C1095
30 minutes prior to Raon’s arrival back at Zieghart.
"Haah..."
Glenn exhaled a deep, almost earth-shaking sigh.
'When exactly will Raon come back?'
It had been more than six weeks since Raon departed from Zieghart. Under normal circumstances, Glenn would have waited with calm expectation, yet the house’s swordsmen were amassing Golden Tablets at a startling rate.
They appeared to delay finishing their missions, only to complete them all at once and stack up huge achievements—raising the possibility that Raon might be disqualified from the pool of successor candidates if this pace persisted.
"Ngh..."
Glenn pressed his lips together and began to tremble his left leg. With a low rumble, his anxious resolve vibrated through his leg, sending shudders not only across the Lord’s Manor but throughout all of Zieghart.
"Heh heh heh..."
Roenn strolled into the audience chamber, chuckling quietly.
“You’ve started your restless pacing again today, I see.”
Roenn’s remark was delivered as if he had anticipated this behavior.
“Yet you managed to hold out a bit longer than usual,” added Sheryl, as she eyed Glenn’s twitching leg.
"This is an ill omen..."
Glenn’s brows knitted in deep concern, muttering that something unforeseen was on the horizon.
"Surely he won't return empty-handed?"
He began shaking both legs at once, as if envisioning Raon failing to even qualify as a successor candidate. A deep rumble echoed as dust cascaded from the ceiling of the chamber, and distant shouts of swordsmen resounded outside the Lord’s Manor.
"I’d have awarded him a tablet even for the modest feat of capturing some fugitive criminals..."
Glenn bit his lip hard, his impatience mounting to the point where bending the rules crossed his mind.
"That simply won’t do!"
Sheryl hurried onto the platform, flailing her hands.
“You know all too well how diligently the swordsmen—Central and True Martial Palace Masters alike—have been striving to boost their achievements!”
She shook her head, explaining that although she was fond of Raon, showing undue favoritism was unacceptable.
“I know, I know,” Glenn replied, waving his hand as if dismissing it as a mere jest, yet his face remained ashen.
“That hardly sounded like a joke,” came the dry retort from Roenn, who swept away the dust from the ceiling with a flick of his hand.
“Don’t lose heart. I trust Lord Raon will return bearing excellent news,” Roenn assured, nodding as if his familiarity with Raon gave him special insight.
“That may be so, but time is nearly up. If Raon doesn’t come back soon...”
Glenn’s gaze drifted to the window as his brows furrowed even deeper.
"He might truly fail to secure his place as a successor candidate," he murmured, referring to those relentless beings who roam only to accumulate achievements—neither resting nor feasting.
"R-really?"
"Hmm..."
Both Sheryl and Roenn stared in astonishment, clearly having never contemplated the possibility that Raon might not even crack the top five among the candidates.
“This trial was devised to both select successor candidates and cultivate the martial and mental strength of our swordsmen, yet it has exploded beyond my wildest expectations.”
Glenn sighed shortly.
'It’s undoubtedly beneficial, yet I cannot celebrate it when it jeopardizes that kid Raon.'
The swordsmen were racking up achievements both within the household and externally, desperate not to forfeit their sole chance at succession. Although this fervor was what Glenn had desired, the prospect of Raon being edged out filled him with an ominous dread.
'Hold on. The swordsmen only began their fervent actions because of Raon himself.'
Even though many had resigned their hopes of heading the house, nearly every swordsman in the family took part in the successor candidate trial, following Raon’s advice that participation was advantageous regardless of the outcome. In hindsight, it wouldn’t be hyperbole to claim that Raon had inadvertently precipitated this crisis.
“What are you doing! Quickly, summon Raon!”
“I’ll attempt to reach him,” came the response.
Sheryl and Roenn also cried out his name, their expressions trembling as if they sensed impending doom.
“That’s not acceptable.”
Glenn shook his head, his voice heavy with regret.
“I told Raon I believed in him. What sort of man would I be if I called him out now?”
He bit his lip, resigning himself to endure the wait, however painful it might be.
"Hmm!"
"Heh heh heh..."
Soon, Sheryl and Roenn too began shaking their legs in anxious unison with Glenn, all of them fretting for Raon’s welfare.
"Ahhhhh!"
