The Gospel of Raon
Glenn Zieghart withdrew the right hand he had been holding out. Through the space it left behind, Rimer could be seen supporting Raon.
"It wrapped up one way or another."
Sheryl came to stand beside Glenn.
"Honestly, I never in my wildest dreams thought Raon would be the one to settle it."
She slid the twin swords she had drawn back into their scabbards and let out a wry breath, muttering that the boy was turning into more of a monster by the day.
"I've never seen a martial artist grow that quickly either."
Roen gazed at Raon, his eyes unsteady.
"The higher one climbs, the more the next hill catches at one's feet. But Young Master Raon walks as if the ground were flat. There isn't a single stretch where he seems to struggle."
He drew a fond, admiring smile, adding that it was the first talent that had ever made him feel envious.
"Ahem. That Raon resolved this affair was unexpected even to me."
Glenn pressed down the smile threatening to climb his mouth and nodded.
"Until a moment ago, it was a scale they simply couldn't have handled on their own."
Raon still had aura and stamina left, but he was mentally spent. Rimer was a wreck from the aftermath of using Sword Realm Manifestation. And the heir of House Arian had never been of much help to begin with.
He had meant to step in, convinced that even the three of them together could not erase the sphere of deathly energy—and then, all at once, the situation had changed.
To grow in a fleeting instant...
It was rare, but not unheard of, for a martial artist facing death to drive their concentration to the extreme and fall into a trance. What Raon had done just now, however, was grow in both body and mind in a span of less than ten seconds.
It's absurd.
A trance did rapidly elevate a martial artist's realm—that much was true—but it still required a certain amount of time. Ten seconds was far too brief a moment, even for one who had achieved the state of self-absorption.
But I saw it with my own eyes. There's nothing to say.
Had he heard it from someone else, he would have dismissed it as a lie and paid it no mind. He had witnessed it himself, though, and the one who had wrought that miracle was his precious grandson. All he felt was a swelling of the heart.
"I look forward to seeing how far that monster of a boy will grow."
"If it's Young Master Raon, he might truly reach Grandmaster at twenty-two and duel Buwang."
Sheryl and Roen smiled softly as they watched Rimer carry Raon on his back.
"If that happens, we won't even need to step in."
"Just in case, we should keep our blades sharp."
"We've been steadily gathering information on the South-North Alliance's location and personnel anyway. We've compiled quite a lot—everyone except the Elder Council, who never show themselves."
Glenn let the smile he had been holding back finally show as he looked at Sheryl, who had been mapping the South-North Alliance for Raon's sake, and at Roen, who intended to keep honing his blade to the very end.
"Hmmm!"
Watching two people normally so stingy with praise marvel at Raon's talent—and cherish him so sincerely—the corners of his mouth climbed all the way to his cheekbones.
"Roen."
"Yes, my lord."
Roen stepped forward and bowed his head.
"Did you get the pictures drawn properly?"
"Of course."
He lifted the booklet he had been holding to his chest.
Sketches of Young Master Raon's exploits on this mission, with his famous quotes recorded in full.
— Color to be added upon return —
"I've sketched Young Master Raon's exploits on this mission in Volume Three of the Gospel of Raon. I recorded his famous quotes as well, so please read it later."
"Won't sketches be a little insufficient?"
Sheryl smacked her lips as if disappointed.
"I intend to add color as soon as we return, of course."
"Good!"
Only when coloring was mentioned did Glenn's head nod with real satisfaction.
"I'll help!"
"Mm. The Heavenly Sword Squad Leader must be tired as well, so I can manage on my own..."
"I want to contribute to the Gospel of Raon too. No need to refuse!"
"Hahaha."
As Roen was wondering how on earth to decline, Glenn raised a hand.
"The Heavenly Sword Squad Leader will sit this one out."
"What?"
"You can't draw, can you."
"I can at least color..."
"Coloring is the most important element of a picture."
Glenn shook his head with absolute firmness, as if ruining Raon's portrait was out of the question.
"Urgh..."
Sheryl swallowed a groan, apparently with nothing left to say, and hung her head.
"Then we should be heading back."
