"You're not postponing the date, but moving it up?"
Rimmer gaped at Raon's calm eyes.
"Yes. Usually when something dangerous happens, people think of postponing, not moving up the schedule."
Raon nodded as he looked at the flustered Rimmer.
"I'm planning to hold the life-and-death match on December 31st, aiming for that."
As he said this, he wrote down the date December 31st on a note.
"I suppose that's true..."
Rimmer stroked his smooth chin and let out a sigh.
"Since the Head of House, Lord Ogram, and Lord Chamber all said to postpone it."
He nodded, saying that not a single person had suggested moving up the schedule.
"Additionally, I'll insist on strict secrecy so that only Zieghart and South-North Union martial artists can attend at that place and time."
"Right. Then the one who uses the Death Aura won't be able to come either."
Rimmer clapped his hands enthusiastically, as if it was a good idea.
"You really do have a good head on your shoulders."
"No. He'll come."
Raon bit his lip as he looked at the purple sky created by the setting sun.
Axe King Roman wouldn't betray them, but there would surely be Derus's spies within the South-North Union.
This information would inevitably leak out.
'He'll definitely come.'
Derus might have considered me and Glenn dangerous before, but after today's Six Kings Conference, he would have marked us as targets that must be eliminated.
'Because we rescued Lord Ogram.'
He'll see me as an annoying existence who not only chased after the White Blood Religion to rescue Ogram but also picks fights, and Glenn as a dangerous being who can neutralize the Death Aura, so he'll do anything to kill us both.
'The best chance for him to kill me and the Head of House is...'
It would be this life-and-death match.
Derus Robert would likely send in his Shadow to cause chaos as soon as the life-and-death match ends, regardless of whether I win or the Axe King wins.
Even the winner of the life-and-death match won't be in perfect condition, so if ambushed, they could easily die.
The moment the fair duel breaks down, a war will erupt between Zieghart and the South-North Union, and Glenn will move directly.
Derus would surely ambush Glenn when the war between Zieghart and the South-North Union reaches its peak.
"You're planning to continue with the life-and-death match knowing that the one who uses the Death Aura will come?"
Rimmer approached with a furrowed brow.
"He's dangerous! Even that proud Beast King said he could have lost in a one-on-one fight!"
He shook his head, grabbing Raon's shoulders as if to say it absolutely must not happen.
"That's why we need to prepare."
Raon nodded calmly. Since there was more than a 90% chance Derus would come, they needed to prepare as if he would definitely be there.
"Prepare? How?"
"First, I'll write a letter to send to the Axe King."
He tied a note with the location and requirements written on it to the Blue Falcon's leg.
"It's done, so return to your master."
The Blue Falcon nodded once and flew up into the darkening sky.
"I'm going to try borrowing the continent's strongest sword."
Raon gripped the hilt of the Heavenly Drive sword as he watched the Blue Falcon descend southward like a blue flash.
"Even if I have to offer all my Golden Tablets."
* * *
Raon went back to the audience chamber without even eating dinner and knelt before Glenn.
"I've come to see you, Head of House."
"That's enough."
As Raon was about to bow his head, Glenn waved his hand. He said there was no need to greet him twice in one day and told him to stand up.
"What brings you here at this hour?"
"I just received a message from the Axe King."
"From the Axe King?"
"Yes. He sent a spirit beast called the Blue Falcon."
"What did it say?"
"He said he'd fight me anywhere, anytime, and told me not to run away. So I..."
Raon told Glenn the same thing he had told Rimmer at the training ground.
"December 31st, huh..."
Glenn stroked his chin and narrowed his eyes.
"That's well thought out."
Sheryl nodded, saying she hadn't expected the date to be moved up.
"Most people won't know the life-and-death match is happening that day!"
"Hahaha, indeed, it's not easy to predict that the schedule would be moved up."
Roenn also smiled softly, agreeing that moving it up would be better than postponing.
"No."
Unlike Sheryl and Roenn, Glenn calmly shook his head.
"He's someone who has grasped Ogram's movements and tendencies. Raon's plan is certainly unique, but there's a high chance it will be seen through."
He frowned as if he had predicted the movements of the swordsman using the Death Aura in this short moment.
"That's right."
Raon nodded, meeting Glenn's gaze.
"That's why this life-and-death match will be the best card to lure him in."
He opened his subspace pouch and took out all the Golden Tablets and Silver Tablets he had received so far.
"I'll be the bait, so please catch him."
Raon pushed the Golden Tablets and Silver Tablets towards Glenn and bowed his head to the floor.
