“Glenn Zieghart.”
The old blond man called Lord narrowed his eyes while looking up at Glenn.
“I shouldn’t need to explain the reason for my visit, as you should already be aware of it.”
“The reason, you say…”
Glenn shook his head slightly while looking down at the old man.
“The deal with the dragon should be already over.”
“Are you playing with words even though you are already aware? This is not like you.”
The old man’s gaze looked slightly angry as he scolded him.
“What is like me? Were we friendly enough to tell each other something like that?”
Glenn laughed coldly while supporting his chin on the back of his hand.
‘What an annoying visitor.’
The old blond man in front of his eyes was a dragon. Moreover, he was the dragon lord who commanded all other dragons.
Because he always brought bad news with his visits, Glenn was getting irritated just from seeing his face.
“Haa, fine. In that case, I’ll tell you this personally.”
The dragon lord briefly clicked his tongue and straightened his back and neck. His elegant attitude seemed to be the definition of nobility itself.
“As I mentioned before, your might is powerful enough to destroy the balance of the continent. You even surpass us, the mediators of the world.”
His eyes, directed at Glenn, looked slightly frustrated.
“It was the case for both the ancestor of Zieghart and you. I don’t understand how a human being managed to gain such power, but that power is wrong.”
“Wrong?”
“Your power is bound to destroy the heart of the world the more you use it. It’s a power that even ignores causality.”
“But the dragon's power also destroys the balance. It’s laughable for the strongest race to say such a thing.”
Glenn snorted at the dragon lord.
“We slowly accumulate our power over a long period of time. We are different from you, who managed to reach heaven in less than a hundred years, which is an extremely short time in comparison.”
The dragon lord frowned slightly while making a long line with his finger.
“Are you asking me to stay here doing nothing when my family is kidnapped? Even though I have the power to save him?”
“You should look at the bigger picture. Even family is nothing but a speck compared to the world. Someone like you, who managed to reach heaven, should think about the great cause, the flow of the world, and the balance.”
“Bullshit.”
“What did you just say…?”
“I said it was bullshit.”
Glenn’s smile deepened, and a powerful murderous intent emerged from him to cover the room.
“The dragons flock together to annihilate the race of those who harm your hatchlings whenever it happens, yet you speak such bullshit in front of me?”
‘Hatchling’ designated dragons who were less than 500 years old, and they were protected by every dragon in the world. Multiple kingdoms and houses had been annihilated by groups of dragons after attacking a hatchling.
“Th-that’s…”
The dragon lord was unable to respond and furrowed his brows.
“We are different from humans! The dragons have the mission to protect the balance of the continent and mediate the distortions…”
“In the end, you are applying a double standard where you are allowed to do anything you wish while we aren’t. It’s such a laughable thing to say for the ones who call themselves the protectors and the mediators of the continent. I guess that attitude is the very reason why you let him escape back then. No, it should be more correct to say that he managed to run away.”
“Ugh…”
“Great cause, the balance of the continent, or whatever—I allowed myself to be tricked by that tongue of yours in the past, but this time will be different.”
Glenn’s gaze couldn’t be described as cold anymore as he glared at the dragon lord with a frightening gaze.
“My grandson is more precious than hundreds of your hatchlings. I don’t regret what I did, so you should shut your mouth and leave.”
“You should already be aware.”
The dragon lord bit his lip instead of leaving.
“You don’t have much time left. This incident must’ve further shortened that short time you have.”
“……”
“Glenn Zieghart. The cause you left behind will return as a greater result to engulf this house. It’s not too late to reconside—”
“Bullshit again.”
Glenn’s dry voice blocked the dragon lord’s throat.
“I’ll be bringing my karma with me. I won’t be passing it to anyone else.”
“I-if you do such a thing, even if it’s you…”
“I don’t care if I can’t ascend to heaven.”
His sedate eyes didn’t show any sign of wavering.
“Because I’ve never followed a given path. It was the case in the past, and it remains true in the present.”
“Hmm…”
“Once more.”
Glenn’s gaze was directed at the dragon lord. The energy wave emanating from his determined eyes was sharp enough to make a chill run down his spine.
“You’d better have enough resolution if you try attacking my children. I’ll cut down every single dragon’s throat in the world, even if it results in the continent’s collapse or annihilation.”
He brought his hand to the hilt of his sword, as if he would start fighting him at any moment.
“Haah… It’s come to this. We don’t have any intention of fighting you. However…”
The dragon lord sighed and raised his finger. The space behind them split apart and opened a new dimension, just like when he first appeared.
“You are definitely going to regret it if you disregard my advice, Glenn Zieghart.”
He shook his head and disappeared into the dimensional rift.
“Regret?”
Glenn laughed coldly while looking at the space where the dragon lord disappeared from.
“I’ve always had regrets in my heart.”
