"It's over."
Raon barely suppressed his laughter as he watched the Blade Queen and Warlord biting their lips with desperate expressions.
I was really tense, but this is much easier than I expected.
The titles of Blade Queen and Warlord still remained at the pinnacle of the continent. No, since their retirement, these titles had begun to shine even more brilliantly.
Since they were such extraordinary martial artists, he had crafted five plans to persuade them without fighting, but he never expected everything to be resolved with just the first plan, without needing the other four.
They took the bait perfectly.
Seeing the serious looks in the Blade Queen and Warlord's eyes, it seemed they would grant any request he made.
"Speak."
The Warlord stroked his chin while lowering his blade.
"What must we do for you?"
He clenched his fist, expressing his desire to compensate for the damage no matter what.
"You can really tell us anything!"
The Blade Queen placed her sword, its flame extinguished, on the glacier.
"I swear I'll do anything! On my name as the Blade Queen!"
She stomped her foot fiercely, willing to stake even her title as Blade Queen.
– It's really over…
Wrath heaved a deep sigh, as if there was nothing more to see.
– How can this be? He barely set any bait, just threw in a single hook, yet caught two carps at once.
He ground his teeth, noting that the Blade Queen and Warlord's gullibility was on par with demon kings.
(E/N: Assessment certified by the Demon King of Wrath – you can trust it.)
…Indeed.
Raon let out a thin smile as he looked at Wrath, who had the highest gullibility of them all.
[Do, do I have to do it too?]
The Gold Dragon rolled his gleaming golden eyes furtively.
"Of course you must! You're the one who marked these coordinates!"
The Blade Queen pulled her sword from the ice and pointed it at the Gold Dragon.
"Right. You said nothing would happen since no one was here."
The Warlord nodded heavily while glaring at the Gold Dragon, as if remembering something.
[There really wasn't anyone here…]
The Gold Dragon scratched his forehead with his claw.
[Ah, alright, just stop glaring at me like that!]
He let out a deep sigh and looked at Raon.
[I promise on the name of Paratheus of the Gold Clan. I will do my utmost to compensate for the damage done to you and other humans.]
(E/N: An endangered species: good dragons?)
Paratheus made his vow of compensation in dragon tongue, the language of dragons.
– Even that lizard?
Wrath gaped in disbelief, apparently never imagining the Gold Dragon would step forward too.
Even I didn't expect this…
He had only intended to bind the Blade Queen and Warlord, but unexpectedly the Gold Dragon took the bait on his own. Though surprised, he felt pleased.
Paratheus, was it?
Even at a glance, he was clearly an ancient dragon. A windfall had just landed in his lap. Judging by that massive body, wings, and the thick scent of mana, he was definitely an ancient dragon – and a high-ranking one at that.
The Blade Queen, Warlord, and even an ancient dragon.
This was no ordinary gain. Raon forced down his curling lips as he approached the Blade Queen, Warlord, and Gold Dragon.
"Actually, we were trying to build our strength here for the upcoming war. My friends were controlling monsters, and personal training was being conducted at Habun Castle. But now that the plan is ruined, I'm not sure how to resolve this situation."
Instead of directly asking them to participate in the war, he just sighed while muttering about the big problem that had arisen.
"War? What war?"
The Blade Queen raised her chin sharply, asking to know just that much.
"You must know that Derus Robert betrayed the Five Kings?"
Raon mentioned Derus's name with clouded eyes.
"I know."
The Warlord exhaled shortly.
"I never thought a swordsman bearing the title of Sky Sword Saint would choose such a path."
He clenched his fist, saying he would have sought out Derus if he hadn't retired.
"I was going to go. If this person hadn't stopped me, I would have met him already."
The Blade Queen snorted as she looked at the Warlord who was radiating a cold aura.
"But since you brought up Derus's name…"
"That's right."
Raon paused briefly before speaking.
"Derus Robert and Eden are plotting to overthrow this continent. For that purpose, Derus is summoning Archangels, and Eden is trying to resurrect the Demonic Dragon that was subjugated a thousand years ago. We were preparing for war in various ways to prevent that."
It wasn't true, but it wasn't entirely false either. After all, they had come here to get Sloth to participate in the war.
"Ah, so then…"
The Blade Queen rolled her wrist while smacking her lips.
