Chapter 696

"You're not postponing the date, but bringing it forward?"

Rimmer's mouth dropped open as he looked at Raon's calm eyes.

"Yes. Usually, when something dangerous happens, people postpone the schedule. Rarely do they think about moving it up."

Raon nodded as he looked at the bewildered Rimmer.

"I aim to hold the duel to the death on December 31st, with that in mind."

Saying this, he wrote down the date, December 31st, on a note.

"Well, that's true..."

Rimmer rubbed his smooth chin and let out a sigh.

"The head of house, Sir Ogram, and even Lady Chamber all suggested postponing it."

He nodded, emphasizing that no one had suggested moving up the date.

"Moreover, I will ensure that only members of Zieghart and the South-North Union can come to that location and time, strictly keeping it confidential."

"Right. Then, the one who uses the energy of death won't be able to come."

Rimmer clapped his hands, thinking it was a good idea.

"You really do have a sharp mind."

"No. He will come."

Raon bit his lips as he looked at the purple sky created by the setting sun.

Although the Axe King Roman wouldn't betray him, there were undoubtedly spies from Derus infiltrating the South-North Union.

This information was bound to be leaked.

He will definitely come.

Derus would have already considered both him and Glenn dangerous, but after today's Conference of the Six Kings, he would have marked them as targets that must be eliminated.

Because I saved Sir Ogram.

Having chased after the White Blood Religion’s leader to rescue Ogram, Derus would see him as a nuisance who always disrupts his plans and Glenn as a dangerous entity capable of neutralizing the energy of death. Therefore, he would do whatever it takes to kill them both.

The best opportunity for him to kill me and the head of house would be...

This duel to the death.

If it's Derus Robert, he will create chaos with the Shadows right after the duel, regardless of whether he or the Axe King wins.

The victor of the duel wouldn't be in perfect condition, so they would inevitably die if ambushed.

Once the fair fight collapses, a war between Zieghart and the South-North Union would break out, forcing Glenn to take action.

Derus would definitely ambush Glenn when the war between Zieghart and the South-North Union reaches its peak.

"Are you still going to proceed with the duel to the death, knowing that the one who uses the energy of death will come?"

Rimmer approached with a frown.

"That guy is dangerous! The proud Beast King said he might have lost in a one-on-one fight against him!"

He shook his head, as if to say it was absolutely not allowed, grabbing Raon's shoulders.

"That's why we need to prepare."

Raon nodded calmly. There was more than a ninety percent chance that Derus would come, so they had to prepare as if he definitely would.

"Prepare? How?"

"First, I'll write a letter to the Axe King."

He tied a note with the location and requirements written on it to the leg of the blue falcon.

"It's done. Go back to your master."

The blue falcon nodded once and flew into the darkening sky.

"I'm planning to borrow the strongest sword on the continent."

Raon clenched the handle of Heavenly Drive as he watched the blue falcon turn into a blue flash and head south.

"Even if it means offering all the golden tablets."

* * *

Raon went back to the audience chamber without having dinner and knelt before Glenn.

"I greet the lord."

"It's enough."

As he was about to bow, Glenn waved his hand. He said there was no need to greet him twice a day and told him to stand up.

"What brings you here at this hour?"

"I received a message from the Axe King a while ago."

"From the Axe King?"

"Yes. He sent his blue falcon."

"What did he say?"

"He said he'd fight anywhere, anytime, so I shouldn't run away. So I..."

Raon repeated to Glenn what he had said to Rimmer in the training ground.

"December 31st..."

Glenn rubbed his chin and narrowed his eyes.

"That's a good idea."

Sheryl nodded, saying she hadn't anticipated moving the date forward.

"Most people won't expect the duel to happen on that day!"

"Huhuhu, it's indeed not easy to predict a schedule being moved forward."

Roenn also smiled faintly, saying he thought bringing it forward was better than postponing it.

"No."

Unlike Sheryl and Roenn, Glenn shook his head calmly.

"This is someone who understands Ogram's personality and tendencies. Although Raon's plan is unique, there is a high chance that he also knows Raon well and will likely anticipate all of this as well."

He frowned as if he had understood the mindset of the swordsman who uses the energy of death.

"That's right."

Raon nodded as he met Glenn's gaze.

"That's why this duel to the death will be the best bait to lure him."

He opened his spatial pocket and took out all the golden and silver tablets he had received so far.

