N/T: Translation made by our friend 'Irving'. A big round of applause for him :)
Chapter 620
Raon stood up as he watched Glenn leave the audience chamber.
'Where is he going?'
Glenn left the audience chamber without issuing any punishment to Karoon. It was an unexpected situation.
'Is he planning to punish him differently than I thought?'
I had predicted that the punishment Glenn would give Karoon would be the suspension of Central Martial Palace and severe military punishment.
One more thing, I thought Glenn would confiscate the achievements and funds of the Central Martial Palace and give them to the Light Wind division.
Since Karoon was the closest to being the successor and was in a position similar to the head of the direct line, I thought that would be enough.
However, Glenn seemed to have no intention of doing that here, he left the audience chamber with a domineering aura. It was so chilling that I even got goosebumps.
"Ugh..."
Karoon chewed his lips tightly and turned his gaze. His eyes, looking at Judiel and Juvel in turn, were creepy as if they were blades.
"Wait. It won't end like this."
He threw those two words and followed Glenn out of the audience chamber. His expression was not relaxed, but his steps were steady and dignified.
Raon narrowed his eyes as he calmly watched Karoon's confident stride.
'I wonder how long he will remain confident.'
From the beginning, he had no intention of settling everything for Karoon here.
Even if Glenn were to punish Karoon, I would have to be the one to finish him off. Punishment was punishment, but personal revenge was a different matter.
I will personally make Karoon and the Central Martial Palace kneel before my power and force, for threatening the lives of Judiel, Juvel and the safety of the annex building.
"I wonder if we’re going to bury a coffin today."
Aris scratched her sunset-colored hair and followed Glenn.
"The head of house seems really angry."
Rimmer approached and smirked.
"It won't end easily."
"Are we going to the training ground?"
Raon raised his head to Rimmer. Listening to Aris and Rimmer, he could guess where Glenn was going.
"Yes. The head of house just declared that he would beat his son with his own hands."
He lightly swung his fist.
"It might be quite dangerous since a man who only talks with his mouth clenched his fist."
Rimmer patted Raon on the shoulder and left the audience chamber.
"Is the head of house going to...?"
"Q-quick, let's follow!"
"I can't believe something like this is happening...."
"We've been having a lot of accidents lately."
The direct line and executives also ran out with pale faces.
"Get up."
Raon grabbed the arms of Judiel and Juvel, who were still kneeling in bewilderment, and pulled them to their feet.
"We should go too."
"W-will it be okay?"
Juvel trembled his lips as if he was overwhelmed by the situation that had grown too big.
"Wha-what if something happens to you young master, because of this..."
Judiel also seemed worried, her lips turning blue.
"Let's worry about me later and move for now."
Raon patted their heads and walked forward.
"We can't afford to miss seeing the one who ruined your lives getting beaten up. Let's watch it from the front row."
* * *
Advance chapters: Tinyurl.com/Albnlfff
For Indonesian: Tinyurl.com/Aldbnlff
Glenn walked towards the training ground, which was built behind the lord’s manor, and slowly lowered his eyes.
'It's all my fault.'
The reason why Karoon's character had become so distorted was because he had failed to stop him in time.
When Aris and Karoon were young, he gave them everything they wanted. But when it was time to properly guide and manage them, he was too consumed by his own pursuits and lost control.
Since he had missed the most important period for their education, it was not wrong to say that he had planted his children's seeds in a dung field, as Ogram had said.
Aris, with her free spirit, managed to carve out her own life outside the family, but Karoon was different.
He took on tasks that Aris should have done, earned trust, and then, behind everyone's backs, engaged in dirty and vile deeds.
Until now, he had been aware of it but had not intervened with Karoon. Changing him was difficult, and he found it amusing that he, the one who had shaped him into what he was, was now attempting to control him.
Honestly, having someone like Karoon in this chaotic world wasn't so bad in his opinion.
'But...'
This time, it was too much.
Bringing innocent children and raising them as spies and assassins, using them as disposable pawns that could be thrown away at any time, was unbearable.
He was particularly enraged that those who had experienced it were Raon and his maid. It was not a matter that could be dismissed with the usual light punishment.
"Sigh..."
Standing at the center of the training ground, he turned around. Karoon stood on the other side, grinding his teeth, while Aris and other executives stood back, swallowing their dry saliva.
Normally, he would have sent all the executives back to protect Karoon’s honor, but this time, he thought it would be better for everyone to witness it, so he said nothing.
Glenn sent a silent apology to Raon, Judiel, and Juvel, who had arrived late, and turned his gaze to Karoon.
"Karoon Zieghart."
He stepped forward, calling Karoon's name instead of his title as the master of the Central Martial Palace.
"Yes, head of house."
Karoon bowed his head.
"There is a line that people must keep in order to live as humans."
As Glenn flicked his hand lightly, a thin line was drawn on the floor of the ground between him and Karoon. It was not thick or thin, but a clearly visible line.
