Chapter 470

Rector’s shoulders trembled.

‘Can I kill Glenn Zieghart?’

He would’ve immediately responded if it were a casual question, but frightening bloodlust could be felt from the alliance master’s gaze.

He was seriously asking whether he could kill Glenn or not—it wasn’t a joke.

‘I can’t win against him.’

He couldn’t win against Glenn or the alliance master in front of him. Even though they were often treated the same, those two were far ahead of him already.

Rector calmed his pounding heart.

“I’ll obey if it’s an order.”

“You’ve misunderstood my question.”

The alliance master shook his head, saying it wasn’t the answer he sought.

“I asked whether you can kill Glenn or not—by any means necessary.”

“Hmm…”

Once again, changing the subject didn’t work. His personality was as firm and straightforward as before.

“There’s a less than ten percent chance for me to kill Glenn Zieghart in my current state. It’s practically impossible to deceive him with a surprise attack, so I would never assert that I can do it with confidence.”

“I knew it.”

The alliance master calmly nodded, saying that he’d expected that answer.

“Then how about me?”

“Sorry?”

“Are you confident in killing me?”

“I’m not confident about that either.”

Rector bowed. It was true. He felt like he couldn’t kill the alliance master no matter what he tried, just like Glenn.

Glenn and the alliance master wouldn’t die unless they personally clashed against each other.

“Hmm, you are still no fun, Master of the Versatile Sword. Then how about this?”

The alliance master’s lips twisted up like the tip of a blade.

“Raon Zieghart. You should be able to bring me his head, right?”

Rector’s hand touching the ground started to tremble.

‘What is he even saying right now…?’

He almost lost his composure because he’d never expected him to order Rector to bring him Raon’s head.

However, his mind stabilized once again in a split second as he remembered Raon’s smile, which he’d seen before he’d left Zieghart.

“Alliance master…”

“A boy who just turned twenty-one is at the highest level of Master. If he can even one-sidedly defeat Mustan, he might become a Grandmaster before the age of thirty. Moreover, he is affiliated with Zieghart. There are plenty of reasons to get rid of him early.”

Rector bit the inner side of his cheek. He calmed the look in his eyes while tasting blood in his mouth.

‘I can’t be agitated now.’

His grandson, who he’d only recently discovered the existence of, had become his most precious person in the world.

He wanted to immediately cut the alliance master’s throat with his sword, but he had to suppress the urge for the sake of his grandson.

“I can do it.”

Rector stated that he could bring the man Raon’s head with a nonchalant voice, devoid of any emotion.

“You must’ve gotten close to him since you followed him all the way to Zieghart. Are you sure?”

“The alliance has the highest priority for me.”

“How reliable. However…”

The alliance master shook his hand with a lighthearted smile.

“I shouldn’t waste the last order for such a trivial matter. Moreover, I’d rather see him get a bit stronger.”

He touched the back of his own neck and looked up to the sky.

“Aren’t you curious how much stronger he’s going to get when he’s a monster who’s reached the highest level of Master at twenty-one years of age?”

“I…”

“He’s definitely going to reach transcendence. It would be a shame to kill a toy like him quickly.”

The alliance master lowered his chin. An extreme fighting spirit was reflected in his eyes, which resembled a sharp blade. His desire to fight a powerful opponent and increase his realm of swordsmanship was burning inside them.

He was simply powerful and sharp. He was literally a single sword. He was the closest human to being a sword in the entire continent.

“I’ll cease with the joke.”

The alliance master turned his eyes of a divine sword to Rector.

“This is my last order to you, Master of the Versatile Sword.”

“I hear and I obey.”

Rector went back on his knees and lowered his head.

“Open the path as the vanguard when the Holy Sword Alliance opens up once again.”

“…Are you serious?”

Rector’s lips trembled before he knew it.

“What if I am?”

“But the Master of the Versatile Sword has never joined a war in history!”

Rector shouted for the first time.

‘What is he even thinking…?’

There were many masters of the sword in the Holy Sword Alliance, but the Master of the Versatile Sword was even more special than them.

