Chapter 622

Dorian looked at the dark forest while crawling on the ground. He swallowed nervously and moved slowly to avoid making any sounds, moving behind the round boulder resembling a turtle shell.

“Haa…”

He leaned against the boulder and exhaled the breath he’d been holding.

‘I really feel like I’m going to die.’

Dorian shook his head while wiping the cold sweat from his forehead. Two days had passed since the focus enhancement training had begun, and he’d experienced death six times in total.

Martha had gotten him once, the Gambling Monster caught him once, and the other four times were from encountering Raon. He was beaten like a dog every time he encountered Raon, exhausting him to the point that he couldn’t conceal his presence.

‘I can’t believe he has a duel to the death scheduled next year.’

It was a mystery that he was going all out in training the Light Wind Division instead of training himself when his duel to the death with the Axe King would happen soon.

He had the same impression every time, but Raon was completely different from a coward like him.

‘It’s not like I can be half-hearted with how hard the division leader is working.’

The reason Raon was using his precious time to focus on the Light Wind Division’s training was simple: it was to increase their survival rate, even if just by a small margin.

Dorian was fully aware of that fact, and that was why he couldn’t take the training lightly.

‘I need to get moving now.’

It wasn’t a good idea to stay in the same location for an extended period of time. He started to twitch his ass in order to move after a bit of rest, but a dark shadow was cast on the ground.

“Huh…?”

Dorian raised his gaze with trembling lips. Two red moons were floating on the boulder. No, they weren’t anything like moons.

It was Raon’s red eyes.

“Kyaaah!”

He screamed and tried to run away, but he couldn’t move his body because Raon’s foot was pressing on his shoulder.

Smack!

Raon thrust his hand into Dorian’s solar plexus without hesitation.

“Kuaah…”

Dorian tried to defend with aura, but Raon’s attack broke through his aura and delivered a powerful impact into his body. The strength left his body as if he had been struck by a steel hammer.

‘Wh-what the hell is this…?’

It would’ve been understandable if it broke through his aura, but the way it completely bypassed his aura was ridiculous.

“I’m getting used to it.”

Raon smiled in satisfaction while looking at his hand as if he were experimenting with something.

“Was this the seventh time?”

“Why do you keep following me…?” Dorian whined while leaning forward.

“Unfortunately, I wasn’t here for you this time.”

“What?”

“Below here.”

Raon pointed under the boulder that Dorian had been hiding behind. He smiled faintly and stomped on the ground powerfully.

Whaam!

With a loud bang that sounded like the mountain was collapsing, a huge fissure was created. Rimmer and Krein popped out of the dark hole that was made.

“Huff!”

“H-how…?”

Rimmer and Krein’s jaws dropped as they wondered how he managed to find them when they were hiding underground.

“You should sleep quietly. Why were you snoring?”

Raon shook his head while pointing at the line of the drool flowing from Rimmer’s mouth.

“You crazy bastard! Why is your hearing so good?! Are you an elf or something?”

“No, I’m a human.”

He casually turned his shoulder and unsheathed Heavenly Drive.

“Krein, we have no other choice. Let’s fight!”

“U-understood!”

“You should be the front liner. I’ll prepare a surprise attack from the back.”

“Yes!”

Krein bit his lip and stepped forward. His eyes sparkled with resolve.

“Haa,” Raon sighed after watching Krein’s reaction.

“Look behind you.”

“I won’t be deceived by that. I haven’t been idling around so far!”

Krein showed his determination to fight until the end by clenching his sword with both hands and unleashing his aura to the maximum output. The aura blade gathering around his blade condensed into a vivid aura thread.

“That’s not what I’m saying. The elf you are counting on has already escaped.”

Raon shook his hand.

“Huh…?”

Krein turned around. His eyes widened upon confirming that Rimmer was nowhere to be seen even though he believed he would defend him like a reliable ally.

“You damned el—”

“But it doesn't mean that you really should’ve turned around to check.”

Raon took the opportunity as Krein was looking back to smack his abdomen with the hilt of his blade.

Smack!

Krein slammed onto the ground after he got hit by Heavenly Drive. He screamed, his limbs writhing in pain.

“Kuaaah!”

“It’s true that the vice division leader ran away, but you can’t give up because of that. You should’ve quickly decided between fighting until the end or looking for an opportunity to run away.”

Raon left a mark on Krein’s forehead showing that he was dead and examined the direction where Rimmer had escaped.

He was about to follow the traces when Martha dashed out from the bushes on the right side.

“I’m sick and tired of running away. Come at me!” Martha bobbed her finger, looking for a fight.

“That personality of yours never changes.”

