Chapter 619

Raon stood up upon seeing that Glenn was leaving the audience chamber.

‘Where is he going?’

Glenn suddenly left the audience chamber instead of giving Karoon a punishment. It was completely unexpected to everyone.

‘Is he planning to punish him in a different way than I expected?’

Raon had guessed that he would cease the Central Martial Palace’s activities and suspend him from his duty as a punishment. If he had to add, the Central Martial Palace’s achievements and funds would be given to the Light Wind division instead.

Since Karoon was the closest to becoming the successor and was pretty much the leader of the direct lines, he’d thought that it would be enough for him.

However, Glenn had left the audience chamber while spreading a destructive pressure, implying that he had no intention of letting it end with that. Even he was frightened despite the fact that he wasn’t the one who was going to be punished.

“Kuh…”

Karoon bit his lip tightly and shifted his gaze. His eyes were as deadly as a blade as he glared at Judiel and Juvel, one after the other.

“Just you wait. I won’t let it end like this.”

That was the only thing he said before he followed Glenn out of the audience chamber. The composure was gone from his expression, but his unwavering steps remained confident.

Raon narrowed his eyes while watching Karoon’s gait, which was calm until the end.

‘I’m curious about how long you can keep that confidence.’

To begin with, he had no intention of eliminating Karoon with just that.

Raon thought that he had to be the one to put an end to Karoon, even if Glenn punished him. After all, his personal revenge was a different matter from the punishment.

He was going to personally make the Central Martial Palace kneel in front of him for toying with Judiel and Juvel’s lives and threatening the annex building.

“We might have to clean up a corpse today.”

Aries roughly scratched her head and followed Glenn.

“The head of house is extremely angry.”

Rimmer came up next to him and chuckled.

“It’s not going to end that easily.”

“Is he actually going to the training ground?”

Raon raised his head to look at Rimmer. He could guess where Glenn was going after listening to Aries and Rimmer.

“Yes. He just declared that he was going to beat up his son.” Rimmer casually punched in the air. “It might be quite dangerous, as he is using his fist even though he usually resolves matters with words.”

Rimmer tapped on his shoulder and left the audience chamber.

“Is the head of house going to use his sword…?”

“F-follow them, quick!”

“How could this happen…?”

“There are so many incidents and accidents nowadays.”

The direct lines and executives also ran outside with pale faces.

“Stand up.”

Raon grabbed Judiel and Juvel’s arms to make them stand since they were confused and were still on their knees.

“We should go as well.”

“I-is this going to be okay?”

Juvel’s lips were trembling in panic because the situation had gone out of hand.

“If this ends up causing an issue for you, young master…”

The same went for Judiel. Her lips were pale from worry.

“Save the worries for later. Let’s get moving for now,” Raon said as he patted their heads and went ahead. “You can’t miss the spectacle of the man who ruined your lives being thoroughly beaten up. Let’s watch it from the best seat.”

* * *

Glenn slowly closed his eyes, walking towards the training ground behind the lord’s manor.

‘It’s all my fault.’

Karoon’s personality was ruined because he hadn’t disciplined him when he had to.

He’d let Aries and Karoon do whatever they wanted during their childhood, and when they had to be guided to the right path, Glenn was absorbed by darkness—controlling himself was all he could manage.

He’d missed the time when education was important. That was why Ogram wasn’t exactly wrong when he said that he’d raised his children on a shit-filled farm.

Aries had left the house and created a new life for herself thanks to her personality, which craved freedom, but Karoon was different.

He gained the trust of others by willingly taking on Aries's tasks, but at the same time, he had no issue doing the dirty work in the shadows where no one would notice.

Glenn hadn’t taken any action against Karoon even though he was fully aware of the situation. Changing him was already a monumental task, but more importantly, it felt absurd to assert authority over him because his flaws were mostly his fault.

To be honest, he’d thought that it wouldn't be too bad to have someone like Karoon, since the world was in turmoil.