"W-what! The earthquake is far more severe than usual!"
"The ground is cracking apart! Everyone, run!"
As fissures splintered the frozen earth and the structures quivered violently, the swordsmen scattered in screams. With a resonant rumble, as Glenn, Sheryl, and Roenn felt the very floor split beneath them, exhaling dark, smoky sighs akin to cigarette smoke, the audience chamber’s door creaked open—and in stepped Chad, the Leader of the Shadow Agents.
"L-Lord. They say the Light Wind Palace Master is returning."
Bowing his head, Chad explained that Raon was presently making his way through the gates and headed for the main building.
"Raon? Why am I only hearing of this now?"
Glenn’s expression contorted sharply.
"I—I only learned of it myself. Apparently, he traveled using Evelyn’s magic, which kept him off our intelligence network’s radar," Chad admitted, nervously fidgeting with his fingers as he added that he had rushed over as soon as the news reached him.
“Is there any issue with Raon?”
“There’s no problem per se, but word is he’s arriving with three individuals unknown to us.”
Chad’s eyebrows dropped as he noted these newcomers were absent from the Shadow Agents’ records.
"People we haven’t seen before..."
Glenn rested his hand on the armrest and licked his lips.
"I care not if they’re notorious criminals, martial artists hailing from illustrious families to aid us in war, or even reclusive masters!"
He nodded, clenching both fists tightly.
“Let them be the ones who will help Raon amass even greater achievements!”
Glenn clasped his hands together as though in prayer, fervently hoping they were not merely ordinary arrivals.
"Please!"
***
"G-Grandfather!"
Hearing the title dear to his heart, Raon called out as he witnessed Glenn’s very soul seemingly on the verge of departing his body.
"Hup!"
At the sound of “grandfather,” Glenn snapped back to reality, inhaling sharply and swallowing his ethereal escape. The light returned to his once vacant eyes.
“Are you alright?”
Raon looked upon Glenn with deep concern.
—That old man nearly slipped away from this world!
Wrath muttered, visibly shaken that humanity’s premier combat force had nearly vanished in such a ridiculous manner.
—How can a man of such formidable martial might be so emotionally fragile!
He frowned, unable to fathom why Glenn seemed so weak in the presence of his grandson.
'To think he nearly ascended...'
Raon blinked in disbelief.
'Was he really that shocked?'
Though he expected Glenn to be startled, he hadn’t foreseen such an extreme reaction—his own heart pounded as if it might leap from his chest.
"I—I’m fine. So..."
Glenn managed a dry swallow as he turned his gaze toward the Blade Queen standing to his left.
“The first is Senior Blade Queen, the second is Senior Warlord, and the third is an Ancient Dragon of the Gold clan, correct?”
He blinked repeatedly, scarcely able to believe his ears.
"That is correct."
Raon nodded serenely.
“The Blade Queen and the Warlord...”
Karoon’s eyes narrowed, as if he were probing the concealed auras of these two Transcendents.
"It truly is so."
He pressed his lips tightly, sensing the secret energies the Blade Queen and the Warlord hid within.
“T-the Blade Queen and the Warlord? Weren’t they supposed to be dead?”
Balder’s jaw dropped so low that his tongue nearly slipped out.
“We had assumed they were gone since no trace of the Blade Queen or the Warlord had surfaced—not in the Black Market nor in the Shadow Agents’ intel...”
Chad’s breath quickened to a near-paralysis.
“To think they’re alive and appear so youthful...”
His eyes trembled as he admitted his astonishment at their seemingly ageless forms.
“Of course I’m alive! I haven’t even had children yet!”
The Blade Queen shook her head vehemently, declaring she had no plans to die anytime soon.
“Right?”
She nudged the Warlord beside her with a playful elbow.
“Absolutely.”
The Warlord’s face flushed slightly with embarrassment, yet he replied with calm composure.
“You look remarkably younger than the last time we met.”
Glenn’s eyebrows twitched in mild surprise—the very sight of the Blade Queen and the Warlord was astonishing.
“We have acquired much wisdom since then,” the Blade Queen said sweetly, expressing gratitude for the compliment.
“The Destructive King of the North has far outstripped our achievements. Congratulations on your tremendous success.”
The Warlord bowed respectfully, as though acknowledging Glenn’s high level of mastery.
