In front of the gently burning campfire, Raon examined the martial arts manual he received from Darkan, letting out a small chuckle.
'It's still amazing, even after looking at it again.'
The mantras and usage methods are incredibly refined. Sword Control is a complex martial art that very few have mastered throughout the continent's history. Even Transcendent Warriors find it difficult to learn, but this manual breaks down the intricacies of Sword Control so that even Grandmasters can understand it.
'I knew their abilities were exceptional, but to this extent...'
Creating legendary martial arts like the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and the Ring of Fire, and even interpreting Sword Control to a level anyone can understand—the ancestor of Zieghart he had seen was nothing short of a god of martial arts.
'Truly a genuine grand master.'
Although he was creating various sword techniques and martial arts himself, it seemed he couldn't even come close to matching his ancestor's level at present.
'But what exactly was someone of that caliber preparing for?'
Zieghart's ancestor had traveled throughout the continent, planting seeds for the future. He wondered what such a powerful person was preparing for to that extent.
'Was it because of that strange being I saw in the cave...?'
-Just for that!
As Raon was recalling the ancestor's dream, Wrath suddenly jumped up.
'Hm?'
-If this king had put his mind to it, he could have created an even more outstanding martial art than that!
Wrath pounded his chest, claiming he could create a martial art stronger than Sword Control.
'For example?'
Raon briefly jerked his chin towards Wrath.
-If it were this king, he could create countless Sword Control techniques with ice and send them flying!
'Oh, let's see it then.'
-Huh?
Wrath's eyes widened in surprise. He seemed taken aback, not expecting to be asked to demonstrate, as his boasts were usually ignored.
'You said you could do it. Go ahead and show me.'
-Uh...
He swallowed hard and then quickly turned his head away.
-W-why would this king do something for your benefit! It's simple to create, but I absolutely won't show you!
'No, you don't have to show me how. Just do it.'
-Forget it! You'll just copy it by watching! I can't reveal military secrets!
Wrath made the ridiculous excuse of military secrets while slowly backing away.
'Honestly.'
Raon smirked and returned to his book. Perhaps because they had grown closer, it seemed Wrath's boasting and playfulness had increased.
"How is it?"
Martha asked, licking her lips as she looked at the Sword Control manual.
"Do you think you can use proper Sword Control now?"
Her eyes sparkled with curiosity about the Sword Control technique as she leaned in.
"Yes. It's not difficult to understand."
Raon nodded calmly as he lowered the manual.
"If I refine it well, I might be able to make it usable for you when you become Grandmasters."
He felt that if he reached Transcendence and improved his mastery of Sword Control, he could create a version that even Grandmasters could use. Of course, it would be impossible for beginners, and they would need to be at least mid-level Grandmasters.
"Really...?"
Runaan, who had been staring blankly at the campfire, suddenly stood up.
"Can we really learn Sword Control too?"
"Huh? Oh, probably..."
"Wow!"
Runaan raised both arms and quietly cheered. It was an extremely exaggerated reaction considering her usual demeanor.
"I didn't know you were that interested in Sword Control."
Raon smiled faintly as he watched Runaan repeatedly raise her hands.
"Interested? As if."
Martha shook her head as if to say absolutely not.
"She always goes around saying things are bothersome and make her sleepy. It's obvious she wants to learn Sword Control to ride on swords."
She snorted, saying it was all too clear.
"Come on, surely not..."
"That's right."
Runaan nodded firmly, confirming Martha's words.
"I want to commute on a sword, and take naps on it too."
She blushed, saying it would feel nice to sleep under the sun while riding a sword.
"You idiot! You'll fall off the Sword Control if you sleep!"
Martha frowned, saying it was ridiculous.
"...I can do it."
Runaan lowered her eyebrows, insisting she wouldn't fall.
"You absolutely can't!"
"I can do it."
Martha and Runaan butted heads like cows, arguing whether one could or couldn't use Sword Control while sleeping.
"Sigh..."
Raon sighed as he watched Martha and Runaan start headbutting each other.
'Why are they becoming more childish?'
Those two seemed to be becoming more childish as they grew older, even though they had been mature as trainees.
-It's because they've gotten closer.
Wrath waved his hand, saying it was a good thing and to leave them be.
'Like you?'
-What nonsense!
'No, it's true.'
Raon chuckled and tried to focus on the manual again when Burren approached.
