Chapter 1152
"Hmm."
Raon pressed his lips together once more, feeling the weight of the swordsmen's gazes, which were so fervent they felt like they could physically sting.
'The pressure of their hope is nearly stifling.'
Throughout the previous month, these warriors had poured every ounce of their stamina and spirit into their training. It was only natural that they now watched him with eyes wide with the desperate prayer of being picked.
'I feel a pang of guilt for not being able to include everyone.'
He knew that the majority of those bright, optimistic faces would soon fall into disappointment. Even though he wasn't to blame for the limited spots, he couldn't shake the heavy feeling in his chest. It was particularly difficult because the criteria weren't just about sweat and toil; innate brilliance and simple timing played massive roles, making the announcement feel even more cold-hearted.
'Their current progress is a decisive factor as well.'
Because an audience with Glenn provided the best chance to shatter through personal plateaus, it was logical to prioritize those sitting at the absolute peak of the Master level or the lower tiers of Grandmaster. This meant that even exceptionally gifted individuals might be overlooked if they weren't at the right threshold. He made a mental vow to personally mentor those who missed the cut at a later date.
-The universe is fundamentally biased.
Wrath waved a dismissive hand, wondering why Raon was agonizing over the inevitable.
-Fortune is a skill in itself.
The small entity nodded, noting that being at the right stage of development at this exact moment was nothing more than a stroke of luck.
-You, of all people, should recognize the power of a lucky break!
Wrath put extra force on the word "luck," staring pointedly at Raon as he repeated it.
'That is a fair point.'
Raon looked up, a faint, wry grin touching his face.
"Nephew! Stop stalling and say something! The suspense is literally killing me!"
Balder hammered his chest with a closed fist, shouting that he absolutely had to be part of this group.
"He will speak when he is ready! Stop badgering him!"
Alice delivered a sharp smack to the back of Balder’s head, telling him to show some restraint.
"Uh, Palace Master! Please! Just tell us! Fast!"
Krein was practically foaming at the mouth, his desperation mirroring Balder’s. He looked like a man possessed by his own anticipation.
"Have some dignity, for heaven's sake."
Burren let out a heavy sigh as he clamped a hand over Krein’s mouth to silence him. Despite the lecture, his own eyes were glued to Raon, betraying his internal nerves.
"Just hold on. The choices are already set in stone anyway."
Martha urged everyone to stay composed, yet her own fingers were twitching visibly as she maintained a stiff, forced smile.
"Korolong..."
Runaan was drifting off, her head bobbing as she napped while on her feet. Her talent for sleeping in any situation was nothing short of miraculous; she didn't just share an affinity with Sloth, she seemed to be the embodiment of the concept.
"..."
Karoon remained silent, his arms crossed tightly as he watched the stage. He looked like a man who expected nothing and was simply waiting for the formalities to end.
"Phew."
Raon took a long, stabilizing breath and squared his shoulders.
"To begin: Karoon Zieghart and Alice Zieghart. I have selected these two. I am confident that if they can push past their current limits, they will possess the power to take down even the most elite transcendents."
He called out the names of Karoon and Alice first, providing a clear justification for his decision.
"I knew my nephew had good taste!"
Alice began clapping enthusiastically, boasting that she never doubted her inclusion.
"Me...?"
Karoon’s eyes snapped wide, his shock evident as if the possibility hadn't even crossed his mind.
"But why...?"
He let out a low, confused mutter, unable to comprehend why Raon would choose a man who had long stood as his direct opponent.
'You want to know why?'
Raon allowed a small smile to surface as he observed Karoon's bewilderment.
'It is because you aren't the same man anymore.'
Upon reaching the stage of Transcendence, Karoon hadn't just shed his bitter jealousy and ego; he had emerged as someone principled and honorable. Since his character had shifted so radically, it was only right that the world's perception of him shifted in kind.
"With Lady Alice and Lord Karoon, the choice is undeniable."
"Agreed. It would have been scandalous if they weren't on the list."
"Those two were locks. I want to see who fills the other spots!"
The assembled swordsmen murmured in agreement, finding the first two selections perfectly logical.
"Next..."
Raon moved on to the subsequent names without addressing Karoon's lingering confusion.
"Blade Queen Siera and Warlord Yuber. Both serve as instructors at the Light Wind Palace and are already established as high-tier Transcendents. Their further evolution is vital for the upcoming conflicts, which is why they have been chosen."
He announced the Blade Queen and the Warlord as the second pair, once again clarifying his strategic reasoning to the crowd.
"Yessss! That’s me!"
"The long nights of training were not in vain."
Siera skipped in place with the excitement of a young girl, while Yuber gave a solemn nod, feeling his recent tireless efforts had been validated.
"The Blade Queen and the Warlord are essential picks."
"Absolutely. With more power, they could likely hold their own against an Archangel."
