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Step…!
They could hear footsteps approaching outside the study. It was butler Petro.
"Lord Young Patriarch, everything is ready."
"Understood, let's go."
Petro lowered his head when Jin and Luna stood up. The three of them walked through the corridor and crossed the garden where swords were stuck in the ground.
When they stopped walking, Jin could see about three thousand knights lined up. Luna walked to the center of the formation and received a flag from the knight. Other flagbearers also took flags accordingly.
"Raise your flag!"
The flagbearers simultaneously lifted their flags in response to Luna's command.
The reason for gathering the clan's knights was nothing else but to commemorate Lord Young Patriarch's achievement of reaching Genesis knight.
Jin believed that it was more important to ensure 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 in the first place, and if he did, he intended to gather a small group of people. However, Luet and the elders strongly opposed this, stating that the clan members had the right to commemorate this moment.
"As you command!"
The knights raised their swords.
When Chiron reached the Genesis knight, there were far more clan knights raising the swords than now. In addition to the envoys sent by allied clans, even the Empire and the Lutero Magic Federation had sent their own envoys.
Now, the scale was inevitably smaller than it was then. After the Evil God War, the number of clan knights had decreased to less than half, and Jin had not allowed envoys from outside the Vamel alliance.
However, the people who were here now and watching this scene, did not feel that it was any less grand than before.
Rather, they felt that the atmosphere was even brighter and more overwhelming. The visible numbers had decreased, but the current Runcandel is not weaker than it was back then.
Jin carefully observed the faces of the knights for a while.
He saw the shining eyes of the siblings holding the flags, the ancestors who still supported the clan, the youngest division standing with tearful faces at the forefront of the magic knight unit, and the proud knights.
‘I told them not to do it, but now that I see this sight... my heart swells with pride.’
Jin chuckled.
"It's been a long time since all the clan's knights gathered like this. There was always a minimum number of people left in the Garden of Swords due to various missions."
Nevertheless, the minimum number of them were always busy running around, and there was never a dull atmosphere in the Garden of Swords.
"The fact that you all gathered in the Garden of Swords to congratulate me like this means that we did a great job."
Of course, there might be some gaps in guarding the alliance's territories with all the knights and flagbearers gathered in the Garden of Swords.
However, those gaps were very small. The Red Plutonian tribe still refrained from interfering with the Vamel alliance, and the fractures of the True Demon World had almost disappeared. Even if they temporarily left for the ceremony, there was no way that the defense forces would suddenly become insufficient.
Originally, the Vamel alliance's forces, including the Golden Ship, were still on high alert and ready to respond to any enemy invasion.
"So, I want to celebrate that fact more than my own achievements. You all worked hard, and you will continue to work hard in the future. What else can we do? That's the life of a knight, the life of struggle, and the life of Runcandel."
The knights felt like a drum was beating in their hearts upon hearing the name Runcandel.
When Chiron left for the Black Sea as soon as he became the World's First Sword, the enemies believed that Runcandel would weaken.
When Luna gave up 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 times.
Runcandel didn't form alliances with anyone or anything that would corrupt the human world, nor did they exploit anything. They never faltered in any crisis and continue to fight, even now they are still fighting.
Jin was undoubtedly at the center of it all.
"Either you were born Runcandel, or you came to the Garden of Swords to become Runcandel, our souls have the same form. We will defeat anyone who tries to tarnish that form, no matter what. I became Genesis knight solely to do that better, so the true celebration will come after we finish them all. So let's end it here for today. Dismiss! Return to your positions."
"Yes, sir!"
"Yes, sir!"
Just as during the appointment ceremony for Young Patriarch, the knights dispersed promptly as soon as Jin issued the order to disband. Luna, who had just received the order of "Guarding the Surface" from Jin, also headed back to the meeting room. Only Luet and the elders remained in their seats.
It was a short speech and lasted less than ten minutes, but no one would forget today.
[Haha! My great-grandson, you once again wrapped up the event briefly and boldly. If the times were a bit better, we would have held a single-log bridge party and enjoyed it.]
"After we deal with Zito, Zipfel, Kinzelo, the Imperial family, the Red Plutonian tribe, the Sun God Religion, and Ganesto, then we can have a banquet, Great-Grandfather."
[Will this old great-grandfather still be able to see that banquet before he goes to the afterlife?]
"Of course, you will. So, first, we need to deal with Zito."
