The King's Shadow
Rimer had arrived at the outskirts of the village before the trainees, even though he had departed late.
He had naturally identified the Eden scouts occupying the mountain and watched them, pondering.
Should he eliminate the threats or observe to let the children grow?
'Should I trust Raon just once?'
Actually, without Raon, he wouldn't have needed to hesitate and would have wiped out the Eden completely.
They were truly madmen who would sacrifice their own lives for their goals.
But this Raon guy was a genius whose abilities couldn't even be fathomed.
Through this mission, perhaps Raon and the trainees could grow even more.
'I should observe.'
As a master, if his disciples could grow, it was right to open the path for them.
Rimer kept his eyes on the trainees heading to the village, not taking them off even for a moment, to move at any time.
And in this pursuit, Hong An-gwi from Eden was also there.
'Can I really not notice that guy?'
Hong An-gwi was observing from a distance, keeping the kids far away, in preparation for any unknown dangers.
Even if there was a slight sound, the kids at this level couldn't detect it.
But.
Raon, as if sensing something, passed command to Burren and began to subtly release his aura to observe the surroundings.
'This guy is really...'
It was more surprising than ever.
The ability to detect auras using aura around the surroundings is called gi-gam, and Raon's gi-gam was developed in an eerie way.
'Hexagonal.'
Without martial arts, aura, stamina, mental strength, and even gi-gam. Raon was a gemstone possessing all the talents a swordsman should have.
Rimer calmed his excitement and focused on the movements of Eden.
Contrary to expectations, Eden didn't attack the trainees but threw monsters at them to let them gain some points and then retreat.
'They're hiding something.'
It seemed like they weren't targeting the kids, but something here, not the coach protecting the kids.
They were afraid of Zieghart's support.
Probably, after sending the kids back, they would have to search the area thoroughly.
Raon, despite knowing someone was observing him, didn't move. He became one of the ordinary trainees, killed the monsters, received cheers from the villagers, and left the village.
'Hmm...'
Is he retreating?
That wasn't bad.
Realizing the difference in their own and the opponent's strength and retreating was also a wise warrior's attitude.
However, after that, Raon's movements completely deviated from Rimer's predictions.
Raon stopped as soon as Hong An-gwi left, revealed the truth to everyone, and immediately requested support from the branch.
Returning to the village, he saw the monsters attacking the village and predicted that it was Eden.
Rimer, hearing Raon's words, clicked his tongue.
Using the observer and monsters to reach Eden. Raon had surpassed even the criminal's category with his brain.
Raon waited, and Burren and Runaan drew their swords and charged to save the village.
'This is what kids do.'
The trainees rushing to save people showed the appearance of heroes and Zieghart's swordsmen.
They fought fiercely against the approaching green ghosts and protected the village.
However.
What caught Rimer's attention was not them, but Raon.
After realizing that the enemy was hiding, he concealed his presence and didn't reveal himself until the end.
It wasn't patience that could be seen at 15 years old.
It was the appearance of a king looking down on everyone from the throne, not a swordsman fighting in front.
'Kingly quality.'
As before, Raon had the quality to become the king of Zieghart.
The fierce battle between the green ghosts and the kids continued, and according to Raon's instructions, Marta moved to counterattack from behind and ultimately created the victory.
But the situation changed rapidly when Nokjeon-gwi, hiding deep in the mountains, appeared.
The trainees couldn't withstand Nokjeon-gwi's strike and fell, vomiting blood.
It was natural.
Nokjeon-gwi was a strong one who had reached the Expert realm.
Rimer drew his sword and stood ready beside the kids to move at any time.
'Is he not moving even now?'
Raon didn't appear even when Burren, Runaan, and Marta were in danger of death.
'Can't be helped.'
When deciding to step up and stop Nokjeon-gwi, Raon moved.
It was truly nimble movement like a shadow. He approached without anyone knowing and swung his sword towards Nokjeon-gwi's neck.
