"Hmm."
Raon closed his mouth again as he received the burning gazes of the swordsmen, so intense they could scorch.
'I feel like I'm suffocating from their expectations.'
The swordsmen had devoted their bodies and minds to cultivation over the past month, so naturally they were looking at him with eyes full of expectation that they would be chosen.
'I'm sorry I can't take care of everyone.'
Most of those sparkling, hopeful gazes would soon disappear, and although it wasn't his fault, he still felt sorry. Especially since it wasn't just about effort, but also talent and luck, which made it even harder to speak.
'It's also important what level they're currently at.'
Since receiving Glenn's guidance would greatly increase the possibility of breaking through walls, it made sense to select those at the pinnacle of Master level rather than those at the entry level or lower rank of Grandmaster. This meant that even people with skill and talent might not be chosen. He decided he would personally take care of them later.
-The world is inherently unfair.
Wrath waved his hand, asking why he was thinking so much about this.
-Luck is especially important.
The fellow nodded, saying it was also luck that they had reached the peak of their level at this point.
-You know better than anyone how important luck is!
Wrath emphasized the word "luck" twice while staring intently at him.
'That's true.'
Raon raised his head with a slight smile.
"Nephew! Hurry up and say something! I feel like I'm going to die from frustration!"
Balder pounded his chest with his fist, saying he had to be chosen for this at least.
"He'll do it in his own time! Leave him alone!"
Alice hit the back of Balder's head, telling him not to rush.
"Um, Palace Master! Quickly! Quickly please!"
Krein drooled, begging for a quick answer like Balder. He seemed half-crazed with anticipation.
"Don't act so embarrassingly."
Burren sighed as he covered Krein's mouth. However, he too couldn't take his eyes off Raon, clearly anxious about the outcome.
"Wait. The results are already decided anyway."
Despite telling others to wait calmly, Martha's hands trembled slightly as she forced an awkward smile.
"Korolong..."
Runaan was nodding off and dozing again today. It was amazing how she could sleep so well while standing. She wasn't just compatible with Sloth; she seemed to have become the queen of sloth herself.
"..."
Karoon said nothing, just staring at the platform with his arms crossed. He seemed to have no expectation of being chosen at all.
"Phew."
Raon slowly steadied his breath and lifted his chin.
"First, Karoon Zieghart and Alice Zieghart. These two. I've chosen them because I believe if they overcome the wall before them, they can defeat even top transcendents."
He announced Karoon and Alice's names first, and even explained the reason for their selection.
"That's our nephew for you!"
Alice clapped her hands loudly, saying she knew he would choose her.
"Me...?"
Karoon widened his eyes in disbelief, as if he never expected to be chosen.
"Why...?"
He let out a faint groan, saying he couldn't understand why he, who stood as Raon's rival, had been chosen.
'Why, you ask.'
Raon smiled faintly as he looked at the confused Karoon.
'It's because you've changed.'
When Karoon reached Transcendence, he didn't just discard envy and stubbornness; he was reborn as a fair and just person. Since he had changed, it was natural that the way others treated him would change too.
"With Lady Alice and Lord Karoon, it's the obvious choice."
"Right. It would be strange if they weren't chosen."
"These two were guaranteed. Let's see who's next!"
The swordsmen nodded as if they had expected Alice and Karoon to be chosen.
"Next..."
Without answering Karoon's question, Raon called the next names.
"Blade Queen Siera and Warlord Yuber. Both are currently instructors at the Light Wind Palace and are among the top Transcendents. If they grow further, they will become an even greater force in the war, which is why I've chosen them." (E/N: Oh, so when they mean 'top transcendants', they mean 'barely average'? Confusing but fine)
He announced the Blade Queen and Warlord second, again explaining to everyone the reason for their selection.
"Wooooow! It's me!"
"My efforts have paid off."
Blade Queen Siera jumped up like a child with her hand raised high, while the Warlord nodded, saying his all-night cultivation sessions had been worthwhile.
"The Blade Queen and Warlord seniors should definitely be chosen."
"Indeed. Those two could probably stop even an Archangel."
"Having the Blade Queen and Warlord join Zieghart was a blessing in itself."
The swordsmen lined up in the training ground nodded, understanding the reason for choosing the Blade Queen and Warlord.
"Ahem!"
Glenn nodded emphatically, seemingly pleased that people were acknowledging Raon's choices.
"Seems like he can do whatever he wants now."
