Chapter 697

Raon left his room after he finished preparing for the duel to the death. He went outside because no one was inside the annex building and saw Sylvia and the maids standing shoulder to shoulder in front of the garden.

“Haa...” Feeling the pressure of their teary gazes, he sighed quietly and went down the stairs. “Don’t worry, Mother. Just—”

“Why are you so depressed?”

Raon was trying to greet them, standing in front of Sylvia, but she raised her hand and hit his shoulder firmly. The Black Dragon Coat shuddered in time with the whacking sound.

“A Zieghart swordsman should at least say that they’ll win the fight and return safely no matter what!” Sylvia nodded, gesturing at him to try saying it.

“M-Mom?” Raon blinked while looking at Sylvia. He unconsciously called her ‘mom’ because her reaction was much different from what he’d anticipated.

“Ma’am is right! Please tell us that you’ll wreck them all, Axe King or Axe Kitchen!” Helen lifted her small fist, standing right next to Sylvia.

“Young master!”

“I want to hear from you that you’ll definitely return safely!”

“Please tell us!”

The other maids also lowered their heads, asking him to tell them that he would definitely return victorious.

“Please!”

Even Judiel stepped forward, despite the fact that she usually didn’t speak unless it was necessary.

“Hmm...” Raon groaned quietly upon seeing that a heat haze seemed to be shimmering from their eyes.

‘I thought they would be gloomy. They’re all bright.’

Raon was worried because Sylvia and the maids had always cried an ocean whenever he went on a dangerous mission or a sword duel, but they looked unexpectedly comfortable. He felt like his worries were being washed away.

“Alright.” Raon straightened his shoulders, still warm from Sylvia’s hand, and looked at everyone. “I’ll return after beating up the South-North Union, so just prepare a dinner for me.” Raon lifted his hand and clasped the hands with the maids.

“There’s a power in words.” Sylvia smiled cheerfully while holding his right arm with her left hand. “Since you’ve always kept your promises, I’ll be counting on you again, my son.”

“Yes, don’t worry about me.” Raon hugged Sylvia tightly one last time before he left the garden. “Ah, Mother. About what I told you before...”

He turned around because he forgot to say something and saw that Sylvia and the maids were putting their hands together, shoulders trembling like frightened animals despite how gently they were smiling before.

‘...I knew it.’

He could guess that they were just pretending to smile in order to avoid putting pressure on him. They all looked like they were going to break out into tears with the smallest touch.

“I’ll be back.”

Raon bowed at teary maids and Sylvia, then he turned around.

‘If Wrath saw this, he would’ve scolded me to stop making our mom cry.’

Raon tapped on the ice flower bracelet then stepped into the main road, heading to the gate.

“You have a nice look on your face.”

When he arrived near the fifth training ground, Rimmer came up next to him while yawning. The entire Light Wind division was following behind him.

“I couldn’t even sleep because of a certain someone.”

“I managed to sleep extremely soundly.” Raon shook his hand in a mocking gesture.

“Ah, this is suddenly getting irritating.” Rimmer smiled faintly despite saying that he was irritated.

“You can’t be irritated by that! It would be more problematic if he couldn’t sleep soundly before the duel!” Martha furrowed her brow, smacking Rimmer with her shoulder.

“I also slept soundly.” Runaan nodded, rubbing her skin, which was clean enough to reflect the sunlight.

“No one asked you!”

“Miss Rakshasa, don’t be so narrow-minded.”

“Are you serious right now?!”

Martha and Runaan started to growl at each other just like when they argued in the fifth training ground.

“Doesn’t watching that childish fight ease your tension?” Burren chuckled while watching Martha and Runaan.

“I feel like I’m getting tense for no reason.” Raon smiled faintly while looking at the team leaders one after the other.

“Blegh...”

Raon looked around upon hearing a retching sound and saw that Dorian was heaving with his tongue outside his mouth.

“I-I’m so nervous that I feel like I’m going to die...” His pale face made him look like he was about to collapse at any moment.

“How pathetic.” Krein clicked his tongue at Dorian. However, the dark area under his eyes implied that he hadn’t been able to sleep at night either.

“It can’t be helped...” Dorian murmured that he couldn’t withstand it anymore, then took out a round snack from his mouth to shove it in his mouth. Interestingly enough, his dry heaving stopped as soon as he ate it.

“This is tasty.” Runaan had been fighting with Martha, but she appeared next to Dorian to eat snacks with him in the next moment.

“Shall I sing a song for you?” Yua smiled cheerfully and stood in front of the Light Wind Division to start singing.

It was Habun Castle’s Song of War, praising the sacred wind of the North, and Yua’s voice being added to it gently soothed the restless hearts like a song waiting for the spring.

“Division leader.” Mark Goetten quietly walked up to him and lowered his head, expressing his trust.

Raon slowed down his steps and watched Rimmer and the Light Wind Division from behind. Watching the subtle order in the disorderly appearance of his comrades in war stopped his nervousness from influencing his mental world any further.