'This is an opportunity.'
If Glenn steps in, I can target Derus just as Derus is targeting me.
At the very least, I need to secure one piece of evidence that can reveal Derus's true identity.
"Ra-Raon!"
"Young Master Raon?"
Sheryl and Roenn let out surprised gasps at the sudden turn of events.
"Ahahahaha!"
Rimmer, who had been leaning against a pillar, burst into laughter as he ran his hand through his hair.
"So this is what you meant by borrowing the strongest sword? As expected, you're truly the craziest guy in our family!"
He even clapped, saying Raon never disappoints.
Raon bit his lip as he looked at the glittering Golden and Silver Tablets.
'They're useless to me now anyway.'
If I win the life-and-death match, I can elevate Sylvia to the direct lineage regardless of the Golden Tablets.
These tablets held no meaning for me at this moment.
"Raon Zieghart. I am not a mercenary."
Glenn's red eyes sank colder than ice.
"Ugh..."
Raon's jaw trembled as he faced that chilling gaze.
'Is it not possible?'
I thought our relationship had grown closer lately, and that he'd be angry about what happened to Ogram, but it seems I was greatly mistaken.
"I'm sorry. But it's not that I'm trying to buy you..."
"However."
With a flick of Glenn's finger, the Golden Tablets that had been taken out returned to the subspace pouch.
"I can't just leave alone trash that has touched a member of our family and interfered with an ally's duel."
He nodded with a noble look in his eyes.
"Tell me your plan."
Raon clenched his fist on the floor and raised his head.
"What I'd like to request is..."
* * *
The next day.
Raon came to the Fifth Training Ground early in the morning.
Just as he finished his basic sword training and was about to focus on serious cultivation, the door of the training ground opened, and Burren, Martha, and Runaan entered.
"As expected, he's here. That traitor!"
Martha furrowed her brow deeply as she looked at Raon.
"Traitor?"
Raon blinked as he repeated the word "traitor".
"She's calling you a traitor for raiding the White Blood Religion alone without us."
Burren sighed and shook his head.
"Ah..."
Raon let out a low groan as he looked at Martha, who was pouting.
'I can understand Martha feeling that way, if no one else.'
To Martha, the White Blood Religion is the enemy itself. Since the leader of the White Blood Religion was involved, she couldn't help but regret not being able to participate in this affair.
But I don't regret not taking her along. If Martha had gone with us, it could have been truly dangerous.
"I'm sorry. But..."
"Don't apologize! I know!"
Martha shook her head as she looked at him. Her black eyes, similar yet different from the White Blood Religion leader's, shone with a firm light.
"It's because I was too weak to go."
She bit her lip deeply.
"I don't intend to blame you, traitor."
"You're already calling me a traitor..."
"I'll become stronger. I'll become stronger than anyone, crush everything, and rescue my mother."
"..."
Raon let out a sigh as he looked at Martha, who was talking about growth while suppressing her anger.
'She's changed.'
The reckless colt who would jump in without thinking is no more. Martha had become a Zieghart swordsman, hiding her emotions and looking far ahead.
"Still, I want to ask one thing. The White Blood Religion leader... no, is my mother's body okay?"
Martha lowered her head as if afraid to hear about the White Blood Religion leader.
"Yes. She seemed fine for now."
Raon nodded as he recalled the White Blood Religion leader who had pursued them to the end with disheveled hair.
"Hm..."
Martha sat down weakly. She let out a long groan, caught between the conflicting values of her mother's body being safe and the White Blood Religion leader being unharmed.
"And..."
Raon raised his finger, stirring up the aura of the Fierce Wave Arts.
"A way to save your mother has appeared."
"What...?"
Martha jumped up from where she was sitting.
"W-What do you mean?"
"There's a martial art called the Fierce Wave Arts..."
Ogram told me that the Fierce Wave Arts is not just a martial art that pierces through aura, but a transcendent art that can also impact the soul.
I informed Martha that if I reach the limits of the Fierce Wave Arts, I might be able to attack only the soul of the White Blood Religion leader while leaving her mother's body intact.
"I told you before. That I'd help you find your mother."
Raon nodded as he looked into Martha's trembling eyes.
"I'll definitely keep that promise."
"..."
Martha hurriedly turned her back.
"Thank you. Ugh..."
She trembled as if she had no words other than "thank you", then wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.
Knowing what family meant through Sylvia and the people in the annex building, Raon silently grasped her shoulder.
"Haaa..."