'Heh...'
A chuckle came out. He couldn't cut the neck, but his sword skill had reached the level of cutting arms.
Even though Nokjeon-gwi lost his arm, he wielded powerful fighting spirit and led the battle favorably, but he fell before Raon's sword that had reached a new realm.
'Hahaha!'
Rimer couldn't hold back and burst into laughter. Truly a monster. Raon Zieghart had the quality to become the continent's greatest swordsman and the conqueror.
He had to protect him somehow and nurture him properly.
'Truly an endless guy.'
He laughed and stood up. Now it was his turn to do his own work.
After Nokjeon-gwi died, Rimer eliminated all the Hong An-gwi escaping the mountain. To prevent the information here from being known.
After confirming that there were no threats by perfectly circling the village and the mountain, he returned.
Raon, who had been unconscious, woke up, and perhaps due to the enlightenment from the battle, the guy had grown even more. Perhaps he could use the sword qi now.
'Even if it's like that, I might not notice.'
With Raon's gi-gam, even if he hid clumsily, he would find himself, so he kept a bit further away.
'Shall I go back now.'
When the sun rises, the reinforcements summoned by Crane will arrive, and since there are no threats, it seemed it was time to go back.
Actually, more than anything, he wanted to immediately tell Glenn about Raon's achievements.
'Well then...'
Rimer checked the kids and returned to the family. When heading to Zieghart with light footsteps, a fierce aura exploded from the village.
'This aura...'
It was not only an aura he had felt before, but a fierce qi that had reached the Master realm.
'Damn it!'
Rimer raised his full power and ran to the village. The speed was enormous, but it felt slow like a snail.
Every time a loud noise came from the village, his heart ached.
While running like that, he saw Runaan, Burren, and Marta.
Seeing the kids being attacked by two ogres, he drew his sword.
Chwaaak!
With a sword carrying wind, he cut down both ogres at the same time.
Rimer asked with his eyes where Raon's location was before their heads fell.
Runaan pointed to the village with her eyes.
In the eyes of the child with little emotional expression, there was too much contained.
Rimer gritted his teeth and jumped into the village.
In the middle, green ghosts and monsters rushed in, but he cut them all and headed to the center.
And he was shocked.
Raon was enduring the attack of Eden's monster, Gwanghyeol-gwi, to the end with that small, young body.
His left arm was broken and dangling, his waist was torn, and while dragging his legs, he didn't let go of the sword.
It was touching and awe-inspiring.
Rimer clearly realized.
At this moment.
He would follow and protect this young child. No, this young king for the rest of his life.
Huuung!
So, his new determination's sword blocked Gwanghyeol-gwi's fist.
"You're late."
Raon smiled as if he knew he would come.
"Sorry. I overslept."
Rimer answered as usual.
"Now leave it to me."
Saying that, he pushed away Gwanghyeol-gwi's fist.
Kwaaaa!
The sight of the rock-like fist being pushed by the thin sword was like a spectacle.
"Zieghart's Light Sword!"
"Long time no see. Baldy."
Even in front of Gwanghyeol-gwi's ferocious ganggi, Rimer didn't lose his smile. Like meeting a friend after a long time, he waved his hand.
"How did you get here!"
"I can't stand seeing cute little sprouts being trampled by a bald guy like you."
"Send a guy like you on the mission, Zieghart has really fallen!"
Gwanghyeol-gwi spread his red ganggi left and right with his young fists.
Kwaaaaa!
Red waves surged, and a terrifying storm of ganggi pushed in.
"Hup!"
Rimer swung his green aura sword in an X shape. The ganggi flowed to the right like water in a drain.
"With that much ganggi barely flowing, the rumor that your dantian is broken and you're ruined is true."
"It's nonsense. Change the news. Your helmet squad still has slow news."
"Even if you look at it, your balance is broken."
Gwanghyeol-gwi laughed with a grin. It was just an emotional expression, but the air seemed to vibrate.
