Volume 6 Chapter 140 â After His Death (1)
[Translator â jhei]
[Proofreader â yukitokata]
Kidardâs death became known at least a month after his passing, and the world was shocked. Although his presence dissipated due to him being in hiding, the death of a 9-star was still shocking.
Furthermore, the exact cause of death wasnât known.
The location of death was a residence off-road of a forest in Romp City. The citizens didnât really worry or think about Kidardâs absence in the main city for a month. They just assumed that he was researching something with the young boy that he kidnapped.
Thanks to that, Kidardâs corpseâthat was discovered to have been abandoned for a monthâbecame food for the mountain beasts. Only a few small bones remained.
Journalists of the press, affiliates of the Ministry of Magic, and those who had personal ties to Kidard could only focus on the message on the wall.
âJin Grey, the likely culprit behind Kidard Hallâs death. Who is he?
âWhy did he kill Kidard Hall? And whatâs the reason for his hiding?
âUnfortunately, scriptures of Kidardâs overload magic are supposedly in Vankellaâs eternal storageâ¦
While the people loaded the press with these titles, those who knew of Jin Grey had their own separate debate.
âItâs not the youngest, right? Jin Greyâs a common nameâ¦â
âNo way. I know the youngest is amazing and all, but itâs against a 9-star magician. Thereâs no way. Yeah, thereâs no way. Itâs definitely not him.â
âHaha, rightâ¦?â
The Tona Twins were about to leave after becoming provisional flag-bearers. Despite their denial of Jinâs achievement, they couldnât stop thinking that it was him.
âOur stupid siblings. They talk well for some kids who havenât met a 9-star magician. I canât believe that theyâre provisional flag-bearers after only a few months⦠Tsk.â
âHey, why, Myu? Theyâre kinda cute when they spit some dumb stuff. Enough for me to want to kill them. A frickinâ 9-star⦠I thought that White Wolf Tribe incident last time was enough.â
Myu and Anne smirked and glared at the Tona Twins, and this time, Mary looked at the girls.
âShut up. Youâre interrupting the meal.â
âTch! We canât even talk this much?â
âI said, shut up.â
âHa! You stayed quiet when the Tona brats wereââ
âMyu, Anne, one more word and Mary will kill you. I canât stop her now, since Mother isnât here either.â
The second son, Dipus shrugged. Luntia shook her head, tired of everything. Ran and Vigo quietly focused on cooking.
The pureblood Runcandel children gathered at one table. The only ones missing were Luna, Yona, and the provisional flag-bearer, Jin.
Clink.
Joshua lowered his knife and wiped his mouth.
âAlright, alright. Stop it, everyone. Itâs been a long time since we had a dinner like this. Do we need to get our faces red and hot like this? I, for one, think that the youngest did indeed kill Kidard.â
All eyes fell on him. Even Luntia, who didnât really care.
âJoshua, why do you also think that? Why? You think that makes sense?â
âHm⦠It wouldnât be possible on his own. If that kid, Yona, helped him, then maybe.â
Mary and Dipus glared at their eldest brother with hatred. The two had always despised his weird plots.
âCalm down, Brother. I knew that we werenât here just for a meal, but your exposition is annoying. Do you have to doubt a provisional flag-bearer?â
âCan you back the claim that Yona helped him, Eldest Brother?â
âI donât know for certain. Itâs just a hunch. Do I have to take responsibility for my words? A 9-star grand magician died and thereâs no clear reason of death. Thatâs hard to achieve for someone who isnât âNamelessâ.â
Nameless.
The assassin organization that Yona was currently affiliated with.
âYou seem to want Yona to have a bad time. Bringing up her name now without reason makes me want to barf. And tying her with the youngest makes no fucking sense.â
âOn the death scene, âJin Greyâ was written on the wall. I think that the youngest requested something from Nameless in order to publicize his name, and Yona wrote the message in lieu of the youngest.â
Myu and Anne applauded his claim and nodded.
âOh, thinking of it that way makes sense! Then Jinâs successful mission in the past would also be by Nameless!â
âItâs all under an assumption. As Myu said, the youngest had done amazing things since back then, so I donât think thereâs any downside to opening an investigation.â
âThatâs right, Brother. There were too many questions regarding Jin. I also want to know what Yona thinks about the clan.â
THUD!
Mary stood as she slammed the table. Myu and Anne were startled and turned to look at her. Luntia sighed. Another troublesome situation was brewing.
âAgainst the business of the second flag-bearer, I, the seventh flag-bearer, shouldnât be talking shit to you. But remember one thing, Brother. If you hurt Yona, Father will not sit still.â
Dipus stood up and added on to Maryâs words.
