Chapter 966

C966

-…Barisada, the Patriarch’s sword. The false Murakan is searching for it.”

-“Huh? Barisada? What does that fake guy want with it?”

-“In the past, Solderet told the Patriarch that Barisada isn’t just a sword; it’s also a key to somewhere.”

-“Barisada is the key…? I’ve never heard of such a thing.”

-“We only learned about it from the Chief Butler recently. We don’t know exactly what the key is to, but we were told it must never fall into the hands of the false Murakan or the Witch. They say a great danger looms over the world…”

A conversation from Kaytam’s painting.

Jin had this question even at that moment. In fact, this is something even Picon, who forged Barisada, doesn’t know.  Nor did the Runcandel survivors from a thousand years ago, Lueth and Bale, have knowledge of it.

“I thought the information that Barisada is a key might be an error caused by the contamination in Kaytam’s painting. But it seems my father personally confirmed it.”

[Lokia Ganesto… I never expected this name to appear in the Patriarch’s letter.]

Jin and Lueth said. He continued reading the rest of the letter’s contents.

(It was Solderet’s voice that gave me information about that place.

He didn’t transmit it directly. It was more like a record.

I believe it was placed so that the person holding Barisada can check it when he or she reaches a certain point in the depths of the Black Sea.

In any case, Solderet designated Lokia Ganesto as a traitor and said that when one reaches the end of the Black Sea, they will be able to determine the location of that place.

I didn’t know why that space existed or what was inside. However, whatever it is, it’s unlikely to have a positive impact on the clan.

Therefore, the expedition team and I are searching for clues about that place in addition to the subjugation of the five Black Sea kings.

Meanwhile, you should gather information related to Lokia Ganesto from the human world. If that person is still alive, make her pay for the betrayal of a thousand years ago.)

“Solderet’s voice. It seems there were records left in the Black Sea, like in Temar’s tomb…”

The ‘arrangements’ Solderet left in the human world felt strangely peculiar.

He had already designated Jin as the final contractor a thousand years ago, and all the Temar tombs he found so far seemed to be his legacy for Jin. But he even left records in the Black Sea.

In that case, Solderet must have foreseen all of this a thousand years ago.

He not only foresaw that Jin would become the final contractor but also foresaw how Jin would grow and eventually find Temar’s tomb, and the Patriarch a thousand years later would confirm the records about Lokia from the depths of the Black Sea.

‘Miss Ameris mentioned that the Sun God is a being that transcends space and time. If Solderet is one of the largest fragments of the Sun God, then he might have possessed such transcendental attributes. But if that’s the case, then Solderet’s appearance when he communicated with me in a past life… was it all an act?’

Why Solderet left all these complex messages and arrangements in that way remained completely undecipherable.

However, Solderet’s ‘intention’ was clear.

He hoped that Runcandel wouldn’t crumble before enemies like Zipple or Ganesto.  All the records and arrangements Solderet had left so far were evidence of this.

‘I don’t need to delve too deeply into it. Even if the method is complex and ambiguous, the intention is clear, so all I have to do is use the legacy left by Solderet to protect the clan.’

At the time of writing the letter, Cyron was thinking the same thing as Jin.

(I don’t know why the God of Shadow and Sword left such a cryptic message. After all, Solderet once abandoned Runcandel in the past and blessed Zipple, so there must be some reason. Unless he’s trying to make fun of me and the clan.

Even if he were a god who had been with Runcandel since the time of the first Patriarch, and even if he left arrangements for Runcandel again now.

You can’t blindly trust him.

You received more guidance than I did, being a contractor. Even if Solderet appears to you more vividly than he does now, always make rational decisions. Understand what’s best for the clan.

Like all other clans and people, Runcandel has sometimes relied on God’s blessings, but ultimately we have protected our clan through our sword and our struggle.

Don’t forget that fact.)

“Well, he’s giving a good lecture.”

Jin nodded in response to Luna’s words. Cyron’s letter not only made Jin but also his siblings feel closer to him.

(….I sensed that many strong individuals are awakening in the human world. A powerful, ancient Magician has awakened in Zipple, and there were two other beings who seemed to be related to your other siblings, Tribe of Legends. I also sensed a dangerous presence emanating from a powerful being I’ve never encountered, not on the surface.

Luna might have mentioned it, but the reason I sent that child and the Black Knights back to the clan was to subjugate them.

Keep calm.

Kill those who will become a threat, forgive those who will benefit you, and ruthlessly hone them until they become the clan’s sword.

In your time, it’s not just one person, but the entire clan that must stand alone at the top.

Wait for me in anticipation.

P.S.: I think it would be good for Luna to experience a severe defeat at least once. The younger one, I hope you can help her with that.

