Chapter 1014
Chapter 1014
Chapter 1014
Instructing the warriors of the Light Wind Palace to remain on standby at the training grounds, Raon made his way toward the Lord’s Manor.
“I request an audience with the Head of House.”
Roenn, who was currently occupied with wiping down the grand entrance and surrounding walls of the audience hall, offered a respectful bow. As expected of Glenn’s dedicated attendant, he was personally attending to the maintenance of the Lord’s Manor.
“Are you feeling any better?”
“I have not reached peak condition just yet, but I am nearly whole.”
Raon inclined his upper body in return, showing appreciation for the elder’s kind inquiry.
“Is the Head of House present?”
“Indeed. He is tending to his duties, though he will surely receive you. Please give me a brief moment.”
With a faint, gentle smile, Roenn slipped into the audience hall.
“The Head of House has granted your request. You may enter.”
Returning after roughly a minute had passed, the butler gestured for Raon to proceed inside.
“My thanks.”
Offering his gratitude, Raon stepped through the open threshold. He strode along the pristine crimson carpet and sank to one knee beneath the elevated dais.
“I have come before the Head of House to—”
“Stand.”
Just as Raon began to lower his head in formal greeting, Glenn’s calm, understated voice drifted down from above.
“Did I not remind you previously? Such rigid etiquette is entirely unnecessary when it is only the two of us.”
Raon lifted his gaze to find Glenn regarding him with a warm expression.
“I see. It appears your vitality has largely returned.”
Glenn dipped his brow slightly, having evaluated the young warrior’s state of recovery in a single sweeping glance.
“I was told your mending would require no less than a full month, yet barely seven days have elapsed and you are already back on the training grounds. Truly, you never cease to…”
Glenn gave a quiet shake of his head, letting out an incredulous laugh at the sheer absurdity of it.
“I suspect I inherited my grandfather’s unusually sturdy constitution.”
Raon offered a casual rotation of his wrist, attributing his swift healing to innate resilience.
Glenn pressed a hand against his forehead and let out a soft exclamation, clearly moved and shaken to his core by Raon’s words.
“Ah… It seems you were drilling alongside the youngsters of the Light Wind Palace earlier today as well. What brings you before me now?”
Glenn gave an approving nod while his fingers wrapped around the splintered armrest of the Throne with a faint tremor.
“One week ago, I dispatched a missive to the Thespian Emperor of White Whale, conveying my intention to hold discussions with the Five Divine Orders.”
Raon reached inside his robes and presented the written reply he had obtained from the Thespian Emperor.
“You sent word to the Thespian Emperor seeking a parley?”
Glenn’s gaze turned sharp as he scrutinized Raon.
“No, given that your intention encompasses the Five Divine Orders as a whole, it stands to reason that you also aim to confront the Queen of Swords.”
“Precisely.”
Raon offered a steady, unflinching nod.
“And your motive?”
Glenn kept his eyes narrowed, seeking the underlying purpose behind initiating contact with the Thespian Emperor at this precise juncture.
“Should we simply leave the Five Divine Orders to their own devices, there is a distinct danger they will be absorbed into the ranks of the Five Demons.”
Raon tightened his fingers around the parchment in his hand.
“As things stand, the Five Demons are bound to be in utter turmoil following the demise of both the Black Tower Master and The Fallen. They will have retreated into even deeper shadows than before, desperately trying to consolidate their internal strength. Even so…”
His eyes hardened as he shifted his focus toward the sprawling continental map mounted upon the manor’s wall.
“The moment their initial reorganization is settled, they will make aggressive maneuvers to gather fresh forces. And given the nature of Derus Robert, that window of preparation will be exceptionally brief.”
“A sound deduction.”
Glenn lightly tapped his fingers against the Throne’s armrest, signaling for Raon to proceed with his reasoning.
“Because of that, we must make contact with the Five Divine Orders before the Five Demons can initiate their next plan. Even if, at present, they have effectively dwindled down to the Two Divine Orders.”
Raon drew in a brief breath before continuing.
“The Shadow Agents’ Leader shared a similar perspective. Even so, finding an effective way to sway both the Thespian Emperor and the Queen of Swords remains a complicated matter.”
Glenn slightly moistened his lips, his gaze fixed intently on Raon.
“There is no requirement to convince them.”
Raon gave a resolute shake of his head.
“What do you intend by that?”
“Even while Demonblade and Demon Slaying Spear threw their lot in with the Five Demons, the Thespian Emperor and the Queen of Swords remained passive, merely observing the unfolding events in order to drive up their own worth.”
His mouth twisted into a stern, merciless sneer.
