N/T: Translation made by our friend 'Irving'. A big round of applause for him :)
C 312
The moment Raon saw Derus Robert, he heard the sound of his heart pounding. It was a massive beat that resonated through his entire body, like the rhythmic drumming of dozens of people.
Squish.
Raon bit down hard on the flesh of his inner cheek. The taste of blood, like licking iron, spread in her mouth.
"Ugh..."
Even though he felt intense pain, his head didn't grow hot. His mind burned fiercely, and strength surged into his hands and feet.
"I have to endure. I have to endure no matter what."
Derus Robert was more suspicious and cautious than anyone he knew. If he showed even a hint of fear or anger, it would cause him a headache.
'Please, please.'
Luckily, there was a considerable distance between him and Derus. he needed to regain his composure before he got any closer.
'Dammit!'
he had tried to suppress his emotions forcibly, but they rebounded even stronger, like rubber with elasticity.
-What are you doing right now?
Wrath approached him from the side and furrowed his brow.
-Why are you looking at that direction and getting so angry?
"Ugh..."
he had no room to spare for Wrath. he focused solely on suppressing his emotions.
-Hmm, now that I think about it, this anger is similar to when you called the King...
"Ah!"
Seeing Wraht's smirk, memories of the first time he met him flahed before her eyes.
"The ring of fire!"
Taking a short exhale, Raon activated the ring of fire.
Woooong!
The seven rings resonated, quelling the boiling emotions.
The waves of anger that had dyed his mind red began to recede as if swept away by a cool blue tide.
"Even forgetting about the ring of fire..."
His mind had completely snapped.
The fact that he had forgotten to use the ring of fire in such a state of anger showed how much his resolve to seek revenge against him had intensified.
"Or is it natural not to regain your composure?"
Even after twenty years, the image of Derus Robert beheading him was still vivid in his mind.
His collapsing body, Derus's cold gaze as if looking at filthy insects, and even the upside-down moon. The memory of what he had seen at his death was still firmly etched in her mind.
Tossing aside someone's life as if it were a toy and disposing of enemies once they became useless—it was an impossible task for anyone to maintain their rationality after witnessing such actions.
Huff.
Raon breathed slowly, using the ring of fire with utmost devotion. Rather than elevating his spirit like in battle, he concealed everything, just as he would hide his body in the shadows. he suppressed all his energy so that no more power than necessary would be revealed.
"You, something seems off about you today."
Wrath approached and frowned, questioning his expression.
"It's nothing."
he smiled at Wrath and shook his head.
"I'm glad you're here, Wrath."
Thanks to the cotton candy telling him about Derus Robert's presence and even hinting at the ring of fire, he was able to halt the explosion of her emotions before facing him directly.
To help him even at a time like this, Wrath's generous assistance seemed to extend even within the Owen Kingdom.
"Oh, even the Sky Sword Saint has arrived."
Greer smiled while looking at Derus approaching.
'Sky Sword Saint. Right. That damned alias of his.'
"Sky Sword Saint" meant a swordsman who reached the heavens with his blade.
If he truly knew what kind of person Derus was, instead of calling him Sky Sword Saint, he would probably call him tWrathh. Yet, he possessed a grandiose title that exceeded anyone's.
Raon stared at Derus, who was almost within reach, and swallowed a dry gulp.
If Derus is the person he knows, he might have sensed his recently heightened emotions. He made sure to calm his mind again to avoid getting flustered by any questions that might come his way.
"Greetings, Sky Sword Saint!"
Prince Greer walked towards Derus, kneeling on one knee in front of him. It was a level of courtesy similar to when he greeted Glenn.
"Greetings, Sky Sword Saint."
Sheryl and Rimmer didn't kneel, only bowing their heads. Raon feigned surprise and followed suit, bowing his head alongside the two.
"So, the heroes of Owen and Zieghart are here. It's been a long time since we've met."
Derus smiled softly, nodding his head. He addressed both Prince Greer and the Zieghart swordsmen with respectful language, despite being considerably older and holding a higher status.
'It's this aspect that's repulsive.'
