REAPER SCANS
Swordmaster’s Youngest Son
[Translator – Junseo]
[Proofreader – Valirius]
Volume 10 Chapter 367 - Traces (7)
A while passed, and heat continued to radiate from Valeria.
There wasn’t a trace of the dye left in her hair. Hot steam rose from her sweat-soaked robe, and her red hair, fluttering from the mana current, looked like a mass of flame.
[So you’re of the Hister Clan. Where did you find that child?]
“In the lawless city of Mamit.”
Although he didn’t go into much detail, Sheila didn’t pursue the matter.
Her gaze deepened.
[Fortunately, she’s strong enough to not need your protection. It goes without saying for humans, but… All living beings must ultimately protect each other to survive. No life can survive alone.]
Although her words came out of the blue, Jin nodded. He didn’t dislike what Sheila said.
[While my old friend and your old friend struggle on, we should consider all other variables.]
“Aside from the Zipfel mages, do you have any other concerns in mind?”
[This land belongs to Vermont. Some of my people might be in collusion with them.]
“Well, I suppose the fragments of the absolute power wouldn’t have all gone to Myla. Vermont, you say… It’s definitely possible.”
[There may also be those that sided with your Runcandel.]
“I hope that’s not the case. Having to deal with two forces at the same time is already enough of a headache. For now, it would be best to assume that Zipfel and Vermont will definitely come.”
Jin spoke while recalling the fact that Vermont was looking for Temar’s body.
‘It’s close to certain that there are those among the descendants of the Fairy Tribe in communication with Vermont.’
He remembered what Kashimir had told him about what he had overheard about the previous emperor and ministers when he was young. Jin had a strange feeling that what they had been talking about was in regard to the secret communications between the Wantaramo Forest.
‘Maybe the reason why Vermont started searching for Temar’s body… was because one of the Fairy Tribe descendants leaked information about his tomb to them.’
He thought it was impossible that Vermont would be looking for Temar’s tomb without something like that. The very existence of it was unknown even to the Runcandel Clan, except for Cyron, Rosa, and a few of the elders, though that in itself was also a guess.
“Vermont will send either the special forces or the imperial guard. Anything more would signal to the rest of the world that there’s something happening in Wantaramo Forest.”
‘Might even see a few familiar faces.’
Jin thought, shrugging his shoulders.
[Special forces and the imperial guard. Are they stronger than you?]
He was able to answer without hesitation.
“The commanders may be stronger than me, but I can deal with anything below them easily enough.”
It was an inference he made based on Wratch, a special forces leader, who he had met in person during his time as a provisional flag-bearer, and the former division leader Alisa.
[How many commanders are there?]
“Four. Not all of them will come.”
The guard commander, the vice guard commander, the special forces commander, and the special forces vice commander. If all four of them came, even Luna would struggle, let alone Jin.
“How much fighting power do you have, Lady Sheila?”
It felt strange to ask such a question to the queen of the Fairy Tribe.
But he had to know in advance. It was natural to need to understand the strength of his allies.
‘We might have to fight the guardian of the fourth tomb as well as Zipfel and Vermont.’
The guardian, Zipfel, and Vermont.
No matter who they fought first, they had to leave enough in them to fight their last opponent.
Of course, it would be ideal if there were no guardian, like in the third tomb, but they had to assume the worst case scenario.
[Well, it’s been so long since I’ve been in a fight that I don’t really know. Just know that I’m not very weak.]
“Can you be more specific?”
Then, as if in thought, Sheila crossed her arms and closed her eyes.
[…I really don’t know. I rarely used any of my own strength when my people killed invaders.]
“I understand.”
It seemed like they would have to fight as if Sheila wasn’t there. Suddenly, Jin regretted not bringing Murakan with him.
There were two reasons why he left him behind.
Firstly, it was so he could assist with Bellops mission. If it were discovered right after the meeting that Bellop was handling the mission instead of him, it could turn into a huge problem. Secondly, Valeria and Murakan hadn’t met yet.
Though their relationship had improved, it would still be too imposing for her to meet up with Jin if such a powerful companion was with him. It might’ve caused her to put up her guard again, which he had been trying to avoid.
‘If things get rough, we’ll have to make it a three-way free-for-all.’
Though they had a rough plan, there were too many things that could go wrong.
Who would they encounter first? Should they really enter the tomb first without dealing with the enemies? If they did that, then things would be really bad if they had to retreat from the tomb, because they’d only end up giving them its location…
While he thought about it, Sheila spoke.
[Jin Runcandel.]
“Yes?”
[When you fight, you mustn’t damage the forest to the point where it cannot regenerate.]
The Wantaramo Forest was a ‘public asset’ for those at the pinnacle of power. Because they were all consumers of Royal Wine.
It wasn’t for no reason that Jin and his companions hadn’t been aware of its existence till now. It was the result of those at the top carefully hiding the fact so that no trouble would arise there.
