Chapter 59
Chapter 59
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Dante's Arrival
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Early dawn morning.
Whoosh, whoosh.
The sound of swords swinging echoed through Rasiel's training grounds.
Whoosh, whoosh.
It wasn't just one or two people making the noise.
Hyah!
The candidates who had returned yesterday.
They had all gathered, swinging their swords and conducting their training.
Rasiel's organization members watching the scene wondered if the candidates were just tense.
After all, today was the day Dante would arrive, and it was common to see them training to shake off nerves before the decisive clash.
Tap, tap.
But they soon realized that wasn't the case.
The candidates' movements and eyes proved this wasn't some one-day special routine.
And they were right.
Swish!
It wasn't a one- or two-day thing.
Every day, every day.
As naturally as stretching upon waking, the candidates swung swords, thrust daggers, and loosed arrows.
Hyah!
As if their breach of Rasiel's main gate had been a lie, their training didn't look threatening at all.
But each motion, each action.
'They're all the same?'
Revealed the same breathing, the same trajectories.
"I've... seen this before."
One of the onlookers spoke up.
"I had business at the main house once, and the main house's warriors were training with those exact eyes and form."
The candidates were performing it naturally, as if it were second nature.
The exchange match with Dante.
It was something even everyone in Rasiel was interested in.
Though they were all under Demorus's umbrella, they were still the three major organizations that had to compete.
Dante had been Rasiel's rival for ages.
"...Really."
But expectations weren't high.
They knew what their own candidates were like.
They'd heard the rumors about Dante.
They had simply set aside all hopes and humbly awaited that day.
"Hey... really..."
So they could calmly accept defeat when Rasiel's candidates lost.
"We can win this?"
But seeing this, long-buried emotions stirred.
"Are we actually going to win?"
They could do it.
Such hope.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
It made the hearts of everyone watching the training pound.
The candidates sweating like rain despite repeating mundane motions.
"Hey."
Sein, who had been lounging idly nearby, sat up and beckoned the organization members.
"Did you... call for us?"
The natural aura of dignity and charisma made them automatically use honorifics.
"What're you all staring at?"
"Oh... sorry if we were rude. We couldn't help it."
"Nah."
The corner of Sein's mouth twisted up.
His teeth gleamed white.
"I'm asking if you're just gonna watch."
"......?"
"Wanna spar with the kids?"
"......!"
Sein pointed at a few candidates and said.
"But... is that okay?"
Rasiel's organization members were all confident in their skills.
There was even a saying that one of Rasiel's maids could single-handedly raze an entire village in District 10.
They were all seasoned in combat.
That's why they couldn't hold back.
"But Dante's coming today..."
"Psh, who cares about that."
They'd also taken a hit to their pride from the news of the main gate's breach.
"Alright, we'll take you up on it."
Eager at the chance to face off against the candidates, they stepped forward.
The candidates who would be their opponents had already lined up naturally in front of them.
"Oh, and by the way..."
Sein raised a wooden sword, signaling the start of the spar.
"Our kids don't know the meaning of 'go easy.'"
Bam!
In an instant, one organization member went flying.
*
*
*
A procession of unadorned carriages.
But their stark simplicity was so aggressively martial that they evoked war chariots rather than carriages.
Neigh!
Horses clad in armor let out long cries as the carriages came to a halt.
On one side of a carriage, a large emblem was emblazoned, conveying how proudly they carried themselves.
"Still all flash and no substance, I see."
The man stepping down from the carriage.
"Disembark."
At his command, dozens of carriages flung their doors wide open simultaneously.
Rohan Demorus.
He was the guild master of Dante.
Clank, clank.
The sound of armor began echoing before Rasiel's main gate.
The onlookers had long since scattered after spotting Dante's emblem.
"No welcoming party, huh."
"That's their pride, no doubt."
A young man who had sidled up beside Rohan said.
"What else does Rasiel have besides putting on airs of false pride?"
"Smooth talker. Guys without skill tend to lose their tongues for less."
Heh.
Rohan smiled.
"But you've got the skill to back it up, so that's something to boast about."
"Thank you."
But as if it had never happened, the smile vanished from Rohan's face.
"You're flattering me now, but I hope the day comes when I have to do the same to you."
When the man beside him ascended higher than Rohan himself.
- To the pinnacle of Demorus.
If he stood at its center, even Rohan would have to grovel and fawn in ways he couldn't now.
