Krein bit his lip as he watched Raon's Formless Sword, which seemed to have become a completely different swordsmanship from his own.
They said to let a true genius go ahead when you meet one.
It was something the instructor had told him when he was struggling to keep up with Raon and Burren during his trainee days. At the time, he had nodded and said he understood, but in his heart, he couldn't accept it.
Because I thought I had talent too.
Who would understand if you told a twelve-year-old child full of dreams that they were different from those geniuses and couldn't catch up?
He had worked day and night, never letting go of the expectation that he too must have some special talent.
But not only did I fail to catch up, I fell further and further behind.
The gap widened to the point where he couldn't even see the backs of Burren, Martha, and Runaan, let alone Raon. The more effort he put in, the more despairing it became.
Thanks to that, I learned that mental pain is worse than physical pain.
Only then did he understand the instructor's words about letting geniuses go ahead. It was consideration for himself, who would only become more exhausted and miserable the more he tried to catch up. After realizing he wasn't special, he settled for being average. It wasn't difficult to keep up with the training among the trainees, as he wasn't poorly talented.
That's how he became a swordsman of the Light Wind division from a trainee, and Raon became the vice Division Leader.
Raon began to teach the swordsmen directly, saying he would become stronger together with everyone in the Light Wind division. His training was grueling, but it guaranteed definite growth.
However, his words about becoming stronger together weren't sincere.
He, who had been observing others since childhood, knew. Raon's claim back then about becoming stronger together wasn't sincere. Whether it was consideration for the talentless swordsmen, mercy from one who was ahead, or to use them, it was certainly far from his true feelings. But as time passed, Raon changed.
Just as he had grown fond of Dorian, whom he initially disliked for being slow and frustrating, Raon too began to show his sincerity to everyone.
His intense feelings of wanting to become stronger together with everyone and not wanting to lose a single person were strongly conveyed.
That's why I changed too.
Being perceptive was his only strength after all! Krein kept his eyes fixed on Raon's sword while absorbing his attacks with his body. He racked his brain constantly, determined to absorb every detail of the sword techniques.
If it doesn't work, let's try to imitate it.
Since he couldn't find the answer just by watching, Krein tried to imitate the forms of the Formless Sword that Raon was demonstrating.
Huh...?
It was a sword path he could trace even with his eyes closed, but it was slightly different. Raon wasn't satisfied with just displaying the forms of the Formless Sword; he was incorporating even more variations.
Now I understand.
Raon focused his strength on the variations of the Formless Sword. Instead of using variable sword, phantom sword, and Quick Sword appropriately to compensate for weaknesses, he concentrated on a single principle to maximize the longsword. Only after feeling Raon's sincerity did his own thoughts change.
He stopped dismissing the title of Division Leader, and stepped forward without complaint even when teased about being "just Krein."
Because Raon's words about wanting to advance together with everyone in the Light Wind division were sincere, without a single lie.
It must be the same now.
It was clear that Raon was showing a more perfected Formless Sword not to boast about his own talent, but to help him grow. Krein bit his lip as he countered Raon's Formless Sword with his own.
What's different between the Division Leader's sword and mine?
Raon wasn't drawing upon monstrous physical abilities, nor was he using powerful aura. Yet his Formless Sword was so complex and mysterious that it seemed impossible to block.
Think. Think.
Krein suppressed his phantom sword and Quick Sword, focusing his strength on variation as he unleashed his Formless Sword. With a thunderous clash, his sword strikes, which had been endlessly pushed back, competed with Raon's sword for the first time, sending bright sparks flying.
"It's not about simply displaying the swordsmanship you've learned..."
Krein continued, maintaining eye contact with Raon.
"You mean to show the sword that fits the situation, right?"
"You finally understand."
Raon finally showed a faint smile.
"You caught on quickly, for you."
Krein had been using the Formless Sword too honestly. He should have adjusted the intensity of phantom sword, variable sword, and Quick Sword according to the situation, but he always used the swordsmanship in the same way, making it easy to break through and counter.
However, directly telling him might hinder his path to think and grow on his own, so Raon had spoken through his sword. Judging by Krein's expression, it seemed to have worked well.
"I understand now! Let's continue!"
Krein readjusted his grip on the sword, as if ready for more.
"No, time's up."
Raon raised his finger, pointing at the sun high in the sky.
"Huh, when..."
Krein opened his mouth wide, as if he hadn't noticed it was already noon.
"Now that you've realized what you were lacking, you need some time alone. I look forward to our next sparring session."
Raon patted Krein's shoulder and left the great training ground.
"Thank you."
Krein bowed his head towards Raon's back with his hands clasped together.
"Division Leader!"
His voice calling out "Division Leader" was clearer than ever before.
Raon returned to the great training ground after finishing lunch. He thought he had come back first, but two people were already there. One was Krein, who had continued his sword training without eating, and the other was Dorian, who was scheduled to spar in the afternoon.
"You're here!"
Dorian, who had hastily filled his stomach with bread, approached with a goofy smile.
