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Thud, Midor fell forward. Now, the only people left on Zipfel's side were Myuron, Sandra, and seven elders.
"Magic tower master...!"
"Sir Midor!"
The elders cried out.
But there was nothing else they could do.
Now there were no hidden secret weapons, or reliable means left.
There was no way out. Whether they fought or not, all that lay ahead of them was death.
So, fighting bravely and perishing in battle was the right thing to do, but the elders couldn't take their feet off the ground.
Just looking at Jin, whose eyes were shining behind the black helmet, made them feel like their whole body was weighed down with fear.
It wasn't just a feeling. In reality, the elders were exerting all their strength to withstand the aura Jin was emanating.
'Myuron Zipfel.'
Jin turned his gaze to Myuron.
Only then did Myuron seem to regain his composure. He stopped muttering words meaninglessly out of fear, and his eyes were focused.
'I didn't expect to see his disgusting face again.'
Jin thought so and controlled his anger. He clenched his teeths while thinking of the atrocities Myuron had committed in Colon, but that was not a sight he should ever show to him.
The daily lives of the Colonists, whose vocal cords had been severed by Myuron, were still filled with silence. Their deceased family members still had not returned.
Kick...
Myuron touched his forehead and shook his head.
[Well, I've shown a shameful appearance, haven't I? I whined and stiffened like a frightened dog.]
The sight of Myuron crying in fear until just now was gone, and Myuron's eyes were now filled with madness.
[I didn't know you would become such a remarkable knight, Jin Runcandel. Back then, even both of you couldn't face me together.]
Jin continued to approach Myuron without responding, recalling one thing Myuron had said in the past.
-You probably think I'm crazy, don't you? But Jin Runcandel, you seem to be wearing quite a good expression even though I can't see it behind your helmet. You and I are of the same kind. I also like fighting.
These were the words Myuron had uttered during the height of the battle in Colon.
'The reason he said that back then, was probably because he was in a position to look down on me and acknowledge me.'
Jin had already seen through the person named Myuron Zipfel from that moment.
A pure-blood Zipfel who indulged in alcohol every day, once known as the "Madman of the Magic Tower," but later disgraced and known for his heinous acts.
All of his actions stemmed from a sense of "inferiority."
The disappointment of not being able to become the Zipfel patriarch, the humiliation and jealousy he felt towards his more accomplished siblings, and the bitter conviction that he could never rise to true greatness.
If I couldn't raise my reputation, I wanted to shine with notoriety.
That was Myuron's greatest desire as a human being. It was the only means through which he could hide his inferiority from others and express it from within.
A monster driven by the desire for recognition.
There was no better word to describe Myuron Zipfel in a single phrase. That's why Myuron always hoped for his name to be remembered by people and whenever he had the opportunity, he sought to "acknowledge" others.
If he acknowledges others, it becomes his own virtue.
The more magnificent and splendid the opponent was, the stronger this tendency of his became. Myuron felt that he was at his greatest and most exhilarating when he acknowledged shining individuals.
Acknowledging Midor, who was ignored by everyone, and gaining his blind trust from a young age, and telling Jin that you are the same as me were all in the same context.
[Now, are you going to kill me? Or torture me? Cooking me alive and feeding me to those red bugs you saved wouldn't be a bad punishment. Do as you wish; you will be the victor once again…]
All of this could not be a punishment for Myuron.
No matter how cruelly he was killed or how much he was tortured, Myuron would eventually achieve victory on his own terms.
He would believe that he had successfully controlled Jin's actions. He would think that he had manipulated Jin to hate him.
Knowing this fact so well, Jin intentionally refrained from saying a single word to Myuron, who had come back to his senses.
[Oh, Tika, was it? That wretched girl who ruined my show. Is that little bitch still alive? If not for her, the situation might have been a bit more interesting…]
Myuron's stopped talking.
His eyes, which had recently regained focus not long ago, began to tremble rapidly, and the reason was simple.
It was because Jin had just passed by him.
[...Where are you going, Jin Runcandel?]
At this point, Zipfels had lost their value of death.
The death held little fear for Zipfels in most situations as long as there was a means of resurrection
This was especially true for people like Myuron.
That's why Jin chose the most effective punishment for him.
His pride.
Peeling away the layers of lies that adorn one's unsightly self.
[Where are you going? Answer meeeee!]
Jin couldn't suppress his laughter after passing Myuron by about ten steps.
Naturally, Myuron, lost in his own madness, didn't hear it.
[Stop, stop, I said stop!]
Chiiing!
Blue flame appeared in Myuron's eyes.
It was Zipfel's vision magic, the Gaze of Azure flame, that he had used in Colon as well. That magic spell couldn't stand up to Jin even when he was a reserve flagbearer. It was immediately extinguished under Tess's real blue flame.