Glenn patted Sheryl's drooping shoulder and turned.
"Won't you go down and see them?"
"No need to go down and spoil the mood, is there."
At Sheryl's question, Glenn lowered his eyelids.
"Today's victory belongs to those children alone. It's enough for us to applaud from here."
"Then there won't be any disciplinary action for Lord Rimer either?"
Roen cautiously brought up Rimer's name.
"Hmm..."
Glenn scratched his chin as he looked at Rimer carrying Raon.
"He did play the part of a proper master this time, so we'll let it slide."
"Then I'll take 'beating Lord Rimer' off the schedule."
"Do so... wait. Why was that bastard late?"
It was true that Rimer had been waiting behind a pillar and then gone out to save Raon—but he should have arrived at House Arian much earlier. Glenn found himself curious about the reason for the delay.
"Um, well..."
"He was late because he was being a degenerate."
While Roen hesitated, unable to get the words out, Sheryl parted her lips in his place.
"He said closed-door training had been hard, so he went to a tavern and drank all night, woke up in the evening, finished a full pilgrimage of the gambling dens, and only then set out. Of course he was late."
Sheryl laid out Rimer's itinerary in exhaustive, merciless detail, a chilly smile on her face.
"Even after arriving here, he found fighting the undead too much of a bother, and he didn't want to step on land saturated with deathly energy, so he loafed around up in the vines and only made his grand entrance at the very end, striking a pose."
She even recited facts Glenn already knew, stoking his anger on purpose.
A cold fury rose in Glenn's eyes, which until then had been warm and ripe as he gazed at Raon.
"Roen."
"Yes."
"The moment that degenerate returns to the house, summon him to the training grounds."
"Y-yes. Understood."
Roen let out a low breath as he looked at Rimer, who was grinning in the belief that the war was over.
The training grounds...
When the family head summoned someone to the training grounds, it meant he was going to beat them properly.
"Hahaha."
He clasped his hands as if in prayer and bowed his head toward Rimer.
"May you rest in peace."
"Hah..."
Wendy Ariane let out a ragged breath and lifted her head.
It's bright. I can see the sky.
The enormous sphere of deathly energy that until moments ago had swollen as if it would collapse this land—no, this world—had vanished, and the blue sky revealed itself.
He really did it.
Her heart hammered as if it would burst.
Just as he had so boldly declared, Raon had burned away the sphere of deathly energy packed with malice and saved the lives of everyone here.
And more than that...
He helped me grow as well.
Perhaps because she had erased the sphere of deathly energy together with Raon, she could feel that her own rank and martial power had smashed through a wall. A hollow laugh escaped her at the situation—having shattered a door she had pounded on for years without it opening, and advanced to the next realm.
Wendy swallowed dryly as she looked at Raon on Rimer's back.
How can a person like this even exist?
Raon had served as supreme commander for six days, leading this war. He hadn't slept a wink, hadn't rested, and had fought the entire time. He should have collapsed long ago—yet he had endured to the end and finished this war with his own hands.
That a twenty-year-old martial artist had accomplished a feat even a Grandmaster would struggle to achieve was both absurd and deeply moving. By now, Raon no longer even felt like the same kind of person. It was as if a halo shone from behind his back.
Rimer approached with a smile. Though his hands trembled with exhaustion, he kept a firm grip on Raon's legs so the boy wouldn't fall.
"You did well."
"Lord Raon did everything. I didn't do a thing. He would have managed even without me."
She meant it. Even if she hadn't been there, Raon would surely have erased that sphere on his own.
"That's not true."
Rimer shook his head gently.
"This kid is a stubborn mule and a real degenerate, you know."
He jerked his chin toward Raon on his back.
"This lone wolf only asks for help when he truly needs it. If you hadn't been there, he never would have been able to erase that deathly energy. You can have confidence in that."
Rimer winked with one eye, then walked toward where the others were gathered.
"Ah..."
Wendy's sword-hand trembled. Hearing the trust Raon had shown her, and Rimer's sincere words, her chest burned hot.
Then he really entrusted me with the family headship because he believed in me.
