"How could this be?!"
"The youngest master chose that?"
Whispers and shocked exclamations spread through the hall among several knowledgeable members of the Runcandel family.
However, many others could not understand why their superiors were reacting so strongly to such an insignificant-looking object.
Meanwhile, Jay himself was equally stunned.
Because he was the only one who truly knew the history and significance of the object he had just chosen.
It was a silver pendant, simple in design, with a five-pointed cross engraved at its center.
A Quincy Cross.
In the world of Bleach, this cross served as the core tool used by Quincies to gather spiritual particles and create spirit weapons such as bows.
But what shocked Jay the most was something else.
"How do they know about it?"
He couldn't understand how members of the Runcandel family recognized the pendant.
Jay instinctively turned toward his father, hoping to read his reaction.
The moment their eyes met, Jay froze.
Cyron Runcandel's face was unusually grim.
The Patriarch slowly stood and spoke with a deep, authoritative voice that echoed throughout the hall.
"Silence."
The entire hall instantly fell quiet.
"This pendant is known as the Protector's Pendant."
"If a child of the Runcandel family chooses it during the Selection Ceremony…"
He paused briefly.
"…then that child must relinquish their right to compete as a future Flagbearer."
The hall fell into stunned silence.
Cyron continued.
"From this moment onward, Jay Runcandel forfeits his right to compete for the position of Patriarch."
When Jay heard those words, the worry he had been carrying instantly disappeared.
In fact, he felt relieved.
Although he had just lost the qualification to compete for the Patriarch's seat, he wasn't disappointed at all.
In truth, he had wanted to avoid that burden from the beginning.
Now the decision had been made for him.
And strangely enough…
He felt free.
Around the hall, the rest of the family members slowly began to understand why their elders had reacted so strongly earlier.
Many of them looked at Jay with pity.
After all, he had been disqualified before even becoming a Flagbearer.
But suddenly, Rosa stepped forward.
"But dear," she said with a pleading tone.
"He is still just a child."
"Can't you give him another opportunity?"
Hearing his mother's words, Jay felt a warm feeling rise inside his chest.
His determination to protect this family grew even stronger.
However, Cyron shook his head firmly.
"Rosa, you know that I do not bend the rules of this family."
"This law was established by the Protector himself."
"I cannot ignore it."
His voice was calm but completely resolute.
After a brief silence, Cyron spoke again.
"My decision is final."
"Send both children to Storm Castle."
With that, he turned and walked out of the hall.
One by one, the other family members followed him.
Watching his father leave, Jay understood something clearly.
This is why he is the Patriarch.
Cyron Runcandel did not allow emotions to interfere with the laws of the family.
And because of that, Jay's respect for him grew even stronger.
News about Jay being disqualified from competing for the Patriarch's position quickly spread throughout the mansion.
Some people were secretly pleased.
Others felt sympathy for him.
Many believed it was unfair that he had been denied the chance to prove himself.
But among everyone in the household, the person most affected by the news was Gilly, Jay's caretaker.
She felt conflicted.
On one hand, she was relieved.
Now Jay would not have to compete against his siblings in the brutal struggles of the Runcandel family.
But on the other hand, she felt it was unfair that he had been denied an opportunity.
However…
Jay himself was happier than anyone else.
Because according to family rules, the child who chose the pendant had to wear it from that very day onward.
Jay gently held the silver cross that now rested against his chest.
For some reason…
He had a strange feeling.
"This might be one of the conditions."
Perhaps wearing the pendant was the key to unlocking the power and knowledge given by the Soul King.
That Night
Late at night, while Jay was sleeping peacefully in his bed…
Something strange happened.
From the darkness of the room, a thin black chain slowly crawled across the floor.
It moved silently, almost like a living creature.
When the chain reached Jay's bed, it began wrapping around his small body.
But just as it was about to tighten—
Something unexpected happened.
A hand suddenly emerged from Jay's body.
The hand grabbed the black chain firmly…
And pulled it inside.
The chain disappeared into Jay's body as if it had been swallowed.
Surprisingly, Jay showed no reaction at all.
He continued sleeping peacefully.
However…
Someone else had witnessed the entire scene.
Jin Runcandel.
From his bed nearby, his sharp eyes were fixed on his twin brother.
"What was that?"
"That looked like a hand… but how could a hand appear from his body?"
Ever since he had been reborn into this world, Jin had already noticed something unusual.
In his previous life, he had never had a twin brother.
At first, he had been shocked.
But after thinking about it, he concluded that his own regression must have changed the timeline.
Now, in this new reality, he had a twin brother.
But tonight's event made one thing clear.
Jay was not ordinary.
Perhaps…
He was someone like Jin himself.
After all, Jin was the contractor of Solderet, the God of Shadows.
A being that countless magicians desperately wished to contract.
And now…
Watching the strange phenomenon surrounding Jay, Jin silently made a decision.
Even though Jay had already lost his right to compete for the Patriarch's position…
That did not mean he couldn't become a dangerous enemy in the future.
"I should keep an eye on him."
As Jin quietly reached this conclusion, Jay continued sleeping peacefully—completely unaware that his brother had already begun to view him with caution.