, you couldn't attend your own ceremony because you had to receive the last memory protection magic from the history nerd."
"His... history nerd?"
"I can't call you the guardian of history every time."
"Just call me by my name, Valeria."
"I prefer it this way. Anyway, the kid is here, let's get going, here is the invincible and immortal, the great Lord Veil, the nemesis of mortals."
"Oh, don't call me that!"
Soon as the party left the Golden Fleet and approached the passageway of Groshi Castle, someone approached.
"Jin Runecandle."
It was Veradin Ziphel. Behind him stood Betty, Almatia, and Kun.
"Oh, Veradin. You only sent your subordinates to the siege of Groshi Castle. This time, it seems like you're going to hell yourself?"
It wasn't a sarcastic tone contrary to the content. Rather, Jin's voice was filled with a pleased undertone.
"There's not only Jito down there, but also the traitor of our Ziphel. I have to go personally and put an end to his miserable life."
It was a story about Kelliac.
Jin momentarily felt bitter thinking of Veradin killing Kelliac and becoming more corrupt, but responded with a smiling face.
"Veradin, do enough and come back as you were. Such lines really don't suit you."