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Amidst the solemn atmosphere, Runcandel was agitated by the declaration of the "Magic Swordsman."
Both the flagbearers, the elders, and the knights who followed them talked about Jin whenever there was an opportunity.
Would Jin really wake up, and if he did, what kind of punishment would he face? How many of the Swordmasters would align themselves with him?
Among these questions, there was only one thing that Runcandel and the others could predict.
The fact that about 10% of the knights would support Jin. Therefore, Runcandels thought it would be difficult to completely turn the table, even if the situation changed.
"...It's this kind of atmosphere. So, unnie. It might be a good time for you to start moving a little more actively than before."
Myu and Anne had come to find Luntia and had been making such claims.
They had explained in great detail for over 30 minutes, about how the youngest had bared his fangs, and about properly empowering Joshua.
It wasn't something Joshua had ordered. However, they wanted to reaffirm their loyalty to the next patriarch during this opportunity.
'If Joshua Orabeoni becomes the next patriarch, the governing rights of the Eastern Five Regions will be ours.'
'Even if we don't bother looking for that human named Hister.'
Since they decided to become Joshua's people a long time ago, they had never dreamed of becoming the patriarch even once. They only desired control over the Eastern Five Regions and other territories through Joshua, and survival.
They expected that if Joshua became the patriarch, he would most likely purge most of the other siblings.
"Luntia, unnie?"
Luntia only stared at the pure white ceiling.
Due to the nature of her rigid body, it would take some more time for her to fully recover, but the important treatment had already been completed a few days ago.
"Are you listening to us?"
During all the chatter, Luntia hadn't answered once.
Is it my fault...?
For the past twelve days, she hadn't spoken to anyone who came to see her. She simply remained silent, like someone with aphasia, lost in thought.
"...Unnie, it's understandable that you're shocked by the serious injuries you received."
"But continuing to be like this will only make you a laughingstock."
Myu and Anne avoided using the word 'defeat,' instead, they referred to it as a 'serious injury.'
In reality, they didn't think Luntia had been defeated by Jin. Her defeat was nothing more than an accident, and they were confident that if she were to face him again in an official duel, the outcome would be different.
It wasn't just Myu and Anne; everyone in Runcandel had similar thoughts.
But Luntia herself didn't think so.
She had been doing nothing but reflecting on her battle with Jin for twelve days, every minute without rest.
Even if she were to fight again, even if she were to remain vigilant and give her all from the start, she still couldn't be sure whether she could change the outcome. It is true that there are things she hadn't shown, and Jin likely had many hidden cards as well.
A strange fervor was building in Luntia's vacant eyes, something that Myu and Anne couldn't yet grasp, the level of her determination.
Myu and Anne exchanged glances and nodded.
"Well, think about what we said. Besides, you already believed that Joshua Orabeoni would become the patriarch."
"At a time like this, if unnie helps, it will be a great strength. We'll be waiting, so contact us anytime when you're feeling better."
After Myu and Anne left, an elderly woman entered the room. Luntia's maid, 'Lisham.'
"Young lady."
Luntia turned her head slightly to face Lisham.
"It seems the youngest master has awakened just now."
Suddenly, Luntia jumped to her feet, and Lisham smiled. This was the first time she had seen Luntia react like this in almost twenty years.
"How is he? Can he wield his sword again?"
Luntia still didn't know that Jin had consumed Numerus's blood. That's why she asked this question first.
"I heard he is surprisingly well. Enough to recreate that fight right away."
"My sword and flagbearer coat..."
"I thought you would be looking for them."
Lisham handed Luntia her beloved sword, Charles, and the Flagbearer Coat that she had prepared in advance.
As she watched Luntia hurriedly putting on her clothes, Lisham remembered her childhood.
Young Luntia often used to say that she wanted to become the strongest in the clan.
'When I look back, after the First Flagbearer gave up everything, Young lady lived like someone who had lost the meaning of life…'
Lisham's eyes welled up with tears. She, too, had once dreamed like all the other clan members, wanting to see her young lady stand at the pinnacle of the clan, ruling the world.
But Luntia had lost her goal too early. Climbing to the top and facing the giant star Luna, proving that she could shine even brighter than her, was the only thing that had driven Luntia.
After that giant star disappeared, a sense of boredom had set in. Her life was filled with silence and meaningless inner peace.
And Lisham had a gut feeling.
When the sword of the Twelfth Flagbearer cut through Luntia's chest, when her young lady fell in front of that pale blade, she sensed that a new star had been born in her young lady's heart.
"Where is the youngest? Is he going to see mother?"
"No, I heard he's heading to the mausoleum."
Lisham spoke as Luntia was about to leave the room.
