C751
Dozens of sword lights shimmered through the gently rising bonfire. Raon wore a slight smile as he watched the Light Wind division swordsmen swing their swords right after finishing dinner.
'Now they're training on their own.'
Previously, the Light Wind division used to rest after dinner, but now they swung their swords without being ordered to. Their attitude towards training seemed to have completely changed.
-Those guys have painfully understood their own helplessness through war.
Wrath perched on Raon's head, wiggling his finger.
-It's only natural that the subordinates acknowledged by this King risk their lives in training to change themselves.
He nodded vehemently, expressing his confidence in the Light Wind division.
-Like I said before, this King's subordinates will become strong!
'I suppose so. However…'
Raon smiled softly as he followed Wrath's gaze.
'I'm more pleased that they've changed their mindset rather than just getting stronger.'
The Light Wind division had always been passive. They didn't train individually unless told to, and they would scream and run if asked for a sparring match. But now it was different. They approached to request sparring matches, and everyone participated in training at dawn and night without exception.
The current Light Wind division had grown significantly not only in martial prowess but also mentally.
'Should I help a little too?'
-Where do you think you're going?
As Raon was about to get up to offer advice, Wrath blocked his path.
-There's still food, isn't there?!
Wrath wiggled his tail, urging Raon to eat more of the stew before leaving.
'You're being a nuisance…'
Raon let out a long sigh and swallowed all the remaining stew.
-Hiya!
Wrath waved his arms and let out an exclamation.
-The chunks are imbued with a strong smoky flavor! This delicacy is the taste of camping!
He wagged his tail in satisfaction.
'The guys are changing, but you're still the same…'
-What do you mean?
'It seems you're enjoying life.'
-Of course! This King always has the mindset of enjoying life, no matter when or where!
'...That wasn't a compliment.'
Raon shook his head and approached Runaan, who was creating silver sword light.
"Isn't it difficult?"
He hadn't seen Runaan eating pearl milk tea lately. As she loved pearl milk tea even more than Wrath, he was a little worried.
"I'm fine."
Runaan calmly shook her head, as if it were nothing.
"Actually, I like it."
She raised her flushed face, saying she could feel herself growing with each sword swing. Raon narrowed his eyes as he observed Runaan, who was hiding her excitement behind her blank eyes.
'Runaan's talent has certainly grown rapidly.'
Thanks to absorbing the Baphomet inside the helmet, Runaan had gained an even more outstanding martial talent. Her growth rate was now the highest in the Light Wind division, aside from Raon himself. It seemed she would be the first to break through the Master and Grand Master level barriers.
"And I have something I need to do."
Runaan let out a short sigh, saying she had to endure even if it was difficult.
"Something you need to do?"
"I have to defeat my brother so Mom and Dad won't worry."
She pressed her lips, determined to defeat Syria Sullion without asking for anyone's power.
"Syria Sullion…"
Raon clicked his tongue, remembering the Baphomet helmet Syria had been using.
'That leech-like bastard.'
Syria had returned from the dead and attacked Raon when he was unconscious. Rimmer had said Syria was stronger than before, but Runaan, who had blocked his sword directly, seemed confident.
"Even as you are now, it will be difficult to defeat him alone."
"Still, I have to do it."
Runaan firmly shook her head, unlike her usual self.
"My brother changed like this because I couldn't stop him."
"You couldn't stop him?"
"I couldn't do anything."
She bit her lip deeply, remembering the moment she suffered alone, paralyzed by fear of Syria.
"If I had overcome my fear and confronted him, the outcome would have been different. I can't change that time now. So I have to end this."
Runaan gripped her sword with eyes filled not with fear, but with responsibility and solemnity, as if her soul realm had grown as much as her swordsmanship.
-Sniff…
Wrath sniffed and rubbed his eyes.
-How truly admirable. To think the milk tea girl has grown so much!
'Indeed. It seems her mind has grown more than her martial prowess.'
-That's not all!
'Huh?'
-It's the first time we've seen the milk tea girl talk so much!
He rubbed the tip of his nose, saying he didn't know Runaan's voice could be so pleasant.
'You're really strange.'
Raon pushed away Wrath, who was saying he would help Runaan, and lowered his hand.
"Runaan."
Raon stood in front of Runaan and nodded.
"If you need help, just tell me anytime."
Even if Runaan wanted to defeat the Evil Goat Demon by herself, Raon wanted to continue helping her until then.
"Then, this swordsmanship technique."
Runaan spoke about the part she was currently struggling with, as if accepting his help.
"First, decide the direction you want your sword to go. Think about how to take an offensive stance, what stance to take for defensive movements…"
Raon didn't simply give her answers but offered advice that would allow Runaan to think and develop on her own. This scene wasn't limited to just the two of them but was happening throughout the Light Wind division. The sword division itself breathed like a single living organism.
