Chapter 655

“Song of the wind?”

Raon tilted his head while looking at Rimmer.

‘What’s the song of the wind?’

He’d heard about wind having a fragrance, but it was his first time hearing that wind could sing a song. If he had to pick some reason, Rimmer’s sword field was named the Song of Wind and Lightning, but that didn’t seem to have anything to do with it.

“So you didn’t know.” Rimmer scratched his nose, having expected Raon to not know about it. “What do you think the most basic way for a swordsman to use the wind is?”

“It’s to be covered in wind. This is because it can increase the speed and sharpness at the same time.” Raon responded while unleashing the wind from his energy center.

He rarely used it because he had the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and Glacier, but swordsmen with the wind attribute usually increased their power and speed by wrapping their bodies and swords with the wind.

“Correct.” Rimmer nodded nonchalantly. “If you cover your body with the wind, you almost feel like you don’t weigh anything anymore, and your sword strike can be faster and sharper as a result. However, that’s not all there is to it.”

He shook his finger and instructed, “Try unleashing fire and frost on your hand.”

“Understood.” Raon nodded and unleashed frost from his left hand and flames on his right hand.

“Wind is a rather peculiar attribute.” Blue wind appeared from Rimmer’s finger. “It doesn’t have any opposing attributes like fire and water. Instead…”

The wind covering his finger unraveled like a ball of yarn, amplifying the flame and frost blazing on Raon’s hand by about twice as much.

“It enhances other attributes.”

“Isn’t the earth attribute its opposite one?” Raon tilted his head while watching the intensified flame and frost.

“No. Wind can enhance the earth attribute just like it did to your flame and frost.” Rimmer smiled, saying that the idea of them being opposites was made up by people who liked to create formulas.

He’s correct.

Wrath nodded his head.

Wind is capable of enhancing all attributes—fire, water, and earth alike. However, it’s true that it synergizes with earth a bit less than with others. You should see it as a complex relationship.

He snorted, saying that it was a mystery how he ended up agreeing with Shitty Ears.

“Since wind can enhance all attributes, fire, water, and earth alike, it can also easily reduce them all.”

Blue light flickered from Rimmer’s finger, and the wind flowing around them disappeared at once. A windless area without air was created, extinguishing the flame and weakening the frost.

“Then is this the song of the wind…?”

“No, what I told you so far are the basics.”

He snapped his fingers, and the flame that was flickering on the verge of being extinguished suddenly burst out, turning big enough to reach the sky.

“Is this…?”

“I heard the song of the wind.” Rimmer pointed at his own pointy ears with his finger. “Each wind has its own unique song. Some winds are capable of amplifying the flame, some winds can further deepen frost, and some winds can sharpen the blade even more than astral energy.”

He smiled, saying that each wind had different advantages and drawbacks. “My sword field, Eye of the Storm, consists of summoning the wind of sharpness to cover my blade.”

Rimmer gestured with his eyes, saying that the sharp wind had replaced the astral energy.

“Ah…”

Raon licked his lips, watching the flaming mountain blazing from his hand.

‘I finally understand.’

He’d been thinking that wind was just wind, but he realized otherwise thanks to Rimmer’s lesson. Winds had their own unique nature, and they seemed to have different advantages—like amplifying a flame or wrapping a blade with more sharpness depending on the nature of it.

“I understand what you mean. However…” Raon shook his head, meeting Rimmer’s peaceful eyes. “I can’t tell the difference between winds.”

Seeing the result was possible, but he couldn’t tell from looking at the wind what kind of advantages it presented.

“That’s normal. After all, you’re human, and you don’t really have a high wind affinity either.” Rimmer shook his head, saying that it was a natural thing.

“Then why are you telling me about the song of the wind…?”

“Because I can allow you to hear it.” He raised his long finger. “I’ll teach you my aura cultivation technique.”

“What?” Raon’s eyes widened as he looked at Rimmer.

‘What is he even saying right now?’

Rimmer’s cultivation technique wasn’t a Zieghart one, it was Seipia’s aura cultivation—the one used by the guardians. He couldn’t understand why he was willing to teach him a martial art that was only reserved for the guardians.

