Chapter 657

Hey! Who are you accusing of dancing in delight?

Wrath yelled at Raon.

The King of Essence was angry at the fact that he would be stuck here, eating nothing but Nadine brea—

‘Be quiet if you don’t want to eat more Nadine bread before you even get hungry.’

Raon furrowed his brow, looking at the Nadine bread in the corner of the cultivation room.

Hup!

He lowered his head, shutting his mouth tightly like a child. It was ridiculous to think that the weapon capable of silencing the demon king was Nadine bread.

Raon left Wrath alone since he was being quiet and sat in the center of the cultivation room.

‘The first thing I need to do… is dismantling the martial arts.’

The creation of a new martial art was similar to a puzzle. It was no different from turning over a completed puzzle and picking the necessary pieces to assemble a new picture.

Raon closed his eyes and thoroughly dismantled the five martial art books from Glenn, the Demon Breaking Sword and Abyssal Saber from the Sword and Saber Sovereign, Rimmer’s Garunua, and the various martial arts he’d learned in the past, analyzing them to an almost cruel extent.

Whoa! It’s so complicated!

Wrath went into the ice flower bracelet, murmuring that it was too noisy inside Raon’s head. However, Raon didn’t even notice that Wrath was gone. He was already in his extremely focused world.

‘Let’s keep the destructive aspect of the Demon Breaking Sword, and I should remove the complexity of the Abyssal Saber because the others won’t be able to catch up. The hyper-sense of the Fangs of Insanity and Blizzard Sword Art definitely need to be present, but I should discard their techniques…’

If he could mix the advantages of all kinds of martial arts, it would result in an outrageously advanced martial art, but it would make it so difficult to learn that Raon himself wouldn’t be able to use it. It was necessary to simplify it by removing anything unnecessary or mediocre while keeping the indispensable strong points.

His brain heated up as he kept assembling the martial arts puzzle in his head. The Ring of Fire naturally resonated, clearing his vision into a white space. It was his mental world, swords embedded on the ground like a grave of knights.

Raon could guess he’d arrived in that place because of his extreme focus. However, it wasn’t exactly the same place as before.

Half of the world used to be engulfed in flames while the other half was devoured by frost, but wind and earth had taken over a small amount of space now.

Raon licked his lips while looking at the swords on the ground.

‘It should be easier to assemble the puzzle here.’

He thought about the Demon Breaking Sword in his mind and the blue sword embedded on the right side flew up into the air, unleashing its heavy sword strikes. It was the Demon Breaking Sword’s technique, the Crushing Cloud Slash.

Raon envisioned the Abyssal Saber next and the red blade on the right side erupted, releasing a roaring wave of crimson energy. It was the Abyssal Saber’s technique, the Soul-Reaping Abyssal Blade.

He just needed to think about the martial arts and the blades in the mental world reenacted the technique on their own. The time required to assemble the puzzle was drastically reduced.

Whoosh!

All of the swords embedded in the mental world were floating in the air, demonstrating countless techniques. It almost looked like a storm of swords.

‘Perfect.’

Raon’s red eyes followed the countless sword techniques, not missing a single one, and he started to separate the lines to be discarded and the lines to be kept.

* * *

“I won’t return,” Burren stated without wavering in the slightest.

“Why not?”

Karoon lifted his gaze emotionlessly, his lack of surprise revealing that he had somewhat expected that answer.

“Because the Central Martial Palace isn’t the palace I belong to,” Burren responded without averting his gaze.

‘Yes, I don’t belong to this place.’

His past self would’ve accepted his father’s suggestion without the slightest contemplation. After all, becoming a squad leader in the Central Martial Palace and learning its martial art from his father was his goal and his dream.

However, he was different from his past self.

The Light Wind Division had become his real family instead of simple companions after overcoming countless life-and-death situations with them.

His home, and the place where he would continue to live, wasn’t the Central Martial Palace but the fifth training ground, the Light Wind Division’s domain.

“I am Burren Zieghart, the third team leader of the Light Wind Division.”

Burren placed his hand on the sword hanging around his waist. He stated his affiliation with a determined look in his eyes.

“What if I suggested that I would teach you an extremely advanced martial art?”

