'Grandfather was right.'
Raon nodded calmly as he listened to Glenn's declaration of war.
'We must not fall for Derus Robert and Eden's schemes.'
'We need to find them first. Whether Derus Robert completes the Archangel summoning or creates a new martial art based on the Soul Sword, the results will come in one year and one month.'
'Given his perfectionist nature, it was clear that after that point, nothing could stop him, so we had to initiate the war from our side before then.'
'It makes sense that he's offering the position of successor to whoever finds Derus or Eden first.'
Derus Robert and Eden were hiding as quiet as dead mice, not revealing the location of their headquarters. He thought it was only natural to offer the Zieghart successor position, since finding their headquarters would lead to victory in the war, just as they had destroyed the White Blood Religion.
'If Karoon—no, if Balder finds it first, I could hand over the successor position to him as well.'
Becoming the head of Zieghart was one of his goals, but what he desired even more desperately was to completely annihilate Derus Robert and his forces. If there was someone who could greatly help with that goal, he would personally crown them himself.
'Of course, I'd prefer Karoon over Balder.'
Raon exhaled shortly and looked at Karoon.
"..."
Karoon was stroking his chin and looking up at the audience chamber ceiling, deep in thought.
"This war is a race against time."
Glenn stood in front of the throne, looking down at his executives.
"If we find either Derus Robert's forces or Eden's stronghold within a year, it's our victory. If not, consider it their victory."
He emphasized how urgent the situation was by raising his fist and striking his left chest.
"But don't focus solely on the search. The moment we find them, the war begins, so put your utmost effort into your personal cultivation as well."
Glenn revealed an overwhelming gaze as he told everyone to move forward even if it meant reducing sleep.
"Zieghart has always eradicated evil. Show these monsters who pursue only power and have strayed from the human path what kind of family we are."
He nodded gravely, as if expressing his trust in everyone in Zieghart.
"Yes!"
"Understood!"
The Zieghart executives roared with such force that the audience chamber seemed ready to burst, each one vowing to do their best.
"I will relay important information through the Shadow Agents."
Glenn waved his hand, indicating that they would end there for today.
"Then we shall take our leave."
Starting with Karoon's farewell, the Zieghart executives bowed to Glenn and left the audience chamber.
"..."
It was when Raon bowed to Glenn like the others and was about to leave the audience chamber.
"Light Wind Palace Master."
Karoon called out his title from a step behind.
"Yes, Central Martial Palace Master."
Raon turned around and made eye contact with Karoon. He showed calm eyes that had finished organizing his thoughts.
"At the Central Martial Palace..."
Karoon stared intently into his eyes before parting his lips.
"I have some recent information about Derus Robert and Eden. I'll send it to you, so let's coordinate between our palaces."
He extended his hand, suggesting an information alliance between the Central Martial Palace and the Light Wind Palace.
"Information alliance? Are you serious?"
Raon furrowed his brows deeply as he looked at Karoon.
"If that information is accurate, you could take the Zieghart successor position for yourself, couldn't you?"
Knowing how great and passionate Karoon's desire for the Zieghart head position was, a sigh escaped Raon.
"I think I mentioned this before..."
Karoon slightly tilted his chin.
"There's no meaning in inheriting a ruined family. What I want to protect isn't Zieghart's throne, but its beliefs."
He pointed not at the golden throne where Glenn sat, but at the Zieghart sky he had been gazing at all day.
"Now is not the time for succession competition, but to think only about how to win the war."
Karoon gestured toward Raon as if to say, "You already know this, don't you?"
"...That's right."
Raon drew a faint smile as he met Karoon's solemn gaze.
"But why are you telling only me?"
"Because you and the Light Wind Palace are the strongest."
Karoon lowered his chin as if it were obvious.
"If other martial forces move incorrectly, they could be annihilated and we might lose the information we've gathered. Only the Central Martial Palace, Light Wind Palace, and Heavenly Blade Division can verify dangerous leads."
He mentioned that Alice's pirate band was also available, but would discuss them separately since they specialized in the sea.
"That said, don't waste the second successor test."
Karoon advised him to cultivate and gather forces during the remaining month.
"Understood."
Raon nodded with a subtle smile.
"Well then."
Karoon flicked his hand as if to say "see you later" and left the audience chamber first.
"To think that's my brother..."
