C595
Within three years, Rosa Runcandel's time will come to an end.
It was uncertain whether it was death or becoming a monster like Smarion Proch, or something else.
The possibility was extremely slim, but if she managed to overcome the "demonization," she could reach Genesis Knight status like Ron.
However, Jin decided to exclude the possibility of Rosa ascending to Genesis Knight.
Not just anyone, Rosa herself used the phrase 'I'll endure,' and according to Jin's thoughts, Rosa believed that it was impossible to completely rid herself of demonization with her own power.
Even Cyron, who had already reached the rank of Genesis Knight, was aware that his remaining time wasn't so long.
Rosa knew her condition better than anyone.
"Rather, what you should worry about is Zipple's recovery, not me. Kelliark Zipple can't even move right now... but he'll probably regain his strength faster than I will."
Rosa wasn't the only one in the clan who fell into demonization.
The black knights and elite knights who survived the war were also exposed to chaos, big and small.
The same happened with Zipple.
"When he regains his strength, he won't be able to move recklessly within the agreed period."
"I suppose so. However, it's impossible for him not to be aware that that means nothing. When the ceasefire ends, if they have overwhelming power over us. That day will mark the beginning of extinction."
The official ceasefire was for five years.
The public hoped for the ceasefire to last forever, but both clans knew it was the last breath of the thousand-year-long war, the calm before the storm.
Once the ceasefire ended, the winner and the loser would be definitively decided.
"So, this is your last chance. Use every possible means to prove you were right. If you succeed, you'll have everything the clan possesses."
'If I give them confidence to stop their demonization, complete the machine and fleet, and bring the Thousand-Year War to victory.'
Jin will be the patriarch. Rosa spoke of that.
Jin embarked on the final journey to ascend to the Runcandel throne. However, one thing seemed a bit strange to him, but Jin didn't immediately believe Rosa's words.
"The younger one."
"Yes, Mother."
"The Prophet has already said that you can immediately execute anything you propose. But the reason I give you a chance is because Cyron believes in you... and there's a part of you that has influenced me a bit."
"I didn't think the day would come when I'd hear a joke from my mother. I don't know if you're weighing me and the Prophet."
Rosa smiled at Jin's lifeless voice.
"I hope the scale tips in your favor."
"Mother, the Prophet. And the former Provisional Flagbearer, Joshua Runcandel, who is imprisoned in a dungeon."
Jin turned around and stopped speaking for a moment.
"I will certainly end them with my own hands, so I wish you all well until then."
"It's been a bold statement that moved me to tears. I think the conversation is over, so let's leave."
Jin followed Rosa casually and left the office.
Suddenly, Jin realized it was the first time he walked through the Garden of Swords with Rosa.
Moreover, Rosa's steps were as cheerful as someone who had good news.
It was the first time Jin had seen Rosa like this.
"All members on standby in the house, line up in the garden."
Rosa didn't call anyone separately, nor did she even raise her voice. She simply spoke it into the air, but Rosa's command spread instantly.
Though not in a normal state, her presence still exuded majesty.
The Flagbearers, knights, elders, stewards, scribes, and servants took less than three minutes to gather in the garden.
Rosa stopped walking, and Jin looked for a while at the clan members accompanying her.
"Starting today, the Twelfth Provisional Flagbearer will begin closed-door training. I've gathered you all to announce it, so wish him good luck."
The Family was in a precarious situation, and everyone was enduring busy days, yet closed-door training.
Most were scandalized, but no one dared to express it.
It was because Rosa had acknowledged it.
"When the Twelfth Provisional Flagbearer returns, everyone here must show an appearance better than now, as the Twelfth Provisional Flagbearer has always done."
Indeed, Rosa's actions now were nothing less than a proclamation that the hegemony war of the current generation of flagbearers had ended.
She was saying that once the training was over, Jin would immediately become the patriarch.
All Flagbearers, except Luna, Luntia, and Joshua, were gathered.
The youngest... will become patriarch?
When he finishes the closed-door training...
The Tona brothers barely concealed their confusion.
Ran and Vigo were startled for a moment, but immediately lowered their eyes.
From the beginning, they had never actively participated in the competition for the patriarchate.
Miu and Anne didn't react.
It was well known that they had changed.
But Dyfus and Mary were sure, just as Jin had said in the office, that this wasn't the end.
In particular, Dyfus remembered the conversation he had with Jin right after Joshua's fall.
"So what you're saying is Mother is going to manipulate the Prophet and then throw everything on her and reinstate Joshua, right?"
"Not only that, but Mother once again established her authority by dismissing Joshua. The stain of the exile incident will disappear after this incident. Because she showed strong determination by directly suspending the second flagbearer who supported her so much. Regardless of the details, Family members can only fear Mother more in the future.
"After she raises her power to the limit, she will lift Joshua up again and transfer all authority... All sins and justifications fall on the Prophet."
'The hegemony battle won't end until Mother, Joshua, and the Prophet die.'
Miu and Anne had some kind of relationship with the Prophet.
They hadn't found any confirmation yet, but that's what Dyfus and Mary assumed.
Their job was to keep the Prophet under control until Jin returned.
