Chapter 328

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After meeting Tellot, Jin stayed indoors for a while and focused only on his missions.

Through teleportation gates, he traveled around the world, engaging in large and small battles against Zipfel and mediating conflicts between different factions. He rescued hostages, assassinated enemies, and even destroyed facilities.

Within a month, Jin completed a staggering seven missions.

While there were no missions of the highest difficulty level, like Barton Vicena killing mission, accomplishing seven tasks without rest was exhausting, and he couldn't help but feel fatigued.

Naturally, Jin succeeded in all the missions. In five of them, he even achieved additional objectives.

The reason Jin was so enthusiastic about performing missions to this extent was because his punishment of three years of no outdoor activities was still in the "suspended" stage.

Tellot was making efforts, but it was impossible to completely remove the punishment in a short period of time.

In particular, Jorden still held a grudge about his punishment being suspended and would bring up the subject again if Jin made even a slight mistake.

Chomp, chomp, gulp.

"It feels like I've become a delinquent student at the academy, doing volunteer work on campus. Achieving this level of success in just a month, even the Elders' Council will have to look at me differently."

Jin said as he swallowed the meat he was chewing.

"By the way, it reminds me of the old days. It's been almost 10 years since I used to eat together with you and other classmates. The Guardian Knight, Bellop. You haven't forgotten that I always took care of the meat for you back then, right?"

"If I had known you would be courteous about what happened almost ten years ago, I would have taken less, my Lord."

Jin was sitting on the floor of the empty cadet training ground, having a meal with Bellop. It was a diet full of meat, just like in their cadet days.

A smile appeared on Bellop's face as he looked at the meat on the plate.

Bellop Schmitz had returned from the eastern mountainous region of the Mittel Kingdom just a few days ago.

In the end, Kuzan and Yulian drove West Vermont's Mad Jack Glow, the apostate knight of the Vankela, Hwirok into the eastern mountains. Bellop managed to capture them and secured the justification for his return.

Naturally, as soon as he returned, he sought out Jin and pledged his loyalty, and they even carried out missions together until yesterday.

"Since some wanted people suddenly infiltrated the mountain range, at first, I thought it was someone from your hostile forces trying to kill me. But I never imagined that lord had sent those terrible criminals...."

Bellop shivered as he recalled the battle in the mountains.

That was the longest, most intense, and loneliest fight of Bellop's life. Chasing, fleeing, seizing opportunities, ambushing, being ambushed, running out of supplies... He surpassed several treacherous mountains all the way to exhaustion, without any support.

"Haha, you must have felt quite betrayed."

"It was an experience I never want to go through again. However, thanks to that, I achieved a significant advancement. Not just in swordsmanship, but also physically and mentally."

"You seem to have become much stronger."

Bellop, excluding Jin, had always been the person with the highest potential during their cadet days. With that potential, he set his goal to become Jin's knight and devoted himself every day, even teetering on the edge of life and death several times. So his growth was only natural.

"By the way, I suddenly feel grateful that I met you back in our cadet days, my lord."

"Why are you suddenly bringing this up after talking about betrayal and feeling awkward?"

"When did I do that? I was just a little flustered, that's all. Anyway, I just have that thought. If I hadn't met lord, my life would have been very unhappy."

"Why do you think that way?"

"During our cadet days, lord helped me overcome my fear. Even after lord became a reserve flagbearer, even now. I sometimes think about that day."

-Just now, you probably realized it too, but you are weaker than me. And you're kinder than me. I like that about you. But if you only do good things, you won't survive in this hell.

Bellop recalled the conversation Jin had with him during their cadet days. Jin also remembered the same memories, and for some reason, it made his face burn hot.

"Thanks to that moment, I was able to become a Knight of Runcandel. I wouldn't have been able to endure without lord. Perhaps, this is an exaggeration, but I feel like one day, overwhelmed by suffering, I would have given up on life."

"You're saying unnecessary things. Even if it wasn't me, you would have done well enough."

In his previous life, he didn't do well enough.

Before regression, Bellop was exiled from Runcandel, then went to Hairan and trained before becoming Vermont's knight.

Following the orders of the imperial family, he repeatedly committed unwanted massacres and ended his unhappy life by his own hand.

As those memories resurfaced, Jin, who had nurtured him so well, felt even more proud.

"My lord, you have no idea how shocked everyone was by your actions during that duel. It still comes up in conversations whenever our classmates gather."

"Is that so?"

"But the most shocking moment was when the lord single-handedly rescued Mesa. When lord went alone to the land of the beastmen and brought back Mesa, everyone made an oath in their hearts. They swore allegiance only to you."

Looking back, the ill-fated connection with Kinzelo began from that moment.

'At that time, I just thought Kinzelo was a group of crazy terrorists.'

