All the Way Home
Dawn the next morning.
Raon looked over the Light Wind Squad as they prepared to depart. Not a single one of them had died, and they had completed their mission — a faint smile lingered at the corner of every mouth.
Rimer and Runaan, however, couldn't fight off their drowsiness. They leaned against the wall, their heads dipping and bobbing.
"Squad Leader."
Raon approached Rimer and held out his hand.
"Y-you want money? You've really turned into a thug now…"
Rimer, jolted awake with dazed eyes, gave a full-body shudder.
"What are you talking about? Your wrist."
"My wrist? Why?"
"I want to check your condition."
"I'm fine."
"I don't trust it when you say you're fine, Squad Leader."
"Aigoo, seriously…"
He muttered about how bothersome this was, but still held out his wrist.
"This won't take long."
Raon circulated the Cultivation of Ten Thousand Flames and examined Rimer's mana circuits.
He's definitely improved. The mana circuits had closed up.
His dantian was still in ruins, but the constricted, fractured mana circuits were in far better shape. He still had a long way to go before fully recovering, but at least daily life wouldn't be a problem.
"You've really gotten better."
Raon nodded and released Rimer's wrist.
"See? I told you I was fine."
"Our Squad Leader loses at gambling and lies as easily as he breathes. Check him properly."
Marta wrinkled her nose at Rimer's smug grin.
"I-I'm still the Squad Leader, you know. That's a bit harsh…"
"Well, it's not like this is the first or second time the Squad Leader has lied."
Burren stepped up beside Marta and nodded.
"Back in our trainee days, there were times he spent the entire day doing nothing but lying."
"It was faster to look for the things that weren't lies."
The other Light Wind Squad members let out heavy sighs as they looked at Rimer.
"I'm so sad…"
Rimer drooped his eyebrows at his squad.
"……"
Whether they chattered beside her or not, Runaan slept on, breathing with the soft, childlike rhythm of deep sleep.
"Before we leave, I have a question."
Once all the departure preparations were complete, Raon turned around and met the eyes of the Light Wind Squad.
"A week ago, you said you wanted to get stronger. You meant that, right?"
"Of course!"
"Obviously!"
"From now on, I'll train with my life on the line!"
"I'll do anything to get stronger!"
They had completed the mission, and Rimer had recovered — every member of the Light Wind Squad nodded, insisting they meant every word.
"That's a relief."
Raon smiled faintly and turned his gaze to Burren.
"Burren."
"Hmm?"
"When we ran to the branch without stopping, using our footwork the whole way — was it hard?"
"It was hard. Maintaining full-power aura output for that long was really tough. No — not just tough. It was agonizing."
"And after that, you felt yourself grow, didn't you?"
"W-well, my total aura capacity did increase a little…"
Burren felt a nameless unease, and his pupils trembled.
"You heard that? As Burren just proved, even just running while circulating your aura at full power improves your total aura, your endurance, and your physical capabilities. Practical training like this is rare."
"Uh…"
"Th-then…"
The Light Wind Squad members stared at Raon, their jaws trembling.
"That's right. From here, we run all the way to Zieghart at full power."
Raon gave a firm nod.
"Uuuugh!"
"You crazy bastard!"
"Aack!"
Burren recoiled in horror, Marta spat a curse for the first time in a while, and Runaan screamed as she woke from her sleep.
"I-it's impossible! I almost suffocated to death just going as far as the branch!"
"I… I'm scared…"
"We'll all die! We'll all die!"
The members of the Third Unit who had run with Burren shook their heads like spinning tops.
"W-we'll train, but…"
"Yes. Once we get back, after a little rest…"
"What are you talking about?"
Raon narrowed his eyes at the swordsmen.
"Just a moment ago. You said it yourselves — you'd train with your lives on the line. That you'd do anything to get stronger."
"Ah…"
"Th-that's…"
The Light Wind Squad members trembled as they met Raon's calm gaze.
Ugh, we're doomed…
That devil!
He asked because he knew this would happen. I'm sure of it!
Already caught in Raon's trap, the swordsmen realized there was nowhere to run and could only bite their lips.
"Start stretching. If we're going to run at full power…"
"W-wait! Lady Runaan!"
Just as Raon was about to order warm-up exercises, Crain pointed at Runaan, who had only just woken up.
"Lady Runaan never agreed to go through any training!"
Desperate to survive, Crain waved his hands, practically drooling.
"Hmm."
Sharp little guy.
Crain had a point. Runaan had been dozing and hadn't answered.
