N/T: Translation made by our friend 'Irving'. A big round of applause for him :)
Chapter 436
Glenn's bragging continued until the red moon had moved by an inch.
"In the first place, the most important thing about alcohol is who you drink it with. Since I was the first person to have alcohol poured by Raon, it was simply delicious. It was like the elixir of the gods... "
"Wait a minute!"
Rimmer grabbed his temples and raised his head.
"All you've been talking about for the past 30 minutes is that Raon poured you a drink, right?"
"Nothing else?
"Yes. It can't be just that he poured you a drink."
Rimmer sighed, thinking that it was his only chance to spend time with his youngest daughter and grandson in annex building, and Glenn only came back with a single drink.
"Did he toast, serve food, engage in deep conversation, or anything else? There must have been more!"
"Is that not enough?"
Glenn tilted his head, wondering why he needed to do more when he had shared a drink.
"Ugh!"
Rimmer hit his forehead with the palm of his hand. Even though it hurt, he couldn't help but feel frustrated.
'What should I do? Is that really the same monster I used to follow?'
Glenn was still smiling with his cheeks flushed, as if he was in a good mood.
Why does the invincible swordsman, who exudes overwhelming presence even in front of the head of the Six Kings, become so small in front of his grandson?
"First of all, stop laughing for a moment please."
"I didn't laugh."
"Look in the mirror! The corners of your mouth are touching the ceiling!"
Rimmer pointed to the mirror hanging crookedly on the wall.
"Cough!"
Glen forced his dancing lips to settle as he looked at his reflection in the mirror.
"Anyway, you're just here after having a drink, right?"
"I also ate pizza. Yua gave it to me."
Glenn exclaimed that he didn't know she had a talent for cooking.
"No, come on!"
Rimmer reached out with an angry shout.
"That's enough! If you have another chance like this, don't just come back after getting a drink! Talk to Raon and Sylvia, and be friendly with them to get closer!"
Such opportunities wouldn't come easily, but with Yua around, who knew? He wanted to mend his relationship more solidly next time.
"Human relationships are similar to martial arts in some ways. If you don't step on the stairs calmly, problems will arise..."
"Then you'll die of old age! This is like going into a trance ten times in a row!"
Rimmer shouted angrily and pounded his bruised chest. He might have to be sick for a few more days, but he felt like he would die if he didn't say anything.
"Raon is also strangely clueless in terms of human relationships, so it's useless unless you say it directly!"
Raon is the best at understanding the enemy's psychology, but he is strangely clueless when it comes to family or friends.
It was only natural that the relationship didn't progress when a slow-witted grandfather met a clueless grandson.
"Hmm, I understand. I'll think about it."
Glenn nodded and said he would engage in more conversation next time if a similar situation arose.
"I learned some things today. Raon likes pineapple pizza. I guess I'll have to import some pineapples. About ten tons?"
"Ten tons...?"
"And he seems to like beef and lamb ribs, so I'll have the head chef in charge of the mansion kitchen send some over."
"Woo...."
Rimmer let out a sigh, his head spinning from Glenn's outrageous order.
'Just say it!'
You human!
If he had just revealed that he was sending his own chef for his grandson and was going to place an absurd order for ten tons of pineapples, the relationship would have been smoothed out, much like ironing out wrinkles. However, it was frustrating that he didn't express it directly.
"What do girls like nowadays? I need to repay Yua, but I don't know anything about children. Should I secretly give her a golden plate...?"
Rimmer closed his eyes tightly and shook his head.
“Let's go now!”
I'm so tired!
* * *
Sylvia leaned her elbows on the table.
“Haa….”
She sighed deeply, as if she was tired, and covered her face with her hands.
“Are you okay?”
Raon leaned forward, looking at Sylvia's still shaking hands.
“Yeah, I'm fine.”
Sylvia shook her head as she lowered her hand. She didn't cry, but it looked like there were tears in her eyes.
“It's not because I'm tired….”
Her gaze turned to the seat where Glenn had been sitting. Her eyes were downcast, and it seemed as if many emotions were blooming like the aroma of food.
“I'm happy.”
“Happy?”
“This is the first time I've eaten with the lord since I was a child.”
Sylvia smiled softly, saying that it was the first time she had seen Glenn at the table since she was a toddler. “Hmm….”
Raon watched Sylvia wet her lips with the wine that Glenn had given her, and he rubbed his fingers.
‘Is it really that good?’
Because he had lived as an assassin, or because he didn't know about his father's existence, Sylvia's feelings were not well understood.
However, when she was happy, his heart also felt hot, as if he had been drunk.
