Chapter 648

Raon swallowed nervously as he gazed at the vivid glow on the map.

The villages that he’d rescued by releasing the Light Wind Division before they entered the grave had formed a line, creating a path connecting Zieghart to the Sword and Saber Sovereign’s grave.

‘Have they always been connected like that?’

Raon had just wanted to save the people who needed his help even though they weren’t in Zieghart’s domain, and it bore a completely unexpected result.

“Judging from your expression, it looks like you weren’t aware of it.” Glenn calmly nodded. “Of course, that does not change the results of your actions. The villages who dedicated themselves to Zieghart have all mentioned the Light Wind Division’s name.”

His voice sounded proud, which was rare coming from him. His expression also seemed to be gentler than usual.

“Our lord is right.” Sheryl took a step forward. “The village chiefs and the mayor all expressed their gratitude towards you.”

She smiled, saying that it was heartwarming.

“Expansion of the domain is a great achievement for houses and kingdoms alike. Since you achieve it with peaceful means, without causing the slightest harm to the area, it’s not an exaggeration to call it a huge feat.”

Glenn’s voice was calm, but the corners of his lips were trembling intensely, as if somebody else were trying to lift them.

“To honor that feat, everyone in the Light Wind Division will be bestowed with a golden tablet and an elixir.”

He snapped his fingers, and Roenn brought out a plate with golden and silver tablets on top.

“Th-thank you!”

“I’m honored!”

The Light Wind Division went on their knees and lowered their heads while clutching their chests. The swordsmen seemed to be more impressed by the fact that they’d made a huge contribution to Zieghart than the golden tablet itself.

“Everyone in the Void Sword Division will also be bestowed with a silver tablet for overcoming their difficult battle and successfully protecting the Light Wind Division.”

Glenn declared that he would also reward the Void Sword Division before he stood up from the throne to walk down from the platform. It looked like he was going to personally award them since there were so many people.

“Th-thank you!” Burren was the first to receive the golden tablet and an elixir, and he had to press down on his lips tightly to hold back his tears.

“Thank you!” Martha’s expression suggested that she believed she deserved the reward, but her face was as red as a carrot, showing that she was moved by the fact that Glenn was personally awarding it to her.

“Thank you.” However, Runaan remained impassive, her gaze and expression alike. She accepted the golden tablet and the elixir, her eyes as blank as always.

After Glenn gave a golden tablet to everyone in the Light Wind Division and a silver tablet to the Void Sword Division, he returned to the front.

“Void Sword Division leader.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Even though you made a mistake, you should be commended for fighting until the very end to protect your subordinates and the Light Wind Division,” he declared and bestowed a golden tablet and an elixir to the Void Sword Division. “The elixir is effective at treating internal injuries, so you should take it as soon as you return.”

“Thank you…” The Void Sword Division leader accepted the golden tablet and the elixir with trembling hands.

“Lastly, the Light Wind Division leader.”

“Yes.” Raon took a step forward.

“For the achievements of slaying the Snow Wraith Duchess, the sixth apostle, and the Master of the Abyssal Sword, figuring out the truth behind the Sword and Saber Sovereign’s grave, bringing back his legacy, and recovering Zieghart’s land…”

Glenn calmly listed Raon’s feats one after the other. His voice was quiet, but the corners of his lips and eyes were slowly soaring towards the sky.

“Each of them is a great achievement that cannot be overlooked. Combined with the achievements you’ve gained so far, it’s enough to transfer the annex building into the main building, and make Sylvia and you into members of the direct line.”

Everyone in the audience chamber widened their eyes upon hearing his quiet declaration.

“M-my lord!”

“That’s…”

“Shut your mouths.” Glenn glared at the direct lines who tried to speak fiercely before he shook his head. “However, we already made a promise about that.”

“Indeed.”

Raon nodded his head. He’d declared that he would obtain that reward by personally defeating the Axe King.

“Since that’s the case, I’ll grant you a wish.”

“D-did you just say a wish?”