Raon chuckled and swirled Heavenly Drive as if he’d been expecting Martha’s appearance.

“If you want the penalty that much, I shall give it to you.”

He raised Heavenly Drive to waist level and used the Supreme Harmony Steps. He reached in front of Martha in an instant and unleashed the Fangs of Insanity.

The aura surrounding the silver blade bared its fangs ferociously, as if it were going to gnaw at Martha’s neck.

Cring!

Martha read the Fangs of Insanity’s flow and thrust her sword while activating Berserk.

Claang!

A powerful sound burst out from the clash between their swords. Martha unleashed her slash to the best of her ability, but her technique itself was broken, unable to withstand the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation’s fire.

“Ugh…”

The moment Martha’s sword tilted downwards, a wave of frost gushed from the tree on the left.

Whaam!

The silver coldness engulfed the entire area and removed the pressure caused by Heavenly Drive.

“......”

Runaan came down from the tree and stood right next to Martha.

“I believe I told you that you should work alone.”

Raon lowered his eyebrows, igniting the coldness inside Heavenly Drive.

“The enemy of an enemy is an ally.”

Runaan pointed her sword at Raon while saying that she’d just become Martha’s ally.

“......”

Raon stared at Runaan’s beloved sword, Snow Flower, for a moment before he thrust Heavenly Drive backward.

Claang!

Burren was sent flying far away from the Blizzard Sword Art while trying to silently approach.

“Kuh…”

Burren furrowed his brow while putting his hand on the ground.

“Even a surprise attack doesn’t work against him.”

“What’s up with you now?”

“I was just trying to block the path.”

He shook his hand towards Krein and Dorian, suggesting that they should leave quickly.

“I see.”

Raon smiled faintly while looking at Martha, Runaan, and Burren one after the other.

‘All three of them are fully aware of the meaning of this training.’

The focus enhancement training they were doing wasn’t solely designed to increase their focus and battle experience.

It was to make them experience how to move when they had to scatter and escape when they failed a mission, and they were stepping up to buy time for the subordinates to escape.

“I’m proud of you for that, but…”

Raon unleashed an astral blade even bigger than Burren, Martha, and Runaan’s astral energies combined on Heavenly Drive and activated the Supreme Harmony Steps. He curled his lips into a smile while looking at the astonishment in their eyes.

“I have no intention of going easy on you.”

* * *

Glenn watched Raon and the three team leaders while standing on the tiger boulder.

“Huhu…”

Roenn came up next to Glenn and laughed heartily.

“The first thing he does after becoming a division leader is train them. I can’t match up to how consistent he is.”

He watched gently, showing how proud he was of Raon.

“He must be trying to teach them because he has learned it himself.”

Sherly nodded calmly.

“When you said he has learned, you mean…”

“The lack of power.”

She shook her head.

“Raon and the Light Wind Division only managed to survive the few missions they had thanks to a third party’s interference. Since they can’t be lucky all the time, he must be planning on teaching them how to escape when the mission fails.”

“That’s true indeed.” Roenn smiled gently, saying that he could finally understand.

“The interesting part is that he cares about the other swordsmen even though he should be fully occupied with his own matters. I don’t even understand how bold he is…” Sheryl furrowed her brow, thinking about the duel to the death with the Axe King.

“He is just kind-hearted. He cares more about others than himself, and he cares a lot about his companions. That’s another unique talent he has. He is just like Lady Sylvia.”

Roenn gave a big nod of approval in response to Sheryl.

“......”

They both stopped speaking in unison and lifted their gazes above the boulder.

“Ahem…” Glenn cleared his throat while blushing. “Well, it’s not as great as you claim, but it’s pretty good indeed.”

The corners of his lips were twitching wildly, soaring towards the sky.

“Since he is a division leader now, he needs to have that much sense of responsibility and confidence at least.”

Glenn kept smiling endlessly while watching Raon with unfocused eyes.

“Huhu.”

Sheryl and Roenn smiled cheerfully while meeting each other’s eyes.

“M-my lord!”

By the time Raon defeated Burren, Runaan, and Martha one after the other, Rimmer climbed above the boulder.

“Stop Raon, please! Why do I have to be here?!” Rimmer screamed while sweeping back his sweat-drenched bangs.

“It was your decision to live as the Light Wind vice division leader, wasn’t it?”

“Th-that’s true, but…”

“It’s only natural for the vice division leader to obey the division leader. What’s the problem?”

Glenn rubbed his fingers, his gaze looking like he would kill him if Rimmer had a problem with Raon. Crimson lightning was sparking from his grasp.

