Chapter 1012

Chapter 1012

Chapter 1012

Raon swiftly shut the lid on the container of bead ice cream and stepped outside the annex.

—Th-thanks.

Wrath offered his gratitude in a small voice, his thoughts entirely fixated on the preservation of the frozen treat.

‘Don’t worry about it.’

Dismissing the matter with a casual gesture, Raon made his way around to the rear of the annex. Standing beside the water just as he always did, Glenn was looking up into the night sky.

“Grandfather.”

Approaching Glenn, Raon offered a respectful, formal bow.

“After our earlier conversation, a thought occurred to me…”

Glenn turned around at an unhurried pace.

“Considering that you overcame the Demon Slaying Spear and The Fallen, and even managed to bring Evelyn back safely, the compensation I provided earlier seemed far too meager.”

A faint curve formed on his lips as he claimed he had returned solely to rectify an insufficient prize. Yet the slight flush in his complexion gave away how eagerly he had awaited this opportunity from the very start.

“I am deeply grateful.”

Departing from his usual pattern of self-effacing modesty, Raon simply lowered his head and accepted the gesture with sincere thanks.

—What in the world is with you?

Wrath’s eyes widened in utter disbelief.

—Normally, you would be groveling on the floor, spouting cheap nonsense like ‘Oh, it wasn’t me at all! It was sheer dumb luck!’

He canted his head, thoroughly unsettled by the sudden departure from routine.

‘Acting timid right now would be an insult to the Head of House, who took the trouble to come out here in person. Besides…’

Raon moistened his dry lips while looking down at the Blade of Requiem resting in his hand.

‘I would be a fool to let an opportunity to learn about the Soul Sword slip by.’

Even with the Ring of Fire roaring at its absolute limit, he had failed to comprehend the heights of the clash between Glenn and the Heavenly Demon. Even though he had grazed the border of the Soul Sword, the realm itself remained shrouded in thick obscurity.

“Since it appears you have already anticipated my intention, there is no need to delay.”

Glenn offered a composed nod, effortlessly seeing through Raon’s unspoken thoughts.

“Naturally, the lesson I intend to share this evening concerns the Soul Sword.”

His hand came to rest upon the pommel of Heavenly Tremor sheathed at his side as he continued.

“To be frank, even I have yet to fully master every facet of the Soul Sword. Nor is it an art that can simply be absorbed through verbal instruction. And yet, I believe you can manage it.”

Glenn regarded the youth with an expression radiating profound faith.

“After all, you have already set foot within that domain.”

He gently stroked his chin, seeming to glimpse the precise image taking form within Raon’s mind.

“The Soul Sword I brandished was called forth through the spiritual power of the Blade of Requiem, not purely from my own strength. Can I truly grasp it under those conditions?”

While it was true that he had mimicked Glenn’s strike, lingering doubts remained because the origin of that power was fundamentally distinct.

“Whether you crossed the threshold through the main gate or crept in through the back window, the simple truth is that you are inside the house.”

Glenn offered a reassuring smile, indicating that borrowing the power of the Blade of Requiem was of no consequence.

—The old man speaks sense for once. Regardless of the method you used, once you breach that threshold, how you got there ceases to matter. Even so…

Wrath tilted his head skeptically.

—Even if you copied that Nadine-bread-munching fossil’s Soul Sword, you can never wield an identical blade.

He gave a firm shake of his head, remarking that because their souls were inherently unique, the weapons born from them were bound to diverge.

“I understand.”

Raon tightened his fingers around the grip of the Blade of Requiem, raising his crimson gaze.

“It would be wisest to observe your blade firsthand. Are you capable of calling it forth right now?”

Glenn tapped the center of his own chest, wordlessly inviting Raon to pierce him with that very sword.

“Understood.”

Drawing in a steadying breath, Raon unsheathed the Blade of Requiem. Against anyone else he might have wavered, but supreme confidence in Glenn allowed him to summon his utmost power without fear. The Ring of Fire began to thrum with a deep, resonant cadence as he opened a channel of communion with the vengeful spirits bound within the Blade of Requiem.