"What to do? Not a rescue squad, but a puppy that will be eaten together."
He sneered at Raon, who couldn't even stand properly behind.
"Whether puppy or Cerberus guarding hell, I'll see it to the end!"
Rimer raised the tip of the sword that had gone to the right. A fierce wind arose, and it slashed Gwanghyeol-gwi's shoulder.
Piiik!
A vein burst from Gwanghyeol-gwi's shoulder, but as if time was reversed, it healed instantly.
"Your previous sword had a deadly killing intent that was hard to endure. But now it's not."
Gwanghyeol-gwi kicked the ground and pierced the wind wall that Rimer had spread.
"You're weak. With your sword, you can't beat me!"
With that, he slammed his fist down tightly.
Chiiing!
Rimer couldn't block the power strike head-on and swung his sword. The green aura spinning like a windmill became a thick shield, but it couldn't withstand Gwanghyeol-gwi's ganggi.
Pasasak!
The green aura shattered, and Gwanghyeol-gwi's fist fell.
But Rimer was not there. Using the aura shield as bait, he threw it and dug into Gwanghyeol-gwi's left side and thrust his sword.
Pwoeok!
Rimer's sharp sword thrust entered from below, aiming at Gwanghyeol-gwi's heart.
"With that much, it's not enough!"
Gwanghyeol-gwi roared and shrank his body, but Rimer's sword that had pierced his ribs stood upright.
"You've gotten weak while I got even stronger. The difference in strength has perfectly reversed!"
"Tsk!"
Rimer clicked his tongue and pulled back his sword. It was an appropriate action because if left as is, the sword might break.
"Kahaha!"
Gwanghyeol-gwi let out a roar and swung his fist. The more powerful power strike pushed, the ground screamed.
"Brute."
Rimer couldn't match the power strike head-on and used footwork to evade.
'This is...'
Raon focused his gaze not on Gwanghyeol-gwi's wild fist techniques, but on Rimer's footwork.
'He looks exactly like a leaf riding the wind.'
Rimer lightly moved his body like a flower petal riding the wind and evaded Gwanghyeol-gwi's fist.
It was the appearance as if he had maximized the movements he had shown when fighting Gwanghyeol-gwi.
And the timing of the stealthily thrusting swords in between was perfect.
If Rimer's sword had young aura as ganggi, the fight would have ended long ago.
'But...'
Even though the attack didn't land, Rimer's expression was still relaxed. As if showing off, he fought at close range with Gwanghyeol-gwi.
'Wait, no way!'
Raon opened his eyes wide. Seeing Rimer's eyes moving, he realized his intention.
'He's showing it to me.'
He was giving him combat education even at this moment. He wasn't in his right mind.
"What if I can't catch the weakened you? You're not going to steal my helmet, are you?"
"Shut up!"
Gwanghyeol-gwi launched a power strike with eyes filled with madness. Rimer, not daring to fight back against the massive energy in the fist, retreated backward.
Kwaaang!
One fist from the fist collapsed a village building and dug the ground. It was power like seeing a giant from ancient legends.
"Properly fight! Zieghart's Light Sword!"
Gwanghyeol-gwi, as if surrendering to anger, chased Rimer with instinctive movements.
Kwaaaa!
The movements were simple, but with power and speed quickening, the distance between them gradually narrowed.
"Tsk, no choice."
Rimer stopped and glanced back slightly. Smiling while looking at Raon's gaze.
"Since the textbook has gone out of control, today's education has to end with this."
"You crazy bastard!"
"Watch well. Raon."
Before Raon could answer, Rimer's words continued.
"This is how Zieghart fights, and this is the realm you have to achieve."
Rimer's sword pierced the sky, and his left hand pointed to the ground.
"Sword Realm Manifestation."
His voice was as if echoing from the sky while surging from deep inside the ground.
"Sword World."
The world changed with that declaration that rang like an incantation.