Chapter 1011
Chapter 1011
“My nephew!”
Balder uncrossed his massive arms and thrust forward a hand nearly the size of an iron lid.
“Stop keeping everyone in the dark and tell us! We’re all dying to hear the details!”
He brought his foot down heavily on the floor, complaining that although he had heard the end result, he knew absolutely nothing about how it had transpired.
“I wish to know as well.”
Alice turned her gaze toward Raon.
“What sort of cunning scheme did you pull off to bring down the Fallen this time, you fortunate bastard!”
She burst into boisterous laughter, pressing Raon to recount the grand narrative of how he had slain the Fallen and forced the retreat of the Heavenly Demon.
“Palace Master of the Light Wind.”
Sheryl, leader of the Heavenly Blade Division, slightly lifted her chin.
“Every official gathered in this hall is eager to hear your account. Relate it to us thoroughly, from start to finish.”
Given that this was a formal assembly, she maintained an official tone while offering him her support.
“Ho ho ho.”
Roenn gave a slow nod of his head, chuckling in his characteristic, cheerful manner.
“Master! We want to hear it too!”
“Explain everything you went through while leaving us behind!”
Burren and Martha both yelled out, scowling with deep dissatisfaction. Clearly, both of them remained bitter about having missed the opportunity to take part in the conflict.
“Raon, looking sharp.”
Runaan simply raised a single thumb toward him, signaling her silent approval of his work.
“Mmh…”
“Truly a monumental feat.”
Karoon rubbed his chin in quiet contemplation, whereas Denier looked toward Raon with affectionate warmth, beaming like a proud uncle.
“Hah…”
Letting out a faint sigh, Raon stepped forward toward the dais. Regardless of Denier’s true thoughts, it was evident that the figures packed inside this chamber had not assembled merely due to a summons from Glenn; they had come because they genuinely yearned to hear the chronicle of his struggle.
“Very well, I will recount what happened. To begin, I shared an arrangement for trading intelligence with Merlin, who was affiliated with the Fallen. In truth, we were companions. A message arrived from her hinting at the whereabouts of Eden and warning of her impending doom. In order to locate Merlin…”
Beginning with the initial purpose behind tracking down Merlin, he began detailing every phase of the ordeal to the figures within the hall: breaking through the inescapable heavenly net of Eden, taking down the Demon Slaying Spear, cutting down the Fallen, the sudden descent of the Heavenly Demon, and the final strike that severed the spirit of the Fallen beneath the protection of the Heavenly Demon. He laid out the complete truth, deliberately leaving aside only the private matters surrounding Evelyn.
Because it was a conflict of astonishing magnitude and grueling stakes, the audience remained completely captivated, fixing their eyes upon him throughout his lengthy solitary testimony.
“…And once the Heavenly Demon vanished, I collapsed and lost all awareness.”
Raon bowed forward, finishing his tale by admitting he had no knowledge of what transpired after the demon’s departure.
“Astonishing! Every single part of that tale is sheer brilliance!”
Balder clapped his enormous hands together with immense enthusiasm, boasting that such grandeur was only natural for his nephew.
“Still, I should have been the one to face that Demon Slaying Spear! I would have snapped that weapon of his right across my knee!”
A grimace crossed his features, lamenting that he hadn’t crossed blades with the spearman personally.
“Shut your mouth. Ten copies of you wouldn’t have scratched him.”
Alice slapped the back of Balder’s skull, shaking her head in disdain.
“You endured far greater trials than I imagined. Here I was, pushing myself day in and day out to bridge our divide, only to find the distance between us stretching wider. A Soul Sword… it defies comprehension.”
She released a tired breath, expressing sheer bewilderment at such a concept.
“It is nothing so grand. It was not wielded through my own mastery alone, and its potency was so meager it couldn’t have ended the life of an ordinary soul.”
Raon dismissed the praise, brushing his hand against the hilt of the Blade of Requiem strapped behind his back.
“I managed to sever it solely because the spirit of the Fallen was reduced to a mere remnant.”
He touched his lips briefly, emphasizing that what he demonstrated was far from a genuine Soul Sword.
“Whether you relied on the aid of a relic or produced a strike incapable of felling a civilian, a Soul Sword remains what it is.”
Karoon broke his silence. He gave full validation to the attack, despite its admitted frailty.
“I offer my congratulations on reaching that new realm.”
Karoon offered his praise with untroubled, steady eyes, completely stripped of any spite, envy, or deceit.
“…I appreciate it.”
Raon blinked in surprise for an instant before bowing respectfully.
-That fellow’s gaze has transformed beyond recognition.
Wrath let out a dry, incredulous chuckle.
