Swordmaster's Youngest Son

Chapter 694

Chapter 694

"Joshua? I didn't expect that jerk to show up here."

Jin narrowed his eyes.

When the chaos subspace unfolded, and he heard Joshua's voice, Jin felt more annoyance than danger.

It was like having a cockroach suddenly jump out from under your feet: not threatening, but incredibly disgusting, making you grit your teeth.

"It’s been a while, though I can’t say I’m particularly happy to see you. Why is someone who should be rotting in an underground prison here?"

[You’re asking the obvious. Isn’t it because I received Mother’s pardon? You probably knew I was released.]

Jin laughed at his words.

"Pardon... Rosa isn’t someone so forgiving.

You still don’t understand Rosa. You don’t receive forgiveness from that woman—you earn her recognition. Tell me, Joshua, how was life in prison? Since Rosa got you out, it must mean you had some growth."

Shak!

Somewhere, Yona’s sword appeared and disappeared, slicing through Owal’s sleeve.

Yona kept flitting around the three of them like a ghost, extending her sword.

[Yes, it was meaningful. I learned a lot thanks to you.]

"Oh, really? You seem even dumber to me."

[You’re still speaking harshly, little brother.]

"I’ve never had a brother like you."

[You can’t deny we share the same blood. We were born on the same battleship, but our positions are different, right?]

Hedo and Owl (Owal) sensed Jin losing his composure as soon as Joshua appeared.

However, instead of feeling anxious, they were relieved.

A man of that level wouldn’t let emotions cloud his judgment, so to Jin, the newly arrived second Flagbearer was nothing more than a cautious target.

"Hah... Joshua, I never imagined you appearing like this."

[What did you imagine then?]

"If you’re asking if I expected you to rot in that underground prison, then yes, of course. I thought it would be better for you to end your miserable existence there..."

[But that wish didn’t come true.]

"Don’t interrupt, Joshua. This is the last time I’ll consider you human and have a conversation with you. So listen carefully, you piece of trash."

Jin stared at a point in the curtain as if he was about to tear it apart.

"On one hand, I was hoping that you would achieve true enlightenment there and return to challenge me. I wanted you to break free from Rosa’s grip and finally become a worthy opponent. I felt the same way, and so did Elder Brother Dyfus. Why? Why do you think that is?"

[If that was truly your desire, then it has already been fulfilled. Now I’m standing before you.]

"You’re standing before me?"

Jin smiled and looked around.

"Where on earth are you? Can you really say you’re standing before me, hiding like mold behind Elder Sister Yona while only your voice is present? I don’t know if you’re proud of what you learned in prison and prattling on about it, but you’re still the same as always. You’re still the same Joshua!" ꭆÀ

Chwang!

Hedo blocked Yona’s sword as it swung down toward Jin. Jin didn’t even glance away.

"I wouldn’t care if Elder Brother Dyfus and I tore you to pieces and tossed you out onto the street, but I hoped you would return stronger. But it was pointless. To think that the mortal enemy who conspired against us ended up so empty-handed? And not by my hand, but by a word from Rosa. Why the hell did we fight so hard against you?"

At that moment, Joshua looked back and forth between Jin and the dead Yona with a puzzled expression.

According to Joshua’s thinking, Jin should never kill the Yonas.

[Are you also walking the path of domination? Killing Yonas without hesitation.]

"You speak as if you’re walking a wicked path like Rosa. Of course, you’re not walking the path of evil, much less of domination; it’s just a miscellaneous path. Do you think I’m going to kill Elder Sister Yona? I killed her because she was a fake."

Jin’s ability to distinguish between the real and the fake in an instant wasn’t part of Joshua’s calculations.

In fact, Joshua hadn’t come today with the intention of eliminating Jin.

He had come to witness Jin’s desperate struggle, which would force him to kill all the Yonas to survive, plunging him into hatred and despair.

He believed that this immense despair, characteristic of a special existence like Jin, was the crucial element Rosa needed most at that moment.

That’s why Joshua trembled with a sudden sense of suffocation. He felt the anxiety of impending failure, the fear of disappointing his mother once again.

Of course, Jin saw through Joshua’s inner turmoil as clearly as the palm of his hand. However, it brought him no joy, just as one wouldn’t feel a sense of victory over a worm.

"Now that I think about it, you were also involved with Airan Vermont and tried to assassinate Dante. I knew about it in advance, which led to your failure then, and the same now. Looking back, you’ve never defeated me."

[But I see both you and Airan Vermont are still alive.]

Jin was reading the flow of chaos indicating the opening of a dimensional portal.

His intention was to follow that flow and find the hidden space where Joshua was hiding.

"Are you proud of that? You’re pretty well hidden, seems like it’s outside the forest. If you want to end this disgraceful act, stay there. I’ll come when I’m done here."

Of course, Jin didn’t expect Joshua to obediently wait for his arrival.

In any case, cleaning up the remaining six fakes, the real Yona, and the core monsters would take considerable time.

The issue wasn’t just getting rid of everyone except the real Yona.

They had to be completely eliminated to prevent casualties if they managed to escape or cause damage to the surroundings.

So Jin thought about sending someone else after Joshua.

Crack!

Suddenly, a crack split the top of the barrier, and a golden aura pierced through. It was Bale, tearing through the barrier from the outside.

[Ah-oh! I’m so annoyed. Hey, Jin, can’t I just finish off these things? Except for your sisters.]

"You have other things to do, Bale."

[But can’t I deal with these things? It would help relieve some stress.]

"No. Instead, I’ll give you someone to kill. Get out of the forest and find Joshua."

[Who’s that?]

"The one who created this barrier. He should be somewhere around twelve o'clock outside the forest. Tear him apart as many times as necessary, even if he can regenerate or resurrect. It should be a decent challenge, right?"

As Bale hesitated, Hedo spoke up.

"Why hesitate, Bale? Go now before he can escape."

[Tch... Fine, I got it.]

Once Bale left, Jin fired a signal flare to gather the troops.

-