Tch tch.
Wrath, with a bulging belly, clicked his tongue briefly.
You can understand the enemy's psychology, but you don't seem to grasp human emotions well, you're truly suited for the Devildom.
He looked down with pity, saying that he had a lot to learn.
If you go to Devildom with the King of Essence, maybe you'll learn about human hearts...
‘He's talking a lot again because he's full.’
Raon, pushed away Wrath, who had now become chubby.
‘How many more goals do I need to set?’
It would be difficult for Glenn to come back here again, but he hope he will come back someday and eat with Sylvia again.
“I'm glad I prepared well.”
Sylvia smiled and looked at the maids.
“Everyone worked hard, and thank you.”
“No, no.”
Helen smiled warmly, as if she knew everything, and shook her head.
“We also enjoyed preparing!”
“We are just grateful that the lord ate it delicious!”
The maids wiped the sweat from their foreheads and smiled faintly.
“But when the lord was here, I didn't know if the food was going in my mouth or my nose.”
“Me too. I couldn't taste it…”
"Eating at the same table with the lord, no one will believe it.”
“I think I'll never forget it.”
They leaned back in their chairs, looking exhausted.
"We appreciate sir Rekhtar and sir Musten for setting the mood as well."
Sylvia stood up and carefully bowed to Rekhtar and Musten.
“It's only natural for a guest.”
Rekhtar solemnly raised his chin, saying it was a delightful time.
"Since you're Raon's-nim mother, you can do whatever you want!"
Musten, who still had a rigid master-servant relationship ingrained in him, buried his head on the table, stating that it was okay even if she exploited himself.
"Oh, yes...."
Sylvia blinked her eyes quickly in surprise. She shot a sharp look at Raon, as if to ask what he had done to him.
"Sigh...."
Raon sighed as he looked at the shaking table.
'I should probably give him some education.'
He thought that if he could educate him to think of him as a friend rather than a master, he would be free from the gaze of others.
"I wonder if the lord enjoyed himself."
Sylvia lightly brushed the chair where Glenn had been sitting.
"He must have been satisfied."
Raon nodded with his calm eyes.
"The lord is not the type to lie, is he? He must have been sincere when he said he enjoyed it."
"That's right."
Sylvia smiled brightly and stroked Yua's head, who was chewing on fruit.
"Yua."
"Yes!"
Yua raised his hand with a lively expression.
"How did you think of bringing the lord? Weren't you scared?"
"How did you come up with the idea of inviting His Majesty? Weren't you scared?
Sylvia's question drew the eyes of everyone in the dining room to Yua. They were all curious about why they decided to bring Glenn.
"Didn't you always say, madam! Food is delicious when you eat it together! And....”
Yua smiled faintly and raised a fork with pineapple on it.
"The lord is not scary. He is a kind person."
She swallowed the pineapple in one bite, smiling without a trace of hesitation.
"He seems lonely, so please play with him in the future!"
* * *
Rekhtar watched Raon and Sylvia talking about Glenn and silently finished his meal with a bitter taste.
'Is this what it means to be related by blood?'
He roughly knows how Glenn treated Sylvia and Raon.
He could roughly understand how difficult it must have been for Sylvia and Raon, and why Glenn had made such a choice, and he could accept it.
However, there was a gap between Glenn and them, and he thought it wouldn't be easy to bridge that distance.
Even if they were a daughter and father, they had walked too different paths to get close easily.
'But it wasn't.'
In just one meal. It seemed that Sylvia, Glenn, and Raon had clearly narrowed the distance between them just by eating together.
He hadn't paid much attention to it until now, but he seemed to understand why people attached so much importance to bloodlines
"Huff...."
Rekhtar sighed briefly as he drank the alcohol that Glenn had brought.
'Half of it is my blood...'
I can't say that.
He couldn't say that. It was too frustrating not to be able to reveal his true feelings, not to be able to disclose his identity, and he felt heavy inside.
'It's truly a relationship that seems like a lie.
He wanted to tell the truth right away and embrace his daughter in-law and grandson with a light heart, but for their sakes, he couldn't reveal his true identity at the moment.
'Honestly, I don't know if I'll ever be able to do it in the future.'
In order to reveal his identity to Raon and Sylvia, he had to leave the 'union', but it didn't seem like the 'union''s last request would end easily.
'It might be tough. But...'
I have to return to this place, no matter what.
In order to make his daughter-in-law and grandson, who have lived a difficult life, happy, he had to do whatever it took.
He clenched his fist under the table and made up his mind.