"Young lady."
"Yes?"
"I wish you good luck. As I always have, and forever."
As Luntia turned away, she watched Lisham for a moment.
And then she started walking with renewed vigor, like a general setting out for a campaign.
There was no longer a sense of heavy boredom in her eyes. The desire that Myu and Anne had not discovered was gradually shining brighter.
The flagbearers, elders, and the knights who followed them had already gone to the mausoleum to confirm Jin's awakening.
Having so many people heading to the mausoleum at once was a first in several years.
But amidst the crowd at the mausoleum, Luntia saw nothing but Jin. Seeing the youngest stand tall among the people surrounding him, she couldn't help but smile.
"It seems like you were never in a coma until yesterday, looking so fine."
"How on earth did you wake up?"
"You should have visited the acting matriarch first if he woke up. Why did you come to the mausoleum first, 12th flagbearer?"
Jin remained silent in response to the voices of the elders.
Instead, his gaze wandered around until it locked onto Joshua.
"2nd flagbearer, I heard you had a hard time with the aftermath and you had already summoned the knights, which was very commendable."
After Jin's declaration as the Magic Swordsman, Joshua had quickly stabilized the Garden of Swords by using the knights he had pre-summoned when Jin's arms were severed. He showed himself as the next patriarch.
If Joshua had left the situation to develop without predicting it and kept the knights as they were, there would have been several more confusing days. In the worst-case scenario, there could have been an invasion by external forces who took advantage of the situation.
With most of the combatants, including Rosa and Luntia, having suffered injuries of varying degrees, it was the most opportune moment for outsiders to attack Runcandel.
No one dared to rebuke Jin even though the 12th flagbearer was talking as if he was assessing the 2nd flagbearer,. Even Joshua, the person in question, didn't show any signs of discomfort.
"The flagbearers exist not to disrupt the clan but to organize and lead it. I simply did what was expected."
He spoke in an easy-to-understand language that sounded humble but carried a message that anyone could grasp. While I did what was expected of me, you put the clan at risk.
"In a way, I just cleared a path through stagnant waters. Isn't that why the acting matriarch didn't punish me because she knows that?"
"The reason mother isn't punishing you is because she believes you have value. It's also related to why you went to the mausoleum as soon as you woke up."
The legacy of Temar and ancient Runcandel.
Everyone had watched that power carefully. The power of Jin, who was just the 12th flagbearer, overturning the Garden of Swords in an instant.
Greed-filled eyes were fixed on Jin. They have expectations that if Jin could enshrine the knights of ancient Runcandel to the mausoleum, that power would not be limited to just the 12th flagbearer.
So, what the elders wanted to hear from Jin now was only one thing.
Is there a way for you to make us 'Magic Swordsmen' right away?
Jin was sure. If he were to say, "I will immediately share that secret with those who follow me," at that moment, a considerable number of elders would show favor towards Jin.
"You must have a plan for how to bring the first patriarch and ancestors into this mausoleum."
"It seems there are only idiots everywhere."
Suddenly, Jin frowned as if uncomfortable.
"If you want to know that, go outside. Challenge me, struggle, and seize it. I'm telling you to follow what I showed you that day. Otherwise, you will disappear from history without leaving a single mark until the day you die."
"Don't think that only you can use that power, 12th flagbearer."
"Do not think that the 2nd flagbearer is on the same level as me by committing all sorts of wicked deeds with the help of the Prophet."
The Prophet. Jin mentioned her directly, and Joshua didn't seem surprised.
A few elders already knew about the existence of the Prophet.
From the reaction, Jin could expect that Joshua would also soon reveal the Prophet to the clan.
'I must let them know that the legacy of ancient Runcandel has the power to counter Zipfel. Kinzelo and Vermont will soon start to weaponize golems in earnest. Joshua probably knows that much.'
Even in the previous life, when Zipfel began to possess "Mass produced Mages," the balance of world power shifted significantly.
The Plutonian-type and Majin living golems that Kinzelo and Vermont were producing could wield power far beyond that of Mass produced mages.
It was not easy to deal with them in a "normal" way.
Flicker-
After igniting the flames in the center of the mausoleum using mana, Jin took a step forward, passing Joshua. And just as he was about to leave the mausoleum, Luntia blocked his way.
Jin and Luntia stared at each other for a few seconds in silence.
"I, too, will become the patriarch."
As Luntia uttered those words, everyone gathered at the mausoleum had to doubt their ears. Even Joshua seemed to find it difficult to hide his emotions this time, his eyes widening in surprise.
Smirk, Jin responded with a smile, "I thought there were only fools, but it seems there's a real one. Let's do our best, elder sister."