[Right, we need to defeat that monstrous fellow before settling anything else. The world has changed so much from my time when the forces of the human world only fought among themselves.]
[Young Patriarch, what should we prepare?]
"My ancestors, please keep the forces of the human world in check while I attack Hell."
[Understood... Wait, do you mean to go alone to Hell? Didn't you gather the alliance's forces in the 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 engage in direct 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 she would help Murakan if he had any issues 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 force increased, so did his strength. Therefore, Murakan had fully regained the shadow force of his prime from a thousand years ago. However, there were side effects due to his injured heart.
Sometimes his memories become distorted when he uses the same power as in his prime. It meant that he forgot the truth he confirmed in Kaytam's painting and displayed symptoms of going berserk.
But the frequency and severity of these episodes weren't high. Valeria could easily handle them with her record magic.
This problem would be completely resolved with time. As soon as Jin reached the Genesis knight, the strengthened shadow force was gradually healing the thousand-year-old wound in his heart.
[Lose! Great-grandson, you're practically invincible now.]
"There is always a possibility. One Genesis knight swordsman has already fallen to him, so there is no harm in being cautious."
[Hmm, that's true. Actually, I don't worry too much whether you go alone or with four.]
[Your words and expressions don't quite match, 59th.]
[Well, he is my great grandson even if he's a Genesis knight, 21st.]
"Ancestors, please gather information on the other enemies until I return. Especially Ganesto... They're connected with Kelliark Zipfel. But we still have no leads apart from their headquarters in Lokia's world."
Since dealing with Anne the last time, the alliance had been unable to track Ganesto's whereabouts or movements at all. True Demon World is in turmoil, so they have almost no spare resources for tracking them down.
[Understood, young patriarch. Petro has grown a lot recently, so I'll briefly delegate internal affairs to him and personally travel through the human world to gather information on them.] Luet replied.
"Oh, has Petro finally received recognition of the head butler?"
[He has been your personal butler since your cadet days, young patriarch. He has a tendency to be a bit cheeky sometimes, but he's undoubtedly an excellent butler befitting the young patriarch. He hasn't even committed minor embezzlement for pocket money.]
Jin chuckled as he remembered the times when Petro would sometimes be a bit cheeky. Looking back, Petro had always quietly assisted him.
"I do owe him a bit of gratitude. Please provide him with a suitable reward for taking care of things in my absence."
[Yes, young patriarch. So, when are you planning to go to the True Demon World?]
"I plan to depart right away."
[Right away! Now!?]
"Yes, Great-Grandfather. I originally wanted to leave even sooner, but it was delayed due to awakening the souls of the Holy Kingdom. My conversation with Visepps has already concluded, so all I have to do is start moving"
Visepps, the only remaining resistance force in the True Demon World. They were currently preparing for their final battle and waiting for Jin.
Luet 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, I'll see you when I return."
Jin headed straight to the backyard where the Red Owl was waiting.
[I wish you 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 had formed a defensive wall in the past.
Both Zipfel and Kinzelo couldn't rashly enter the passage leading to the True Demon World.
Jin briefly stopped by the Golden Ship and exchanged greetings with the alliance members. They received information from Tikan that Jin was now going down to Hell.
The leaders of Zipfel and Kinzelo also showed signs of mobilizing as soon as the Red Owl appeared in Grosch Castle. The enemies were also waiting for Jin.
"You've come, kid."
"Yeah, Murakan."
"Before fighting Zito, I am here to receive the historian's memory protection magic. I couldn't even attend your celebration."
"H-Historian?"
"I can't call you the Guardian of History every time, can I?"
"Why don't you just call me Valeria?"
"I like this one. Anyway, now that you're here, let's get going, there is the Great Bale, the invincible and immortal, the nemesis of mortals."
"Ugh, don't call me that!"
Soon, the group left the Golden Ship and walked toward the passage to Grosch Castle. Someone approached them.
"Jin Runcandel."
It was Veradin Zipfel. Betty, Almatia, and Kun stood behind him.
"Oh, Veradin. Last time, you only sent the lower ones for the Grosch Castle attack. It looks like you're personally going to Hell 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 Zipfel is also present in hell alongside Zito. I must personally go and end that wretched life."
Veradin was talking about Kelliark.
Jin felt bitter for a moment as he imagined Veradin killing Kelliark, and further falling into corruption. But he replied with a smile.
"Veradin, take it easy and regain your usual self. These kinds of lines really don't suit you."
Amazing