'Phew...'
Raon scratched the back of his head as he followed Glenn out of the annex building.
'I was saved thanks to grandfather.'
If he had stayed there, the plan to infiltrate Derus's forces would have been ruined by Sylvia tearfully pleading, Edgar unexpectedly speaking coldly with just facts, and Sia throwing a tantrum, but Glenn stepped forward and helped him get through the crisis for now.
Since it wasn't just anyone else, but his family who had nearly ruined the plan he had prepared for so long, sighs of relief came out one after another.
-Don't think too badly of it.
Wrath rolled his eyes as he felt Sylvia's gaze coming from behind.
-They're all acting like that because they're worried about you.
He clicked his tongue briefly, saying that since they were family, it was right to understand them.
'I know.'
Raon nodded calmly.
'The incidents I've caused haven't been just one or two.'
There had been many dangerous enemies while carrying out missions from the family, but he had experienced countless life-and-death situations by directly causing trouble himself. While it was good for him to become stronger each time he overcame a crisis, from his parents' perspective, they would be trembling with fear and unable to sleep. He could completely understand why Sylvia and Edgar were worried.
-Hmm. Now you're finally making some sense.
Wrath drew a thin smile as if he was comfortable that his emotions were understood.
"This should be a good spot."
Unlike usual, Glenn stopped his steps in front of the clearing that spread out at the entrance of North Grave Mountain. He gazed at the dense forest for a moment before slowly turning around.
"You've prepared thoroughly."
Glenn nodded calmly, seeming to sense that much effort had gone into Raon's plan that he had heard in the annex building.
"Yes. I thought that was the only way to draw out Derus Robert."
Raon bit his lip while meeting Glenn's serious eyes.
"There's less than a year left until the date Derus declared war. If we start the war as scheduled then, we'll definitely be pushed back."
Though he belonged to Zieghart and was the master of the Light Wind Palace, he spoke of the Five Kings' defeat with conviction.
'Because Derus Robert is that kind of person.'
Derus Robert would never show himself unless he was certain of victory. The fact that he mentioned the ambiguous number of one year and one month meant he must be counting on something.
"I think the same."
Glenn nodded while stroking his chin.
"Derus Robert has clashed with me several times. Even though he was defeated helplessly each time, the fact that he spoke of a war in one year and one month means he can stop me."
He twisted his lips, saying that a sinister human like Derus would definitely make perfect preparations before making his move.
"So I also agree with your operation."
Glenn showed a faint smile as he looked at Raon's calm eyes.
"It's true that it's dangerous, but it's a worthwhile operation. You prepared well."
Unlike when he was in the annex building, he praised him for preparing well and patted his shoulder.
"Ah, thank you."
Raon bowed his head to Glenn with a bewildered look.
"There was nothing I could do in the annex building. It's difficult to stop a mother who's worried about her son."
Glenn chuckled as if he too couldn't stop Sylvia in that state.
"Besides, Sylvia doesn't know your martial prowess accurately. Since she hasn't reached transcendence yet, no matter how much you explain that you're strong, she won't be able to accept it."
He shook his head, saying that since they stood in different positions, it couldn't be explained with words.
"That's right."
Raon drew a thin smile like Glenn's. As he said, since their perspectives were different, words wouldn't get through to Sylvia.
"However, I know how strong you are. There aren't many opponents on this continent who can defeat you as you are now."
Glenn stretched out his right hand, saying that the number of people who could defeat Raon now would be hard to count even on one hand.
"Hmm..."
Raon pressed his lips down tightly as he listened to Glenn's words. When the continent's strongest acknowledged his martial prowess, an ambition like wildfire bloomed in his chest and strength naturally entered his entire body.
"Most, no, the majority of dangers you could break through and emerge from with your own strength. However, it's also true that Derus Robert is dangerous. You know this well too."
Glenn furrowed his brow, saying that even with his current martial prowess, surviving in Derus Robert's forces wouldn't be easy.
"I know. That's why I'm trying to prepare from various angles..."
"That alone is not enough."
Unlike his gentle tone until now, he firmly waved his hand.
"I'll try to make you train as much as possible until Derus Robert's followers bite the bait you've thrown, but there probably won't be enough realistic time to achieve your goal."
Glenn clicked his tongue, saying there would be an absolute lack of time, as if he knew that he was creating the tenth Ring of Fire.
"That would be the case."
Raon let out a heavy sigh.
'There's definitely still not enough time.'
By his current estimate, it would take half a year to complete the tenth ring. Since the operation to infiltrate Derus's forces had to be executed within a month at the latest, breaking through that wall by then would be difficult.
"So I'll teach you the new martial arts I learned recently."
Glenn lowered the hand that was stroking his chin and grasped the Heavenly Tremor.
"What? Wasn't it that you don't pass on your insights, grandfather?"
Raon blinked blankly. Glenn had said that even though they followed the same Ten Thousand Swords, their pursued paths were different so there was no need to pass on insights, which made this confusing.
"It's not something like an insight. This is actually ambiguous to even call martial arts..."
Glenn drew a deep smile as if he had expected such a question.
"It's a technique. You'll probably be able to escape at least once no matter what happens."
He nodded greatly as if certain.
"This might be the last swordsmanship I create. Perhaps because of that..."
Glenn's eyes sank frighteningly cold.
"Learning it will be a little... no, quite difficult."
***
'Haah...'
Raon sighed inwardly as he followed the short man descending the sacred stairs.
