C760
Raon followed Glenn to the clearing at the entrance of North Grave Mountain.
'I’ll be back here in less than an hour...'
He chuckled to himself as he remembered that just a bit further up was where he had swum among bears and honey.
'But...'
He squinted as he observed Glenn's back, calmly watching the night sky.
'Why did the Head of House come here?'
After the fight with Karoon, Glenn had handed over half of the gold coins obtained from this mission to the Light Wind Division. The fight had gone well, so there was no additional reward to receive. Raon couldn't understand why he had been summoned.
-They’ve been feeding you here and there today...
Wrath looked at Glenn suspiciously from head to toe.
- Don’t tell me that old man is trying to give you bread from Nadine?
He shook his head vigorously, warning against eating Nadine's bread even if offered.
-Oh! Are you a genius?
-Ahem! This King has been known as the greatest mind and the greatest strategist of the Demon Kingdom since ancient times...
"That's impressive."
-The words of this King are not finished yet...
'Wow.'
As Raon ignored Wrath's nonsense, Glenn turned around.
"Raon."
Glenn's eyes were different from usual. A warmth like a fireplace seemed to bloom in his red pupils.
"Yes, Head of House."
Raon looked Glenn in the eyes before lowering his head.
"It was..."
"Yes?"
"It doesn't matter."
Glenn briefly licked his lips and shook his head.
"Karoon has truly changed a lot."
He lifted his chin with his hands behind his back.
"The old Karoon would never have admitted his faults. I never expected him to reveal his own mistakes in front of so many people."
Glenn let out a sigh, still looking surprised.
-This King recognizes it too!
Wrath raised his round hand high.
-This King never imagined that that crappy-eyed father could change so much!
He clicked his tongue, as if he had seen a new side of humans.
"The change in Karoon is thanks to you. Thank you."
Glenn drew a subtle smile, seeming genuinely pleased with Karoon's change.
"It's nothing."
Raon shook his head calmly, believing that Karoon had achieved the change on his own.
"Did you reach any conclusions from your training with Karoon?"
Glenn asked, dropping his hands from behind his back.
"I didn't."
Raon let out a brief sigh. He had felt Karoon's emotions and power, but he couldn't grasp a clue to reach transcendence.
"Then, did you feel anything while watching Karoon?"
"The Leader of the Central Martial Palace seemed to have turned everything into martial prowess: his sins, his regrets, his aspirations as Head of House, and even his affection for Zieghart."
Raon expressed all the emotions and the willpower he had felt while witnessing Karoon's sword.
"You observed well. It was worth allowing the fight."
Glenn raised his eyebrows slightly, as if wanting to say he had seen well.
"Transcendence is not simply a realm of martial prowess that divides. It’s like a diary that records who you are, where you come from, and where you are going."
He explained the concept of transcendence in a calm tone.
"A diary..."
Raon repeatedly murmured the word "diary" that Glenn had mentioned.
"The reason Karoon acquired such martial prowess as soon as he reached transcendence is that he filled his diary with many things."
Glenn's hand fell heavily as if he were tracing the sword domain of Karoon.
"If Karoon hadn't sincerely reflected and reached transcendence, the sword you face today would not have appeared."
"Ah..."
"What do you want to fill your transcendence with?"
He tilted his chin as if to say, "Speak freely."
"There are so many things I want to take with me that I haven't decided yet."
Raon let out a long sigh. He couldn't make any decisions because nothing clearly attracted him.
-Then why not take it all?
Glenn shrugged slightly, as if wondering why that was a concern.
"Yes...?"
"I've said it before, your ability is unparalleled, not even compared to me or Rector. Why would someone who will achieve the true Ten Thousand Swords unnecessarily worry?"
He smiled slightly while stroking the hilt of the Heavenly Tremor.
"Your diary is broader than anyone else's. You can write whatever you want."
Glenn smiled and told him to take all his emotions and willpower with him.
"Everything..."
Raon bit his lip as he looked at his hands.
'Is it really okay to do that?'
Most martial artists choose their path by shedding their shell, but the idea of taking it all seemed excessive.
'Anger, Ten Thousand Swords, revenge, family, comrades, past life...'
Numerous fragments of emotions and willpower swirled in his mind. Despite his great capacity, he wasn’t sure if he could take them all with him.
"If your thoughts are not calm..."
Glenn slowly lowered his hand.
"How about visiting the roots of swordsmanship?"