‘The gale…’

The instant he reached out to the spirits, a brisk, emerald wind surged from the tip of the Blade of Requiem. That distinct, razor-sharp gale could belong to only one sword technique: Rimmer’s Garunua.

‘Are you still watching over me?’

A fragment of Rimmer’s spirit had evidently resisted scattering into nothingness, anchoring itself instead within the steel of the Blade of Requiem. Amid the chaos of the clash against the Heavenly Demon, Raon had been far too pressed to realize it, but his mentor continued to grant his support even beyond the veil of death.

‘It feels as though I am standing shoulder-to-shoulder with my master once again.’

A soft, nostalgic smile touched Raon’s lips as he condensed the spiritual blade, molded from the vengeful spirits, across the surface of the crimson edge.

“I am coming.”

Guiding the Soul Sword, which had concentrated into a piercing point like a sharp spike, he thrust it straight toward the immense radiance of the soul seated within Glenn’s chest. With a clean, metallic ring, Glenn caught the unseen point between his forefinger and middle finger, reacting as though the invisible weapon Raon formed were broad daylight to his eyes.

“I can sense both your spirit and the lingering phantoms of the Blade of Requiem intertwined. The deficiency in your blade’s raw might likely stems from the conflicting harmony of yin and yang spiritual essences.”

He knitted his brows slightly, likening the clash to impurities trapped within the forge of a masterwork weapon.

“Even so, the stability of this Soul Sword holds firm, anchored by this wind. What an extraordinary fellow he was.”

Catching the familiar breeze of Rimmer rippling from the Blade of Requiem, Glenn let out a gentle chuckle. He closed his eyes for a quiet second before opening them again, as though offering a silent tribute to a departed companion.

“Raon, how do you define the Soul Sword?”

Glenn questioned him while casually letting his fingers relax, dispersing the spiritual blade held between them.

“A weapon that bypasses physical flesh to cleave the soul itself. An absolute edge capable of severing any creation in this world.”

Raon articulated the conclusion he had arrived at through his own contemplation.

“Precisely what I anticipated you would say. In that case, what do you believe is required to fashion a blade that can cut down another’s soul?”

Glenn posed the inquiry, and without waiting, unfurled the boundless expanse of his own spiritual territory to deliver the answer himself.

‘It is right here…’

Raon swallowed hard, his gaze locking with Glenn’s serene eyes.

‘The Soul Sword of the Head of House is manifest before me.’

Though hidden from ordinary sight, Glenn’s Soul Sword enveloped Raon’s entire body like a vast mantle. A deep, cold shudder traveled down his spine.

“Just as forged iron is necessary to cut a foe’s flesh, you must temper your very soul into a blade to cut an opponent’s soul.”

Glenn lifted his right hand, resting his palm flat over his heart.

“To one who has already stepped onto this road, I can offer only a single piece of guidance: temper your soul. Hone it until it is far more unyielding and keen than it is today.”

He gave a solemn nod, bidding Raon to forge an unbreakable spiritual blade, resolute as an oath sworn in youth.

“A blade forged of my own soul…”

Raon pressed his lips tight, looking down at his palm. It followed that the firmer and more resolute his spirit grew, the more lethal his Soul Sword would become.

“The plane of your soul is exceptionally elevated when compared to your raw martial rank. And yet, it remains an unpolished stone. It will only bear true value once you refine and forge it into shape.”

Glenn subdued the grand pressure of his spirit, observing that because Raon’s foundation was already so sturdy, the remaining task depended solely on his resolve.

—Well obviously the kid’s soul is massive!

Wrath glared venomously at the scene, grinding his teeth.

—He went around swallowing my authority whole, not to mention the powers of those other miserable fools! How could it possibly be small? Then there’s that wretched ring buzzing away!

He shook his head violently, snapping that it would be a total scandal if his spirit were ordinary.

“From this point onward, seek to commune with your soul as you refine your swordsmanship. When you do, the creation of your own personal Soul Sword will occur as naturally as flowing water.”

Glenn revealed a serene smile, as though gazing upon a horizon that had already come to pass.

“…I understand.”

Departing from his past habit of handing down concrete techniques, Glenn offered a far more abstract form of tutelage. Miraculously, Raon felt he grasped the fundamental heart of the lesson.