Sheryl sighed as she watched Glenn.
"Heh heh heh."
Roenn just laughed heartily, as if enjoying the atmosphere.
"Next are Burren Zieghart, Martha Zieghart, Runaan Sullion, Mark Goetun, Trevin Zieghart from the Light Wind Palace, Toribis Zieghart and Siphren Leorn from the Central Martial Palace, and from the True Martial Palace..."
For the third group, Raon called out the names of those who held executive positions in each martial force.
"These individuals currently possess Grandmaster High Rank martial prowess or above. I've selected them because they will definitely reach the highest level, and with luck, they might even achieve Transcendence." (Once upon a time, being a master below 30 was enough to make you a top tier talent within the continent, one of the twelve stars. Now, being a peak grandmaster around 25 is just normal)
Grandmaster High Rank and the highest level were completely different realms, and he had chosen them because he saw in some the potential to break through the Grandmaster barrier and reach Transcendence.
"Next, I'll mention promising talents who, though still immature, will soon blossom. From the Light Wind Palace: Dorian Sephia, Krein..."
Raon carefully called out one by one the names of those whose martial prowess might be weak but who showed potential and talent.
"...to Utaben of the Void Sword Division. Some of you may wonder why these individuals were chosen. However, once you see the results, I believe you'll understand."
He nodded slightly, saying he would prove his choices through results.
"So he's not just choosing from the Light Wind Palace?"
"Right. There are quite a few from the Central Martial Palace and True Martial Palace too."
"He wasn't just looking at the palaces; he even selected one from each division and unit."
"Toribis and Siphren are well-known, but when did he get to observe someone like Utaben, who's not so famous?"
"He's not called the Sword Emperor for nothing."
The swordsmen nodded blankly, seemingly amazed at Raon's broad vision. They were especially surprised that he knew talented individuals not just from the Light Wind Palace but from other factions as well.
"What a shame..."
"Yeah. I worked so hard too."
"But looking at the people who were chosen, I can't complain."
"I agree. They deserve the Head of House's guidance."
Most people clicked their tongues in disappointment but admitted they understood the choices.
"Damn it! I even quit drinking!"
The Gambling Monster trembled his now-steady hands, lamenting his month-long abstinence from alcohol.
"I-I'm not included? What is this! How could I not be chosen!"
Unlike Karoon, Balder was shocked at his omission and frantically looked around.
"..."
Serena nodded calmly, as if she had expected this outcome.
"Originally..."
Raon took a deep breath and lifted his chin.
"I had no intention of choosing more, but after seeing their month-long effort, sincerity, and potential, I've selected a few additional individuals."
At those words, the eyes of the swordsmen who had given up with sighs brightened again.
"Gambling Monster Harian Zieghart, Void Sword Division Leader Serena Calvin, True Martial Palace Master Balder Zieghart."
Raon called out the three names with a solemn gaze.
"These three possess loyalty to the family, and though the remaining distance varies for each, they have all approached the wall of Transcendence. I've chosen them for their future potential."
Despite his seemingly arrogant attitude, Balder had spent all his time training. That was also why he hadn't gathered as many supporters as expected.
Serena had deeper loyalty to the family than anyone else present. She always fought with her life on the line and cared for others, so with her determination, she seemed capable of overcoming the barrier.
The Gambling Monster also no longer spent his time drinking and gambling as before, but had focused on his own cultivation to train the Light Wind Palace swordsmen, resulting in a rapid growth in his martial prowess. For the current him, crossing the barrier wasn't impossible.
"That's more like it! That's our nephew for you!"
Balder clenched his fist tightly, saying he knew Raon would recognize him.
"Thank you."
Serena also bowed to Raon with a flushed face, seemingly excited.
"Ra-Raon..."
The Gambling Monster's eyes glistened with tears, as if moved by being chosen after he had given up hope. It was an expression never before seen on his face.
"Finally, looking solely at talent, I've selected two more people."
Raon took a deep breath and turned his gaze not toward the training ground but toward the audience seats.
"Sylvia Zieghart, Sia Zieghart."
He called out two names that no one present could have predicted.
"Huh? Sylvia and Sia...?"
"That's the Light Wind Palace Master's mother and sister!"
"Why those two?"
The swordsmen blinked blankly, as if they hadn't even considered this possibility.
"Talent, he says. Well..."
Alice nodded as if she understood.