Luntia seems to have regained her senses now. When she was suffering from demonic nature, there were times when I met with disbelief and bitterly laughed thinking of her fierce eyes. If she gets that look again, she will have to leave the clan.

Mary, I suddenly feel a little regret that you haven’t challenged me yet. When I return, you can challenge me anytime.

Daytona and Haytona, try to be at least half as good as your uncle Zed. You can’t even imagine how moved I was when Zed single-handedly reached the Black Sea. Zed had less talent than the two of you.

Yona doesn’t have to do anything. If she’s satisfied with living in Nameless, she can continue staying there. However, wherever she lives, she is the thirteenth Flagbearer of Runcandel as of today.)

The letter ended this way.

The siblings remained silent for a while and looked at the letter. The Tona siblings, in particular, were shedding tears. Cyron was almost indifferent to all his children during their demonization, but he treated the Tona siblings even more indifferently. The sisters chuckled and pointed at them.

“Ugh, these little kids.”

“Huh? Even Jin cried a little while ago, Elder Sister Mary.”

“Are you comparing yourselves to Jin? I can’t stand to see them. Stop it.”

“Yes.”

The way Cyron treated them was even more impactful to the siblings than the information about Lokia.

“I’ve only heard from my sister that Father overcame demonization, but experiencing it firsthand is quite surprising. Kahn, I imagine the members of the expedition team also found it quite unusual?”

“Yes, that’s how I felt, Third Flagbearer. But curiously, the former Black Knights adapted quickly. Probably because they served the Patriarch before he fell into demonization.”

“I see. Well, that makes sense. Hmm, by the way, Father said unnie needs to suffer a harsh defeat, and he wants the younger one to defeat her. Is that correct?”

No matter how touching the letter was, it was enough to wound Luna’s pride. Luntia laughed merrily while watching Luna’s reaction.

“The younger one has reached Genesis Knight, so he’s probably stronger than me.”

“Probably? Jin is definitely stronger, unnie. But I can’t imagine you losing to anyone, unnie.”

“Well, I did want to have a proper match with the younger one sometime. But it’s not the right time now. We should fight when there’s no gap in our defense, even if we potentially injure each other.”

“I agree with that. Father probably didn’t mean for us to fight right away. Times are too chaotic, just as you said, Elder Sister Luna.”

“Then, what’s the reason Father asked the younger one to help unnie?”

Luna shrugged at those words.

“Well, I really don’t know. It seems he’s been giving me riddles ever since he started talking about the limit of the crimson sword technique. Kahn, is there anything you can point out?”

“Unfortunately, I don’t have any, First Flagbearer.”

“Your expression suggests otherwise. You probably know something, but I won’t pry further because you’re keeping it secret.”

“By the way, Father mentioned powerful entities… The one related to the Tribe of Legends should be Luke from the Sun God Religion. He endangered Sheenu and even threatened Lady Ayula. But if they are two of the powerful entities, could the remaining one be the God of Battle of the Red Legend Tribe?”

The powerful beings from “somewhere other than the surface,” as Cyron mentioned, were probably a reference to Zito and his subjugated subordinates.

“Lately, we’ve been too focused on subjugating the True Demon World, so we haven’t paid due attention to the Red Legend Tribe. They aren’t interfering with our territory and are busy waging war with the Lutero Magical Federation.”

Currently, Kelliark has imposed a blockade on the entire Federation, making it more difficult to gather information on the Red Legend Tribe than before.

Of course, with the deployment of Nameless’ elite forces led by Yona, they could potentially gather information, but Yona was still tracking and monitoring Kinzelo. That’s why she wasn’t here right now.

“Regardless of whether it’s the Red Legend Tribe or not, they’re probably on the same level as Genesis Knight, so we should always be vigilant.”

“Yes. I felt it deeply when I fought Paellito. He turned out to be a much tougher opponent than Zito.”

Jin looked again at Cyron’s letter.

“Kahn, I’ll prepare a reply immediately, so please rest and wait. I have a lot to convey in the letter, especially regarding Ganesto… Father seems unaware of the fact that Joshua and the other deceased siblings have been resurrected and are active through Ganesto’s power.”

“…..Is that really true?”

“Yes, it is. Lokia Ganesto betrayed Runcandel a thousand years ago, just as the letter says. And even now, she’s lurking and threatening us from the shadows.”

“I must report this to the Patriarch without delay. Please inform me when your letter is ready.”

After that, Jin filled page after page for five consecutive hours.

It felt like unraveling an ancient knot from his past life. There was much he wanted to convey, not only about Ganesto and the current state of the True Demon World but also about the clan.

“Well then, until we meet again, young Patriarch.”

Kahn had gathered abundant supplies of dried rations and mounted his horse. These provisions would serve as a sweet distraction for the members of the expedition team.

“We eagerly await your return.”

Kahn smiled and turned his horse towards the Black Sea.