She had thought he'd made her acting head because there was no one else. But if Rimer was right, Raon had entrusted her with the position because he trusted her. She hadn't been confident she could run the family properly after suddenly becoming its head—but a little confidence began to well up.
"Raon!"
"You crazy bastard!"
"Raon. Are you okay?"
The Light Wind Squad's team leaders staggered, but they still sprinted toward Raon with everything they had.
"Vice Squad Leader!"
"He actually cut that deathly energy! Our vice squad leader is insane!"
"That guy was never not insane! The real mad dog is him!"
"Wooooooo!"
The Light Wind Squad followed their team leaders, running and cheering. Every face held both emotion and joy.
"Hah. He's become a real monster."
"His personality was already monstrous..."
Milland swept back his hair with a smile, while Morell frowned, muttering that things were going to be rough from now on.
"How do you see it?"
"I don't think I could even be his opponent now. Still, I'd like to face him again."
At the Third Prince's question, Borini Kitten tucked in his chin and clenched his fist.
"That inconsiderate bastard. Did he have to come all the way here just to show off his growth?"
Trevin clicked his tongue as he looked at Raon, who was unconscious with a faint smile on his lips.
"Hey! What about me? How is there not a single person looking for me? I saved you all!"
Rimer scowled and bellowed at the Light Wind Squad charging toward them.
Wendy clenched her fist as she looked at Raon, Rimer, and the Light Wind Squad.
The Light Wind Squad...
At first she had thought they were a deranged bunch, just as the mad-dog rumors said. But watching them now, she felt she could see the path House Arian ought to take.
Thank you.
Wendy bowed her head to the unconscious Raon.
"I will spend my life following behind you to repay this debt."
Raon frowned and opened his eyes. A slightly damp gray ceiling came into view.
Ugh...
The moment he came to, a stinging pain ran through his entire body. It wasn't just muscle and skin—pain radiated from his aura core and mana circuits as well.
I'm a wreck.
If he was in this state even with Sloth's recovery effect, he really had overdone it.
-You idiot!
As he sighed, a blue cotton candy flew into his field of view.
-That's why This King told you not to treat your body so roughly!
I didn't have a choice.
-Didn't have a choice, my foot.
Wrath muttered that it would have resolved itself without him needing to push so hard. He just didn't explain why.
But I got stronger because I pushed myself.
-Urrrgh...
When Raon smiled, Wrath let out a groan of suffering.
Shall I check how much you handed over?
-D-damn it!
As he looked at Wrath clutching his head and was about to call up the past messages, a chewing sound came from the right.
"Hm?"
He lifted his head and saw Dorian eating snacks at the table.
"Huh? Vice Squad Leader!"
Dorian didn't throw the snack he was eating—he cradled it as if it were precious treasure and walked over slowly.
"You're awake! Thank goodness!"
Declaring it a relief, he grabbed Raon's shoulder with a hand still dusted in cookie crumbs.
"Yeah..."
Raon brushed the crumbs off his shoulder and nodded.
"How long was I out?"
"Today makes exactly three days."
He pointed to the window, where the sun was beginning to set and the light was fading.
"Three days..."
After pushing himself that hard, waking in three days was on the faster side. He understood why the pain was still there.
"Anything special happen... hm?"
He tried to sit up and something caught beside him. He turned his head and found Runaan collapsed on the bed, asleep.
"Why is she here?"
"She's been sleeping here since we got back, even though it isn't even her shift. She won't come off no matter how you try to drag her."
He muttered that it was amazing she could sleep like that when her back must hurt.
"I see."
Raon smiled faintly and patted Runaan's head.
I'll have to buy her some ice cream when we get back.
-Keep your promise with This King before you eat ice cream! Start with blueberry pie...
Wrath, as if only now remembering, began calling out the menu he had been craving.
"And there is something special, actually."
"What?"
He whipped his head around from watching Wrath shout food names and dance.
"What do you mean?"
If something special had happened at House Arian, it could only be a fight with the undead. His chest began to pound with foreboding.
"Ah, it's not something the Vice Squad Leader needs to worry about."
Dorian shook his head, as if he'd read that thought, saying it wasn't a bad thing.
"Then?"
"You know how the family's executives ran away while we were fighting."
