A Step of the Heart

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A night when a blue moon gazed down upon the world.

Raon stood in the clearing and unwound the bandages wrapped around his arms and legs.

He hadn't recovered completely, but the flesh had nearly filled back in. Starting his training shouldn't be a problem.

Alright then.

He drew up the aura of the Cultivation of Ten Thousand Flames and kicked off the ground in a sliding burst.

In an instant, Raon — who had been standing in the clearing — arrived near the lake. It was a burst of footwork so swift even his shadow failed to follow, yet his expression was anything but bright.

"Tsk."

Raon clicked his tongue at length and drew his legs together.

That's not it.

The first step Glenn had shown him had been vast enough to reach anywhere on the continent, free enough to accomplish any movement imaginable.

It was as different as heaven and earth from the Supreme Harmony Footwork he had just performed.

He called it a footwork that could do anything.

Glenn had named the Supreme Harmony Footwork omnipotence itself — ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a technique of infinite application. Arrogant and proud as the claim had been, Raon couldn't refute it after seeing it with his own eyes.

This isn't the time to think about speed or power.

His own strength was less than a speck of dust compared to Glenn's. This wasn't the time to imitate the man. It was time to lay the foundation for a greater picture.

Again, then.

Raon circulated the Cultivation of Ten Thousand Flames and stepped through the Supreme Harmony Footwork once more. Slow, but heavy — like the charge of a savage bison.

"That's not it either."

He shook his head and reset his stance. Repeat, repeat, and repeat again. He worked the Supreme Harmony Footwork until the moon collapsed and the sun rose.

"Damn it..."

Raon frowned at the rising sun. Even with a talent that boosted his learning ability, mastering the Supreme Harmony Footwork was no easy feat.

Honestly, he felt as though he hadn't even grasped a clue yet.

No. Of course it wouldn't be easy.

The Supreme Harmony Footwork was a movement art containing the martial insight of Glenn, the strongest man on the continent. An absolute martial study like that was never going to open its doors so readily.

"This King even had his sleep disturbed by your training, and you still haven't mastered that footwork? It's so pathetic This King might weep."

Wrath, who had been silent all night, burst from the bracelet with a sneer.

"This King attained enlightenment the moment he laid eyes on that footwork, yet the inferiority of humans is truly pitiable."

"Yeah. You're amazing."

Raon let out a short sigh and sank to the ground. Fatigue rolled in — unsurprising, given that he had trained through the night in a body that still hadn't fully recovered.

"Hmph. A worm crawling on the dirt trying to look up at the sky — of course it's difficult. A bug should look at a sky that befits a bug."

A sky that befits a bug...

Raon muttered Wrath's insult under his breath and looked toward Bukmang Mountain, rising behind the Annex.

Come to think of it...

Rimer had said something similar on Bukmang Mountain. When they had spoken of attributes, he had told Raon that how his own attributes flowed was something only he could decide.

Then is this footwork the same?

He thought through the Supreme Harmony Footwork again. Glenn's version had transcended something. It hadn't been a footwork of this world — it had been mysterious enough that a single step seemed ready to leap across time and space.

I'm not at that level. And I don't even want to be.

He shook his head. What he wanted wasn't anything so unreal.

Just two things. Protecting the people of this Annex, and driving a blade into Derus Robert's throat. That would be enough.

And for that...

Raon straightened his back and closed his eyes. He thought of the people he had to protect no matter when or how, and of the bastard he would kill even if this body were torn apart — and he took a step.

A different resonance.

A violent current that began in the mana circuits of his soles pierced through his entire body like a thunderbolt splitting the heavens. Freedom filled the flesh that stretched forward.

A picture of his own was being drawn.

A footstep engraved with the freedom to protect those he held dear and to snap his enemy's neck filled in the foundation of that picture.

Raon opened his eyes. His irises burned with a clarity like the rising sun.

He lowered his gaze to the ground. His body had not moved after that first step — but his heart had.

This step was the Heart. A martial study that could only be achieved by pouring one's heart into it.

The sketch of the Supreme Harmony Footwork he had sought to complete today was finished in a single instant.

Raon clenched both fists tight. Having mastered the Supreme Harmony Footwork he had thought he would never obtain, a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sense of accomplishment and elation arrived at twice their usual intensity.

As if on cue, the moment he acquired the Supreme Harmony Footwork, the learning ability that had been aiding his progress vanished.

Watching the sun climb slowly into the sky, it seemed the talent had been a one-night gift, just as he'd expected.

Good thing I came out right away.

Without that ability, he wouldn't have acquired the Supreme Harmony Footwork in a year, let alone a single night. Setting aside his injuries and coming out to train had been the right call.

"What in the..."

Wrath's cold aura shuddered violently, like a candle in the wind.

"What did you just do? How, in that short a time?!"

"Your words were the key."

"The key?"

"You said it yourself. A bug should look at a sky that befits a bug."

"And what of it?"