“It’s not that I have a problem with him, but…”

“If you run away from this training, I’ll personally oversee your training for a month.”

“Ugh…” Rimmer furrowed his brow and stepped back the moment he heard Glenn’s declaration. “Seriously, the grandfather and the grandson are the exact same! This Zieghart is damned!”

He shouted that he was sick and tired of it and stepped back.

“Ahem!”

Glenn was still happy even though Zieghart was insulted, and the corners of his lips soared to the sky without reserve. His cheeks were turning even redder.

“Huh…?”

Rimmer’s eyes widened as he observed Glenn’s smile.

“D-don’t tell me, are you happy right now because I said that the grandfather and the grandson are the exact same? I’m going nuts!” He shook his head at his ridiculous reaction.

“Don’t make any unnecessary comments!” Glenn covered his red face and wrinkled his nose. “Take him back down already!”

“Yes.”

“Understood!”

Roenn and Sheryl nodded and grabbed Rimmer’s arms to drag him downwards.

“I’m really sick and tired of it!”

“He said the grandfather and the grandson are the exact same…”

Rimmer kept shouting, but Glenn smiled brightly while looking at his back.

“That’s not too bad.”

* * *

Whaaam!

Burren, Martha, and Runaan collapsed one after the other and slammed onto the ground.

“You’ve definitely improved a lot compared to the past.”

Raon nodded while meeting their distorted eyes.

“Ehh…”

“Kuh!”

“Damn it!”

Runaan, Burren, and Martha could only twitch their fingers while kissing the ground because they didn’t even have any strength left to reply.

“But if you end up dying while buying time for escape, the division will suffer a critical loss. You need to keep contemplating how to survive the situation,” Raon advised them and descended from the mountain in order to find the other Light Wind Division members.

When he spread his aura perception in order to sense the swordsmen’s presences, he noticed a very small movement.

He waited for a moment because it seemed to be a wild animal, and a golden marten popped out from the bushes.

‘A marten? Were there martens in this mountain?’

He knew that many kinds of animals lived in the North Grave Mountain, but he’d never seen a marten before. The marten ran towards him without being afraid of humans, as if it had just seen some food.

‘It can’t be…’

It is indeed the case!

Wrath widened his eyes.

It’s definitely the madwoman!

He screamed and hid away in the ice flower bracelet.

“Raon!”

A coquettish voice came from the marten’s small mouth. It was Merlin, as expected. She smiled cheerfully while straightening her back, and Raon reluctantly found her cute because she looked like a marten.

“Haa.”

Raon created an aura barrier right away to conceal the sound and brought the marten into the bushes.

“What brought you here?”

“Because you’re here. And…”

Merlin tilted her head, wondering why he was asking such an obvious question.

“I have to congratulate you for becoming a division leader.”

“Huh…”

Raon gasped while looking at Merlin’s glowing eyes. He sometimes got this feeling that Merlin was even better with information than the Shadow Agents.

“Congratulations on becoming a division leader. You can even become the head of house next time!”

Merlin was talking about becoming the head of house as if it were as easy as becoming the manager of a bead ice cream shop. Her mindset was seriously too difficult to deal with.

“Anyway, thank you.” He thanked her because she’d come to congratulate him.

“It’s too early to say that.” Merlin took a sparkling golden ring from her fur with a refreshing smile on her face.

“What is this…?”

“It’s a present!”

“A present?”

“It’s a present to commemorate your becoming a division leader!” She nodded while congratulating him once again. “I prepared one the same color as your hair.”

Merlin pointed at his blond hair, which was fluttering in the wind.

“Hmm…”

Raon blinked while looking at the golden ring that Merlin had taken out.

‘How come Merlin is the first to give me a present?’

Many people congratulated him after he became a division leader, but it was the first time he was given a present. He found it stupid but was also thankful to her.

However, getting an actual present was a different story from getting information from her, so he couldn’t easily extend his hand.

“Take it. It’s not anything too good.” Merlin shook the ring, saying that her arm was aching.

“Yeah, thank you.”

Raon accepted the ring because he’d heard that it was rude to refuse a present that someone had gone out of their way to prepare, and she’d said that it wasn’t anything too good.

Its simple, patternless appearance was to his liking.

“I’ll store it properly.”

“Wear it instead of storing it. It’s an artifact.” Merlin smiled while looking at the ring.

“Huh? Artifact?”

“It’s an ancient artifact.”

“But you said that it wasn’t anything too good!”

“It’s just a cheap trinket to me.” She shrugged her shoulders while rolling her eyes. “After all, it’s useless for a mage.”

“Then…”

“Yes, it’s only useful for the warriors. It amplifies the aura that you gather in your hand.”