"Zieghart gaining the loyalty of the Blade Queen and Warlord was a stroke of genius."
The warriors standing in the plaza nodded along, fully supporting the inclusion of the two veterans.
"Ahem!"
Glenn gave a firm nod of approval, clearly satisfied that the crowd respected Raon's judgment.
"It seems he has full command of the situation now," Sheryl noted with a sigh as she observed Glenn’s reaction.
"Heh heh heh."
Roenn let out a warm, belly laugh, clearly enjoying the spectacle.
"Following them are Burren Zieghart, Martha Zieghart, Runaan Sullion, Mark Goetun, and Trevin Zieghart from the Light Wind Palace. From the Central Martial Palace, Toribis Zieghart and Siphren Leorn. And from the True Martial Palace..."
For the third set of names, Raon listed the various leaders and executives from the different martial branches.
"These individuals have already reached the rank of High Grandmaster or higher. I have picked them because they are on the verge of the peak, and with the right push, they have the potential to step into Transcendence."
There was a vast gulf between a High Grandmaster and the absolute peak, and Raon saw the spark in these people that suggested they could bridge that gap.
"Furthermore, I am naming several rising stars who, while currently raw, possess immense future potential. From the Light Wind Palace: Dorian Sephia, Krein..."
Raon proceeded to meticulously list those whose current combat power might be lower but who displayed exceptional talent or unique promise.
"...and finally, Utaben of the Void Sword Division. Some might question these specific names. However, I believe the eventual progress of these individuals will speak for itself."
He gave a small nod, promising that the future would validate his eyes.
"So he isn't just favoring his own Palace?"
"No, look. He pulled quite a few from the Central and True Martial Palaces as well."
"He didn't just look at the major hubs; he actually scouted individuals from the smaller units and divisions."
"We all know Toribis and Siphren, but how did he even notice someone like Utaben? That guy is practically a ghost."
"There is a reason they call him the Sword Emperor."
The warriors stood in a daze, struck by the sheer scope of Raon's observations. They were stunned that he had been paying attention to talents outside of his immediate circle.
"What a letdown..."
"I know. I really gave it my all this month."
"But looking at who he picked, I can't really argue with it."
"Yeah. Those people definitely earned the right to learn from the Head of House."
While many felt the sting of exclusion, they generally accepted that the list was fair and merit-based.
"Blast it! I even stayed sober for this!"
The Gambling Monster looked down at his steady, non-shaking hands, mourning the month of sobriety he had endured for nothing.
"I... I’m not on it? This is impossible! How could he leave me out!"
Contrasting Karoon's humility, Balder was in a state of pure shock, looking around as if searching for a mistake in the announcement.
"..."
Serena gave a stoic nod, looking as though she had already made peace with whatever the outcome would be.
"Initially..."
Raon took another deep breath and looked back up at the crowd.
"I had planned to stop there. However, after witnessing the sheer dedication, sincerity, and untapped potential shown over the last month, I have decided to add a few more names."
The eyes of the dejected swordsmen suddenly reignited with a flickering hope.
"Gambling Monster Harian Zieghart, Void Sword Division Leader Serena Calvin, and True Martial Palace Master Balder Zieghart."
Raon spoke these three names with a profound, steady gaze.
"These three have shown unwavering devotion to this family. Though they are at different stages of the journey, they have all drawn close to the threshold of Transcendence. I am selecting them for the growth they have yet to achieve."
Despite his outward arrogance, Balder had been training relentlessly in private. That singular focus was also why he hadn't spent time politicking or building a faction.
Serena’s loyalty to the clan was deeper than almost anyone else in the plaza. She was a warrior who consistently put her life on the line for others; Raon believed her resolve would be the key to her breaking through.
As for the Gambling Monster, he had traded the tavern and the dice for the training grounds, focusing on his own path while mentoring the Light Wind Palace. His progress had been explosive. For him, the wall was no longer insurmountable.
"That's more like it! I knew my nephew would see the truth!"
Balder pumped a fist into the air, revitalized by the recognition.
"My thanks to you."
Serena offered a deep bow, her face tinged with a blush of excitement.
"Ra-Raon..."
The Gambling Monster’s eyes began to water. To be chosen after he had already resigned himself to failure moved him in a way he hadn't experienced before. It was a look of raw vulnerability rarely seen on the old gambler.
"Lastly, based strictly on pure talent, I am adding two final individuals."
Raon inhaled sharply and shifted his gaze away from the training floor, looking toward the spectator gallery instead.
"Sylvia Zieghart and Sia Zieghart."
He spoke two names that caught everyone completely off guard.
"What? Sylvia and Sia...?"
"The Palace Master’s mother and his younger sister?"
"Why would he pick them?"
The crowd blinked in confusion, as this was a development no one had anticipated.