‘However… He went too far this time.’

He kidnapped innocent children and raised them as a spy and an assassin, then used them as disposable pawns. It was an unforgivable act.

Most importantly, the fact that Raon’s maid had gone through all that irritated him the most. It couldn’t be forgiven with a mild punishment, unlike the other times.

“Haa…”

He turned around, standing at the center of the training ground. Karoon was standing in front of him while clenching his back teeth, and Aries and the executives were swallowing nervously, staying back at the outskirts.

He would’ve normally sent the executives away for Karoon’s honor, but he figured it would be better to show everyone this time and decided not to say anything to them.

Glenn apologized in his mind to Raon, Judiel, and Juvel, who came out later than the others, and shifted his gaze towards Karoon.

“Karoon Zieghart.”

He took a step forward, calling him by his name instead of the title, Central Martial Palace Master.

“Yes, my lord.” 

Karoon lowered his head, calling him by his title instead of father.

“There’s a line you cannot cross if you want to live as a human being.”

Glenn casually shook his hand, and a thin line was engraved on the ground between Karoon and himself. It wasn’t that thick nor too thin, but it was clearly noticeable.

“You will either be a human or a demon, depending on whether you cross this line or not.”

“......”

Karoon didn’t respond and simply stared at the line on the ground.

“The line is easy to recognize. After all, people know perfectly well whether or not they should cross it.”

Glenn swept his hair back and furrowed his brow.

“You crossed the line this time. No, you’ve done it already before.”

He gazed down upon Karoon, standing in front of the line he’d drawn.

“I wouldn’t really have scolded you even if you killed them because it was necessary for you. I would’ve overlooked it even if you killed someone from the house because you deemed it necessary. I would’ve covered up for you if you kidnapped a warrior from another faction. None of that means that you’ve crossed the line as a human being. However…”

Glenn clenched his fist and the entire training ground trembled, snapping the line that was drawn on the ground.

“You toyed with people’s lives and mocked them. That is something that only gods and demons should do, yet you did it as a human.”

He put away his coat and unsheathed Heavenly Tremor. A tremendous wave of aura burst out and black-red lightning sparked in all directions, as if the entire world were shaking.

“I want to finish you off right now, but I’ll give you a chance since it was also my fault for being unable to educate you.”

Glenn casually swung his sword, and another line was drawn on the ground. The line was thinner but longer than before.

“I’ll overlook this incident without any punishment if you manage to cross this line, even by a single step. I’ll make sure that no one can complain,” he declared, lowering Heavenly Tremor.

“Are you serious?” Karoon gritted his teeth while looking at Glenn.

“I don’t go back on my word. If you’re ready, draw your sword.”

Glenn looked around at the executives around them, showing that he was going to keep his word.

Shring.

Karoon bit his lip and unsheathed his sword. He immediately unleashed his will and astral sphere to seize the opportunity.

“You should go all out, because if you don’t…”

Glenn raised Heavenly Tremor. It pointed high up to pierce the sky, and he immediately swung it down.

“You are going to die.”

The moment his aura gleamed at the tip of the blade, a burst of red-black lightning erupted right in front of Karoon.

Whaaam!

* * *

Raon used the Evil Eye of Wrath to peer through the lightning that obscured his vision.

Whaam!

Karoon couldn’t keep his balance and was sent flying as the astral sphere in his control was shattered to pieces like a rag.

“Ugh…”

Karoon wiped away the blood flowing from his lips with his trembling hands. He was internally injured from fending off a single strike.

“Is that all?” Glenn turned his head while swinging Heavenly Tremor, which was engulfed in wavering lightning. “Did you really decide to toy with other people’s lives with that skill?”

“Haap!”

Karoon inhaled and used his footwork to the right side, where Glenn wasn’t present.

He unleashed his sword strike at the lightning in front of him. The noble and disciplined sword technique created an astral sphere to break through the wall of lightning.

Cring.