It was sickening how he, someone who dealt with assassins and slaves, always used polite language even though he held an air of dignity in front of everyone.
"It seems we cannot avoid meeting with the Destructive King of the north and the Silent Swordmaster."
Derus laughed softly. He met the gaze of Prince Greer, who was about to head to the audience hall.
"Golden-Eyed. Could it be you...?"
"I am Raon Zieghart."
He inclined his head, gripping his churning insides tightly as if he might vomit.
"Secret Blade Oath!" (One of Raon's nicknames I forgot the correct nicknames by reaperscans)
Derus clapped his hands and nodded enthusiastically.
"I've certainly heard of the name Secret Blade Oath. Rumors of a new hero from the North have been quite the buzz."
"You flatter me."
"Seeing you in person, I can tell those rumors weren't unfounded. Truly remarkable achievements. It's clear you stand above your peers. But..."
His blue eyes shimmered with a faint black hue.
'This Wrathcal…'
While others might not understand, I can. That look meant something was amiss.
"You seemed a bit off earlier. Did something happen?"
Along with his words, Derus's ominous gaze descended, squeezing Raon's heart as if it might explode.
'As expected, he knew.'
Though his emotional outburst had been brief, Derus hadn't missed that fleeting moment. He was looking at him with eyes filled with suspicion.
'At least I'm relieved.'
It was fortunate he had been prepared.
"No, nothing happened. It's just..."
"Just?"
"When I met the King, the Silent Sword earlier, his determination felt different from Lord Glenn. The intensity was so sharp it felt like it could pierce through my heart, and I found myself getting tense, unknowingly stirred by emotions."
"Ah! To think you could sense the aura of those who hold the Unchallenged Bond, the Blade and the Mirror, to such an extent. You're truly impressive."
Derus let out an admiring sigh.
"Not at all. It's thanks to both of them revealing their true selves."
Raon smiled, meeting Derus's gaze. His face smiled, but hid eyes didn't. Deep within his gaze, he caught a fleeting glint.
While others might not know, having been under his influence, he couldn't be deceived. That gaze of his carried something unsettling, and it wasn't just about this incident.
'Is he indeed targeting me?'
Before the relief of having eased his suspicions could settle in, a sense of danger gripped his mind again.
'Well, I did disrupt his plans.'
Since he had unceremoniously shattered Derus's long-standing plans regarding the house Yonaan, it was understandable that he would react like this.
'He must want to kill me.'
Though he was smiling now, Derus would likely twist his neck at this very moment.
'Or perhaps it's already in progress, it was possible that the scheme against him was already in motion.'
"Our youngest is a fervent fan of the Secret Blade Oath. I hope you'll have a light conversation with him at the banquet."
Derus brought a young boy forward. Silver-haired with blue eyes, resembling Derus, yet his eyes were filled with a passionate innocence.
"Le-Lephon Robert!"
He was someone he hadn't seen in her past life. Judging by his age, he seemed to be born after he died.
'Truly impressive.'
Concealing his lively emotions, he smiled gently, introducing his son with the demeanor of a kind father.
This was the attitude he absolutely needed to learn—after almost ruining everything with his outburst moments ago.
"I am Raon Zieghart."
As Raon smiled faintly and lowered his head, Lephon's face flushed red.
"Um, um! I, I, heard you during the battle that saved the Saint in Sehamp from the beginning. No, from the battle where you saved the soldiers...!"
"Lephon. Let's save the conversation with Raon for later. For now, greet the Swordmaster."
"Ah, yes!"
"See you later."
Derus took the trembling Lephon and moved forward.
Behind the two, a young man with a resemblance to Derus subtly raised an eyebrow. His eyes and the corners of his lips held a mocking smile.
'So, he's here too.'
He knew. It was Derus's third son and the current occupant of a seat among the Twelve stars of the continent, Cardis Robert.
After passing by the Robert Swordsmen, Raon left the royal city.
"Please follow me this way. I'll introduce you to the pride of Owen Castle, the Swordsmanship Exhibition." (Sword tomb)
Prince Greer led the Zieghart party with a wide smile.