“Yet the board has shifted entirely. The Black Tower has crumbled to ruin, and The Fallen has perished. If they persist in weighing their petty interests and hunting for advantageous bargains even now, we have no reason whatsoever to welcome them into our fold…”
Raon’s fingers closed firmly around the hilt of Heavenly Drive, letting loose a sharp, frigid aura of bloodlust.
“I will simply execute them on the spot.”
“Execute them? On what grounds?”
Glenn tilted his head, seemingly questioning the reasoning behind such a drastic measure. Yet beneath that question, his eyes remained perfectly tranquil, as though he had already anticipated the full extent of Raon’s rationale.
“Weighing personal gains and losses when one’s survival and the lives of one’s followers hang by a thread is the demeanor of a petty merchant, not a true martial artist. Deceivers of that sort will readily turn their blades against us the moment a more lucrative offer presents itself. Whether they align with the Five Demons or stand at our backs, they represent an inevitable hazard. It is far wiser to sever that root before the rot can spread.”
Raon bowed his head low, officially seeking Glenn’s endorsement.
“Hmph…”
Rather than answering immediately, Glenn pensively stroked his chin.
“Showing no hesitation before spilled blood, making decisive choices, and keeping absolute poise under all circumstances. Those are the very traits demanded of the master of a great clan. It seems I finally grasp what that fellow was trying to say.”
Glenn turned his eyes toward the distant window, a gentle shade of reminiscence coloring his gaze.
Beside them, Roenn let out a knowing chuckle, fully grasping the sentiment behind the master’s cryptic remark.
“What do you mean by…”
Raon’s eyes widened slightly in clear confusion.
“There was an individual who adamantly claimed that I ought to hand over the leadership of this clan to you without any conditions attached. It has been quite some time since his memory crossed my mind.”
Glenn ran his tongue over his lips before giving a slight shake of his head.
“Ah…”
A quiet realization struck Raon, prompting him to gently press his lips together as he deduced the identity of the person Glenn meant.
“Tell me, then—are you certain of your ability to prevail?”
Glenn looked down with a profound, steady gaze, plainly asking whether Raon truly possessed the capability to overpower both the Thespian Emperor and the Queen of Swords.
“I am well aware that the Thespian Emperor stands supreme among the Five Divine Orders. Even so…”
Straightening his posture, Raon lightly brushed his jawline.
“I do not envision myself suffering defeat.”
Resting a steady palm upon Heavenly Drive, he openly displayed his absolute conviction in victory.
“And how do you fare against the Queen of Swords?”
Glenn let out an amused breath, as if he had entirely anticipated such self-assurance, before bringing the woman’s title into focus.
“The Queen of Swords appears to align herself with whatever path the Thespian Emperor charts, but should she prove equally obstinate, I will not hesitate to cut her down alongside him.”
His grasp on Heavenly Drive turned iron-hard, his resolve set on unyielding severity to safeguard those he treasured and the ground they stood upon.
“You misunderstand my inquiry. I am asking whether you possess the strength to conquer the Queen of Swords.”
Glenn shook his head slightly, prompting Raon to grasp the precise nuance of the question.
“The Queen of Swords…?”
Raon let out a quiet breath, meeting the serene depths of Glenn’s gaze.
‘Is the Queen of Swords not noticeably weaker than the Thespian Emperor?’
He could not fathom why the patriarch would place such deliberate emphasis on the Queen of Swords, whose martial reputation was lesser than that of the Thespian Emperor.
‘Does he suspect the two of them will orchestrate a combined assault?’
It seemed plausible that Glenn was cautioning him against facing both supreme masters at the same time. Yet just as Raon prepared to voice this thought, Glenn preempted him.
“It seems you are still unaware.”
Glenn nodded slowly, having anticipated this exact blind spot.
“Go, then, and witness the truth with your own senses. Whatever the conclusion may be, you will walk away having gained something of great value.”
With a flick of his hand, Glenn officially granted his approval for Raon’s proposed undertaking.
“Watch yourself during the crossing.”
“…I shall.”
Offering his final respects, Raon withdrew from the audience hall, his brow furrowed in lingering curiosity.
“Do you truly intend to send him off without an explanation?”
Roenn regarded Glenn with a subdued smile.
“That boy’s rather lacking mentor once shared words of a similar nature.”
Glenn raised his sights toward the sweeping azure sky, contemplating its endless expanse.
“Raon forges greater strength whenever he is subjected to adversity. Through this trial as well, he will surely return bearing some new facet of growth.”
A fond smile lingered on Glenn’s lips, entirely convinced that his grandson would bring back the necessary enlightenment.
