Chapter 307: The Walls of Zieghart
Raon lowered his eyes as he gazed upon the distant walls of Zieghart. 'Now, we have arrived.'
Seeing the walls that had withstood countless years, the gazes he had faced upon his return surfaced in his mind. 'Awe and respect.'
Unlike before this incident, people were looking at Zieghart with eyes filled with reverence and awe.
Zieghart had always been a great family belonging to the Six Kings and Five Demons, but within it, it hadn't received high praise. [The sinking ship.] [The forgotten loser.] [The fallen gangho.] [The rusted sword.]
For a long time, the family had been stagnant, and phrases like that were attached before Zieghart's name.
But after this incident, everything had changed. 'They all looked up to me.'
As he returned to the family, the people he met were cheering for Zieghart's name, shouting that it was the strongest family, and their eyes shone with respect.
The force at the pinnacle of the continent, the Six Kings and Five Demons. Among them, it was said that Zieghart stood at the peak. 'All of this is...'
Raon gritted his teeth while looking at Glenn's back as he led the way. 'Thanks to Master.'
There was no other reason. Because of one Transcendent who had driven out the White Blood Cult Leader and Tacheon alone, Zieghart's reputation had soared to the heavens. 'As expected, Darne.'
To make the entire continent tremble with personal power is shocking. Right now, he couldn't even grab the hem of Glenn's clothes.
*Tsk tsk.*
Wrath clicked his tongue while coming up from the ice flower bracelet.
-You don't think of becoming like that old man, and just admire it, it's unbearably pitiful.
-'I didn't just admire it.'
-What?
-'I'm looking at Master's back to catch up with him.'
Glenn was a very high sky, but he had no intention of just looking at it forever. 'I need to reach out my hand.'
I am changing too.
He had firmly settled into the mid-rank Master, his swordsmanship and aura had greatly developed, and his physical abilities had become so strong that it was incomparable to before. 'I also obtained a hint of Sword Realm Manifestation.'
By directly touching the mental realm, he had grasped the thread of Sword Realm Manifestation.
There were many difficult things, but since he got rewards beyond that, it was ultimately satisfying. 'Still, there's no lack of regret.'
After his body recovered, he wanted to train and spar, but he couldn't move freely because he had to watch Glenn's eyes. He regretted not having done sparring or real fights for a long time.
"Master, I have arrived!"
Thinking about it, they had arrived in front of the main gate. The guards at the gate shouted with all their might to open the door.
Following Glenn, entering the gate, from the left, familiar people appeared.
"Raon..."
"Master!"
Sylvia, Helen, and the maids were waiting inside the walls. All of them had red eyes as if they would cry if touched.
*Tsk.*
Dokoe was standing next to them, and seeing his twisted mouth clicking his tongue, it seemed like he was greeting as if he had come well.
"Hmm..."
Seeing their appearances, his chest fluttered. He wanted to run immediately, but since his return wasn't complete yet, he couldn't move freely.
"Everyone worked hard."
Glenn looked at Sylvia for a moment, then turned his head with cold eyes.
"Disperse."
He lightly waved his hand and headed towards the main building.
"Thank you for your hard work!"
The family's guards immediately dismounted and bowed their heads to Glenn.
After Raon bowed to Glenn, he immediately ran to where Sylvia and the maids were.
"I'm back..."
"Raon!"
"Master!"
"Master..."
Before he could finish speaking, everyone rushed towards him like a collision.
"Raon. Raon. Raon..."
Sylvia kept calling his name while hugging him by the neck. Her hands were trembling.
"It's a relief! It's really a relief!"
Helen held his hand tightly and cried endlessly. It seemed like the first time seeing someone cry like that.
"Uwaaaaaang! Raon-nim!"
"Kheung!"
Yua clung to his pants and sobbed loudly, and Julius, still trying to hold back his tears as a man, pouted with his mouth.
"Master. Are you okay?"
"Are you hurt anywhere?"
"Uwaaaaaang!"
"Uhhuhuk!"
The maids also clung and shed tears. It felt like their clothes were getting soaked.
