"What...?"
The Queen of Swords, Brigitte, widened her eyes as if she couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"Why would you want to participate in the Divine Sword Assembly! A Transcendent, and one stronger than me at that!"
She yelled loud enough to shake the surroundings, demanding to know what he was thinking.
"Lord Raon. Are you serious?"
The Thespian Emperor narrowed her eyes as she looked at Raon.
"The Divine Sword Assembly is a festival where all swordsmen of the Unyielding Blade participate, so it won't be helpful for you, Lord Raon."
She shook her head, suggesting that the level of sparring partners would be too low.
"I know."
Raon gave a faint smile as he looked at the Thespian Emperor.
"I'm quite familiar with the Divine Sword Assembly."
The Divine Sword Assembly is a swordsmanship tournament held every ten years at the Unyielding Blade.
All swordsmen of the Unyielding Blade participate, and the top four participants are granted access to a special swordsmanship archive, which had caught his interest from before.
"Even if it's a swordsmanship tournament where aura isn't used, no one can match your level!"
Brigitte frowned, wondering what he could be thinking.
"No, more than that, you don't even qualify to participate in the Divine Sword Assembly..."
"Aren't the swordsmen of the White Whale also participating in this Divine Sword Assembly?"
Raon slightly lowered his chin as he interrupted Brigitte.
"Th-that's true, but..."
Brigitte's voice trailed off as she turned her eyes toward the Thespian Emperor.
"It was Lady Briana's suggestion. She said there are skilled swordsmen in the White Whale too, so they should be allowed to participate. But how did Lord Raon know about that..."
The Thespian Emperor let out a hollow laugh, wondering how he knew information that hadn't been made public.
"I have an informant who takes frighteningly good care of me."
Raon touched the inner pocket containing Shadow Agents' Leader Chad's letter while giving a subtle smile.
"Must be the Shadow Agents' Leader."
The Thespian Emperor nodded as if understanding how he came to know about the Unyielding Blade's information.
"Well, there were many rumors about how much that person cherishes you, Lord Raon."
Despite being an outsider, she knew facts that only Zieghart insiders should know.
"How do you know that?"
This time, Raon's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Though it wasn't widely spread, there were quite a few rumors. That the Shadow Agents' Leader was pushing for you as the Successor."
The Thespian Emperor calmly nodded, saying it was something most informants knew about.
"Ah..."
Raon blinked blankly.
-Even outsiders knew, but you were the only one who didn't know!
Wrath sneered at him for having the worst awareness in the continent.
-Just pluck out your eyes since you're so obsessed with swords anyway!
He waved his hand dismissively, saying he didn't need eyes.
"A-anyway, since Zieghart has formed an alliance with the Five Divine Orders, I hope you'll give me the opportunity to participate in the Divine Sword Assembly."
Raon bowed his head to Brigitte as he made his request.
"We don't mind."
The Thespian Emperor calmly nodded, indicating she was fine with Raon's participation.
"Fine. Let's say you can participate since Zieghart is an ally, but it won't help you!"
Brigitte repeatedly thumped her chest in frustration.
"There's no one in the Unyielding Blade who can draw out your true strength!"
She shook her head vigorously, saying that among the disciples of the Unyielding Blade, not a single swordsman could handle Raon's genuine sword.
"The ones behind you might benefit, but for you, it's just a waste of time."
Brigitte flicked her finger, suggesting that Martha and Dorian should participate instead.
"Besides, the special archive you want to enter might be impressive for our disciples, but it won't mean much to you. Someone who has learned the swordsmanship of Sword God Glenn Zieghart and practices Ten Thousand Swords..."
She tilted her head, showing her complete incomprehension.
"That's not wrong either."
Raon nodded with a smile.
'Because there are almost no one with higher swordsmanship than me right now.'
Except for Glenn, Darkan, Rector, Derus Robert, King Lecross, and the Blade Queen, there was hardly anyone in the Continent with higher swordsmanship than him, so her words weren't strange.
"Except for just one person."
Raon slowly raised his hand.
"Wouldn't the head of the Unyielding Blade be able to be my opponent?"
He folded his fingers to point at Brigitte.
"Me...?"
Brigitte's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Yes. Both you and Lady Briana."
Raon nodded, asking to see all the effort and talent that the sisters had built up until now.
"Since quite some time has passed, I'd like to see how you've changed from before..."
"That sounds good?"
As Raon tried to continue speaking with a smile, Brigitte's demeanor suddenly changed. With a fierce roar, she met Raon's eyes with a distinctly different gaze. Briana, Brigitte's older sister and a swordsman of great talent, smiled without hiding her anticipation.
"Let's have a proper match after so long."
***
"Are you really going to participate in this Divine Sword Assembly thing?"
Martha asked as soon as she entered the quarters, seeking out Raon.
"From what I've learned, it might be meaningless for you, even if not for us?"
She tilted her head, unable to understand why Raon would participate in the Divine Sword Assembly.
