The Six Kings Meeting
Raon stared at Dokoe, his mouth falling open.
"The Six Kings Meeting… you mean…"
"Exactly what it sounds like. The heads of the Six Kings gather in one place to settle accounts with the past and chart the course of the future."
Dokoe gave a slow nod.
"I thought as much…"
The Six Kings Meeting had been convened even back when Raon had served under Derus Robert. Of course, belonging to the shadows as he had, he'd never gotten anywhere near the conference hall — he'd been buried underground the entire time.
"Why is it being held all of a sudden?"
Raon tilted his head. It shouldn't be time for that yet. He knew the meetings were periodic, but the cycle hadn't come around. If the established schedule had been broken, this was no ordinary affair. Wait a second. Unless…
As he turned the convening of the Six Kings Meeting over in his mind, a perfectly reasonable explanation surfaced.
"You look like you've figured it out."
Dokoe snorted and lifted a finger. That thick fingertip pointed straight at Raon.
"Because of Raon?"
Rimer narrowed his eyes as if he couldn't make sense of it.
"Thanks to that brat, we found out Eden had planted a branch right on Camelun's doorstep, and that the White Blood Cult had been openly abducting people from a neutral city to set up a formation. Did we not?"
Dokoe clicked his tongue, as if he couldn't believe he had to spell out something so obvious.
"It's a conference on how to deal with Eden and the White Blood Cult, whose activity has been growing more frequent and more violent by the day."
"Ah. That'd do it."
Rimer grinned and nodded.
"But how'd you find out about it, old man? You don't usually give a damn about this kind of thing."
He muttered that it was unlike him, looking Dokoe over.
"Why do you think?"
"Huh?"
"Because you vanished for a whole week without a word and did nothing but play around! The work landed on me, that's why!"
Dokoe glared at Rimer, grinding his teeth.
"You've got no interest in your actual duties, so of course you had no idea why the Six Kings Meeting was being called! You useless, oversized-eared brat!"
Raon let out a long breath, watching Dokoe's trembling fist and Rimer's sheepish little laugh. He's not wrong. Under any other circumstances, there was no way Rimer wouldn't have known why the Six Kings Meeting was being held. He'd clearly spent the entire vacation with his brain checked out, having too much fun.
"Ahahaha. Yeah, I've got nothing."
Rimer scratched the back of his head and laughed awkwardly. It was the face of a gambler whose hand had been exposed.
"You didn't even show up at the gambling dens you usually haunt. Where the hell did you go?"
"Luck's no good in this neighborhood."
He rubbed his fingers together and smacked his lips. His eyes had half rolled back in his head.
"Hah…"
Raon exhaled a deep sigh.
That pointy-eared lunatic is the type who'd either run a house into the ground or raise it to the heavens. There's no in-between with his kind.
You might be right.
Even so, watching Rimer get chewed out over gambling filled him with a sense of peace. Only now did it feel like he'd truly come home.
"You. I'll deal with you later."
Dokoe raised a fist at Rimer, then turned back to Raon.
"You said you were looking for a sparring partner?"
"Yes."
"The Six Kings Meeting isn't just the faction leaders. The greenhorns who are only just starting to make a name for themselves come along too. It's a social gathering for the rising pillars of each house."
"Ah…"
He'd never taken an interest in the Six Kings Meeting, so he hadn't known that much.
"They write 'social gathering' and you read it 'bragging contest.'"
Rimer snorted and waved a hand.
"'I'm better.' 'No, I'm better.' The kids play at being adults. It's pretty entertaining to watch, actually."
"Well. He's not wrong."
Dokoe bared his teeth at Rimer, but nodded all the same.
"They hold spars among the youngsters at the gathering too. They'll be young, but they'll have properly mastered the highest-level martial arts of their factions. It'll be the perfect place to cross blades."
"And the boys will be desperate to look good in front of the girls, so they'll pick fights all on their own if you just stand there."
"That does sound about right."
Raon nodded. I can see exactly how that'll go. Young martial artists had little patience and few places to unleash their strength. Put the young warriors of the Six Kings — absolute powers of the continent — in one room, men and women together, and they would compete for supremacy for any reason they could find.
"That could work."
The gap in martial power would be severe, but experiencing the highest-level arts of the other Six Kings with his own eyes and body would be an enormous help in raising his realm.