He nodded toward the Heavenly Drive hanging at Raon's waist.
"The roots..."
Raon squinted as he looked at the Heavenly Drive sword with its slightly cracked hilt.
"I've heard that 'he' has also returned, so take some time to go see him."
"Understood."
He bowed to Glenn, who had given him sincere advice.
-Enough already. The help I’ve received from you is greater.
Glenn gestured with his hand, saying there was no need for formalities.
"Head of House."
Raon approached Glenn and released his hold on the Heavenly Drive.
-I also have something to tell you.
"Go ahead."
"It’s about some information I received recently..."
He told Glenn the information he had heard from Merlin.
"We already knew that the Five Demons were moving to increase their martial prowess. We are gathering information, so there will soon be more movement."
Glenn nodded and said that the Light Wind Division would also need to move.
"However, this is the first time I have heard about the Sword Demon becoming the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance."
He frowned deeply.
Did you also hear that news from your friend?
"Ah..."
Glenn seemed to be referring to Wrath when he said "friend."
-No, this time it’s about a different friend.
"It’s good that you have many friends."
He smiled slightly and said it wasn’t a bad thing.
"Mmm..."
Although he had said "friend," his relationship with Merlin was still not established, so he had nothing more to say.
"We will need to verify it, but thank you for providing us with this valuable information."
Glenn waved his hand as if to say "you can go now."
-Yes. Then I’ll take my leave.
Raon bowed his head to Glenn and returned to the annex building.
"......"
Glenn was left alone, looking at the night sky that undulated like a black curtain.
'Rector...'
When Raon disappeared, Rector appeared and demanded to know what Glenn had done. At that moment, he did not seem like a puppet following the orders of the leader of the Holy Sword Alliance, nor a madman obsessed with swords incapable of feeling the pain of others. Rather, he seemed like someone extremely close to Raon.
Glenn bit his lip slightly as he remembered the desperation in Rector's eyes.
"You couldn't be..."
***
As soon as Sylvia finished her breakfast, she headed to the training ground built as an extension of the annex building. She drew her sword while inhaling the warm air. A clear light flickered over Sylvia’s sword. It was the aura of the Radiant Light Flow that Raon had taught her. She perfected several sword techniques while guiding the bright light.
Sylvia only lowered her sword when the newly risen sun reached the center of the sky.
However, it was not to rest. She seemed to remember the movements of the Greedy Demon and the White Demon Swordsman, which she had heard about yesterday from Raon, prompting a sharp yet splendid change in her sword. The blue-tinted blade emitted an intense glow, spreading in all directions like sunlight.
It seemed as if she could sweep away enemies with her light, faithful to its name: Radiant Light Flow.
With one last movement, Sylvia lowered her sword, having expended so much energy and aura that her hands trembled. She sat down right there, as if she had truly used all her strength.
"My lady."
Helen sighed as she handed water and chocolate to Sylvia.
"Aren't you pushing yourself too hard?"
"It's a necessary effort."
Sylvia shook her head and drank the water in one gulp.
"I don't want to lose my family again."
Raon had become a son she could be proud of, her relationship with her father was slowly recovering as he joined the direct lineage, and she was receiving respectful looks from the swordsmen. All her dreams had come true, but the nightmares that visited her every two nights had not disappeared.
The maniacal laughter of the Two-Headed Demon, Edgar and Sia falling before him, and herself being dragged into darkness, unable to do anything. The nightmare that had repeated for over 20 years still tormented her.
"I can't go through the same thing again."
She had to protect Raon and the children in the annex at least. Knowing the pain of losing family, if it happened again, she would give her life to save everyone. Sylvia slowly lifted her gaze after making this oath to her soul.
"Thank you, Helen."
She put the chocolate that Helen had given her in her mouth as she stood up.
"I can't stop now."
Perhaps because she had crossed the Grandmaster barrier too easily, she had barely grown since then. Now was not the time to be complacent, but to focus all her efforts on increasing her strength. Sylvia grasped her sword again, raising a solemn yet warm light.
***
Despite being on leave, Raon did not train and headed south of Zieghart.
-Where are you going?
Wrath yawned widely and tilted his chin.
«There’s a place I haven’t visited in a while.»
-A minute? D-Don't tell me...
Wrath's eyes widened, turning his face toward Raon.
-Are you going to buy that King Bead ice cream? And also, a new flavor...
'Is that not all?'
-Ngh...
He clicked his tongue for a long time, disappointed.