Martha took a long time to catch her breath before turning around. With reddened eyes, she bowed her head and immediately began swinging her sword.
"Martha?"
"I can't just stand still either. While you're mastering the Fierce Wave Arts, I need to build up skills to at least buy some time."
She started her sword training, saying she would definitely follow along next time.
"...I'll go too."
Runaan, with an unusually serious look in her eyes, stood beside Martha and swung her sword.
Because of what happened with Syria, she seemed to empathize with Martha's pain.
"I've felt this since our trainee days, but you're someone who draws people in."
Burren looked at Raon with a faint smile.
"It's a trait often called heroic."
"Back then, you disliked me."
Raon tilted his head as he looked at Burren.
"Yes, I did dislike you. But I changed my mind after seeing your shoes."
"Shoes?" (E/N: poor Raon still doesn't know about Burren's shoes fetish)
"Make sure you win the life-and-death match. You have a lot to do."
Without answering, Burren went to stand beside Runaan and drew his sword.
Raon licked his lips as he watched the backs of the three squad leaders honing their swordsmanship.
'They've changed, but they haven't changed.'
Seeing these three people, whom he thought would go their separate ways, practicing swordsmanship together, Raon felt a strange tickling in his chest.
Raon smiled lightly and stood beside Burren, Martha, and Runaan, holding his Heavenly Drive sword.
Behind the four people who had steeled their swords and hearts, the sun rose, warming the cold dawn air.
* * *
Axe King Roman slowly opened his eyes. The ferocity that had always enveloped his eyes was no longer there.
What shone was the setting sun. Only the noble sunset that dyed the river golden.
"Now I can see it."
For a year, he had watched countless sunsets by this riverbank.
It had always been the same sky, but today was different.
The deep and straight sunset divided the sky and earth as if encompassing my life.
The sky turning purple, the blue river, and the twilight rising between them shattered the rock in my upper dantian that had been weighing me down for years, leaving not a single piece.
Kuuung!
The reddish river water filled the newly opened realm of the upper dantian.
Enlightenment. The realm of transcendence, filled with long years of anguish, painted a weighty mental image in his mind.
Roman lowered his eyelids. When he opened his eyes again after a while, the sky had darkened.
But the twilight light heralding the night didn't leave his eyes.
Kugugugugugu!
Roman rose, gripping the Red Dragon Axe. A red current burned in the dragon's eyes engraved on the axe handle.
He swung down the Red Dragon Axe, held in both hands, towards the river.
Kuwaaaaaaa!
A terrifying aura spread out, and the endlessly flowing river split in half. It wasn't just stopping the water, but a strange power that made it flow backwards.
Kuung!
Roman planted the Red Dragon Axe into the ground with a deep smile of satisfaction.
"Raon Zieghart."
He searched for Raon in the river with eyes tinged with twilight.
"You should be able to keep up, right?"
* * *
The faintly pouring starlight subsided, and a redness like a burn appeared over the black sky.
"Haa..."
Raon, standing on the lake, let out a low breath and lifted his eyelids.
'Was it a bit lacking?'
Despite training both body and mind for a month, he couldn't perfectly grasp the swordsmanship, sword domain, or aura.
It wasn't a lack of time, but the training itself was too abstruse.
'I was too greedy.'
It was natural that it would take more time and be difficult, as he wasn't just creating a new sword domain with the martial arts he possessed, but also trying to incorporate the insights of Glenn, Wrath, and Ogram.
'Still, I don't regret it.'
The life-and-death match with the Axe King is a big hill, not the final destination. To defeat Derus Robert, he needed to look even further ahead.
Srrrng!
Raon drew the Heavenly Drive sword. He lightly bent the sword and struck down at the lake.
The simplest downward slash among basic sword techniques. But its impact was far from simple.
Kwaaaa!
The lake split smoothly and flowed to the bottom as if welcoming a divine presence.
Chwaaak!
The lake that had been split in half slowly rejoined, returning to its original calm state as if it had never been split.
'It's still not enough, but...'
I still have to go.
The life-and-death match is today. Now, I have no choice but to gain enlightenment through the battle with the Axe King.
Paang.
Raon shook off the Heavenly Drive sword, which was completely dry, and sheathed it.
A red sun rises over the dark North Grave Mountain.
The golden light of dawn, erasing the night and opening the daybreak, settled in Raon's red eyes.
"Wrath. If you don't wake up..."
Raon tapped the ice flower bracelet with eyes that held the dawn light.
"I'll take all the delicious things."