C763
Raon exhaled calmly as he looked at the slightly trembling document.
"So it’s finally here."
When Glenn informed him that the Five Demons were gathering forces, he mentioned that they were preparing to counterattack and that the Light Wind Division would be busy. Seeing the Head of House seal on the document, it appeared to be quite a challenging mission.
"My body has been craving action, so this is perfect."
Martha smiled widely as she lowered her sword.
"I also wanted to try something, so this is a good time."
Burren licked his lips in anticipation as he wiped the blade of his sword with the back of his hand.
"......"
Runaan continued her training, seemingly unaware of the mission orders that had arrived.
"It’s time for my storm of chaos to spit fire."
"Green Wave 2! I’m counting on you this time as well."
"I don’t care where, I just want to fight soon."
Not only the squad leaders but the entire Light Wind Division showed eager eyes as if they had been waiting for a mission. Raon pursed his lips as he observed the members of the Light Wind Division, who appeared ready to strike at any moment.
"I guess it would be fun to let those guys sit idle."
The Light Wind Division was a group of monsters who had reached the Master level, except for Yua and Julius. Even after returning from a long mission, it seemed wasteful to leave them inactive.
"What kind of mission is it?"
Raon nodded while making eye contact with Chad, the leader of the Shadow Agents.
"The Head of House said he would explain it personally. Let’s go together to the Lord’s Mansion."
Chad was the first to turn his back on them, as if telling them to follow him to the Lord’s Mansion.
"Understood."
Raon gestured to the Light Wind Division as he followed Chad.
"Let’s go."
"Yes!"
The Light Wind Division sheathed their swords as if they had been waiting for this and followed Raon. Perhaps because Glenn had summoned them first, the large doors of the audience chamber were already open. Raon advanced to the center with the Light Wind Division and knelt down.
"We are here to see the Head of House..."
"Rise."
The moment Glenn told them to rise, a gentle force lifted them, halting their waists and thighs.
Is it possible to do this just with willpower?
Raon swallowed hard. Normally, aura had to be infused into willpower to create physical strength, but Glenn had generated such powerful force solely with willpower. Raon felt his understanding of martial arts expanding even further.
Have you heard about the mission?
Glenn moved a finger that rested on the armrest of his throne.
"We came right away, that’s why we haven’t had news yet."
Raon shook his head slowly.
"Actually, it wasn’t me who decided this mission. They specifically requested you and the Light Wind Division."
"When you say 'they'..."
"It’s the Arianne House."
"Ah."
Arianne was one of the vassal houses of Zieghart, responsible for protecting the Death Marsh. However, after the Specter and the accumulated aura of death disappeared and the marsh became a forest, Raon had heard that the undead had been completely eradicated. He could not understand why they were requesting support now.
"The Head of the Arianne House specifically mentioned the Light Wind Division by name."
"May I ask the reason?"
Raon bit his lip slightly as he looked at Glenn. Wendy was the only one who hadn’t submitted her sword in the Arianne House, which had been destroyed, and had sent support during the last war. No matter what had happened, he wanted to help.
"As you likely know better, when all the death aura accumulated by the Specter and the undead disappeared, the Death Marsh became a lush forest."
Glenn stroked his chin while looking down.
"With the creation of a fertile forest, many wild animals and monsters gathered, forming large and small factions. There were monsters trying to cross into Arianne, but with the Head of the Arianne House there, it wasn’t a major problem."
"I see."
Raon nodded calmly.
«Lady Wendy must have grown even stronger».
Wendy hadn’t stopped training even when the Arianne House was ruled by corrupt officials. She should be able to face most monsters with ease.
"If Arianne is requesting help, it means something has happened that Lady Wendy cannot solve alone."
"That’s correct."
Chad lifted the document and let out a sigh.
"Apparently, the monsters that should be fighting for territory have been seen standing in formation like an army at the edge of the Death Marsh. They showed no fear of humans, only fierce killing intent."
He lowered his eyebrows, indicating the absurdity of the situation.
"The fact that the monsters aren’t fighting for territory means..."
- Yes. It means a king has appeared.
Glenn replied, rubbing his chin.
"If the forest is so fertile, it’s not surprising that a king emerged."
Even among the same species, monsters from different tribes fight for power. The fact that they gathered without fighting could only mean that a powerful mutant had been born.
'However...'
We should also consider the possibility that it might not be a king. Not only kings can control and concentrate monsters. There are more malevolent and cruel beings than monsters that can do that.
"It seems you’re also thinking about Eden."
Glenn smiled slightly, seeming to have the same thought.
—Yes. We will have to go confirm it, but I think there’s a strong possibility that it’s Eden.
"Eden?"
Martha clenched her right fist.
"That’s right! Those bastards can also control monsters! It must be them!"
Having experienced Eden’s abilities herself, she nodded vigorously.
