Raon's Grand Return
The 5th Training Ground of Zieghart.
The sandy field that had been empty for a year began to bustle again with the returning trainees.
The trainees who had passed their 17th birthday after the sun had set were over a hand taller, their appearances more mature, and their standing postures overflowed with confidence and pride.
Among them, the highlight was their eyes. The achievements they had accomplished on their own and the merits they had accumulated served as mirrors, emitting an aura different from before.
However, the faces of the trainees who had passed the one-year survival test and received recognition from the instructors were not particularly bright. They looked displeased about something.
Especially Burren's, Runaan's, and Martha's expressions were more wrinkled than the other trainees.
"Hey, where did you go that you haven't shown up until now!"
Burren, whose build had grown even larger than the sturdy man, furrowed his eyebrows so much that they almost touched his eyes.
"What kind of mischief did you do that you didn't even show your face until the day before graduation!"
He chewed his nails anxiously and paced around the training ground.
"Raon..."
Runaan, who had tied her silver hair like snow, looked up at the clear sky blankly and muttered Raon's name. It was so small that even if she was right next to him, it wouldn't be heard, but that made it even scarier.
"Why isn't Raon coming. Where is Raon. We have to eat ice cream together..."
Seeing Runaan walking around the training ground holding a box of bead ice cream in her arms made one feel a chill.
"Hmph. Maybe she got beaten up somewhere after getting cocky because she became a bit stronger."
Martha, whose black hair and white skin contrasted sharply, now fully exuding a woman's fragrance, sneered. But even as she said it, her eyes rolled anxiously.
"If she doesn't come, it's all good. I can go as the representative instead of that little brat."
She curled her lips in mockery, but it was forced, and her lips trembled slightly.
"This annoying kid. Why isn't he coming."
She muttered under her breath and clenched her fists.
"Raon is coming."
Runaan approached the awkwardly smiling Martha and pouted. Her eyes, which had been fierce, now held trust.
"What?"
"Raon is coming."
"If he was coming, he would have come earlier. It's already too late."
Martha turned her chin sideways. She didn't say anything worse because she was afraid of being a bad influence.
"He must be sulking somewhere because he lost."
"I didn't lose! He'll come soon!"
"He won't come!"
"He will come!"
"He won't come!"
"He will come!"
Runaan with silver hair and Martha with black hair glared at each other, and dark green sparks began to burst around them.
The trainees in the training ground didn't think to stop them. This kind of confrontation had been going on for almost a month.
"Why aren't Raon and Dorian coming?"
"Could they have had an accident on the way?"
"Did they meet Eden or something..."
"Don't say such unlucky things."
The trainees were constantly thinking about Raon while training or talking.
Their appearance had changed from when they first gathered here to mock him to a world of difference. Even after a year, they were sincerely grateful to Raon who saved their lives.
Kwaaang!
When everyone was not concentrating on training and clumsily swinging their swords, the door of the training ground burst open, and Rimer entered with his flaming hair flying.
He stood in front of the trainees, stirring up a breeze that was more relaxed than before.
"Why are all your eyes unfocused? Didn't you sleep well?"
Rimer looked at the trainees with his characteristic light gaze.
"Instructor. Opening the door with your foot is not how it's done."
"Yeah. It's mine."
He waved his finger at the frowning Burren.
"Kuuu..."
It wasn't wrong, but Burren gritted his teeth but couldn't say anything. Even after a year, their relationship hadn't changed.
"Tomorrow is the graduation. All the high-ranking members of the family will come to see you. Are you going to show such stupid faces? Everyone, snap out of it."
Rimer clicked his tongue at the trainees who weren't concentrating.
"Raon isn't coming."
Runaan let her shoulders droop and sighed deeply while looking at the bead ice cream box in her hand.
"According to what you said, tomorrow is the graduation, but where on earth is Raon doing something! Did they get kidnapped or something?"
Burren approached the stage as if biting it and furrowed his brows. His blue eyes were full of worry.
"If he doesn't come, it's fine. Why are you looking for him so much! It's better without him."
Martha crossed her arms and laughed coldly. Her hand hidden under her armpit trembled.
"Haa, how pitiful."
Rimer shook his head.
"You lived with Raon for years and still don't know him. That guy would get beaten up or kidnapped somewhere?"
"Even if Raon is strong, he's not strong at our level! No, I'm not particularly worried. You don't need to look at it that way. Just as comrades, Raon and Dorian..."
Burren blushed because thinking about Raon was embarrassing.
"Strong among peers..."
Rimer gave a sly smile and shrugged.
"Huh? You have a knowing expression?"
"Instructor! Do you know where Raon is?"
"Why isn't Raon coming!"
"Dorian is with him too!"
"Instructor!"
The trainees rushed at Rimer like ants to candy. Among them was Runaan holding the ice cream box. She was about to grab Rimer's collar.
"How am I supposed to know where Raon and Dorian are. But those guys will definitely come back fine."
Rimer smiled faintly and waved his hand.