'It was difficult. Very much so.'
Glenn increased the sparring to six times a day and focused on transmitting the technique he had developed during the remaining time. At first, he thought he could learn it quickly because of the Ring of Fire, but this time it really wasn't easy.
-This king was honestly surprised too.
Wrath frowned as if incredulous.
-I never imagined that old Nadine bread geezer would create such a thing.
He let out a hollow laugh, saying he saw Glenn in a completely new light.
'That's right. It's completely different from grandfather's disposition.'
Raon nodded, agreeing with Wrath's words.
'He probably created it for me.'
As Wrath said, the swordsmanship that Glenn taught was completely different from existing ones. It seemed certain that he had created those martial arts while worrying about himself who would face many dangerous situations in the future.
'I failed to create the tenth Ring of Fire, but fortunately I learned that sword technique.'
Despite conducting sparring six times a day, he failed to form the tenth Ring of Fire.
In the end, he formed four-fifths of the ring, nearly approaching completion, but it ultimately shattered.
However, he barely managed to learn the new swordsmanship that Glenn said was difficult. As he said, it seemed like it could save his life exactly once in any dangerous moment.
-That's right. And probably that ring too...
Wrath narrowed his eyes slightly as if ambiguous.
'Hmm? What do you mean by that?'
Raon tilted his head while looking at Wrath.
-Hmph, it's nothing.
Wrath snorted as if telling him not to worry about it.
'How bland.'
Raon chuckled and lowered his shoulders.
'If it's nothing important, please be quiet. I need to focus on acting now.'
He smacked his lips while looking at the end of the stairs leading underground.
"We've arrived."
The short man, who was called Kuanyu outside, turned around and smiled brightly. He emanated a gentle light as if holy power was sprinkled all over his body.
"Ah, yes..."
Raon swallowed dry saliva and returned to the timid personality of Zilfen, the blue-eyed man whose skin he was wearing. As his foot touched the ground, he felt sacred and warm energy seeping through the floor into his entire body. While it felt so good it was chilling, a damp sensation passed along his spine.
'This is...'
Raon put strength into his fingertips and raised his eyebrows very thinly.
'It's detection magic.'
It was definitely detection magic that used divine power to assess the abilities of those who stepped on this ground.
'I definitely won't be caught...'
Raon lightly bit the tip of his tongue while looking at the ring on his finger.
'I just need to react very slowly.'
Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and Glacier were suppressed, and due to the artifact made by Evelyn and Encia, his aura wouldn't be detected by anyone. Since it even lowered physical abilities, even Glenn couldn't detect him in the experiment.
Moreover, the man named Zilfen he was acting as was originally a swordsman who could use aura and an agent of the black market, so if he only showed a very small amount of earth aura, no one would suspect him.
"Mmm..."
Raon shuddered his shoulders slightly as if something was strange. Since Zilfen was originally timid, it was easier to act.
"Ah, don't be too surprised."
Kuanyu shook his head with a smile.
"This is a barrier to filter out impure evils that shouldn't enter this land. The angels personally came and installed it."
He spread his hands, saying there was no need to be surprised and to just accept it as it was.
"Ah, I understand."
Raon nodded with a bewildered expression.
'It feels disgusting.'
Sacred energy was definitely sweeping through his entire body, but strangely it didn't feel good. As expected, the archangels and angels who had descended to this land seemed far from the good beings humans commonly thought them to be.
'Still, I need to calm my mind.'
Raon suppressed his intention to destroy Derus and the angels, even resonating with his Ring of Fire. He cleared his mind and heart as if he had truly come down to this underground place to go to heaven.
"That's good. As expected, you're ready to join us."
Kuanyu nodded seeing that the light surrounding Raon had settled without any reaction.
"Now you can receive the key to heaven."
He approached the pure white door, saying they should go inside together.
"I-Is that so?"
Raon looked at the white door while following Kuanyu with a vague expression as if he knew nothing.
'It's similar to the door that Derus and the archangel came out of.'
Derus and the archangel had appeared before him or disappeared through such white-light dimensional gates.
'I can't sense anything from inside.'
Since he couldn't tell at all what was behind the door, the door before his eyes seemed to serve a similar function.
"Then let's go in."
Kuanyu nodded and turned the door handle. With a creaking sound, brilliant golden light poured out from the front. A dazzling radiance burst forth! Raon closed his eyes against the intense light, then felt a warm breeze blowing and slowly lifted his eyelids.
"Th-This is..."
As the light settled, the inside of the white door gradually came into view. However, that place was completely different from his expectations. Luxurious and large houses stood in rows, with a blue forest and cathedral spread out at the center, and the sky was clear without a single cloud, casting down warm light.
Like nobles, no, like the center of a royal capital, people were enjoying luxury on this elegant land, and everyone without exception had wealthy smiles on their faces. They weren't false smiles, but all showed genuine happiness.
'Is this place that heaven?'
Raon was lowering his eyebrows, thinking it was strange for heaven, when it happened.
"Oh my! It's Zilfen!"
A kind-faced middle-aged woman approached from the right, calling the name of the character he was acting as.
"You came here too!"
She drew a bright smile as if she knew him very well and welcomed him with open arms.
'It's starting right away.'
Raon looked at the middle-aged woman and lightly bit the inside of his cheek.
'The test to prove my identity.'
He twisted up the corners of his mouth inside his robe, determined to take on whatever came his way.