C1012
Raon quickly closed the lid of the pearl bead ice cream box and left the annex building.
- Thank you.
Wrath murmured his thanks, genuinely worried about the ice cream.
- It's fine.
Waving his hand dismissively, Raon walked behind the annex. As always, Glenn was standing in front of the lake, looking at the night sky.
- "Grandpa."
Raon approached Glenn and bowed deeply.
- "After you left, I was thinking..."
Glenn slowly turned around.
- "I realized that the reward I gave you was too small considering you defeated the Demon Slaying Spear and The Fallen, and rescued Evelyn."
He smiled faintly, saying he came to make up for the insufficient reward. However, judging by his flushed face, it seemed he had been eagerly waiting for this moment from the beginning.
- "Thank you."
Unlike other times, Raon didn't show humility, but simply bowed his head and expressed his gratitude.
- What happened to you?
Wrath opened his eyes wide in surprise.
- Normally, you'd be crawling and saying nonsense like 'I-it wasn't me! I was just lucky!'
He tilted his head, finding it unexpected.
- 'Such an attitude would be disrespectful to the Head of House who came all this way. Besides...'
Raon licked his lips as he looked at the Blade of Requiem in his hand.
- 'I can't miss this opportunity to learn about the Soul Sword.'
Even with the Ring of Fire resonating at full power, he couldn't fully understand the battle between Glenn and the Heavenly Demon. Although he had entered the realm of the Soul Sword, it was still an unknown world to him.
- "Since it seems you've guessed what I'm about to do, we could start right away."
Glenn nodded calmly as if he had read Raon's thoughts.
- "Of course, what I want to teach you today is the Soul Sword."
He continued talking with his hand on the hilt of the Heavenly Tremor sword at his waist.
- "To be honest, I haven't fully grasped everything about the Soul Sword yet. And even if I explain it, it's not something you can just learn. But you should be able to do it."
Glenn looked at him with eyes full of warm confidence.
- "Because you've already reached that level."
He stroked his chin as if he had read Raon's mental image.
- "I used the Soul Sword with the power of this Blade of Requiem, not with my own strength. Can I really learn it?"
Although he had imitated Glenn's Soul Sword, he was a little worried because the essence was different.
- "It doesn't matter if you entered through the front door or the back, as long as you've entered the house."
Glenn smiled as if using the Blade of Requiem wasn't a problem at all.
- You're right. Whatever you do, once you've reached that level, the past doesn't matter much. However...
Wrath tilted his head to the side.
- Even if you imitated that old Nadine's Soul Sword, you won't be able to wield the same sword.
He shook his head, saying that since their souls were different, their swords would inevitably be different too.
- "I understand."
Raon tightened his grip on the Blade of Requiem and raised his red eyes.
- "It would be better to see your sword first. Can you wield it now?"
Glenn pointed at his own chest as if telling Raon to try stabbing him with the Soul Sword.
- "Understood."
Raon took a deep breath and unsheathed the Blade of Requiem. It might have scared someone else, but trusting Glenn, he felt he could use all his power. The Ring of Fire resonated with a low hum as he initiated a spiritual conversation with the vengeful spirits dwelling within the Blade of Requiem.
- 'The wind...'
As soon as he called for help from the vengeful spirits, a cool green wind gushed out from the tip of the Blade of Requiem. It was an unmistakable sword aura - Rimmer's Garunua.
- 'Are you helping me?'
Part of Rimmer's soul hadn't dissipated into the air, but had seeped into the Blade of Requiem. During the fight with the Heavenly Demon, he had been too frantic to notice, but it seemed that Rimmer was helping him even after death.
- 'It's been a while since I felt like I was fighting alongside my master.'
Raon smiled softly as he raised the soul blade he had forged with the vengeful spirits over the red sword.
- "Here I go."
He moved the Soul Sword, which had emerged like a stiletto, and shot it towards the massive soul shining within Glenn's body. With a sharp sound, Glenn caught it between his index and middle finger as if he could see the Soul Sword Raon had created.
- "I can feel the power of your soul and the vengeful spirits inside the Blade of Requiem together. The weakness in your sword power is probably due to the mixture of yin and yang souls."