"Lady Runaan!"
"Please save us!"
"Runaan! You haven't even slept!"
The entire Light Wind Squad rushed to Runaan and dropped to their knees. They cried out that even if they had to go through hell training later, they should at least return home normally.
"Sleep…"
At the mention of not being able to sleep, Runaan seemed to make up her mind and nodded.
"Raon. I…"
"Runaan."
Raon struck first, before she could refuse.
"You'll come with us, right? After we're done, we'll go to the ice cream shop again."
"Okay!"
He smiled gently and gestured, and Runaan, with vacant eyes, nodded immediately.
"Ah…"
"I-it's over."
"We're doomed…"
The light drained from the Light Wind Squad's eyes.
"Everyone's agreed now. You have to keep your word, right? Get ready."
Raon wore a chilly smile and jerked his chin, telling them to finish preparing quickly.
"Squad Leader!"
"Stop him!"
"We completed the mission perfectly and we're going home — what is this?!"
The Light Wind Squad members clung to Rimer, their last hope.
"R-Raon. I'm a patient, and they just finished a mission, so this time maybe we could take it easy…"
"I already prepared for what you'd say, Squad Leader."
Raon gestured, and Belga and Morin — who had by now become his subordinates in all but name — brought over a black horse. It was a fine steed with a wedge-shaped face, bright gleaming eyes, and a coat that shimmered faintly.
"It's a horse of excellent bloodline, so it should last until the next village…"
"Hup!"
Before the explanation even finished, Rimer vaulted onto the horse.
"You're all weak! No amount of training is enough! I'll lead the way — catch up immediately!"
Relieved that he wouldn't have to run himself, Rimer spurred the horse and charged ahead.
"Ugh!"
"That man, I swear!"
"Haa…"
Burren, Marta, and Runaan had no choice but to run, and the rest of the Light Wind Squad swordsmen followed behind.
"Hiyah!"
"Aaaaah!"
"Damn it!"
Rimer drove the already-fast thoroughbred at a full gallop, so the other swordsmen had no choice but to run with everything they had.
Ugh!
Wrath scowled at Rimer's receding back.
As expected, that mug is an eyesore! Utterly infuriating!
Don't worry.
Raon smiled faintly and waved a hand.
Once we get back, he'll be the one suffering the most.
A bizarre space of snow-white marble, as if the first snow of the year had settled upon it, with blood-red pillars rising from the floor.
The 10th Apostle stood motionless as a statue, gazing at the dais erected atop a transparent staircase.
Shaaaaah.
The 10th Apostle slowly closed his eyes and opened them again. Behind the red beaded curtain veiling the dais, a shadow traced the curves of a woman.
"I present myself before my Master."
The 10th Apostle dropped to his knees. The only being before whom an Apostle would bow his head. The White Blood Cult Leader had appeared.
The White Blood Cult Leader possessed only a faint presence, as gentle as a spring breeze — yet her very existence was overwhelming. Even the 10th Apostle, who radiated a mighty aura, was swallowed by her mystique.
"You've looked into the Fourth's death, I assume?"
From atop the dais, a sweet voice flowed down, as if it could melt a soul.
"Yes."
The 10th Apostle answered with his head still bowed.
"The 4th Apostle was slain by Raon Zieghart."
"Raon? Not Morell — Raon Zieghart?"
Surprise colored the White Blood Cult Leader's voice — a voice that had remained calm even upon hearing of her disciple and Apostle's death.
"That is correct."
"Raon… that was the child who defeated Rudkin, wasn't it?"
Rudkin was the 7th Apostle's name. Within the White Blood Cult, only the Cult Leader was permitted to speak an Apostle's name.
"I heard he had reached Master, but he's already capable of killing Taereun?"
"I found it hard to believe myself, but it was the truth."
The 10th Apostle lifted his head and exhaled a low breath.
It's been a truly long time since I've seen Master surprised.
The White Blood Cult Leader had known the moment the 4th Apostle's breath ceased. She hadn't been the least bit surprised.
He had gone to Lohengrin's Dungeon, so she had assumed he had fallen to Valkar or some other powerhouse among the Six Kings and Five Demons, and accepted his death.
Even that cold-blooded Cult Leader was stunned by the fact that Raon had killed the 4th Apostle.
No — perhaps that's only natural.
The one who killed the 4th Apostle wasn't some fully matured powerhouse, but Raon Zieghart, who had only just spread his wings. That a brat who hadn't even been a Master for a year had defeated the 4th Apostle was still hard to believe.