"Exactly that. I have my own will and my own goal, and Glenn has his. I didn't need to copy him as he was. So I poured the will I wanted to achieve into that footwork."

He muttered it with a thoroughly insufferable look on his face, as if to say and that was all it took.

"Even so, that footwork was not something to be mastered so easily."

"You're right. Your system boosting my ability to acquire the footwork helped a great deal. Come to think of it, both of those were thanks to you. I really am grateful."

"Khrrrk — This King did no such—"

Wrath's cold aura swelled a livid, furious blue, as if it might explode at any second.

"Don't get so mad. I was only telling the truth."

Raon smiled faintly and wiggled his fingers. He was just about to needle Wrath a little more, to make that rage properly erupt, when—

"Raon!"

Sylvia came flying through the window at the back of the Annex. Her agility was no different from Rimer's.

"I told you to rest! And what is this?!"

"Ugh."

Raon let out a sigh. The monarch of the Demon Realm didn't scare him — but he couldn't stand against his mother.

Raon was dragged to Sylvia's room, following a face even more furious than Wrath's.

"Raon. What did Mom tell you?"

"W-well..."

Raon scratched the back of his head and avoided Sylvia's eyes.

"I distinctly told you to rest from training until your injuries healed!"

"I feel like maybe you did..."

He remembered her saying it with perfect clarity, but he turned his head and pretended otherwise.

"You little—!"

Sylvia folded her arms and scrunched up the bridge of her nose.

Ugh...

When Sylvia got angry, it sat worse in his chest than fighting the Blood-Crazed Demon. That simply being scolded could be this hard was something his own common sense couldn't quite grasp.

"Raon."

Sylvia bent at the waist to meet his eyes. A gaze filled with worry and pity. Raon found that look so burdensome he lowered his head.

"Yeah."

"I know why you throw yourself into training like that."

She stroked his shoulder as she went on.

"You want to get stronger fast because you're worried about Mom and this Annex."

Raon's lips trembled faintly. He said nothing. Was it because she was his mother, or because they had spent so much time together? Sylvia knew exactly what he had been thinking.

Of course, that isn't all of it.

Beyond protecting Sylvia and the people of the Annex, the fact that he was also driven by vengeance was something no one would know.

"Thank you. And I'm sorry. It's all Mom's fault that you ended up thinking that way."

"That's..."

"You have no idea how happy I was every time I heard you'd become the top trainee, that you'd won your spars, that you'd done something great on a mission. But..."

Sylvia pressed her lips together and kept stroking his shoulder.

"You don't have to do those things for me. Mom already told you. Don't worry about us — do what you want to do, for yourself."

She smiled as she said it. A smile without a single crease in it. Words that held her true feelings. And because of that, they struck even deeper.

"I'll say it again. Mom is happier now than she has ever been, so you don't need to push yourself. Raon, walk at a pace that fits your own stride."

The truth was, his injuries were more than eighty percent healed. In his current condition, moving his body to some degree would actually help. He knew that, and so did Sylvia.

But looking into her eyes, the words of refusal wouldn't come out.

"...Alright."

Raon nodded, his heart rolling in his chest.

"That's a promise?"

"Yeah."

"Good!"

Sylvia clapped her hands and stood. Unlike a moment ago, she was beaming.

"Everyone come in!"

"Yes!"

At her call, the door opened, and Helen and all the maids of the Annex filed inside.

"Wh-what?"

Raon's mouth fell open. He had known the maids were outside — he hadn't expected them to be summoned in.

"You all heard that, right? From today on, if you see Raon training or using his body, you report to me immediately."

"Yes, Madam!"

The maids bowed their heads with bright smiles.

"Ha."

Raon shook his head slowly and let out a sigh.

"I got played..."

"Kuhahaha! Seeing you get caught like that is so refreshing This King could weep!"

"Hah..."

Burren spat out a sigh as heavy as lead.

My head's spinning.

Whenever he thought of that day they had clashed with Eden, his face still went red. He had been all voice and no action — he hadn't done a thing.

The thought that he would have died if not for Raon left him with nothing but shame and embarrassment.

"I should at least move my body."

Not wanting to run into anyone, he headed for the small training ground set up in a corner of the Main House.

It was a modest yard, but it was kept immaculately. Burren drew his sword and brought it straight down.

The sound of the blade roughly splitting the wind eased a little of the tightness in his chest. Feeling a measure of satisfaction, he swung his sword without pause and worked through his footwork.

He didn't know how much time had passed.

When he came back to himself and lifted his head, a few swordsmen and trainees had appeared in the training ground.

"Hah..."

Burren wiped the sweat running down his brow with his sleeve and sheathed his sword.

The stray thoughts are gone.

Moving his body had been the right answer. Unlike before, nothing at all was crowding his mind.

Time to head back...

He turned, meaning to return to the Heavy Martial Palace, when—

"Lord Burren!"

"It's been a while!"

The collateral-line boys who had been too wounded in their pride after failing the exam at the 5th Training Ground to even set foot in the 6th came walking over.

"After everything you went through, you're already training?"