One of the reasons Jin could leave like this was his trust in them and Luntia.
Unlike them, Luntia didn't have an openly friendly relationship with him.
Still, her pure fighting spirit was never easily tarnished by the Prophet's schemes.
"Go."
As Rosa said, the Knights split into two sides and formed a path leading out of the Garden of Swords.
The first journey to Lafrarosa during the Reserve Flagbearer days in 1796 was a choice to prevent Zipple and Kinzelo from obtaining the Compass.
The second journey to Lafrarosa in 1798 was to hide from Runcandel and Zipple's search and capture orders.
And now, the third journey to Lafrarosa.
For the first time, it wasn't about fleeing but confidently departing for full realization.
That too, while receiving the farewell of all Family members.
As Jin walked slowly, the Knights raised their swords in salute as he passed.
Rosa watched the back of her younger son, who was gradually moving away from the Family, thinking of the name "Ganesto," the fate of the Family, and Cyron.
-------------
Shortly after the end of the Sword Emperor Castle War, Cyron's expedition team also concluded the fight against Kial.
The battle ended in victory for the expedition team, and no one died.
It's true that the strength of the expedition team was transcendent, but originally Cyron had expected to lose some Knights.
When the battle reached its climax, Gliek's death also affected Kial.
As soon as he recognized Gliek's disappearance, Kial became frantic, losing his sanity.
Of course, there were no casualties, and the damage the expedition team received was by no means small.
It had been a month since the battle, but the expedition team couldn't advance, and they were taking care of themselves.
It was because they were all exposed to chaos.
[Ha, ha, ha. Friends! The food is ready... If everyone takes a seat, I, Ozdock, will bring it to you!]
Ozdock said as he put the dish made from the Chaos remnants into a bowl.
Even Ozdock, who had passed out after being bounced to the other end of the battlefield, had a trace of Chaos clinging to him.
However, he was still at a level where he couldn't affect his sanity.
In other words, he was the only one in the expedition team in a relatively unscathed condition.
And the Knights found an unexpected side in him.
When the battle ended and the Knights were on the verge of death, Ozdock could have easily fled.
Ozdock, however, chose to stay and help in the Knights' recovery.
It wasn't because he feared facing a gruesome death at the hands of Cyron upon returning from the expedition.
It was a decision made only because he felt a sense of loyalty as a member of the expedition team, and also because he considered it the right thing to do.
The Knights were very aware of this fact.
"Thank you... Ozdock."
"Thank you."
Ozdock felt his chest swelling with emotion at Luna and the Knights' voices.
On the other hand, it also pained him.
Although they weren't dead, most of the Knights were already irreversibly engulfed in Chaos.
The only future left for them was to become monsters during the expedition or die.
As the power of the story weakened, Ozdock also regained some of his old memories.
According to the faintly emerging memories, the only one who had the power to eliminate Chaos was the Witch Heluram.
'A thousand years ago, I heard that Helluram disappeared somewhere in the Black Sea. Ugh, my memories are slowly coming back, but it's still vague. The old man's condition is like this, so he can't ask me if I know anything related to it...'
Naturally, Cyron was the one who suffered the most from Chaos.
Since the end of the battle, he had remained silent, sitting upright without uttering a single word.
"Ozdock."
[Hey, hey, old man!]
Ozdock raised his head while clutching his sore buttocks.
Cyron had suddenly called him after being like a statue for a month, and Ozdock felt like his liver was falling out.
[Oh, old man! You're okay! You're awake!]
"Patriarch!"
Ozdock quickly got up, while Luna and the Knights almost crawled to Cyron.
Cyron slowly got up and extended his energy towards them.
It was a mixture of Genesis Knight aura and mana. That energy seemed to instantly dispel the Chaos clinging to the bodies of his daughter and the Knights.
The invasion hasn't been resolved.
However, the expedition team was able to lift their bodies as if they were going to live just with that.
"Are you forced to be so surprised every time?"
[I'll be careful not to show an embarrassing appearance! I'm so moved and overwhelmed that you've finally gotten up...]
Cyron gave a slight smile at those words.
Ozdock, like the Knights, couldn't help but be surprised by Cyron's appearance.
Interestingly, Cyron's condition seemed even better than before being swallowed by Kial's Chaos.
Everyone felt that his energy had become cleaner.
"Starting today, bring me provisions made from Chaos remnants. I'll purify them with my energy and redistribute them."
[Yes! That's what I'll do, old man!]
While Ozdock energetically retrieved food from the Knights, Cyron looked out towards the human world and lifted Barisada.
It was to pay respects to Ron, who had stopped Gliek in the end and sacrificed himself in battle.
And suddenly, curiosity and confidence towards his younger son arose in him.
'Seeing that I can feel the Shadow Energy from Ron's weak remaining energy even now... The youngest must have played a part in his final enlightenment. In the end, restoring the Family to its rightful place is undoubtedly his responsibility.'
Luna, who regained her energy, also raised her mana naturally contributing to Cyron's energy.
Filled with determination, Luna also channeled her mana to naturally aid Cyron's aura. She shared the same idea as him.
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