C1021
-It's not rigged, is it? How is this happening?
Wrath yelled, demanding to know why reward messages kept popping up whenever he spoke.
-This damn system must be watching my every move!
He gestured wildly at the empty air, demanding it to show itself.
'Should I investigate this?'
Raon ignored Wrath's tantrum and examined the messages that appeared before him.
[You have bestowed the mercy of a Sword God upon those who will walk the same path.]
[Your mastery of Ten Thousand Swords has increased.]
[All skills increase by 30 points.]
[The rank of the <Evil Eye of Wrath> trait has increased.]
[The rank of the <Spirit Concealment> trait has increased.]
[The rank of the <Magic Armor of the Snow Flower> trait has increased.]
[The rank of the <Soul Sword (Spirit)> trait has increased.]
[Your soul realm has increased considerably.]
[A new <Spirit Transformation> trait has been created.]
'The rewards are nice, but the content is a bit embarrassing.'
The mention of Sword God was too heavy for someone who had barely reached Transcendence.
-That's what I'm saying!
Wrath slapped Raon on the shoulder as if he'd made a good point.
-The system likes you too much! When its master is right here!
He gritted his teeth, claiming the system was so enamored with Raon's face it couldn't think straight.
-I'll smash its head as soon as we get back to the Devildom!
'Is that so?'
Raon continued examining the messages, ignoring Wrath's bestial growls.
[Your mastery of Ten Thousand Swords has increased.]
[All skills increase by 30 points.]
'As expected, my mastery of Ten Thousand Swords has improved.'
As he had anticipated when his mental world expanded, the proficiency of all the sword techniques he'd learned had grown. Since he'd internalized them through his training with Briana, it was an even greater gain than simply having vague ideas.
'And all my skills increased by 30 points.'
Despite facing two Transcendents, Raon felt he'd gained these points effortlessly. The Thespian Emperor had simply unleashed his aura and magic in a state of mental collapse, while the training with Briana had been mutually beneficial in many ways.
-You barely did anything, and you get 30 points! This isn't a market, why is it giving away so much?!
Wrath yelled at the system, begging it to regain its sanity.
'Next...'
Raon felt strength and vitality surging through his body as he checked the messages below.
[The rank of the <Evil Eye of Wrath> trait has increased.]
[The rank of the <Magic Armor of the Snow Flower> trait has increased.]
[The rank of the <Spirit Concealment> trait has increased.]
[The rank of the <Soul Sword (Spirit)> trait has increased.]
'Four traits have also improved.'
The rank of <Evil Eye of Wrath> had increased, probably because he'd focused on his ocular power to break down Briana's swordsmanship style. <Magic Armor of the Snow Flower> had also improved by withstanding the Thespian Emperor's aura and magic. The <Spirit Concealment> and <Soul Sword (Spirit)> traits seemed to have grown along with his mastery of Ten Thousand Swords.
-This is driving me crazy! You just ate from a prepared table, why do you get four upgrades?!
Wrath trembled, shaking his fists that were rolled up like bread rolls, claiming it was becoming increasingly unbearable.
'He's having a worse-than-usual fit today.'
Raon nudged Wrath, who was wriggling with all his might like a tadpole, and checked the last message.
[Your soul realm has increased considerably.]
[A new <Spirit Transformation> trait has been created.]
'Spirit Transformation?'
As the name alone didn't allow for conjecture, he immediately checked its contents. <Spirit Transformation>: A soul that has grown so much that it transcends its physical vessel, exerting a positive influence on those around it.
'Does this mean my soul has a beneficial effect on others?'
Reading the description of Spirit Transformation, it seemed to imply that his soul, which had grown disproportionately large for his current level, would create positive effects for others.
-Tch...
Unlike his reactions to the other reward messages, Wrath only clicked his tongue briefly.
'Why aren't you angry for once?'
Raon lightly touched Wrath's tail, asking if he'd finally matured.
-Because I knew it was coming.
Wrath gestured as if he'd anticipated the trait.
'You knew?'
-That's right.
He nodded calmly.
-Didn't you find it strange that both women you fought today fell into a state of enlightenment?
Wrath pointed to Briana, who was still in a trance.
'Hmm...'
Raon let out a low groan as he followed Wrath's hand to look at Briana.
-It's true that the woman of the celestial flow had been in a deep mental state for a long time, and that that crazy woman's soul is special, so both of them easily entered a state of enlightenment. But still...
He narrowed his eyes deeply.
-It's impossible for them to fall into a trance immediately after sparring with you.
Wrath shook his head, saying that no matter the circumstances, it was beyond the norm for two people to enter a state of enlightenment just from sparring with someone.
'Then...'
Raon swallowed hard as he looked at the newly created <Spirit Transformation> trait.
-That's right.
Wrath lowered his hand as if to confirm it.