“Yes. There are limits to what I can grant you, but I will grant you what you wish if it is within my ability to do so,” Glenn declared with serious eyes, saying that he would do his best to grant Raon’s wish.

“......”

Raon quietly looked around the audience chamber. The direct lines widened their eyes, Rimmer, Sheryl, and Aries seemed to be asking him to ruin the Council of Elders. Raon briefly closed his eyes before opening them again while observing them.

“I want the annex building to have defending rights.”

“Defending rights?” Glenn raised one of his eyebrows, showing his surprise at the unexpected answer.

“The special inspection from the True Martial Palace master and the Council of Elders’ inspection were both aimed to harm us without any meaning behind them. The annex building suffered huge losses, and the maids had a hard time as a result.”

“What are you talking about? I had to pay dozens more times than you back then! I could only eat grass for a while because you extorted all my…” Balder jumped up while Raon was speaking.

“Do you want to die? Will you shut your mouth or not?”

“Hmm…”

Aries furrowed her brow, and Balder returned to his spot with trembling shoulders.

“Inspection itself is fine, but performing multiple inspections in a row with the sole purpose of bullying us and ordering the maids in the annex building around for their inspection are both unreasonable. That’s why…”

Rano twisted his lips while looking at the location of the direct line executives.

“I’d like the annex building’s autonomy.”

“A-autonomy?”

The direct line executives were the first ones to react.

“This can’t be happening!”

“Autonomy of the annex building? That should never be allowed!”

“My lord!”

They frantically shook their heads, absolutely refusing it.

“......”

Glenn shifted his gaze without saying anything.

“Are you asking me to go back on my words?”

“Ah…”

“That’s not what we meant…”

The direct lines stepped back with trembling lips upon meeting his gaze.

“It’s true that you would’ve been able to resolve the issues that have happened so far if you had autonomy. However, granting autonomy can’t be decided that easily—after all, it can also imply that you are giving up on the protection from Zieghart.”

Glenn nodded without the slightest change in his gaze.

“I’ll indefinitely stop the inspection, investigation, and approach to the annex building for now. Let’s talk about autonomy again after thinking about it for a while.”

“…Thank you.” Raon briefly exhaled and lowered his head.

‘This is good enough.’

He wasn't going for autonomy to begin with. After all, like Glenn had said, it would be problematic if the annex building couldn’t get Zieghart’s protection.

Since the huge wish for autonomy was denied, the direct lines didn’t complain about him receiving defending rights. That was the result that Raon was hoping for to begin with.

“Since I couldn’t grant your wish, tell me if there’s anything else you want.” Glenn’s gaze looked slightly more frightening.

‘It looks like he is telling me to take revenge against the vice head of the elders.’

His gaze seemed to be asking him to use his wish to attack the vice head of the elders for bullying the annex building. However, the annex building—and Raon, by extension—had to do it by themselves. If they didn’t, the same thing was going to happen again and again if he relied on Glenn or Aries for that.

Moreover, there was no reason to use his wish for something he could achieve by himself.

“Then I’d like a few books on martial arts.”

“Books on martial arts?” Glenn furrowed his brow, showing that it wasn’t the answer he was expecting either. “What martial arts books are you talking about?”

“I’d like to talk about that in private. I have another thing to tell you as well, my lord.”

“Sure.” Glenn shook his hand towards the executives standing on the left and right. “That’s it for today. You should leave.”

The executives, the Light Wind Division, and the Void Sword Division bowed to Glenn before leaving through the door. The direct lines seemed slightly displeased, but they reluctantly left.

The only ones left in the lord’s manor were Sheryl, Roenn, Aries, and Rimmer.

“Raon!” Aries came up next to him and shouted, “You should’ve said that you wanted to cut the heads off the vice head of the elders and his underlings!”

“Would it have come true if I did?” Raon shook his head with a faint smile on his face.

“Even if it didn’t, something would’ve been cut down at least.” Aries stroked her scabbard as if she were planning to personally execute them.

“Let’s listen to Raon for now.” Sheryl smiled faintly and shook her head towards Aries.

