REAPER SCANS
Swordmaster’s Youngest Son
[Translator – Junseo]
[Proofreader – Valirius]
Volume 10 Chapter 359 - Bradamante Reforged (1)
The floor was covered with the corpses of nameless monsters. As the knights walked, the blood on the ground squelched. Their clothes and armor were all stained black.
There was only one exception among them, Cyron Runcandel.
Even though he was responsible for more than half of the monsters that had been slain, there wasn’t a single drop of blood on him. The black blood rose up to his ankles, but he floated like a leaf, walking above it. Even his feet remained spotlessly clean.
They were deep in the Black Sea.
In the past few decades, only Cyron and his subordinates had set foot there. No one else in the world ventured into this hellish place.
Aside from the one they were currently making in secret, no maps of the area existed. There was no way to know what dangers lurked around the corner, and the reward for killing the terrible creatures within was just a few useless fragments of bone.
There wasn’t any reason for anyone in the world to be visiting the depths of the Black Sea. Among the reckless warriors that set out alone, saying they’d get stronger by hunting the monsters within… Even those who were the real deal didn’t know what the scenery looked like here.
But Cyron and his clan were exploring this place. with the belief that the fate of their clan was at stake.
“Luna.”
“Yes, Father?”
“We’ll soon reach the territory of the Black Sea’s Five Kings.”
“…I was starting to think it was about time we met.”
“Are you tired?”
Luna ran her hands through her blood-soaked hair.
For a moment, images of the monsters she had killed on her way flashed through her mind. There was a time when Cyron and all the knights, including her, spent ten whole days and nights without sleep, fighting off the monsters that surged toward them like a flood.
“No, I was just bored. Since I’m fighting with you.”
This was her first time thinking such a long battle felt so safe.
Cyron turned his head toward her.
“Did you learn anything from the fight thus far?”
Learn.
The only person in the world who could ask such a question to Luna, who had already reached transcendence, was Cyron.
Luna met Cyron’s eyes for a moment and looked around. The Black Knights were checking their equipment and sharing water.
“I learned to trust that people will have my back.”
Cyron nodded.
His eldest daughter, the first child that Cyron Runcandel sired.
Cyron had been impressed and placed his hopes on her since birth, and she had never let him down until the day she gave up on the Runcandel throne.
Even after declaring that she would step down from the succession war to become a sword that protects the clan instead… It took quite some time for Cyron to give up the hopes he’d placed on her.
It was unlike him, to be so… human.
He also hoped that his eldest daughter would live a fulfilling life as someone independent, regardless of her position in the clan.
But even as she grew older, his eldest daughter seemed unable to break down the walls that confined her, and Cyron always found that to be regrettable.
Not knowing how to fight with someone guarding her back.
In his opinion, that was Luna’s biggest flaw. She was born with both absolute talent and a destiny of loneliness.
“So you’ve finally overcome that. That’s something that’s definitely needed to face the Black Sea’s Five Kings.”
His tone wasn’t reproving. In fact, Cyron smiled faintly, as if satisfied.
There were a lot of things to unpack from his statement. Luna, aware of that, had trouble answering.
Like the unapproachable sun, or what resides far beyond even the stars in space.
That was how Luna viewed her father. It wasn’t just her who felt that way, but all of Cyron’s children, from a very young age.
‘Praise? No, I don’t think it’s just that… I don’t know what it is exactly.’
She scratched her head awkwardly.
Of course, Cyron hadn’t said that expecting a particular answer. It was just that Luna felt it would be rude to not give one, but she couldn’t think of anything to say.
So, in the midst of such an awkward situation…
Someone new appeared to join the rear of the knights.
It was Tuven.
‘Sir Tuven? Was something unusual discovered in the central area of the Black Sea? Is it because of that human, no…that monster he brought with him?’
Tuven, far from where Cyron and his rank of Black Knights were, was making a map of the central region of the Black Sea with Vanessa Olsen.
Their gaze was drawn to Tuven and Ozdok, who was following behind him with his head bowed respectfully.
Even though Ozdok still had a human-like appearance, they all recognized what he was at a glance.
“Patriarch. I’ve come to report that I’ve discovered something unusual.”
“Speak, Tuven.”
“I noticed that the 7th and 12th flag-bearers were close by the entrance to the Black Sea, and so when I went to check, I found them fighting this monster.”
Luna’s ears perked up at the mention of the 12th flag-bearer. Thanks to Tuven, not only was she saved from an awkward situation, she was also able to hear news about her youngest sibling that she had been curious about.
Ozdok’s shoulders hunched once again as he looked at Cyron and the Black Knights.
‘I d-don’t know how many were killed, but these monsters… They all could’ve become cored monsters, given enough time and the right opportunity. Just how many humans like Tuven are there? Not to mention, the one Tuven calls his patriarch…”
The name of the one they all called the strongest a thousand years ago came to mind.
Temar Runcandel.
Ozdok shivered, recalling that man’s sword as his whole body trembled. The reason Ozdok took the ancient Salva Kingdom hostage was to avoid being attacked by Temar and the Runcandel Clan of old…
[I’m O-Ozdok…!]
