REAPER SCANS
Swordmaster’s Youngest Son
[Translator – Junseo]
[Proofreader – Valirius]
Volume 10 Chapter 421 - The Emperor (1)
It was lucky for the falling eunuch that Jin regarded the palace as enemy territory.
Because it meant that his senses were heightened. And because of his heightened senses, Jin could feel that there was unusual movement.
‘A person?’
No matter how high the spire was, the eunuch would soon come crashing down.
There wasn’t any time to think about who the falling man may be, or what their circumstances were.
His body moved reflexively.
Crack—!
As strength sprung forth from his thighs, the pure white pavement ruptured and dented, and Jin propelled his body into the air like an arrow released from a bow.
Even without any time to prepare, he was too fast for the nearby guards to stop him. The guards opened their eyes wide and just stared at his back as he flew up.
The emperor smiled, showing his teeth as he watched Jin approaching the spire.
‘It’ll be a bit close, but I can reach him in time.’
At that moment, Jin heard a familiar, sharp sound.
The sound of swords being pulled out of their scabbards. And it sounded like there were dozens of them.
This was the emperor’s palace.
In other words, it was a place with the most strict security in the world. Both in places that could be seen and that couldn’t. There were swords to protect the emperor everywhere in the palace.
From the moment Jin arrived, the emperor’s guards hiding throughout the palace were on edge.
Even if Jin was only rescuing a person who was falling, it was the duty of the emperor’s guards to suppress him.
Every single action that took place in the palace had to be sensible and commonplace. Something like ‘leaping suddenly’ would be considered a threat to the emperor’s safety.
Swish—!
The swords of the leaping emperor’s guards rushed toward Jin. Jin avoided the attack by spinning his body in the air without drawing his sword.
But no matter how great Jin was, he couldn’t dodge all of the emperor’s guards’ attacks with his bare body. Perhaps if he were on the ground, but definitely not when he was suspended midair, and in a rush.
Several blades grazed Jin’s body. Blood spurted out from multiple wounds at once, but they were all minor cuts.
Because Jin had allowed himself to be cut so many times, he’d managed to create a chance. Jin was able to slip through the guards’ blades and catch the eunuch just before he fell.
“Are you okay?”
At the same time, the swords of the emperor’s guards that had fallen following them were pointed at Jin from all directions.
“Stop!”
“This is the imperial palace, Jin Runcandel.”
Jin didn’t respond, but instead examined the condition of the person he’d saved.
‘He’s a eunuch.’
He could tell by the clothes. He also noticed the prominent scar on the eunuch’s neck, and he immediately knew that it was a deliberate wound to keep him from speaking.
There were only two reasons why a eunuch would fall from the palace spire at a time like this.
It was either an attempt at suicide, or an order from the emperor.
All other possibilities were unlikely.
Though Jin had moved reflexively at the thought of someone dying.
From the moment he jumped, Jin thought the latter was more likely. That it was the emperor who gave the order for the eunuch to commit suicide. Since it was far too big of a coincidence that an eunuch would commit suicide just as he arrived to visit.
He helped the eunuch stand and looked up at the top of the spire. The emperor was nowhere to be seen, and the slow closing of the spire windows looked strangely like the corners of someone’s mouth rising.
It was obvious why the emperor had the eunuch attempt suicide. He wanted to see how Jin would react.
‘How arrogant.’
Jin shrugged and looked at the guards.
“Put those down. I was returning the emperor’s greeting.”
At those words, the emperor’s guards’ eyes filled with bloodlust, but from afar, a group of attendants were running toward them, panting and shouting.
“Emperor’s guard, stop!”
“He’s His Majesty’s guest. How dare you be so rude!”
The emperor invited Jin as a guest of utmost importance and provided him with an attendant befitting of that. They too were taken aback by Jin and the emperor’s sudden actions, but unlike the emperor’s guards, they immediately understood the emperor’s true intentions and responded accordingly.
“I am the emperor’s chamberlain, Barkam. On behalf of the emperor’s guard, I apologize for their discourtesy.”
Jin looked at Barkam for a moment before speaking.
“What a comfortable seat.”
The seat Jin referred to was the throne of the emperor. Though he didn’t say it, Barkam and the attendants knew what he meant, and they couldn’t help but hide their embarrassment.
Since they’d shown him discourtesy first, Jin decided he wouldn’t bother being polite. Because outside of Runcandel territory, there was no higher position than that of a Runcandel flag-bearer.
“I shall guide you to the emperor.”
Jin walked around the palace for about an hour, following Barkam and the attendants.
The inside of the palace was the pinnacle of splendor itself, matching the grandeur of the exterior. It was extravagance that was befitting of the third most powerful force in the world, only after Zipfel and Runcandel, and the only empire on the continent.
Soon, when they reached the emperor’s palace, the emperor’s guards and the imperial guards blocked Jin’s path.
“Relinquish your weapon.”
“No.”
“What does… that mean?”
“I mean that I will see the emperor, weapon in hand.”
“Huh?”
“Will there not be the palace’s strongest warriors next to the emperor anyway? I will simply return home if I must.”
