Chapter 830

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[What? Ugh, my head, what is that nonsense again? And just now, someone asked if I was a different Murakan, and the guy who slaughtered the commoners and sent Temar to bed. Call that bastard a fake Murakan for now on. He only did things that I dislike.]

"Well, then. The Murakan before us doesn't have any intention to kill us..."

[Oh, that's true! That guy is fake, and I'm the real one. That bastard is nothing more than a picture painted by gentleman Kaytam... No, forget about that. Anyway, stop saying things like 'spare us' because I'm not a bad guy.]

"I vouch for him."

Jin said as he leaped down from Murakan's back. People were surprised again as they didn't know that Jin and Shuri were on Murakan's back all this time.

Jin was wearing the young patriarch's black coat adorned with ten black swords. The attire of Runcandel hadn't changed much over the centuries, so people thought of Jin as a knight of Runcandel.

"Oh, a knight of Runcandel?"

"Yeah, I've been on an external mission with Murakan for a long time and was on my way back to Storm Castle. So go ahead and continue talking. What happened to the patriarch?"

"Well, lord Murakan... 

[Fake!]

"I am sorry. So, Lord Temar was attacked by the fake Murakan. We, the common folks, don't know the exact details, but there was a huge battle in the Black Sea. Thanks to the timely arrival of the Ten Great Knights, he managed to survive, but... many people saw Lord Temar get injured."

According to the explanation of the villagers, the Ten Great Knights had chased after the fake Murakan after rescuing Temar. The pursuit lasted from the Black Sea to Mitel, and during the process, the Ten Great Knights suffered both minor and major injuries. The fake Murakan only stopped attacking after they barely made it to Mitel.

"Perhaps he refrained from facing the remaining Ten Great Knights and the full force of Runcandel directly, as it would have been a burden. However, the fake Murakan is not just avoiding a head-on battle; after that, he continued to attack various places in the Mitel Kingdom and the Huphester alliance."

"Are you saying he is trying to kill him?"

"Yes... There may be reasons why he couldn't accurately track Lord Temar's whereabouts. He may be anticipating that Lord Temar will recover using Numerus' blood and come back... That's all we know so far."

"I see. Thanks for telling me. I should head back to Storm Castle as soon as possible."

When Jin mounted Murakan again, the villagers exchanged glances and let out relieved sighs. They couldn't believe that they had seen Murakan and still survived.

[That damn fake guy, I and the kid will definitely deal with him, so everyone can rest assured.]

[Mya mya! Mya mya!!]

Shuri also raised her front paw and ignited her fighting spirit.

"Thank you, thank you!"

"Of course, there's no way the true guardian dragon of Runcandel, Lord Murakan, would do such a thing. This is the real Murakan, isn't it...!"

"Please, make sure to execute that scoundrel!"

The group left the village amid the villagers' heartfelt cheers.

[Kid, cancel the idea of taking it slow and explore. Let's go at full speed. Hm, it seems that one of the guardians painted by Kaytam was me from this era, and because of that tainted painting, that guy has gone mad, don't you think?"

"Most likely."

[Ah, it bothers me. I'm really pissed off. No matter that it's just an incident in a painting, someone is pretending to be me, using my name, and wielding powers like mine to do such things. I'll find both the fake and the one who tainted the painting and tear them apart.]

While Murakan vented his frustration with curses cutting through the sky, Jin recalled the record he saw in the second tomb from the past.

-There really is a tower in the Black Sea... It means the patriarch is there. Ha... Murakan, is there really no other way but this? I honestly doubt myself.

-Temar has grown weaker. I can handle him alone just fine. The reason I called you is simply...

-That's not it. I am hesitant about whether this is the right thing to do. It's too cruel, killing the patriarch with our own hands. To both him and us.

-Don't hesitate now, Padler. Do you think I want to kill him? This despairing feeling is beyond words. It's tormenting me as well.

A conversation between Murakan and Padler from that record.

'According to the record, there really was a tower in the Black Sea, and Temar seemed to be falling into madness. And at the moment when Murakan and Padler were about to finish him, Orgal appeared. Orgal proposed that there was a way to save Temar.'

The record was cut off, and Jin couldn't see what that proposal was.

'They did fight Temar at the tower in the Black Sea. It's true that they more or less subdued the weakened Temar. But are the events happening in the painting now related to what happened back then, considering the contamination?'

Whatever the thousand-year-old event left by Kaytam was, resolving the contamination would likely shed light on it.

"Murakan."

[What?]

"If we head straight to Storm Castle like this, won't we be attacked? You and the fake look exactly the same. Perhaps people in Storm Castle might misunderstand and attack us."

[That's true, but we can't take it easy. At least the Ten Great Knights' level of strength is necessary for the attacks to work against me, so we'll ignore the rest and go full speed. We can explain everything calmly once we reach Storm Castle.]

"Hmm, I wish misunderstandings could be easily cleared up with words. Anyway, let's discuss some situations. We'll have to explain our presence."