It was an extremely important job consisting of traveling throughout the continent to face and record countless swordsmanships without revealing their affiliation in order to improve the alliance’s sword techniques.

More than twenty Masters of the Versatile Sword had inherited that job, but none had ever revealed their identity and fought alongside the alliance.

The alliance master was trying to break the Holy Sword Alliance’s tradition.

“Of course, I’m aware of that fact. However, that tradition is just a consideration from the previous alliance masters. It’s their reward for the Master of the Versatile Sword for traveling their entire life, and there’s no obligation involved.”

The alliance master closed his eyes and stroked the divine sword’s emblem carved on his clothes.

“It would be a shame to simply let you retire since you are the strongest Master of the Versatile Sword in history.”

“Alliance Master…”

“You shall decide right now.”

He raised his hand. The blade of the divine sword was dwelling in his long finger.

“Do you choose death or obedience?”

Rector couldn’t respond right away. It was obviously not because he was afraid of dying.

‘I don’t mind throwing away this old life of mine. However…Raon and Sylvia.’

They were his grandson and daughter-in-law who he’d finally managed to find. He had a duty to bring happiness to them since his stupid son had parted from the world without doing his job.

‘It’s better to stay here.’

The alliance master didn’t hide the fact that he was targeting Raon. Staying in the alliance and planning for a way to protect his grandson was the correct course of action—he needed to stop his scheme.

‘Moreover…My disciple has finally learned his lesson.’

He still had a lot to teach to Mustan, who’d learned his lesson and started to follow Raon.

It was necessary to endure all hardships and find a way to save everyone.

‘I’m already ready to go to hell.’

He’d already decided to walk the path of slaughter when he returned to the alliance. He hardened his determination once again and he raised his head.

“I’ll obey.”

Rector’s eyes were engulfed by the wind of the high sky.

“Excellent choice.”

The alliance master lowered his hand and patted Rector’s shoulder.

“I’m nominating you as the Master of the Bloody Sword now.”

“…”

“The blood shall never stop flowing from your blade.” 

* * * 

After the ice cream party came to an end, Raon went to the fifth training ground’s lodgings.

Yaawn…

Wrath, lying on his head, bobbed his thick finger while yawning like a sloth.

The King of Essence’s stomach is about to burst. It’s been such a long time since the last time he was satisfied, so stop being noisy and go to sleep already.

He asked him to go back home already while rubbing his inflated belly.

He seemed to be extremely satisfied after eating all thirty-three kinds of ice cream.

‘He is always a mystery to me.’

Wrath could taste despite being a spirit, and his stomach was bulging even though nothing had entered through his mouth. Those aspects were just incomprehensible.

‘It won’t take that long.’

Hmph, the King of Essence will overlook it with his vast generosity.

Wrath’s voice was a lot gentler than usual as he shook his head. It must’ve been the effect of the ice cream.

‘It’s your belly fat that is vast, not your generosity.’

Raon was about to enter the building while pushing Wrath’s heavy body away when heard people talking to each other in small voices.

He quietly went to the source since they were familiar voices.

“Hmm?”

Rimmer, Burren, Martha, and Runaan were all inside a small training ground next to the lodging.

They must’ve been training something about their attributes since Raon caught the strong scent of wind, earth, and ice. The ground was in a complete mess.

Ice Cream Girl is also there.

‘Is this why she left so early?’

Raon had thought it was strange when Runaan had said she was going home when there were more ice cream left, and it must’ve been for training.

“Huff…”

The three team leaders exhaled roughly and wiped their sweat.

“That’s it for today.”

Rimmer shook his hand as if he were chasing away a fly.

“Just leave already.”

“Please…”

Burren bit his lip with his hands on his knees.

“Please continue a bit longer!”

“I haven’t even gotten started yet!”

Martha gritted her teeth, her eyes brimming with passion.

“Me, too.”

Runaan looked like she was a completely different person from when she was in the annex building as she nodded.

“Seriously, you all.”

Rimmer wrinkled his nose while facing their gazes.

“I told you, you shouldn’t be impatient about this.”

“But I need more…”

“You won’t be able to open the sword field faster by extending your training. You will only end up getting injured and delaying it instead.”