"All sorts of things happen in this world. So Raon Zieghart, who has only just become a Master, defeating the 4th Apostle isn't an impossibility."
The White Blood Cult Leader regained her composure in an instant. In her usual voice, she lifted her chin.
"You know how it happened, I assume?"
"Yes. It wasn't a frontal confrontation. He used an ambush."
"An ambush?"
"He stabbed the 4th Apostle from behind while he was fighting Morell. The 4th Apostle feigned death to seize an opening, but even that was seen through, and he was counterattacked…"
The 10th Apostle recited the testimonies of the survivors from Lohengrin's Dungeon exactly as they had been given.
"To exploit an opponent's psychology at that age… a clever child."
The White Blood Cult Leader let out a laugh laced with heated amusement.
"The dagger he used was that demonic dagger that tore open Rudkin's chest, I assume?"
"That is correct."
"The continent's greatest genius, and he even possesses a weapon that is our natural enemy? How interesting."
The White Blood Cult Leader gripped her knees with both hands, an excited smile on her lips.
"How is Rudkin?"
"Thanks to the Holy Blood you bestowed, he has fully recovered from his wounds and broken through his wall."
"That's not all, is it?"
"Yes. By consuming the blood and flesh of experts, he has grown even further."
The 10th Apostle recited the 7th Apostle's activities as if he had been watching them himself.
"Perfect for a test."
The White Blood Cult Leader crooked a long finger.
"Send Rudkin. Have him ascertain Raon Zieghart's true martial prowess and his nature. After that… you already know, don't you?"
"He is Glenn Zieghart's grandson."
"I know that."
"And you still want him brought here?"
"Are you telling me to fear that old man?"
"Mm…"
The 10th Apostle couldn't answer, and slightly narrowed his eyes.
"Fine talent should be put to use in a fine place."
The White Blood Cult Leader leaned back, her lips curling into a long smile.
Raon and the Light Wind Squad arrived before Zieghart's main gate even faster than they had departed for the Gazelle River.
"I-I'm dying…"
"That crazy bastard. He r-really made us run the whole way…"
"Hiii…"
Burren, Marta, and Runaan all bent at the waist, gasping for breath. Their uniforms and hair were soaked through with sweat.
"Haaah! Haaah!"
"I-I think I'm going to throw up."
"I want to die…"
If even the unit leaders were this exhausted, the other Light Wind Squad swordsmen couldn't even stand — they rolled on the ground. Their faces were deathly pale, water streaming from their eyes, noses, and mouths.
"I-I want to go home! I can't live like this!"
Dorian pulled out a luxury sled he hadn't used in a long time and wailed that he was going home.
"Aigoo, you weaklings. You think you'll get stronger collapsing over something like this?"
Rimer, who had comfortably swapped horses the entire way, clicked his tongue at the Light Wind Squad members.
"Kkugh!"
"Damn it…"
The Light Wind Squad members ground their teeth as they watched Rimer elegantly ride toward the main gate.
Th-that man, I swear!
I hate him. How can anyone be this hateful…
I shouldn't have comforted him when he said he was in pain…
Raon had at least run alongside them while putting them through the training. Rimer, who had ridden a horse the whole way, saying something like that made their teeth grind.
"We're in front of the family's main gate. Fall in, all of you."
After checking the Light Wind Squad's condition, Raon approached the castle gate and lifted his head.
"The Light Wind Squad has completed its mission and returned."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than the enormous castle gate — too vast to take in at a glance — split open with a magnificent sound.
"Light Wind Squad."
From within the opened gate, Outer Chief Butler Iliun emerged, wearing a refreshing smile.
"Welcome back."
"You're looking well. Must be nice, just guarding the house."
Rimer dismounted and smirked.
"Not as nice as you, who lucked into such subordinates."
Iliun smacked his lips as he looked at Raon and the Light Wind Squad.
"How on earth did kids like that come out from under you?"
"Life's all about luck. Jealous?"
"I am, actually."
Iliun chuckled and nodded.
"The Family Head is waiting."
He said the other division leaders were there as well, and that they should head to the Lord's Palace immediately.
"I figured as much."
Rimer nodded and turned around.
"Straighten your uniforms. We're going to the Lord's Palace."
"Yes!"
Raon and the Light Wind Squad quickly tidied their hair and clothes, then followed Rimer toward the Lord's Palace.
"Raon Zieghart."
As Raon brought up the rear, Outer Chief Butler Iliun gestured to him.