"That's Lord Burren for you."

The branch-family boys let out admiring breaths, their eyes shining.

"I just came out because I felt restless."

"Restless... Ah! Of course!"

The broad-foreheaded boy on the right narrowed his eyes and nodded.

"So that story was wrong after all!"

"What story?"

"The rumor that Raon killed the Jade Lightning Demon and fought the Blood-Crazed Demon. That was a lie, right?"

"I thought so too. There's no way a sneaky bastard like that cut down the Jade Lightning Demon and bought time for everyone else to run."

"Instructor Rimer clearly handled everything and dumped the credit on Raon. Instructor Rimer likes that guy, after all."

Burren hadn't said a word, and yet the two of them were already certain Raon had lied.

"It's honestly pathetic. Those people in the Annex have no shame at—"

"Hey."

Burren bared his teeth and glared at the two trainees. At that murderous presence, the boys flinched and could only blink.

"Do we look like some ragtag bunch that hands out merit without even investigating properly? Is that how you see House Zieghart?"

"Huh?"

"Ah, th-that's..."

"Raon Zieghart cut down the Jade Lightning Demon, and he didn't take a single step back in front of the Blood-Crazed Demon. If it hadn't been for him, not one of the trainees — myself included — would have survived."

"Urgh!"

The branch-family boys wilted under Burren's snarl and sank to the ground.

"If anyone else runs their mouth like that, bring them to me. I'll shut their snouts myself."

"Y-yes!"

"We're sorry!"

He glared at the trembling trainees a moment longer, then left the training ground.

"Ah..."

On his way to the Heavy Martial Palace, Burren stopped walking and looked up at the sky.

So that was it.

He understood now why he had felt so restless, why his insides had churned like that.

I still hadn't accepted him.

He had seen how hard Raon worked, and he had given everything he had to catch up.

And whenever he thought he had done enough, Raon had run even further — faster than him, farther than him.

In the sparring match against the Owen Kingdom, in the live combat drill against the orcs, and on this last mission as well, Burren had never accomplished anything of note. Raon, meanwhile, had always put on an overwhelming performance all by himself.

It was jealousy...

Quiet, yet a natural leader. A man who saw through every situation, and whose martial strength was outstanding on top of it.

For all his talk of catching up, he had been jealous of Raon's ability on the inside.

"Hahaha!"

A laugh came out on its own. As long as you were human, jealousy was inevitable. Once he admitted it, his chest felt lighter.

I was never that big a man.

But he had no intention of letting this ugly emotion show. He would keep it in his heart and use it as fuel to catch up to Raon.

I said it, didn't I. I don't give up.

Burren bit his lip. With a stride that felt a little lighter, he headed back to the Heavy Martial Palace.

"Young master. You're not going off to train, are you?"

The moment Raon stepped out of his room, Helen came up to him with a smile.

"I'm not..."

Raon shook his head and walked toward the lobby.

"Young master. Where are you going?"

Another maid inspected his clothes with sharp eyes.

"Just going for a walk."

"Mm. Go ahead, then."

He waved her off, opened the door, and stepped outside.

"Young master? Don't tell me you're going to train..."

"I'm not."

Even the person wiping the windows outside the Annex brought up training the instant they saw him.

"Young master..."

"Training..."

Everyone he met on the path to the garden behind the Annex kept asking where he was going and what he was going to do. To a tiresome degree.

"I'm just going for a walk! A walk!"

He scowled at the maids hanging laundry and fled into the garden.

"Ugh!"

Raon let out a sigh. He had walked straight into Sylvia's trap. He would never have fallen for it with anyone else — but with her, he went weak in every possible way.

This is going to be a problem...

The maids, thinking this was their chance, were hiding here and there watching him.

If he so much as stepped through a piece of footwork in this state, Sylvia would pop out like the bird from a cuckoo clock.

Ah, well.

At least this had happened after he had already acquired the Supreme Harmony Footwork. If he had been stuck like this while the acquisition talent was still active, he really would have done nothing but sigh.

Clearing my head once in a while isn't so bad.

He sat on a garden bench and enjoyed a rare stretch of leisure. Once they realized he wasn't going to move, even the watching maids' gazes disappeared.

"Y-young master!"

He had been sitting there in a daze for some time, enjoying the cool breeze and the smell of the grass, when a maid's voice rang out from the direction of the Annex.

"Th-there's trouble."

He opened his eyes and turned his head. A maid was running toward him, on the verge of tears.

"Hm?"

At her expression and her urgent voice, Raon stood up from the bench.

"L-Lord Raden Zieghart has come to visit."

"Raden?"

He had heard the name. The son of Balder, Glenn's fourth child — and he had recently earned merit and returned to the house.

"Why is he here?"

"I-I don't really know. The moment he arrived, he started causing trouble with Madam..."

He didn't hear the rest. Only two words reached him: Madam, and causing trouble.

"Where is that bastard."

Raon's gaze sank dark, as if it had returned to his days as an assassin.