Swordmaster's Youngest Son Novel - Chapter 844

Chapter 844

In Zipple’s response, it was written that they would accept Runcandel’s surrender.

However, it wasn’t a proper answer, but rather a mockery.

«Hand over the patriarch’s body? Those bastards…!»

Sylderay shouted in a trembling voice.

Handing over Temar’s body to Zipple, and all the Ten Great Knights and guardian knights would be executed in Zipple’s land.

If Runcandel accepted these conditions, they would pardon the members of the Family who didn’t pose a threat to Zipple and use them as slaves.

That was the condition presented by Zipple.

«I knew it, Diana. From the beginning, it was crazy to say we would surrender. Why would those bastards have any reason to pardon us? Showing the intention to surrender only shows them that we have no chance.»

Diana couldn’t stop Sylderay anymore.

She was also suppressing her boiling anger.

«Sylderay, how much time do you have left before you go mad?»

«I don’t know. I could collapse at any moment. At best, I could last a couple of months. And when I lose my mind, I might not even realize I lost it. I’m in a state of confusion where I might have already lost my senses, like those who left before me… Maybe I’ve already lost my mind.»

«I feel the same. We have a duty until we completely go mad, until then, we must somehow defend Storm Castle and the Garden of Swords.»

Diana considered it fulfilling her promise to Solderet.

Accepting all of Zipple’s conditions wouldn’t be surrendering.

It would be nothing more than being subdued without resistance.

It wouldn’t be keeping the promise, nor would it be an action to survive or a choice for the future.

«Yes, I was worried you would ask me to accept these conditions. Clearly, you haven’t gone mad yet.»

«But I don’t know what will happen if we refuse. All we can do is this. Unless a miracle happens, our Family will be destroyed.»

«A miracle must happen. Just like the patriarch always did.»

«You stay waiting at Storm Castle. There’s a high probability they will start an attack if we refuse.»

«What if they don’t attack and just accelerate the manipulation of history?»

«We’ll attack them first. Before we turn into monsters, we should fight while we still have our reason. The only fortunate thing is that, right now, it seems Elona Zipple can’t move.»

If Elona were in perfect condition, there would be no reason for Zipple to remain passive.

Aside from Temar and Murakan, the only entity among the Runcandel who could engage in ‘combat’ was only Sarah.

However, Sarah’s body and mind were devastated by consecutive battles and the manipulation of history.

Right now, even Sarah couldn’t face Elona.

Even in the time when she could fight a little, she could engage in combat, but victory was absolutely impossible.

If all the Ten Great Knights were to gather, they still couldn’t defeat Elona.

Zipple was well aware of that fact.

However, the reason they didn’t send Elona must have been because something was clearly wrong with her.

The manipulation of history that turned Temar and the Ten Great Knights into wraiths.

At its core was, undoubtedly, Elona, and she was in a state of exhaustion as Diana had predicted.

«I’ll return to the Garden of Swords immediately and inform the members about this. I’ll also try to find someone to take your place in subduing the patriarch’s rage. Since he’s weakened, you don’t have to deal with the patriarch directly.»

«Understood, Diana.»

Diana quickly returned to the Garden of Swords.

On her way back, she also prepared a response to send to Zipple.

‘We have no intention of accepting those despicable conditions, so let’s stand together until the end.’

«Kean, was there any news from the head maid while I was out?»

«None. Where the hell did she go…? She should be safe.»

«Mm, I think Lueth escaped.»

It was Lokia’s voice.

Revealing himself in the dark hallway, Diana narrowed her eyes.

«Lokia, be careful with your words. You not only carelessly mentioned the head maid’s name, but you also talk about her escaping.»

«Oh, you’re being strict again. Why would she want to escape? If she wants to fulfill her promise to Solderet, then escaping might be the best option for her, right? She’s from a race that can live eternally, unlike us.»

«Even if the Family has weakened, it doesn’t mean the law has collapsed. Stop the blasphemy, it’s your final warning.»

«Yes, yes, it’s scary, scary. But my words aren’t incorrect, are they? The head maid might have judged it.»

«If so, it’s the head maid’s will, and it must be the right decision. We don’t need to figure everything out. We just need to do our part.»

«Well, the head maid isn’t the type to betray us. If she had any intention of betrayal, she would have had many better opportunities. How many tempting offers did Zipple make to the head maid and the fairies? The head maid rejected them without hesitation.»

«You know that, so why did you utter such annoying words?»

«Diana, do you think this world is fair?»

«What?»

