Chapter 942

## Chapter 942

“Forward…!”

Footsteps could be heard approaching outside the study. It was the butler Petro.

“Lord Young Patriarch, everything is ready.”

“Understood, let’s go.”

Petro bowed his head as Jin and Luna stood up. The three walked down the hallway and crossed the garden where swords were planted in the ground.

Upon stopping, Jin could see about three thousand knights lined up. Luna went to the center of the formation and received a flag from a knight. Other flagbearers also took their flags accordingly.

“Raise your flags!”

The flagbearers simultaneously raised their flags in response to Luna’s order.

The reason for gathering the clan’s knights was none other than to commemorate the Lord Young Patriarch’s achievement of reaching the level of Genesis Knight.

Jin believed that it was more important to ensure that there were no gaps in the clan’s and alliance’s duties than to celebrate his own achievement.

Therefore, he had no intention of holding a ceremony from the beginning, and if he did, he thought of gathering a small group of people. However, Lueth and the elders strongly opposed this, stating that the clan members had the right to commemorate that moment.

“As ordered!”

The knights raised their swords.

When Cyron reached the level of Genesis Knight, there were many more clan knights raising their swords than now. In addition to those sent by the allied clans, even the Empire and the Lutero Magical Federation had sent their own representatives.

Now, the scale was inevitably smaller than back then. After the Evil God War, the number of clan knights had decreased to less than half, and Jin hadn’t allowed envoys from outside the Vamel alliance.

However, the people who were there and observing the scene didn’t feel that it was less grand than before.

Rather, they perceived that the atmosphere was even brighter and more overwhelming. The visible numbers had decreased, but the current Runcandel wasn’t weaker than back then.

Jin carefully observed the knights’ faces for a moment.

He saw the bright eyes of the brothers holding the flags, the ancestors who still supported the clan, the youngest division with tearful faces at the front of the magical knight unit, and the proud knights.

“I told them not to do it, but seeing this image… my heart fills with pride.”

Jin chuckled.

“It’s been a long time since all the clan knights gathered like this. There was always a minimum number of people left in the Garden of Swords due to various missions.”

However, the few who remained were always busy running back and forth, and there was never a dull atmosphere in the Garden of Swords.

“The fact that they have gathered in the Garden of Swords to congratulate me in this way means that we’ve done a great job.”

Of course, there could have been some gaps in the defense of the alliance’s territories with all the knights and flagbearers gathered in the Garden of Swords.

However, those gaps were very small. The Red Legend Tribe was still refraining from interfering with the Vamel alliance, and the fractures of the True Demon World had almost disappeared. Although they were temporarily absent for the ceremony, the defensive forces would not suddenly become insufficient in any way.

Originally, the Vamel alliance forces, including the Golden Ship, were on high alert and ready to respond to any enemy invasion.

“So, I want to celebrate that fact more than my own achievements. You’ve all worked hard, and you will continue to do so in the future. What else can we do? That’s the life of a knight, the life of fighting, and the life of Runcandel.”

The knights felt a drum beating in their hearts upon hearing the name Runcandel.

When Cyron departed for the Black Sea as soon as he became the World’s First Sword, the enemies believed that Runcandel would weaken.

When Luna abandoned the throne, the enemies thought that Runcandel’s future had become uncertain.

When Rosa became an evil god, the enemies were convinced that Runcandel was finished.

However, Runcandel had overcome all those chaotic and monstrous eras.

Runcandel didn’t form alliances with anyone or anything that could corrupt the human world, nor did it exploit anything. It never wavered in any crisis and continues to fight, even today it is still in combat.

Jin was undoubtedly at the center of it all.

“Either they were born as Runcandel, or they came to the Garden of Swords to become Runcandel; our souls have the same shape. We will defeat anyone who tries to defile that shape, no matter the cost. I became a Genesis Knight solely to do better, so the real celebration will come after we’ve finished them all. So, let’s conclude today’s business. Disperse me! Return to your positions.”

“Yes, Sir!”

“Yes, Sir!”

Just like in the ceremony of the Young Patriarch’s appointment, the knights immediately dispersed as soon as Jin gave the order to dissolve. Luna, who had just received the order to “Guard the Surface” from Jin, also returned to the meeting room. Only Lueth and the elders remained in their seats.

It was a short speech, less than ten minutes, but no one would forget today.

*[“Haha! My great-grandson, once again, you’ve closed the event in a short and bold way. If times were a little better, we would have celebrated with a single-log bridge party and enjoyed it.”]*

“After we take care of Zito, Zipple, Kinzelo, the Imperial Family, the Red Legend Tribe, the Sun God Religion, and Ganesto, we can celebrate with a feast, Great-Grandfather.”

*[“Will this old great-grandfather still be able to see that feast before going to the afterlife?”]*

“Of course he will. So, first, we must take care of Zito.”

*[“Of course, we must defeat that monster before resolving anything else. The world has changed so much since my time, when the forces of the human world only faced each other.”]*

*[“Young Patriarch, what should we prepare?”]*

“My ancestors, keep the forces of the human world at bay while I attack Hell.”