“Hmm…”

Raon furrowed his brow after trying to shove aura into the ring.

‘It’s true.’

The aura entering the ring was amplified before it returned. As she said, it was a high-quality artifact that could amplify the aura.

‘By the way, this… Feels similar to that ring.’

It had a similar shape to the cheap ring that he’d purchased in the Black Market before. He’d left it alone because he hadn’t managed to find how to remove the seal, and Merlin’s ring seemed to be the same thing.

‘Don’t tell me, is it the same seal as that one?’

He figured he would quickly need to find a phoenix.

‘Regardless of the case, it’s not an ordinary item.’

Raon carefully stored the ring and looked at Merlin. She was just smiling as if she was simply glad that he took her present nicely.

“How is Eden doing nowadays? Are you doing fine over there?”

“Nothing special happened for me. I’ve been just wasting my time with missions.”

“But the Fallen should be suspicious of you.”

“It’s fine because he doesn’t blatantly annoy me.”

She shook her hand, saying that he didn’t need to worry about it since she even made a new hole to escape. It looked like she’d completely lost interest in Eden.

“Rather than that, there were a lot of issues in other places.”

“Other places?”

“Yes. The Five Demons made their move, and many of the neutral factions were ruined. A war could break out at any moment. There was even a rumor recently that the Sword and Saber Sovereign's grave was found.”

“The Sword and Saber Sovereign’s grave?”

Raon’s eyes widened.

What’s a Sword and Saber Sovereign? It sounds delicious.

Wrath poked his head out.

‘It’s not food. It refers to the warrior who competed for the place of the strongest in the continent a few hundred years ago. He could use both sword and saber, and I heard he was in the Transcender's realm with both of them.’

Swords and sabers looked similar, but they were completely different weapons.

Unlike a sword, which was focused around stabs, sabers were specialized in slashes. That was why it was difficult to be good at handling both weapons—but the Sword and Saber Sovereign was rumored to be so proficient in both of them that he could use them like his limbs.

His name was still brought up by the people even though hundreds of years had passed, which implied that he must’ve far surpassed the Transcender’s realm.

“Yes.”

Merlin nodded while scratching her side.

“The map indicating the location of the Sword and Saber Sovereign is out there. The person called the Shadowless Wanderer apparently has it right now, but I think both the Six Kings and the Five Demons must be chasing after him.”

She shook her head, showing that she wasn’t really interested in it.

“The Shadowless Wanderer…”

“Since I finished what I came to do, I’ll be taking my leave.”

Merlin waved her hand, saying that it was time for her to leave.

“I’m going to keep watching you, so don’t worry.”

Raon wanted to tell her that was even more worrying, but he had to shut his mouth because she’d even given him a present.

“And as for this one…”

Raon swallowed nervously while looking at Merlin’s mouth. He clenched his fist while wondering what she was going to say, and her lips twitched once again.

“It wants you to trim its claws.”

“Cl-claws?”

Raon’s eyes widened because it was a completely unexpected request.

“It said that its claws are too long and are being a hindrance when it’s hunting. Cut them into a nice shape, trim them, and also color them a bit.”

‘I’m even trimming a marten’s claws now?’

Raon closed his eyes tightly after looking at the marten’s foot.

‘What is life…?’

The North Grave Mountain became peaceful for a while thanks to Merlin and the marten.

* * *

Raon turned around, standing on the fifth training ground’s platform.

‘They look like they’re about to die.’

The Light Wind swordsmen had hunched shoulders, with faces that looked like they were about to die—just like puppies that had been on a day-long walk.

“Straighten your backs. It’s over now.”

“But it took three whole weeks to be over instead of a single week.”

“You demon king!”

“You evil…”

Burren and Martha violently ground their teeth, and Runaan sank to the ground while faltering.

“What kind of training lasts for three whole weeks? That fiendish bastard…”

Rimmer also lay flat on the ground with hollowed cheeks.

Raon chuckled while looking at the ragged state of the Light Wind Division.

As they said, three weeks had passed because he kept extending the training since it was going too well. It was a long and difficult time, but the Light Wind Division became proficient at surprise attacks and running away in addition to fighting from the front after all the experience they’d gained.

It was a relief because they became capable of running away from a powerful opponent and looking for an opportunity instead of just fighting head-on.

“You’ve done well so far.” Raon nodded while looking at the Light Wind Division’s exhausted eyes. “Rest for three days.”

“It’s time for rest!”

“Finally…”

“We can finally escape from the demon!”

The Light Wind Division roared toward the sky as if they were finally freed from slavery.