"Not that you have a choice. Your attendance is mandatory."
"Mandatory?"
"A directive came down from the Lord's Manor. You will attend, no exceptions. We leave in a week, so get ready."
Dokoe muttered that if Raon wanted to refuse, he could take it up with them himself.
"Will the Head of House be going as well?"
"He's never gone in person. Not once. He's always sent a proxy. That delinquent over there went once, too."
"Ah, right."
He pointed at Rimer, who grinned and wiggled his fingers in a wave.
"And the location?"
"Owen."
"Owen…"
The name brought Grier de Owen to mind — the Third Prince he'd met as a trainee. A great deal of time had passed since he'd last seen him in Camelun. The prince would have grown considerably by now.
"The Six Kings Meeting will help you more than you think."
Rimer gave a short laugh and drew a small circle in the air with one finger.
"It's not just the kids who show up there."
He told Raon to look forward to it, then scaled the wall of the training ground.
"Where do you think you're going? You and I still have things to discuss!"
"Ah, just leave me alone already! Why are you old geezers so obsessed with me?!"
Dokoe stood there blankly for a beat, then scrambled after him — but Rimer had already dropped down the other side of the wall.
"Grr…"
Dokoe glared at the wall Rimer had vanished over, grinding his teeth.
"How does he keep getting more like a child?"
"He's always been like that. Don't let it bother you."
"It feels like watching a bratty little kid."
"Then would you spar with me in the kid's place, Dokoe?"
Raon offered a faint smile and stepped in front of him.
"I had a few realizations while I was being held captive. I'd like to sort them out."
"Give me a break."
Dokoe let out a hollow laugh, his eyes narrowing.
"When I first saw you again, the jump in your aura made me think my eyes had gone bad. Turns out they hadn't. A man who got kidnapped — dragged off by Eden, no less — comes back stronger? Does that make any damn sense?!"
"It doesn't make sense, I'll give you that. It just kind of happened."
Raon gave a light shrug.
"You know I've been itching to have a go at you, right?"
Dokoe smiled coldly and drew his sword.
"Of course."
Raon nodded and wrapped his hand tight around the hilt of the Heavenly Sky Sword.
"Come."
The instant Dokoe crooked a finger, Raon stamped down. Heat from the Cultivation of Ten Thousand Flames raced through mana circuits that had healed thicker and wider than before. In a single breath, that immense energy swept through his entire body and erupted as crimson fire along the Heavenly Sky Sword.
"Hnh!"
Dokoe's eyes flew wide at the speed of Raon's aura circulation — utterly different from before. Raon eased the strength in his grip just slightly and drew the Heavenly Sky Sword all the way from its sheath.
The blade scraped roughly along the scabbard as it extended, bursting forth with a clear, ringing sword-cry. The resonance of a far more mature Clear Rain shot straight for Dokoe's eardrums.
It was incomparably faster and more powerful than before — and Dokoe casually flicked his sword, shearing the wave of aura carried in the sound to pieces.
"You…"
His expression, however, was far from pleased. His face had twisted as if he'd just seen something he wasn't meant to.
"Not just your aura — the realm of your swordsmanship itself has risen. What the hell did you eat in that place?!"
"It's a little early to be surprised."
Raon stepped forward on the Supreme Harmony Footwork. The instant he moved to cut Dokoe along a diagonal, a blade came crashing down through empty air. A vast, earth-splitting force poured from that black edge.
Raon settled his stance with an application of the Garam Footwork and drove the Heavenly Sky Sword upward. The savage fangs of the Mad Fang Sword, seeping along the silver blade, tore out a roar.
Dokoe's strike, as if to shatter the earth, and Raon's, as if to split the sky, collided at the center.
The two swords rebounded — and in the same breath, Raon and Dokoe stepped in again.
Raon spun the flames of the Cultivation of Ten Thousand Flames along his edge and carved downward. It looked as if a sun that filled the entire sky had become a sword and was falling.
"Nngh!"
Dokoe's brow furrowed as he swept his blade in a wide arc. The edge fanned out, painting dozens of black lines through the air.
Sword met sword head-on, and Raon and Dokoe were driven back as one.
A long rip tore through Dokoe's sleeve, the fabric fluttering away.
"You…"
He frowned at the heavily slashed sleeve.
"Did you just pull the same stunt as when we first fought?"
"I did."
Raon nodded.