"Those two have talent surpassing anyone here except Raon."
She nodded, indicating that she understood Raon's choice.
"That's not wrong!"
Balder also flexed his fist, saying he understood why Raon had chosen those two.
"Ra-Raon! What are you..."
"Huh? I was chosen?"
Sylvia stumbled over her words in confusion, while Sia happily raised her hand at the prospect of training with Raon.
-Are you really insane?
Wrath thrust his face forward as if dumbfounded.
-Why are you calling your mother and that little brat!
'Derus will certainly spread the fire seed of war all the way to Zieghart.'
Raon calmly shook his head.
'Most of the swordsmen will be deployed outside, so there aren't many who can protect this place.'
Someone like Derus Robert would find a way to attack Zieghart even during a surprise assault. When most of the martial forces were deployed elsewhere, only Sylvia and Sia had the ability to protect this place. If these two were developed further, they could save many Zieghart residents, making this an obvious choice.
-That's... true enough.
Wrath groaned as if in pain, saying he understood when Raon put it that way.
"There are quite a few from the Light Wind Palace, but also more than expected from other places."
"The selections seem good, but aren't there too many?"
"Right. Can he really oversee all of them?"
"It'll be difficult to get guidance even once a day."
The swordsmen furrowed their brows, saying that while the people chosen were fine, there seemed to be too many of them.
"That concludes it."
Raon announced the end of his selection as he stepped down from the platform and looked at Glenn.
"Ahem!"
Glenn cleared his throat with satisfaction, his earlobes reddening as if pleased with the selections.
"Although the Light Wind Palace Master has chosen more people than expected, we didn't set a specific number from the beginning, so it can't be helped."
He rose from his throne and approached the edge of the platform where Raon had been standing.
"Don't worry. As I promised, I will guide and oversee everyone."
Glenn nodded, saying that despite the large number, he could see each swordsman daily.
"Those who weren't chosen shouldn't be too disappointed. This won't be the only opportunity."
He comforted the swordsmen, saying there would be future selections.
"Ohhhhh!"
"I'll work hard until then!"
"I'll definitely be chosen next time!"
The swordsmen roared with their swords in hand, vowing not to miss the next opportunity.
"Light Wind Palace Master, well done."
Glenn praised Raon in front of everyone for his hard work in selecting the swordsmen.
"I merely did what needed to be done."
Raon placed his hand on his chest, accepting Glenn's praise with humility.
"Hmm!"
Glenn curled his trembling lips upward, seemingly even more pleased with this response.
"Well then, that's all for today."
As he clapped his hands to signal the end of the day's schedule, the doors to the training ground opened again.
"Phew."
Raon sighed as he wiped the sweat from his forehead.
'Somehow that ended well.'
He had almost failed the successor test, but with Alice's help, he had barely passed, and the selection of individuals to receive Glenn's guidance also seemed to have gone well. It was fortunate that the results of his long preparations had turned out good.
-Is that really what you call ending well?
Wrath rolled his half-open eyes.
-You were the most pathetic human this king has ever seen.
He furrowed his brow, saying he still recalled Raon counting numbers on his fingers.
'...I couldn't help it.'
He knew well that he had been pathetic, but for the sake of those who supported him, he didn't want to fail like that. Thanks to his desperate struggle, he had managed to pass somehow, which was fortunate.
-Hmph, make sure you do it properly next time.
Wrath clicked his tongue and turned away.
-I don't like it when my vessel displays such pathetic behavior.
He snorted, saying he would chase Raon out if he acted that way again.
'I underst... ugh!'
Raon was patting Wrath's head when his shoulders suddenly twitched.
'I can feel mother's gaze...'
Sylvia's fierce glare from the audience seats was piercing his spine.
-Of course she's furious! You didn't say a single word to her about the selection!
Wrath furrowed his brow, saying it was too much that Raon hadn't mentioned it even during breakfast this morning.
'It was supposed to be a secret, so I couldn't help it.'
Until the announcement, he couldn't tell anyone, so he hadn't said anything this morning either. It seemed he would need to explain everything well after returning to the annex building.
"Sigh, this isn't over yet. Let's go back."
It was when Raon was about to leave the training ground with the Light Wind Palace swordsmen, his shoulders slumped.
"Light Wind Palace Master."
Karoon approached from the side and called out Raon's title. He extended his hand with a serious expression, as if he had something extremely important to discuss.
"Let's talk for a moment."