“Huhuhu.” Roenn also expressed his mind through his gentle laughter, believing that Raon must have a plan.

“Please look at this for now.” Raon started by taking out the scabbard piece incorporating Derus Robert’s Umbral Surge and handed it to Glenn.

“Is this…” Glenn furrowed his brow, after receiving the scabbard piece, “…the energy of death?”

“Yes, it is.” Raon nodded while looking at the scabbard piece. The black glow had become a lot weaker.

“When I was driving away the warriors after leaving the grave…” Raon told Glenn, Sheryl, and Roenn about Derus Robert’s assault.

“Oh no…”

“Huh…”

Sheryl and Roenn widened their eyes in surprise.

“It was dangerous. I wouldn’t have managed to stop it on my own without the Sword Demon’s help.” Aries ground her teeth, showing that she was still frustrated about it. “In my opinion, his prowess should be no less than that of the leaders of the Six Kings.”

“And a person like that was going for Raon…”

Glenn’s red eyes sparkled in a frightening light. It almost looked like crimson lightning was striking.

“I’m assuming that he is the leader of the group who’ve turned the Sword and Saber Sovereign’s grave into a hell. He must’ve been trying to kill me because I’ve ruined their plan,” Raon stated.

“I guess so.” Glenn wasn’t taking his eyes off the scabbard piece, showing his determination to remember the energy of death inside it. “I understand. I’ll order the leader of Shadow Agents to investigate it.”

“Thank you.” Raon lowered his head to Glenn.

‘This is good enough.’

Since he managed to reveal Derus’s hidden secret, the Umbral Surge, to three out of the Six Kings, it was even more profitable than he’d expected. Derus just needed to get impatient and show his power, and his fame and reputation would be shattered into pieces.

“Then what are those books of martial arts that you wanted?” Glenn put the scabbard piece in his inner pocket and nodded his head.

“The books I want are the Titanic Mountain Sword, the Stellar Zenith Sword, and…”

Raon started with the books of martial arts that he needed to dismantle and analyze the Sword and Saber Sovereign’s martial arts, then took a small break before stating the name of the last book.

“The Sword of Ten Forms.”

“The Sword of Ten Forms, that’s…”

“The sword technique of the vice head of the elders.”

Sheryl and Aries’s eyes glowed coldly upon hearing the name of the last book.

“You must be planning to challenge him to a sword duel.” Rimmer came forward with his arms crossed.

“Yes, I’ll fight him.”

“That geezer is powerful, but more importantly, he’s a snake. He will never fight you even though he is aware that he is more powerful than you. After all, he has nothing to gain from it, even if he wins.” He shook his head, saying that it was only going to be a frustrating attempt.

“I’ll give him no other choice but to fight.”

“How?”

Everyone swallowed nervously, including Rimmer.

“Vice division leader.” Raon lifted his finger while looking at Rimmer. “You are friends with Verbin, the vice master of the tower, right?”

Verbin was the vice master of the magic tower inside Zieghart, and he was often witnessed hanging around with Rimmer inside pubs. The magician who’d summoned the orcs for a practical session when Raon was a trainee was one of his subordinates.

“Verbin? He’s my drinking friend, yes.” Rimmer blinked, wondering why he suddenly brought up Verbin’s name.

“I’d like to borrow him tomorrow.” Raon curled his lips into a smile, taking gold coins from his pouch.

* * *

“Dragon Slayer…” Killuane, the vice head of the elders, curved his lips into a deep sneer while thinking about Raon. “I was wondering how good he was, but he is just a naive youngster.”

“Naive?” Krisen returned from the lord's manor and tilted his head.

“He might look cunning, but he is still ignorant. He is at a perfect level to be taken advantage of.”

“Hmm…”

“It looks like you can’t understand.”

“Yes. I was admiring him before I knew it when I listened to his achievements today…”

“Those are amazing achievements indeed. However, that’s not what I’m talking about.” Killuane curled his lips into a smile, tapping on the desk that was made of a whole black log. “He didn’t mention us when the head of house wanted to grant his wish, right?”

