REAPER SCANS
Swordmaster’s Youngest Son
[Translator – Junseo]
[Proofreader – Valirius]
Volume 10 Chapter 396 - The Banquet at Sword King Castle (1)
The 25th of October, 1799.
The clans and forces of Huphester, Vermont, and the Lutero Magic Federation were gathered at the Hairan Clan.
The banquet at Sword King Castle had begun.
It was a grand sight to see them all move in an orderly fashion. The colorful tents set up on all four sides of the imposingly towering Sword King Castle by the attendants of each clan looked from afar like a flower garden.
The people that the attendants guided in were the pivotal core members of their respective forces.
Compared to Runcandel, who barely held a single banquet once every ten years, the Hairan Clan held them frequently.
But that didn’t mean so many of each force would attend every time. Depending on who the ‘host’ was, someone of that level would come and visit.
In that sense, this Sword King Castle banquet was one comparable to the Runcandel banquet held when Jin was fifteen. The host was the Sword King Ron Hairan, after all.
It had been 22 years since Ron had hosted a banquet of his own, and that time he had gathered people for the sake of his newborn grandson. He really was crazy for his grandson.
“Wow, Young Master! This is my first time at a banquet like this. Everyone, look over there. It’s Jonsina of the Dragon King Knights! And next to him is the Imperial Magic Commander, Sir Seri, and that person over there is…”
“Huhu. Lady Enya, what are you looking at with so much curiosity? Compared to our lord, none of them are all that trending.”
“To be honest, I agree. But since so many famous people have gathered, I thought it would make sense to react a bit more.”
“How absurd, keke.”
Enya and Jet still got along well. Beris and Kuzan shook their heads at the sight of them. Julian was absent as he was tending to Kaltor. Gilly let out a small laugh, and Murakan clicked his tongue.
Alisa and Kashimir had somewhat stern expressions on their faces.
“Kashimir, Alisa. Are you worried about meeting the emperor?”
Quikantel asked. She was still an unofficially wanted person in Vermont, along with Enya, but she no longer had to go to such extremes to hide as before.
Since Jin had become a flag-bearer, and had become a force that was to be reckoned with.
“Not really, but it feels strange.”
Alisa shrugged.
“Even if it’s not the emperor, we’ll definitely run into a few members of the royal family. Since we’re trying to make Tikan a country, we can’t just avoid them forever.”
The group was all dressed up in makeup using Gold Snow Tribe products to somewhat disguise themselves. Just like when they carried out the operation to steal the compass in the past.
But despite their showy ornamentations, people didn’t pay much attention to them. Since there were so many people of high renown, Jin and his party were just seen as stylish nobles that could be seen easily anywhere at this banquet.
“It’s almost our turn.”
The group had been standing in line for five hours since the crack of dawn.
“Please show me your invitation.”
The gatekeeper’s eyebrows furrowed as he looked at the invitation Jin had handed out.
“Paul Grey Mick? It’s my first time seeing that name. And the patriarch even left a postscript telling you not to come if possible, and yet you came with companions?”
“If you must enter, your companions should step aside.”
“But didn’t you let the nobles in front of us go in with all their companions?”
When Enya asked, the gatekeepers exchanged awkward glances.
“That’s just custom… Forget it. It can’t be helped since it looks like the patriarch isn't very fond of you. It’ll only be you entering.”
“Lend me your ear for a minute.”
Whisper whisper.
The gatekeepers’ eyes widened as Jin whispered something in his ear.
“…You’re Jin Runcandel?”
“Since Sir Ron invited me under my alias, I came under this alias accordingly. So, I would appreciate it if you could lower your voice a little.”
“If you are the 12th flag-bearer of Runcandel, show me proof!”
Suddenly, when the gatekeeper shouted, the eyes of the other nobles sitting next to him widened.
“Are you really Jin Runcandel?!”
“What?! Jin Runcandel is here? Where? Who is it? That person?”
In an instant, all eyes were focused on Jin and his party. Some nobles even shouted that they had seen ‘that flashy blond’ in the Bellard Empire and that he was the real Jin Runcandel.
Since the recent incident in the Garden of Swords, now commonly referred to as the ‘Declaration of the Youngest’, Jin’s whereabouts had become the world’s top concern. It was natural for the nobles, who were sensitive to the issue, to cause a fuss.
And as soon as the fuss started, a person appeared who drove the wedge in.
“Oh! Welcome, Jin!”
It was Dante Hairan, standing at the castle wall and looking down at the guests. Next to him was Ron Hairan, with a displeased expression on his face.
One other person was also present.
Standing in the honored guest’s exclusive entrance area, their head turned as soon as they heard Jin’s name mentioned.
“Jin? Jin’s here? Where, where?!”
The white-haired young man who was looking around like a good-natured fool was none other than the next head of the Zipfel Clan.
Beradin Zipfel. As he craned his neck here and there to check for Jin’s appearance, the attendants stopped him, gripping their foreheads.
“Young Master, please maintain your dignity.”
“He is a flag-bearer of the enemy. If you act so happy to see him then…”
Despite the attendants’ dissuasion, Beradin continued to look for Jin. And everyone nearby watched the scene unfold.
“Beradin, you’ve come as well!”
Dante waved at Beradin.