“My decision remains unchanged.” He nodded and looked in the direction of the fifth training ground. “The Light Wind Division leader just started seclusion training in order to create a martial art for the Light Wind Division. Even if his martial art ends up being worse than your extremely advanced martial art, it would still be the best one for me.”

The feelings he had for Raon weren’t ones aimed towards a superior or a friend. He was his lord, his brother. Since Burren was prepared to even offer his life for his sake, giving up on the martial art wasn’t even a big deal.

“He is creating a martial art for the Light Wind Division…” Karoon nodded while following Burren’s gaze. “He does indeed have the ability to do so. He has a natural gift, he is better than anyone that I’ve seen so far. That’s why…”

His gaze cooled, turning a frosty color.

“You’ll only end up as a sidekick for him.”

“What?”

“Raon Zieghart is an enormous light. He absorbs people’s attention and devours fame wherever he goes. You will be gradually by devoured that light, and will end up as a pitch-dark shadow, unable to discern your own color.”

Karoon twisted his lips into a sneer.

“Are you really satisfied with that?”

“......”

“I just asked you if you are satisfied with living as a shadow in the service of another, despite being born as a part of Zieghart’s direct line.”

His voice glimmered sharply like a blade.

“How many people do you think know about the third team leader’s name despite the Light Wind Division’s fame? The Blade of Tempest? It’s just a pointless title.”

“......”

Burren gritted his back teeth. Karoon was gnawing at the piece of Burren that was bound to feel a sense of inferiority.

“But it will be different if you join the Central Martial Palace.”

A strange heat blazed from Karoon’s eyes.

“Although you still won’t be able to surpass Raon Zieghart, you can avoid becoming his shadow, at least. I’ll make it so you can become the Central Martial Palace master in the future, to live as the protagonist of your life.”

He extended his hand, showing that he was serious about it.

“Take my hand. This is the last chance that I will give you.” Karoon confidently lifted his right hand and didn’t move any further.

“Father.” Burren looked into Karoon’s eyes instead of his hand that was right in front of him. “You must be having a hard time recently, to even desire the son that you abandoned at one point.”

Burren curled his lips into a smile.

“Indeed.” Karoon showed the depth of his immense composure, calmly nodding his head at the mockery. “I still haven’t given up on becoming the head of house.”

His voice wasn’t wavering in the slightest. It showed his firm belief in the situation.

“I need competent people to revive the Central Martial Palace. You should be able to do that job.”

“…I looked up to you, Father.”

Burren looked outside the window with an unrelated response to Karoon’s suggestion.

“Whenever you complimented me, I was so excited that I couldn’t even fall asleep. I practically lived in the training ground so that I could keep being praised by you. Being recognized by you and inheriting your position was the only dream I ever had, and it just came true.”

His lips curved into a faint smile as he reminisced about the dream of his childhood, nurtured while watching Karoon's back.

“Then…”

“But that dream, that goal I had in the past, is already buried in the ground. It wasn’t my doing. You threw it away yourself, Father,” Burren continued, looking into Karoon’s slightly wavering eyes.

“I’m not rejecting the offer out of petty resentment for being abandoned. It’s simply that the fifth training ground holds more value to me right now than the Central Martial Palace. The same goes for Raon and the Light Wind Division. They mean more to me than my father and siblings.”

Burren kept speaking with that unwavering tone.

“You said you would allow me to become the master of Central Martial Palace. Yes, I will become the master. I’ll take over the Central Martial Palace, but it won’t be out of my own greed. It will be for the sake of Raon and the Light Wind Division.”

He clenched his right fist and pounded on the left side of his chest.

“I’ve resolved to offer my heart to the Light Wind Division leader. If the division leader wishes to become the head of house, I’ll carve the path for him, and if he wishes to leave the house, I’ll destroy the gate for him. If you decide to get in his way, Father, I’ll wield my sword and be your opponent.”

Burren declared the resolution he’d made when his life was saved by Raon and hit his chest once again.

“I’ll live proudly as the third team leader of the Light Wind Division, and the Light Wind Division leader’s shadow.”

He lowered his head, stating his refusal without the smallest hesitation.

“......”

Karoon remained silent. He simply looked at his son with an unflinching stare.

“If that’s all, I’ll be taking my leave.”

“There’s a part that you were wrong about.” Karoon lowered his hand just as Burren was about to leave the room.

“What?”