“Even so…”

Glenn shifted his gaze slightly upward.

“Recognizing that your Soul Sword carried an essence reminiscent of my own brought an unexpected surge of pride.”

A tender, grandfatherly smile curved his lips, comparing the moment to watching a toddler take their very first unsteady strides.

“Grandfather, you are the standard I have spent my life striving to reach.”

Raon voiced the unfiltered, earnest truth that surged within his chest.

“…Is that so.”

Glenn looked momentarily taken aback, his eyes softening before he nodded with deep warmth.

“Even were it mere courtesy, hearing such words warms my heart.”

He lingered in the quiet satisfaction of the moment, casting his eyes toward the bright moon above.

“It is not empty flattery. You have always been… ah.”

Raon began to object, but stopped short, biting his lower lip as he caught sight of Glenn’s silhouette, which seemed strangely transparent against the silver moonlight.

‘That’s right. That was still happening…’

A heavy breath escaped his chest, and Raon stepped closer to Glenn.

“Grandfather.”

Swallowing down his anxiety, Raon met Glenn’s crimson eyes, which appeared faintly washed out.

“There is a matter I must ask you about.”

“Speak freely.”

Glenn signaled his assent, looking prepared to address whatever weighed on the boy’s mind.

“When you unleashed the Soul Sword during your battle with the Heavenly Demon, your form grew translucent, as though you were on the verge of fading from this existence entirely.”

Raon pressed his lips tightly together before pushing the words out.

“Even the Heavenly Demon spoke as though your departure from this world were imminent. I need to understand why.”

Although Wrath had previously explained the concept of causality to him, Raon wanted the unfiltered reality straight from Glenn’s lips.

“To think you were already perceptive enough to catch that. You never cease to amaze.”

Maintaining a subdued expression, Glenn gave a slow nod toward Raon.

“In this existence, an absolute principle exists, known as causality. Where an origin exists, a consequence must follow. Every thread of this world is interwoven, forming an unalterable destination dictated by all that came before. One could call it fatalism, or the celestial current, where the lifespans and ends of mortals are preordained.”

Glenn unraveled the concept of causality with deliberate precision.

“Yet, in rare instances, entities manifest that break away from this preordained chain of causation. The world itself intervenes against such anomalies, casting them into an alternate plane so they can no longer walk upon this mortal earth. That phenomenon is what the tales describe as ascension.”

With a subtle flick of his fingers, he noted that the sudden vanishings of legendary heroes from ancient myths were all the result of this very ascension.

“At this very moment, my feet tread upon that very precipice.”

Glenn stood directly over a fine fissure carved into the earth by the Soul Sword.

“Were I to intentionally cross into that yet-unmastered state, the world would recognize me as a force beyond the bounds of causality and cast me out to an alternate realm.”

A wistful smile touched his lips, explaining that this boundary was why his outline had blurred during the deployment of the Soul Sword.

“Then what about the Heavenly Demon? Why didn’t he…”

Raon frowned, remembering how the Heavenly Demon had retained absolute solidity throughout the duel, unlike Glenn.

“He possesses an external vessel that shoulders the weight of causal laws on his behalf. I could not pierce the identity entirely, but it is an entity of terrifying stature.”

He had clearly caught the scent of the authority of Pride lingering within the Heavenly Demon’s spiritual core.

“You, Raon, likely share a similar circumstance.”

Glenn stroked his chin, clearly thinking of the strange presence dwelling alongside Raon.

—That old fossil hit the mark!

Wrath made a sweeping motion with his hand.

—You are tearing right through those universal laws solely on the back of my majestic power!

He gnashed his teeth in annoyance, lamenting that he was the perpetual victim being drained dry.

“To be frank, I honed my sword throughout my life with ascension as my ultimate summit. My ambition was to surpass mortal flesh and ascend as a genuine Sword God. And yet…”

Glenn’s gaze, which had carried a cold, divine brilliance, softened with purely human affection.

“Now, I have no desire to walk that path.”

The warm gaze he cast toward Raon served as an unspoken testament to why his heart wished to stay anchored here.

“However, you have no cause to fret. I will strike down both the Heavenly Demon and Derus Robert, no matter the cost.”