"Depending on whether you cross this line or not, you will be separated from humans and demons."
“…….”
Karoon looked at the line drawn on the floor of the training ground without answering.
"It's easy to distinguish that line. You know better than anyone else whether you should cross it or not."
Glenn tilted his head back and frowned.
"You crossed it this time. No, even before that."
He stood in front of the line drawn on the floor and looked down at Karoon.
"Even if you had killed those children at your own discretion, I wouldn't have said a word. Even if you had killed a member of the family by your judgment, I would have let it go. Even if you had kidnapped a warrior of another faction, I would have covered it up. None of those are beyond the boundaries of humanity. But...."
As Glenn clenched his fist, the entire training ground vibrated and the line drawn on the floor snapped.
"You have toyed with and mocked human lives. You have done what gods and demons would do with a human body."
He stepped forward and drew Heavenly Tremor. A tremendous energy surged as if heaven and earth were crying out, and a crimson lightning flashed across the sky.
"I want to end it here, but it's also my fault that I haven't taught you properly. I'll give you a chance."
As Glenn lightly slashed his sword, a new line was carved into the floor of the training ground. It was thinner and longer than before.
"If you take even a single step across this line, I will allow you to pass without any punishment. No one will question it."
He said this as he lowered Heavenly Tremor.
"Are you serious?"
Karoon gritted his teeth as he looked at Glenn.
"I am not someone who speaks with a forked tongue. If you're ready, draw your sword."
Glenn looked around at the executives around him as if to show that he meant what he said.
Swoosh.
Karoon drew his sword, his lips parted. He seemed determined not to miss this opportunity and immediately raised his will and astral sphere.
"Give it your all. Otherwise..."
Glenn raised Heavenly Tremor as if to pierce the sky and brought it down.
"You'll end up dead."
As the blade flashed, a crimson bolt of lightning erupted in front of Karoon in an instant.
Kwaaaaah!
* * *
Raon used the Evil eye of Wrath to see through the lightning that was blocking his vision.
Kwaang!
Karoon was bounced back uncontrollably, and the astral sphere he was wielding was torn apart like straw.
"Ugh..."
Karoon rubbed the blood that had flowed from the corner of his mouth, his hands trembling. He had suffered internal injuries just by blocking a single sword strike.
"That's all?"
Glenn twisted his head, wielding Heavenly Tremor with lightning flashing around it.
"Is that the extent of what you're capable of doing to toy with someone else's life?"
"Ugh!"
Struggling to catch his breath, Karoon stepped to Glenn's right.
He reached out with a sword strike towards the lightning in front of him. The astral sphere that rose from the noble and sharp sword strike pierced the lightning.
Ziiiiing.
As he was about to cross the line drawn on the floor with his momentum, Glenn executed a light sword strike as if chasing a butterfly.
The lightning that stretched out from Heavenly Tremor shattered Karoon's shield and crushed him down.
Kwaaaaaaang!
The shield of astral sphere that Karoon had wrapped around his body was crushed, and he rolled on the floor like a ball kicked by foot.
"Keuh!"
Karoon spat out blood, looking at the line on the floor that was not at all disturbed.
"Karoon."
Glenn let out a long breath as he lowered Heavenly Tremor.
"You had talent. If you had used your time for something meaningful, you could have reached a higher level than Aris by now."
Glenn scolded Karoon not only with his sword but also with his words.
"I just wanted to be the head of house!"
Karoon gritted his teeth and struggled to rise. His teeth were all red with blood.
"You could have done that. Aris wasn't interested in the position of the head of the house, so if you had reached the same level as her, you would have become my successor. However, you turned your eyes elsewhere, away from yourself. You opted for shortcuts, which is why you've only achieved your current level now."
Glenn met Karoon’s trembling eyes with a furrowed brow.
"You can turn back from a wrong path, but once you've stepped into the black mud, you can't undo it even if you regret it."
“Urghh….”
“Get up. What you've done is not something that can be forgiven to this extent.”
He pointed a finger at Karoon, his eyes as cold as if he were looking at an enemy, not his son.
"We're just getting started."
At the same time as his soft voice, lightning struck.
“Arghh!”
Karoon rolled on the floor to avoid the lightning. But Glen's lightning seemed alive as it twisted into a spiral and struck Karoon’s waist.
Kuwhaaang!
Karoon trembled all over, his waist bent like a nail hit by a hammer. Blood gushed out from his mouth and waist in streams.
Raon trembled at the sight.
'He really means it.'
Karoon was suffering from internal injuries more severe than external ones.
His entire mana circuit was damaged, and his energy center was also under great shock. Even if he stopped here, he would need to recuperate for several months.
“Huuurrggh….”
Karoon should have just been lying there, but he got up again and stood in front of Glenn.
He was an ugly human, but he had one thing to be proud of.
“Kuaaaaaaa!”
He screamed and rushed forward. Despite bleeding from torn muscles and mana circuits, he thrust his sword forward. A huge surge of energy, like a wave, erupted from his sword.