* * *
* * *
Cring!
The dark sphere covering the entire training ground split apart, and Raon and the Gambling Monster jumped out at the same time.
“Ahem.”
The Gambling Monster frowned while looking at the disappearing sword field.
“You got used to it even faster than before, even though I increased the number of dark blades…”
Even though he was more serious than the first time they fought, Raon managed to break through the sword field a lot easier than before. It was so ridiculous that it only left the Gambling Monster with bitter laughter.
‘He didn’t just get stronger. He’s getting closer to the sword field.’
Considering the fact that he even managed to determine the location of a blade that he had thoroughly hidden in a way that even sound wouldn’t give away its location, Raon must’ve taken a step towards the true meaning of the Sword Field Creation instead of simply increasing his realm and amount of aura.
‘I can only describe him as a madman.’
Raon was nothing but a nineteen-year-old brat. Although it was an age where people could barely use their aura blade, that monstrous young man had not only reached the intermediate level of Master but had also gotten close to achieving the sword field.
It felt like his soul was being pulled out of his body.
“You bastard, what did you even do in Eden?”
He couldn’t believe he was simply kidnapped there no matter how he thought about it. He must’ve taken some elixirs and received some swordsmanship lessons from someone.
“Hmm…”
Raon smiled faintly while looking at the Gambling Monster’s surprise.
“I guess it can be called training.”
He’d gotten two elixirs out of Merlin, raised his fighting sense from sparring with Unfaceable Snake, and wore masks to absorb their souls. When he thought about it, it wasn’t excessive to say that it was an even better training regimen than what he did in the house.
“Haa, I’m getting a headache. I’m so tired of you.”
The Gambling Monster murmured that he was going to need a drink and left the training ground.
“Hmm.”
Raon lowered Heavenly Drive and sighed.
‘This feels a bit insufficient.’
He felt slightly bitter because the match ended when it was just getting interesting. He wanted to swing his sword a bit more.
‘I should go around to look for the squad leader tomorrow.’
Shitty Ears?
‘Yes. I think he will serve as a warm-up if I tell him I’d like to check how much aura he’s gained.’
…He’ll be wailing again tomorrow.
Wrath slowly closed his eyes while saying, ‘Rest in peace, Shitty Ears.’
‘I’ll go easy on him.’
The King of Essence guarantees that your definition of easy and Shitty Ears’s definition of easy are as different as mint chocolate and cookie and cream.
‘Cookie and cream is better, right?
Bullshit! Mint chocolate is obviously way better!
‘I don’t think so.’
Just as he was about to start training on his own while talking about useless things with Wrath, the door was opened once again and the Shadow Agents’ leader, Chad, entered the training ground.
“Shadow Agents’ leader?”
“Sir Raon, it’s been a long time.”
Chad walked up to him and smiled faintly.
“Yes, it’s been a while.”
Raon lowered his head and examined Chad’s condition at the same time. He had an awkward expression on his face, and he couldn’t look straight at him.
‘Now that I think about it…’
When Chad gave him the information about Grand Seville, it didn’t mention anything about the seventh apostle, let alone the tenth apostle. He must’ve suffered a lot because of the kidnapping incident.
‘Well, it’s not exactly the Shadow Agents’ fault.’
Even Denning Rose wasn’t aware of the apostles’ and Merlin’s presence despite being the Black Market’s branch manager for Grand Seville. It was only natural for the Shadow Agents’ leader to be ignorant about them since he was far from there.
‘But regardless of that…’
He still couldn’t trust Chad. There were too many suspicious aspects of his behavior.
“I’m sorry.”
Chad immediately lowered his head despite his position.
“I should’ve investigated more thoroughly, but I made a mistake that ended up causing trouble for Sir Raon. I’m really sorry!”
“It’s okay.”
Raon shook his hand. He was somewhat expecting that he was going to apologize, but such a polite apology was beyond his expectations.
“Even the Black Market wasn’t aware of them. It would’ve been impossible for the Shadow Agents to know about the tenth apostle or Merlin’s presence.”
“Even then! I didn’t do my job as the Shadow Agents’ leader!”
Chad bowed at 90 degrees and lowered his head.
‘I definitely can’t leave a bad impression here!’
The incident confirmed Chad’s suspicion. The person that the head of house cherished the most wasn’t his son nor his daughter, but his youngest grandson, Raon Zieghart. If he ended up leaving a bad impression on him, his head would be separated from his body regardless of his position as the Shadow Agents’ leader.
“Please don’t do this.”
Raon grabbed Chad’s shoulder and forced him to stand.
‘He’s really strange.’
Just like Raon mentioned, the Shadow Agents weren't at fault for the incident. It was understandable to apologize, but there was no reason for such an excessive apology.