«That’s right. In this world, if we were to compare, we are the ones who pursue justice and liberation, but we can’t help but suffer more compared to Zipple, who manipulates history and commits evil to become the ruler of the world. Is that truly fair?»

«No one forced us to fight Zipple. Neither the patriarch nor anyone else. We simply couldn’t stand idly by watching what those bastards were doing, so we decided to fight. It’s not something we did expecting a reward, so it’s natural that it’s painful.»

«You’re so optimistic, Diana. Not just you, but everyone else. Ah, I should exclude one or two… like Bale. He doesn’t have such a big heart.»

«I hope that one or two doesn’t include you, Lokia.»

«I have no intention of betraying or escaping. In fact, if Zipple had accepted our surrender immediately, I might have considered escaping. As you know, I’ve inflicted too much suffering on Zipple’s Purebloods, and they hold a grudge against me. Even if Runcandel and Zipple became one Family, there would be no place for me.»

«Then, that’s fortunate.»

After that, Diana and Lokia made plans on how to initiate their final fight against Zipple.

Of course, they couldn’t expect any extraordinary twists.

They could only think of ways to maintain their pride and face their end.

«Alright, I need to go find Padler.»

«Padler?»

Since the destruction of Idal, Padler had become a revenant, threatening Runcandel.

He didn’t attack helpless civilians and ordinary knights, but all the remaining Ten Great Knights were his targets, including Sarah.

Padler believed that the destruction of Idal wasn’t solely Temar’s doing.

He thought that the Family had betrayed him first, and Temar and the Ten Great Knights followed to destroy Idal.

Like them, he was also becoming a phantom of the manipulation of history.

«Right. It’s the final resistance, and having Padler nearby will cause us great damage even before we start fighting. Just as Murakan sent his companions, I should do the same. After all, we’ll meet again somewhere even if we die. I won’t regret it as much as Murakan does. This is also for Padler’s sake.»

«Whoa.»

«I’ll leave immediately. If that damn god of the patriarch shows up, let me know. Even when our companions are forced to kill each other, he doesn’t do anything to help. If he has the power to create a barrier for the patriarch, he should at least protect those who remain.»

Thus, Runcandel began its final resistance.

It was a desperate fight with no true hope, and the results were as expected.

They achieved some small victories only because Elona couldn’t participate, but there were no changes in the overall situation, which was already tilted against them.

Murakan opened his eyes again amidst such a war.

This time, he woke up after a month.

Beside him was Diana, lying on the hospital bed.

«Diana… Why are you so hurt?»

«I was fighting Zipple. Fortunately, it’s treatable.»

«Ah… I see. My head is confused, and I don’t know what to say.»

Murakan soon fell back asleep, and this time, when he woke up, there was no one in sight.

The silence quickly triggered Murakan’s painful memories.

As he screamed and clenched his fists, the passing servants rushed into the room.

In Murakan’s eyes, they looked like the companions he had killed.

His shattered mind couldn’t accept reality.

However, after that day, Murakan remained awake for several days and months without falling into sleep.

He just sat in a chair, staring blankly at the sky, but that alone was a great comfort to the members of Runcandel.

During the last few days, a sudden glimmer of hope had emerged amidst the war.

«Murakan, how are you feeling today?»

Sylderay sat beside Murakan and asked.

«Cold coffee…»

«Have you completely forgotten how to speak? I heard from the servants that sometimes you say something that sounds like words. I haven’t had a chance to hear it because I’ve been busy killing those Zipple bastards.»

«Ooh.»

«Yesterday, I found out that Elona’s condition is much worse than we expected. So, if you come back, we might have a chance. If, if it’s possible. If Solderet can fix your heart and you can regain your sanity… we might actually have a chance to turn the tide.»

Murakan looked at the sky, not understanding Sylderay’s words.

Sylderay wasn’t disappointed and instead put an arm around Murakan’s shoulder.

«If Elona can’t advance, we’ll have plenty of time to spare. Lately, the transformation into wraiths has noticeably decreased. Those crazy bastards, the main reason Zipple was able to gain an advantage over us was Elona. But now, as the war nears its end, they’re rejecting her out of fear.»

«Ah.»

«Anyway, I bought some fruits you like today. The cooks will make pastries soon, so eat and gather your strength.»

«Sylderay!»

Suddenly, Diana’s voice was heard.

She sounded anxious but also joyful.

Sylderay met her gaze, feeling that good news was coming.

«Diana, what’s going on?»

«We received a message from Storm Castle. The patriarch… briefly regained consciousness and left a mandate!»