Chapter 748

Raon narrowed his eyes as he observed the swordsmen filling the area in front of the main building. It seemed that not only the Central Martial Palace but the entire Zieghart House had gathered here.

"Did everyone come to see the Master of the Central Martial Palace?"

"That's right."

Dorian swallowed the bread he was chewing and quickly nodded.

"If the Master of the Central Martial Palace achieves Transcendence, the Zieghart House will be the only one among the Five Kings to have three Transcendent Warriors. Everyone, from the inner city to the outer city and even the vassal families, is excited for Lord Karoon."

He clenched his fist tightly, seeming excited as well.

"Hmm!"

Burren pursed his lips and shrugged, seeming pleased with the anticipation surrounding Karoon.

–Bread!

Wrath gulped as he looked at the bread crumbs Dorian had dropped, seemingly indifferent to whatever happened with Karoon.

'Why are they making such a fuss over a piece of bread…?'

–It's all because of you!

The creature lunged at him, shouting loudly.

–You've been devouring Nadine bread every day, and now my mouth is all sore! Everything I eat tastes like rubber!

Wrath tied a white headband on his head, demanding human rights.

–Rise up! This King demands the right to eat… It's a basic human right!

'A demon king talking about human rights is insane.'

Raon pushed away Wrath, who was shouting about rising up, and walked towards the Lord's Mansion.

"If we continue like this, there won't be any space left to watch, right?"

"Division Leader! This way, please!"

Krein, who had arrived early to secure a good spot, waved his hand.

'There's really nothing to lose, right?'

Raon smiled and approached Krein's side.

"The Master of the Central Martial Palace has been in the audience chamber for over 30 minutes, so he should be coming out soon."

Krein licked his lips, saying they could confirm if they waited a little longer.

"W-What do you think happened?"

Dorian gulped and clasped his hands. He seemed to be both looking forward to and fearing Karoon's ascension to Transcendence.

"Who knows?"

As Raon observed Burren, tense and fiddling with his fingers, a measured step could be heard from inside the Lord's Mansion. The sound of footsteps dominating all senses grew stronger, and Karoon Zieghart appeared, dressed in a neatly pressed uniform.

"Ah..."

The moment Raon saw Karoon's red eyes, he realized. Karoon had now entered a different realm from his.

–He has ascended.

Wrath nodded as if confirming.

–His aura is already stabilized. It seems he's understood his Will and image quite well.

Although he disliked it, Wrath acknowledged Karoon's achievement, admitting he had achieved good results.

'It definitely seems that way.'

Raon nodded seriously.

'It's not just a change. He seems like a completely different person.'

In Karoon's calm and serene eyes, a blade as precise as a clock's pendulum seemed to shine. Even without showing the fierce and intense aura from before, it still sent chills down one's spine.

'I couldn't beat him now.'

If he had dueled with Karoon at the peak of Grand Master before entering the Self Room, the result would have been fifty-fifty. But now, he couldn't win. It would be a sure defeat.

"F-Father."

Burren's lips trembled as he also felt the change in Karoon's aura.

"It seems you've improved, though only a little."

Karoon immediately understood that Burren's skills had improved and nodded calmly.

"N-No, not at all."

Burren played with his bangs, seeming embarrassed.

"I must thank you."

Karoon's gaze moved past Burren towards Raon, who was standing behind him.

"Thank you."

"W-what…?"

Raon gulped and stepped back.

'Did he just say thank you? Someone like him?'

Every hair on his body stood on end as if he had heard a forbidden curse.

"Although that child is talented, it's difficult to grow in such a short time."

Karoon closed his eyes and opened them again, deeply appreciating Raon's teachings.

"It's the path the Third Squad Leader found on his own."

Raon shook his head, giving credit to Burren.

"Is that so?"

Unlike before, Karoon seemed to have developed an interest in Burren, turning his gaze and nodding.