“Yes, I also found it unexpected. It would’ve been frightening if he wanted to take revenge against us…”

“That’s why he is naive.” Killuane buried his back deep into the chair and shifted his gaze out the window. “Because he must be planning to attack me with his own strength.”

“By attacking, could it be…?”

“Yes, a sword duel.” Killuane put his left index finger and his right index finger together. “He is planning on requesting a sword duel against me.”

“Ah!” Krisen widened his eyes, finally understanding the situation.

“He wants to solve it by himself, without borrowing the head of house’s power because that would create another wall beyond the defensive rights for the annex building, preventing interference. However…”

Killuane’s fingers casually parted from each other as he continued, “A sword duel request is completely meaningless if the other party doesn’t accept it. He will regret missing today’s opportunity for the rest of his life.”

He giggled while thinking about Raon’s distorted eyes.

“However, we don’t have any way of doing anything against the annex building anymore either, do we?” Krisen furrowed his brow, stroking his chin, which still wasn’t healed.

“We can just make a way. Inspection and investigation aren’t the only ways to bully them.” Killuane casually listed how to pick a fight with the annex building while shaking his finger.

“That’s really amazing!” Krisen gasped at Killuane in admiration.

“Let our people rest for about a week.” Killuane’s eyes were clouded with malice, glowing with an ominous light. “Because we’ll need to return to the annex building after that.”

* * *

The next morning.

A white screen was created in the sky above the main building when the swordsmen finished their breakfast and were heading to start their daily routine.

“What’s that?”

“It looks like magic.”

“It is. The magic tower is in action. Was there an event today?”

“It spread out like a piece of paper.”

The swordsmen and servants all stopped walking and watched the sky.

Whir!

Dancing black letters unfolded on the white screen. It almost looked like letters being written on a piece of paper.

[Children are taught from an early age to never approach a beast with children. If a beast has children that they need to protect, they are extremely cautious and their fangs and claws are many times sharper than normal.]

It wasn’t simply showing the letters. The silvery voice of a woman resounded throughout the main building. Even though she was simply reading, it sounded curiously like she was reciting a poem or singing a song to vividly reach the ears.

[However, there’s an old man who doesn’t know the law of nature that even children are aware of. What could the reason for this be? If he still doesn’t know that obvious fact in his old age, it’s definitely because his parents didn’t educate him.

[He was raised by parents who gave up on shaping his personality, and since he never formed a good family himself, he doesn’t know how precious other people’s families are.

[The sense of inferiority in the ignorant is usually expressed towards others, while saints realize their own shortcomings and train their minds. A lowly being laughs at those who are worse off than them, and a noble person shares their knowledge and heart with those who need it.

[It’s truly deplorable that the vice head of Zieghart’s elders was raised as an ignorant, lowly being because he wasn’t educated by his parents.

[Therefore, I’m going to personally bestow my teachings about the world to the vice head of the elders in place of his parents. If the vice head of the elders doesn’t want to remain as an ignorant lowly being who wasn’t educated by his parents, come to the great training ground at noon in three weeks. - Raon Zieghart, the Light Wind Division leader.]

Raon Zieghart’s name was written down in the end, and the woman’s silvery voice also came to an end.

“Ah…”

“Uhh…”

Countless people were in front of the main building, but none of them were able to speak.

“Yua’s voice is as excellent as always.” Raon sent a round of applause from above a mansion’s roof far away from the main building.

Indeed, Pineapple Girl’s voice is so sweet… That isn’t what he was going to say! You’re insulting his parents!

Wrath raised his hand, his chin trembling intensely.

‘Yes.’

Raon calmly nodded.

Hey! Even demons don’t insult a person’s parents!

‘That old man was the one to drag my mother into this.’

Wait, most importantly, it was the most creative and elegant insult to someone’s parents the King of Essence has ever seen…

He blinked, showing his bewilderment at his declaration.

“We needed that to make it work.”

Raon curled his lips into a smile as he watched the Council of Elders’ building shake like there was an earthquake occurring.

“The sword duel request has been sent.”

***

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]