Chapter 3

When Ciaron left the Dark Sea, every Runcandel who resided outside the Storm Castle had to scramble to assist the Patriarch. Ciaron was leaving the sea for the first time in five years.

“Every Runcandel flag bearer not serving an active mission of the empire shall gather at the Storm Castle.”

Once the Black Panther, Rosa Runcandel, made that order known, Runcandel flag bearers serving various missions across the different parts of the world such as the Vimenth Empire, Kingdoms of Arkhin and Jian, and the Duchy of Cuirano, all hurried back to the castle.

“What’s going on? Jin’s rite of choice is over. I can’t believe father is visiting again,” exclaimed Ran Runcandel, the third son in the family. He returned from the Northern regions of the continent, where he’d been hunting down monsters.

“Did the guardian knights of the Storm Castle report anything peculiar?” asked the fourth son of the Runcandels, Vuigo Runcandel. He’d been on an assassination mission on behalf of an extremely wealthy man from the Duchy of Cuirano.

This was most unfortunate for the rich man in question, for the Runcandels were infamous for not compensating for damages and unfulfilled missions caused by clan summons.

“Not a word. I suppose it’s confidential if it merits a personal visit from father...” remarked Ciaron’s third daughter, Mary Runcandel. She had been on a quest of defeating powerful warriors from the Southern continent into submission.

And so, this was how Ciaron’s seven children and the 200-strong knights and aides were summoned to the Storm Castle.

This entailed the movement of a group that could take down an entire city within a half hour, and an entire kingdom within a day.

When the news of Ciaron’s travels had reached all the corners of the world, it stirred rumors among the various rulers.

What had caused Ciaron to move? Had he not declared he wouldn’t leave the Dark Sea for the next decade?

Are the Runcandels finally set on overthrowing the powers of the world?

Has the Zeifl Clan made a response?

Ciaron was the only divine knight of the world, and the Runcandel clan was the root of his power.

The worldwide impact these two names had made was truly immense.

Ciaron’s children and the guardian knights of the clan formed lines on each side of the steps leading up to the castle. The storm that rained down made them seem almost solemn and full of resolve. To an outsider, it would have seemed as though they were going into war.

“We face the Patriarch of the clan!”

“We face the Patriarch of the clan!”

As Ciaron arrived at the foot of the Storm Castle, they raised their swords in salute. Their resounding voices reverberated to the mountaintop, as if to start an avalanche.

Ciaron began his way up the steps after a light nod.

Father has a strange air about him. Does this mean something serious?

The Runcandel children exchanged glances to that effect and followed after Ciaron with a solemn look on their faces. The clan’s aides followed behind, and the guardian knights set to manning and guarding the gates.

None of them understood the actual purpose of the visit.

The only reason Ciaron had visited the Storm Castle was to see his baby boy.

# # #

“Deitona, Heitona.”

“Yes, father.”

Ciaron summoned the Tona twins first. The twins, who had been in their rooms from their illness, came and knelt on their knees before Ciaron, sniffling their runny noses.

“State the mistake you two have made.”

Jin was unable to hear this conversation, as he had been waiting in his room with Gilly.

The Tona twins hesitated, and Ciaron’s eyebrows twitched ever so slightly at the sight of that.

“I have asked you to state your mistakes.”

“Tha- That’s...”

The Tona twins would commit their first murder in a year when they turned ten, and would soon become murdering maniacs who killed dozens of people a year, on a whim.

But right now, they were nothing but nine-year-old brats.

And that meant they were at an age when they still feared their strict father, especially when a father like Ciaron. For him, the word strict was a vast understatement.

And what did he mean, their mistake?

They’d been beaten up by their younger brother. If anyone was to blame, it was Jin.

That was the twins’ train of thought. They’d long forgotten their own mistakes of having tormented Jin.

“We have done nothing wrong,” Deitona finally mustered the courage to answer. As Ciaron propped his chin on his hand to listen, Deitona continued to speak.

“Jin conjured a mysterious power and kept hitting me and Heitona.”

“That’s true. He used an unknown power, something that wasn’t an aura!” Heitona added, with emphasis on the unknown and wasn’t an aura.

If any power had stemmed from something other than an aura, there could only be one explanation: magic.

If Jin had used an aura at the age of seven, he would be praised by the entire clan, but the same couldn’t be said for magic.

It wasn’t acceptable for one to be born into the Runcandels and wield magic at the same time.

This was precisely why the Tona twins were all too eager to emphasize that the dark energy around Jin’s fists had stemmed from magic.

“My dear sons,” the patriarch said in a gentle tone.

“Yes, father?” The faces of twins brightened like that of a prisoner finding his escape. They had mistaken their father’s tone as a sign of their victory over this feud.

However, Ciaron ignored everything the twins had emphasized, and said these words in the quietest and softest voice possible.

“Let me tell you something that you two must keep to your hearts. If you keep this up, You will never survive among the Runcandels.”

“Oh...”

“We- We’re sorry, father.”

“Go and bring Jin to me.”