Now, they were such a huge force that even Zipfel hesitated to engage in a full-scale battle. Moreover, the leader's true identity was still highly likely to be a demon.

'Well, Kinzelo is quite concerning, indeed. I should visit Ivelianos family soon and keep an eye on their movements.'

For the time being, there seemed to be no room for such actions. In fact, he was still engrossed in his duties, unable to even visit the third tomb revealed by Olmango.

Jin had called Bellop precisely to resolve that issue.

"I haven't heard flattery like this in a long time. Where did that immature brat from back then go? Did you grease your tongue with oil or something?"

"If the lord wishes, I can continue."

"No, that's enough. But speaking of which, Bellop, there's something I need you to do."

"Please tell me anything."

"From today until I return, you are Jin Runcandel."

"What?"

"You know about the mission departing tomorrow, right?"

"You mean, you...? The mission to rescue the Count of the Ekan Kingdom who was kidnapped by mercenaries?"

"Yes. But now it's not my mission anymore, it's yours. I want you to play the role of Jin Runcandel for a while."

"Are you serious?"

"Well, the count will be wearing a blindfold anyway. Even if someone tries to rescue him, they won't be able to recognize you accurately. Rescue him, pretend to be me for a while, and then hand him over to the Ekan defense force."

"Unbelievable."

"Don't tell me you're not confident in a rescue mission?"

"No, it's not that. How can I pretend to be you, my lord?"

"Why not? The hostage will have his eyes covered, and you'll be wearing a mask. Plus, I've arranged for a fake Sigmund. Just say what you need, and I'll take care of it."

While already completing seven missions, Jin had made a detour to the Picon Minche and requested a fake Sigmund from the disguise.

It was just a sword with no special functions, but it looked exactly the same on the surface.

Of course, he couldn't perfectly replicate Sigmund's uniquely sharp and pale glow, but he could achieve a similar color.

Furthermore, as the counterfeit of Sigmund was also an item made by the god of blacksmith's divine craftsmanship, it could only be a renowned sword in its own right.

"It should be completed by now. And try putting this on."

Jin took off his flagbearer's coat and handed it to Bellop.

Startled, Bellop looked around anxiously. Although there was no one around to see them in the training ground, he considered it a sensitive matter.

"Young master, I mean, Lord. Are you serious? This is the flagbearer's coat. Only the Runcandel's flagbearer can wear this!"

"It's just a piece of clothing. Try it on to see if it fits."

"My lord!"

"It's an order. Bellop, you've grown bold after having a big head."

It was a joke, but Bellop lowered his head with a serious expression.

"No, I will try it on."

"Oh, luckily it fits well. I'll give you hair dye so you can darken your hair."

"Are you sure about this?"

"If by any chance your disguise is exposed and it becomes a problem within the clan, I'll make sure you're not harmed. Don't worry about it."

"That's not what I meant. Am I trying to obstruct my lord's will because I'm afraid for my safety?"

"Never mind then. This is the way you can assist me. You're the best choice. The most trustworthy, with a similar build to mine, and the best swordsman among my knights. There are enough elements for people who don't know you well to mistake you for me. I'd like to send Mesa, but there is a gender problem in her case."

"The gap between me and my lord's battle prowess is much wider than my lord think. I would easily be exposed."

"That's why I have to face the strong ones myself. As you said, they will recognize you."

"My lord, you are not planning to make me impersonate you not only this time but in the future as well, right?"

"Unfortunately, your trust is misplaced. You pay the price for eating meat. I have plenty of work outside the clan too, you know. Can you handle it?"

Sigh.

Bellop let out a sigh.

Then, as if determined, he responded.

"From today, whenever I have free time, I will seek out extreme actors and practice acting. This is also my lord's command, so I have an obligation to do it perfectly."

"Excellent mindset. And if by any chance the Black Sword Association catches up with us, even if the mission fails, make sure you escape without being detected. If you're caught by the chief of the Black Sword Association, it's the end for both of us."

"My lord, just a minute ago you said if my disguise gets exposed, you would somehow ensure that I escape unharmed."

"Did I say such a thing?"

"Yes, my lord always engages in such adventures."

"Since the results have always been good, there was no need to change."

"Sometimes I worry, and all of our comrades feel anxious, my lord."

Adorable guys.

Jin chuckled and lightly tapped Bellop's shoulder.

"When all our other comrades pass the Guardian Knight test, let's gather together. Have a drink and share some words."

"What words do you have to share?"

"I'll tell you when the time comes."

He couldn't tell the youngest division, who would come running with excitement after passing the test, that another hellish training awaited them.

Except for Bellop, most of the youngest division members were at the late 6-star or early 7-star level, making it difficult to use their full strength immediately.

"But, my lord, where do you plan to go while sending me on the mission?"

"I'm going to visit my ancestor."