He used that momentum to cross the line on the ground, but Glenn unleashed a technique that looked as casual as chasing away a butterfly.

Lightning strikes flashed one after another from the tip of his blade, shattering Karoon’s attack and striking him relentlessly.

Whaaam!

The shield of the astral sphere covering Karoon’s body was destroyed, and he rolled on the ground like a ball that was kicked away.

“Cough!”

Karoon coughed up blood while looking at the line on the ground, which wasn’t tarnished at all.

“Karoon.”

Glenn lowered Heavenly Tremor and exhaled weakly.

“You had the talent in martial arts. If you’d used your time for the martial arts instead, you would’ve reached even higher than Aries by now.”

Glenn wasn’t only beating Karoon with his sword but also with his words.

“I just wanted to become the head of house!”

Karoon gritted his teeth and stood up. His teeth looked completely red because of the blood.

“You could’ve done it. Since Aries wasn’t interested in becoming the head of house, you would’ve been the successor if you managed to reach the same realm as her. However, you’ve shifted your gaze to something other than yourself. You moved toward the darkness instead of taking the shortest path, and that’s why you couldn’t surpass your current realm.”

Glenn furrowed his brow and met Karoon’s wavering eyes.

“If you’d just taken the wrong path, you could have just gone back. However, your sword set foot into the muddy path. It can’t be reversed even if you regret it.”

“Kuh…”

“Stand up. What you’ve done cannot be forgiven that easily.”

He shook his finger, his cold gaze more suitable for facing an enemy than his son.

“Because I haven’t even gotten started yet.”

Lightning fell upon him at the same time as his quiet declaration.

“Ack!”

Karoon rolled on the ground in order to dodge the lightning. However, Glenn’s lightning bent in a spiral like a living creature and smashed into Karoon’s waist.

Whaaam!

Karoon’s body trembled, his waist bent like a nail that was struck by a hammer. Blood continuously gushed from his mouth and waist.

Raon’s fingers trembled as he witnessed that scene.

‘He is serious.’

Karoon was gaining even more internal injuries than external injuries.

The mana circuits all around his body were damaged, and his energy center was drastically injured as well. Even if the punishment stopped right there, he would have needed to recover for multiple months, at least.

“Huff…”

Karoon stood back up and faced Glenn even though it would’ve been understandable if he stayed on the ground. He was a nasty person, but his pride was worthy of recognition, at least.

“Gaaah!”

He let out a roar and dashed forward. Even though he was bleeding from all over his body because of the ruptured muscles and mana circuits, he still thrust his sword forward. The huge current bursting from the tip of his blade was as big as a tidal wave.

It was an extremely advanced sword technique that Raon wouldn’t be able to fend off even if he’d gone all out. 

However, Glenn didn’t waver in the slightest while facing that technique. He raised Heavenly Tremor, his eyes remaining as calm as if he were merely enjoying a quiet teatime.

Nothing like the powerful lightning from before existed anymore. It was purely a sword technique. The dignified sword art ascending to the sky wasn’t that flashy or heavy.

Crack!

Karoon’s attack was destroyed, and his sword shattered like glass. Crimson blood gushed from his chest as his eyes widened in disbelief.

Raon swallowed nervously while observing Glenn’s sword technique.

‘It’s the Azure Sky Sword. Moreover, it’s a technique that I haven't managed to learn yet.’

Glenn had destroyed Karoon’s attack with the Azure Sky Sword’s technique that he’d taught him instead of the lightning technique that he usually used. It couldn’t have been his intention to teach him, but a small enlightenment stimulated his brain.

“Cough…”

Karoon went on his knees. The way he gasped for breath made it look like he was about to die.

‘Don’t do that yet.’

Raon furrowed his brow while looking at Karoon.

‘Stand back up already.’

It wasn’t because he wanted Karoon to die. He just wanted to watch Glenn’s sword technique a bit more. It would be too regrettable if it ended like that since it was even more educational than when he was the sparring opponent.