- It wouldn't hurt to stop by here for a moment...
-No, I’m not going.
-Tch, and where is this? It feels familiar... Hm?
Wrath's eyes widened as he saw the small village with thick smoke billowing from every chimney.
-Isn't this where your sword was forged?
-That's right. Seems you remember.
Raon nodded and entered the village.
'The village of blacksmiths that hammer iron day and night. Mirtan.'
The "he" that Glenn told him to visit yesterday is Vulcan, the Master of the Continent.
He took the time to come here, also to perform maintenance on the Heavenly Drive after a long time.
-This place is terribly boring.
Wrath murmured disinterestedly and retreated toward the ice flower bracelet.
'All your interest is in the ice cream beads, huh?'
Raon touched the bracelet and entered Mirtan. Hearing the flames of the furnace, the sound of iron, and the shouts of the masters, he felt energized. As he slowly looked around while heading to Vulcan's workshop, he saw the back of a head that looked familiar.
"Dorian?"
"Eh? Division Leader!"
It was indeed Dorian. He stopped his transaction with a master and approached with a radiant smile.
"What brings you here?"
"And you? Why are you here?"
"I was stocking up on essentials!"
Dorian smiled and said he had gone out to replenish the weapons and iron that had been used in the war. He had bloodshot eyes, as if he hadn't slept.
"Don't tell me you've been..."
"Yes, I haven't stopped buying basics! I even got good fish and meat at the dawn market!"
He laughed as he pulled out fresh meat and fish from his bag.
"You could take it easy, you know?"
"If I go slowly, I can't gather all the essentials!"
Dorian roared, stamping his foot.
"Eh...?"
"Just like an elegant swan splashing furiously in the water, for proper stocking up it's necessary to run day and night!"
He frowned and lifted his chin.
"Do you understand?"
"Ah, yes..."
Raon took a step back, terrified.
"I still have essential things to gather. See you later!"
As soon as Dorian collected his items from the blacksmith, he immediately left the village of Mirtan.
"Uf..."
Raon chuckled as he watched Dorian disappear quickly. He seemed excessively tired, but also incredibly happy.
- Didn't the king tell you? Your wallet is a pervert...
Wrath shook his head and said that there were only weirdos around.
'Maybe that's true...'
Raon sighed and climbed to the top of the village of Mirtan. From the round workshop, he felt a hammering and heat he had never heard before.
"He’s still the same."
Raon smiled slightly and knocked on the door of the workshop.
"We do not accept visitors!"
Vulcan's hoarse voice came from inside the workshop. Raon opened the door and entered as soon as Vulcan finished speaking.
- Don’t tell me you’ve retired again?
"Mmm...?"
Vulcan slowly turned around. He was left speechless, revealing even larger and firmer muscles than before.
-Raon!
Vulcan jumped up and embraced Raon.
"It’s been a while."
"Indeed. It’s been too long!"
He laughed heartily and asked why Raon had taken so long to visit him.
"I had heard so much about your feats that my ears were almost falling off. It was almost boring."
Vulcan gave Raon a strong pat on the shoulder, as if he were proud of him.
"Everything is thanks to the sword you made, Master."
Raon smiled, touching the hilt of the Heavenly Drive.
"You may not have improved your skills, but your flattery certainly has!"
Vulcan snorted and shook his head.
"You didn't come to see my face, so let’s take a look at that sword of yours."
He gestured with his hand, saying he would take a look at the Heavenly Drive.
"Understood."
Raon bowed his head and carefully drew the Heavenly Drive.
"Mmm..."
Vulcan squinted as he examined the Heavenly Drive.
"You've kept it a bit, but the blade is damaged. It seems you’ve gone through some fierce battles."
He sighed as if recalling the time Raon had spent fighting with the Heavenly Drive.
"I’m sorry."
"Why would you regret it? A worn sword means it has faithfully fulfilled its function. Its owner has nothing to regret."
Vulcan shook his head vigorously, saying that all Raon needed to do was prove that he was a true Zieghart swordsman.
"By the way, I was going to call you, so you arrived just at the right time."
He set the Heavenly Drive aside and walked toward a corner of the workshop.
"Pardon?"
Raon blinked, looking at Vulcan's back.
"Some excellent materials have arrived."
Vulcan pulled out golden ore and red and blue iron beads from an old box, and his lips curved into a smile.
"I'll make your sword even sharper and stronger!"
-
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