“Thank you.”
Glenn returned the greeting—a rare display of formal courtesy from the leader of Zieghart, a figure renowned as the pinnacle of the continent.
“However, you two...”
Glenn swallowed hard as he parted his trembling lips.
“Is it truly the case that you are accompanying Raon?”
He exhaled deeply, still finding that claim almost too incredible to accept.
“It happened in an instant,” the Blade Queen replied with a gentle smile.
“It is only natural to follow our Lord—the one who fulfilled our sect’s deepest wish.”
The Warlord joined in, clasping his hands as he referred to Raon simply as “Lord.”
"L-Lord?"
"Heh.heh.heh."
“T-this must be a dream, right? I’m clearly caught in a bizarre daydream.”
Simultaneously, Sheryl, Roenn, and Chad’s jaws dropped in disbelief.
"R-Raon is being hailed as the Lord by the Blade Queen and the Warlord?"
Alice frantically swept the stray hair from her forehead, her expression a mix of bewilderment and intrigue.
“Nephew! What have you done this time?”
She wore a peculiar look, torn between curiosity and confusion.
"Lord..."
Glenn pressed his hand against his forehead, echoing the word “Lord” that had just emerged from the Warlord’s lips.
—This is utterly maddening.
It was astonishing enough that Raon had brought the Blade Queen and the Warlord to Zieghart, but hearing them address him as “Lord” made him question the very fabric of reality.
'Have I been bewitched by some angelic spirit or phantom?'
He grew so suspicious that he wondered if this scenario had been orchestrated by Derus.
"Raon, how did you come to accept these two?"
Unable to contain himself, Glenn demanded an explanation from his grandson.
"I’ll start from the beginning. Earlier, at the Sword Saint’s Tomb..."
Raon recounted every detail of what had transpired at the Sword Saint’s Tomb and his recent ordeals in the Sturin Mountains. Naturally, with so many listening, he softened the details regarding Sloth.
“It was a fortuitous encounter. No, it must be the guiding hand of Heaven’s Flow.”
Glenn let out an excited exclamation, finally understanding the situation. His doubts seemed to vanish as he nodded in approval.
“In the name of Glenn Zieghart, I welcome the Blade Queen and the Warlord. Accept them.”
Glenn lowered his head in a solemn gesture, urging them to look after Raon.
"Please, also take care of us!"
The Blade Queen winked playfully with her left eye at Glenn.
“We are truly grateful for the Destructive King of the North’s generosity.”
The Warlord extended his clasped hands in a gesture uniquely respectful of his station.
“However...”
Glenn’s gaze shifted to the Gold Dragon Paratheus, who stood beside the Warlord.
“The dragon...”
He narrowed his eyes, visibly worried about Paratheus.
"I understand your concerns, Head of House. But that fellow is a reliable dragon," the Warlord reassured, stepping toward Paratheus and nodding.
“He is an odd one—a maverick who severed ties with the other dragons long ago. He even disregards the Dragon Lord’s commands.”
The Blade Queen grinned as she patted Paratheus’s back affectionately.
“If Paratheus betrays us, I’ll literally offer you my head.”
The Warlord bowed his head, declaring their trust in Paratheus exceeded even their own lives.
"I’ll wager my sword on it as well."
The Blade Queen tapped her treasured sword—a blade more precious than her own life—to emphasize her commitment.
"Y-you all..."
Paratheus’s eyes glistened red, moved by the unwavering support of the Blade Queen and the Warlord.
"..."
Raon narrowed his eyes, studying the bond among the three—a connection that transcended ordinary friendship.
'What kind of relationship do they share?'
At times they acted as if ready to devour one another, yet when it truly mattered, they entrusted each other with their lives. Their connection was far beyond the simple term “friend.”
“You can trust him. He will not divulge our secrets or betray our trust,” Raon murmured, offering a slight smile in Paratheus’s defense.
"L-let’s all get along well, shall we?"
Paratheus slurred his words like a tipsy middle-aged man while rolling his eyes, still appearing somewhat intimidated by Glenn.
"Very well. Paratheus of the Gold clan, you are welcome here too."
Glenn nodded, deciding to place his faith in the words of the Blade Queen, the Warlord, and Raon.