After two hours of flying, the Murakan Mountain came into view.

During their journey, Jin confirmed that their presence was reported by lighting up bonfires and firing signal flares at various territories.

Naturally, Storm Castle and nearby cities were all prepared for an attack.

"I see evacuation processions. It seems like they've issued an evacuation order, which means they're ready to fight while destroying the entire city."

As Jin finished speaking, suddenly, sword slashes and projectiles threatened them from somewhere on the ground. Numerous knights, probably around three thousand in number, were firing a barrage of attacks.

However, their countless sword slashes didn't even reach Murakan, who swiftly ascended to a higher altitude. From that moment, none of the knight's sword strikes reached the party.

It was practically impossible for regular knights to face a powerful dragon like Murakan. While mages could use link magic or long-range spells, knights could only rely on their physical abilities in aerial combat.

However, there were exceptions like the Ten Great Knights, who were special powerhouses.

Swish-!

Suddenly, a threatening strike soared from a mid-mountain position. It was a sword strike that effortlessly cut through Murakan's protective shield, and there was no need to check who its wielder was.

"One of the Ten great knights, huh."

[Yes, only they can break through my protective shield like that. I wonder who it is. Whoever it is, it's a familiar face.]

Successive sword strikes were leaving trails in the sky. Murakan swiftly changed directions, avoiding some and overlapping protective shields to block others.

"Murakan...! You finally dare to extend your claws to Storm Castle! I've been wanting to find you somehow and take revenge for the patriarch. Come down here, I'll kill you!"

[Ah, this voice. It feels like I remember who it is.]

It was a voice that Jin had never heard before.

So far, through records and observations, Jin had confirmed the existence of six Ten Great Knights: Sylderay, Diana, Sarah, Padler, Lokia, and Bale.

The knight currently firing sword strikes with overwhelming rage was one of the remaining four.

[I'll go down and have a look at their faces.]

"Their aura seems quite ominous. Are you sure you'll be alright?"

[What, do you doubt the great Murakan's safety? Are you kidding?]

"Sure, just kidding."

Murakan swiftly descended towards the direction where the sword strikes were coming from. In that brief moment, dozens of sword strikes flew towards them, some even grazing Murakan's body, but none of them managed to land a hit.

Crack, crush! Trees were crushed against Murakan's wings and body, revealing the figure of the great knight. He was a man using a chain sword, with long hair and impressive scars on his face.

"Are you underestimating me by coming down on your own?"

[Ah, Dranax, it's you!]

Murakan immediately recalled memories of Dranax Runcandel, the former patriarch of the 'Kamalga' clan, which was famous as conqueror in southern Huphester from a thousand years ago. Like most of the Ten Great Knights, he had switched allegiances to Temar and changed his name.

"Don't call my name with your dirty mouth, why do I even bother with you?"

[Oh, I almost forgot about you! I got along very well with you back then.]

"What nonsense are you babbling about?"

[How can I forget someone who was as fond of solving things with fists as I am? So, it is better to have a conversation with someone else other than you. I'll be at Storm Castle, see you later?]

"What? Stand still! You bastard, stand still...!"

Murakan blocked and evaded Dranax' sword strikes and ascended to a higher altitude again. It was impossible even for ten great knights to catch Murakan, if he set his mind on running away. You can interfere with the flight of Regular dragons by emitting energy, but that was impossible in Murakan's case.

[By the way, you misspoke earlier, really. I am the real Murakan, and the one who made Temar like this is the fake! Maybe someone will explain it when you come back to Storm Castle!]

"Aaah! I'll kill you! Come here, come back!"

Dranax' enraged shouts were quickly fading away. He fired a few more sword strikes towards the party's rear and released his aura.

"Wouldn't it have been better to calmly explain it? It seems like you provoked him even more."

[You don't know him well enough. Unless someone he perceives as smarter than himself explains it, he'll never listen.]

"So, you weren't that kind of comrade for him?"

[As you know, I'm not only physically exceptional, but I'm also highly intelligent. But he was utterly clueless about that. Completely clueless.]

Soon, Murakan reached the entrance of Storm Castle.

There, two of the Ten Great Knights and selected elite knights were standing on the castle walls, waiting for the party.

"Murakan... It seems like you've come to make a final stand at Storm Castle. It pains me to see you fallen. Today, we will cleanse your vile sins with your life. May you find remorse even a little before your death."

[Wait! I didn't come here to fight. I came to reveal the truth. I see, there's someone who can communicate. Hey, Frey! Yes, you're Frey Runcandel, right? I didn't harm Temar, it was the fake Mur... Argh, here we go again! That guy is fake, and I'm the real one. I'll explain everything in detail, so please put down your sword.]

"Alas, you continue to underestimate us. Even Hell itself won't be able to contain your wickedness. Then, let's end the conversation here. I can't wish you good fortune like before when we were comrades. Instead, I will curse you. All forces, attack!"

[No, just listen to me for a moment!]

Murakan shouted desperately, but the opponents attacked without any hesitation.

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