"......"
Judiel was the only one not crying, standing quietly in the back. 'What...'
-Kheung!
When Raon was bewildered, Wrath suddenly sniffed and looked up at the air.
-What is this? It's a sin to worry about people!
Wrath said words not befitting a Demon King and frowned.
-From now on, treat them well! They are the only ones who think of you without any gain or loss.
-'I know.'
Raon bit his lip. 'I was too naive.'
Since I came back alive, I thought everyone would be happy. But these people were worrying about him more than that joy.
Countless suppressed worries burst out, and they couldn't control their emotions.
"You returned too late."
Raon hugged Sylvia, Helen, and the maids and closed his eyes. He opened his mouth, putting the sincere words that burst from his heaving chest.
"I'm sorry for worrying you."
* * *
"... So, thanks to Master's, I was able to return alive."
Raon held Sylvia's hand in her bedroom and told her about what had happened during that time.
"It's a relief."
After crying, there were still tears in Sylvia's eyes.
"I need to go and thank my father."
Sylvia wiped her tears with the back of her hand and smiled.
"Thank you?"
"My dad and sister haven't forgotten yet, and if you were taken by Eden, I wouldn't have any reason to live."
"Don't say things like that."
Her words were like a blade digging into the heart. He learned a little what kind of feeling it was when everyone was worrying about him.
"I understand."
Sylvia patted the back of her hand as if she understood and smiled.
"But..."
"Hmm?"
"What kind of person was my dad?"
I hadn't asked because I wasn't interested until now, but through this incident, I learned what the family was and became curious.
"My dad was a fool."
"Fool?"
"He had nothing smart. Ah, his height was tall. It was taller than yours now. It was almost like a pillar."
Sylvia looked up at the ceiling with a faint smile.
"Swordsmanship was amazing just by looking at the skill itself. The talent for aura was very low, though."
"But why..."
"Why did he get married?"
"Yeah."
No matter how much he was discriminated against in the family, Sylvia was a direct descendant, a genius swordsman, and had a beautiful appearance. It was hard to understand that she met someone who was just good at swordsmanship.
"It was cool. He didn't stop trying even though he knew his limits. He held the sword for others, not for himself."
"Hmm..."
"He didn't earn money, but he didn't lose his smile while always losing. He was a fun person."
Both liveliness and longing spread in Sylvia's voice.
"In a way, it's like you now. If my dad had been strong, he would have become just like you."
A tremor came from the hand holding the back of her hand.
"I told him I wanted you to become a person who understands others' pain like that person, and live a life befitting a Zieghart swordsman. But when I heard that you were kidnapped, I don't know how much I regretted it."
Sylvia exhaled faintly and said she was sorry.
"I'm really a sinful mother to you..."
"No."
Raon shook his head and held Sylvia's trembling hand tightly.
"Thanks to that word, I was able to live."
The word Sylvia gave me was the biggest help in becoming a real person. If I hadn't heard that story, I might have continued living a lonely life known only to myself like in my previous life.
Her one word, 'Live humanly, like a swordsman,' allowed me to live not as a dog with a leash loosened, but as a person with emotions.
"Thank you."
Raon gently patted Sylvia's shoulder. She didn't answer. It seemed like she had fallen asleep as the tension released.
After covering Sylvia with a blanket, he left the bedroom. Feeling a satisfaction he couldn't quite understand, he returned to the room.
Because he had faced death, it felt like returning to the room after a few years. 'But...'
Raon narrowed his eyes while looking at the ice flower bracelet on his wrist. 'Why are you so quiet?'
The guy who usually yelled for food was silent, which was rather surprising.
-'This King is a cold and beautiful lord of wrath who knows exactly when to get angry.'
Wrath came up on the bracelet and frowned.
-'Since I didn't break the mood, eat whatever this King wants tonight.'
-'As expected.'
The serious look of the cotton candy-like Wrath made him laugh, but it was also grateful.
Since tonight's dinner would be lavish anyway, he decided to let the guy eat whatever he wanted.