"I do."
Raon clenched his fist until his hand went white.
Those bastards deserve to die.
Wigen Arian and the executives hadn't even volunteered for the lowest service when the family was in crisis—they'd taken the household as hostages and fled. To revive this broken family, those people at least had to be found, no matter what.
"They've been caught."
"What?"
"A guest came yesterday, and somehow they brought those guys along."
Dorian said it was a peculiar and impressive guest. But that part didn't even reach Raon's ears.
This isn't the time to check stats.
I have to deal with those damned bastards first.
Wendy was family with those executives, so she couldn't bring herself to be ruthless. He would have to handle it himself.
He gripped the Heavenly Sky Sword that had been left beside the bed. Enduring the searing pain throughout his body, he rose.
"V-Vice Squad Leader?"
"Let's go."
Crimson flames burned in Raon's eyes.
"Take me to where those miserable bastards are."
"Wendy."
Wigen Arian, former head of House Arian, looked at Wendy Ariane from his kneeling position.
"Do you truly believe you can run this family?"
He had been the first to flee when the family was in crisis, yet he lifted his head with complete composure.
"The reason our family could live in such abundance was because of me and the executives. We focused on financial power, which is stronger than martial force, and that's why everyone lived in stability—and why you could swing your sword as you pleased. But..."
Wigen rolled eyes gleaming with greed.
"You people are different. You and the new executives spent the time you should have been learning to run a family just swinging swords. Even now, you have no idea how to operate this house."
"......"
Wendy couldn't answer. She bit her lip.
Wigen smacked his lips as he watched her expression.
It's working.
He'd been afraid he would die after being dragged here because of that monster, but fortunately the speech he'd prepared was landing. It was a real stroke of luck that the Raon brat was still unconscious.
"We were in the wrong, so we'll step down cleanly from the positions of family head and executives. Instead, let us support you from behind. I want to become the wings that let the family soar in a new direction."
Wigen applied pressure, then eased off gently, creating an atmosphere in which Wendy had no choice but to hesitate.
"Do you have nothing to say about abandoning the family and running away?"
Wendy asked the question she had been holding back, her voice cracking.
"That couldn't be helped. Instead, from now on I'll devote everything I have to the family."
"Yellow War Squad Leader. Please take this old man in. I missed the chance to save the family, so this time I want to offer my life."
"If you give us one more chance, we'll do our utmost to raise House Arian."
"I'll accept punishment gladly. But that can come after we've saved this broken family..."
The executives used the atmosphere Wigen had created and bowed their heads. Not a single one of them spoke of why they had fled, or what punishment they would receive.
"......"
"Wendy. Please forgive this worthless father just once."
Wendy's expression had gone cold as ice, but Wigen approached her as if he didn't notice.
"From now on I'll do my utmost to help you, and this family..."
BOOOOM!
Just as Wigen reached to take Wendy's trembling hand, the doors of the Audience Chamber slammed open as if they would shatter.
A gust of yellow smoke, and through it came Raon, wrapped in bandages and wearing a patient's gown.
"Huh?"
"L-Lord Raon!"
"Are you all right?"
Wendy and the new executives rushed to him in shock.
"I'm fine."
He nodded heavily, then approached the finance officer kneeling at the outermost edge.
"You were the finance officer, I believe."
Raon stood before the finance officer and lifted his chin.
"Do you have nothing to say about abandoning the family and running away?"
His voice cracked, still heavy with injury.
"That couldn't be helped!"
"What couldn't be helped? Did someone grab you and drag you away?"
"W-well, that..."
Struck at the heart of his excuse, the finance officer couldn't answer. His lips trembled.
"I-if you just give me a chance, I'll offer my life for the family. Please believe me just once..."
The moment Raon's words ended, the Heavenly Sky Sword was in his right hand, and a crimson thread had been drawn across the finance officer's neck.
"Huh? Huh..."
The finance officer clutched his own throat. The line thickened, and blood surged up.
"Guh..."
He collapsed with his throat split, unable even to scream properly.
Raon shook the blood from the Heavenly Sky Sword, his eyes gleaming with a killing frost.
"Next."