He frowned, saying it was no different from impurities mixed into a remarkable sword.
- "However, the shape of the Soul Sword remains stable thanks to this wind. It's quite impressive."
Glenn felt Rimmer's wind emanating from the Blade of Requiem and chuckled. He briefly closed his eyes and then opened them, as if remembering a friend he could no longer see.
- "Raon, what do you think the Soul Sword is?"
Glenn spoke as he dissipated his own Soul Sword caught between his fingers.
- "A sword that cuts the soul, not the body. An absolute sword that can cut through anything in this world."
Raon told Glenn what he had been thinking about the Soul Sword.
- "As expected, that's what you think. Then what do you think it takes to create a sword that can cut through an enemy's soul?"
Glenn asked the question and then, as if he wanted to provide the answer himself, opened his magnificent soul realm.
- 'It's there...'
Raon swallowed as he met Glenn's serene eyes.
- 'The Head of House's Soul Sword is right in front of me now.'
Although it was invisible to the naked eye, Glenn's Soul Sword was now sweeping over his entire body. A chilling chill ran down his spine.
- "Just as you need an iron sword to cut through an enemy's body, you need a sword forged from your own soul to cut through an enemy's soul."
Glenn raised his right hand and placed it on his left chest.
- "There's only one piece of advice I can give you, which you've already started on this path. Forge your soul. Make it sharper and stronger than it is now."
He nodded, telling Raon to establish an unbreakable soul sword, like a childhood vow.
- "A sword forged from my soul..."
Raon bit his lip as he looked at his hand. It seemed that the stronger and more solid his soul was, the sharper his Soul Sword would become.
- "Your soul realm is surprisingly high, considering your martial prowess. However, it's still just a rough gem. It will only have meaning if it's properly refined and forged."
Glenn calmed his majestic aura, saying that the foundation was already well-established, so all Raon needed to do was set his mind to it.
- Of course his soul realm is high!
Wrath looked at him with disdain and gritted his teeth.
- He not only devoured my authority, but also the authority of other idiots. It would be strange if it wasn't high! And there's also that damn ring!
He shook his head, exclaiming that it would be more troublesome if it was low.
- "From now on, try conversing with your soul while raising your sword mastery. Then, naturally, you'll be able to create your own unique Soul Sword."
Glenn smiled softly as if he could already see that future.
- "...I understand."
Unlike before, Glenn didn't give detailed advice, but rather vague guidance. Surprisingly, Raon felt he understood what Glenn meant.
- "Still..."
Glenn raised his gaze slightly.
- "When I realized that your Soul Sword had a similar flow to mine, I felt quite proud."
He smiled proudly, saying it was like seeing a child take its first steps.
- "Grandpa, you've always been someone I want to emulate."
Raon sincerely expressed the heartfelt feelings that welled up in his chest.
- "...Is that so?"
Glenn looked at him with dazed eyes, then nodded warmly.
- "Even if they're just empty words, it makes me feel good."
He smiled contentedly at that moment and looked at the moon in the sky.
- "It's not a compliment. Grandpa, you've always... um."
Raon shook his head and then bit his lip as he looked at Glenn, who seemed to appear blurry in the moonlight.
- 'Right. That was there...'
He sighed deeply and took another step closer to Glenn.
- "Grandpa."
Raon swallowed and met Glenn's red eyes, which seemed to have faded.
- "There's something I'd like to ask you."
- "Go ahead, ask me."
Glenn nodded as if he would answer anything.
- "When you used the Soul Sword against the Heavenly Demon, you seemed blurry, like you were about to disappear from this world."
Raon continued, biting his lip.
- "And the Heavenly Demon also spoke as if you were about to disappear. I want to know the reason for this."
He actually had an idea because Wrath had told him about causality, but he wanted to hear the reason directly from Glenn.
- "To think you could already feel that, impressive."
Glenn maintained a subtle smile as he nodded at Raon.
- "In this world, there's a law called causality. If there's a cause, there's also an effect. Everything in this world is organically connected, and there's a future determined by the past. You can think of it as fatalism or the flow of heaven, where human lives are already decided."