‘To say he changed is an understatement.’
It seemed almost unreal that a man who once overflowed with contempt and spite toward him and Sylvia was now extending sincere acclaim. Moreover, the Karoon of the past would have erupted in fury simply from Evelyn walking upon these grounds, yet he had maintained absolute silence on the issue.
‘They claim a sudden change in character heralds one’s death… hmm!’
Raon lifted his gaze to look upon Karoon, letting a quiet breath escape his lungs.
‘That was more than just a passing praise.’
What burned within Karoon’s eyes was neither resentment, jealousy, nor venom; it was sheer determination. His words came from the unwavering certainty that he would eventually reach Raon’s standing.
‘Now that I examine him, the energy surrounding him has shifted distinctly.’
Clearly, while Raon had been advancing, Karoon had likewise been pouring every ounce of his being into relentless training. An unexpected warmth of shared purpose brought a faint smile to Raon’s lips.
“Setting aside the matter of the Soul Sword, vanquishing the Fallen is remarkable on its own. That abhorrent creature refuses to stay down no matter how many times you end him.”
Sheryl of the Heavenly Blade Division gave an admiring nod.
“I believe I bore witness to his demise roughly three distinct times as well.”
Roenn gave a light laugh, expressing respect for truly ending a creature as persistent as a parasitic worm.
“That, too, was not accomplished solely by my own hands. I only severed his throat because Evelyn neutralized the magic protecting the Fallen.”
Raon shook his head in resolute denial. He chose to be entirely forthcoming, knowing full well that had Evelyn not intervened during that clash, it would have been his own life forfeit instead.
“Aaargh! You’re infuriating!”
Martha stepped forward with a loud stomp, her brows furrowed in annoyance.
“Who cares if Merlin intervened or if you drew upon the power of the Blade of Requiem? It was your might that made it happen, and the glory belongs to you! Just stand tall and claim it!”
She ground her teeth, demanding he show the unyielding pride expected of the Light Wind Palace Master.
“If it were our former instructor standing there, he’d be taking credit for things he didn’t even touch, wouldn’t he?”
Burren chuckled softly, bringing to mind Rimmer, the one responsible for christening their group.
“Indeed. Stand proud. You look very handsome today.”
Runaan affirmed his point, remarking that his somewhat weary visage suited him splendidly.
“It has nothing to do with lacking pride. Rather…”
Raon offered a quiet smile as he looked upon Burren, Martha, and Runaan—his loyal unit members and closest companions.
“I simply refuse to take ownership of achievements that are not mine.”
This was not an evasion born of meekness or self-doubt. He merely chose strict truthfulness regarding the battle, unwilling to bring falsehoods before those who placed their full faith in him.
“You have endured great hardship.”
Glenn pressed a hand against his mouth, nodding his head. His entire face had turned intensely crimson, and his frame quivered like a man fighting an overwhelming bodily urge. A deep, resonant tremor rippled through the air, carrying enough raw intensity to warp the grand hall—no, the entirety of Zieghart.
-Just look at that hopelessly doting ancient fool.
Wrath shook his head in disgust, remarking that he resembled a hound salivating over a piece of meat.
“Even so, there remains an additional detail the Light Wind Palace Master failed to disclose.”
Glenn ran his tongue over his lips and raised a flushed finger into the air.
“The Light Wind Palace Master had his martial prowess and supreme potential acknowledged by the Heavenly Demon himself. The fiend declared that at this moment, he stands closest to the pinnacle among the Five Demons.”
To Glenn, receiving such recognition from a titanic force like the Heavenly Demon was an immense badge of honor, regardless of whether that entity stood as their mortal adversary.
“No… he said no such thing…”
Raon searched his memory of the confrontation, completely unable to recall any mention of him being near the peak of the Five Demons.
“Hold on…”
He lifted an arm in an attempt to rectify the wild misunderstanding, but the entire hall had already erupted into a frenzy of awe, utterly drowning out his voice.
“From the Heavenly Demon himself?”
“The absolute sovereign of Eden! No, the entity widely regarded as the supreme force among the Five Demons took note of him?”
“To earn validation from an absolute powerhouse whose might once matched the Lord’s Soul Sword…”
“As expected, the Palace Master of the Light Wind is cut from a different cloth…”
“Calling him a prodigy is far too modest now. He is truly the peerless Sword Emperor!”
The clan officials turned their gazes toward Raon, their eyes gleaming with pure admiration and swelling pride.
“There is no dispute over this. Every soul here recognizes the unmatched glory the Light Wind Palace Master has brought forth, and I must reward such valor accordingly.”
With a crisp flick of Glenn’s fingers, Roenn ascended the stairs toward the dais, carrying an ornate golden plate alongside two refined wooden caskets.