"Raon."
"Hm?"
"What do you think about what the former Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance said?"
Burren's expression darkened, as if he was still troubled by the idea that Zieghart might be connected to the Holy Sword Alliance.
"I don't think it's absolute, but I believe there's a possibility."
Based on what he saw in his dream and the stories from Rector and Darkan, the Zieghart ancestor who appeared in his dream was clearly related to the origins of the Holy Sword Alliance. For him, it was a certain situation, but since he couldn't reveal everything, he only mentioned it as a possibility.
"I see..."
Burren pressed his lips tightly. He seemed shocked by the fact that Zieghart might be related to the Five Demons, as he took more pride in Zieghart than anyone else.
"There's no need to be surprised or angry."
Raon calmly shook his head.
"But the Holy Sword Alliance is one of the Five Demons! Even though it's changed a lot now because of your grandfather, when you think about the previous Holy Sword Alliance, it can only be described as evil..."
"What about the Holy Sword Alliance members you've met here?"
"What?"
Burren's eyes widened as if he didn't understand what Raon meant.
"Putting aside the Holy Sword Alliance of the Five Demons, what did you think of the people you actually met there?"
Raon urged Burren to think carefully while trying to calm him down.
"...There were some rough individuals, but fundamentally, they were good people with a strong passion for swordsmanship."
Burren bit his lip, saying they weren't much different from Zieghart's swordsmen.
"Those people are still associated with the Five Demons, both now and in the past. But if you ask whether they are evil...Probably not."
He nodded slightly, letting out a small sigh.
"The Holy Sword Alliance has certainly committed many evil acts and is rightfully called one of the Five Demons."
Raon drew two lines on the ground with both hands.
"The connection between Zieghart and the Holy Sword Alliance that Darkan mentioned dates back hundreds of years or more. At that time, the Holy Sword Alliance might have been good, or Zieghart might have been evil. In the future, it could be the opposite again."
He continued the right line straight and twisted the left one like a maze.
"We've seen firsthand what kind of person Derus Robert is. This world changes depending on how you look at it."
Raon smiled slightly as he connected the lines that had drawn different trajectories.
"That's true..."
Burren nodded heavily, seeming to understand what Raon was saying now.
"We need to look at the core, not just the name or reputation. Whether it's people or families."
Raon nodded, conveying what he had realized through his past and present lives.
"I'm sorry. I guess I was too fixated on the name 'Five Demons.'"
Burren let out a long sigh, saying he had been thinking wrongly.
"It's okay. I thought you were an annoying young master at first, too."
Raon grinned and patted Burren's shoulder.
"T-that was because I was young back then..."
Burren blushed and bit his lip, seemingly at a loss for words about his behavior as a trainee.
"I'm just kidding."
Raon waved his hand lightly.
'Burren's focus on the Zieghart name must be because of Karoon.'
Burren still respects Karoon, and Karoon has an extremely strong pride in Zieghart. It was understandable that a son would be influenced by his father, leading to such a personality.
-Come to think of it, you never cared about names or reputations from the beginning.
Wrath narrowed his eyes, saying it was unlike a youngster.
'I've been through some things.'
Raon twisted his lips, recalling Derus from his past life.
'And that's not just something I'm saying to Burren.'
The advice to look at the core rather than the surface was also a commitment to himself, as he shouldn't create another victim, another 'Raon', in his quest for revenge against Derus.
"It's ready! Please drink while you talk!"
Dorian prepared tea and distributed it to everyone. Perhaps due to his Mind's Eye ability, the color of the tea handed to each person was different.
"Huh...?"
Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked at the thick, green tea-like liquid.
"What is this?"
He found it difficult to drink readily, as he had never seen tea of this color before.
"Oh, that's tea made from mint chocolate!"
Dorian grinned, saying he made it because it seemed necessary.
"Mint chocolate?"
-Mint chocolate!
Runaan and Wrath gathered around the teacup simultaneously.
"Ugh..."
Runaan lowered her eyebrows as if she didn't like the steaming mint chocolate and immediately backed away.
-Ooh! My wish came true!
However, Wrath licked his lips as if he had personally ordered it. It seemed he had planned this when he was dancing on top of Raon's head earlier.
"Hot mint chocolate is really not good..."
-Shut up and drink it!
Wrath forcibly opened Raon's mouth, urging him to drink quickly.