*Knock knock.*
When Raon took off his outer clothes with a chuckle, three knocks were heard. It was Judiel's signal heard after a long time.
"Come in."
The door opened, and Judiel with her usual expression entered.
"The meal preparation will be finished soon."
"I see."
"Her Ladyship must be sleeping."
"How did you know?"
"After hearing that Master was kidnapped, Her Ladyship didn't sleep much. Not only her, but everyone in the annex."
It seemed like her words included herself. It was a bit awkward but also a bit happy.
"And..."
Judiel handed over a piece of paper.
"What is this?"
"A letter left by Encia."
"Left?"
"She left before hearing that Raon-nim was kidnapped."
"I see..."
Raon nodded. He thought the annex was quiet, which was why Encia wasn't there. 'Have I become familiar with her now?' He chuckled and opened the letter envelope. There were three sheets of paper inside.
[To the incredibly handsome Raon-nim. It's a shame I have to leave without seeing that jade-like face. If I see you again, I'll say it in a way that doesn't come out...]
"Sigh."
Most of the first letter was about the face. He turned to the back.
[I've completed the design for the artificial dantian for Sylvia-nim to some extent. There's a problem, but I need some precious materials. Dragon Heart...]
"Dragon Heart?"
His mouth opened in disbelief at the absurd material.
[... It's too hard to get. I need Drake Heart and Sea Serpent Heart. If I connect the two, I can create a dantian that can withstand even Grandmaster-level aura.]
The second letter ended with designing the dantian more perfectly and returning to the family to get the materials. [It's too sad to leave like this. It's because of Raon-nim's... face...]
The third sheet was also about the face. Only the second letter had proper content. 'Encia-nim is like that.' He chuckled and put the paper back in the envelope. 'Drake and Sea Serpent...'
They are the highest-level monsters with mana hearts around their necks, called dragons and sea dragons respectively. They are strong and rare, but not invisible. 'This is doable.' Thinking that he could make Sylvia's dantian, which was just a dream, strength filled his fist.
"I will also submit a report on the Heavy Martial Palace."
Judiel knelt and bowed her head.
"Although Heavy Martial Palace Master Karun has returned, no special movements have been seen. Probably watching Master's eyes."
"That would be it."
The Heavy Martial Division, which was on standby during the Eden branch attack, also moved.
Since those guys had to break the standby period somehow, they wouldn't have had the leeway to use tricks.
"From today, I will closely observe their movements."
"Yeah. Work hard."
"Yes. Then..."
"Just a moment."
Raon called Judiel, who was about to leave the room.
"I have a favor to ask."
"Please speak."
She nodded stiffly like a emotionless doll.
"Information on the Six Kings and Five Demons will come from the Dark Market soon. Analyze the necessary and unnecessary ones from them."
"Information from the Dark Market?"
"Yeah. For this incident..."
Raon told Judiel about using the Dark Market Master inversely.
"Ah, beating the Dark Market Master and the Mind Sword..."
"It's not that big a deal. They just ignored me. And..."
She slowly shook her head and continued.
"Tell me about your younger brother too."
"Eh?"
Judiel's eyes widened.
"W-what..."
"I also asked the Dark Market Master to find someone. I promised to find your younger brother."
Raon sat on the bed and smiled.
"You didn't forget that, did you?"
"Of course not."
I never forgot promising Judiel to find her lost younger brother when there was no chance.
Since I got the Dark Market Master's promise, I can at least know her situation.
"Ah..."
Judiel's chin trembled as she looked at Raon. 'Was it sincere?' She said she believed Raon, but even after time passed, there was no sign that he would find his brother.
Originally, she had half given up because she knew finding her brother was hard, but she never imagined asking the Dark Market Master for help. 'I could have made other requests...' Only the top executives of great families and kingdoms could face the Dark Market Master. It was unbelievable that she used the opportunity to ask such a great person for herself.
"I-I'm really okay if I use that? That person..."
"The promise must be kept."
"Th-uh..."
Seeing Raon's sincere nod, his stomach churned and his head became hazy. His vision blurred, and he couldn't see properly.