"Pure talent, he said. Well..."
Alice nodded slowly, as if a realization had struck her.
"The innate potential of those two exceeds almost everyone here, excluding Raon himself."
She gestured toward them, signaling her agreement with his assessment.
"She has a point!"
Balder agreed, his fist still clenched as he recognized the logic behind the choice.
"Ra-Raon! What are you playing at...?"
"Wait, I’m included too?"
Sylvia was left stammering in shock, while Sia began waving her hand cheerfully, thrilled at the idea of training alongside her brother.
-Have you finally lost your mind?
Wrath leaned in close, looking completely flabbergasted.
-Why are you dragging your mother and that little brat into this!
'Derus is going to bring the flames of this war right to Zieghart's doorstep.'
Raon countered calmly in his mind.
'When the time comes, most of our primary warriors will be stationed on the front lines. There won't be many left to defend our home.'
A man like Derus Robert would certainly find a way to strike at the heart of the clan while the main forces were distracted. If the heavy hitters were away, Sylvia and Sia would be the ones needed to hold the line. If they were trained to their full potential, they could protect the civilians of Zieghart. To Raon, it was the only logical move.
-That... actually makes a disturbing amount of sense.
Wrath let out a pained grumble, forced to concede to Raon's strategy.
"There are many from the Light Wind Palace, but he pulled a surprising number from other units as well."
"The quality of the picks is high, but isn't the group too big?"
"True. How can one person effectively teach all of them?"
"They'll be lucky to get a few minutes of his time once a day."
Some swordsmen expressed concern that the sheer volume of students would dilute the quality of the instruction.
"That concludes the list."
Raon signaled the end of the selection process, stepping down from the dais to face Glenn.
"Ahem!"
Glenn cleared his throat, his expression one of immense satisfaction. His ears were slightly red, betraying how pleased he was with Raon's choices.
"While the Light Wind Palace Master has selected a larger group than we envisioned, we never set a formal limit, so we shall proceed as decided."
He stood from his seat and walked to the edge of the platform where Raon had just been standing.
"Have no fear. As I promised, I will personally mentor and supervise every single person on this list."
Glenn nodded, assuring them that despite the numbers, he was capable of overseeing each warrior's daily progress.
"To those whose names were not called: do not lose heart. This is merely the first of many such opportunities."
He offered words of encouragement, promising that future selections would take place.
"YEAHHH!"
"I’ll train until I drop for the next one!"
"I’m definitely getting picked next time!"
The warriors lifted their weapons and roared, their spirits renewed by the promise of another chance.
"Light Wind Palace Master, you have done well."
Glenn publicly commended Raon for the effort he put into the selection.
"I simply fulfilled my duty," Raon replied, placing a hand over his heart and accepting the praise with a humble bow.
"Hmm!"
Glenn’s lips twitched into a visible smile, clearly even more delighted by Raon's modest demeanor.
"Then we are finished for today."
As Glenn clapped his hands to end the proceedings, the massive doors to the training grounds swung open.
"Phew."
Raon let out a long sigh, brushing the sweat from his brow.
'That turned out better than expected.'
He had nearly tripped up during the successor evaluation, but thanks to Alice’s intervention, he had scraped through. Now, the selection for Glenn’s mentorship had also been a success. He felt a wave of relief that his extensive preparation had borne fruit.
-And you call that 'ending well'?
Wrath rolled his eyes in annoyance.
-That was the most embarrassing display I have ever witnessed from a human.
He scowled, clearly still thinking about Raon having to count on his fingers.
'...I did what I had to do.'
He was well aware of how awkward it looked, but he couldn't bear to fail the people who believed in him. His desperate maneuvering had worked, and that was all that mattered.
-Hmph. Just make sure you don't repeat that performance.
Wrath clicked his tongue and looked away.
-It is beneath the dignity of my vessel to act so pitifully.
He let out a sharp snort, threatening to abandon Raon if he ever acted like that again.
'I underst—ugh!'
Raon was about to dismiss Wrath's grumbling when a sudden chill ran down his spine.
'I can feel my mother watching me...'
Sylvia was staring at him from the stands, her gaze so sharp it felt like it was piercing through his back.
-Well, of course she's mad! You didn't give her a single hint about this!
Wrath frowned, pointing out that Raon hadn't breathed a word of the plan even during breakfast.
'It had to be a surprise, so my hands were tied.'
He couldn't risk the news leaking before the formal announcement. It looked like he had a long session of explaining to do once they got back to the annex.
"Sigh, the work never ends. Let's head out."
Raon’s shoulders slumped as he prepared to lead the Light Wind Palace members out of the hall. It was then that a voice called out to him.
"Light Wind Palace Master."
Karoon had approached from the side. He held out his hand, his expression grave and focused, as if he were about to broach a matter of extreme gravity.
"We need to have a word."