Green wind gathered above his finger, then spread around like a net.

“Controlling an attribute is different from controlling your body. You need to take it slower the more impatient you are. Concentration, change, and enhancement are necessary to achieve the basics for the creation of the sword field. Being hasty right now won’t change anything because the sword field is the life of the warrior personified rather than a simple technique or realm.”

The wind engulfing the area gathered around Rimmer’s fingertip once again.

“The sword field isn’t the only purpose of this training. Since it also has an influence on your mental image and martial arts, you will just end up ruining it if you overdo it.”

“Ugh…”

Martha simply frowned, unable to respond.

“You weren’t planning on achieving it in a single year to begin with. Take it easy, your goal is a lot more ambitious.”

Rimmer clapped his hands to brush off the dust with a faint smile on his face.

“You aren’t doing this because you are lazy, right?”

“O-of course not! Look at my eyes!”

The trembling of his eyes was as clear as a pond with a rock thrown in it.

“They are trembling pretty hard.”

“Are you sick?”

“Pendulums?”

Burren, Martha, and Runaan narrowed their eyes.

“Hey!”

Rimmer briskly turned his head.

“It’s not true! I’m always thinking about our Light Wind division!”

He categorically denied it while shaking his hand.

“Anyway, today’s training is over! Don’t strain yourselves since you also did your personal training!”

“I didn’t though.”

Runaan raised her hand high.

“I ate ice cream today.”

She nodded to express her desire to continue with slightly sparkling eyes.

“I don’t even know anymore! I have an appointment at the gambling house! Fuck off!”

Rimmer covered his ears and started to kick the team leaders away.

“No. I’m not leaving.”

“I want more, you lazybones!”

“Why are you still gambling when you lose every single time?!”

They scuffled for a while and the three team leaders eventually left the lodgings with frowns on their faces.

“Haa…”

Rimmer sighed while putting his palm on his forehead.

“Every day is so exhausting.”

Despite what he said, his mouth slightly upturned.

“You can come out now.”

Rimmer waved his hand towards the tree where Raon had been hiding.

Raon walked up to Rimmer. He’d noticed that Rimmer knew about his presence when the wind blew a moment ago.

“Why are you even here? It’s not like you to hide, too.”

“I didn’t want to disturb their training.”

Raon shook his head while looking in the direction where the three team leaders had left.

“Well, it’s already over.”

Rimmer shrugged his shoulders.

“I’m suffering here because they keep coming to me every night. I don’t even have any time to play around, although I don’t have money either.”

He frowned, saying that he couldn’t be happy because of them.

You pathetic shitty ears.

Wrath clicked his tongue at Rimmer.

You need to find happiness by yourself. You never have it because you are just waiting for happiness to visit you!

He raised his round hand while saying that happiness had to be earned.

‘……’

He’d been complaining about the entire world turning against him, but the ice cream must’ve been enough to cheer him up. The demon king was seriously too easy.

“So, why are you here? Your great division leader is busy because he’s about to spend some luxurious time to himself. State your business and get it done.”

Rimmer tapped on his wrist while pointing at the sky.

“I came to see you because I had a question.”

“Have you ever heard the proverb, time is gold?”

Rimmer made a circle with his thumb and index finger.

“You have to pay the appropriate price to buy my time.”

“Price?”

“The head of house must’ve rewarded you. Just give me a portion of it and…”

Rimmer softly rubbed his fingers, and Raon took out six iron boxes from his subspace pocket and put them down.

“Gasp!”

Rimmer’s eyes sparkled upon seeing the iron boxes shaking the ground with a thud.

“I-I wasn’t asking for this mu—huh?”

Rimmer was opening the iron boxes with a grin on his face when he suddenly frowned.

“This is ice cream! This one, too! Wait, are all of these ice cream?”

His jaw dropped after opening five of the six iron boxes.

Hey! Those belong to the King of Essence! Why are you giving them to Shitty Ears?!

Wrath pulled Raon’s hair out with a frown.

