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The spectres couldn't hear due to the distance, but the Black Knight Jane heard Jin's voice clearly.
"12th Flagbearer, you are making inappropriate remarks," Jane said.
"Black Knight, please refrain from intervening. I don't wish to harm even the Black Helmet who have dedicated themselves to the clan."
Jane's eyes widened under the mask.
Since becoming a Black Knight with Mon a year ago, no one in the clan had spoken to her like this. However, this wasn't a situation to rashly argue back with etiquette and laws.
There was no justification, and there were four spectres attacking Jin in front of them.
'They know that 2nd Flagbearer and we were hiding information from the beginning. Moreover, this is not a bluff or intimidation. If we don't disclose the location of the vault, he genuinely intends to kill the 2nd Flagbearer.'
The Jin that Jane had personally observed was truly an unwavering individual. He never spoke empty words, as if he had just revealed.
-It's a concern that we haven't shared information about the 2nd Magic Tower with 4th and 12th Flagbearers from the beginning, but it's no use worrying about it.
She remembered Mon's words. They did not say anything more to Joshua at that time, but in fact, both Mon and Jane were worried about this aspect of Jin.
'Besides, what about the 4th Flagbearer? If we are talking about a grudge against the 2nd Flagbearer, he has a much deeper grudge. It could be really dangerous if I provoke them. Mon... You must come.'
Even though Runcandels had arrived for support, Joshua and Jane felt more pressure than when they were being pushed back by the spectres until just now.
"Obstructing the Mission?"
Jin's eyes became even stern at Joshua's words.
"Your arms are still attached to your body because the enemies are right in front of us. But if you give another meaningless answer, they will be severed."
For Diphus, the sight of Joshua being pushed to such an extent was something he had only imagined thousands of times, except when Luna was running wild during their childhood.
'It's been a long time since Joshua was in this state. It might not be a bad thing to kill him now, but it's better to observe Jin's judgment.'
The attack from the Spectre Corps began again. Diphus, Jane, and Murakan defended against the spells pouring down on them. However, Murakan refrained from using his shadow force, mindful of Jin's words to hide his strength as much as possible.
That's why the Spectre Corps suspected Murakan might be one of the Black Knights of Runcandel.
Amidst the noise of the battle, Jin and Joshua's eyes met each other.
"...It's the 17th floor."
Eventually, Joshua answered, taking out a piece of paper from his pocket and holding it out. The paper displayed the detailed location of the vault and the path.
"I guess this isn't everything, 2nd Flagbearer."
"What are you talking about?"
"A means to bypass the barrier. I want that too."
"There's no such thing."
"I thought you had a good head, but you don't understand what I'm saying."
Shak! Clang!
Jin swung his sword without hesitation, and Joshua parried the strike, taking a step back.
The Runcandels and the spectres who had just started the battle also looked towards Jin and Joshua.
"Jin, do you understand what you're doing right now?"
"As I just said, I am holding you accountable for obstructing the mission. 2nd Flagbearer, you should have informed me and 4th flagbearer about the information of 2nd Magic Tower when Kinzelo started the terror attack and the situation changed dramatically."
Unlike Joshua, who was so angry that he spoke in a low voice, Jin had a calm voice.
"...I don't know what you're trusting in, but you should know. If you attack me now, you'll lose a lot that you can't even compare with me."
"That's something we'll only know when the situation ends."
"Unlike me, you don't have another chance."
At those words, Jin chuckled and burst into laughter.
"I'm well aware of that. I only have one life unlike you, the clone of the 2nd Flagbearer. So, isn't your role clear?"
Hand over everything to me and die for the clan.
Jin continued talking and swung his sword again. It seemed like they were just locked in a struggle of strength, but the highly concentrated aura entwined in their swords was ready to explode at any moment.
"Either use the volcano like you did back then or use any other means. Buy time by somehow attracting the enemy's attention. I will secure the blueprints and take them to the Garden of swords."
Swish!
Joshua's aura was pushed back, and an explosion erupted from Bradamante.
Joshua couldn't fully use his power because he had just engaged in a fierce battle with the Spectre Corps. He took a step back as Jin's next strike came and quickly adjusted his stance.
It was a peculiar battle.
The battlefield was divided into two, Runcandel and Zipfel were fighting each other in front. Runcandel was fighting Runcandel in the rear.
"You...!"
"Did you focus on your training a bit? The 2nd flagbearer was definitely stronger than me three years ago at the Bluebird Archipelago. Even considering that you were fighting the Spectre Corps, your swordsmanship lacks depth. More reinforcements will arrive soon, which means we're running out of time. Make a decision quickly, 2nd Flagbearer."
