Raon followed Glenn to the clearing at the entrance of North
Grave Mountain.
'Coming back here in less than an hour...'
He chuckled, remembering that just a little further up was
where he had swum through bears and honey.
'But...'
He narrowed his eyes as he watched Glenn's back, calmly
surveying the night sky.
'Why did the Head of House come here?'
After the sparring with Karoon, Glenn had handed over half
of the gold coins earned from this mission to the Light Wind
division. The sparring had ended well, so there was no
additional reward to receive. He couldn't understand why he
had been called.
-They've been feeding you here and there today...
Wrath suspiciously looked Glenn up and down.
-Don't tell me that old geezer is trying to feed you Nadine
bread?
He shook his head vigorously, warning not to eat the Nadine
bread even if offered.
'Oh! Are you a genius?'
-Ahem! This King has been known as the greatest mind and
strategist in the Devildom since ancient times...
'That's impressive.'
-This King's words are not yet finished...
'Wow.'
As Raon was ignoring Wrath's nonsense, Glenn turned
around.
"Raon."
Glenn's eyes were different from usual. A warmth like a
fireplace seemed to bloom in his red pupils.
"Yes, Head of House."
Raon looked into Glenn's eyes before lowering his head.
"I was..."
"Yes?"
"Never mind."
Glenn briefly licked his lips and shook his head.
"Karoon has truly changed a lot."
He raised his chin with his hands behind his back.
"The old Karoon would never have admitted his faults, I
didn't expect him to reveal his own mistakes in front of so
many people."
Glenn let out a breath, still seeming surprised.
-This King acknowledges it too!
Wrath raised his round hand high.
-This King never imagined that shitty-eyes' shitty dad could
change so much!
He smacked his lips, seeming to have seen a new side of
humans.
"Karoon's change is all thanks to you. Thank you."
Glenn drew a subtle smile, seeming genuinely pleased with
Karoon's change.
"It's nothing."
Raon shook his head calmly, believing that Karoon had
achieved the change on his own.
"Did you gain any insights from the sparring with Karoon?"
Glenn asked, letting his hands fall from behind his back.
"I didn't."
Raon let out a short sigh. He had felt Karoon's emotions and
power, but couldn't grasp a clue to reach transcendence.
"Then, did you feel anything while watching Karoon?"
"The Central Martial Palace Leader seemed to have
converted everything into martial prowess - his sins, regrets,
aspirations for the Head of House, and even his affection forZieghart."
Raon expressed all the emotions and willpower he had felt
while watching Karoon's sword.
"You observed well. It was worth allowing the sparring."
Glenn slightly raised his eyebrows, as if to say he had seen
well.
"Transcendence is not simply a realm of dividing martial
prowess. It's like a diary recording who you are, where you
came from, and where you're going."
He explained the concept of transcendence in a calm tone.
"A diary..."
Raon repeatedly murmured the word 'diary' that Glenn had
mentioned.
"The reason Karoon gained such martial prowess as soon as
he reached transcendence is because he filled his diary with
so much."
Glenn's hand fell heavily as if tracing Karoon's sword
domain.
"If Karoon hadn't sincerely reflected and reached
transcendence, the sword you faced today wouldn't have
appeared."
"Ah..."
"What do you want to fill your transcendence with?"
He lowered his chin as if to say 'speak freely'.
"There are too many things I want to take with me, so I
haven't decided yet."
Raon let out a long sigh. He couldn't make any decisions
because nothing clearly appealed to him.
"Then why not take everything?"
Glenn shrugged slightly, as if wondering why that was even
a concern.
"Yes...?"
"I've said it before, your capacity is unparalleled even
compared to me or Rector. Why is someone who will achieve
the true Ten Thousand Swords worrying unnecessarily?"
He smiled faintly while caressing the hilt of the Heavenly
Tremor.
"Your diary is broader than anyone else's. You can write
down everything you want."
Glenn smiled, telling him to take all emotions and willpower
with him.
"Everything..."
Raon bit his lip while looking down at his hands.
'Is it really okay to do that?'
Most martial artists choose their path by shedding their
shell, but the thought of taking everything felt excessive.
'Wrath, Ten Thousand Swords, revenge, family, comrades,
friends, past life...'
Numerous fragments of emotions and willpower swirled in
his mind. Despite his large capacity, he wasn't confident he
could take all of them with him.
"If your thoughts aren't settled..."
Glenn slowly lowered his hand.
"How about visiting the roots of swordsmanship?"