"Blade Queen! Please, take care of us!"
Sheryl fixed the Blade Queen with an intense gaze, so fierce it seemed capable of burning—she was clearly fascinated by the female swordsman who had once brought her such renown.
"Haaaaah..."
Mark Goetun panted as though he might collapse from the thrill of witnessing the continent’s greatest sword martial artist in person.
"N-now we can finally revise our plans! A bread—no, a sausage bread has just rolled into our laps!" (E/N: A humorous Korean expression, perhaps?)
Chad’s eyes flashed with a wild, animalistic gleam, delighted that the number of Transcendents of concern had increased.
"H-how many Golden Tablets should this be worth?"
Burren cleared his throat dryly as his gaze fixed on Raon.
“The Blade Queen, the Warlord, and even an Ancient Dragon—shouldn’t that be worth at least five Golden Tablets?”
Martha licked her lips, confessing that even five might not suffice.
"I agree with five as well, yet the Head of House has always given one tablet at a time until now."
Trevin furrowed his brows, remarking that awarding five at once did not seem straightforward.
"No! He deserves at least five!"
Balder raised his right hand assertively, insisting that five Golden Tablets was the proper recompense.
"Since when do you ever speak sense? But still, five isn’t enough. This matter cannot be settled with Golden Tablets alone—we require additional rewards!"
Alice glared fiercely at Glenn, as if pressuring him to decide.
"..."
Karoon remained silent, his eyes shifting between the Blade Queen, the Warlord, and Raon; rather than being vacant, his gaze burned even more intensely.
"Raon."
Glenn gestured lightly in his direction.
"Is there anything else you accomplished beyond this?"
He clutched his head, imploring Raon to confess if any further deeds had been done.
"...No, there isn’t."
Raon shook his head with calm finality.
—What do you mean there isn’t? You received backing from Sloth and support from the Habun Castle lords!
Wrath bellowed, pounding on Raon’s head as if to remind him of his forgotten feats.
'This is not the time to mention that,'
he thought, recalling the deep-seated prejudice against demon kings that made it unwise to mention Sloth’s intervention. Similarly, referencing Milland, the lord of Habun Castle, was equally unwise at this juncture.
"I see."
Glenn briefly licked his lips as he regarded Raon’s serene eyes.
'So, how many Golden Tablets shall I award?'
He had once been inclined to grant a Golden Tablet even for modest achievements, yet now that Raon had returned with feats beyond imagination, he was conflicted about the proper reward. His heart was light with joy, but his head ached with indecision.
'Five Golden Tablets...'
Although he wished to bestow every tablet he possessed, he simply could not.
'After all, I’ve always given only one at a time.'
Throughout the successor trials, he had maintained the principle of awarding just one Golden Tablet per achievement—even for those whose accomplishments merited multiple tablets—so increasing the number now felt awkward.
'Especially...'
Glenn’s eyes flickered down toward Karoon.
'Considering that Karoon’s mission a few days ago deserved three tablets.'
Recently, Karoon had successfully hunted an Ancient Dragon, rescued countless hostages, and recovered a vast cache of artifacts and gold bars. (E/N: Raon achieved a similar feat roughly 150 chapters ago.)
Though that deed warranted three Golden Tablets, his rule had allowed him only one, leaving no room to lavish Raon with many tablets now.
"Ahem..."
Glenn bit his lip as he cleared his throat with a soft sigh of resignation.
'It cannot be helped.'
He had no alternative but to award the predetermined one tablet and offer compensation in other forms. With a regretful sigh, he raised his hand.
"One Golden Tablet to the Light Wind Palace Master..."
"Five."
Before Glenn could continue, Karoon strode forward onto the platform, interrupting him.
“At this moment, with two of the Five Kings’ Transcendents nearly certain to depart, the feat of bringing forth the Blade Queen, the Warlord, and the Ancient Dragon is beyond measure.”
Karoon spread his right hand wide toward Glenn.
"Please, grant five Golden Tablets to the Light Wind Palace Master."
Karoon bowed his head with quiet conviction, asserting that it was the only just decision.
"That person..."
—That eagle-eyed scoundrel...
Balder and Wrath exchanged blank stares as they looked at Karoon.
"What, did he eat something off?"
—What, did he consume something strange?
-
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