"People can see the same thing but feel and think differently about it."
Raon waved his hand with a subtle smile.
"Even if others say no, I have the ability to achieve it."
All swordsmen of the Unyielding Blade practice different sword techniques. With his current mastery of Ten Thousand Swords, he could observe their unpolished techniques, predict their potential, and find something to learn.
"And it's not just me, you'll be participating too."
Raon raised his finger to point at Martha and Dorian.
"The swordsmen of the Unyielding Blade are similar to those of the Holy Sword Alliance. They focus entirely on improving their swordsmanship rather than external matters or personal desires, so there are many skilled practitioners."
He smiled, saying it could be very helpful for Martha and Dorian.
"I don't have to do it, right? Since I'm a magician."
Evelyn lightly waved her hand, indicating she would skip this one too.
"These magicians are as good at making excuses as they are clever."
Martha wrinkled her nose in disapproval. (E/N: Should we ask Martha to participate in a magic competition?)
"But couldn't you just request a sparring match with the Queen of Swords?"
Dorian scratched his cheek, wondering why Raon would specifically want to meet the Queen of Swords in the tournament.
"Because I need to enter the archive that contains special sword techniques."
Raon briefly licked his lips.
"The archive?"
"Yes. I want to spar with the Queen of Swords, and I also want to see the special archive of the Unyielding Blade."
While he could arrange a sparring match with the Queen of Swords through their friendship, the special archive wasn't easily accessible even within the Unyielding Blade, and as an outsider, he couldn't enter even through official channels. If not for this Divine Sword Assembly, there would be no opportunity to enter at all. (E/N: So it is better to essentially ruin a festival that only happens once every 10 years than just asking...Ok, that actually makes sense from a filler point of view)
"Didn't they say there's nothing special there?"
Martha narrowed her eyes as she recalled Brigitte's words.
"We won't know if there is or isn't until we go see."
Raon lightly waved his hand.
"I might find sword techniques or martial arts that suit me."
For someone pursuing the path of Ten Thousand Swords, even minor new techniques would clearly help. He wanted to see and learn as many martial arts as possible before the war to improve his skills even slightly.
'And...'
That martial art might be there. The sword technique he had desperately wanted to see since his past life wasn't in Zieghart or the Holy Sword Alliance, so there was a high chance it remained in the Unyielding Blade.
"There are many sword manuals in Zieghart too."
Dorian turned his head, suggesting Raon should look through those first.
"I've seen all the sword manuals in Zieghart. The remaining ones are martial arts that don't suit me."
Raon casually waved his hand as if it were nothing, even while saying something others would find hard to believe.
"Y-you've seen all the sword manuals in Zieghart?"
Dorian's jaw trembled in disbelief.
"Yes."
Raon calmly nodded as if it were really nothing.
"Why are you so surprised."
Martha lightly tapped Dorian's forehead.
"He's the guy who trained from dawn till night and slept in the archive."
She shrugged her shoulders, saying it wasn't strange.
"You've read almost all the books in the Zieghart Treasury's archive too, right?"
Evelyn nodded approvingly, saying it was admirable how he always read books whenever he entered the archive.
"I-is that true?"
Dorian gaped, saying he really hadn't known that.
"Huh, you read the Treasury's books too? Even I didn't know that? You're really crazy..."
Martha's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Ah..."
Raon gulped dryly as he looked at the smiling Evelyn.
"H-how do you know about that?"
It was terrifying enough to give him goosebumps that she knew about things that happened in the Zieghart Treasury, which wasn't just external but in a different dimension.
-Gasp!
Wrath seemed to feel the same way as he drew in a sharp breath.
"Huhu."
Instead of answering, Evelyn let out a cheerful laugh that didn't match the situation.
-L-let's just go to the Devildom!
Wrath grabbed his head as if going insane.
-There's no escape from that madwoman in this world!
'In my opinion...'
Raon sighed deeply while avoiding Evelyn's purple eyes.
'She'd probably follow us to the Devildom too?'
-...
Wrath seemed to agree with that statement as he remained silent, drooling helplessly.
***
One week later. The Divine Sword Assembly officially began at the Unyielding Blade.
'This place isn't bad."
Raon smiled faintly as he looked at the five sparring grounds erected in the center of the Unyielding Blade.
'You can definitely tell they spent money on this.'
While other parts of the Unyielding Blade were old and worn down by time, the sparring grounds and training grounds showed evidence of significant investment and effort. It was fitting for a sword sect. Raon narrowed his eyes as he observed the Unyielding Blade swordsmen gathered around the training ground.
'Their aura is well-contained.'
Though the aura level of the Unyielding Blade swordsmen wasn't particularly high, their gazes were as sharp and direct as those of higher-ranked swordsmen. He was already looking forward to seeing what sword techniques they would display. A sharp sound rang out!
As Raon was observing the Unyielding Blade swordsmen with anticipation, Queen of Swords Brigitte leaped boldly into the sparring ground like a hawk eyeing its prey.