“Before that,” Raon began as he shook his hand towards the Light Wind Division, who were smiling without exception.

“W-wait a moment, is it about another training session?”

“It could be, since he is a demon.”

“Yeah, he might tell us that we are going to train since the sun is still in the sky…”

The Light Wind Division looked at the sun in the middle of the sky with trembling lips.

“We should eat, at least.”

Raon clapped his hands once again, and people entered from outside the training ground to lay out tents and tables, then started to prepare steaming dishes.

“Huh…?”

“Wh-what is this?”

“This is too sudden…”

“You wanted a group dinner, didn’t you?” Raon curled his lips into a smile while looking at the Light Wind Division’s surprise. “It’s a reward for completing the training.”

Whoaaa!

The first shout of joy came from Wrath instead of the Light Wind Division.

When did you even prepare all this?!

He darted his tongue in and out while looking at the dishes and desserts that were being set under the tent.

‘While you were asleep.’

You weasel! The King of Essence believed in you all along!

Wrath showered him with pointless flattery without taking his eyes off the food.

“You’ve done a great job. Eat well and rest well for three days.”

“Ooh!”

“This is what I like about the new division leader!”

“He is way better than the stingy previous division leader!”

The Light Wind Division ran towards the table that was being filled with dishes before they even thanked him.

“Did he even bring liquor?”

“Wow, all of them are high quality!”

The Gambling Monster and Rimmer went to the liquor and immediately started to drink.

“Ice!”

Runaan ran to the bead ice cream with her purple eyes sparkling faintly and started to dish up as much ice cream as she wanted.

“Hmm.”

Martha went next to Runaan and scratched her head.

“Which is the tasty one?”

She took the initiative to approach her, probably because she was thankful that Runaan had helped her in various ways during the training.

“This one.”

Runaan calmly nodded and gave the green ice cream to Martha.

“It has a strange color. Is it really tasty?”

“Mhm.”

“Hmm…”

Martha tilted her head, showing that she didn’t exactly like the color, but reluctantly took a bite in the end.

“Kuh! You damned bitch! How could you feed poison to me?!”

She charged at Runaan because of the minty taste of the ice cream.

“You have bad taste.” Runaan shook her head and started to run away once again.

“They’re pretty much sisters now.”

Burren shook his head while watching Runaan and Martha playing tag.

Beef Girl has a bad taste. How could she do that to such precious food?!

Wrath sighed while looking at the mint chocolate ice cream Martha had spat out.

‘You’re the special ones.’

Raon was smiling while watching the Light Wind Division enjoy the food when Rimmer came up next to him with an entire wine bottle in his hand.

“It must’ve been rather costly.”

“It’s fine.”

Raon shook his hand, saying that it wasn’t a big deal.

“By the way…” Rimmer licked his lips and shook his head. “There’s something that I didn’t tell you.”

“What is it?”

“Division leaders have to attend the executive meeting.”

“I’m well aware.”

He’d heard about the conference that decided various matters for the divisions and squads.

“I should prepare myself since it’s my first time participating. I’m looking forward to your teaching.”

“But that meeting…” Rimmer licked his lips for a moment, then finished the entire bottle before he continued, “is today.”

“What…?”

“That executive meeting takes place today. It starts in three hours.”

He shook his head while looking up at the sky.

“Really?”

“Yes, really.”

“......”

E-eat first! Talk about it after eating!

Wrath shouted at him to eat, but Raon put down the dish, then closed his eyes before opening them again.

“Why are you telling me this so late?”

“I just remembered.” Rimmer playfully raised his chin.

“Haa…”

Raon bit his lip and picked up his dish again.

“I actually have something to tell you as well.”

“Hmm? What is it?”

Rimmer shook his head while opening an expensive-looking bottle.

“You know that the group meal is usually funded by the one who retires, right?”

Raon’s lips curved into a sly smile as soon as Rimmer started to drink.

“Huh…?”

Rimmer’s lips trembled anxiously. The liquor flowed down from his mouth.

“All of this food and liquor will be charged to you, vice division leader.”

Raon shook his hand, and the restaurant’s manager and the pub’s manager gave a thumbs up to Rimmer at the same time.

“Wh-why didn’t you tell me about that earlier?”

“Because you never asked before.”

“You…!”

Rimmer was about to shout in irritation but bit his lip upon remembering what he’d done.

“Stop right there, everyone! Stop eating! Don’t eat anything!” He ran to the buffet while shouting. “Do you want to see me washing dishes for the rest of my life?! Stop eating already!”

“Executive meeting…”

Raon averted his gaze from Rimmer’s desperate struggle and licked his lips.

“It sounds fun.”

***

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]