He nodded towards the Heavenly Drive hanging at Raon's
waist.
"The roots..."
Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked at the Heavenly Drive
with its slightly cracked hilt.
"I hear 'he' has returned too, so make time to go and see."
"Understood."
He bowed to Glenn, who had given sincere advice.
"That's enough. The help I received from you is greater."
Glenn waved his hand, saying there was no need for
formalities.
"Head of House."
Raon approached Glenn, releasing his grip on the Heavenly
Drive.
"I also have something to tell you."
"Go ahead."
"It's about some information I received recently..."
He told Glenn about the information he had heard from
Merlin.
"We were already aware that the Five Demons were moving
to increase their martial prowess. We're gathering
information, so things will get busy soon."
Glenn nodded, saying that the Light Wind division would
need to move as well.
"However, this is the first I've heard about the Sword Demon
becoming the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance."
He frowned deeply.
"Did you hear that news from your friend too?"
"Ah..."
Glenn seemed to be referring to Wrath when he said 'friend'.
"No. This time it's a different friend."
"It's good that you have many friends."
He smiled slightly, saying it wasn't a bad thing.
"Hmm..."
Although he had said 'friend', his relationship with Merlin
wasn't yet established, so he had nothing more to say.
"We'll need to verify it, but thank you for providing this
valuable information."
Glenn waved his hand as if to say 'you can go now'.
"Yes. Then I'll take my leave."
Raon bowed his head to Glenn and returned to the annex
building.
"..."
Glenn remained alone, gazing at the night sky that rippled
like a black curtain.
'Rector...'
When Raon went missing, Rector had appeared and
demanded to know what Glenn had done. At that time, he
didn't seem like a puppet following the orders of the Leader
of the Holy Sword Alliance, nor a madman obsessed with
swords unable to feel others' pain. Rather, he seemed like
someone extremely close to Raon.
Glenn bit his lip thinly as he recalled the despair in Rector's
eyes.
"You couldn't be..."
***
As soon as Sylvia finished her breakfast, she headed to the
training ground built as an extension of the annex building.
She drew her sword while inhaling the warm air. A clear light
flickered over Sylvia's sword. It was the aura of the Radiant
Light Flow that Raon had taught her. She honed various
sword techniques while guiding the brilliant light.
Sylvia only lowered her sword when the newly risen sun
reached the center of the sky.
However, it wasn't for rest. She seemed to recall the
movements of the Greedy Demon and the White Demon
Swordsman that she had heard about from Raon yesterday,
causing a rough yet splendid change in her blade. The bluetinged blade emitted an intense radiance, spreading out in
all directions like sunlight.
It looked as if it could sweep away enemies with light, true
to the name Radiant Light Flow.
With a final swish, Sylvia lowered her sword, having
expended so much energy and aura that her hands
trembled. She sat down right there, as if she had truly used
all her strength.
"My lady."
Helen sighed as she handed Sylvia water and chocolate.
"Aren't you pushing yourself too hard?"
"It's necessary effort."
Sylvia shook her head and drank the water in one gulp.
"I don't want to lose family ever again."
Raon had become a son she could be proud of, her
relationship with her father was slowly recovering as she
joined the direct lineage, and she was receiving respectful
gazes from swordsmen. All her dreams had come true, but
the nightmares that visited every other night hadn't
disappeared.
The Twin-Headed Demon's maniacal laughter, Edgar and Sia
falling before him, and herself being dragged into darkness,
unable to do anything. The nightmare that had repeated for
over 20 years still tormented her.
'I can't go through the same thing again.'
She had to protect Raon and the children in the annex at
least. Knowing the sorrow of losing family, if the same thing
were to happen again, she would throw away her life to
save everyone. Sylvia raised her gaze slowly after making
this vow to her soul.
"Thank you, Helen."
She put the chocolate Helen had given her into her mouth
as she stood up.
'I can't stop.'
Perhaps because she had broken through the Grandmaster
barrier too easily, she had barely grown since then. Now
was not the time to be complacent, but to focus all her
efforts on increasing her strength. Sylvia gripped her sword
again, raising a solemn yet warm light.
***
Despite being on leave, Raon didn't train but headed
towards southern Zieghart.
-Where are you going?
Wrath yawned long and tilted his chin.
'There's a place I haven't visited in a while.'
-In a while? D-Don't tell me you...
Wrath widened his eyes and thrust his face towards Raon.
-Are you going to buy this King bead ice cream? And a new
flavor at that...