"You can relax and prepare for tomorrow's graduation."
He calmed the trainees with a calm gaze and left the training ground again.
"That speech is right."
"Raon is smart too. Nothing will happen."
"Dorian will hide if anything happens."
"Yeah. There must be a reason."
"By saying that, Instructor looks cool too."
The trainees thought Rimer's words were right and started training again. The one-year survival test wasn't in vain, and when they concentrated, a sharp momentum rose from the entire training ground.
***
"Rimer-nim, help!"
Rimer, with a sad face, grabbed Roen's sleeve at the middle of Bukmang Mountain.
"Why aren't Raon and Dorian coming! Where are they stuck! Tomorrow is the graduation!"
Unlike the calm attitude he showed at the training ground, his eyes were full of impatience as he shook Roen's shoulder.
"The Heavenly Sword Squad is protecting them, so they can't even enter the Biyeon Assembly! They even put spikes on the ceiling!"
"Spikes..."
"Even if that guy left the latest, he should have arrived a month ago, but I don't know why he's not coming!"
"Huu."
Roen sighed lightly while looking at the clinging Rimer. He had gone through the ceiling of the Biyeon Assembly office a few months ago, taken Raon's information, and was beaten to death by Glenn just before. Since that day, Heavenly Sword Squad examiners have been stationed in the Biyeon Assembly.
"Due to Rimer-nim, I don't receive information about Raon-ssi either."
"Eh? Still?"
"Yes. The Clan Head treats Raon-ssi’s information as higher than special grade."
"Oh, if he is such a precious grandson, he should take care of him a bit more. It's not like a stalker, why only watch from behind."
Rimer grumbled and kicked a stone on the floor.
Glenn had always been by Raon's side when he was a baby, when he learned Cultivation of Ten Thousand Flames, without showing it and pretending not to care. They say the older you get, the more stubborn you become, and this was really a steel backbone.
"I agree with that."
Roen nodded with a bitter expression. He also wanted Glenn, Raon, and Sylvia to live like family like Rimer.
"Fortunately, there is one piece of information."
"Information?"
"Yes. A week after the report that Raon-nim has returned came in, the Heavenly Sword Squad examiners moved towards Habun Castle."
"Oh, that means!"
"Yes. It must be a measure to protect that girl who was threatened by Raon-nim and Eden. Since there has been no other movement from the Clan Head or the Heavenly Sword Squad since then, it probably means there's no problem."
"Oh ho!"
Rimer's previously sunken expression brightened as if he had turned on a magic lamp.
"Then I should investigate properly."
"Eh?"
"It's not certain yet. Let me probe the Clan Head a bit."
"Wait, just a moment! If I do that..."
"Aigoo, it's fine. It's not like I'm going to kill him. I'll go first!"
Before Roen could stop him, Rimer smiled wickedly and stood up, using the wind's momentum to run down to the Clan Head's palace.
Rimer, who had arrived at the entrance of the Clan Head's palace, entered with a wicked smile.
"Uum..."
Roen let out a low groan. The future of the red-haired elf who entered the Clan Head's palace was drawn in his mind.
As expected, the Clan Head's palace shook, and thunderous sounds came from inside.
Roen closed his eyes, praying for Rimer's safety.
***
The Zieghart Annex.
The warm space that had remained bright even after Raon left was now deeply cold as if hit directly by winter wind.
"Haa..."
"Why aren't you coming?"
"Everyone else has come back..."
"Raon-nim..."
The maids who were organizing the flower garden sighed deeply as if the ground was about to swallow them. Because of Raon who was the only one not returning among the 5th Training Ground trainees, the annex was like a funeral home.
"Stop sighing and finish quickly."
Unlike the depressed maids' voices, a calm voice softened the cold air.
"It's almost over."
Sylvia. With her abundant blonde hair falling to her left shoulder, she smiled faintly while trimming the flower garden with garden shears.
"Ma'am..."
"Sorry, sorry."
The maids bit their lips while looking at Sylvia smiling. The person who was the hardest right now was showing the brightest face, so it felt like more tears would come.
"Yeah. Raon-nim will come soon. Don't worry too much."
Helen squatted next to Sylvia and shook her head. Unlike Sylvia, her face was greenish, unable to hide her emotions.
"Raon promised. He said he would return healthy. We can wait here and rest comfortably when he comes."
Sylvia smiled at each of the maids, making eye contact.
"Ah, yes!"
"I understand!"
"I-I'll prepare the meal!"
The maids started moving to their tasks with excited expressions.
"Amazing."
Judiel, standing at the end of the maids, narrowed her eyes at Sylvia.
"She must be having a hard time that she can't even sleep."
The other maids cherished Raon too, but not as much as Sylvia. With the news of her only son cut off, she didn't waver and instead comforted the maids. She was amazing.
"Actually, there's no need to worry."
Raon is the human with the most terrifying aura among those he's met so far. There were many stronger in physical strength, but no one was as cold and frightening as him.