"Um, Father. About the Transcendence…"

Burren stepped towards Karoon, asking the question everyone was curious about.

"I have reached it."

Karoon nodded without hesitation.

"Woah!"

"P-Palace Master! Congratulations!"

"We knew you could do it!"

"Finally, the third Transcendent Warrior for Zieghart!"

The swordsmen of the Central Martial Palace and the direct line members gathered around Karoon, cheering loudly.

"As expected!"

"Congratulations!"

Because they were at war with the Five Demons, and this meant the Zieghart House was getting stronger, even swordsmen from other factions offered sincere congratulations and applause.

"Thank you."

Karoon, as if his personality had truly changed, accepted the well wishes with a calm voice, neither arrogant nor haughty.

"Raon Zieghart."

After receiving congratulations from those around him, he approached Raon.

"Yes, sir."

Raon exhaled deeply as he looked into Karoon's eyes, which were as calm as the sea.

"I may be ahead now, but someday you will catch up to me."

Karoon's gaze softened slightly.

"...There's still a long way to go."

Before entering the Self Room, it might have been possible, but to catch up to the current Karoon, he would have to cross an entire ocean. It was a matter for the distant future.

"No, you will surely reach this realm in the not-too-distant future."

Karoon shook his head as if certain. Raon couldn't understand why he was suddenly praising and encouraging him.

"However, I cannot yield the throne."

His calm gaze began to waver, as if struck by waves.

"Even if you reach the same level as me, or even surpass me, the Zieghart throne is mine."

"That's…"

Raon's eyes widened. Karoon had essentially declared in front of everyone that he would become the head of the Zieghart House.

"Yes. It's a declaration."

Karoon nodded coldly, as if certain.

"Then you've come to the wrong person. I have no desire to occupy the Zieghart throne."

Raon calmly closed his eyes, genuinely having no thoughts about becoming the head of the house.

–That's right!

Wrath abruptly stood up and perched on his shoulder.

–This guy's only interest is swordsmanship! At this point, it's an obsession, a love story!

The creature waved both hands, urging him to pay attention to food as well.

"No. You and I will cross swords before the golden throne."

Karoon showed a smile full of certainty, as if he had seen the future.

"I will be waiting for you."

He lowered his hand decorously and headed towards the Central Martial Palace.

"P-Palace Master!"

"Please wait!"

The swordsmen of the Central Martial Palace and the direct line members looked at Raon once before following Karoon.

"Raon."

Burren clenched his fist tightly as he watched Karoon's back.

"My goal of gaining Father's recognition hasn't changed."

"I know."

"A precise and disciplined swordsmanship that doesn't fit the Frost Wind Sword."

He smiled confidently.

"I won't give up. I will definitely harmonize both."

Burren, as if he had made a decision, returned not to the Central Martial Palace, but to the Fifth Training Ground.

As expected, it seemed the reason he couldn't give up his noble swordsmanship was due to his respect for Karoon.

'Father and son...'

Raon licked his lips as he watched Karoon and Burren leave in opposite directions. He had never experienced a father in his second life, either, he felt that maybe he would never understand.

'Anyway...'

He frowned, remembering Karoon's red eyes filled with certainty.

'Why did Karoon say he would fight me for the position of head of the house?'

What did he see…?

* * *

Raon headed to the Head of House's training ground before midnight. Unlike usual, Glenn had arrived at the training ground first and was looking up at the night sky.

"Greetings, Head of House."

Raon bowed towards Glenn's back.

"I heard you met with Karoon."

Glenn turned around. He wore a slight smile as if he knew about the conversation with Karoon.

"Yes. He has ascended to Transcendence."

Raon nodded, remembering Karoon's calm and sharp aura.

"What do you think?"

"It felt like observing a night forest, quiet but unpredictable in what might emerge."

"You've seen correctly."

Glenn waved his hand, praising Raon's sharp eye.

"I expected him to reach Transcendence, but he's achieved even more than anticipated. That child's talent has finally blossomed."