‘I think he’s doing this to gain my trust…’
Chad’s actions and words were excessive. That was the only conclusion he could make the more he thought about it. There was no way he wouldn’t be suspicious.
‘Is it Karoon or Balder’s doing? No, it might be another one from the direct line.’
Since the war against the external threat had ended, it was totally possible that someone from inside would start picking a fight or causing trouble.
“Please accept this.”
Chad offered him a wooden box.
“What is this…?”
“It’s a tonic. It can invigorate your stamina and willpower. I heard you were completely recovered, but I brought it for you just in case.”
He also brought a brochure from his inner pocket.
“I’ve written down here the list of people and circumstances you should watch out for during the Conference of the Six Kings. Please use it as a reference!”
“Ehh…”
“I’ll be leaving now.”
Chad lowered his head once again before he turned around.
‘Alright, perfect.’
The mistake couldn’t be helped, but the clean-up was perfect. He had the feeling that it perfectly worked, considering Raon’s expression.
‘Of course it would.’
Since he gave him an expensive tonic and information about the Conference of the Six Kings, he was bound to be happy about them.
Chad was satisfied with the result as he left the fifth training ground.
* * *
Raon frowned while watching Chad’s back as he got further away.
‘He’s strange, isn’t it?’
Nothing is free in the world. The kindness coming from someone you aren’t even close with holds the biggest potential danger.
Wrath was also murmuring that something was wrong while looking at Chad.
‘I see.’
Even the assassination lessons taught him to not trust any kindness without a proper reason.
Raon narrowed his eyes while fiddling with Chad’s tonic.
‘Chad… I need to be wary of him.’
* * *
One week later, countless swordsmen were lined up on both sides of Zieghart’s main gate. They were positioned there in order to send Glenn off to Owen.
‘Hmm…’
Raon also finished his preparations and was looking at the Light Wind squad’s back while standing at the center.
‘Martha looks okay now.’
There was no sign of resignation nor despair in her, and the advice he gave Martha must’ve been helpful. She looked even more energetic than usual.
‘Burren and Runaan are the same as always.’
The mere fact that Burren was participating in the Conference of the Six Kings was enough to cover his face with a happy grin, and Runaan didn’t have her sharp gaze anymore, once more staring blankly at the sky. Raon felt relieved when he saw that she wasn’t even moving when a butterfly flew over her to land on her head.
‘But those guys…’
Did they actually practice in the meantime?
He thought they’d been idling around because he hadn’t seen them in the training ground over the past two weeks, but that wasn’t the case at all.
The auras and realms of the Light Wind swordsmen had both increased in that short time period.
Considering how apparent their improvement was, Raon could guess that they kept practicing without even getting enough sleep.
‘Amazing.’
He even started to think that he was the lazy one after witnessing their achievements. While he was surprised, he also felt proud of them at the same time.
It’s nothing special.
Wrath shook his head while looking at the Light Wind squad from above his head.
The ones who realize their own incompetence and resolve to overcome it are bound to get stronger.
‘Incompetence?’
They were watching you get kidnapped right in front of their eyes. That despair became the driving force for them to act.
‘…I see.’
His heart felt like it was burning upon realizing why they kept swinging their swords even during the holiday.
“The head of house is coming out!”
Upon hearing the majestic voice coming from behind them, all of the swordsmen standing on the sides and the swordsmen who were waiting for departure went to their knees at once.
“Greeting my lord!”
Raon also knelt and lowered his head. Glenn walked past him with the footsteps of a conqueror. The terrifying might, which he could feel better thanks to his development, flew along his shoulder and goosebumps rose on his skin.
“Rise.”
Glenn mounted on his horse in front of everyone just like the last time. Raon had the feeling once again that he must’ve been the type of leader who carved the path in front of his subordinates.
He was the complete opposite of Derus Robert, who always sent his subordinates ahead of him.
“I’m not asking much from you.”
Glenn looked around. His red eyes reflected his composure.
“Just show them what is currently dwelling in Zieghart.”
It was the only thing he said before he took the lead and advanced. Roenn followed him from his left, and Sheryl was moving on his right.
The Heavenly Blade division was protecting him with a tremendous amount of aura blades emanating from them.
The way they followed Glenn unconditionally, without any sign of doubt, resembled the way the Light Wind squad cared about Raon.
Raon clenched his fist while looking at Glenn at the very front.
‘I’m not planning to be the head of house, but I want to take after the head of house.’
It wasn’t his absolute power that he wanted to take after. He wanted to become a man who fought in front of everyone to lead his companions with his back.
Raon advanced while engraving Glenn’s back in his eyes and mind.
* * *
“Woaaah!”
“All hail the Zieghart!”
“Glenn Zieghart!”
“Destructive King of the North! Destructive King of the North! Destructive King of the North!”