If the forest was damaged, they would definitely investigate who was at fault and seek compensation from those who were most responsible.
Jin smiled.
‘Then that means regardless of if it's a one-on-one duel, or a three-way free-for-all, I have an overwhelming advantage.’
A melee fight that didn’t cause damage to the surroundings.
That was the scenario where Shadow Energy thrived best.
“I understand. That actually makes things easier.”
[In that case, that’s fortunate. Even after a thousand years, the influence of your ancestor continues to have its clutches on the world.]
“It looks like you knew him well.”
[I don’t remember much in detail. You should know from the tombs that the Runcandel of those days has almost been forgotten. But even back then, I clearly remember that each and every one of Temar’s actions had a huge impact on the world.]
Sheila looked at Jin.
[And now you must take up the position where his shadow has been cast. Or cast a shadow of your own on the world.]
The Cat Tribe and Valeria had finished.
[Phew!]
[We’ve finished…!]
An hour and a half.
The Cat Tribe couldn’t believe they had created a passage to the Red Lake and several false passages to deceive Zipfel in that time.
A dozen purple portals they had created rippled along the cave walls. Only one of them was the real passage leading to the Red Lake, while the rest were fakes leading into the middle of the forest.
[The entrance location changes randomly every time you use it. Unless the Zipfel mages are all incredibly lucky and foolish, they won’t get the right portal the first time.]
If there were a dozen doors to choose from, it was natural for them to split up. Unless, as Lulu said, they were incredibly foolish.
Splash!
Jin handed Valeria a water bottle. With her throat parched, she gulped down the water as soon as she received it.
“Jin Runcandel, let’s gather our mana for a moment before going. I think I’ve bought that much time at least.”
Lulu and Miru gave a thumbs up as they watched Valeria sit up again and stabilize her mana.
[Thanks to her, we even saved a bit of our divine relic.]
[We saved half of it!]
Lulu and Miru smiled as they showed off the remaining half of the Cat God’s claw.
Whoosh!
When Valeria stood up and almost stumbled, Jin helped her up.
“Are you okay?”
“I just felt dizzy for a moment.”
She didn’t add that she had exerted herself more than expected in trying to preserve half of the Cat Tribe’s divine relic.
Because even Valeria herself didn’t understand why she’d done that.
She initially decided to help them for the sake of finishing it faster, but her decision to use more strength than necessary for the Cat Tribe was simply a spur of the moment decision.
“You can rest for about another ten minutes.”
“There’s no need. I know my body. Just keep the promise you made on the way here.”
Unlike when she said she would help the Cat Tribe, her tone was sharp.
Valeria was afraid that she was beginning to lose her edge after meeting Jin.
—Last time, you said you got the recording device from the fairy tribe’s hiding place… But it was actually from the tomb of Runcandel’s first patriarch?
—The tomb of Runcandel’s first patriarch was in the fairy tribe’s hiding place.
—You’re twisting your words.
—We’re only just getting to know each other. Aren’t you doing the same thing? There’s probably a lot you haven’t told me either. No, you must be hiding so many things that you can’t even be compared to me. Now that I’ve told you about Temar’s tomb, I’ve told you almost all my secrets.
—Well, fine. I won’t think of it as you having tried to fool me. Now that I’ve heard about Temar’s tomb, I can imagine how flustered you must’ve been when you found Helluram’s Shadow Energy marble in Joshua Runcandel’s villa.
—I was more flustered when you looked into the Shadow Energy bead and accused me.
—Anyway, what I need to do is hear a clue about Temar’s fourth tomb from the Cat tribe… If you find the fourth tomb later, let me come with you. That’s fine right?
—Sure. I’ll promise.
Valeria thought back to the conversation she had with Jin on the way to Wantaramo Forest. The promise she was referring to was allowing her to enter Temar’s tomb with him.
‘It’s only been a few hours since I had that conversation with him, but I never expected to find the fourth tomb so quickly. I figured it would take at least a few months after rescuing the Cat Tribe and getting some clues from them.’
Would she be able to find a new trace about her ancestors from that tomb?
Alone, with no one else.
The task of tracking down the messages left by her ancestors and reclaiming the Hister Clan’s magic was truly, indescribably lonely.
At some point, she didn’t even realize she was lonely. Her life was simply to open her eyes, practice magic, and wander the world in search of messages and inheritances from her ancestors.
But once she began to expect to make new discoveries about the Hister Clan with the help of someone else, and even find traces left behind by her ancestors…
And so easily, at that…
Then wouldn’t that mean the dark and bitter times she had endured were for nothing?
Because of that thought, her tone of voice became sharp without her realizing it.
“…I’m a little on edge right now.”
“It must’ve been tiring. I’m not upset, so there’s no need to apologize.”
Valeria’s brow twitched slightly.
“Now we need to enter the passage. I can support you until we reach the Red Lake, right? Tell me if you don’t want even that, though.”
Jin said, taking the water bottle from Valeria.
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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