"Blech..."
Raon had no choice but to drink the mint chocolate, but he spat it out before even finishing half.
-This is something new!
Wrath's eyes clouded over as if hot mint chocolate wasn't bad either.
'Your taste is really incomprehensible... Hm?'
Raon turned around as he was wiping the mint chocolate off his tongue.
'What was that?'
He had felt someone's gaze just now, but when he turned around, there was no one there. Even when he extended his Aura Perception, not even animals were detected.
'Wrath, was there someone here?'
-What are you talking about! Never mind that, just drink more mint chocolate tea!
Wrath was already so engrossed in the mint chocolate that his eyes were rolling.
"..."
Raon stared intently at Wrath before pouring the mint chocolate tea onto the campfire.
-Nooooo!
Wrath touched the campfire with his chubby arms, but of course, he couldn't stop it.
-Y-you'll really go to heaven! You'll be a slave there for eternity!
'I'm sure...'
Raon ignored Wrath's tantrum and looked back again.
'There was something there.'
* * *
Rumble rumble rumble! A massive vibration occurred throughout Zieghart, as if an earthquake had struck.
"Ah, is it 6 o'clock already?"
"Let's go eat."
"What was today's side dish again?"
The Zieghart swordsmen in the training ground headed to the dining hall, licking their lips as if nothing was wrong, despite the strong vibrations. The swordsmen standing on the road were the same. They walked down the main street, chatting as if they didn't even feel the earthquake.
"Puhahaha!"
Rimmer burst into laughter at the sight.
"He shakes his leg at the same time every day. Now it's become an alarm clock! Should we call it the Destructive Clock of the North?"
He held his stomach and laughed as he watched the dining hall start to get crowded.
"It's been two months, so I guess they've accepted it now."
The Gambling Monster also let out a hollow laugh, as if this situation was ridiculous.
"But if he's going to make such a fuss, why doesn't he just go meet him directly?"
He muttered that he didn't understand as he looked at Zieghart's main building.
"He says he can't go out because he doesn't know when the Five Demons might act up."
Rimmer briefly licked his lips, saying that the collapse of Zieghart's walls had been a big shock.
"I can understand to some extent, but it's quite disappointing."
"I don't understand you, though."
The Gambling Monster narrowed his eyes as he looked at Rimmer.
"Me?"
Rimmer pointed at himself as if asking what he meant.
"Yes."
The Gambling Monster stepped forward and looked into Rimmer's eyes.
"You usually goof around, but for the two months Raon has been gone, you've been living more diligently than anyone else."
Originally, Rimmer didn't care about his own training, let alone the Light Wind division's training. But during Raon's absence, he focused not only on the Light Wind division's training but also on his own.
He didn't expect Rimmer to show such consistent behavior for two months, even if he had somewhat come to his senses.
"They say people die if they change suddenly, so have you caught a fatal disease?"
The Gambling Monster sent a fierce gaze, telling him to speak the truth.
"That saying doesn't apply to me since I'm an elf."
Rimmer shrugged, telling him to think whatever he wanted.
"You're an unpredictable guy no matter when I see you."
The Gambling Monster clicked his tongue, as if he didn't like it.
"Instead of worrying about me, you should pay attention to that side... Huh?"
Rimmer's eyes widened as he pointed towards the source of the vibration, the Lord's Manor. Unlike usual, the earthquake stopped very quickly.
"What's going on?"
The Gambling Monster also raised his eyebrows, realizing that Glenn's leg-shaking had stopped.
"The stopping time is earlier today?"
"Why do you think!"
Rimmer grinned and raised his head.
"The esteemed grandson is returning!"
He left the training ground, saying that only Raon could stop that leg-shaking.
"The Division Leader is back?"
"Has it been two months already?"
"It's been well over two months."
"Let's go see! We need to show him how we've changed!"
The Light Wind division swordsmen also followed Rimmer to greet Raon and show the results of their hard training. When Rimmer and the Light Wind division arrived at the main gate, they saw Raon, the three squad leaders, and Dorian entering through the large open doors.
"Huh?"
"Oho."
The Gambling Monster and Rimmer exclaimed simultaneously.
"What have they been through?"
The Gambling Monster let out a hollow breath after examining Burren, Martha, Runaan, and Dorian in turn.
"They've all changed beyond recognition."