“My cultivation technique doesn’t simply gather aura, it also increases wind affinity, allowing me to hear the song of the wind.”

“That’s not the issue. Is it really fine to teach me Seipia’s cultivation technique?”

“Hmm, it’s normally not allowed, but no one is watching here.”

Rimmer grinned, saying that there were no protectors or guardians around them. Raon couldn’t understand his mindset at all.

“My aura cultivation is called Garunua. It means ‘song of the wind’. Let’s get started.”

“What? W-wait a moment!”

“Howl of the wind…”

Before Raon could even stop him, Rimmer closed his eyes and started to chant the precept of the cultivation technique.

‘What the hell?!’

Raon blinked dazedly and started to shove Rimmer’s precept into his head.

* * *

Rimmer slowly opened his eyes after telling Raon the full precept and explaining how to use Garunua. He could see that Raon was in a trance, thinking about Garunua’s precept.

‘Did he really enter that state again?’

He laughed bitterly at the ridiculous situation. A trance was supposed to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but Raon was entering it as often as he was going to the restroom. He couldn’t even be called lucky at that point.

Rimmer smiled faintly, guarding Raon in that state.

‘I’m glad I memorized it beforehand.’

Even though his body and head had the perfect understanding of it, voicing it aloud was a different story. It was thanks to the prior practice that he managed to increase Raon’s focus to the extreme.

Rimmer shook his hand towards the Light Wind Division’s swordsmen who had stopped their training to watch them. The swordsmen nodded and quietly left the training ground.

Rimmer licked his lips, looking back at Raon.

‘Did you ask me if it’s okay to teach Garunua to an outsider? Who else would I teach if not you?’

Raon was right about Garunua being Seipia’s exclusive martial art, one that wasn’t supposed to be taught to outsiders.

It was a martial art that was only allowed to be taught to the elf who would become the head of the guardians in the future, but he had no regrets about teaching it to Raon. Even the current protector, his grandfather, wouldn't scold him if he told him about it.

Haaa.

Raon’s breathing became heavier just to be stabilized afterward, then repeated. The wind around him was throbbing in time with his breath. By the time the sun set and the moon started to rise, the wind engulfing the fifth training ground started to rampage, being sucked towards Raon.

“Huh?” Rimmer widened his eyes, feeling the storming wind.

‘Could it be…?’

It looked like Raon was trying to learn Garunua just from hearing the precept and explanation. Rimmer could feel green wind gathering in his energy center.

‘He’s insane!’

Rimmer thought it would be impossible for Raon to learn Garunua already, even in his trance. However, Raon’s insane talent had managed to create Garunua’s cheerful wind in less than a day.

Whaam!

The wind entering Raon’s body through his pores seeped into his energy center, creating a huge explosion. It would’ve been a powerful blow, but the preexisting flame and frost seemed to have defended him against the wind.

“Haa…”

Raon exhaled quietly as he opened his eyes. Green wind sparked from his red eyes.

“Huh…” Rimmer gasped while watching Raon. “Did you manage to learn it?”

“Yes, it worked out somehow.” Raon calmly nodded.

“You’re seriously insane.”

“I didn’t think I’d be able to learn it at first. I tried to change Garunua’s structure to be more suitable for humans, and I ended up focusing on it…” He scratched the back of his head, saying that he’d fallen into a trance before he knew it.

“I’m so sick and tired of you.” Despite what he said, Rimmer threw his hair back with a bright smile on his face. “So, can you feel it?”

“I can’t hear the song of the wind yet. However…” Raon rubbed his fingers, blankly looking into the sky. “I can very faintly feel that the winds have different colors.”

“I see, that’s enough.”

He cheerfully nodded. The fact that Raon could sense the color of the wind implied that his wind affinity had increased. Even though he was only at the entry-level, without even reaching one-star, he had properly learned Garunua.

“By the way, is it really fine for me to learn Garunua?”

“Hmm…” Rimmer blinked in a daze, then smiled like an idiot. “I don’t even know.”

“......”