At that moment, Beradin and Jin’s eyes met and he waved, but Jin naturally avoided his gaze and walked inside the Sword King’s Castle.
It was because he was concerned that it would put Beradin in trouble.
As a result, the people thought that Dante and Beradin were waving to them and not Jin so they waved back in response.
‘They’re the same as always.’
For some reason that thought occurred to him. They had been in a similar situation in the past at the Cosmos Arena.
‘I didn’t know that guy would attend as well. Is he in his right state of mind today?’
A part of him felt bitter.
The last time the two had met, he had fought against Beradin. At that time, Beradin, far from welcoming Jin as he was doing now, acted like he was desperate to kill him.
It was too early to jump to conclusions. At least until they met and talked.
‘No, even if I talk to him directly… Can I be sure that his mind isn’t under control then?’
It was probably going to be difficult. Because he had no definitive data on the extent of Zipfel’s mind control.
Still, it didn’t feel bad to see his friend looking normal after so long.
As soon as he entered the castle, the place was crowded right from the sitting room.
If it hadn’t been revealed that Jin was a Runcandel, he would’ve had to wait again quietly in the sitting room until evening. Because only after the honored guests had all taken their position would the normal people be allowed to enter.
Thanks to the disturbance, Jin and his party were able to enter the banquet hall right away.
“All that disguising was for nothing. I wanted to see Sir Ron’s face when he finally saw me after being pleased, thinking I hadn’t come.”
The news had already been delivered to the honored guests in the banquet hall. They were openly looking at the party with curiosity.
It was already strange that Jin had come to the banquet hall, but the companions he brought were all completely unfamiliar to them with only a few exceptions.
Hairan hadn’t sent an official invitation to Runcandel. It was Ron’s considerate decision taking into account that Rosa was still recovering. And also the fact that Ron didn’t particularly want to welcome Runcandel.
As soon as they sat down at the table the attendants had guided them to, a girl came looking for them with an eager gait.
“Greetings, Sir Jin Runcandel!”
She had a slender body with skin so pale that it was hard to believe she was human, and her face was so beautiful that even Jin was a little surprised.
It was his first time seeing her. The girl was also carrying a huge ‘axe-sword’ on her back.
‘An axe-sword…? Was there someone else who wielded something like this besides Luna?’
Although part of her body covered it, he could clearly see that it was a massive axe-sword.
“Who are you?”
While Jin was taking a look at the axe-sword, Murakan asked in a somewhat gruff tone.
“Ah, I’m Zephryn, of the Black King Mercenaries. I’ve always admired Sir Jin, so I thought I would come by and say hello.”
“Admire? This brat? Why? You must be the same kind as her, huh?”
As Murakan spoke, pointing at Enya…
“Hey, Zephryn!”
Someone called her name in an urgent tone. A man was running behind her, and he was someone Jin knew.
“Oh, Captain!”
Suddenly…
As Zephryn was about to answer, Murka, the captain of the 3rd corps of the Black King Mercenaries, pressed down on the back of Zephryn’s head, making her bow down by bending her back. It happened so naturally, as if dealing with a student who often caused trouble. It seemed like it was a common occurrence.
“Where the hell do you think you’re butting in to?! Ahem, ahem! I’m sorry, Sir Jin Runcandel. I’ve shown you discourtesy by not properly disciplining my subordinates. She hasn’t joined for very long, but she’s a complete troublemaker. If you’re a newbie who got to come to a place like this thanks to your captain, then you should just sit still and…!”
“Don’t worry about it, Sir Murka. It’s been a while.”
Murka was once assigned to guard Jin when he left the Storm Castle. With the recent events, the nickname ‘the young emperor’ that they had given him was resurfacing.
“It looks like you’ve been promoted to captain.”
“It happened not long after I escorted you.”
“It’s a little late, but I should at least congratulate you now.”
Even while talking to Murka, Jin continued to inwardly feel bothered by Zephryn.
‘Is it because of her axe-sword? I have a strange feeling about her for some reason…’
Murka, who realized this, pointed to her axe sword as if she understood.
“This brat usually uses a longsword. She can probably only manage to swing this axe-sword once or twice, but she carries it around on her back out of respect for Lady Luna. I hope you don’t think too badly of her.”
Murka scolded Zephryn whenever the chance presented itself while talking to Jin, but out of endearment.
“Of course.”
“Thank you for understanding. Hey, hey! What are you doing? Hurry up and say goodbye!”
“Thank you!”
As Zephryn hastily bowed again (she bowed so quickly, that the blade of her axe sword struck the back of her head), Murakan shook his head as if he were out of energy.
“Ugh, how tiring. One fangirl is enough. Go away quickly.”
“Yes, I’ll see you next time. Then, I hope you enjoy the banquet.”
As Murka and Zephryn left, the group exchanged glances.
“Oh, even if our lord does nothing, such a beauty comes to him on her own. As expected!”
“That girl, Zephryn, I think she’s a bit suspicious?”
“You’re only feeling that because you think she’ll be your competition. What’s suspicious about her? She just seems a little stupid.”
Jet, Enya, and Murakan each spoke a bit.
Jin and Quikantel continued to look at Zephryn’s back with their brows furrowed.
“Jin.”
“Yes, Lady Quikantel?”
“That Zephryn kid. I don’t think she’s human.”
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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