“You all are always so noisy.” Trevin, the Warring Steel Division leader, smiled broadly as he approached him with the Warring Steel Division behind him.

“Warring Steel Division leader.” Raon lowered his head since Trevin and his division were coming with him as guards.

“I look forward to your cooperation today.” Trevin nodded and extended his fist.

“I’m the one who is looking forward to it.” Raon smiled, meeting his fist with Trevin’s.

“What’s that? Is it how youngsters greet each other nowadays?” Sheryl landed on the ground from the sky, the only sound coming from the fluttering of her coat. She called them youngsters despite looking as young as Yua in appearance.

“Heavenly Blade Division leader.” Raon bowed politely at Sheryl. She was the overall commander for the journey to his duel.

“Let’s do that greeting with me, too.” Sheryl extended her fist like Trevin had done, saying that she liked how it looked.

“Yes, I’ll be looking forward to your help.” Raon smiled faintly and met his fist with Sheryl’s.

“You just have to do anything that youngsters do. Despite your young appearance, your attitude is totally that of an old wo—”

“Shut up.” Sheryl thrust her hand to smack Rimmer’s mouth.

“Gueh...”

She kicked Rimmer’s trembling ass away and returned to Raon.

“You can win today, right?”

“Of course.”

“Alright, I’ll be counting on you.” Sheryl smiled faintly and headed to the frontlines along with the Heavenly Blade Division.

Raon calmly caught his breath, looking at the fist that had met Trevin and Sheryl’s fists.

‘I have a feeling I can do it.’

Sylvia and the maids had hardened his determination to win the fight and return alive, Rimmer and the Light Wind division had relieved his tension by acting the same as always, and Sheryl and Trevin gave him a sense of relief, that everything would be fine no matter what. He felt like he wasn’t going to lose to anyone, and not just against the Axe King.

“Aren’t you going to come?” Rimmer waved his hand, urging him to follow. The others had also stopped walking, tilting their heads at him.

“I’m coming.” Raon weakened his clenched fist and started to walk toward everyone.

‘I still have many things to do in Zieghart.’

He nodded, facing their trusting gazes.

‘I’m going to defeat the Axe King today.’

* * *

Rable River’s mid-stream was wavering as violently as the ocean.

“What a shame.” Sheryl clicked her tongue, watching the river’s tide curling upwards. “It would’ve been easier if we eliminated him in advance. I didn’t think that the duel to the death would happen so quickly.”

She frowned, irritated at the fact that she had to let that dangerous situation happen for Raon.

“Leave the jokes for later and...”

“Joke?”

“W-wasn’t that a joke?” Rimmer shook his head, breaking out into a cold sweat.

“Sir Roenn even made assassination plans. Why would it be a joke?” Sheryl glared with a frightening look in her eyes, saying that it was a serious plan.

“Wh-what’s wrong with those doting people...?” Rimmer shook his head. Everyone from the audience chamber was just out of their minds.

“It’s whatever now since it’s a matter of the past. Rather than that, what do you think?” Sheryl gestured with her chin, her arms crossed.

“I’m not sure...” Rimmer sighed briefly. “Raon would be able to win without much issue if the Axe King is as strong as he was at the auction back then.”

He continued while staring at the turbulent river, “But it will be more difficult if the Axe King has gotten stronger in the meantime. A warrior in the Grandmaster’s realm might be unable to make any progress for ten years, but they can also become a completely different person in a single day.”

“I agree.” Sheryl nodded while looking at Rimmer. “Raon would be able to defeat the Axe King if he is the same as when I checked him last time, but it won’t be easy if he has improved. It’s all up to the Axe King, in the end.”

Her fingers trembled as she expressed her worries.

“There was no information about the Axe King even though I asked the Shadow Agents and even the Black Market about him.” Trevin, the Warring Steel Division leader, shook his head while coming towards Sheryl and Rimmer. “It looks like he didn’t move from their headquarters at all for the last year.”

“This is just my instinct, but...” Sheryl twisted her lips while rotating her wrist. “I think the Axe King has grown a lot stronger.”

“And what makes you think that?”

“Them.” She wrinkled her nose while looking at the South-North Union’s warriors, who had arrived in advance to wait. “There’s no doubt in their eyes. They don’t seem to consider the Axe King’s defeat at all.”

“The Axe King Roman is pretty much a god in the Rable River. Isn’t it because of their faith, regardless of his strength?” Trevin swallowed nervously, showing that he didn’t want to believe it.

“That’s the case of the residents. Pirates are more similar to fanatics who only follow the strong. The fact that they are showing so much trust implies that he definitely got stronger.” Rimmer shook his head, implying that Sheryl was right.

“But I don’t like that dangerous atmosphere at all.” He furrowed his brow upon seeing the South-North Union’s warriors, who were glaring fiercely at them. “Are there five, or six of them?”

Rimmer raised his fingers, counting the South-North Union’s warriors, who seemed more powerful. “There are six of them that seemed to be powerful enough to be a party boss. Should we have called one more person to our side?”