And even back then, Myuron thought when he saw Jin summon Tess: That Runcandel fetus… is going to be the greatest mage of the century? You're going to surpass me without my permission!?
Myuron felt like something exploded in his head when the memory of that time surfaced in his mind. He wanted to die immediately from the humiliation and inferiority that pierced through his entire being.
Chiiiiing...!
Following Myuron's gaze, the Gaze of Azure flame produced blue flames on Jin's back. However, the flames merely extinguish repeatedly and leave no more than a slight scorch on Jin's shadow force armor.
The Shadow force Armor was part of the strengthened Bradamante, which included a part of Tess. Therefore, Myuron's vision magic spell couldn't harm Jin in any way, even though it was his most powerful magic spell, excluding the dark magic.
[Bu-burn, burn, bu-burn, bu-burn to death, or ki-kill me...! Sto-stop!]
The true face of inferiority is indeed this ugly.
Most of those who were looking at Myuron in this situation were so ashamed that they could not open their eyes. Even amidst the chaos that had just occurred, they were tormented by Myuron's despicableness.
Some even felt sorrow and sympathy beyond shame. They involuntarily clicked their tongues at his wretched misery.
Pssst, shhh...
In the end, Myuron's vision magic did not leave any traces on Jin's shadow force armor. He continued to cast it until his mana was completely depleted, even though the mana backflow had begun.
Myuron was panting heavily and all the blood vessels in his eyes burst. He was shedding bloody tears.
A dignified Black Dragon. And the members of the imperial family, the few remaining elders of Zipfel, the beastmen of Kinzelo, and the knights of Runcandel, who were in awe of and looked up to Murakan.
In the middle of all that, he could clearly see the steel-like back of a man, who had simply walked past him.
For Myuron, it felt like a symbol. It seems like all four major factions are looking up to Jin...
'Do you... think... you've already... seized... the era...!'
Kahak!
Suddenly, Myuron coughed up blood and bent forward. The mana backflow had begun.
Cough, cough, blood was gushing out of my throat without stopping.
[Hahaha….hehehe... turn... around... You... you can't... ignore me… and act... pre-pretentious... like that...!]
Cough!
Myuron felt a cold, sharp sensation piercing through his back. It was a dagger. Sandra Zipfel, who has just completely recovered, screamed.
"Hey, seriously! How can you be this slimy? Myuron Orabeoni, not to anyone else, but to my lover!"
Sandra spoke as she pulled out the dagger.
Myuron wasn't shocked by Sandra stabbing him. Even though he knew he was about to take his last breath, he continued to fix his gaze on Jin's back.
Please look at me.
Jin Runcandel, acknowledge me. It shouldn't be that difficult for you...
Now, his voice was gone, and he couldn't scream like that anymore.
Myuron was facing his second death, within the truth and disgrace of himself.
Jin confirmed that Myuron had completely stopped breathing and finally turned around.
Sandra narrowed her brows as she brushed away her brother's blood from the dagger.
"Sorry, Jin Runcandel. My orabeoni can be a bit much sometimes, right? By the way, I wanted to kill that bastard who disrupted our legendary first date. What should I do if you take my kills away?"
"..... You seem truly insane, unlike your brother who just died."
"No matter how much we love each other, we should still keep our boundaries. Don't do this again next time."
Then, Sandra looked at her severed right arm and shrugged her shoulders.
"A right arm...."
She nodded as if she was calculating something for a moment.
"I think it's just about right."
"What do you mean, 'just about right'?"
"I feel it's a bit too early to give away everything I have. A right arm is neither too much nor too little. We're just on our first date."
Jin got goosebumps.
"I will make good use of it."
"Please do so. But when can we meet again?"
"Well, it's better not to see each other if possible."
"Couples should meet often."
There was no need to continue the meaningless conversation. Jin ignored her final words, looked at Lata and Faye, and then walked towards Vigo.
The Proch siblings immediately stuck close to Jin, ready to follow his orders, and Vigo flinched as he tried to read Jin's mood.
He was worried that maybe Jin would remind him that the Murakan had just ordered him to leave immediately and he might be reprimanded for still standing here.
"Sir Lata, Faye. I entrust the clean-up to you. Keep about five witnesses for Vermont and Kinzelo and eliminate the rest."
"Yes, my lord."
"Understood!"
"And elder brother Vugo."
"Uh, uh. The youngest."
"Just in case, why don't you lend a hand as well?"
Vugo inwardly sighed with relief. Jin had shown this consideration without undermining his dignity.
".... I will help."
"Thank you. I'll see you at the Garden of Swords when you return."
Jin said as he climbed onto Murakan's back.