"It was the only way to show you how much I've grown."
He had used the exact same swordsmanship from when they'd made the Three Pledges. He'd wanted Dokoe to see how far he'd come — and the old man looked even more stunned than expected.
"You've gotten so strong it's absurd. I'm irritated enough to want to rip your hair out."
"That's fortunate. I've got plenty of hair."
"You've gotten even more insolent, too."
Dokoe smiled, cold and thin, and leveled his sword.
"Let's begin in earnest."
"Of course."
Raon nodded and drove the Cultivation of Ten Thousand Flames to its peak.
They kicked off the ground as one, and their blades bared their teeth at each other's throats.
"Ohh!"
Rimer let out a low sound of admiration from a tree behind the Fifth Training Ground, watching Raon and Dokoe fight.
"Now that's more like it."
He pulled the bottle from his waist and took a swallow. The liquor was cool and sweet as it wet his throat, and his mind snapped sharply awake. Good drink, good weather, and a fight to watch — he couldn't have asked for more.
"That said."
Rimer's eyes narrowed as he watched Raon press Dokoe back.
"The brat's gotten stronger again."
He'd already been stunned by how much Raon had grown when they'd met at the Eden branch. Now the boy had surpassed even that. He had no idea how someone who'd been groaning in a sickbed had climbed another realm.
"Is he sucking the martial power out of transcendent masters or something?"
It was a ridiculous thought, but it almost felt true. Growth that absurd simply wasn't possible under ordinary circumstances. At this rate, he could even take an Upper Master. Raon's current realm was Mid-rank Master, but if the boy went all out, Rimer suspected he could bring down an Upper Master as well. Chilling. A nineteen-year-old monster whose realm rose every time you looked at him. Just watching it made his hair stand on end. If this boy had been an enemy, Rimer would have had nightmares every night. That old geezer's spine is probably crawling too. If Raon kept growing at this pace, the day Dokoe would have to fight him in earnest didn't feel far off. Rimer was grateful he wasn't the one standing across from him.
"The Six Kings Meeting, huh…"
Rimer smacked his lips, watching Raon generate heat and frost at the same time. This should be fun. The reason House Zieghart's reputation currently scraped the heavens was entirely thanks to the Head of House. Raon had shown chivalry, yes — but the fact remained that he had been kidnapped, and that he had been rescued by someone else.
Which means Raon…
Was likely to be dismissed at the conference.
Until this incident, Raon had shaken the entire continent by cutting down apostles and Eden's specters in succession. After the kidnapping, talk of his martial power had gone quiet. These days, everyone spoke only of Glenn. Raon's strength was no longer on anyone's lips. If he went to the Six Kings Meeting, there would be a wagonload of people looking to pick a fight with him. Ah, I can't wait. The thought of how that monstrous brat would grind the arrogant children of the Six Kings under his heel brought a smile unbidden to Rimer's face. To stop Raon, they'd have to bring the Continental Twelve Stars. As things stood, you'd need to fetch the Continental Twelve Stars — the ones marked as future Absolutes — just to hold him. Anyone half-baked wouldn't even get a proper swing of the sword in.
Rimer grinned and drained what little remained in the bottle.
"Guess I'll tag along."
Glenn wouldn't be attending the Six Kings Meeting anyway. He'd follow Sheryl, who'd be going as proxy, and enjoy the show. He wanted to savor the sight of the Six Kings' finest getting trampled under Raon's feet.
"You little shit! Fine! Let's take this all the way!"
Dokoe ground his teeth and dropped a finger. Black energy bled up from the earth beneath his feet and coiled around Raon.
Black energy welled from the earth and wrapped around Raon, dragging him into Dokoe's inner realm.
"Hrm."
Even as the Sword World pulled him in, Raon showed no panic. If anything, his eyes lit up — as if he were probing something.
"Huh?"
Rimer let out a breath as he watched Raon vanish into the black sphere. Don't tell me he's already exploring the Sword World? If that's the case…
He could probably trample half the Continental Twelve Stars.
The Audience Chamber of House Zieghart.
Glenn regarded Marta, who stood with her head bowed, and slowly parted his lips.
"Are you all right?"
"Yes."
Marta lifted her head. Her eyes were clear and straight. There was not a trace of wavering in them.
"I'm all right now."