When they reached Tortin City in Owen Kingdom’s vicinity, the citizens came out to shout Zieghart’s name—or, more specifically, Glenn Zieghart’s name.
Countless people’s gazes were all focused on Glenn. It was a natural outcome, as he managed to defeat the Fallen and the White Blood Religion's leaders—who were pretty much catastrophes for ordinary people—on his own.
Zieghart’s swordsmen proudly crossed the city as if the compliment directed at Glenn was also a compliment to them.
“Woaaah!”
“Destructive King of the North! Destructive King of the North!”
“Glenn Zieghart!”
Glenn turned around even though he was heading to the inn regardless of the people’s cheers and waves. He waved his hand at Raon to ask him to come forward.
“Yes, sir?”
Raon stepped up next to Glenn and started walking at the same speed as him.
“Can you hear those cheers?”
“Yes.”
“The only reason they are currently shouting Zieghart’s name is me.”
Glenn’s cold gaze looked around the people.
“They are cheering like that because I crushed the White Blood Religion's leader and the Fallen.”
He was right, as most of the cheers were calling Glenn’s name.
“Then what do you think would happen if I was gone?”
“That’s…”
Raon avoided answering, as he wasn’t sure what exactly he was asking.
“The cheers will be put in the dirt, and the malice that was being suppressed by Zieghart—or myself more specifically—will arise like a raging fire. What are you going to do if they all start planning to attack Zieghart?”
“……”
Raon slowly closed his eyes. Glenn must’ve been thinking about what would happen after his death.
He wasn’t sure why he was asking him that question, but he tried imagining such a future, as it was a good opportunity to organize the recent thoughts he had.
‘My previous self would’ve simply left.’
If it was before Eden had kidnapped him, he would’ve simply left the house along with the annex building’s people. Zieghart didn’t hold any meaning to him back then.
‘But it’s different now.’
The incident drastically changed the meaning of Zieghart in his head.
Regardless of the house, people, and the annex building, he couldn’t separate himself from Zieghart's name anymore. If the house ended up disappointing him, he’d rather cut off the dirty parts than leave it.
‘In that case, I shall do what I’m best at.’
He wanted to help the house no matter how small it would be.
“I’ll work them to the bone.”
“Work them to the bone? What do you mean?”
“I’d make Zieghart’s swordsmen train so hard that they would rather die to make them stronger. I’d make people fear the Zieghart name itself, rather than the single leader, Glenn Zieghart.”
Raon smiled faintly while looking at the setting sun.
“The sun rises again after it sets. I think the same goes for the house’s name. The house might set for a moment after the head of house’s disappearance, but I’ll create an unbreakable solid foothold by working everyone to the bone so that the house can rise once again.”
“Are you saying that you would become the head of house?”
“I have no intention to do so. I’ll be simply doing my job in my own position.”
He shook his head firmly, as he wasn’t really interested in becoming the head of house.
“I see.”
After a somewhat stiff nod, Glenn averted his gaze. He didn’t even seem interested in him anymore.
‘Hmm…’
Raon licked his lip before returning to his position.
‘Is he not satisfied with my answer?’
It couldn’t be helped even if that was the case. It was his honest answer, and he didn’t regret it.
* * *
That night, a powerful tremor spread out from the mountain surrounding Tortin City.
“Haa…”
Glenn exhaled faintly while leaning his back against the large boulder that was split in half.
“What an absurd amount of wisdom!”
When he asked Raon about the future, he believed that there was only one possible answer.
He thought Raon would say that he would get stronger to become a wall to protect the house. It was a classic answer, but it was the most suitable one for that situation. Anyone would’ve said the same, after all.
However, Raon was different.
‘He said he’d work everyone to the bone…’
Instead of getting stronger by himself, he intended to get stronger alongside everyone. His will to grow as a house instead of an individual left a huge impression on his heart.
‘Because that has been my objective since I was enlightened.’
That was the true objective that he managed to reach after a long time of confusion, yet Raon had already reached it. He couldn’t suppress his smile because of how happy he was. He barely managed to stop his urge to hug Raon tightly.
“Isn’t he truly laudable?”
“He is.”
“Of course.”
Sheryl and Roenn, standing next to Glenn, nodded at once to his question.
“Raon seems to have realized the meaning of the house through this incident.”
A gentle smile appeared on Sheryl’s face.
“Yes. His mind is maturing alongside his might. I’m looking forward to his future even more now.”
Roenn also smiled happily while looking at Glenn.
“I’m not saying this because he’s my grandson, but he will make it big. I wish everyone knew what kind of boy Raon is.”
Glenn frowned in irritation.
“You should write down what he said today. It was an exemplary answer that everyone should follow.”
“Haa…”
Rimmer sighed deeply at Glenn.
“Rather than that, you should first let him know that you cherish your grandson.”