Glenn explained the beginning of causality in detail.
- "However, even in a world where everything is determined, sometimes beings appear who deviate from causality. This world intervenes with such beings and sends them to another dimension so that they can no longer exist in this world. That's what's commonly called ascension."
He moved his fingers, saying that the reason martial artists in myths and legends disappeared was because of this ascension.
- "Right now, I'm standing on that border."
Glenn placed both feet on the thin crack in the ground caused by the Soul Sword.
- "If I deliberately ascend to that realm that I haven't fully grasped yet, this world will consider me a being who has freed himself from causality and send me to another world."
He smiled, saying that was why his body might have appeared blurry when he used the Soul Sword.
- "Then why did the Heavenly Demon...?"
Raon furrowed his brows, recalling how the Heavenly Demon seemed normal unlike Glenn.
- "He has someone else who accepts the laws of causality in his place. I couldn't see him clearly, but he seemed to be an extraordinary being."
It seemed he had already felt the authority of Pride dwelling within the Heavenly Demon's soul.
- "Raon, you're probably similar."
Glenn stroked his chin as if remembering Wrath, who was with Raon.
- That old man's right!
Wrath quickly moved his hand.
- You're ignoring even those laws with my power!
He gritted his teeth, complaining that he was the only one who constantly lost.
- "Honestly, I've been training my swordsmanship with ascension as my goal. I wanted to transcend humanity and become a true Sword God. However..."
Glenn's eyes, blinking nobly as if reflecting divinity, held human affection.
- "Now, I don't want to go there."
He smiled at Raon with warm eyes, as if explaining why he didn't want to go.
- "But you don't need to worry. I'll stop the Heavenly Demon and Derus Robert no matter what."
Glenn nodded, saying he wouldn't leave until those two were gone. Despite having his childhood dream within reach, he was putting Zieghart first.
- "Ugh..."
Raon bit his lip as he looked at Glenn's kind eyes.
- 'I don't want to let him go.'
Now that they had finally gotten close, now that he could finally call him grandpa, Raon didn't want to let Glenn go. Especially, he didn't want to make him sacrifice himself for someone like Derus.
- "The Heavenly Demon said something like this."
Raon looked up as he exhaled deeply.
- "That he might have the power to change the flow of heaven. To change destiny."
He clenched his fist, remembering his title of Architect of Fate.
- "I'll change it. I'll break destiny so that even if you reach a higher realm, you don't leave this world, grandpa."
Raon gritted his teeth, asking Glenn to wait for him.
- That's good!
Wrath descended upon Raon's head and clapped loudly.
- If you're going to be my vessel, you should at least have that spirit!
He laughed heartily, as if he was finally satisfied.
- "¡Hahahahaha!"
Glenn looked at Raon for a moment before bursting into laughter, holding his forehead.
- "G-Grandpa?"
Raon blinked his eyes like Runaan, surprised by Glenn's unexpected reaction.
- "I'm not laughing at you. It's just that..."
Glenn stepped forward and patted Raon's head.
- "Your words. Your sincerity just made me happy."
He said he was truly grateful as he held Raon's trembling hand.
- "Alright. I'll wait for you. Until you change my destiny."
Glenn smiled softly as he pulled out an old pamphlet from his chest.
- "I brought this thinking it might help you with your Soul Sword. Read it when you have time."
He handed him the old book and turned back to the lake.
- "I think I'll sleep well tonight. No, maybe I won't be able to sleep at all."
Glenn left with those cheerful words and walked away.
- "..."
Raon lowered his head towards Glenn as he held the book, still warm, against his chest.
- 'I don't know if I can do it. No, I must try.'
After Glenn left, Raon looked at the lake for a long time, promising to protect this house, Glenn, and Zieghart, before entering the annex.
- You've always shown weakness when it comes to family relationships, but today I was satisfied for the first time!
Wrath patted Raon on the shoulder as if to tell him he had done really well.
- Yeah, I've never felt so good in my life!
He frowned, saying he had been so frustrated all this time.
- 'So, can you help me with my cultivation too?'