"It's okay, tell me about your younger brother."
"My, my younger brother's name is Jubel. He should be 21 now. From Entinka Village, brown hair, blue eyes, and a small scar on his forehead. He came with me to the Heavy Martial Palace, and after that, I haven't seen him... "
"I see."
Raon memorized Jubel's information and nodded. As he learned how precious family was, he wanted to find his sister right away if given a chance, but now that he would keep it, he felt sorry.
"Thank you. Really..."
Judiel bowed her head with a pale face. She revealed her real face after a long time and shed tears.
"You'll be able to find him."
Raon smiled faintly and patted her shoulder.
*Whoosh!*
When the two were having a warm moment, Wrath let out a big sigh.
"Are you not eating?"
Wrath spun in the air and puffed up his body. Becoming a big cotton candy, he shouted.
"The food is getting cold!"
* * *
A week later.
Raon came to the Fifth Training Ground after a really long time. Since the rest period hadn't ended yet, there was no one on the training ground, but it was neatly organized as if cleaned yesterday.
He slowly loosened his body. The body felt light. Now, he didn't need to watch Glenn or Sylvia's eyes; his body was perfectly recovered.
"Huu."
He breathed out and pulled out the Heavenly Sky Sword.
Chiiing!
The clear sword light shook his heartstrings. When he used the Ten Thousand Flames, the heat aura racing through the mana circuits shot up like an explosion.
Uuuuuung!
Red flames rose above the blade of the Heavenly Sky Sword. The ganggi naturally blooming like flowing water. Its beautiful form was grand like sunlight scattering.
'Indeed, it has changed.' It wasn't just the swordsmanship realm, but the martial way itself had risen.
As the swordsmanship realm rose, the ability to use ganggi also grew. Power, durability, and sustainability all became different from before. 'The amount of aura is incomparable.'
The mana from the Rokt and Lava Crocodile King's blood had been perfectly absorbed, so the dantian's size and the Glacia and Ten Thousand Flames inside it were much larger than before.
Chiiing!
Raon stepped forward with his left foot and unfolded the Mad Fang Sword. The eerie momentum of a hungry beast biting into prey cut down the air.
Huuuung!
Then, from the left side, a sharpness that could even cut the air emerged.
Each sword stance unfolded with the Mad Fang Sword moved as if alive. He could clearly feel that his skill had grown.
'Still...'
It would take some time to find real combat sense.
It was clear that the martial way including swordsmanship and aura had grown, but a lot of time had passed since he hadn't swung the sword at opponents.
To perfectly adapt to the grown abilities and raised realms, a lot of real fights were needed. 'Is there no one?'
Raon clicked his tongue while unfolding the Snow Wind Sword Art when the door of the training ground opened roughly.
"As expected, you're here."
Rimer entered the training ground with a chuckle.
"What a strange guy. I knew you'd be here."
"Master. Welcome."
Raon smiled and bowed his head.
"Huh? If you smile like that, it's a bit unsettling."
Rimer narrowed his eyes and stepped back slightly. He was quick to notice at times like this.
"Let's spar one round."
"Spa, spar?"
"I want to raise my senses because I haven't swung the sword for a long time. Come at me."
"Spare? What kind of gangster?"
He opened his mouth in disbelief.
"Be a bit lenient. Getting hit by the upperclassmen is boring, and if I get beaten by you, I won't be able to hold my mind."
Rimer said it was still hard and shook his head.
"There, I'm a patient..."
"It's okay."
Raon smiled and swung the Heavenly Sky Sword.
"Lightly. I'll do it very lightly."
"You might be light, but others say it's heavy!"
Rimer yelled. Since he had seen the Gwangpung Squad getting hit, if he fought with aura now, he would be done for.
"Don't hold back..."
"There's no need."
A thick voice came from the door. Dokoe entered the training ground with slow steps.
"There is a place full of sparring partners instead of this weakling."
"Eh?"
"The Six Kings Meeting."
Dokoe twisted his mouth while looking at Raon.
"The Six Kings Meeting will be held."