Glenn offered a resolute nod, asserting that he would not permit himself to depart until those two threats had been thoroughly extinguished. Though the dream of his entire life lay within his grasp, he unhesitatingly placed Zieghart above his own transcendence.

“Kh…”

Raon pressed his teeth against his lip, looking directly into Glenn’s affectionate eyes.

‘I refuse to let him leave.’

Having finally bridged the chasm between them, having finally reached the point where he could call him grandfather without hesitation, Raon could not bear the thought of parting. Above all, he would never permit Glenn to throw himself away to eradicate scum like Derus.

“The Heavenly Demon said something peculiar to me.”

Raon raised his head, letting out a sharp, decisive breath.

“He claimed that I might hold the strength to distort the flow of heaven. To rewrite fate itself.”

His fists clenched tightly as the mantle of the Architect of Fate flared within his memories.

“I will overturn it. I will smash that preordained fate to pieces so that even should you scale those higher heights, you will never be ripped away from this realm, grandfather.”

Raon clenched his back teeth, silently pleading for Glenn to simply hold on and watch him.

—Splendidly said!

Wrath drifted down above Raon’s crown, clapping his little hands with vigor.

—If you are to serve as my vessel, you must possess that level of insolence!

He laughed with booming amusement, clearly thoroughly entertained.

“Hahahahaha!”

Glenn looked upon Raon in stunned silence for a brief beat before bursting into hearty laughter, pressing a hand to his brow.

“G-Grandfather?”

Raon blinked several times in confusion, resembling Runaan in his sheer astonishment at the unexpected outburst.

“Do not mistake me, I am not mocking you. It is merely…”

Stepping closer, Glenn rested a heavy, comforting hand atop Raon’s head.

“Your words. Your absolute sincerity has brought me immense joy.”

He conveyed his heartfelt thanks while clasping Raon’s slightly shaking hand.

“Very well. I shall wait. Until the day you rewrite my destiny.”

Glenn offered a tranquil smile as he drew a weathered manual from within his robes.

“I brought this thinking it could serve your study of the Soul Sword. Go through it when time permits.”

Placing the worn manual into Raon’s care, he turned his back once more toward the quiet lake.

“I suspect I will rest soundly tonight. Or perhaps, excitement will keep sleep far from my eyes.”

Leaving behind those lighthearted words, Glenn turned and strolled into the distance with leisurely steps.

“…”

Raon bowed deeply toward Glenn’s receding figure, holding the text, still radiating the elder’s body warmth, tightly against his ribs.

‘Whether I am capable of it, I cannot say. But I have no choice except to succeed.’

Long after Glenn vanished from sight, Raon remained beside the water, renewing his resolve to shield this domain, to protect Glenn, and to uphold Zieghart, before finally returning indoors.

—You usually turn into an absolute coward whenever dealing with blood relatives, but tonight was the very first time you earned my genuine approval!

Wrath gave Raon’s shoulder an approving pat, behaving as though the boy had pulled off a grand triumph.

—Truly, I have never experienced such refreshing relief in my entire existence!

He scowled lightly, recalling how maddening it had been to watch Raon’s past hesitations.

‘If you feel that generous, will you assist me in my training?’

—Hmph, perhaps I might grace you with some pointers from time to time!

‘Could we begin right away?’

—Very well! Let us finish off the ice cream first, and then I shall oversee you!

‘With the blessings of a great demon king, this household has no choice but to flourish.’

With a light chuckle, Raon shoved the door open and reentered his quarters. Yet, the air inside was surprisingly chilly, and a thick, sugary aroma hung heavily throughout the room.

—N-No, it cannot be!

Wrath darted forward in a frenzy of panic, racing toward the spot where the bead ice cream container rested.

—This! Unseal this instantly!

His tail swung frantically as he demanded that Raon pry the container open.

‘Uh…’

Swallowing a lump in his throat, Raon pulled the cover free, only to discover that the four distinct varieties of bead ice cream had completely liquefied into a single, soupy mess.

‘Did… did I fail to secure the lid completely?’

In his rush to join Glenn outside, it seemed he had failed to press the cover firmly into place.

—You miserable, incompetent worm! That ice cream was worth infinitely more than your pathetic life!