"Finish quickly and go eat dinner... um?"
When Sylvia was about to finish organizing the flower garden, a tall man approached from the direction of the main house. Red hair, pointed ears. Rimer, the head instructor of the 5th Training Ground.
"Rimer-nim?"
However, there was something a bit strange. His red hair was scorched black, his eyes were black and bruised, and he had a red-stained cloth in his nostrils.
"A-Are you okay?"
Sylvia approached Rimer with a trembling mouth.
"Ah, I'm fine."
"You don't look fine..."
"It's nothing. I met a stubborn, bad-tempered bull on the way."
Rimer waved his hand as if it was nothing.
"A bull..."
It wasn't a monster, and she wondered what kind of bull he met to look like this.
"Actually, it's nothing."
Rimer scratched the back of his head and clicked his tongue.
"Raon. You don't have to worry too much."
"Eh? Did you get Raon’s news?"
"He didn't get injured or anything. The graduation might be a bit late, but he'll come back soon."
"Ah..."
Sylvia's hand holding the scissors fell from her grip at Rimer's gentle voice. It was as if the emotions she had been holding back exploded, and her legs staggered.
"Your son and my disciple are coming well. Relax and wait."
He patted Sylvia's shoulder and smiled.
"Then I'll go."
"Eat dinner first..."
"Ah, there's a big gamble."
Rimer smiled wickedly and turned his back. Muttering ‘Ah, it hurts like hell.’, he walked with heavy steps.
Sylvia bowed her head towards Rimer with both hands clasped.
***
The next day.
The door of the Great Training Ground, which was the same size as the castle gate, opened wide. The usual examiners and office workers who found it hard to enter the Great Training Ground sat on chairs lined up outside.
Thanks to Rimer, Sylvia and Helen, who had been a bit brightened, and the annex maids sat in the corners. They sat with hands clasped as if looking at something, staring at the entrance of the training ground.
Just before the sun was at the center of the sky.
The trainees of the 5th Training Ground in splendid formal attire entered one by one and lined up in the center of the training ground. Although their faces were still young, the subtly blooming momentum didn't fall behind to regular swordsmen at all.
"Damn..."
"Still not coming?"
"The guy who usually kept time well..."
"Raon, Dorian. Come quickly."
Their eyes held worry beyond tension, and they kept glancing back as if waiting for someone.
As time passed, the makeshift spectator seats began to fill up. The usually hard-to-see Daeju, the Danju-level executives, and the Clan Heads of direct and allied families sat in their assigned seats.
"Uwaam."
Rimer yawned as if his mouth was going to tear, standing next to the trainees. Whether it was graduation or not, he was his usual self.
When the people gathered in the training ground looked at the trainees with eyes showing excitement, expectation, tension, and worry, the examiners standing at the door raised their flags and struck the ground.
Kuuuung!
The examiners gathered the people's gazes with a heavy rumble and spread the flags to both sides.
"The true master of the north. Clan Head Glenn Zieghart enters!"
"We greet the Clan Head!"
With that majestic shout, the examiners in the training ground stood up and knelt.
Glenn Zieghart, with his faded blonde hair swept back and wearing a dark red coat, crossed the training ground.
The overwhelming dignity of the god who reached transcendence made people unable to even lift their heads and sweat profusely.
Goooo!
Everyone in the training ground forgot they had to breathe until he sat on the throne on the stage, and just wished this time would pass quickly.
"All rise."
"Yes!"
At the command to rise, everyone stood up simultaneously as promised. This too was not something they thought themselves. Their bodies moved on their own due to Glenn's intimidation.
"Head instructor. Start."
"Clan Head. Two more haven't come yet. Could you wait a little longer..."
"Even if you didn't set an exact return period, you can't not know that the graduation is held in February. If he hasn't come until now, it's disqualification."
"But Raon is the head instructor and Dorian is... Uhm! Understood."
Rimer tried to stall for time by rubbing his fingers, but at Glenn's cold gaze, he turned back immediately. He couldn't rebel because he was beaten yesterday.
"Then, from now on, we will proceed with the graduation of the 5th Training Ground. Total 43 members. Current members 41. Two absences. The 41 present are... um?"
When he first spoke about the current members, a low footstep sound came from between the arched doors of the closing Great Training Ground.
Thud.
The sound of footsteps was too clear, digging into everyone's ears, even though it should not be heard amid the noise of many people.
That sound was as majestic as Glenn Zieghart, as light as Rimer, and carried Milland's heaviness.
As the footsteps that focused the hearing grew closer, everyone's gaze in the training ground turned back.
Black shoes crossing the door. The appearance of a man wearing nobility beyond splendid formal attire was revealed. The sunlit blonde hair shone with brilliant light, and the sunken red eyes sucked in all gazes.
His lips, which could now be called peerless beauty, had a curve blooming on the training ground.
"This welcoming ceremony is unnecessary."
Raon Zieghart. The one who had achieved the most dazzling growth among anyone had returned to the heart of Zieghart.