"L-Let's start right away!"
Though his hand holding the sword was trembling with fear, Dorian took his stance, ready to spar.
Keh!
Wrath sniffled, observing Dorian's wavering eyes.
To think the wallet has grown this much, how admirable!
Then stop calling Dorian a wallet. It's pitiful.
Hey, you were the first one to call him that! You even treated him like a wallet for real!
The fellow frowned, saying that such double standards were the very essence of angels.
"Your swordsmanship was the Silent Manifestation Sword, right?"
Raon pushed aside the struggling Wrath and stood in front of Dorian.
"Show me everything from start to finish."
"Um, well..."
Dorian lowered his sword and shook his head.
"I've been learning a new swordsmanship for the past few months. Could you evaluate that instead?"
He took a deep breath, mentioning that he had been practicing a sword technique on his own.
"A new swordsmanship?"
"It's a swordsmanship opposite to the Silent Manifestation Sword."
"Show me."
As Raon nodded, Dorian unleashed a highly aggressive sword strike.
Strong sword, Quick Sword, wind sword, severing sword, and even killing sword are mixed in.
Each one was an aggressive principle and technique. It was a swordsmanship completely opposite to Dorian's usual personality.
"What's the name of this swordsmanship?"
"It's the Surging Wave Sword."
Dorian lowered his gaze, saying it was a swordsmanship he had learned to overcome his fears.
"Show me the Silent Manifestation Sword too."
"Ah, yes!"
Dorian nodded and demonstrated the Silent Manifestation Sword he had been steadily practicing. Unlike the Surging Wave Sword, it was a swordsmanship focused on heavy defense.
"I'm afraid your Surging Wave Sword isn't at a level where we can spar with it yet."
Raon calmly shook his head.
Even if it's admirable, we can't waste time.
Although it was impressive that Dorian had trained in the Surging Wave Sword to change himself, Raon refused because the benefits that could be gained through it weren't significant enough.
"I-I'm sorry."
Dorian scratched his head, looking embarrassed.
"Sparring isn't just for today. So..."
Raon raised his finger, pointing at the sword marks Dorian had left on the ground.
"Improve your proficiency by our next sparring session. If it reaches a usable level, I'll evaluate your Surging Wave Sword too."
"Understood!"
Dorian bowed his head, saying he would practice even if it meant cutting back on sleep.
"Then let's begin."
The moment Dorian lifted his head, Raon unleashed the fourth form of the Silent Manifestation Sword. Whoosh! He raised the Heavenly Drive like a shield and struck Dorian's chest.
"Hnngh!"
Despite seeing the Heavenly Drive bearing down on him, Dorian didn't retreat. Realizing he needed to block rather than dodge, he raised his sword diagonally, taking a solid defensive stance. With a resounding clang! Dorian staggered from the powerful force behind the Heavenly Drive, but he stood his ground without being pushed back.
"Defense alone isn't enough. Think about where the weight of the Silent Manifestation Sword can exert the most power."
Raon unleashed a series of Silent Manifestation Sword forms, striking down on Dorian's shoulders, waist, and thighs.
"Ugh..."
The intense impacts shook Dorian's body.
Dorian's eyelids trembled from the powerful impacts. True to his cowardly nature, he instinctively wanted to close his eyes when scared. But he neither closed his eyes nor backed down. Even as he suffered wounds that tore at his flesh, he unleashed sword strikes as heavy as boulders.
"Watch both your sword and mine at the same time. If you can't grasp the difference, you'll end up being nothing more than a punching bag."
Raon gave a faint smile as he watched Dorian, who refused to stop trying to improve even in the face of fear.
He's changed. No, he's in the process of changing.
Change doesn't come suddenly by nature.
Wrath nodded emphatically as he looked at Dorian.
Only those who are prepared can break out of their shell. That fellow has been watching you all this time, so he had no choice but to change.
That's right.
Some might say change is sudden, but from what I've seen, it's not. To achieve true change, one must harbor the desire to change oneself and build up the stairs of effort from the bottom. Raon struck Dorian's waist with the sixth form of the Silent Manifestation Sword, and a thunderous clash resounded.
Dorian stepped forward towards the swiftly approaching sword, executing a near-perfect defense. His sword strikes now carried a definite weight.
"I think I'm starting to understand a little."
Though Dorian's hand holding the sword still trembled, his eyes were as clear as a lake.
"Defense changes completely depending on the angle of the sword."
He bit his lip as he realized Raon's teachings on his own.
"And for the attack!"
Dorian charged forward, kicking off the ground forcefully. Following his defense, he brought down a sword strike filled with heaviness. He understood what Raon was trying to teach and sought to match that weight.
Raon curled his lips into a smile as he watched Dorian taking steps forward despite his fear, and the other swordsmen quietly observing his back.
In a gray castle that seemed to have withstood hundreds of years, its color faded, Derus Robert sat on the highest throne, staring at the bleeding wound on the back of his hand.
It's not healing at all.
The wounds to his soul inflicted by Glenn and the hole in his chest were slowly healing, but the wound on the back of his hand remained indelible.