*[“Understood… Wait, do you mean you will go to Hell alone? Didn’t you gather the alliance forces at Grosch Castle?”]*

“Only Murakan, Valeria, and Bale will go with me. Among the gathered forces, the Golden Ship and some of the superhumans will continue to wait outside. It’s in case the aftermath of the battle reaches the human world or, in the unlikely event that I lose.”

Only Murakan would be directly engaged in combat with Zito among the selected companions.

Of course, Bale was also strong enough to fight Zito, but his role was to protect Valeria in Hell. Valeria would tell the truth to the demons of Hell through her Record Magic and help Murakan if he had any problems with his “memories.”

Murakan’s power wasn’t just about healing his broken heart; it was also deeply connected to Jin’s achievements.

As Jin’s Shadow Energy increased, so did his strength. For that reason, Murakan had completely recovered the Shadow Energy of his peak from a thousand years ago.

However, there were side effects due to his damaged heart.

Sometimes, his memories would become distorted when using the same power as his peak. This meant that he would forget the truth he had confirmed in Kaytam’s painting and show signs of going mad.

But the frequency and severity of these episodes weren’t high. Valeria could easily manage them with her Record Magic.

This problem would be completely resolved over time. As soon as Jin reached the level of Genesis Knight, the strengthened Shadow Energy was gradually healing the thousand-year-old wound in his heart.

*[“Lose! Great-grandson, you’re practically invincible now.”]*

“There’s always a possibility. A Genesis Knight swordsman has already fallen to him, so it doesn’t hurt to be cautious.”

*[“Hmm, it’s true. Actually, I’m not too worried if you go alone or accompanied by four.”]*

*[“Your words and expressions don’t quite match, 59th.”]*

*[“Well, he’s still my great-grandson, even if he’s a Genesis Knight, 21st.”]*

“Ancestors, gather information about the other enemies until I return. Especially about Ganesto… They’re connected to Kelliark Zipple. But we still have no clues, except for their headquarters in Lokia’s world.”

Since the incident with Anne last time, the alliance hadn’t been able to track Ganesto’s whereabouts or movements. The True Demon World is in chaos, so they have almost no resources to spare to track them.

*[“Understood, Young Patriarch. Petro has grown a lot recently, so I will briefly delegate internal affairs to him and personally travel through the human world to gather information about them.”]* Lueth replied.

“Oh, has Petro finally received recognition as the Chief Butler?”

*[“He has been your personal butler since your cadet days, Young Patriarch. He tends to be a bit mischievous sometimes, but he is undoubtedly an excellent butler, worthy of a Young Patriarch. He hasn’t even committed minor embezzlement of pocket money.”]*

Jin laughed, remembering the times when Petro used to be a bit mischievous. Looking back, Petro had always helped him silently.

“I owe him some gratitude. Please, grant him a suitable reward for taking care of things in my absence.”

*[“Yes, Young Patriarch. So, when do you plan to depart for the True Demon World?”]*

“I plan to leave immediately.”

*[“Immediately! Right now?”]*

“Yes, Great-Grandfather. I originally wanted to leave even earlier, but it was delayed by the awakening of the souls of the Holy Kingdom. My conversation with Visepps has already concluded, so I only have to get going.”

Visepps, the only remaining resistance force in the True Demon World, was preparing for the final battle and waiting for Jin.

Lueth and the elders didn’t add any more comments to Jin’s decision. Their duty was to faithfully carry out the orders left by the Young Patriarch.

“Well, then, see you upon my return.”

Jin headed straight to the backyard, where the Red Owl awaited him.

*[“Good luck, Young Patriarch.”]*

*[“Show the majesty of Runcandel to the True Demon World and return.”]*

The Red Owl swiftly transported Jin to Grosch Castle, where the various forces had gathered, just like when they formed a defensive wall in the past.

Both Zipple and Kinzelo couldn’t rush into the passage leading to the True Demon World.

Jin briefly stopped at the Golden Ship and greeted the members of the alliance. They received information from Tikan that Jin was now heading down to Hell.

The leaders of Zipple and Kinzelo also showed signs of mobilization as soon as the Red Owl appeared at Grosch Castle. The enemies were also waiting for Jin.

“You’ve come, boy.”

“Yes, Murakan.”

“Before fighting Zito, I’ve come to receive Histor’s memory protection magic.”

“H-Histor?”

“I can’t call you Guardian Histor every time, can I?”

“Why don’t you just call me Valeria?”

“I like that. Anyway, since you’re here, let’s go; there’s Great Bale, the invincible and immortal, the nemesis of mortals.”

“Ugh, don’t call me that!”

Soon, the group left the Golden Ship and headed towards the passage leading to Grosch Castle. Someone approached them.

“Jin Runcandel.”

It was Beradin Zipple. Betty, Almatia, and Kun were behind him.

“Oh, Beradin. Last time you only sent the lower ranks for the attack on Grosch Castle. It seems you’re going to Hell personally this time, right?”

Contrary to the content, Jin’s tone wasn’t mocking. Instead, there was a hint of welcome in his voice.

“The traitor of Zipple is also present in Hell alongside Zito. I must go myself and end that miserable life.”

Beradin was talking about Kelliark.

Jin felt bitter for a moment imagining Beradin killing Kelliark and falling even further into corruption. But he responded with a smile.

“Beradin, calm down and recover. That kind of phrase doesn’t really suit you.”

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