Stepping away from the Lord’s Manor, Raon returned to the fifth training ground where his subordinates stood waiting.
“In two days’ time, our destination is White Whale.”
Mounting the edge of the stone dais, Raon laid out the terms of their upcoming deployment.
“The primary objective entails convincing the Thespian Emperor and the Queen of Swords to enter into a coalition with the Five Kings. However…”
Raon shook his head, a biting, glacial presence washing over the open field.
“Should those two refuse our terms, we will wipe both White Whale and the Unyielding Blade from existence on the spot.”
Clenching his fist tight, he made it abundantly clear that this extreme outcome remained the underlying core of their mission.
“A-Are you genuinely serious about this?”
Burren’s mouth fell slightly agape, clearly shaken to hear such a brazen declaration regarding the eradication of White Whale and the Unyielding Blade.
“I have never been more serious. There is zero reason to harbor those who will either turn their blades on us tomorrow or plunge a dagger into our backs.”
Raon’s nod was utterly matter-of-fact.
“Should conditions unravel to their absolute worst, we will be thrust into a total conflict against the full might of White Whale and the Unyielding Blade. Prepare yourselves accordingly.”
“When is our departure?”
Martha’s tongue swept across her lips, her eyes alight with fierce anticipation at the prospect of such an all-out confrontation.
“In two days.”
Raon held up a single finger, commanding that every warrior use those forty-eight hours to completely replenish their physical stamina, mental focus, and internal aura.
“Understood!”
A sharp, unified war cry rippled through the Light Wind Palace swordsmen, their collective demeanor shifting entirely into combat readiness.
“Ensure your gear is in order… Begin by inspecting the condition of your blades…”
Turning away, Runaan began issuing direct pointers to the fighters under her wing. Though her expression retained its customary detachment, the instructions she delivered resonated with unmistakable clarity.
“You are dismissed. We will assemble back at this very location at dawn, two days from now.”
Following Raon’s command to break formation, the warriors of the Light Wind Palace dispersed across the grounds with practiced precision.
“You certainly don’t know the meaning of rest, do you?”
The Gambling Monster furrowed his brow, speaking in a grumbling tone as if questioning whether Raon truly took pleasure in keeping himself perpetually swamped with danger.
“Though I suppose this means I won’t have to look after those brats for a little while.”
He smacked his lips lightly, remarking that it was high time he indulged in a long-awaited drink.
“I remain grateful for your continuous support.”
Raon lowered his head in sincere gratitude toward the Gambling Monster as the older man began to turn away.
“If you’re truly thankful, just make sure you treat me to a round when you get back.”
The Gambling Monster ambled off with an uneven, swaying gait, offering a roundabout plea for Raon to return alive. Raon let out a soft laugh at the sight before whistling sharply toward the heavens. A high-pitched chirp answered from the clouds, and a tiny swallow descended gracefully onto the tip of his extended finger.
“I am relying on you.”
Retrieving a tightly rolled note from his garments, Raon fastened it securely around the tiny creature’s leg. With a rapid beat of its wings, the young bird ascended into the vast open expanse, darting away toward the horizon.
—To whom are you sending word this time?
Wrath scrunched his snout in irritation, complaining that the feathered messenger was never granted a single moment of leisure.
‘I sent it to grandfather.’
Raon offered a quiet smile as he gave a slight shake of his head.
‘He is bound to be fretful, so the least I can do is reassure him of my well-being. Furthermore, I wish to know if anything untoward has transpired on his side.’
His expression softened, noting that the letter was intended for Rector.
—Now that you mention it, an extended period has passed since we last laid eyes on that old geezer.
Wrath smacked his lips, wondering what kind of mischief the other doting old fool was currently up to.
‘Quite true. I am rather eager to know myself.’
Raon looked on with a warm gaze at the distant expanse where the bird had vanished into the blue.
‘If this undertaking concludes favorably, it would be pleasant to pay him a visit after all this time.’
“I understand.”
Rector rested the neatly unfolded parchment upon his knee, a bright, contented smile spreading across his weathered features.
“Has word arrived from Zieghart?”
Mustan, who was currently practicing his swordsmanship just behind him, paused his swings and wiped away the bead of perspiration running down his brow.
“What gave it away?”
Rector blinked in mild surprise, slowly gathering the edges of the missive.
“Only messages from Raon or Sia can coax that sort of joy from your face, Master.”
Mustan let out a wide grin, pointing out that Rector’s expression was an open book whenever it concerned those two.
“Ahem!”
Rector let out a deliberate cough, attempting to suppress the grin that persistently tugged at the corners of his mouth.
“It is a welcome sight, Master, so there is no need to conceal it.”