“The martial art that Raon Zieghart is going to create won’t be any worse than the extremely advanced martial art that I was planning to teach you. He is that kind of person, after all.”

Karoon’s statement was completely unexpected to Burren. He was honestly surprised, even more than when he was asked to return.

“Do your best in your training.” Karoon shifted his gaze to outside the window as if he weren’t interested in him anymore.

“…I’ll be taking my leave.”

Burren watched Karoon’s back for a moment before he lowered his head and left the room. He felt like he saw the back of his esteemed father in his childhood for a split second.

‘It can’t be.’

Burren shook his head to remove the impossible thought from his mind.

House Robert

Head of House’s Office

A blunt knock could be heard as Derus Robert was looking at the window, where the evening glow was crumbling.

“Enter,” he responded gently, implying that he knew who was outside the door.

Wham!

The door opened violently, and Derus’s youngest son, Lephon Robert, made his entrance.

“Father! Did you hear about it? The entire continent is making a huge fuss!” Lephon was completely excited as he ran towards Derus.

“You are as energetic as always, running around as soon as you return from a mission.” Derus smiled while patting Lephon’s head. “Yes. So, what’s the mess that has brought you to me right after a mission?”

“It’s about Sir Raon, of course! He conquered the Sword and Saber Sovereign’s grave and founded the Blade’s Rest! There are rumors that even the Archmage of the Eternal Flame and the Silent Sword Sovereign have acknowledged the region!”

Lephon clenched his fist, his face red from excitement.

“He is a true hero! Everyone is calling his name right now!”

“Tsk tsk.” Derus clicked his tongue with a smile that wasn’t showing the smallest sign of displeasure. “You are so slow with the news despite claiming to be the Light Wind Division leader’s fan. Your father learned about it a long time ago.”

“I-it couldn’t be helped! I’ve been on a mission for over two months! I only managed to hear about it at the pub in front of our house—”

“So, you're telling me that you went to the pub in front of the house instead of returning right after your mission.”

“Huff!” Lephon covered his mouth, his eyes widening like a puppy’s.

“This is no good. I need to tell the Immortal Sword Squad leader about this.”

“F-Father—I mean, Dad! Please don’t!” He put his hands together, begging for forgiveness.

“Pfft.” Derus smiled faintly and stroked Lephon’s hair. “So, how was the mission?”

“It was easy. Would you like to hear about it right now?”

“Since it’s time for dinner soon, I want to hear about it with your mother.” He smiled while shaking his head.

“Ah, that sounds good!” Lephon left the office, saying that he would take a shower real quick.

Derus continued to smile even after Lephon was gone. The passing servants in the corridor smiled at him while watching them.

Derus’s smile became cold only after Cubara entered the office afterward and closed the door. Cubara felt a chill run down her spine as she observed the cold smile Derus was making.

‘This isn’t just a matter of being calm.’

Derus’s expression didn’t stiffen at all even though Lephon was praising and looked up to Raon, who was pretty much his archenemy. He praised him instead with a gentle smile on his face. Cubara thought that he was the only monster in the world who could control his emotions to such an extent.

“Rumors about Raon Zieghart must’ve spread all around the continent.” Derus tilted his chin while sitting on the desk. “The incident was the center of many people’s attention, after all.”

Cubara’s face froze as she explained that the story of the Sword and Saber Sovereign and the Blade’s Rest had spread all around the continent.

“It’s truly regrettable that I couldn’t bury his blade into the Blade’s Rest.”

Derus twisted his lips. His smile looked similar to the one he’d made towards Lephon, but it was filled with a frightening coldness instead of warmth.

“Did he return to Zieghart?”

“Yes, but he apparently started another issue there.”

“Issue?”

“Zieghart’s vice head of the elders, Killuane…”

Cubara told him about how Raon defeated Killuane and turned him into a slave as if she were in Zieghart during the incident.

“Sylvia Zieghart’s revival…” Derus narrowed his eyes, focusing on Sylvia’s name instead of Raon. “She was supposedly the most talented among Glenn’s children, wasn’t she?”

“Yes. She has a gentle personality, but there are rumors that she has an outstanding talent. And…” Cubara lowered her voice, almost as if she were whispering. “There’s a rumor about her artificial energy center being made of the mad dragon Kaibar’s heart.”