Without realizing it, Ozdok gave his name and knelt down. Even though he prostrated himself and bowed deeply, Cyron didn’t even glance at him.
“How were they?”
“The 12th and 7th flag-bearers fought together, but they had a bit of a hard time. After that, I intervened and ended the situation.”
“Did you think they would lose?”
“No, that wasn’t the reason. I judged that if the flag-bearers fought in earnest, the battle could be noticed by outsiders.”
“Excellent.”
Tuven knew that was a compliment directed at the flag-bearers and not himself for ending the situation.
‘This monster, Ozdok, is fairly strong. Could the youngest have dealt with him alone? I’m dying to know how much stronger he’s gotten in the past few months.’
No one paid attention to the fact that Ozdok was a ‘monster that spoke human language’. This was because they had often seen such monsters in the Black Sea’s depths.
While Luna was debating whether or not to ask, Tuven, who seemingly read her mind, spoke first.
“The 12th flag-bearer could have definitely killed him alone. However, he himself wouldn’t have been able to avoid serious injuries, and if he hadn’t been accompanied by Murakan or the 7th flag-bearer, he would likely have died before he could escape the Black Sea due to said injuries.”
Cyron was curious about the same thing as Luna. Since Jin’s growth was beyond even his expectations.
“It’s been a while since someone other than you has reported on the youngest, Khan.”
Khan bowed while closing his water flask.
He was making a map with the Black Knights as well, though he also served the role of reporting news from outside the Black Sea.
“It’s been a while since I’ve received any particular letters from Tikan, so I was curious too.”
“It took quite some time for the Kashimir’s letters to become normal, didn’t it? It’s amusing to look back on it.”
When Cyron said the word amusing, all the knights looked surprised.
They had seen that kind of thing from Cyron from time to time recently. Like how when he was young, before he became known as the Genesis Knight, he would occasionally joke around and talk about the trivial and ordinary things he wanted.
The deeper they went into the Black Sea, the more they saw that side of him.
That’s why the knights hid their sadness deep in their hearts.
A sadness that arose from the fact that before becoming a demigod, the patriarch had also been an ordinary human, and that his time as a human was truly running out.
“Ozdok, the monster of legends, huh?”
Cyron glanced at Ozdok for the first time.
[Yes, sir!]
“It must’ve taken a very long time. For you to obtain a core and speak the human language.”
[That’s correct!]
Tuven lightly pressed on Ozdok’s shoulder as a warning. Of course, Ozdok didn’t dare make any noise.
“If the patriarch asks, you are to answer in detail.”
[I’ve lived in the Black Sea for a th-thousand years…!]
A thousand years in the Black Sea.
Then another thousand years, going back and forth between the outside and the Black Sea. The total time it took for Ozdok to become a cored monster was two thousand years.
“Then you must know something about the geography and Five Kings of the Black Sea.”
At first glance, it might have seemed like a trivial remark, but Ozdok could sense it right away.
Answering in the negative would result in his entire body disintegrating. His life would be over.
‘Ah, fuck! I don’t remember anything clearly from before I got my core…!’
Even so, for now, he had to answer that he knew. Technically, it wasn’t a complete lie.
[Th-That’s right.]
“Take me there. Beyond the territories of the Black Sea’s Five Kings.”
[Understood! Just leave it to me!]
Ozdok answered with a bright, albeit forced, smile.
He couldn’t help but think to himself that he should’ve just stayed asleep.
* * *
Baldie, no… Picon Minche, the legendary blacksmith, and now the God of Blacksmiths, grew excited with his eyes lighting up as soon as he received the core.
[Ohoh…!]
His heart was pounding with excitement at the thought that he could finally complete his masterpiece.
Moreover, the monster core that Jin had brought contained greater power than expected, so it seemed that even after strengthening the sword, there would still be enough remaining to use it elsewhere.
The fact that the core was larger than expected also meant that Ozdok wasn’t as weak as Picon had thought.
“Hey, baldie. Are you happy? Are you happy? Huh? You must be happy around scamming people all the time, huh?”
So he could understand why Murakan was cynically making sarcastic remarks.
Picone seemed to feel a little guilty and didn’t take out his anger on Murakan.
Well, he was too excited to snap at him regardless.
[Ah, I can finally complete my child…! Jin! Right, there’s one last thing I need… Ugh!]
Murakan grabbed Picon by the collar with both his eyes wide open.
“What? You need something else? Do you really want to die? Huh? Kiddo, don’t hold me back this time.”
“Yeah, I wasn’t going to. Go right ahead.”
[Hey, hey, wait, wait! P-Put your fists down. Let me finish!]
“I’ll give you five seconds. Speak. If it’s nonsense, I’m going to continue.”
[The last thing we need is fire. That’s it, nothing special to it. Jin just needs to use the Magic Sword Secret Technique, Hell Fire.]
Reaper Scans
Translator – Junseo
Proofreader – Valirius
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Read the webtoon on https://reaperscans.com/comics/4050-swordmasters-youngest-son/
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