The reason Joshua's sword was dull wasn't just due to fatigue. It was because of distress.
It wasn't just Jin who had been struggling with variables in the Sota Desert. Joshua, too, was torn between the ongoing variables and unknowns, both physically and mentally.
'Dammit, not only did I run into the Spectre Corps right after entering the Tower, but now it's come to this...!'
The Prophet's key had undone the magic tower's barrier, but they hadn't even made it to the vault yet.
Therefore, Joshua had also been contemplating. He considered whether it might be better to buy some time and entrust the rear to Jane.
As Jin had said, there was no time.
And if Jin didn't back down and they continued the fight, Runcandel was likely to end up losing its flagbearers and black knights without any gain.
'Moreover, if Jin is captured or killed here, my prophecy will become invalid. I doubt it will happen, but this could be another piece of the prophecy or a turning point.'
Blood flowed from my clenched molars.
Each form and method will be different. Also, it cannot be said that all hearts are right or good.
Naturally, all the flagbearers prioritized and loved the clan above all else. Joshua was the flagbearer who had an obsession with Runcandel above all else.
He was always the person who made choices for Runkandel.
He was always the person who made choices for Runkandel.
'I should... listen to the youngest's words.'
From the moment his youngest brother spoke, he should have responded without ever raising his sword against Jin.
It was just that his judgment was momentarily clouded as he felt an emotion that had been severely damaged for a long time being broken down again by the people he most wanted to resemble and reach.
Pride.
Once again, Joshua had resolved to put aside that emotion for the sake of the clan.
Swish!
Joshua retrieved the key from his pouch and threw it to Jin.
"It's the vault key. Thanks to that, I was able to ignore the barrier."
"I am curious. Where did you obtain it?"
"I don't think it's necessary to tell you the details. But don't doubt whether that item is genuine. In fact, you can read the mana in it."
The vault key was a type of artifact. The flow of mana within the key had many similarities with the external barrier.
Moreover, to imbue such complex mana within a key of this size, only Zipfel could accomplish it.
"You had something like this, but you were only planning to use us as bait?"
"I believed that you and Diphus could escape and return while I obtained the blueprints. After all, the clan's guardian deity is also with you guys."
"Ha."
Jin sighed.
"You made a reasonable choice in the end, but there's one thing I need to say. If this mission fails, it will be because of your greed. You risked the lives of the real Flagbearers and Black Knights for the sake of a clone?"
"Call it greed if you want. But one thing, if I didn't love the clan, I wouldn't have given you the key in the first place."
Joshua said as he turned around. He believed that Jin wouldn't stab him in the back, considering they had just been pointing their swords at each other.
He also acted based on his faith that Jin would carry out the mission for the sake of the clan, rather than taking revenge on his own clone.
"Get to the vault immediately. You may have already expected it, but the fact that only the Spectre Corps are left here is not a trap. I don't know the exact reason, but I suppose it's because they were preparing for Kinzelo. So there should definitely be blueprints in the vault."
The aura around Joshua's sword became brighter. He had made up his mind, and now that his worries have disappeared, he has regained his original battle prowess.
"...Once you secure the blueprints, give us the signal. I will escape with the Black Knights then."
"Understood."
Jane glanced at the atmosphere between the two of them and felt relieved.
'I couldn't hear the exact conversation,but judging from the flow, it seems like the 2nd flagbearer has decided to buy time, and the 12th flagbearer aims to obtain the blueprints.'
Jane felt relieved that Runcandel's flagbearers were no longer killing each other in this enemy territory.
Jane and Joshua weren't just being pushed around by the Spectre Corps. Even in an outnumbered situation, they depleted a considerable amount of Spectres' stamina, so Murakan and Diphus were able to inflict damage on the Spectres with relative ease.
'Now, all that's left is to hold on somehow. So that the 12th flagbearer can complete the mission! It would be perfect if the 12th flagbearer can leave behind the 4th flagbearer or the guardian deity. But even if they all go, the fight against the Spectres will be much easier than before…'
Jane was deep in thought when she heard a sudden thudding noise. The heavy thumping came from outside the steel door where they were standing.
It sounded as if some gigantic creature was walking towards them. The battle stopped for a moment as if it had been promised by the sound, and everyone's eyes were focused on the gate.
Moments later, the source of the sound appeared.
It was a large man dressed in a perfectly tailored suit. Huge, strong muscles that cannot be covered by clothes and that do not look like human flesh at all.
It was Hedo, Zipfel's second-class butler and Sandra's exclusive butler.
In his gloved hands, he held the severed head of another man, and blood dripped from it.
"There are a few remaining members of the Spectre corps who are not very foolish."
Tuk.
He casually dropped the man's head to the ground, and took out a cigarette.