“My question is about the Sword Field Creation. As you are already aware, I can use both fire and ice, and I have my swordsmanship in my mental world. In this case…”

Raon started to ask the question. He seemed to be telling Rimmer that he needed to respond since the price was already paid.

“Ah…”

Rimmer’s jaw dropped as he looked at Raon.

‘He’s getting more and more insane.’

He had that feeling when Raon was making fun of the Thespian Emperor, but his mindset must’ve been becoming more and more punklike.

Even though Rimmer considered himself a punk, Raon was getting too difficult to deal with.

‘Well, I guess this is still better than before even though he’s going crazy.’

Raon previously tried to solve all problems by himself without relying on anyone else. He’d been refusing the other people’s approach—as if he were planning to leave.

However, he now considered the Light Wind division his family, and he had gained a significant amount of influence in the house.

The mental growth of his loner disciple made him feel like it wasn’t that bad for him to be a punk.

“I’m not sure which attribute I should use to create my sword field.”

Raon asked what he’d been contemplating while looking at the faint smile on Rimmer’s face.

“Hmm…”

Rimmer sat on the last ice cream box that he hadn’t opened and licked his lips.

“Actually, I didn’t have a choice. The Sword Field Creation is limited to your bloodline. It was impossible for me to create a sword field with my swordsmanship. That’s why I chose wind. However, you have more possibilities than me.”

He smiled faintly and nodded.

“You can incorporate the unrivaled martial art like the head of house or focus on attributes like me, or even achieve both at the same time even though it should take a long time.”

“What do I have to do to incorporate both of them?”

Raon immediately asked since that was the reason why he’d come to Rimmer.

“What else? You need to train.”

Rimmer chuckled.

“You must’ve heard what I told the others earlier, but the sword field is the life of a swordsman. Even though you are a genius, you can’t make it that easily. It would be faster to become a Grandmaster.”

“Hmm…”

Raon felt slightly disappointed because breaking through the wall of Grandmaster was going to be faster when he hadn’t even reached the wall yet.

“Try to incorporate your attribute in addition to the swordsmanship and sword in your mental world, since the sword field is made from the mental world. I believe you can achieve both of them.”

Rimmer asserted without hesitation. Raon felt like he could really do it because Rimmer was saying it.

“I understand.”

“And…”

When Raon was about to respond, Rimmer raised his hand.

“Even if the sword field isn’t complete, you might be able to use the incomplete sword field beforehand, just like me.”

“Incomplete?”

“Remember the Eye of the Storm that I showed you in the beginning? That was incomplete.”

Rimmer wagged his finger, saying that the Eye of the Storm that he’d displayed way back in the past wasn’t a completed martial art.

“You got your answer, right? And you can take these back.”

He pointed at the ice cream boxes that he was sitting on.

“Don’t you need them?”

“It’s not like I can sell them, and it wouldn’t be that expensive even if I did.”

“But I recommend you still take them.”

“I’m not poor enough to accept them!”

Rimmer turned his head away, telling him to take them back already.

“I see.”

Raon nodded and opened the lid of the last iron box that Rimmer had been sitting on.

Unlike the other ice cream boxes, golden light was radiating from inside.

“Huh…?”

Rimmer’s jaw dropped as he looked at the brilliant golden light.

“Wh-what?! Why are there gold coins and gems here?!”

“As I said before, I was planning to share some with you since I’ve received a lot from the head of house.”

“Huh? Then…”

“But since you don’t need them because you aren’t that poor, I’ll have to take them back.”

Raon immediately returned the ice cream boxes in his subspace pocket.

“Hey! Wait a moment! Lord Raon! Vice division leader, Sir! I’m dirt poor! Please spare some money to help this beggar!”

Don’t give the King of Essence’s ice cream to someone else!

Raon ignored Rimmer and Wrath, who were both clinging on him, and closed his eyes.

‘It’s going to take longer than I thought. However…I might be able to achieve the incomplete sword field before surpassing the wall.’

***

If you find any errors or have suggestions, please feel free to provide feedback.

Thank you for reading!

[Author – Writing Ant, 글개미]

[Translator – Kyangi]

[Proofreader – Harley]