Mustan waved his hand dismissively, noting that simply witnessing such a peaceful smile lifted his own spirits.
“So, what news could possibly bring such joy to your eyes? Please, share it with me as well.”
He shifted his gaze with genuine curiosity.
“See for yourself.”
Rector lightly tossed the parchment over to Mustan, telling him to satisfy his curiosity firsthand.
“Whoa!”
Caught off guard, Mustan hastily reached out and snatched the drifting note from the air before smoothing it out to read.
“It really is Raon. Ha… Good grief! What in the…”
As his eyes scanned across the written lines, Mustan’s eyelids stretched wide in disbelief before narrowing in pure astonishment.
“I had caught wind of whispers claiming Demon Slaying Spear and The Fallen had been slain, but to think Raon was the very architect of their downfall!”
Mustan’s fingers shook violently around the parchment, thoroughly overwhelmed by the revelations.
“And now even the Heavenly Demon… this is completely beyond reason…”
The sheer weight of the feats documented in the concise letter left him struggling to draw a steady breath.
“Yet after recounting such earth-shattering events, he concludes the entire message by simply worrying over your health, Master. It is almost comical.”
Mustan let out a bemused chuckle as he reached the concluding sentence, which simply read: ‘Grandfather, I intend to visit before long, so please look after your health.’
“That is merely proof of what an affectionate boy he truly is.”
Rector received the letter back and carefully tucked it deep within the folds of his chest garment, his expression carrying the absolute warmth of a devoted grandfather.
“When I initially crossed paths with Raon, the disparity between us felt entirely manageable. Yet now, the distance between our realms has stretched beyond comprehension…”
Mustan released a heavy sigh, admiring Raon’s brilliance while simultaneously feeling awed by a rate of progression that defied all logic.
“When dealing with an existence like Raon, it is foolish to obsess over closing the distance. One must simply allow him to tread his own singular path.”
Rector gave a slow shake of his head, recalling Raon’s uncanny aptitude for dissecting and replicating the martial arts of others.
“You, too, possess gifts that place you firmly among the realm of geniuses, so maintain your own momentum just as you always have.”
Rector gestured outward, advising his pupil to anchor his focus purely upon his own path and martial cultivation.
“I am well aware of that, Master. There is no need for concern!”
Mustan returned a clean, uncomplicated smile, having long purged any lingering feelings of petty jealousy or bitterness from his heart.
“In that case, I must prepare my response.”
Without delay, Rector set about composing a return message to Raon on the spot.
“M-Master! Include me as well! Please convey my greetings to him!”
Mustan waved his hands eagerly, urging the elder to mention his name in the correspondence.
“I have already woven it in.”
Rector gestured dismissively with a flick of his finger to calm his student, then bound the newly written reply securely around the ankle of the awaiting black swallow. Just as the small messenger inclined its head in an intelligent gesture and launched itself into the twilight sky, a blinding streak of white descended from the western horizon like a bolt of lightning, the sharp talons of a hawk clamping violently around the swallow’s slender throat. A piercing cry burst from the smaller bird.
The swallow flapped its wings frantically in agony, yet the white hawk refused to yield its iron grip, its intent plainly fixed on tearing the messenger apart.
“What insolence is this…?”
Rector’s brow knit together in sharp annoyance. It was astonishing that an exceptional spirit beast like the swallow dispatched by Raon could be trapped so effortlessly beneath the talons of another bird. Clicking his tongue in distaste, Rector thrust his palm outward. An invisible pull seized the white hawk, dragging it straight toward his hand. With a single, sharp snap of his wrist, Rector broke the neck of the predator that had sought to butcher the messenger.
A weak, trembling chirp escaped the swallow’s beak. Only then was the battered bird freed from the predator’s dead grip, drawing in faint, shallow breaths.
“Can your wings still carry you?”
The little bird offered a quiet, weary chirp. Noticing the deep worry reflected in Rector’s eyes, it released a tiny trill as if offering reassurance that it could endure, before taking wing once more into the open sky.
“M-Master.”
Swallowing hard, Mustan raised a trembling finger toward the dead raptor lying limp on the ground.
“There is a… a message tied to it.”
A visible shudder ran through Mustan’s posture as his eyes fell upon the dark scroll bound to the hawk’s leg.
“How could this be…? Absolutely no one should know of this sanctuary…”
Mustan gnawed on his bottom lip, utterly bewildered by how their secluded position could have been compromised.
“So…”
Rector let out a long, heavy exhale as his gaze caught the distinct crest of House Robert stamped at the base of the correspondence.
“That which was destined to arrive has finally found us.”
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