Chapter 1260
"Keep up with me..."
Burren took a nervous breath as he stared at Raon.
"You... you aren't suggesting a direct raid on Eden, are you?"
His eyes stretched wide, reflecting the shock of hearing something he considered nearly impossible.
"Does this mean you've pinpointed the coordinates of Eden's primary stronghold...?"
Martha’s voice spiked with adrenaline; she nearly forgot her formal manners in her excitement before catching herself.
"Tell us the location. Can we move out this instant?"
She ran her tongue over her lips, clearly eager to bring the fight to Eden's doorstep without delay.
"E-Eden?"
Dorian’s mouth twitched with visible dread at the mere mention of the cult's central lair.
"So the bells of war are finally ringing!"
Krein, conversely, mirrored Martha’s intensity, his hand already gripping the hilt of his blade in anticipation.
"......"
Runaan remained silent, appearing to reflect on her previous impulsive choices as she waited patiently for Raon to continue.
"I’ve managed to extract the general vicinity of Eden’s base through the Bear Fire Demon."
Raon cast a frigid gaze toward the captive Bear Fire Demon currently held by Sheryl, giving a sharp nod.
"While the truce between the Lord of the House and the Heavenly Demon prevents us from initiating a total war..."
His eyes narrowed, and a frostier, more intimidating pressure rolled off him—far more potent than what he had displayed earlier at Light Wind Palace.
"The insolence of allowing such pestilent underlings to run wild must be answered for."
He tightened his grip, silently vowing to make them pay for the escape of Syria Sullion and the subsequent loss of Zieghart lives.
"......"
Despite the mention of Syria Sullion, Runaan did not flinch or look away; she kept her head high, meeting Raon’s eyes directly.
"Precisely!"
Martha slammed a fist into her palm, echoing Raon’s resolve.
"Let’s march out and grind those hideous masks and helmets into the dirt!"
She stomped her foot against the stone, her limbs vibrating with the urge to mobilize immediately.
"Rakshasa Division Leader, I beg you, stay still..."
Burren let out a weary groan as he noticed fresh crimson seeping through the bandages on Martha's legs.
"Scratches like these close up faster if you keep moving!"
Martha dismissed the concern, stamping her foot even harder. The impact caused the blood to bloom rapidly across the white cloth, turning it a vivid scarlet.
"We set out in seven days."
Raon raised a single finger, signaling a halt.
"Since you are the ones who must atone for your own lapses, use this week to prepare yourselves fully. When we leave, I expect you to be unshakable."
True to his word about giving them a path to redemption, he returned to his seat upon the high throne.
"Understood!"
Burren bowed deeply, his posture radiating a solemn promise of future competence.
"Place your faith in us!"
"We won't let you down this time!"
Following Burren's lead, the gathered warriors of Light Wind Palace bowed in unison.
"Heavenly Blade Division Leader."
Raon turned his attention to Sheryl, gesturing toward the exiting swordsmen.
"Kindly escort the Light Wind Palace members to the designated area. I have a few final matters to attend to."
He spoke with the tone of a request, nodding to her respectfully.
"As you wish."
Sheryl delivered a sharp kick to the Bear Fire Demon’s calf, forcing him to drop to his knees beside the throne before she stepped off the dais. Every movement she made was steeped in the reverence one would show a true sovereign.
"The rest of you, follow the Heavenly Blade Division Leader."
Raon dismissed them with a wave of his hand.
"Understood."
"Yes, sir!"
Believing Raon had private business to conclude, Burren and the rest of the unit followed Sheryl out of the grand hall.
"Acting Head of House."
Runaan paused, separating herself from the departing group and raising a hand.
"May I have permission to speak with the youths?"
She bit her lip, her voice softening as she asked to visit the children who had been held captive by the Bear Fire Demon.
"They are the ones I encountered within the dream."
She bowed so low her forehead nearly grazed the floor, her voice carrying the weight of a desperate plea.
"......"
Raon hesitated, observing the slight tremor in Runaan’s shoulders. It seemed the thought of those children perishing affected her far more deeply than the criticism of her own tactical errors.
"You may."
Recognizing the personal connection from the dream world, he granted her request, sensing that this encounter was necessary for her emotional growth.
"Thank you."
With another deep bow, Runaan sprinted toward the group of children.
"B-big sister!"
"Sister..."
"We’re so sorry. We..."
"We didn't mean to! We just couldn't do anything!"
The children, aware that their presence had been used as a lure to trap Runaan in a false reality, began to sob out apologies the moment she reached them.
"No."