* * *
Near a barren mountain near the Hollam Lawless Zone. Raon stood beside a withered tree, looking at the city that seemed to have been built from ruins. In the center of the desert, numerous buildings rose. The outer houses looked so dilapidated they might collapse with a gust of wind, but the inner buildings stood tall and splendid, reminiscent of the Cameloon trading city.
'It's still the same.'
That crazy disparity of wealth. Hollam was a barren land with no resources, abandoned even by monsters, let alone people. It was a place where no one could easily survive, so those who fled the continent settled here to form a village, and now it had become a haven for outlaws.
A land without law, humanity, or trust. Because it was a place ruled only by strength and money, the disparity of wealth was bound to be worse than anywhere else on the continent.
In the outer slums, the dispossessed struggled to survive, while within the luxurious inner area resided the strong overflowing with martial prowess and wealth. It was the very embodiment of a world where the strong prey on the weak.
-Survival of the fittest, huh…
Wrath frowned as he looked down at Hollam.
-Certainly seems that way. Even in the Devildom, there were places like this.
He shook his round fist as if displeased by Hollam.
"This guy seems to be enjoying himself."
Burren, who was standing nearby, smiled as he watched Wrath fidget.
"Enjoying?"
"Isn't he dancing right now?"
He gently stroked the furious Wrath's head.
-D-dancing? This King doesn't dance!
Wrath yelled at Burren.
-How dare you, a mere eye, to the King of the Devildom!
He lunged at Burren, threatening to gouge his eye out.
"Yes, yes. Glad to see you too."
Burren waved his hand, seemingly taking Wrath's anger as something endearing.
-Arghhhh!
Wrath screamed as he grabbed his head.
-Summon this King right now! I'll show that eye a lesson…
"Yes. He seems excited."
-You bastaaaaard! Who's excited… Gack!
Raon tossed the screaming Wrath behind him.
"Hmm, but how are we going to enter that place?"
Burren pointed to Hollam after watching Wrath fly away.
"If we enter, the news will spread immediately…"
He frowned, seemingly worried about their identities being exposed.
"We'll have to disguise ourselves and move in groups. But before that…"
Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked down from the mountain.
"There's someone we need to meet."
"Someone we need to meet?"
Rimmer tilted his head as if hearing this for the first time.
"You wouldn't know since you didn't come to the meeting."
Raon sighed as he looked at Rimmer. The other swordsmen also looked at Rimmer with exasperated eyes.
-D-don't look at me like that! I really had a tough battle too!
Rimmer shook his head, saying he had been seriously injured and ill for months.
"Anyway, we need to wait until the person comes to us."
Raon sat down, leaning against a tree. Chad had said someone would come to provide information when they arrived at this mountain, so now was the time to wait. As night fell and darkness deepened, with the center of Hollam beginning to glow brighter, a presence was felt at the base of the mountain.
It was a familiar aura, not one felt for the first time. It was Denning Rose, disciple of the Black Market leader and Branch Manager.
"Long time no see, Lord Raon."
Denning Rose bowed her head as she took off her black hat.
"How has the Branch Manager…"
"Because you are my responsibility, Lord Raon."
She smiled elegantly, saying it was only natural that she would follow her guest.
"It's everyone's first time in Hollam, right?"
Denning Rose gestured as if observing Hollam.
"Hollam is a land that doesn't reject swindlers, murderers, or even demons. It accepts anyone. But that doesn't mean there are no inspections. Because it's full of criminals, the surveillance is stricter than anywhere else."
She shook her head, saying they would be exposed immediately if they entered as they were.
"So you'll need to disguise yourselves and act."
As Denning Rose extended her hand, her guard brought out old, tattered clothes.
"I'll bring clothes for everyone by tomorrow, so please wear these and act like criminals or vagrants."
"I have clothes!"
Dorian pulled out old, sand-covered clothes from his bag.
"W-what? Why are there so many?!"
Krein let out a gasp of surprise as he watched Dorian pull out more clothes than there were members in the Light Wind division.
"They're essential items."
Dorian laughed and scratched his head.
-Kuu!
Wrath exclaimed as he looked at Dorian.
-It's been a while since I heard those words! How delicious!
He smiled, saying it had been a while since the bag had been put to use.
"This should be enough."
Denning Rose nodded, saying they were well-prepared.
"However, even if we solve the problem of clothing and acting, there's still one more problem."
She raised a finger.
"Your martial prowess is too strong. Since there are even Grand Masters in Hollam, you'll be exposed the moment you enter. So…"
Denning Rose pulled out two vials from her chest.
"The first vial contains a poison that reduces your aura to one-tenth of your current level, and the second vial is the antidote."
She nodded confidently, saying that unless someone was a Transcendent Warrior, they wouldn't be able to detect it.
"Ugh, I don't like poison or medicine…"
Rimmer frowned, saying he had been taking medicine for over a month.
"Understood."
Raon nodded and extended the first vial to Krein.
"Huh…?"
Krein blinked blankly as he looked at the vial.
"You should go first, Krein."
"No, this either! If you use my full name…"
"Enough, just drink it."