* * *

Raon closed his eyes tightly.

‘I knew I shouldn’t have counted on that elf!’

Raon suddenly started to regret it, a painful chill running down his spine.

“I’m just kidding. Don’t worry about it—even grandfather won’t say anything if he learns about it.” Rimmer shook his hand. Raon honestly couldn’t really trust him but he felt a bit relieved. “And this isn’t the time to be thinking about that. It gave you some ideas, didn’t it?”

Rimmer’s smile made Raon feel like he could read his mind for some reason.

“It did.” Raon nodded, watching the wind whirling around Rimmer.

‘I’m getting a lot of ideas.’

Thanks to seeing a new world while learning Garunua, he could see how to improve himself and how to create the Light Wind Division’s martial art.

“I’m planning to summon a powerful and radiant wind, just like the name of the Light Wind Division.”

“Hmm…”

Rimmer nodded while stroking his chin, showing that he could understand what Raon was talking about.

“Sounds good. You should try it. Even if you fail, you’ll still learn something from it.”

“Vice division leader, you're rather strange today. Or, rather, you’ve been strange recently.” Raon narrowed his eyes, watching Rimmer as he advised him in many ways.

“Why?”

“You are being too kind. You normally would’ve gone to a gambling house without even bothering to show up here for a while.”

“The gambling house is closed today.”

“Does the gambling house actually close?”

“They are doing some repairs, apparently.”

“Haa…” Raon furrowed his brow while letting out a sigh. He thought Rimmer had changed, but he was the same as before.

“By the way…” Rimmer casually rolled his shoulders and lay down on the platform like always. “You have another reason why you suddenly wanted to create the Light Wind Division’s martial art, don’t you?”

“What? What are you talking about…?”

“Is it because of how Cohman Knight Captain Kuzan and Barphil the Boltweaver died in the Sword and Saber Sovereign’s grave?”

His green eyes sparkled seriously.

“......”

Raon’s fingers trembled as he was unable to respond. It was because Rimmer had guessed the reason exactly.

The Cohman Knight Captain and the Boltweaver had perished, fighting for the same goal as him. Moreover, they’d sacrificed themselves in order to save him. Since it was his first time witnessing the deaths of those who he could call his companions, an ominous thought surfaced in his mind.

It was the hypothetical scenario where the situation turned for the worse, causing himself or the Light Wind Division to die.

He didn’t want to witness the death of the people around him.

That was why he decided to create a new martial art, hoping that the others would survive even if he died one day.

“Yes. I knew that was the case.” Rimmer calmly nodded, as if he were reading Raon’s mind. The playful light in his eyes had turned into the glow of wisdom.

“Raon, everyone dies eventually.”

The movement of his hand carried a frightening aura.

“No one is an exception—me, you, and the Light Wind Division alike. It would be nice if we could stay like this forever, but someone is going to die eventually.”

“…I’m aware.” Raon lowered his gaze and bit his lip.

“It’s a good thing to work on postponing it. However, you can’t be afraid of approaching death. After all, you are the leader of the Light Wind Division.”

Rimmer patted his shoulder, telling him that it was important that he accepted death. His touch felt heavy, but warmer than ever at the same time.

Raon felt his heart soften, the contemplation and nervousness leaving his body.

“What’s wrong with you today? You are acting so differently.” Raon furrowed his brow while looking at Rimmer.

“I should do my teacher work sometimes.” Rimmer stood up with a grin on his face. “Do you know the saying that a disciple shouldn’t even step on their master’s shadow?”

“Of course I do.”

Raon nodded. On top of stepping on Rimmer’s shadow, Raon had even beaten him up before. He suddenly felt guilty as a result.

“I stepped on it countless times. If you are trying to complain about it—”

“I don’t really like that saying.”

“What?”

“Not even stepping on the shadow implies respect towards the master, but it also implies that there’s a huge distance between a master and a disciple.”

Rimmer chuckled and shook his head.

“It’s not just about you. I’m fine with any of you stepping on my shadow. Just don’t get away from me.”

He stood up with his lips curving into a subtle smile.