It was a devastating sword strike that even Raon couldn't stop, despite exerting all his might.
But Glenn didn't flinch, even as he watched the sword strike.
With a calm look, he raised Heavenly Tremor.
There was no intense lightning like before. Just pure sword strike. A dignified sword strike, neither flashy nor heavy, ascended towards the sky.
Zheeeeeek!
Karoon's sword strike shattered, his sword breaking like glass shards. With eyes wide open as if in disbelief, blood as red as crimson surged from his chest.
Raon swallowed dry saliva as he watched Glenn's sword strike.
'It's the Azure Sky Sword.'
And it's a higher-level technique that I haven't even mastered yet.
Just now, Glenn used the Azure Sky Sword, the swordsmanship he had taught Raon, to shatter Karoon's sword.
In the midst of this, a small enlightenment stimulated Raon’s mind.
“Kuhuuurk….”
Karoon knelt down, gasping for breath as if he were about to die.
'Not yet.'
Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked at Karoon.
'Get up quickly.'
Raon doesn't wish for this to end.
He wanted to see more of Glenn's swordsmanship. It seemed like a waste to end it here, as he felt that watching Glenn's fight was more beneficial than sparring with him.
You’re really insane...
Wrath shook his head as if he were fed up.
Training even in this situation!
He ran his hands through his hair, telling him to stop.
Raon ignored Wrath's hand and looked at Karoon, who had stood up again.
He rushed towards the line again but was struck by another higher-level technique of the Azure Sky Sword, causing him to fall like a scarecrow with a broken leg.
“Ararghhaaggh….”
Karoon groaned, unable to bear the pain anymore, clutching his wounds, as he emitted a groan of agony. He chewed his lips until they bled, staring at the line on the ground that seemed so far away.
“Karoon Zieghart.”
Glenn stood in front of the line that had caused Karoon to despair and shook his head.
“To think you've been toying with other people's lives, yet you can't even cross this line.”
“…….”
Karoon couldn't respond, his head shaking. He seemed to be losing his mind from the excessive bleeding.
"I will take everything you've created and everything you've done."
"...Ah, understood."
Karoon nodded his head, spitting blood. Seeing the black, dead blood, it seemed that his internal injuries were severe.
“Denier, Balder.”
“Yes.”
Denier and Balder stood before Glenn, swallowing dryly.
“Mobilize the Wise Martial Palace and the True Martial Palace to search the entire Central Martial Palace. Do not miss anything, no matter how small, and investigate everything.”
“Understood.”
“Yes!”
The two men replied quickly and bowed their heads.
“From now on, the Central Martial Palace will be sealed off, and Karoon Zieghart will be under house arrest. I will not set a time limit.”
Not setting a time limit meant it could last a lifetime.
“…Understood.”
Despite his deathly pale expression, Karoon straightened his waist again, bowing his head. Even in that state, standing up again showed an endurance that even I couldn't match, Raon thought.
“And.”
Glenn put Heavenly Tremor in its scabbard and lowered his gaze.
“Bring all those you have wronged and apologize to them yourself.”
“Kkhhh….”
Karoon did not answer and chewed his lips.
"If you don't want to, there's another option. Of course...."
“I will.”
He bowed his head as if he understood what the other option was.
Raon narrowed his eyes as he examined Karoon's condition.
'He's on the brink of death.'
Glenn had ordered Karoon to be under house arrest indefinitely, but even without that, it seemed unlikely he would be able to stand on his own for much longer.
"We are not the Five Demons, but the Six Kings. Maintain the minimal line of humanity that humans can have."
“Krghh.. heh.. heh….”
Karoon closed his eyes and fell over without even being able to answer Glenn's last words. But his last groan sounded like a laugh.
“Take him away.”
At Glenn's gesture, the waiting attendants picked up Karoon and ran out of the training ground.
"You too, keep it in mind."
He lowered his head and looked at the executives one by one, reminding them not to cross the line, as Karoon had done.
"It seems like trouble always happens whenever you return from a mission."
While Raon quietly watched Glenn, Rimmer approached.
“Yes?”
"As soon as I heard you were back, the sky darkened. I thought something was going to happen, even if it wasn't this serious."
He pointed to the sky, his lips curling up.
"So, it's a perfect day."
Rimmer chuckled and stood in front of Glenn, who was about to turn his back, with a smirk.
“I have something to say to the head of house.”
“What is it?”
Glenn turned his back again and looked at Rimmer.
"To be honest, I've had a lot of concerns. Whether it's my ambition, my greed or just a whim. But after seeing what happened today, I'm sure. I think it's time to pass it on."
Rimmer knelt down and placed his prosthetic arm on his left chest.
"As of today, I am stepping down from the position of leader of the Light Wind division…."
He met Glenn's red eyes with a confident look.
"...and I recommend Raon Zieghart as the new leader of the Light Wind division."