He smiled, saying something similar to what Wrath had said. The two seemed to see things similarly, being at the same level.

"Raon. Do you think you can catch up to him?"

"Yes."

Raon answered without hesitation, tilting his head.

"It's certainly a distant and high mountain, but not one I can't climb."

Seeing Karoon today, he felt it clearly. Transcendence was certainly far away, but it wasn't an unreachable sky.

"That's typical of you to say so."

Glenn clasped his hands, saying it was the answer he expected.

"But I heard Karoon talked about the position of head of the house. Do you really have no interest in the throne?"

"Yes."

Raon gave another brief answer, lowering his gaze.

"My biggest goal was to raise my mother to the direct line. If the position of head of the house was necessary for that, I might have considered it. But now, I'm not thinking about it."

"I see. That should be enough."

Glenn nodded, agreeing that the position of head of the house wasn't something that should be forced on someone.

"Then what you're interested in now is probably the Self Room."

He walked forward with his hands behind his back.

"Unfortunately, it seems the Self Room won't be available for a while."

Glenn licked his lips, saying Karoon had taken too much from it.

"It would be best to think about using it next year."

"I understand."

Raon bowed. Although disappointing, he accepted it calmly, having waited so long after seeing Karoon.

"Then let's begin today's training. The swordsmanship I'll teach you this time is the Mystic Soul Sword."

Glenn unsheathed the Heavenly Tremor sword with a solemn attitude.

"It's a Transcendent swordsmanship that leaked from the Holy Sword Alliance. Even for you, it will be quite challenging."

He pointed his sword to the sky as if telling Raon to prepare. With a soft whisper, Raon pushed the thoughts of Karoon's Transcendence and the throne from his mind, and calmly raised his Heavenly Drive sword. His red eyes burned silently like embers.

"I'm ready."

* * *

Late at night, near midnight. Raon smiled faintly as he watched dozens of sword lights illuminate the darkness of the Fifth Training Ground.

'Everyone has improved so much.'

–To be honest, it's completely different from three months ago.

Wrath nodded, saying the martial prowess and spirit of the Light Wind division had drastically changed.

'I didn't expect them to change this much either.'

As if fulfilling their promise not to be mere supporting characters, everyone in the Light Wind division, except Yua and Julius, had surpassed the Master barrier.

It wasn't an exaggeration to say that all the swordsmen who trained at the Fifth Training Ground had made great strides, as Burren, Martha, Runaan, and Mark Goetun had also reached the threshold of the first-level Master.

'Am I the only one whose level hasn't changed?'

Still, there's no need to rush. Even if his martial prowess level remained the same, his mastery of the Ten Thousand Swords had greatly improved as he learned various sword techniques from Glenn. He had gained new insights, and some techniques had become familiar enough to be used in actual combat.

'Especially the Mystic Soul Sword.'

The Mystic Soul Sword, said to be a technique from the Holy Sword Alliance, surprisingly suited him well. True to its name, it contained a solemn grandeur within its sharpness, feeling as if it tied together his past and present lives. Raon headed towards the Head of House's training ground, carrying the fervor of the swordsmen in his heart.

As he performed the Mystic Soul Sword several times and stabilized his breathing in the gentle illumination, the door opened, and Glenn entered.

"Greetings, Head of House."

Raon bowed carefully.

"I saw the Fifth Training Ground on my way here."

Glenn approached, acknowledging Raon's greeting with a wave of his hand.

"Everyone has improved. Except for the two who joined later, everyone's level is quite impressive."

He showed a slight smile, expressing pride in the Light Wind division that had trained day and night for three months.

"We still have a long way to go."

"Now…"

As Raon shook his head, Glenn raised his hand.

"I think you're ready to take on a new mission."

***

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

Thank you for reading!

[Author – Writing Ant, 글개미]

[Translator – MurimTang]

[Proofreader – Mayank]