Following along, Raon clenched his fist. Blood dripped from his torn skin where his nails had dug in.
'I'm relieved.'
Turning back, he smiled.
"Because my thirst for revenge hasn't faded. And because you are standing at a higher place than you were twenty years ago."
He had worried that Derus might retire or die, but it had been a futile concern. He had become even stronger, standing at a higher position.
"Just a little longer."
Raon smiled as she wiped her bloodied hand, her fingers stained.
"I'll make you fall from the sky to the ground."
* * *
Roenn narrowed his eyes as he watched Glenn enjoy the bittersweet aroma of the tea.
"He seems to be in quite a good mood."
Glenn was sipping the tea expressionlessly, but deep down, he didn't know what to do with his happiness.
"That's all because of..."
It was all thanks to Prince Greer, who had guided them to King Leckros and the royal city on the opposite side.
"I used to think the children just needed to grow up healthy, but after witnessing the fervor of the youth today, my thoughts have somewhat changed."
Leckros gently passed his cup of tea, smiling.
"At 19 years old, surpassing Intermediate Master-level martial skills. Normally, there's a significant gap between each master level, but that child wouldn't fall behind even against an Advanced Master, I presume."
He blew a short puff of air, as if amazed.
"How did you manage to raise such a child? Could you share the secret with us?"
Listening to King Leckros' words, Roan smiled lightly.
'Thanks to this praise.'
With even Owen Kingdom's prince praising him, and even King Leckros praising Raon, Glenn's spirits were already soaring.
Seeing his trembling hands, it seemed like he was about to burst into laughter soon.
"Well, that was all up to the child. I didn't really do much."
Glenn covered his mouth with his hand and cleared his throat, lowering his hand. It was a nonchalant gesture, as if it was nothing much, but from behind, a deep well of emotions was welling up around his lips.
'It's probably inevitable.'
Due to the side effect of forcibly hiding emotions in front of his grandson, Glenn couldn't conceal his expressions in front of others.
Whenever he heard Raon's praise, he would clear his throat and raise his chin in a gesture that almost seemed like a habit.
'You can be honest now.'
As Rimmer suggested, it would be good to open up his heart and reveal his grandson's identity, but since he had been the closest to Glenn, he understood his thoughts.
'But I still want to see the three of them together.'
He thought there was no lingering attachment since they achieved everything they aimed for, but he still wanted to see Glenn, Raon, and Sylvia eating and laughing together.
As Roenn looked at Glenn and Raon smiling at each other, he was picturing them in his mind when the chamberlain entered the reception room.
"Your Highness, the head of the southern house Robert and the Robert family have arrived."
"So they arrived sooner than expected."
King Leckros stood up and adjusted his appetite.
"It seems like we might need one more seat, would that be alright with you?"
"It doesn't matter."
Glenn nodded his head as if to say he could do whatever he wanted.
"Well then, please wait a moment."
The king smiled lightly and left the reception room.
"Derus Robert..."
Roenn slightly pursed his lips as he looked at the door of the reception room.
"His Highness mentioned before that in terms of talent, he's unmatched. By now, he must have improved to a point where he's unrecognizable."
The head of the southern house Robert was the youngest leader of the current Six Kings. He might be young and weak(weak???), but Glenn held him in the highest regard.
"That's right."
Glenn put down his empty cup and nodded slowly.
"But it seems like my expectations were slightly off."
"What? What do you mean...?"
"His talents exceeded my expectations."
He turned to look at the slowly opening door of the reception room. He smiled coldly as he saw Derus Robert, who was smiling.
* * *
Contrary to its gloomy meaning of a tomb for swords, the Sword tomb was a bright place.
The blue trees radiated vibrant life, and various pieces of swords created an elegant atmosphere. Rather than a tomb, it seemed like a well-tended garden.
"Ah..."
Raon let out an exclamation as he looked at the neatly trimmed bushes, shaped like swords.
'This wasn't made normally.'
This wasn't created by a gardener using ordinary garden shears. The spirit of a training sword could be felt at the tips of the bushes. This was undoubtedly created by wielding a real sword to shape the plants.
"It's impressive."