"We shouldn’t assume it’s definitely Eden. There are limits to the number and types of monsters they can control."
Burren moistened his lips and asserted that they needed to gather solid information before making a judgment.
"Eden..."
Runaan placed her hand on the hilt of her Snow Flower sword. She bit her lip deeply as if remembering the Evil Goat Demon and Syria Sullion.
"You will depart tomorrow at dawn. Although the attack hasn’t started yet, we don’t know when problems may arise, so it’s better to act quickly."
"Understood."
Raon bowed, accepting the mission.
"Leader of the Light Wind Division."
Glenn nodded his chin towards Raon.
"At this moment, battles are being fought between the Five Kings and the Five Demons all over the continent. If this is the work of Eden, it won’t be an easy fight."
"I hope so."
"However, only the Light Wind Division can handle an incident of this scale at the moment. Make sure to resolve it thoroughly and return safely."
He nodded firmly, showing his confidence in the Light Wind Division.
"Yes!"
Raon and the Light Wind Division shouted their response vigorously, striking their left chests with their right hands.
"You must have a lot to prepare, so you may go."
Glenn looked at Raon and the Light Wind Division in turn and then gestured with his hand.
"Yes!"
Raon and the Light Wind Division bowed their heads and turned around.
"We will return."
Just before leaving the audience chamber, Raon spoke not as the division leader but as a grandson.
"Alright. Take care."
Glenn seemed to understand the sentiment and swallowed briefly before nodding.
"Then."
After briefly contemplating Glenn's slight smile, Raon left the Lord’s Mansion.
"As the Head of House said, prepare not only for the monsters but with the mindset of fighting against the forces of the Five Demons."
Raon called the assembled Light Wind Division to give them points they needed to be careful about.
"Yes!"
The Light Wind Division raised their chins, confident that they could fight against anyone.
"We will meet at the Fifth Training Ground tomorrow at dawn. Dismissed."
As soon as Raon lowered his hand, the Light Wind Division dispersed in all directions.
"It’s been a long time since we had a real fight. I like that we can go straight into action."
Martha licked her lips and said it was an opportunity to grow.
"......"
Runaan exuded a cold determination, as if she was fortifying her resolve for battle. Unlike before, she showed no fear, but a resolute expression that she would finish what she had to do.
"Ah, I thought something was off. The vice leader isn’t here!"
Burren clapped as if he had just realized Rimmer was missing.
"Don’t worry."
Raon shook his head and looked toward the back of the Lord’s Mansion.
"I know where he is."
***
A magnificent wind rose in the large training ground of the Head of House. Rimmer stood with his eyes closed in the center of an imposing whirlwind. Suddenly, an arrow made of water droplets pierced through the storm seamlessly. A loud crash resonated!
With his eyes still closed, as if he knew everything, Rimmer split the arrow, moving at a terrifying speed.
With a thunderous boom, he shattered the ground beneath his feet and deflected a rising water lance, demonstrating a terrifying concentration. However, he couldn’t avoid the sword of water that appeared under the sunlight, which looked like a rainbow. Rimmer’s chest was cut, and a thin line of blood flowed out.
"That’s it."
Rimmer clicked his tongue briefly as he looked at the blood flowing from his chest. As he waved his hand, the wind that had obstructed their view calmed.
"I couldn’t see it at all. How did you do that?"
"It’s, it’s a reflection."
Siyana, with her entire body covered by a thick blanket, bounced over to Rimmer.
"Reflection?"
"I used the sunlight’s glare and the reflection of the water..."
Siyana smiled softly and explained that she used a method taught by the spirits of water and fire.
"You have all kinds of tricks. But that was good."
Rimmer gave Siyana a thumbs up.
"Now that I’ve experienced it once, I’ll be able to handle similar situations."
He smiled, seeming satisfied with that.
"B-big brother."
Siyana called out to Rimmer, shifting the blanket to her right.
"Is something wrong?"
She moved nervously, her legs peeking out from under the blanket, looking worried.
"Why?"
Rimmer tilted his head, as if asking what she meant.
"You seem happy about something, but it’s strange that you’re not teasing me."
Siyana shook her blanket and said it had been a while since she had seen him like this.
"I’ve made a decision about something that’s been bothering me."
Rimmer laughed freely and said he felt a little more at ease.
"Something that’s been bothering you?"
"Yes, I’ll tell you later."
He gestured with his finger, saying she would find out if she waited.
"Anyway, thanks for helping me with my training before going back to Sepia."
Rimmer nodded and looked at the pink blanket. Even though they had called him back to Sepia, Siyana had stayed to help him with his training. He couldn’t help but feel grateful.
"I don’t want to leave. I want to stay here, make books with Ensia, and keep seeing the handsome Raon..."
Siyana shook her blanket back and forth, expressing her reluctance to return to Sepia.