“An artificial energy center made of a dragon heart…” Derus licked his lips as if he wanted it for himself. “We should get it if we have a chance. Even an energy center made of dragon heart wouldn’t be able to make up for the losses, but still…”

He violently bit his lip, being reminded of Raon’s face once again.

“Yes, those were tremendous losses. A war was supposed to break out, engulfing the entire continent in flames.”

“......”

Cubara’s shoulders trembled, feeling the frightening pressure tightening around her throat.

“However…” A crimson flame started to blaze from Derus’s eyes. “The flame of war isn’t completely extinguished.”

He curled his lips into a smile, looking at the peaceful domain of Robert.

“Because the Six Kings and the Five Demons are soon going to be the Five Kings and the Five Demons.”

* * *

Two swords crossed, and one of them vanished. The sword that managed to survive also ended up disappearing, unable to defeat the newly born blade.

Countless martial arts were repeatedly being born just to disappear in the mental world. Even Raon himself couldn’t tell how many he’d created or how many of them had disappeared.

However, he’d managed to lay a nice foundation for the Light Wind Division’s martial arts by creating and removing countless martial arts, at least.

‘Wind.’

It wasn’t any ordinary wind. It was a wind of sensation, capable of incorporating into any martial art. It was a life-like wind that added speed and sharpness during attacks and filled a wall during defenses.

That was the martial art he was envisioning for the Light Wind Division. Once the sturdy pillar was found, dozens of bolts of lightning struck his brain.

The eight rings of fire filling the core of his mental world started to rotate like crazy. His upper energy center opened up, gathering the pieces of a martial arts puzzle and scattered all around.

The countless pieces of martial arts floated on their own and started to assemble in his mind. The twisted parts straightened, and the broken pieces were adorned with a harmonious grace.

Whir!

The moment the final piece was assembled, the picture of the new martial art started to surface. It was a majestic wind and light. The blue wind capable of covering the entire world quietly spread around to engulf his body.

The pieces of light and wind fluttered brilliantly to settle inside his energy center, and Garunua, which hadn’t perfectly found its place yet, started to build its own domain.

Claang!

Raon opened his eyes, feeling the huge resonance erupting in his mind. The mental world was gone before he knew it, and he could see the comfortable cultivation room.

“Haa…”

Raon exhaled roughly and rubbed his stomach. It wasn’t a dream after all. The root of the new martial art he’d created was engraved in his body and soul.

Hey! You bastard! You said you’d spread jam onto Nadine bread! Who even taught you to make people starve for a whole week?! You deserve to die—Hmm?

Wrath started to yell at him but suddenly widened his eyes.

Wh-what? Is this really the new martial art you created?

‘Yes.’

Blue wind welled up from the tip of Raon’s index finger.

Th-this is pretty good.

Wrath blinked, saying that the martial art that he’d created was unexpectedly decent.

“I didn’t expect you to compliment me.”

The King of Essence speaks honestly about what is good!

‘Yes, that’s true.’

So what’s the name of that martial art?

‘The name…’

Raon thought about it for a moment, then nodded his head.

“The Light Wind Style. No name can be better than this, since it was created for the Light Wind Division.”

Regardless of the Light Wind Division seemed to be the most suitable name since it used both light and wind.

What a shitty name. You have no talent at naming…

Wrath started to laugh at him, but…

[You’ve created an advanced martial art, Light Wind Style.]

[You were acknowledged by Wrath.]

[The advanced martial art ascends into an extremely advanced martial art, thanks to the title Young Founder’s effect and Wrath’s acknowledgment.]

[You’ve acquired Garun…]

[All stats…]

It wasn’t simply announcing the creation of the martial art. The messages told him that Wrath’s acknowledgment had turned the advanced martial art into an extremely advanced martial art.

Ugh…

Wrath’s jaw dropped as he looked at the messages.

Damn it! The King of Essence was just saying that it was decent! He wasn’t acknowledging it at all!

He frantically shook his limbs, telling the system to please listen to him.

“Wow…” Raon smiled brightly while patting Wrath’s head. “Long time no see, the doormat—I mean, the giving Wrath!”

You just said doormat, didn’t you? You bastard! The King of Essence is the Monarch of Wrath, and Devildom’s…

“Yes, keep going, doormat.”

H-he isn’t a doormat!

Wrath’s eyes started to become moist.

You damned angel!

Footnotes:

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