With a fierce roar, she stood alone in the sparring ground, looking down at the swordsmen.
"I now declare the Divine Sword Assembly open! Show us the swordsmanship you've built up over these ten years!"
"Uooooooh!"
At the Queen of Swords' cry, the swordsmen of both the Unyielding Blade and White Whale raised their swords to the sky with a cheer. Though it was a sparring tournament, he understood why they called it a festival.
"Ohhh..."
"Urararara!"
Dorian let out a weak groan that sounded exhausted just from listening, while Martha roared as if she would devour them all.
"We have a special guest at this Divine Sword Assembly!"
The Queen of Swords turned to look at Raon, who was standing in front of the second sparring ground.
'Hm?'
Raon furrowed his brow as he met the Queen of Swords' eyes.
'She's not planning to reveal my identity, is she?'
There wasn't a single swordsman in the current Continent who didn't know him. Most swordsmen would feel their souls crushed just hearing the title "Sword Emperor" and wouldn't be able to swing their swords, which was why he had asked to hide his identity and even worn a wig, but Brigitte seemed determined to reveal who he was.
"Sword Emperor Raon Zieghart!"
Brigitte burst into hearty laughter as she pointed at Raon.
"The Light Wind Palace Master of Zieghart will participate in the Divine Sword Assembly under the rights of our allied forces!"
She stomped her foot vigorously, telling everyone to seek much learning from Raon. A heavy thud resonated. The moment his title and name "Sword Emperor Raon Zieghart" were announced, a deep silence fell over the previously noisy sparring grounds. Countless swordsmen turned their gazes toward Raon. Their eyes trembled with confusion and surprise.
"Haah..."
Raon sighed deeply as he removed the wig he had borrowed from Dorian.
'I wanted to properly observe the Unyielding Blade swordsmen's techniques.'
Each swordsman at the Unyielding Blade practiced different sword techniques. He had hoped to encounter new techniques to improve his mastery of Ten Thousand Swords even slightly, but now that Brigitte had revealed his identity, it seemed everyone would forfeit.
'This really will be a waste of time...'
Just as Raon was shaking his head in disappointment.
"Uwaaaaaaah!"
"Did she say Sword Emperor Raon Zieghart?
"I want to challenge him first!"
"I'm going first!"
"Change me to the second sparring ground!"
Contrary to expectations, the Unyielding Blade swordsmen eagerly raised their hands, competing to fight against him.
It wasn't to impress Brigitte. They all ran toward the second training ground with fierce fighting spirit blazing in their eyes.
"And..."
The Queen of Swords raised her fist and struck her chest forcefully.
"I will also participate in the Divine Sword Assembly!"
She nodded broadly, saying she would participate not as the head of house but as a single swordsman.
"Waaaaaaaaah!"
"Even the sect leader is joining!"
"Isn't this the first time we can fight the sect leader in a tournament?"
"This is insane. What luck! So awesome!"
"Just displaying our learned techniques will improve our skills."
The swordsmen called out Raon and Brigitte's names with trembling hands on their swords, appearing overjoyed.
'What is this...'
Raon let out a bemused breath as he watched the enthusiastic Unyielding Blade swordsmen.
'They really want to spar with me and the Queen of Swords?'
While it made sense for Grandmasters, even Masters and those who hadn't yet reached Master level were excited about sparring with him. After only seeing people who feared fighting him until now, it was almost ridiculous to see these people charging forward with such fervor.
"Huh."
Brigitte shrugged her shoulders with a smile, as if asking what he thought.
"There really was no need to worry..."
Raon smiled slightly as he watched Brigitte proudly looking at her Unyielding Blade swordsmen.
"All the swordsmen of the Unyielding Blade are obsessed with swordsmanship. While the Holy Sword Alliance treats swords as sacred, we care only about swordsmanship itself."
Brigitte nodded, saying this was the natural response.
"Th-they're acting like this because they don't know how terrifying Lord Raon is."
Dorian's lips trembled as he said they were only showing such enthusiasm because they hadn't experienced sparring with Raon.
"That's right. After getting hit a few times, they'll all run away."
Martha nodded in agreement with Dorian's words.
"I don't think so?"
Raon lightly shook his head.
"They were happy even when Brigitte said she would participate."
The Unyielding Blade swordsmen raised both arms in joy even when Brigitte, who had obviously treated them harshly before, said she would participate. They seemed to simply enjoy fighting against strong swordsmen.
"I think you'll especially have a lot to gain."
Raon's lips curled up as he sensed the presence of the Unyielding Blade's masters quietly observing him, unlike the other swordsmen.
"Of course..."
Looking at Brigitte - no, at the sisters Brigitte and Briana who were honing their strength - watching him with excited eyes, he placed his hand on his Heavenly Drive.
"Me too."
Raon lifted his chin, confident that he would gain new knowledge at the Unyielding Blade.