-The King wasn't sure when it happened with the woman of the celestial flow, but now it's certain.
He nodded his chin towards Raon.
-You instinctively discovered how to use that enormous soul of yours while opening your Soul Sword.
'Using my soul...?'
-Your soul is of such quality that not only the King, but even that old Nadine would recognize it! It's now affecting not only you, but others as well. The power of that damned Ring of Fire probably plays a part too.
Wrath frowned, saying this effect had simply manifested as a trait.
'I see.'
Raon said he now understood and looked again at the Spirit Transformation trait.
'This is quite... no, it's an incredible gain, right?'
Being able to use his soul to help others grow – this ability would clearly be more beneficial to the Light Wind Palace's growth than any other trait.
'I look forward to this.'
Raon curved his lips into a smile as he looked at the Light Wind Palace swordsmen.
"Palace Master!"
"Well done!"
"We believed you would win!"
The Light Wind Palace swordsmen waved their hands and cheered in response to Raon's smile.
"Urgh!"
However, Dorian, who could read Raon's thoughts, covered his mouth as if he was about to vomit and trembled from head to toe.
"We're doomed..."
***
"Hah!"
Just as Raon was thinking about how to help the Light Wind Palace swordsmen grow, Briana, who had been in a state of enlightenment, opened her eyes with a deep sigh.
'Yes, she woke up faster than expected.'
Perhaps because it wasn't her own ability but a trance induced by his influence, she hadn't spent much time in her mental world.
"M-Master!"
"Are you alright?"
The Unyielding Blade swordsmen protecting Briana rushed to her side.
"I'm in the best condition I've ever been in."
Briana dismissed her subordinates, saying her body and mind were completely renewed, and approached Raon.
"I suppose I should thank you first."
She bowed politely, expressing gratitude for the insight she'd gained. It seemed she was thanking him for entering a state of enlightenment during their sparring, unaware of the Spirit Transformation.
"It was just a coincidence."
Raon waved his hand, looking into Briana's now serene eyes.
"Why the sudden formality?"
Briana tilted her head, finding it strange.
"Because our training is over."
Raon shrugged, saying he no longer needed to act arrogant now that he'd achieved his goal.
"I've felt it since I first saw you, but you really are peculiar."
Briana laughed as she looked at him.
"No matter the way of speaking, now please tell me. Who are you?"
Raon said that since the training was over, she should explain everything now.
"I am the older sister of the woman you call the Queen of Swords."
Briana pointed to her own chest with her finger.
"Twin sisters born in a single body."
She smiled, saying two souls coexisted in one body.
"Is it like a split personality?"
"You could think of it that way, but it's not really like that. Our souls are truly different."
Briana shook her head with a smile.
"Ah, I see."
It seemed that, as he'd initially sensed, it wasn't a personality shift, but a shift between souls.
"Brigitte and I would involuntarily switch control of the body from birth, regardless of our will. We were pointed out as cursed and even abandoned by our parents."
Briana let out a faint laugh, saying that after being abandoned by their parents, they coincidentally met a master and joined the Unyielding Blade.
"Don't say that? I made a promise, so it's fine to tell everything."
She waved her hand as if telling Brigitte to be quiet.
"What do you mean by constantly switching?"
"It means our souls would switch at random times, not like now where we can switch at will. The physical and mental pain was so severe we really thought we'd go crazy."
Briana exhaled a heavy sigh, saying that when their souls forcefully switched, the shock was so intense they would faint.
"That's when our master introduced us to Ariel. Thanks to the magic she cast on us, we were able to live like this."
She brushed her disheveled hair aside, saying they were able to survive thanks to the Thespian Emperor's magic. Now she understood why the Queen of Swords had followed the Thespian Emperor.
"Of course, the Ariel of that time probably saved us because she read the celestial flow and thought we might be useful. But still, she helped us."
Briana smiled softly, as if she'd read every aspect of the Thespian Emperor's personality.
"I have a question. You're much stronger, so why was Brigitte in command of the body?"
Raon asked Briana about something he'd been curious about.
"I chose to come forward."
Briana placed her hand on her chest as if she were holding Brigitte's hand.
"It's natural for an older sister to look after her younger sister, isn't it?"
She smiled, saying it wasn't a difficult choice.
"...I see."
Raon let out a sigh as he looked at Briana, who didn't seem to regret her decision.
'She's a person of great character.'
Seeing her smile and make the choice for her sister without regret, even after having tasted having a physical body, Raon could feel the greatness of Briana's character.
'This person will grow even more in the future.'
He was eager to see the truly different level of martial prowess and growth she would show if she could overcome the limitations of Brigitte's body and aura.
"What? Even if I was born just a minute earlier, I'm still the older sister! And it doesn't matter if I speak aloud or inside my head!"
Briana frowned as if she were arguing with Brigitte inside.
"Brigitte's reticence was because...?"
Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked at Briana.
"That's right. She seems calm because she's chatting with me inside."
She laughed, saying that Brigitte was actually quite talkative.
"May I ask you something too?"
Briana raised a finger.
"Go ahead."
"You can enter the mental world at will, right?"
She smiled faintly as if she'd sensed it.
"Not completely at will, but I can time it a bit."
Raon shook his head, saying that entering the mental world wasn't that difficult.
"I knew it! I felt a similar rhythm from you while we were fighting!"
Briana smiled, saying she'd felt a similar quality while fighting him.
"Similar rhythm?"
"I can sever the connection with my body and enter the mental world. I've been training alone in that space until now."
She nodded, saying she'd been perfecting her footwork and swordsmanship in that solitary space.
"...I see."
Raon swallowed hard as he looked at Briana.
'So that's how she was able to display such refined and impossible techniques and footwork.'
It seemed that while Brigitte handled external affairs, Briana had been training her sword techniques and footwork in the mental world where time flowed more slowly, creating sword techniques and footwork refined enough to threaten him. Now all the questions he had about her had been answered.
"I really enjoyed fighting you."
Briana extended her fist, saying they should spar again sometime.
"Anytime."
Raon smiled faintly and raised his hand to bump fists with Briana.
"I totally agree to walk the same path as Zieghart."
Briana said she would agree to follow the Five Kings, then closed her eyes. When she opened them again, the original owner's soul, Brigitte, was reflected in them.
"Umm..."
The Queen of Swords, Brigitte, slightly bit her lip as she looked at him. She seemed embarrassed that all her hidden facts had been revealed.
"First, I should thank you. Not only Briana, but I was also affected."
She nodded, implying she had also entered the state of enlightenment when Briana did.
"And..."
Brigitte briefly exhaled and nodded.
"I agree with my sister."
She extended her fist, saying she had decided to join the Five Kings like Briana.
"I apologize for my many discourtesies today."
Raon bowed his head, saying he was sorry for his rudeness.
"I look forward to working with you."
He said he would make sure they wouldn't regret it, and extended his hand towards the fist that was the same yet different. Their fists met with a soft thud.
***
Raon returned to the Thespian Emperor's training ground with Brigitte.
"You've returned."
The Thespian Emperor, who seemed to have regained consciousness at that moment, bowed politely with her hand on her chest.
"You look pleased."
Raon smiled softly as he looked into the Thespian Emperor's eyes, which were slowly rising.
'She's back.'
The Thespian Emperor's eyes shone with an intellectual light he hadn't seen today. Her very presence seemed to shine more vividly and elegantly than when he first saw her in Zieghart. It seemed she had not only come out of her mental state, but her soul realm had also increased considerably.
"Of course I'm pleased. I've escaped that narrow room that was confining me."
The Thespian Emperor clasped her hands in front of her, thanking him for freeing her from the dark, narrow room.
"Brigitte. You seem to have changed as well."
She smiled softly at the Queen of Swords who was behind Raon.
"Yes. I'm indebted to this boy. Both I and Briana."
The Queen of Swords gestured as if it were a debt that would be difficult to repay.
"So we've decided to join the Five Kings."
She nodded, indicating the decision had already been made.
"I see. Then first we should settle accounts."
"Settle accounts...?"
Raon laughed as he watched the Thespian Emperor approach him.
'It's fascinating how quickly she changes.'
It was surprising how she had been willing to follow the Five Kings without question until a moment ago, but as soon as she regained her senses, she wanted to settle accounts first. However, this was more like the Thespian Emperor he knew, so he decided to accept it. In fact, he hadn't expected to receive the Five Divine Orders for free.
"Of course, I don't intend to use the Five Divine Orders without compensation. First..."
"That's not what I meant."
The Thespian Emperor took another step forward just as he was about to explain what he had in mind.
"You have provided a new light for me, who was slowly being buried. Therefore, White Whale and I will follow Zieghart until the war with the Five Demons is over."
The Thespian Emperor nodded, expressing her firm decision as if she had already made up her mind.
"We'll talk about any rewards or promises after the war is over, during the distribution of merits."
She smiled faintly, saying she would receive any contractual money or promises later.
"Do you really mean that?"
Raon frowned as he looked at the Thespian Emperor's smile.
"We could discard the Five Divine Orders after the war is over."
"They say the hand that gives roses retains its fragrance. Perhaps due to the insight I gained thanks to you, I've come to understand a little what kind of person you are."
The Thespian Emperor nodded, saying she had felt his soul when she fell into the state of enlightenment.
"I'm sure that even if I die in the war, you will give White Whale adequate compensation. From now on, the Five Divine Orders will be with Zieghart."
She bowed her head, mentioning Zieghart's name instead of the Five Kings, as if to show her trust in him.
"I look forward to working with you, Sword Emperor Raon Zieghart."
-
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