Runaan shook her head with conviction.
"The apology should come from me."
She looked at them, her heart heavy with her own perceived failings.
"Looking back, you were screaming for help the entire time within that dream."
She reached out, pulling the children into a tight, protective embrace.
"I was too caught up in my own feelings to see it. I am truly sorry it took me this long to understand."
Throughout the illusion, the children had tried to signal that the world wasn't real, but Runaan had been too blinded by the fleeting happiness of the dream to hear their cries for rescue.
Had they died because of her hesitation, she knew she would have been broken. She felt an overwhelming sense of debt toward Raon for saving them once again.
"Hmm..."
Raon stroked his chin thoughtfully as he watched the scene unfold.
—‘Hmm’ my foot!
Wrath suddenly materialized, hovering before him.
—Stop trying to look so dignified! You think you’ve mastered the aura of a ruler, but from where I’m standing, you’re still a rank amateur!
He let out a derisive snort, claiming Raon still smelled more like a common grunt than a king.
—A monarch needs weight! Put lead in your boots or shove a gold crown on your head—do something to manufacture some actual majesty!
Wrath scowled, insisting that Raon’s entire vibe needed an overhaul if he ever hoped to actually lead.
‘You aren't wrong. I’m a far cry from the Lord of the House; I lack that true presence. But tell me...’
Raon tilted his head, studying the small entity.
‘Why are you grinning?’
Despite the harsh critique, Wrath’s expression was betrayed by a soft, satisfied smile that looked like the coming of spring. It was the look of someone secretly bursting with pride.
—Th-that...
Wrath’s face flushed, and he looked away quickly.
—I don't know what you're talking about! Regardless, you don't belong in a chair like this!
He shook his head as if dismissing the entire human world.
—Just finish up here and follow me to the Devildom later!
Wrath pointed a finger toward the horizon.
—I’ll show you what a real sovereign looks like. Don't waste your time being a king here—come to my realm!
He licked his lips, acting as though he were offering a great favor in teaching Raon the ways of true power.
‘I see.’
Raon felt a laugh bubble up as he watched Wrath struggle to maintain his facade.
‘You are a terrible liar.’
He knew exactly what the spirit meant. If translated into the truth, Wrath was essentially saying: ‘You’re doing such an incredible job as the acting head that it’s annoying. Don't just rule this house—come rule the entire Devildom as the Demon King.’
‘The Devildom...’
—W-what! If you've got something to say, spit it out!
Wrath wrinkled his nose, clearly feeling the pressure of his own transparent deception.
‘Nothing.’
Raon shook his head, a ghost of a smile remaining on his lips.
‘It's just that, regardless of where I end up leading...’
He watched Runaan comfort the children and ran his hand over the worn, slightly damaged armrest of the seat of power.
‘It’s never going to be an easy road.’
"Wh-what is this..."
Krein stared up at the looming, shadow-drenched peak of North Grave Mountain and swallowed hard.
"I thought we were heading back for a meal or a debrief?"
He shivered, his eyes darting around the lightless forest as if he couldn't process the change in plans.
"Why are we at North Grave Mountain!"
"You clearly haven't spent enough time around our Palace Master."
Dorian sighed, looking at Krein with pity.
"He mentioned balancing the scales of reward and discipline, but did you really think he'd just let us go to bed?"
Even as he spoke, Dorian’s own lips trembled with fear of what was coming.
"Whew..."
Burren gripped his own forehead, the weight of Raon's words in the hall finally sinking in.
"I didn't even check if the enemy was dead. I’m a disgrace as a Vice Palace Master. Hell, I’m not even fit to be in Light Wind Palace!"
The realization that he had left the Bear Fire Demon's fate to chance while he was still conscious gnawed at him.
"It’s a failure of endurance!"
Martha bit down on a fingernail.
"If I had stayed upright, I would have gutted that wretch myself!"
She threw a weak punch into the air, frustrated that her physical collapse had prevented her from finishing the job.
"......"
Runaan remained silent, her eyes squeezed shut.
"Ugh..."
She wasn't napping, though; small, pained sounds escaped her as she replayed Raon’s reprimands in her mind.
"Are we actually starting training the moment we get back?"
"And it looks like sensory deprivation or focus training..."
"This is going to be the death of me!"
The rest of the Light Wind Palace swordsmen groaned in unison, looking up at the mountain with the despair of those walking toward a firing squad.
"Apologies for the delay."
Raon stepped out from the rear entrance of the Lord’s residence, his expression neutral.
"Official business kept me. I trust you'll overlook it."