"You are the first to cut down both a disciple of the South-North Alliance Lord and a disciple of the White Blood Cult Leader in a single mission."
He clapped Raon on the shoulder, smiling with genuine pleasure.
"Thank you for proving that the name of Zieghart still lives."
"It was nothing."
Raon bowed his head to Iliun and followed after the Light Wind Squad.
They're all the same.
He looked cold and indifferent on the surface, but Iliun was a martial artist of Zieghart as well. He was genuinely delighted that they had humiliated both the South-North Alliance and the White Blood Cult.
"So today…"
"Hey. Over there…"
"Hah!"
Swordsmen who had been chatting lightly along the main road stopped talking and turned their heads. Their gazes swept over the Light Wind Squad in turn, then locked onto Raon and wouldn't let go.
"His presence is completely different."
"I heard he cut down Tiller of the South-North Alliance."
"He didn't just catch him and call it done — he even exposed Tiller's crimes. That guy went from hero to devil overnight."
"I heard he made a wager with the Floating King Roman and saved everyone. A duel in three years… the guts on a kid who isn't even twenty…"
"Does he not even hit plateaus? How does his skill only ever go up?"
The swordsmen felt Raon's aura flowing as naturally as water and swallowed dryly.
"That's not even all of it. Entering Lohengrin's Dungeon and killing the 4th Apostle is an achievement in itself."
"A young swordsman barely turning nineteen taking down an Apostle — has that ever happened?"
"That's a rude thing to say. He's already a swordsman approaching completion. Age doesn't matter."
"He didn't just take him down, though — I heard it was an ambush? If they'd actually fought, he probably wouldn't have made it back."
"Well, he did ambush the 4th Apostle while he was fighting Morell."
"Hmm, a Zieghart swordsman using an ambush… that's a bit…"
"So can any of you take down an Apostle with an ambush? It's not a sparring match. They're enemies anyway — what does an ambush matter?"
"That's right. Those blood fiends from the White Blood Cult don't deserve to be treated as human."
There were swordsmen who tried to diminish Raon's achievements however they could, but other swordsmen stepped in and shut them up.
Through their gazes, Raon felt their emotions. He took in the goodwill, the ill will, and the petty ugliness all at once, and smiled faintly.
If you have power, you can crush even those who sow jealousy.
He recalled something Sheryl had told him once. If you possessed absolute power, you could crush even another person's malice.
I still can't crush everyone, but…
Raon turned around. He raised his presence as he looked at the swordsmen who had called the ambush despicable.
"Huk!"
"Kkugh!"
"Ah…"
An aura as cold and sharp as a sheet of ice sent the chattering swordsmen crashing onto their rumps, arms and legs trembling.
"If you're not feeling well, you should go inside and rest."
Raon looked down at their terror-stricken, shaking eyes and wore a thin, chilling smile.
Hmmm!
Wrath climbed up onto the ice-flower bracelet and nodded.
It's been a while since you've done something This King actually likes. Those who prattle and those who sneer — freeze their limbs off.
Is that so?
Wielding wrath is best. If you'd used wrath just now, every last one of them would have pissed their pants.
Wrath?
Indeed. This King's wrath is poison itself to the likes of them.
How do you use it?
Excellent! This King shall give you a brief lecture…
Raon swallowed Wrath's ever-generous advice whole and headed toward the Lord's Palace.
In the Audience Chamber of the Lord's Palace, the key executives of Zieghart stood arrayed on both sides.
Raon and the Light Wind Squad followed Rimer down the carpet at the center of the Audience Chamber and dropped to their knees.
"We present ourselves before the Family Head!"
The Light Wind Squad shook the Audience Chamber with a voice as thunderous as the achievements they had accomplished.
"The Light Wind Squad has completed its mission and returned."
Rimer was the last to kneel and bow his head.
"Rise."
They stood at Glenn's voice, which seemed to carry no emotion at all.
"Raon Zieghart."
"Yes."
Raon stepped forward. He stood in the same position as Rimer and bowed his head.
"I heard that both at the Gazelle River and in Lohengrin's Dungeon, you were at the center of events. Explain it yourself."
"Understood."
He had organized his thoughts on the way here. He slowly steadied his breath and opened his mouth.
"When we first arrived at the Gazelle River, we encountered Tiller, who had come aboard the White Spear. With him… hmm?"
Raon naturally looked up at Glenn as he started to speak, then swallowed dryly.
Th-the Family Head's expression…
Why does he look like that?