Rekhtar raised his glass, which was almost empty. Behind the shimmering red wine, Raon and Sylvia were smiling faintly.
'Don't worry.'
I will be responsible for the two of you.
After taking a sip of the wine in the glass, he raised his glass to the empty seat of Glenn.
'This time, Raon poured your glass first, but next time, I won't lose!'
Rekhtar smiled wryly and finished the wine, which was not even a sip. Ironically, the taste of the wine was the best.
'Let's have another drink later.'
* * *
Raon went out to the fifth training ground early in the morning to stretch.
He had to wake up early because he needed more personal training time to engrave the teachings he learned from Glenn and Rekhtar in his body and mind.
Goroong....
Wrath was not yet awake, probably still deep in slumber. All Raon could hear from the ice flower bracelet was the sound of his nose sniffling.
'Anyway.'
He smiled wryly and drew out his sword. He swung down with Fangs of Insanity, remembering the teachings of Glenn and Rektar.
The swordsmanship, which was filled with only sharpness like a sword carved by a craftsman, bloomed delicate changes as it continued with the twist of the wrist.
The blade of the sword scattered like dandelion seeds, bringing forth a wave of swords. The endless rippling sword waves cut dozens of scars on the floor of the training ground.
While it might not be the pinnacle of change, it was a significant accomplishment compared to before.
'Next.'
Raon did not put down his sword even after he unfolded Variable Sword (Previously translated as Transformation Sword), with all his might. He returned to the first move of Fangs of Insanity with Illusion Sword.
Hyaaaaah!
The sword spread out like a giant brush painting, spreading a thick fog of swords in the air.
Although it was not as colorful as the Variable Sword, the sword drawn in illusion was filled with the same murderous intent as a real sword.
"Huu...."
Raon unleashed six consecutive forms of Fangs of Insanity before finally expelling a sigh of exhaustion.
'I don't know if I'm doing well.'
Neither Glenn nor Rekhtar praised him, and they just kept pointing out his shortcomings, so he was not sure if he was making any real progress.
He felt the changes, but he wasn't sure how significant the progress was.
'The path of the sword is long and deep.'
Although not as much as heavy sword, quick (precise) sword, and 중검 (middle sword, the literal translation), but he had diligently learned the variable sword and illusion sword, he couldn't be sure how far he'd come, especially since he was constantly receiving criticism.
As Rimmer had said, there seemed to be no end to the path of swordsmanship.
Chiiing.
Raon placed his sword in the middle.
'Then, let's try it.'
Known as the pinnacle of the Variable Sword and the Illusion Sword, it was a martial art of the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation, known as Flame Spirit. When attempting to assess the growth of the Variable Sword and the Illusion Sword, Rekhtar entered as the doors of the training ground opened.
"Have you come?"
Raon put his sword down again and bowed to Rekhtar.
"Yes."
Rekhtar smiled and nodded, appreciating his politeness.
"I know that your vacation is coming to an end, so don't overdo it."
"I understand."
"Then let's start right away. We'll start with the illusion sword today."
"Yes."
"Wait!"
As Raon took a stance and tried to put the principle of the illusion sword into his sword, Rekhtar shook his head.
"I'll show you a demonstration today. Follow it exactly."
Without waiting for an answer, Rekhtar raised his sword in front of him. His sword shone like the rising sun, drawing the illusion of hundreds of swords.
"How is it?"
He smiled with a look that was somehow similar to Glenn's, and instructed him to follow it in this way.
"Uh..."
Raon looked at Rekhtar, who was raising his chin, not the sword shadows that disappeared one by one, and swallowed his dry saliva. This expression was also similar to Glenn's.
'I've only just become accustomed to his methods.'
Why change the method now?
* * *
"Hmm?"
Burren tilted his head as he looked at the group of Light Wind division gathered in front of the main gate of the fifth training ground.
'Are they here to train too?'
He came to stretch his body since his vacation was coming to an end, and they also seemed to be coming out to train lightly.
'But why are they just standing in front of the door?'
He thought it was strange and gestured to members.
"What are you doing?"
"Shh!"
"Shut up!"
"Keep it down!"
Runaan, Martha, and Dorian shook their heads and gestured to him to be quiet.
"Hmm?"
While Burren was standing there in a daze, Krein waved from behind him.
"Don't make a sound and come over here."
"Oh, uh..."
He nodded and walked over to them.
"Take a look over there."
Following Krein's gesture, he looked through the crack in the door into the training ground.
"Raon and... Huh? The head of house l?"
Burren was so surprised that his mouth dropped open.
"The head of house is teaching Raon?"