âBrother, please show some coolness. If you are jealous of Yona, just put her under your sword. Simply slandering and flicking your tongue at her is not the Runcandel way.â
âFufu⦠I donât think youâre in a position to say that, Dipus. If you donât like my style, why donât you just unsheathe your sword?â
Dipusâs eyes flicked to Luntia.
âFor whom?â
Mary and Dipus left the dining hall, and Joshua smiled in satisfaction.
Meanwhile, the twinsâwho were the cause of the situationâcould only think.
âUwaaah, since Jin the doormat disappeared, the higher-ups are getting messyâ¦â
âI donât know how long Myu and Anne will keep their focus on us. Shit. If Jin were here, our sisters wouldâve teased us less. I canât believe I miss himâ¦â
The Tona Twins were depressed.
* * *
Reaper Scans
* * *
âDante!â
The worldâs most boring event, a Zipfel banquet.
Beradin waved a newsletter and sat next to Dante, who came only because he was invited.
Nonetheless, Dante was concerned as to what expression he should make at the dull party in order to not be disrespectful. So, after multiple greetings and bows here and there, he made an awkward smile when Beradin came.
âYou came, Beradin? Itâs a⦠wonderful⦠banquet. Thank you for not forgetting to invite me.â
âHey, why are you trying to save face? I know our clanâs banquet is boring as hell. I just wanted to see you again. Sorry, sorry. You were bored, right? Me too. I miss that night at the arena.â
âOh, the arena! That was nice. No need to be sorry. After that day, I also felt pretty empty.â
âThere wasnât a single day when I didnât fiddle with the empty chest, commemorating those days. But that aside, did you hear? About this.â
Beradin put the newsletter in Danteâs face.
Surprisingly, Dante had just found out about Kidard Hallâs death. Right before coming to the banquet, he had only been a shut-in, engrossed in training. He had no idea what was going on in the world.
âHuh? This⦠A 9-star magician had been murdered, and Jin Greyâs name was left on the crime scene?â
âIâm more surprised at you. You didnât know about this? Anyways, this case⦠It has to be his doing. What do you think?â
âHm!â
Dante snorted with certainty.
âMost certainly! He is a man who would do such a thing. I donât know his reason or method, but it must be his doing.â
âOn that note, Dante, can you make some time?â
âNow?â
âNo, starting tomorrow. A good chunk of the day.â
Beradin whispered into Danteâs ear.
âWanna go see him?â
âDo you know where he is?â
âWell, we can just look for him!â
Dante chuckled and nodded.
The guests and journalists attending at the banquet interpreted the sight differently.
âThose two just discussed the Kidard Hall case, right? They were talking and smiling, as if there was something only they knew.â
âRecently, I heard good relations between the Hairan Clan and Zipfel Clan. The Zipfels must be related to Kidard Hallâs death, and it seems Young Master Beradin offered some information to Young Master Dante.â
âThe Zipfels might be strengthening their friendly ties and organizing the unallied forces. Since the Zipfels took down Kidard with intent, I should be careful of what I write about them.â
* * *
Meanwhile, the main character of all of this talk searched for an ear cleaner.
âIs someone talking about me behind my back? My ears tickle⦠Murakan.â
âWhat?â
âAre you done with the Tome of Overload?â
âArgh! Shit, I have a right to live like a human, kid. Iâve been on this tome for a fucking month!â
As he said, Murakan had been deciphering the text ever since Jin returned. He could cast the runes to his body only after the process was done.
Compared to Tzenmiâs Photon Cannon, the rune characters were overly complicated, so it took more time to decode.
âBut no one else can do the tome-work than you.â
âWhy do you keep forgetting about Quikantel? She knows how to do this too!â
âWeâre not that close. In exchange, Iâll bring a wagonful of your nice little magazines. The exclusive editions.â
âIf you bring anything less than the special edition, Iâll kill you.â
While Murakan huffed and puffed in anger, Kashimir came to Jin.
âYoung Master.â
âYes, Sir Kashimir?â
âUhm⦠I came to tell you that Iâll be leaving for about a month.â
âA month? Where to?â
âSo, thatâs, uhhh⦠The Vermont Empire. Yes, the Vermont Empire. I must go because I forgot something there.â
As the Fallen Prince of Vermont, Kashimir had no reason to return and find something he wanted in the empire.
Jin examined Kashimirâs awkward speech and soon realized exactly why the other needed to leave for a while.
âMy father called for him. Heâs headed for the Black Sea, probably because of Kidard Hall. It seems he wants to talk about it in person.â
The awkwardness was born from Kashimir clumsily making excuses while lying about being in contact with Cyron. He still thought that Jin didnât know about the reports being sent to the patriarch.
âIs there anything I can help with?â
âOh, of course! Well, itâs something I must do alone, haha. Anyways, Young Master Jin. I already retrieved what you requested last time, so please spend your time wisely during my absence.â
Jin wished Kashimir luck and smiled.
âââââ
âââ
âââââ