He smiled, saying that each of them had become a different person.
"But is that really Dorian?"
The Gambling Monster raised his eyebrows as he looked at the skinny Dorian.
"I think so. He sometimes loses weight like that. It's a bit extreme this time, though."
Rimmer's eyes also widened in surprise at Dorian's transformation.
"Not just their appearance, but their skills have grown a lot too. It's shocking, but..."
Rimmer swallowed hard as he looked at Raon's calm eyes.
"Our Division Leader seems to have changed the most."
There was a big change in his martial prowess, but the aura in his eyes was different. A calm yet sharp energy. It felt like looking at a Transcendent Warrior far above himself.
"We've returned."
Raon stepped forward and bowed to Rimmer and the Gambling Monster.
"Yes. Good job!"
The Gambling Monster nodded briskly, as if satisfied with everyone's growth.
"What did you do? Did you just train non-stop after you got there?"
Rimmer patted Raon's shoulder, looking impressed.
"Well, something like that. I have a lot to report. But..."
Raon nodded with a smile and then flashed his red eyes.
"It seems the guys behind you had it easy."
He walked towards the main building, giving a faint smile as if to say he'd see them later.
"Oh? Did you all just play around? Why do you look like that!"
Martha twisted her lips as she examined the Light Wind division.
"No, you did train. It's just that the level is quite low."
Burren let out a turbid breath, saying they needed proper training.
"You won't be able to sleep well from now on…."
Runaan nodded firmly as if she meant it and followed after Raon.
"You're all dead!"
Even Dorian raised his small fist towards the Light Wind division.
"Hmm..."
Rimmer swallowed as he watched Raon's back. He had trained them hard, but the growth on the other side was too bizarre to argue against.
"W-what's going on..."
Krein grabbed his head as he watched the backs of Raon and the four others.
"What on earth did they go through to all come back Raon Zieghart-ified!"
* * *
Raon entered the audience chamber and stood before Glenn's throne.
"Raon Zieghart and four members of the Light Wind division have returned after completing training at the Holy Sword Alliance."
He knelt and bowed his head, formally reporting their return. Burren, Martha, Runaan, and Dorian behind him also knelt.
"Rise."
"Thank you."
"Hmm, yes... Gah!"
Glenn suddenly exhaled sharply as he looked at Raon's face. His expression was hard to describe. He looked happy, sad, and like a corpse whose breathing had stopped, all at once. No, all these expressions mixed together, creating an extremely bizarre face.
"H-Head of House? Are you alright?"
"Huurk, I'm fine."
Glenn shook his head, clutching his left chest.
"Ahem! I was just a bit surprised to see you after so long."
He slowly caught his breath and relaxed his contorted expression.
"You've all made growth worthy of being away for two months. Each of you has improved."
Glenn drew a deep smile, looking satisfied as he examined everyone from Raon to Dorian.
"It seems like there wasn't just anything ordinary that happened."
"Yes. I have many things to report this time as well."
Raon nodded, organizing the events that occurred at the Holy Sword Alliance.
"Tell me."
"Yes. Then..."
Raon told him everything, from the various training they underwent to the special swordsmen at the Holy Sword Alliance, and even the return of the former Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance.
"So that's how you achieved such growth. Expanding the realm of the Ten Thousand Swords even further is an even greater gain than the increase in martial prowess."
Glenn smiled slightly, saying it was a good change and growth.
"...And Darkan was indeed alive. Plucking out his eye to master the Soul Sword... That's just like him."
He briefly licked his lips, as if he had somewhat expected Darkan's survival. He didn't seem particularly disappointed about not finishing him off.
"Head of House."
Raon bowed his head as he looked at Glenn.
"There's one thing I'd like to ask."
"Go ahead."
Glenn lowered his hand, as if ready to answer any question.
"Among the Zieghart ancestors, was there someone like me with golden hair and red eyes who used Sword Control? Ah! They also used a golden-colored aura of fire."
Raon looked at Glenn as he described one by one the appearance of the ancestor he had seen in his dreams.
"Hmm!"
Glenn's eyes widened in surprise, then he slowly lowered his gaze.
"As you know, golden hair and red eyes aren't that rare in Zieghart. If we go back in history, there are countless swordsmen like that. But there was only one person who used golden flames."
His red eyes curved with reverence.
"The first Head of House Zieghart. Only he wielded golden flames."