“Forget it.” Sheryl casually shook her hand. “They aren’t even the issue.”

She tossed her purple hair back, letting it flutter in the air as she said that the real issue wasn’t there yet.

“Division leader.” As they quietly watched the Rable River, Burren approached from behind. “We’ve finished our preparations.”

“What about Raon?”

“He is resting in the barrack.” Burren pointed at a black tent set up at the left end.

“Good job. But check out the surroundings a bit more, just in case.”

“Understood.” He nodded and went towards the river’s shore with the third team.

“Raon’s grown so much, hasn’t he?” Sheryl smiled faintly while looking at the black tent where Raon was resting inside.

“Yeah. He couldn’t even run at first, but he’s become a Grandmaster now, and he’s even having a duel to the death against the Axe King. I never even imagined this would happen.” Rimmer nodded his head and giggled.

“When you put it like that, it’s actually a fight between the old generation and the new generation.” Sheryl narrowed her eyes while looking at her own hand.

“The old and the new generation?” Trevin tilted his head, wondering what she was talking about.

“Raon has overcome countless hardships so far, but this one is a bit different.” Sheryl clenched her fist and looked up to the sky. “Most of the warriors Raon has fought against were the new generation’s warriors, the ones who grew up under the rule of the Six Kings and the Five Demons. But the Axe King is different from them.”

“Yes. He is a monster from the old generation, one who created the era of the Six Kings and the Five Demons, just like us.” Rimmer nodded while responding to Sheryl.

“There are many young warriors like the Twelve Stars of the Continent, but all of them were defeated by the monsters of the old generation. This duel to the death isn’t just a match between Zieghart and the South-North Union. It’s a battle between the old and the new generation in a way.”

Raon was the young warrior, representing the new generation, and the Axe King was the center of the old generation. The duel between them was a clash between the old and the new generation in a sense.

Raon’s victory would signal the start of the new era, and the Axe King’s victory would imply that the old generation was still the sky, unattainable to the young people.

“I-I see. It’s true that none of the executives from the Six Kings and the Five Demons equivalent to a palace master have been defeated so far—”

“They’re coming.”

Trevin swallowed nervously, and Sheryl lifted her finger. Her thin finger was pointing at a small black ship.

Rumble!

The black ship advanced rapidly, cutting through the violent waves, and revealed its huge and majestic figure. It was the second warship of the South-North Union, the Axe King’s Misfortune.

“Misfortune...”

The Misfortune approached the shore with a frightening pressure befitting its name.

“I-I’m going to call Raon.”

“No, you don’t need to.” Rimmer pointed at Raon, who was coming out from his tent on his own. “The atmosphere around him is really something.”

The black dragon scales on his coat were protruding, his sword glowing red from the sun at his waist. His blond hair fluttered in the river’s breeze and his composed red eyes displayed both the nobleness of a hero and the spirit of a warrior.

Step.

A destructive pressure spread around him each time he took a step toward the river. His unparalleled beauty stood in stark contrast to his overwhelming pressure. The oppressive sensation made it feel like Glenn Zieghart, the one referred to as the Lighting God, was dwelling in his deep blue shadow.

“It doesn’t look like...” Rimmer twisted his lips into a smile while looking at Raon’s broad back. “He is going to lose, at least.”

* * *

Raon could feel the Axe King approaching even though he hadn’t spread his aura perception. He straightened his back and stood at the edge of the riverbank. The vicious pressure spreading from the Misfortune as it approached seemed capable of distorting the entire river.

Whaaam!

A thunderous explosion erupted from the Misfortune’s deck like a detonating cannonball, and the sky suddenly darkened.

It was the Axe King. The Axe King Roman landed on the river as a raging pressure heated up the cold air.

‘He’s different.’

Unlike in the past, where an uncontrollable amount of power was gushing from him, not a single ripple was created under his feet. That implied that his power was perfectly under his control.

His appearance alone was enough to make his heartbeat resound inside his ears as if he’d been struck by lightning.

“Dragon Slayer, Raon Zieghart.” The Axe King Roman smiled broadly, bracing the Red Dragon Axe on his shoulder just like he’d done three years ago.

“Axe King Roman.” Raon warmed his fingers while calling the Axe King’s name.

His pounding heart told him how powerful he was—and how much powerful he’d become. The Axe King had returned to the river, achieving a growth comparable to his own.

“You’ve become stronger.” Roman nodded gladly. “You’ll be able to bring me even higher.”

His massive pressure blazed from his axe.

“Three years ago, you allowed me and the Light Wind Division to escape after a three-strike duel against our master.” Raon went onto the river. The water rippled in concentric circles, dancing as he faced the Axe King.

“I’ll give you three moves.”

Raon raised Heavenly Drive into a sword salute. He raised his head, showing his pride in his respectful behavior. His red eyes were glowing even more intensely than the sun reflected on the river.

“Come at me.”

Footnotes:

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