As Raon gazed at the thicket of swords and let out a sigh, Wrath nudged his head.
Who was that guy earlier?
"What?"
I asked what's the connection between that casually dressed guy and you.
Wrath's gaze turned icy, gleaming with a bluish hue, as if melting frost.
The surge of anger you invoked was reminiscent of when you called the King for the first time. Is he the target of your anger?
"Um..."
Now's not the time to be sharp.
Wrath had a keen sense as sharp as when he felt the emotion of anger. But I can't tell him.
Raon made up his mind and nodded slightly.
"He's an enemy."
He admitted honestly, as there was no way to deceive Wrath that far.
I thought so. But something seems strange.
Wrath narrowed his eyes, suspicion in his gaze.
You were seeing that guy for the first time, right? Moreover, you weren't much younger back then. What grudge did you hold against him?
"...."
Tell me.
"Uh, food."
Since nothing else came to mind even after thinking hard, Raon blurted out the most acceptable word that Wrath might let slide.
Food?
"When we were kids, he took my, my last portion of stew. As you know, at that time, I was being treated as nonexistent in the family, so I didn't really understand."
Raon bit his lip.
'He wouldn't buy that, would he?'
It's crazy even when I think about it.
Even if Wrath calls me an idiot, this goes a bit overboard. Saying it out loud made him want to laugh foolishly.
Argh, this little...!
He had half-expected it, and it was as he thought. Judging by the shape of his mouth, he was about to explode in anger.
If it was something like that, shouldn't you have said it sooner?
"Huh?"
When you were young, you had a strong attachment to food, especially. Moreover, it was the last portion! It's forgivable that his head didn't get smashed in!
"...."
Raon lowered his eyes slowly. Wrath was incredibly naive when it came to food. He felt grateful, yet sad.
If you had told me sooner, the King would have helped you!
"...Is that so."
A grudge about food. And a grudge about that last portion, no less. Even if that guy is rarely strong among humans, you must exact your revenge!
Wrath murmured that he would help, and that Raon must repay that grudge. It was like a bonus to his encouragement.
"Ha..."
Looking at Wrath, who was trembling with a clenched fist, Raon let out a deflated chuckle.
'I don't know whether to thank him or...'
Even though Wrath would help even if I didn't ask, it was no different from gaining a treasure trove. But to extract his help in this way, life was truly unpredictable.
Ugh. The King is absolutely furious. If someone dared to snatch the last mint chocolate ice cream in front of the King, they would've shattered their skull and frozen every single cell in their body.
"Y-yes..."
Feeling both thankful and a bit embarrassed, I'll definitely make sure to fill Wrath's belly well at the banquet tonight.
Raon followed the group with his head slightly down. As he walked along the white path of swords, he spotted a sword stuck into the ground. Its blade had rusted over from being ownerless for quite some time, and the scabbard was torn apart.
"Hmm?"
It wasn't just one sword. Swords of various kinds were stuck all around, weathered by time.
There were swords that still retained their shine, as well as worn-out basic swords.
"This is..."
"This is the true Sword Memorial."
The Third Prince turned around and wore a broad smile.
"The swords stuck here are the weapons of the heroes who fought for Owen Kingdom. Whether they were Grandmasters or soldiers who couldn't wield aura, anyone who fought under Owen Kingdom's banner can place their sword here."
His face was brimming with pride, more than ever before. It was a look filled with hopeful anticipation that one day his sword might be placed here too.
Snap.
Raon tightly bit down on his incisor. Upon hearing the Third Prince's words, memories from his past life flashed like a comic strip.
He had dedicated his life for Robert, but it was merely a pitiable existence, a bitter and cruel lifetime cooked in a cauldron.
"It's different."
Even the soldiers differed greatly from the Owen Kingdom and Robert families, who even left behind their names. His suppressed anger began to boil up once again.
"It's a bit early, but I must begin."
Begin what?
"Revenge."
Since I can't target him immediately, I'll need to slowly wear him down, starting with those around him.
"The beginning will be..."
Raon let out a sardonic laugh as he recalled Cardis Robert who had passed by, and he raised his lips in a twisted smile.