Alice sighed as she came up beside him.
"It's so creepy! I think I preferred him when he was being spiteful!"
Despite her words about it being creepy, she wore an unrestrained smile as if moved by Karoon's change.
"As he said, we'll search the seas. I'll send you all the information as we find it, so wait for it!"
Alice tapped his shoulder, expressing her support for him becoming the head of house, then followed after Karoon.
"..."
Raon made eye contact with Glenn, who had quietly observed the conversation from the throne, then finally left the audience chamber.
'He told me to bring people with talent.'
He curled his lips as he recalled Glenn's words.
'I hadn't considered it before...'
'I should take those two as well.'
-Those two?
Wrath widened his eyes as if asking what he was thinking.
-Aren't they already grown?
'They're overflowing with talent. And...'
Raon grinned as he watched Karoon and Alice's backs.
'They seem to have potential too.'
***
"As per the Head of House's message."
Raon climbed onto the platform of the Fifth Training Ground and looked down at the Light Wind Palace Swordsmen standing at attention.
"From now on, Zieghart enters war preparation mode."
As soon as the words "war preparation" came out, determination began to burn in the swordsmen's eyes.
"Don't worry!"
Krein stepped forward and raised his fist.
"I, Krein, will devote my entire body to scraping together information on that bastard Derus and Eden!"
He raised his chin, declaring that he would definitely make Raon the Zieghart successor.
"We'll join in too!"
"The Palace Master must become the successor!"
"Since we get Shadow Agents' information first, we should be able to find them right away!"
The other swordsmen also nodded, pledging to risk their lives to make Raon the successor.
"Palace Master for Head of House. Palace Master for Head of House! Palace Master for Head of House..."
"Quiet."
Raon went down from the platform and slapped Krein's forehead as he was chanting the slogan.
"Keh!"
Krein screamed as he grabbed his forehead, which was quickly swelling red.
"Why, why..."
"You're not intelligence agents, you're Zieghart swordsmen."
Raon shook his head with a sigh.
"Instead of gathering information, think about how to become even a little stronger."
He tapped Krein's head once more, saying that others would gather information, so they should focus on cultivation.
"But if you lose the successor position that way..."
"Then that's how it is."
Raon smiled faintly, recalling Karoon's calm face as he had extended his hand first. Now, he wouldn't mind much even if Karoon became the head of house.
"I've relayed all the messages I heard at the Lord's Manor today, but there's one more thing I haven't mentioned yet."
Raon climbed back onto the platform and looked at the Light Wind Palace Swordsmen.
"The Head of House said he would personally oversee the cultivation of swordsmen with growth potential to increase our chances in the upcoming war, even if just a little."
When he said Glenn would personally oversee their cultivation, all the scattered noises in the Fifth Training Ground completely disappeared.
"The, the Head of House?"
"Will personally oversee our cultivation?"
"A, a Serendipitous Encounter! The Destructive King of the North—no, the Sword God's teachings!"
"How can we receive this?"
The swordsmen looked at Raon with anticipation, as if a Noted Sword was right before their eyes.
"As I said, the Head of House will look at growth potential. In other words..."
Raon narrowed his eyes as he assessed the Martial Prowess of each Light Wind Palace Swordsman in turn.
"One month from now, I will take the swordsman who has made the greatest progress from their current level to the Head of House."
Since the second successor test would end in a month, the timing seemed perfect.
"Would that work for us too? I also want to learn from the greatest person of this generation!"
The Blade Queen raised her hand as if she too wanted to receive Glenn's teachings.
"Please grow up..."
The Warlord sighed as he forcibly lowered the Blade Queen's hand.
"No."
Raon waved his hand at the Warlord who was stopping the Blade Queen.
"You two are included as well."
"Huh...?"
"Is, is that true?"
The Blade Queen and the Warlord widened their eyes in surprise.
"Yes. The Head of House didn't place any restrictions."
Since Glenn had only said to bring people with talent and potential, there would be no problem taking the Blade Queen and the Warlord, who were his people.
'If it goes well, it could actually be better.'
If the Blade Queen and the Warlord received Glenn's teachings and reached higher levels than now, they could match lower-ranked Archangels, greatly increasing their chances of victory in the war.
"However, as I mentioned, growth potential is the condition."
Raon nodded, telling them to do well.