'That's not it?'
-Ngh...
He smacked his lips long in disappointment.
-It wouldn't hurt to stop by for a moment...
'Nope. Not going.'
-Tch, then where is this? It looks familiar... Hm?
Wrath's eyes widened as he saw the small village with thick
smoke billowing from every chimney.
-Isn't this where your sword was made?
'That's right. Seems you remember.'
Raon nodded and entered the village.
'The village of blacksmiths who hammer iron day and night.
Mirtan.'
The 'he' that Glenn told him to visit yesterday is Vulcan, the
Continent's Master.
He made time to come here, also to have the Heavenly
Drive serviced after a long time.
-This place is dreadfully boring.
Wrath muttered disinterestedly and retreated into the iceflower bracelet.
'All your interest is in bead ice cream, huh.'
Raon tapped the bracelet and entered Mirtan. Hearing the
furnace flames, the sound of iron, and the shouts of the
masters, he felt energized. As he slowly looked around while
heading up to Vulcan's workshop, he saw a familiar back of
a head.
"Dorian?"
"Huh? Division Leader!"
It really was Dorian. He stopped his transaction with a
master and approached with a beaming smile.
"What brings you here?"
"What about you? Why are you here?"
"I was stocking up on essentials!"
Dorian smiled, saying he came out to replenish weapons
and iron used in the war. His eyes were bloodshot as if he
hadn't slept.
"Don't tell me you've been..."
"Yes. I've been buying essentials non-stop. I even got good
fish and meat from the dawn market!"
He chuckled as he pulled out fresh meat and fish from his
pouch.
"You could take it slow, you know..."
"If I take it slow, I can't gather all the essentials!"
Dorian roared, stamping his foot.
"Huh...?"
"Just like a graceful swan paddling furiously underwater,
proper supply requires running day and night!"
He furrowed his brow and raised his chin.
"Do you understand?"
"Ah, yes..."
Raon stepped back, terrified.
"I still have essentials to gather. See you later!"
As soon as Dorian collected his items from the blacksmith,
he left Mirtan village immediately.
"Whew..."
Raon chuckled as he watched Dorian quickly disappear. Helooked excessively tired, but also incredibly happy.
-Didn't this King tell you? Your wallet is a pervert...
Wrath shook his head, saying there were only weirdos
around.
'Maybe so...'
Raon sighed and climbed to the top of Mirtan village. From
the round workshop, he felt hammering and heat unlike
anything he had heard before.
'He's still the same.'
Raon smiled faintly and knocked on the workshop door.
"Not accepting visitors!"
Vulcan's gruff voice came from inside the workshop. Raon
opened the door and entered as soon as Vulcan finished speaking.
"Don't tell me you've retired again?"
"Hmm...?"
Vulcan slowly turned around. He gaped, revealing muscles
even larger and firmer than before.
"Raon!"
Vulcan sprang up and hugged Raon.
"It's been a while."
"Indeed. It's been far too long!"
He laughed heartily, asking why Raon had taken so long to
visit.
"I've heard about your exploits so much from others that my
ears nearly fell off. It was almost tiresome."
Vulcan patted Raon's shoulder heavily, as if proud of him.
"It's all thanks to the sword you made, Master."
Raon smiled, touching the hilt of the Heavenly Drive.
"Your skills may not have improved, but your flattery
certainly has!"
Vulcan snorted and shook his head.
"You didn't come to see my face, so let's see that sword of
yours."
He gestured with his hand, saying he'd take a look at the
Heavenly Drive.
"Understood."
Raon bowed his head and carefully drew the Heavenly
Drive.
"Hmm..."
Vulcan narrowed his eyes as he examined the Heavenly
Drive.
"You've maintained it somewhat, but the blade is damaged.
Seems you've been through some fierce battles."
He sighed, as if looking back at the time Raon had spent
fighting through the Heavenly Drive.
"I'm sorry."
"What are you sorry for? A worn sword means it's been
fulfilling its role faithfully. The owner has nothing to be sorry
about."
Vulcan shook his head vigorously, saying all Raon needed to
do was show himself as a true Zieghart swordsman.
"I was going to call for you anyway, so you've come at just
the right time."
He put down the Heavenly Drive and walked to a corner of
the workshop.
"Pardon?"
Raon blinked, watching Vulcan's back.
"Some excellent materials have come in."
Vulcan pulled out golden ore and red and blue iron beads
from an old box, his lips curling into a smile.
"I'll make your sword even sharper and stronger!"