- Well, I'll help occasionally!
- 'Now is it okay?'
- Alright! Let's eat ice cream first, then I'll help you.
- 'A family blessed by a demon king, our house can only prosper.'
Smiling, Raon opened the door and entered. However, the room was colder than usual, and a sweet scent floated in the air.
- ¡N-No puede ser!
Wrath flew in panic towards where the pearl bead ice cream box was.
- ¡Esto! ¡Rápido, abre esto!
He wagged his tail, urging Raon to open the lid quickly.
- Umm...
Raon swallowed and opened the lid of the box to find that all four pearl bead ice creams had melted and mixed together.
- Does the lid seem like it didn't close properly?
It seemed he hadn't closed the lid properly in his hurry to leave.
- You're a frustrating fool! The most precious ice cream than your life!
Wrath's face turned red, seeming genuinely angry.
- Ah, no, this is...
As Raon tried to back away timidly, Wrath flew towards him like a ghost.
- To hell with blessings! The only thing I'll feed you is curses! I won't help with your cultivation either!
Wrath actually cursed him until he bought new ice cream the next day. Of course, it was all in vain.
***
- "Hmm..."
Raon unrolled the bandages covering his chest and shoulders.
- 'It's almost completely healed.'
The physical wounds had completely healed, and the mental pain had decreased significantly as well. It seemed he could start training again.
- After all that mess, being completely healed in just a week is incredible.
Wrath snorted, saying that Raon had a tougher body and mind than a demon.
- Aren't there demons with good regenerative abilities like trolls?
Raon waved his hand dismissively.
- No matter how strong the regenerative ability is, the impact remains within the body. Especially the mind doesn't recover. However...
Wrath frowned as he looked at Raon.
- You have no traces of impact on your body or mind. It's beyond what can be described simply as 'tough'.
He gritted his teeth, saying it was because Raon had too many cheat traits.
- Ugh, and it's all because of my power...
- 'It's not just my power. There's also the authority of other demon kings.'
Indeed, what gave him great power was the authority of the demon kings. All possessed special abilities, so it wouldn't be strange to call it a fortuitous encounter on par with the Ring of Fire.
- 'Come to think of it, there's something I'm curious about.'
Raon gestured to Wrath as he put on his uniform.
- What is it?
- 'Is the Monarch of Pride bound to the Heavenly Demon like you are to me?'
Wrath had said it was the Heavenly Demon, not The Fallen, who had inherited Pride's power. Raon thought there might be a demon king bound to him like Wrath was to himself.
- 'It's probably not the case. He probably doesn't even watch over him.'
Wrath shook his head firmly.
- 'Why?'
- Because that's the kind of being he is. Pride. He's a madman who seems to embody that word itself.
He frowned as if just thinking about Pride irritated him.
- But why are you asking about Pride? Don't tell me...
Wrath's eyes flickered as if he had a revelation.
- Are you trying to obtain Pride's authority as well?
- 'Well, it would be nice to have it.'
Raon averted his gaze awkwardly.
- 'I didn't think I could get Greed's authority, but I got it before.'
Wrath had treated Greed and Pride as his equals. Since he had obtained Greed's authority, one of them, Raon thought he could get Pride's as well.
- It's impossible!
Wrath shook his head vigorously.
- Pride is completely different from other demon kings! He's a madman who thinks only he exists in this world!
He shook his head, saying it would absolutely never happen.
- 'Then why did he pass his authority to the Heavenly Demon?'
- I don't even know that!
Wrath snorted, saying that Pride was incomprehensible no matter how much one tried to understand him.
- 'Well, let's think about that later.'
Raon got up, storing the Heavenly Drive, the Wooden Ring Sword, and the Blade of Requiem on his uniform's waist.
- Where are you going so soon after you've recovered?
Wrath frowned as if to ask why Raon was moving instead of eating.
- 'The Heavenly Demon said that a war would start soon. Before that, we need to bring the remaining Transcendants to our side.'
Raon licked his lips as he looked at the brightly burning sun.
- "I've given them plenty of time. Now it's time to grab their straps."
-
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