The color of her eyes, the color of her hair, even her features — she had looked exactly like the White Blood Cult Leader they had faced this time. Just as Raon had predicted, the current Cult Leader's body was unmistakably Marta's blood kin.
"Truly?"
"Yes."
Marta gave a crisp, unhesitating nod.
"I heard even you said there would be a chance to save my mother, my lord. She'll have it far worse than I will. I don't have time to grieve or despair."
Her eyes held a light so grave it was almost frightening. She seemed to place complete trust in his words, and in Raon's.
"Then I am glad."
Glenn smiled faintly. He had been prepared to give her a thorough scolding if she'd been mired in gloom — but seeing that clear gaze, he felt only pride.
"There's one thing I'd like to ask."
"Speak."
"What do I have to do to get stronger?"
Marta pressed her lips together.
"Your accomplishments are outstanding even setting your age aside. Advancing any faster than you already have would make a sandcastle full of holes."
"But Raon…"
"Raon is incomparable even to what I was in my prime. That child walks at a different pace. Rather than thinking of catching up, consider what you ought to learn from behind him."
Glenn closed his eyes slowly, then opened them.
"Your strengths are an instinctive nose for an enemy's weakness, and a swordsmanship of unified offense and defense built on Titan Aura. You've been pouring everything into those strengths alone — but this is the time to see more."
"See more, meaning…"
"Look at other martial arts. Learn from them. Identify your own strengths and weaknesses for yourself. You are still too young to pour yourself into a single thing. If you wish to go higher and farther, take in a great deal now."
He smiled gently and raised a hand.
"The Six Kings Meeting will be held shortly. You will attend as well."
"Understood. May I ask one more thing?"
"You may."
Glenn nodded, and Marta pressed her lips tight before speaking again.
"C-Could I… use Sword Realm Manifestation someday too?"
"Sword Realm Manifestation is a bloodline martial art that only those of Zieghart blood can wield. Without even a thin mix of that blood, it is impossible… or so I believed. But there is a certain someone who broke that rule, is there not?"
"The squad leader…"
"That boy offset the current contained in Zieghart blood by maximizing his attribute power. If you asked him directly, you might find a hint. I wouldn't particularly recommend it, however."
He added that if she was truly curious, she could seek out Rimer, and nodded.
"Thank you."
Marta bowed with her back straight, her bearing proud.
"You may go."
"Yes."
She turned without the slightest hesitation and left the Audience Chamber.
"It's good to see her standing so tall."
Sheryl watched the door Marta had gone through and let out a refreshing laugh.
"Yes. I was worried, but it seems her heart has only grown firmer."
Roen smiled faintly and nodded as well.
"Denier took in a fine daughter. She's a child I look forward to seeing more of."
Glenn nodded, apparently well satisfied with the conversation.
"Then why don't you try talking to Raon like that? Today would have been perfect."
"Ahem!"
Roen's eyes narrowed, and Glenn cleared his throat and turned away. As if I don't know that. Of course he wanted to. He wanted to treat the boy more gently than anyone — but the moment he saw Raon, his body and his face locked up.
"My lord."
Sheryl stepped forward and stood before Glenn.
"Shall I attend this Six Kings Meeting as well?"
Glenn had never once participated in any of the Six Kings Meetings held so far. Assuming he wouldn't go this time either, she had spoken up first.
"If I'm to take Raon and the children…"
"No."
Glenn shook his head, slow and deliberate.
"What?"
"Hnh!"
Sheryl and Roen both went wide-eyed. Neither of them had imagined Glenn would move in person; both wore expressions of utter shock.
"You're going yourself, my lord?"
"Is that true?"
"It was time I went at least once."
Glenn lowered his eyelids as if it were nothing of consequence.
"And to show off a little."
"Pardon?"
"That's… hrm?"
He started to shake his head at the two of them, then narrowed his eyes.
"Sheryl. Roen."
Glenn called their names, his expression gone hard.
"Step out for a moment."
"Yes."
The two of them looked at that hardened face, then nodded and left the Audience Chamber.
In the silence that settled over the hall, Glenn lifted his chin.
"Come out."
The low voice had barely faded before the space before the door split apart.
"It has been some time."
The golden-haired old man walked to the center of the Audience Chamber, leaning on his staff. His voice rang thin, as if it had traveled from another world.
"Yes. It has been a long while."
Glenn looked down at the old man, his brow furrowed.
"Lord."