Wrath’s small face flushed crimson with absolute fury.

‘Wait, hold on, this was an accident…’

As Raon took a cautious step backward, Wrath lunged toward him like a vengeful apparition.

—Curses upon your household! The only sustenance you will receive from me is an eternity of damnation! Forget your training, you will receive nothing!

Wrath showered him with unending vitriol, carrying the tantrum straight through until Raon procured a fresh supply of treats the following day. Naturally, the demon king’s curses amounted to nothing of substance.

—

“Haa…”

Raon unraveled the linen bindings wrapped tightly around his torso and shoulders.

‘The recovery is practically finished.’

His bodily tears had completely knit together, and the severe spiritual fatigue had subsided to a manageable level. He was finally ready to take up his blade in training again.

—To undergo such a harrowing catastrophe and recover fully within a single week is sheer insanity.

Wrath let out an exasperated snort, commenting that Raon possessed a physical and spiritual toughness surpassing even fiends.

‘Aren’t there plenty of demonic entities with rapid regeneration, like high trolls?’

Raon waved off the remark.

—Regardless of how rapid the physical flesh heals, internal trauma inevitably lingers behind. Most of all, the spiritual psyche rarely recovers so cleanly. And yet…

Wrath narrowed his eyes while scrutinizing Raon.

—Your flesh and spirit show zero lingering scars from the shock. Calling it merely ‘durable’ fails to capture what you are.

He ground his teeth together, grumbling that Raon had stacked far too many fraudulent advantages into one body.

—Tch, and all of it flourished thanks to my glorious power…

‘It isn’t solely your power. The authorities of the other demon kings played their part as well.’

In truth, the principal driver behind his extraordinary leaps was the inherited might of those rulers. Each held unique, absolute domains, making their acquisition an unexpected boon rivaling even the Ring of Fire.

‘Now that I think about it, there is a question I’ve been meaning to ask.’

Adjusting the collar of his uniform, Raon signaled to Wrath.

—What now?

‘Is the Monarch of Pride bound to the Heavenly Demon in the same manner you are bound to me?’

Wrath had previously revealed that the Heavenly Demon, rather than The Fallen, had inherited the mantle of Pride. This led Raon to wonder whether a demon lord hovered beside him just as Wrath lingered here.

‘That would never happen. He wouldn’t deign to even observe him.’

Wrath offered an immediate, absolute rejection.

‘For what reason?’

—Because that is the very nature of Pride. The bastard is an utter maniac who literally personifies the concept itself.

He grimaced, visibly disgusted by the mere recollection of Pride.

—Wait, why are you suddenly prying into Pride? You can’t possibly mean…

Wrath’s eyes shook with sudden realization.

—Are you actually scheming to plunder Pride’s authority as well?

‘It certainly wouldn’t hurt to possess it.’

Raon casually shifted his eyes away.

‘I never imagined I would claim Greed’s authority either, yet it fell into my hands all the same.’

Wrath had always placed Greed and Pride on an equal footing. Having successfully integrated Greed’s domain, Raon saw no reason why Pride’s power should remain entirely out of reach.

—Utterly delusional!

Wrath tossed his head back and forth violently.

—Pride operates on an entirely different level of absurdity compared to the rest of us. He is an absolute lunatic who honestly believes nothing else in existence truly matters besides himself!

He scoffed at the premise, insisting that such an outcome was an absolute impossibility.

‘Then why would an entity like that bestow his power upon the Heavenly Demon in the first place?’

—How should I know!

Wrath huffed, stating that trying to find logic in Pride’s actions was an exercise in pure futility.

‘In any case, that is a matter for another day.’

Standing tall, Raon secured Heavenly Drive, the Wooden Ring Sword, and the Blade of Requiem along the sash of his uniform.

—Where do you think you are going the second your wounds close up?

Wrath scowled, demanding to know why Raon was rushing out instead of sitting down to a proper meal.

‘The Heavenly Demon warned that open war is on the immediate horizon. Before that storm breaks, we have to pull the remaining Transcendents firmly onto our side.’

Raon moistened his lips as he looked up toward the blazing daylight.

“They have had more than enough leisure to weigh their options. Now, it is time to take hold of their leashes.”