"We should participate in the war instead of your friends and the knights of Habun Castle?"
She followed the path he had carefully laid out and gave the exact answer he wanted.
"They're villains who want to turn the continent into a sea of flames. Of course we should return, even if we're retired! Right?"
The Blade Queen shrugged her shoulders at the Warlord.
"…"
The Warlord closed his eyes without saying anything.
"Just this once."
He finally raised his eyelids and held up one finger.
"Just this once. I'll participate in this war where everything is at stake."
The Warlord revealed a cold gaze as he promised to fight with all his might in the final battle.
"That's right!"
The Blade Queen slapped the Warlord's back with her palm, saying he thought well.
"Hey. What are you doing? You need to speak up too!"
She jerked her chin at the Gold Dragon.
[Uh…]
The Gold Dragon lowered his eyes uncomfortably.
[Our clan will likely side with the other faction in that war…]
He stroked his eyebrows, suggesting he might be the only one on the humans' side.
"So you won't do it?"
The Blade Queen deeply furrowed her brow as she looked at the Gold Dragon.
[Ah, how could I not do it! I'm just saying it might be awkward! I'll do it. I will!]
The Gold Dragon nodded his long chin, agreeing to participate in the war on the Five Kings' side.
– Just what kind of weakness did that lizard get caught with?
That's what I'm most curious about too.
Though he was incredibly curious about the story between the Blade Queen, Warlord, and Gold Dragon, there was still more to gain.
"Thank you. But there's one more problem."
Raon let out another long sigh.
"What's the problem."
The Warlord jerked his chin as if telling him to speak.
"The highest-grade artifacts we created to control monsters are broken, and Habun Castle's gates and walls were destroyed by monsters. It will cost quite a lot to repair them, but we've already used most of our funds…"
(E/N: I can't even call it shamelessness at this point. Do those two idiots truly believe this?)
He fidgeted with his fingers while explaining they had no money due to war funds.
"Hey! What are you doing! Get it out!"
The Blade Queen tapped the Gold Dragon's belly.
[Ah, really…]
As the Gold Dragon brought his hands together, massive gold ingots began pouring down before Raon's eyes. The thunderous cascade of gold formed a small hill, its golden light reflecting on Raon's face.
[Is this enough?]
"Th-that's plenty."
Raon nodded with dazed eyes.
This isn't just enough, it's way too much.
He had only intended to get a little, but he never expected to receive such a large amount of gold ingots. They all seemed to be dwarf-crafted too, which would make them even more valuable.
"Huuu…"
Raon looked at the gold ingots and sighed again.
"Why now? Not enough gold?"
The Blade Queen grabbed his shoulder as if telling him to speak up if he needed more.
"No. With this much gold, we can buy artifacts and rebuild the walls and gates. But…"
Raon deeply furrowed his brow.
"I'm worried about how to replace the master craftsmen's weapons and armor that we lost – things that money can't buy."
"Hm."
"Mmm…"
The Warlord and Blade Queen looked at Raon with deeply furrowed eyes.
– You fool!
Wrath clapped his hands as if caught in satisfaction.
– You went too far! They're not idiots, they won't fall for that much! You got too greedy!
He giggled, saying Raon would lose everything by trying to get weapons too. But what happened was the opposite of what Wrath expected.
"Hey. You have those weapons and armor we left with you, right? Get them all out."
The Blade Queen wiggled her finger at the Gold Dragon.
"There should be some artifacts too, release those as well."
Far from stopping it, the Warlord nodded for him to bring out even more.
– Wh-what! How is this happening!
Wrath widened his eyes in disbelief.
I don't just throw things out randomly, you know.
Raon shook his head with a smile.
I did this believing in the title I received from you.
He had the title . Because it was an ability that caused mental confusion when talking to powerful beings, the Blade Queen and Warlord were probably in a dazed state like they were drunk.
– Aaagh!
Wrath gasped as if he finally realized what was happening.
[Understood.]
The Gold Dragon opened a dimensional space and took out the equipment and artifacts that the Blade Queen and Warlord had mentioned.
"Take them all, they're useless to us anyway."
The Blade Queen smiled, saying it was better to get rid of the baggage.
"These are spoils we had to take while dealing with villains, so it would be more helpful if they're put to good use."