Especially the first one...
The second wound inflicted by Raon Zieghart in this war was healing, albeit very slowly. But the first sword mark left by Raon the assassin showed no change, even with Uriel's help. It seemed impossible to heal.
I don't understand why.
Even wounds inflicted by the Demon King's Authority were fading, and the soul cut by Glenn's Soul Sword was healing, but he couldn't understand why this wound wouldn't disappear.
That Uriel...
He's hiding something. Uriel seemed to know more about Raon, but he wouldn't say it directly.
"Tch."
As Derus clicked his tongue and wiped away the blood flowing from his wound, the door to the audience chamber opened, and Kubara and Bardiel entered.
"Lord Derus. We've finished the headcount."
Bardiel knelt and bowed his head.
"The Ziun Division, White Frost Division, and Ghost Demon Division have all returned. The Execution Division and Silent Thunder Group that were outside have also come back without any losses."
"Ten squads of Shadows have returned, and the Water Demon Guest Division came in last night."
Unlike Bardiel, Kubara bowed at the waist as she reported on the Shadow personnel.
"Good work."
Derus nodded as he looked down at Kubara and Bardiel.
This is better than expected.
Thanks to prior preparations, they were able to minimize the loss of forces. Of course, it was painful that House Robert's forces had been reduced by half.
"Has Lord Uriel gone somewhere else?"
Bardiel looked around the audience chamber where Derus was alone and spoke.
"He disappeared, saying he had something to do."
Derus shook his head, saying not to worry as Uriel would act on his own.
"How is the situation developing?"
He flicked his finger towards Kubara.
"Through the Six Kings Conference—no, the Five Kings Conference—Lord Derus and all of us have been declared enemies of the continent.
The Five Kings, the Black Market, and neutral forces have firmly united and are suppressing the houses that used to follow us."
Kubara bowed her head, saying the situation was not good.
"As expected."
Derus smiled calmly, as if he had anticipated this.
"If they're acting as expected, it's only right that we do something unexpected."
He tossed four gray letters that had been placed beside the throne to Kubara's feet.
"This is..."
"Send them to the Five Demons."
Derus's lips twisted into a long smile.
"If they held a Five Kings Conference, let's hold a Five Demons Conference."
Glenn nodded calmly as he looked at Raon.
"In just two weeks, you've grasped the flow of the two swords I have been teaching you. You shouldn't have major issues using them in actual combat. From tomorrow, I'll teach you different swordsmanship, so come prepared."
He said "good job" and sheathed his Heavenly Tremor.
"Thank you for your hard work."
Raon exhaled deeply and sat down where he stood.
Have I finally succeeded?
Glenn seemed to have higher expectations for my talent, as he made frighteningly many corrections every time I displayed my swordsmanship. Seeing that he didn't make a single correction today, it seems I've passed his test to some extent.
This is fun.
-F-fun, you say?
Wrath's jaw dropped in disbelief.
-You find it fun to practice swordsmanship with those brats from dawn to dusk, and then get beaten by that old geezer at night? Are you really a masochist! What's so fun about that!
Just all of this.
As Wrath said, days of training with the Light Wind division and learning swordsmanship from Glenn had continued for about two weeks.
It was true that it was tiring and difficult, but he couldn't help but enjoy it as he felt himself and the Light Wind division growing stronger.
It's far, but getting closer.
Transcendence still seemed impossibly distant, but not unreachable. It wasn't a mystery shrouded in fog, but a clearly visible mountain peak.
-Hmph!
Wrath snorted and shook his head.
-Just as that old geezer said, you haven't even reached the peak of Grandmaster yet! Visible my ass...
It was just as he was waving his hand in mockery.
[ has absorbed the energy of the Soul-Severing Orb.]
[ offers purified energy.]
[All abilities...]
[New trait...]
Ability increase messages appeared, as if the Blade of Requiem had absorbed all the red orbs obtained from subduing the Ghost King.
-Ugh...
Wrath's jaw trembled as he saw the messages, seemingly leaving him speechless.
It might not take as long as I thought?
Raon curled his lips into a smile as he watched the messages appear.
-Shut up!
Wrath screamed. His voice was tinged with a hint of sadness.
We'll have a late-night snack when we get back. Don't get too angry.
-R-really? What are we going to eat?
Nadine bread.
-Let's die. I'll die! You die! Everyone die!
Just as he was about to charge with clenched fists, Rimmer jumped over the wall and entered the training ground.
"Why do you always climb over the wall when there's a door?"
Glenn frowned, as if he couldn't understand.
"Because the wall is there?"
Rimmer tilted his head, as if to say, Isn't it obvious?
"Sigh..."
Glenn sighed, as if it wasn't even worth responding to.
"Is today's training over?"
Rimmer grinned and nodded towards Raon.
"Yes. It just ended."
Raon brushed off the dust on his pants and stood up.
"Then let's have a sparring match."
Red lightning flashed in Rimmer's green eyes.
"Seriously"