“To the Palace Master of the Light Wind, who struck down both the Demon Slaying Spear and the Fallen, bringing ruin upon Eden, I present this golden plate together with two supreme-grade spirit elixirs.”
He nodded gravely, explaining that the medicines were intended to mend lingering trauma and propel his cultivation even further.
“I humbly receive them.”
Raon ascended the dais, accepted the golden plate and the containers of elixir into his arms, and offered a deep bow of respect.
“Next, let Mark Goetun, guardian of the Light Wind Palace, present himself.”
Glenn summoned Mark Goetun toward the upper platform as well, refusing to overlook his contribution.
“For placing your very life on the line to carve out a path for your master and shielding him to the bitter end, I commend your boundless devotion. Receive this golden plate and an elixir of high rank.”
He reached out and placed a firm, acknowledging palm directly on Mark Goetun’s shoulder, thanking him for his sacrifice.
“I am deeply honored!”
With trembling fingers, Mark Goetun took hold of the golden plate and the medicinal box, dropping into a profound bow before Glenn.
“I had fully intended to grant an equivalent recompense to Merlin—or rather, Evelyn—yet she is absent from this hall?”
Glenn narrowed his gaze slightly, showing an air of disappointment.
“She was overtaken by exhaustion, so I instructed her to rest.”
Raon replied, deliberately averting his eyes.
‘There is no telling what absurdities she might proclaim if she stood in this chamber.’
He had bound her securely inside the separate residence precisely because he could not fathom the fallout should she repeat the things she had uttered to Sylvia before this gathering.
“There is a detail I wish to clarify.”
Karoon lifted a hand, fixing his gaze upon Raon.
“What manner of existence is the Heavenly Demon?”
His eyes grew sharp, revealing that this question burned in his mind above all else.
“Regarding his physical appearance, he donned a helm shaped like a scarlet dragon, bearing ten sharp horns across its front. His height exceeded both mine and the Lord’s, and his build was vast and unyielding like solid stone. His frame belonged to a master of martial arts using bare hands rather than a swordsman, and indeed, his fists served as his weapons.”
Raon closed his eyes slowly, bringing the vivid memory of the Heavenly Demon back to the surface of his mind.
“Yet his outer shell and his fists are not what truly matter. The sheer gravity of his being is so overwhelming that the moment you set eyes upon him, you simply know he is the Heavenly Demon. He radiates an oppressive dread so profound that even within a sea of thousands—or tens of thousands—he feels entirely isolated in his terrifying supremacy.”
He bit down on his lower lip, remembering the colossal spirit the Heavenly Demon commanded.
“Your soul feels pulverized before your fingers can even find the hilt of your weapon. It gave the chilling impression that he belonged to an entirely different order of living beings compared to the rest of us.”
Raon shook his head, expelling a weary, heavy breath from his chest.
“Mmh…”
“That such a terrifying entity walks this earth…”
“Calling him a simple monster seems inadequate…”
“The title ‘Demon Ascended to the Heavens’ is no empty exaggeration, then.”
The assembly tightened their expressions, their spirits visibly weighed down merely by the weight of the Heavenly Demon’s name. Raon had harbored no intention of sowing terror among them, but his honest recounting had brought about this oppressive silence.
“However…”
Just as Raon opened his mouth to dispel the suffocating tension, an emphatic, trembling voice broke out behind him.
“We have no reason to be frightened!”
Dorian stepped forward, thrusting his chin high into the air.
“Going by our Palace Master’s account, our Lord stands stronger than that Heavenly Demon! Why should we cower before the Heavenly Demon when our Lord is right here beside us!”
He bobbed his head aggressively, as if desperately trying to convince his own trembling heart rather than the crowd.
“He speaks the truth!”
Krein clamped a hand over Dorian’s shoulder, gulping down his own hesitation.
“With the Sword God towering over us, what cause is there for dread! Our Palace Master has already wiped the Fallen from existence!”
He drove a fist into the air, declaring that absolute triumph in this war was the only outcome awaiting them.
“That is correct! Our Lord watches over us!”
“Before the Sword God, the Heavenly Demon is nothing more than an ordinary mortal!”
“Looking at it through that lens, I actually relish the prospect of waging war against Eden.”
“With both the Sword God and the Sword Emperor fighting as one, we have nothing in this world to fear.”
Warm smiles began returning to the faces of the executives, invigorated by the spirited declarations of Dorian and Krein.
“Hmm.”
Raon licked his lips quietly and glanced back toward the Throne.
“…”
Glenn wore a smooth, unbothered expression, as though there were truly no reason for alarm, exactly as Dorian had claimed. Yet beneath that composed exterior, Raon could discern an undercurrent of melancholy and quiet regret.