The Warlord closed and opened his eyes in agreement.
"Thank you. Really…"
Raon bowed deeply to the Blade Queen and Warlord while licking his lips.
I wonder if I can get even more out of this…?
– Stop! You madman!
"Now that business is settled…"
The Blade Queen looked at the Warlord while licking her lips.
"Let's have a proper fight and leave this place."
She raised her blade of hostile aura, suggesting they end their long-standing sect rivalry here and now without needing to transfer their auras.
"Not a bad idea."
The Warlord nodded in agreement.
"It was time to move anyway."
He aimed his blade of frost at the Blade Queen's neck.
[I don't even know anymore…]
The Gold Dragon shook his head and quickly moved away from the glacier.
[Raon Zieghart. You should escape too. Not just this glacier, but all the surrounding seas will be turned upside down.]
He jerked his chin, telling Raon to keep his distance as it could be dangerous.
"It's fine."
Raon smiled faintly and stepped back only five paces.
"I'll protect the glacier so you two can fight here."
In truth, he wanted to observe the martial arts of the Blade Queen and Warlord up close, and he had something to confirm, so he didn't want to leave.
"Will you really be alright?"
The Blade Queen lowered her eyebrows in concern.
"This is the child who received the title of Sword Emperor. He doesn't need our concern."
The Warlord didn't even turn his eyes, seeming to trust in Raon.
"Then watch carefully. See how I make that cold-blooded one kneel."
The Blade Queen declared she would defeat the Warlord today as she extended her left hand forward and pulled her sword-wielding right hand back behind her shoulder.
"Your sword will break before you make me kneel."
The Warlord raised his blade above his head with both hands, releasing a chillingly cold aura. As waves rose from the powerful energy emanating from their weapons and shook the glacier, the Blade Queen and Warlord simultaneously stamped the ground. The impact resounded thunderously!
As the burning sword and blue blade clashed head-on, the dark northern sky and sea split in half.
The glacier at the center, however, didn't shake at all. This was because Raon was protecting the glacier itself using the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and Glacier.
"Now that's more like it!"
"We can fight with full power then."
The Blade Queen and Warlord nodded in satisfaction as they unleashed even more intense and mysterious martial arts. The North Sea itself twisted black as countless cracks erupted.
This is insane…
Raon swallowed hard as he observed the martial arts of the Blade Queen and Warlord.
Both their swordsmanship and blade techniques are perfected. This is the pinnacle of martial artists who walked a single path.
His whole body tingled with excitement at the highly refined and intense duel between the Blade Queen and Warlord. Just watching made him feel his Ten Thousand Swords achievement increasing.
This is a gold mine.
Raon engraved every detail of the Blade Queen and Warlord's martial arts into his mind without blinking once.
But…
No matter how he looked at it, they seemed similar. Beneath the Blade Queen's flames and the Warlord's frost, there was an earth aura supporting their auras and protecting their bodies. Though the earth auras they used were different from each other, strangely, they had many similarities to the earth aura he received from the Sword Saint.
Should I say it's a slightly degraded version of the Sword Saint's aura?
The earth aura the Blade Queen used lacked firmness, while the Warlord's earth aura was light rather than heavy. Though they were clearly different martial arts, oddly enough, they carried a similar scent to the Sword Saint's earth aura.
Let's see…
Raon pulled back slightly on the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and Glacier, bringing forth the earth aura he received from the Sword Saint. A yellow aura blazed from beneath his feet, protecting the shaking glacier even more firmly and heavily.
So the earth aura can be used like this too.
Just as Raon smiled and nodded at learning something new—
"Huh…?"
"What!"
The Blade Queen and Warlord simultaneously lowered their weapons and turned to look at Raon. Their eyes swirled with intense emotions never seen before.
"Th-that's it, right? I'm not mistaken?"
"…It's certain. Our auras are bending by themselves."
The Blade Queen and Warlord approached Raon with trembling chins.
"I thought there was something familiar…"
"To think we'd meet like this."
The two stood before Raon, pressing their lips tightly.
"Wh-what's wrong?"
Raon swallowed hard as he looked at the tearful Blade Queen and the trembling Warlord.
"Siera, descendant of the Blade Gate…"
"Yuber, descendant of the Sword Gate…"
The Blade Queen and Warlord simultaneously knelt down.