“Ah, and…” Rimmer started to walk down from the platform but suddenly turned around. “If someone comes to visit and goes quiet without saying anything, just tell him some helpful information or make up a good deed that you’ve done in secret.”

“What are you even talking about?” Raon blinked, unable to understand what he was saying.

“Stop asking! Just do it!” Rimmer energetically shook his hand and left the dark training ground.

“Why is he acting like that?” Raon blinked while watching Rimmer.

The King of Essence figured it out!

Wrath snapped his fingers, saying that he realized the reason why.

Shitty Ears must’ve become delusional because he lost all his money!

‘You might be right…?’

* * *

Raon left the training ground and headed towards the annex building.

‘How curious.’

He could feel the nature of the wind after learning Garunua. He’d previously thought they were just the same wind, yet they had so many different faces.

‘It’s become a lot easier to cover myself in wind.’

He’d only been using the wind to enhance his frost and flames because the energy of wind in his possession was too small. However, he could guess that he would be able to fight while only using the wind if he kept learning Garunua.

‘The Sword and Saber Sovereign’s martial art and Garunua… I should be able to create a nice martial art with them.’

Raon smiled in satisfaction and looked at the annex building’s garden. The maids and Killuane were nowhere to be seen anymore because of the late hour, but the packing of the garden’s soil had progressed significantly.

‘It should return to normal in about a month.’

Raon was about to head to Sylvia’s room after examining the garden’s condition when he suddenly found someone standing in front of the garden lake.

‘Who is that…? Ah!’

Raon focused his vision and could see blond hair and a black coat fluttering in the wind. It was none other than Glenn.

‘Why is he here?’

Raon swallowed nervously and walked up to Glenn.

“Greetings, my lord.”

“Hmm…” Glenn briefly nodded without looking back.

“What brings you to the annex building?”

“I came to check on things during my stroll because I heard it was quite badly devastated over here.”

“I see.” Raon nodded and looked at Glenn’s back.

‘Hmm? What’s happening? Why is he not saying anything?’

Glenn was simply staring at the lake without saying anything else. The fact that he was fixated on the lake was also strange, since he supposedly came to check the annex building’s state.

What is that geezer even doing?

Wrath furrowed his brow.

‘I don’t know either.’

Then just leave him alone! Let’s go to see Mom and have dinner already! The King of Essence is so hungry he could eat a dragon!

‘A horse, you mean…’

Raon pushed Wrath away because of how he started to ramble and looked at Glenn once again.

‘What could be his intent—ah!’

Raon furrowed his brow, thinking that Glenn was acting so strange, when he suddenly remembered Rimmer’s words.

“If someone comes to visit and goes quiet without saying anything, just tell him some helpful information or make up a good deed that you’ve done in secret.”

However, Raon had something that he wanted to tell Glenn even without Rimmer’s advice.

“My lord, I have something I wish to say.”

“Hmm.” Glenn nodded, showing that he was listening.

“The Five Demons are silently gathering their troops. It should go without saying, but they must have a malicious purpose.”

Raon changed Merlin’s information slightly and delivered it to Glenn.

“Where did you get that information?”

“It’s from an informant that I have outside the house.” Raon lowered his gaze, thinking about the cat possessed by Merlin.

“Considering the fact that Eden and the South-North Union didn’t appear in the Sword and Saber Sovereign’s grave and that the other three factions didn’t make any threatening moves afterward, I believe the information is quite reliable. How about fortifying the defenses all around Zieghart’s domain…?”

“That’s similar to the opinion of the Shadow Agents.” Glenn nodded, saying that Chad, the leader of Shadow Agents, had told him the same thing. “I came here without any real purpose, but I ended up getting a nice piece of information.”

“It wasn’t a big deal.”

“A suitable piece of information requires a suitable reward.”

“What?”

Glenn snapped his fingers without answering Raon’s question. A long dimensional rift opened up in the air, dropping multiple books of martial arts.

“These are for you.”

“Err…”

Raon blinked dazedly while staring at the books of martial arts piled up in front of him.

‘What’s even going on today?’

***

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]