"I'll be the bait, so please catch him."

Raon pushed the golden and silver tablets toward Glenn and bowed his head to the ground.

This is my chance.

If the head of house steps in, just as Derus is targeting me, I can also target Derus.

At the very least, I must make sure to secure some evidence to reveal Derus' true identity.

"Ra, Raon!"

"Yo-young master Raon?"

Sheryl and Roenn gasped as if surprised by the sudden situation.

"Hahahahaha!"

Rimmer, who was leaning against the pillar, ran his hand through his hair and burst into laughter.

"Is this what you meant by borrowing the strongest sword on the continent? As expected of the craziest guy in this family!"

He clapped his hands, saying Raon never disappoints.

Raon bit his lips as he looked at the glittering golden and silver tablets.

These are useless to me anyway.

If I win the duel to the death, I can make Sylvia part of the direct line regardless of the golden tablets.

These tablets mean nothing to me right now.

"Raon Zieghart. I am not a mercenary."

Glenn's red eyes were colder than ice.

"Ugh..."

Raon trembled as he met those chilling eyes.

Is it not possible?

He thought his recent closer relationship with Glenn would make this work, but it seems he was greatly mistaken.

"I'm sorry. But I'm not asking you to..."

"However."

Glenn flicked his finger once, and the tablets that had been taken out returned to the spatial pocket.

"I can't just leave the trash that touched a member of my family and interfered in a duel between warriors."

He nodded with a noble look in his eyes.

"Tell me your plan."

Raon clenched his fist on the floor and raised his head.

"What I want to ask for is..."

* * *

The next day.

Raon came to the fifth training ground early in the morning.

As he was about to start serious training after finishing basic swordsmanship, the door of the training ground opened. Burren, Martha, and Runaan entered.

"As expected, you're here, you traitor!"

Martha frowned deeply as she looked at Raon.

"Traitor?"

Raon blinked as he repeated the word.

"She's calling you a traitor because you went to the White Blood Religion’s headquarters alone, leaving us behind."

Burren sighed and shook his head.

"Oh..."

Raon let out a low sigh as he looked at Martha, who was pouting her lips.

To Martha, the White Blood Religion is the very enemy. With the White Blood Religion’s leader involved, she couldn't help but feel regretful for not being able to participate this time.

But he didn't regret not taking her. If Martha had gone with him, it could have been really dangerous.

"I'm sorry. But..."

"Don't apologize! I know!"

Martha shook her head while looking at him. Her black eyes, which resembled but were not identical to those of the White Blood Religion’s leader, shone with a firm light.

"It's because I'm weak that I couldn't go."

She bit her lips deeply.

"I don't intend to blame you. Traitor."

"You're already calling me a traitor..."

"I'll become stronger. Stronger than anyone, and I'll break everything and save my mother."

"......"

Raon sighed as he looked at Martha, who suppressed her anger and talked about growth.

She has changed.

The reckless colt that used to charge in without thinking is gone. Now, Martha has become a proper swordsman of house Zieghart, hiding her emotions while gazing into the distance.

"Still, there's something I want to ask. The White Blood Religion’s leader. No, is my mother’s body okay?"

Martha lowered her head as if she was afraid to hear anything about the White Blood Religion’s leader.

"Yes. She still seemed okay for now."

Raon nodded as he recalled the White Blood Religion’s leader, who had pursued him to the end with disheveled hair.

"Ha..."

Martha sat down weakly. She let out a long sigh, caught between the relief that her mother’s body was safe and the discomfort that the White Blood Religion’s leader was unharmed.

"And..."

Raon raised his finger as he summoned the energy of Raging Sea.

"There is a way to save your mother."

"What...?"

Martha sprang to her feet.

"Wh-what do you mean?"

"There is a martial art called the Raging Sea..."

He explained to Martha that Ogram's Raging Sea wasn't just a martial art that penetrated through the aura shield, but a supreme martial art that could also shock the soul.

He conveyed to Martha that if he could reach the peak level of Raging Sea, he could attack the soul of the White Blood Religion’s leader without harming Martha's mother's body.

"I told you before. I will help you to save your mother."

Raon nodded as he looked into Martha's trembling eyes.

"I will keep that promise."

"......"

Martha quickly turned her back.

"Thank you. Ugh..."

She trembled her shoulders as if she had nothing else to say but thank you, and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

Knowing what family meant through Sylvia and the annex building members, he silently patted her shoulder.