"Good! I'll grow even if I have to shave off bone and flesh!"
The Blade Queen unleashed a sword strike that seemed to tear the sky, saying she was excited for the first time in a while.
"Hmm, I guess I have no choice this time..."
The Warlord also quietly entered the practice room, saying he wanted to hear Glenn's martial arts logic.
"Ah, no!"
"If the instructors move, two spots are definitely gone!"
"We, we don't have time! Let's start right now!"
"Woooooah!"
The swordsmen howled and began their individual training, as if unwilling to give up Glenn's student positions even to the Blade Queen and Warlord whom they regarded as teachers.
"I can't lose."
Burren said he would do his best within the given time, drew his sword, and displayed the swordsmanship he learned from Karoon.
"The Head of House's training. Can I finally receive what Raon has been monopolizing?"
Martha grinned, showing her teeth, saying she would seize this opportunity no matter what.
"Yaaawn..."
Runaan yawned loudly as if uninterested in Glenn, then leaned against a tree and closed her eyes. It seemed like Sloth's cultivation method, or perhaps she was just catching up on sleep.
-Who will you take?
Wrath narrowed his eyes as he settled on Raon's shoulder.
-Haven't you already decided? First the Bead Ice Cream girl, the beef girl, the eye guy...
'That's not it?'
Raon firmly waved his hand, saying that wasn't it at all.
'I'll prioritize potential, just as the Head of House said. No matter how talented someone is, those who don't put in effort have set limits. Of course...'
He observed the swordsmen training with smiles on their faces.
'But I don't see any swordsmen not putting in effort right now.'
-Even there?
Wrath pointed at Runaan, who was snoring.
'...She, that's her cultivation method.'
He quickly changed the subject as he turned his gaze away from Runaan.
'Anyway, I'll really only take those with potential. People who could grow significantly by learning from the Head of House and become pillars in the war.'
Raon nodded, affirming that he would keep his word from earlier.
-Well, that's not wrong.
Wrath nodded, saying it was a choice befitting of Raon.
-But are you just making the kids work while you don't train yourself?
He wrinkled the bridge of his nose, asking why Raon was just sitting there alone.
-After nearly being defeated by that silver-haired bastard and barely surviving, you should be swinging your sword like your life depends on it.
Wrath ground his teeth, urging him to move quickly today just as he had swung his sword all day yesterday. He still seemed angry about having to eat Nadine bread for yesterday's meal.
'I'm just waiting right now.'
Raon waved his hand at Wrath, who was growling like a hungry dog.
-Waiting? What have you forgotten again!
Wrath snorted, exclaiming how pathetic this was.
'I didn't forget, it's something I can't control...'
-Hmph! Where is such a thing! You should control and handle your own body and mind, but you can't even do that properly...
It was while Wrath was sneering and lecturing him.
[You have achieved a great feat.]
[You have observed
[All abilities increase by 100 points.]
[New trait...]
[Trait...]
[Title...]
The reward for everything from the Unyielding Blade to saving Rector had finally arrived.
-Urgh...
Wrath's mouth fell open as soon as he saw the message about 100 points.
-T-this is what you were waiting for...
'That's right. This is something I can't control.'
Raon smiled and pointed at the message.
'I actually thought I'd get this yesterday, but it's only coming now.'
He continued after taking a short breath.
'When abilities and traits grow, bodily sensations change. I wanted to start proper cultivation after receiving this reward.'
Raon examined the message carefully with a faint smile.
'It didn't come this morning either. I thought it was strange, but sure enough, it comes out when I provoke you.'
He lightly tapped Wrath's head, thanking him.
'It's funny how I have to tap you like a piggy bank for rewards to come out.'
Raon shook Wrath like a piggy bank, saying he'd count on him next time too.
-Yesterday was Nadine bread. Today it's my bones and flesh...
Wrath glared at him, grinding his teeth.
-I really can't stand this anymore!
He charged with intense Cold Energy, saying they should die together.
'All that talk about control, yet you're a demon king who can't even handle your own mind.'
Raon accepted Wrath's challenge with a grin.
'Let's see what you've got.'
Of course, the result was.
[You have suppressed
[All abilities increase by 1 point.]
-Aaaaargh! Please stop!
It ended with Wrath's screams and cries.
-This King was wrong!