"That's right. I heard that Sword Demon taught him in the morning."
Krein whispered as if revealing a secret.
'Why is the head of house teaching Raon?'
He understood that Rekhtar would have looked at everyone in the Light Wind division, but he couldn't think of any reason why Glenn would be teaching Raon.
'What in the world is happening...?'
He had heard that even his father and other direct line members couldn't learn from Glenn. He was bewildered by the situation.
"Ah!"
Krein, as he scanned the inside of the training ground, suddenly turned his head.
"In the audience chamber, the head of the house didn't give rewards to the vice-division leader, right? Maybe he's teaching him directly as compensation?"
"Oh, that makes sense!"
Martha nodded her head as she pulled away from the door.
"It's annoying, but he deserves it. He finished 80% of the war with the Arian family."
The entire Light Wind division fought hard in the Arian family, but Raon suffered the most.
She knew how he fought, so she felt no jealousy.
"But I'm still envious."
As Martha bit her lip, Runaan slowly approached her.
"Martha is envious nyan?"
Runaan grinned, eating his ice cream beads.
"I told you not to do that!"
"I wasn't supposed to say 'nyan nyan'?"
"No, I told you not to use that tone of voice!"
"I don't like it."
Martha chased after Runaan, who ate ice cream while running away. No one paid attention because it was a familiar occurrence.
"Wow, I can even see the vice-division leader getting tired."
Dorian rubbed his belly as he looked at Raon, who was gasping for breath with his knees bent.
"I didn't think that human would struggle so much in training. But...
Krein nodded in agreement and then slightly raised his lips.
"It's strangely satisfying, isn't it? I'm feeling quite good watching him struggle."
Having seen him training diligently all the time, seeing him struggle was a breath of fresh air.
"Am I the only one feeling this way?"
"I'm honestly feeling refreshed too."
Burren chuckled and scratched his cheek. Seeing the guy who had never broken a sweat during training now gasping for breath made him feel lighter.
"Same here."
Martha nodded her head with a cold smile.
"He should experience being on the receiving end for once."
She muttered that Raon needed to suffer a lot more.
"I agree."
Runaan, standing a step away from Martha, raised his hand.
"This time, I agree with the demoness."
"What did you say this time? Don't call me a demoness!"
Martha laughed and turned into a demon's face, and the two of them started playing 'hide-and-seek' again.
"The vice-division leader should understand that training is tough."
"That's right. He won't be so rude to us then."
"If he experiences this kind of training, he'll realize that training at a different level is difficult."
"I wonder if our training will be easier from now on."
The Light Wind division members also nodded their heads vigorously as they recalled the hardships they had endured, when the door to the training ground opened with a bang.
Whoosh.
The rough sand wind died down, and the inside of the training ground came into view. Glenn had already left the training ground, and Raon was bent over like an animal with his eyes bloodshot.
"If you've come, come inside. What are you doing out there?"
"Ah...
"That, that's...
As black energy exhaled from Raon's mouth, the Light Wind swordsmen felt shivers running down their spines as if they were filled with dread.
"I've personally experienced and learned something this time."
He smiled softly, but his smile was filled with a wicked aura.
"Just as iron becomes stronger when it is hammered, people become stronger the more they suffer. I think I've been too easy on you all this time."
He smiled even more darkly and sinisterly, and snapped his fingers.
"I will help you become tougher iron."
Raon's graceful gestures looked like the scythe of a reaper stained with blood.
"We're not iron, though?"
"Yeah! Vacation isn't over yet!"
"...I'm... sleepy."
Burren, Martha, and Runaan trembled at the madness that flickered in Raon's eyes.
'Oh no....'
'We're doomed....'
'He's not going to make us suffer less, but more?'
'That human has the wrong idea!'
The Light Wind division members also shook their heads wildly as if they didn't want to.
"It's, it's okay! We'll go back today."
"That's right. I have a patient at home right now...."
"I have an appointment with my parents... Huk!"
"Aaaack!"
"Move back! He's behind us!"
"Back, back! Stay back!"
Everyone took a step back, but Raon, who had moved behind them, was blocking their path.
"It's okay."
Raon held the necks of the Light Wind division members tightly and glared with his mad eyes.
"It's the first day. It won't take too long. And I can't be the only one who suffers, can I?"
"I-I can't be the only one who suffers right now... Gack!"
"Shut up."
He slapped Krein's mouth and threw the Light Wind division members, who were holding their necks, into the training ground.
"Let's get started."
Raon drew Heavenly Drive with a chilling laugh.
"Into the endless swordsmanship hell."