"You can come back. Anyway, Ensia isn’t here now. You can coordinate your visits."
Rimmer opened his arms and said she could come anytime.
"R-really?"
"That’s what I said."
"What a relief."
When Siyana let out a sigh of relief, the door to the training ground opened, and Raon entered.
"!! Eek!!"
Startled, Siyana stumbled back, causing her blanket to fall. She immediately lifted her long hair to cover her face.
"Oh my..."
Rimmer chuckled as he looked at Siyana. He couldn’t understand why this girl, who had had a fit demanding power from the Spirit Kings to avenge Raon’s death, was now so shy.
"What’s up?"
He turned his gaze back to Raon after seeing his sister move even further away.
"We’ve received a mission."
Raon approached Rimmer and slightly lowered his head.
"A mission, huh..."
Rimmer licked his lips while turning his sword.
"Well, we can’t be the only ones having fun. What kind of mission is this?"
"It’s about the Arianne House..."
Raon recounted everything he had heard about the mission in the audience chamber.
"If we’re lucky, it’ll be a monster king. If we’re unlucky, it’ll be Eden."
Rimmer smiled as if he found it interesting.
"S-if it’s Eden, isn’t it too dangerous?"
Siyana swallowed hard.
"We can’t even call Ifrit right now..."
"We can’t just stand by because we can’t summon Ifrit."
Raon smiled gently to reassure Siyana.
"We shouldn’t stop just because one path is blocked."
Other Spirit Kings prohibited Ifrit and Elayim from descending because they participated in the war before completing the restoration of the spirit realm. But there was nothing to fear. Relying on powers outside one’s own would only weaken both martial skill and spirit.
Even in dangerous situations, overcoming challenges on one’s own was the attitude of a martial artist aspiring to greater goals.
"That’s a response worthy of the leader of the Light Wind Division."
Rimmer smiled as he patted Raon’s shoulder.
"Then..."
Siyana bit her lip as she stepped forward.
"Can I go with you...?"
"Come with me! If you don’t come back this time, the old man will come looking for you!"
Rimmer gestured with his hand, telling her to go before she got scolded.
"Phew..."
Siyana lowered her head in disappointment.
"Don’t worry. We’ll return safe and sound and tell you what happened."
Rimmer nodded, promising to explain everything that happened during the mission.
"R-really?"
"Of course!"
"Okay!"
Siyana smiled and covered herself again with the blanket.
- Why does that pointy-eared spirit keep covering herself with a blanket?
Wrath tilted his head, seemingly unable to comprehend.
'Apparently, she covers herself with a blanket when she’s in a good mood.'
- Those pointy ears are really strange.
He frowned and said he couldn’t understand either Rimmer or Siyana.
"R-Raon. See you later."
Siyana bowed while wrapped in her blanket.
"Yes. Come visit us again."
"S-sure..."
She nodded several more times before leaving the training ground.
- That was a lie, wasn’t it?
Raon let out a sigh as soon as he was alone with Rimmer.
"As expected, our division leader knows me very well, huh?"
Rimmer chuckled and nodded.
"When we return from the mission, there will barely be time for playing and drinking, let alone explaining everything!"
He laughed and said he had no intention of wasting time with Siyana.
"Haha..."
Raon shook his head. Lately, Rimmer’s serious side and his playful personality alternated so frequently that it was hard to get used to.
"We're leaving tomorrow at dawn, so don’t be late."
"Don’t you know me? I’m Rimmer, the one who keeps his promises better than anyone!"
Rimmer pointed to himself with his thumb, as if to say there was no need to worry.
"......"
Raon and Wrath looked at Rimmer with cold, skeptical eyes.
- He’s going to be late.
"Sure, he’ll be late."
***
The fertile forest that was once called the Death Marsh swayed with the wind. No, upon closer inspection, it couldn’t be called a forest at all. What swayed were not leaves, but the heads and shoulders of monsters. A deep rumbling sound resonated in the air!
Goblins, kobolds, orcs, gnolls, wolf bears, trolls, ogres, ettins, cyclopes... An enormous army of monsters, too numerous to count, scrutinized the surroundings with bloodshot eyes.
Their menacing presence made it clear they would not let a single ant pass, let alone a human. With low growls, the monsters had been on guard in this place for more than two days without eating or sleeping. Their meticulous movements suggested they were protecting something valuable. A thunderous roar erupted!
As the third night fell and the light of the moon became unnaturally strong, the center of the land surrounded by monsters began to stir, and then a massive explosion occurred.
As the monsters above turned into a bloody mist flowing across the ground, a woman wearing a black orc helmet emerged from the collapsed earth. When she raised a sword embedded with the face of a lion, the monsters filling the entire forest let out a roar that shook the sky and the earth. The sound reverberated throughout the area!
-
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