"Ha..."

After catching her breath for a long time, Martha turned around. She bowed her head with reddened eyes and immediately started swinging her sword.

"Martha?"

"I can't just stay still. I need to build my skills to buy time while you use the Raging Sea."

She said she would definitely follow next time and began her sword training.

"...I'll go too."

Runaan, with an unusually serious look, stood next to Martha and swung her sword down.

Having experienced the incident with Syria, it seemed she could empathize with Martha's pain.

"I've felt it since our trainee days, but you're a guy who attracts people."

Burren smiled faintly as he looked at Raon.

"But you used to hate me back then?"

Raon tilted his head as he looked at Burren.

"Yes. I hated you. But I changed my mind after seeing your shoes."

"Shoes?"

"Make sure you win the duel to the death. You have a lot to do."

Burren didn't give an answer but instead went to stand next to Runaan and drew his sword.

Raon smacked his lips as he watched the three captains practicing their swordsmanship.

They have changed, but they haven't.

Seeing the three people, who he thought would each go their separate ways, practicing swordsmanship together, made his heart feel oddly ticklish.

Raon drew a light smile and stood beside Burren, Martha, and Runaan, holding Heavenly Drive.

As the four of them sharpened their swords and minds, the sun rose, warming the cold dawn air.

* * *

The Axe King Roman slowly opened his eyes. The ferocity that always surrounded his gaze was no longer there.

What was reflected was the setting sun. A noble sunset dyeing the river gold.

"Now I can finally see it."

For a year, he had watched countless sunsets by this river.

It was always the same sky, but today was different.

The sunset, deep and straight, divided the sky and the earth as if it reflected his life.

The sky turning purple, the blue river, and the twilight rising between them shattered the rock in his upper energy center that had weighed him down for years, leaving not a single fragment.

Rumble!

Reddish river water surged into the newly opened space of his upper energy center.

Enlightenment.

Extreme concentration, filled with long years of contemplation, painted a vivid image in his mind.

Roman closed his eyes. When he opened them again, the sky had darkened.

However, the twilight light that called for the night did not leave his eyes.

Rumble!

Roman stood up while holding the Red Dragon Axe. From the dragon's eyes carved into the axe handle, a red current flared up.

He grasped the Red Dragon Axe with both hands and struck it towards the river.

Boom!

A terrifying energy spread out, splitting the endlessly flowing river in half. It wasn't just stopping the water—it was a strange power that reversed its flow.

Rumble!

Roman, seemingly satisfied, drew a deep smile and embedded the Red Dragon Axe into the ground.

"Raon Zieghart."

With eyes tinted by twilight, he searched for Raon in the river.

"You should be able to follow, right?"

* * *

As the starlight that had been pouring down faded, a rosy glow rose like a burn on the black sky.

"Ha..."

Raon, standing on the lake, let out a low breath and opened his eyes.

Was it not enough?

Despite training his body and mind for a month, he couldn't grasp the perfect thread in swordsmanship, sword field, or aura.

It wasn't a matter of time but rather that the training itself was too complex.

I was too greedy.

He wasn't just creating a new sword field with his own martial arts, he was also trying to incorporate the insights of Glenn, Wrath, and Ogram, which naturally took more time and made it more difficult.

But I don't regret it.

The duel to the death against the Axe King was a significant hurdle, not the final destination. To defeat Derus Robert, he needed to aim even higher.

Swish!

Raon drew Heavenly Drive. He lightly swung it and struck the lake.

A simple downward slash from basic swordsmanship. But its impact was not simple.

Boom!

As if welcoming a god, the lake split smoothly and flowed downward.

Splash!

The lake, which had been split in half, slowly came back together, returning to its original calm state as if it had never been divided.

It's still not enough…

But there's no choice but to go.

The duel to the death was today. Now, he could only gain enlightenment through the battle against the Axe King.

Whoosh.

Raon shook off the waterless Heavenly Drive and sheathed it.

A red sun rose over the north grave mountain, erasing the night and opening the dawn.

The golden light of dawn, heralding the new day, was reflected in Raon's red eyes.

"Wrath. If you don't wake up..."

With eyes filled with dawn, Raon tapped the ice flower bracelet.

"I'll eat all the delicious food myself."

***

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

Thank you for reading!

[Author – Writing Ant, 글개미]

[Translator – Irving]

[Proofreader – Mayank]