He brushed off his hands as if he had just finished a long day of administrative work.
"Wait... you were working until just now?"
Krein blinked, looking up at the middle-of-the-night sky.
"Managing the Great House is a different beast than managing a Palace. Even spending the entire day buried in parchment isn't enough to clear the desk."
Raon flicked a stray ink stain off his cuff. It was a bizarre phenomenon; the faster he signed documents, the more they seemed to multiply.
"Then why is the very busy Acting Head of House standing here in front of us..."
Krein’s voice trailed off, a desperate hope flickering in his eyes that his intuition was wrong.
"As I mentioned, I wasn't finished with our conversation."
Raon gripped the scabbard of Heavenly Drive.
"Wh-why are you reaching for your weapon if we're just talking?"
Krein held his hands up, frantically gesturing for Raon to stop.
Thwack!
Instead of an explanation, Raon’s scabbard whistled through the air.
"H-hold on!"
Krein tried to raise a frantic guard, but the wooden sheath was already connecting with his skull.
Thwaaack!
The blow landed perfectly on his crown. Krein’s eyes rolled back, and he collapsed onto the grass.
"Grrrgh..."
A bit of foam bubbled at the corner of his mouth from the sheer suddenness of the impact.
"I told you that your biggest failure was being caught off guard..."
Raon rested the scabbard casually over his shoulder, his voice turning icy.
"And yet, here you are, being careless again."
He shook his head as if disappointed and looked at the others.
"Ugh..."
Dorian was already weeping as he unsheathed his sword with shaking hands.
"Your grip is unstable."
"I knew this was coming!"
Burren and Martha finally caught on. They ignored their fatigue and drew their weapons, forcing their internal energy to circulate.
"Haah..."
Runaan, having sensed the shift immediately, let out a breath that froze in the air. She held Snow Flower in a standard middle guard, her focus narrowing.
"I’m going to meet my maker today..."
"At least we made it home first."
"Small comfort. Look at who's standing there..."
The remaining swordsmen either offered silent prayers or closed their eyes to accept their fate.
"Don't bother coming to me. I’ll come to you."
Raon shifted his weight, sliding his left foot forward.
"Attack with the intent to kill. Treat me as a mortal enemy."
With that command, he vanished.
Whoooosh!
Raon didn't just move; he seemed to delete the distance between himself and his targets. He reappeared instantly in front of Burren and Martha.
"Hup!"
"Too fast!"
Burren swung a blade wreathed in Cutting Wind, while Martha executed a technique that showed a marked improvement in form, despite her battered state.
Craaaack!
Raon sliced right through Burren’s wind pressure and, in the same motion, dismantled Martha’s refined strike.
Kuwaaaaang!
The force of the counter sent both Burren and Martha flying backward. They hit a massive tree on the slopes of North Grave Mountain with a heavy thud.
"Careless, still."
Raon let out a mocking huff as he looked at them.
"Do not assume your minor improvements will work against everyone."
He left them with that advice and blurred toward the rest of the unit.
Thwack thwack thwack!
The sounds of the scabbard striking home echoed like wood snapping in a fire. One by one, the elite swordsmen of Light Wind Palace hit the dirt.
It took exactly sixty seconds for every single one of them to be neutralized.
Whoosh.
Raon came to a halt in front of Runaan, the only one left standing. He rested the slightly warm scabbard against his shoulder.
"Show me what you have."
Runaan tapped into a reservoir of willpower that brushed against the realm of transcendence. She lunged, her blade pointed straight for his heart as she began to manifest her Sword Domain.
"Too slow."
Raon’s foot slammed into the earth. Before the Domain could fully solidify, he swung the scabbard, trailing a wake of concentrated wind.
Thwaaack!
The blow caught Runaan mid-technique, sending her tumbling across the uneven ground. Her energy shattered, and the budding Sword Domain vanished like mist in the sun.
"A Sword Domain isn't a shield against everything. In fact, the moment of activation is when you are most vulnerable."
Raon watched her struggle to sit up, reminding her that a true battlefield offers no room for lapses in concentration.
"T-thank you... for the lesson."
Runaan forced the words out through gritted teeth as she acknowledged the teaching.
"Every morning. From the moment I finish my administrative duties until the sun breaks the horizon..."
Raon spun the scabbard and walked among the groaning, fallen warriors.
"I will mold you into the kind of swordsmen who will never falter, even if Eden itself stands before you."
A predatory, savage grin spread across his face as he drove the end of the scabbard deep into the soil.
"It is going to be a very long road ahead."