This was the first time something like this had happened since the current emperor ascended to the throne.
While the emperor’s guards and imperial guards were wondering how to respond, an eunuch’s weak voice was heard from inside the emperor’s palace.
“H-His Majesty says… to just come in!”
The thin, shiny cloth covering the entrance to the audience chamber was removed, and dozens of court ladies appeared from seemingly nowhere, spreading colorful, palm-sized pieces of cloth on the floor like a long carpet.
As they walked, the court ladies retrieved the pieces of cloth where Jin had passed and laid new pieces of cloth on the floor where he hadn’t yet stepped foot.
As he reached the end of the thousand pieces of cloth, the court ladies retreated into the darkness on either side, and a throne, that seemed ever so high even when looking up, was revealed.
Normally, anyone standing would bow deeply regardless of their status, but that wasn’t the case for those of Runcandel and Zipfel.
‘Amir Vermont…’
The emperor’s name came to mind and Jin thought about him for a moment.
He was Kashimir’s older brother and was originally the owner of Myulta’s Rune in Jin’s previous life. He was also someone who supported Living Golem experiments.
‘In my previous life, I just thought of him as someone who was good at walking a tightrope between Runcandel and Zipfel. In fact, most people see the current emperor in that way.’
The emperor looked far different from someone treading carefully between the two major powers. A straight nose, thick eyebrows, and eyes that shone with dignity. He looked just like a general who had reached enlightenment through countless wars.
As Jin was just blankly looking up at him, the emperor spoke first.
“Thank you for your journey here, Jin Runcandel.”
“It must’ve been tough for you to have returned here after giving me that gross greeting from that spire.”
The emperor smiled at his provocative words.
“Did you find it unpleasant?”
“I did.”
“You’re a man like fire, just as I heard. I was only curious about you.”
“Did you send an eunuch to his death just because you were curious about me?”
“Yes. You’re fiery, but a bit softer than I thought. How come you didn’t think ahead?”
The emperor tilted his head and continued speaking.
“The eunuch you saved is a criminal. He dared to covet a palace maid, so several years ago I personally ordered him to abandon his voice and live a life of misery as a laughing stock.”
“Is that so?”
“Why would you put my good guards in danger to save a human who’s worse than a diseased dog?”
Clank, clank!
In the darkness on either side of the audience chamber, iron bars opened and the sound of chains being dragged could be heard.
The guards who had first saluted Jin walked out from the darkness. They were beaten so badly in the time that it took Jin to reach the audience chamber that they looked like a clot of blood.
The emperor smiled and continued.
“Because they failed to stop your impulsive actions, they were whipped, stripped of their position, and are on the verge of being forced to return their salaries, everything they received, while serving as my guards. It’s a small punishment for failing to stop the threat to me, but it’s a tragedy of the utmost magnitude for them.”
Jin didn’t react at all as he looked at the guards.
“In other words, you ended up ruining these people and their families by trying to save a piece of trash. Even though this is the imperial palace, my land… Your actions have been immensely discourteous. Whatever happens here, you have no right to stop it. Since you’ve stopped my order from being carried out…”
Jin nodded as the emperor spoke forcefully.
“Every single word you say is so amusing.”
“Beg me for forgiveness, even now.”
“There’s one thing you’re mistaken about.”
“Mistaken?”
“Did you really think I saved the eunuch not knowing it was discourteous?”
The emperor’s eyes narrowed.
“I simply chose not to pay attention to all of that, not that I agree with your sophistry in the first place. I had a strong feeling that you were testing me, so I just did as I pleased.”
“Kehahaha…”
“The Emperor of Vermont dares to think he may test a flag-bearer of Runcandel?”
The emperor’s laughter stopped.
But his laughter wasn’t stopped because of his displeasure. In fact, the emperor’s eyes were shining with excitement.
“There are many swords here that can kill you. Even if I were to swing the sword and kill you, Runcandel will not retaliate with great force. Because it would be as if I took a burden off their shoulders. And I have all the justification to do so.”
He wasn’t entirely wrong.
If the emperor killed Jin, Joshua and his forces could easily cover up the incident to some extent. If they returned Jin’s body, that was.
“I’ve experienced many such situations in my life… And there’s one thing I say each time I find myself in one.”
“What is it?”
“Try it, if you dare.”
Oh!
Suddenly the emperor stood up from his seat and exclaimed in admiration.
“Indeed, you, who destroyed the Garden of Swords not long ago, wouldn’t have much of a hard time here. I can’t help but admire your boldness!”
The way he clapped his hands with a flushed face made him seem like he was genuinely enjoying himself.
“Release the guards, reinstate them, and bring the golden crown.”
The Emperor smiled again as his guards took them away.
“I think I know a little about you now.”
“I still don’t know much about you.”
Jin and the emperor’s gazes met.
“It will be better if we get to know each other little by little. I have called you today to give you a reward, so don’t you think our relationship can develop into a good one?”
“What will you give me?”
“Strength.”
The emperor looked down at Jin and continued speaking.
“I will give you the power to swallow Runcandel and fight against Zipfel.”
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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