Being the supreme of Demorus was something that could force even those without knees to bend.
"I'll keep that in mind."
Clank, clank.
Meanwhile, the carriages were unloading people like they were emptying everything they had.
"Are the kids ready?"
"What's there to prepare?"
"Damos."
At Rohan's voice, the young man called Damos flinched and bowed his head.
"Don't underestimate Rasiel."
"......"
"Rasiel exists under the name of Demorus as well. Its value deserves recognition."
The young man said nothing.
"You'll feel defiant."
Rohan knew it was Damos's rebellion.
Knew it was his refusal to acknowledge Rasiel.
"But you'll come to accept it."
Rohan had already visited Rasiel once before.
And that day, he had seen the owner of the name stirring up the back alleys lately.
"Sein Demorus. That guy's the real deal in Rasiel."
Sein.
"No need to worry."
Damos lifted his head.
"Whether it's Sein or whoever, they're all the same to me. Just humans."
He spoke as if he himself had transcended humanity.
"I hope that confidence doesn't turn into arrogance."
Rohan seemed to acknowledge it.
And finally.
Step.
Dozens of figures formed ranks behind Rohan's back.
Dante's combatants.
And candidates.
The sight alone exuded immense pressure and terror—that was the value of the name Dante.
Step, step.
They advanced toward Rasiel's main gate.
Gulp.
The guards swallowed hard and took positions.
They had seen it already, but they had to endure.
Had to hold back the fear of retreating.
"I'm Rohan Demorus of Dante. Here for the exchange match."
Rohan's words felt like a thousand-pound weight.
"Open the gate."
"Welcome to Rasiel."
Creeeak!
Rasiel's main gate began to open.
*
*
*
Step! Step!
The Dante procession, led by Rohan, marched like soldiers heading into battle.
Weighty.
Solemn.
And.
Boom!
Destruction.
If anything embodied all that, it was their very appearance.
Rasiel organization members lined the sides.
A psychological standoff, neither yielding an inch.
That was the opening to the exchange match.
Pretending leisure despite none to spare.
Feigning confidence despite the fear.
"Good."
Rohan seemed pleased by it.
"This is Demorus."
Demorus.
In the end, all existed under that one name.
Knowing each must uphold its own worth, Rohan said as much.
Halt.
Rohan stopped, clenching his fist.
The procession halted in unison behind him.
"You're seeing a lot of me lately."
A voice came from the opposite side.
There stood Rasiel's master, Alman.
"Seeing you for a happy occasion—no reason to fear."
"Wonder where that crybaby from back in the day went."
"......"
It was the first time.
The iron mask of Rohan's face seemed to crack.
"On days when the family head chewed you out..."
"Enough."
Damos cut in.
"This is Dante's master. Show some respect."
"Oh? So you're the brat Rohan brags about."
Twitch.
A crack formed on Damos's face too.
Brat? He'd never heard such an insult.
"Feeling offended?"
"I'm a candidate of Demorus too, and a soldier in place of Dante. I ask for your respect. Master Alman."
"That's why you're a brat. Let's see..."
At that moment.
Rumble!
Vast mana surged from Alman's body like a tidal wave.
This wasn't the affable Alman people usually saw.
"You don't know when to hold your tongue, do you?"
In Damos's eyes.
In everyone's eyes.
Alman looked like a demon.
Churn.
His stomach roiled; he felt like vomiting.
It was.
'A monster.'
No different from a monster wearing human skin.
Rumble!
But as Rohan unleashed his own mana, Alman's form seemed to revert to normal.
"This is a place for the kids' exchange. Alman."
Rohan, masked in iron once more, said.
"No more pointless antics. And Damos."
"Yes, Master."
"Apologize to Master Alman."
"......!"
Rohan was firm.
"I'll apologize."
"Fine. Can't blame the brat entirely when the one's who failed to raise him properly is at fault. I'll let it slide."
"......"
Damos's face drained to a sickly blue.
"Whew, our master's got a sharper tongue than I thought."
All eyes turned at the sudden voice.
Snow-white hair.
Burning red eyes.
But what stood out most intensely was.
"Tell me about it. Who goes yapping like a dog? I'd have cut it off."
The fact that nothing could be sensed from him at all.
"Feels like muttering that to myself for some reason."
Heh, heh heh.
Laughter began bubbling up from somewhere.
Dante's faces twisted.
"Anyway, welcome. Dante."
Alman stepped in to defuse the situation.