You are seriously a madman…

Wrath shook his head in disbelief.

Are you seriously still thinking about training in this situation?!

He ruffled his hair, shouting at him to stop it already.

Raon ignored Wrath’s hand and looked at Karoon, who’d stood back up.

After he made his astral sphere explode, he dashed towards the line but got beaten by another Azure Sky Sword technique and collapsed on the ground like a scarecrow with broken legs.

“Kuh…”

Karoon let out a heated groan while clutching his wound, unable to withstand the pain anymore. He bit his lip to the point of bleeding while looking at the line on the ground, which seemed much too far away.

“Karoon Zieghart.”

Glenn shook his head, standing in front of the line that was driving Karoon to despair.

“Did you really toy with other people’s lives when you can’t even cross this line?”

“......”

Karoon was unable to respond and hung his head. He seemed to be losing consciousness because he’d lost too much blood.

“Bring me everything about what you’ve made and done.”

“…U-understood.”

Karoon nodded while coughing up blood. The black color of the blood implied that his internal injury had further intensified.

“Denier, Balder.”

“Yes.”

Denier and Balder swallowed nervously and stood in front of Glenn.

“Mobilize the Wise Martial Palace and the True Martial Palace to search through the entirety of the Central Martial Palace. Investigate everything about it. Do not miss even the smallest detail.”

“Understood.”

“Yes!”

The two quickly responded and lowered their heads.

“The Central Martial Palace will cease its operations, and Karoon Zieghart will be suspended. I’m not going to set a duration.”

The fact that there was no set duration implied that it could last forever.

“…Understood.”

Karoon straightened his back and lowered his head even though his pale face looked like he was about to die. Raon thought that he was as good as him in terms of patience alone, considering how he managed to stand back up in his state.

“And…”

Glenn returned Heavenly Tremor to the scabbard and lowered his gaze.

“Bring everyone that you’ve toyed with and apologize to them personally.”

“Kuh…”

Karoon was unable to respond and simply bit his lip.

“If you don’t want to do it, there’s another option. Of course…”

“I’ll do it.”

He lowered his head, realizing what the other option would be.

Raon narrowed his eyes while examining Karoon’s condition.

‘He is on the verge of death.’

Glenn had ordered a suspension for an indefinite period of time, but it looked like he wouldn’t be able to stand up even without that.

“We are from the Six Kings, not the Five Demons. Don’t cross the line that allows you to remain a human being.”

“Kuh…”

Karoon closed his eyes and collapsed before he could even respond to Glenn’s last line. However, the last groan from him sounded like a sneer.

“Take him back.”

Glenn gestured with his hand and the warriors who’d been waiting carried Karoon on their backs, running out of the training ground.

“You should also keep this in mind.”

He shook his head while looking at the executives one after the other. He was continuously telling them to keep the line, as if he were afraid of something.

“I knew it. A problem occurred as soon as you arrived.”

Raon was quietly watching Glenn when Rimmer came up to him.

“What?”

“The sky suddenly turned dark as soon as I heard about your return. I expected trouble, even though I didn’t expect it to be this big.”

He curled his lips into a smile while pointing at the sky.

“That’s why today is the perfect day.”

Rimmer chuckled and stood in front of Glenn, who was about to turn around.

“I have something to tell you, my lord.”

“What is it?”

Glenn turned back and looked at Rimmer.

“I have actually contemplated this a lot. I could be greedy or selfish, but I made up my mind when I saw today’s incident. I believe I can hand it over now.”

Rimmer went on his knees and placed his prosthetic arm over the left side of his chest.

“I’m going to resign as the Light Wind division’s leader today, and…”

He met Glenn’s red eyes, his eyes brimming with conviction.

“I recommend Raon Zieghart as the Light Wind division leader.”

***

If you find any errors or have suggestions, please feel free to provide feedback.

Thank you for reading!

[Author – Writing Ant, 글개미]

[Translator – Kyangi]

[Proofreader – Harley]