Raon pushed the vial towards him, telling him to stop talking nonsense and take it.
"Ugh, why did I have to fight back then…?"
Krein swallowed the poison from the first vial, regretting the time he first fought Raon during their training days.
Smoke emanated from his body, and his aura reduced to about one-tenth of his original strength.
Krein's jaw trembled in shock at his reduced aura.
'Impressive.'
The fact that the hidden aura could only be perceived after simultaneously using the Ring of Fire and Snow Flower Perception showed that this poison was undetectable even at the Grand Master level.
"Now try drinking this one too."
Raon handed him the antidote in the second vial.
"Y-yes…"
Krein sniffed as he swallowed the antidote. Exactly one minute later, his aura returned to its original level.
"It's one minute. Remember that clearly."
After making sure everyone in the Light Wind division was aware of the one-minute timeframe, Raon distributed the poison and antidote.
"Where do we need to infiltrate?"
After confirming that all the swordsmen's auras had been reduced, Raon turned to Denning Rose.
"The arena."
Raon clicked his tongue briefly. The Holy Sword Alliance and the Black Tower were the kind of bastards who treated human lives like insects, so it was clear they were conducting their transactions there to use the people in the arena as shields if problems arose.
"And the biggest reason is…"
Denning Rose pointed towards the arena.
"Because the Greedy Demon is there."
"The Greedy Demon?"
"He's a former Owen knight obsessed with money and fighting. He committed crimes and abandoned his knighthood just for money."
She frowned, indicating he was a nasty character.
"The Greedy Demon will likely mediate the transaction between the Black Tower and the Holy Sword Alliance."
"He'll take a commission for it, I suppose."
"That's right. The Greedy Demon is a monster obsessed with money. He doesn't care who the parties are or what's being traded, as long as he gets paid."
Denning Rose pointed to the largest and most imposing building in the center of Hollam.
"It seems past transactions were also conducted there."
"Transactions in the arena?"
Martha opened her eyes in disbelief.
"Why in the arena…?"
Mark Goetun also blinked, seemingly not understanding.
"Because it's in the center of Hollam, they can escape in any direction, and it's full of secret passages."
Denning Rose curved her lips, saying it was perfect for conducting secret transactions.
"Plus, it's full of people. If something goes wrong during the transaction, they can use the people as bait to escape."
Denning Rose nodded, calling it the perfect place for a transaction.
"I'm sure the transaction will be conducted there this time as well."
"Then we should select someone to participate in the arena fights."
Raon smacked his lips as he looked at Denning Rose.
"As expected, it's easy to converse with you, Lord Raon."
Denning Rose nodded in admiration.
"The Hollam arena is a place where people fight only with physical strength, no aura, so it will be easy to join. Still, we might arouse suspicion, so it's better if only a few participate."
She raised her fingers, saying it would be better if only two or three people entered.
"I'll participate first, and for the other…"
"The more attention we can attract, the better. It will help divert their attention when they're making the deal."
As Raon looked at the Light Wind division, Denning Rose rolled her eyes, suggesting it would be good to make the Sword Lord and others let their guard down.
"Someone who can attract a lot of attention…"
"Attention…"
Raon and Denning Rose's gazes simultaneously fixed on one person.
"Huh? Why are you looking at me?"
* * *
The Hollam arena sought the clash of flesh against flesh. It was a pure contest of strength with no weapons or aura, so most of the participants were men who had lived hard lives. Into this sanctuary of beasts entered a young woman with flowing red hair.
"Hah, the arena's getting dirty these days."
"Forget her being a woman, she's too small! She won't even be a bite!"
"The bar isn't here, you know! You've got the wrong way!"
The contestants in the waiting room openly mocked and laughed at the red-haired woman. Thud. The red-haired woman calmly walked towards the inner area, seemingly indifferent to the taunts and ridicule.
"Hello."
A middle-aged giant with deep scars covering his upper body blocked the red-haired woman's path.
"This isn't a place for women. Get out and go do some escorting or serve drinks."
He grinned, baring his teeth as he shoved his bony fist towards the woman's face. The other contestants burst into laughter, seemingly enjoying the situation.
"Escorting? You mean this?"
The red-haired woman curved her lips and bit the giant's fist. Crunch! Her strength in her teeth and jaw was so powerful that the protruding bones of the giant's fist were ripped off. A horrifying amount of blood gushed from his hand.
"Arghhhh!"
The middle-aged giant rolled on the floor, screaming and clutching his fist with the torn bones. Ptui. The red-haired woman spat out the bone she'd been holding in her mouth and fixed her piercing yellow gaze downwards.
"Not moving? Do you want me to gouge your eyes out too?"
The middle-aged giant trembled, lowering his gaze and backing away.
"Vermin."
The red-haired woman scoffed at the now silent waiting room and sat down in the furthest area.
'I told her to do it, but…'
Raon, who had been observing from behind, trembled his lips.
'Is she doing too well?'
-S-scary…
-
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