“Just as those young ones have stated, the Heavenly Demon warrants none of your anxiety.”
Glenn made a dismissive gesture with his hand, telling them to leave the supreme demon to his care and dedicate their spirits entirely to their own progression.
“As expected of our master!”
“Lord Glenn!”
“Our lives are yours to command!”
The officials bowed deeply before Glenn, placing their clenched fists against their chests in a solemn vow of unwavering allegiance.
“The members of the Light Wind have yet to recover from their wounds, so we shall bring this gathering to a close.”
Glenn closed his eyes gently, signaling that the assembly was dismissed.
“We shall take our leave.”
The officials offered respectful bows with joyful expressions and began turning back. Yet, right as they moved to exit through the broad entryway of the grand hall, a maiden with flowing violet locks came bursting through the parted doors.
“What?”
Raon felt his breath hitch in his throat the instant he recognized her features.
‘Evelyn?’
The very Evelyn he had left securely tied inside the detached quarters had somehow broken free and stormed straight into this place.
“Hold on, everyone!”
Evelyn threw her hands out toward the crowd, shaking her head.
“There is an essential matter I must declare! Raon and I, calling out to one another in the dead of night…”
“Shut your mouth!”
Panicking completely, Raon bolted across the floor and slammed his palm directly over Evelyn’s lips.
“Mmph-!”
“That sounds entirely wrong, even if it happened!”
He shook his head furiously, inwardly screaming that Cela’s counsel on bold assertion was never intended to be applied like this.
“For the love of heaven, cease this at once!”
“Haaah…”
Raon collapsed onto the mattress, clutching his painfully distended belly.
“Consuming food shouldn’t be this grueling.”
His stomach felt on the verge of tearing open after shoveling in every single culinary desire Wrath had demanded. Had he not steadily circulated his internal energy between courses to break down the sheer volume, he likely would have passed out mid-bite.
-You complain like a pampered child over a single feast! This king could easily devour ten times that amount without so much as blinking!
Wrath clicked his tongue in clear disdain, lamenting the frailty of the younger generation.
-Enough of your whining, fetch the beaded ice cream this instant!
‘A single feast? I spent four uninterrupted hours eating!’
Raon seized Wrath’s tail and gave it a violent shake. He had granted the four-hour banquet as an honest compensation for Wrath’s assistance during the campaign, yet hearing such brazen remarks made his bile rise.
‘Perhaps I ought to feed you nothing but Nadine bread until the end of time? How does that sound?’
-W-wait, no, anything but that…
Wrath shuddered violently at the mention of Nadine bread, frantically waving his tiny arms in retreat.
‘Then keep your mouth shut.’
Raon gave Wrath a sharp flick on the forehead and pried open the container of beaded ice cream.
‘I am far too bloated to sample them all, so make your choice.’
He displayed the four distinct varieties before Wrath, giving him the chance to select a single flavor.
-Uuugh…
The small entity squinted his eyes as though locked in an agonizing confrontation against Pride itself, letting out a pitiful whimper.
-I… I crave every last one of them, but cruel fate forces my hand. This great king selects mint chocolate!
“…”
-Hey, I said mint chocolate!
Despite Wrath’s persistent shouting, Raon had frozen in place, staring out past the window frame with widened eyes.
“Grandfather?”
Glenn, who had been sitting within the Lord’s Manor only hours ago, stood quietly outside the window of the detached quarters, gazing directly at him.
“What brings you all the way here?”
Setting down the ice cream container, Raon pushed the window wide open.
“I realized there was an item I neglected to grant you during the gathering in the Lord’s Manor. Would you step outside for a brief moment?”
Glenn offered a calm, steady nod.
“Of course.”
“And as you step out…”
Just as Raon was turning to head for the entrance, Glenn’s voice carried through the opening once more.
“Bring the Blade of Requiem along with you.”
Glenn extended a single finger, pointing down toward the Blade of Requiem resting upon the wooden surface.
“I wish to properly observe your Soul Sword.”
“Ah…”
Raon felt his throat go completely dry as he met Glenn’s tranquil gaze.
‘Is he offering to guide me?’
There was no mistaking the intent behind those words; Glenn was preparing to impart the true principles of the Soul Sword to him.
“I will be right there.”
Raon scooped up the Blade of Requiem and rushed toward the door, his chest thumping with intense, surging excitement.
-Hey! Where in the world do you think you are going!
Wrath wailed in despair, casting a desperate glance back toward the unsealed dessert.
-Eat at least a spoonful before running off! Or at least seal the container! It is going to liquefy entirely!
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