# # #

Jin considered the looks on the twins’ faces. He’d just spotted the pair as he walked down the hallway.

They were more discouraged than ever, and had broken expressions, like that of a man who had fallen into a beast’s cage bare-handed and miraculously came out alive.

It was the same look I had every time I ran into my father in my past life. I can imagine what had happened.

Jin never got to hear the conversation between his father and his brothers, but he had a good guess at what must’ve transpired.

Most likely, father must’ve asked them a question and the twins replied with words that fell far short of his expectations, although that’s natural. They’re only children.

That was how Ciaron educated his children.

No, could one even call this an education? Ciaron had thirteen children including Jin. But it wouldn’t be correct to say he raised any one of them himself.

The only people who looked after the children in the Runcandel clan were the nannies.

Ciaron and Rosa never got more involved than a mere survey of their children, observing how they grew, trying to see who’d turn out the most suitable to lead the clan.

The most interest they ever showed in their children was when they’d turn adults and accomplish a feat exceeding the standards worthy of a Runcandel.

This was why Ciaron’s visit to the Storm Castle was of such importance.

All the other siblings waiting in the hall were dying to find out what was going on between their father and their little siblings.

Jin could make out the silhouette of his father sitting on the throne of the Storm Castle from afar. As he approached his father with careful steps, the memories of his past life flashed by.

My father, the strongest and the coldest man I’ve ever known.

At least Rosa Runcandel, his mother, had some human elements to her. It was well-known that Rosa had fasted for two days after Jin was banished from the clan.

Although Rosa, too, had completely erased Jin’s existence out of her heart once those two days were over.

However, Ciaron was a different case.

The most human side one ever found in him were the twitch of his eyebrows in frustration and the slight movement of his lips in joy.

Word had it that Ciaron used to express frustration and joy in the days of his youth, while he was still struggling to become the patriarch.

But upon reaching the state of being a demigod and a divine knight, the slightest traces of emotion were getting harder to find. The only thing human that remained was his unconditional concern for his clan.

How funny. He has become a demigod, and he’s still protecting his clan because he’s not pleased with my eldest brother.

Jin clenched his jaw. Oh, the suffering he’d gone through until he was banished from the clan. They may have dined at the same table, but nobody treated Jin like he even existed.

But he shouldn’t do anything so foolish as gritting his teeth. Ciaron wasn’t one who would miss the fact that his youngest son was holding in anger.

As he knelt on his knee before his father, Jin made a pact with himself.

I’ll make sure no one looks down on me in this life, not even my father.

Then, he spoke. “I face the Patriarch of the clan.”

He did not face his father as his youngest son. He faced the Patriarch as a member of the clan.

Ciaron nodded, as if to show his satisfaction.

“Why have you called me patriarch and not father?”

Jin pretended to ponder for a moment. He’d already anticipated exactly how Ciaron would respond.

“My elder brothers, sisters, and the guardian knights. Over a hundred strong have come to the Storm Castle, which was why I thought of your visit to be a formal occasion for the clan. This was why I addressed you as the patriarch.”

Ciaron’s eyes widened. “Excellent.”

Jin didn’t respond, but bowed slightly to show courtesy.

This was truly a gesture beyond a 7-year-old, but Ciaron did not find it to be suspicious. He merely thought that Gilly had taught Jin well, and that Jin had foresight beyond his years, just as he had chosen the Balisada.

That Jin was not, in fact, a seven-year-old, but a young man holding memories of his past life, was something even a demigod could not fathom.

Ciaron spoke again after gazing at Jin for a long time.

“I had asked your brothers what their mistake was, and they were unable to answer.”

“Yes, Patriarch.”

“However, I feel like I could try asking you the same question. Deitona and Heitona. What is the mistake your brothers have allowed?”

Jin pretended to ponder once again. This was still within his range of expectations.

No, in fact, this was something he had definitely expected. His father, Ciaron Runcandel was someone who’d treat his sniffling sons as he would battle-worn generals with years of experience behind them.

There could only be one answer Ciaron was looking for.

“It is revenge.”

“Ah!”

Ciaron’s widened eyes now glistened at the answer. Jin continued his response after a few seconds of intentional delay.

“My brothers should have taken revenge on me. For a Runcandel always repays what they are due, whether it be grace or woe.”

Silence followed.

Jin was well aware of the fact that this silence had come from Ciaron’s satisfaction at the answer.

However, it was about time he had to show some childlike behavior, so he had to feign the slightest bit of anxiety in his eyes and ask an age-appropriate question. “Was my answer wrong?”

“It wasn’t wrong. In fact, it was very satisfying.”

“Thank you, patriarch.”

Ciaron’s eyes were filled with sadness at his answer.

“You may address me as father for now. While the clan may have gathered here, I have come to the Storm Castle today for a personal reason.”

“Yes, father.”

Ciaron formed a light smile as he looked down at his son.

But after a short while, he withdrew his smile. Ciaron asked a different question with the same emotionless, statuesque expression on his face.

“What is this special power you used to fight against your brothers?”

# # #