After ordering the Light Wind Palace swordsmen to wait at the training ground, Raon headed towards the Lord's Manor.
“I seek an audience with the Head of House.”
Roenn, who was cleaning the doors and walls of the audience chamber, bowed his head. True to his role as Glenn's butler, he seemed to be personally taking care of the Lord's Manor's cleaning.
"Has your health improved?"
"I'm not fully recovered, but I'm almost there."
Raon bowed in return, thanking him for his concern.
"Is the Head of House inside?"
"Yes. He's working, but he'll likely grant you an audience. Please wait a moment."
Roenn entered the audience chamber with a slight smile.
"The Head of House has granted you an audience. Please come in."
He came back out after about a minute and gestured to Raon.
"Thank you."
After thanking Roenn, Raon entered through the door he held open. He walked on the spotless red carpet and knelt before the raised platform.
"I'm here to see the Head of House..."
"Rise."
As Raon was about to lower his head, Glenn's soft voice came from the platform.
"Didn't I tell you before? There's no need for formalities when it's just the two of us."
As Raon looked up at those words, he saw Glenn smiling gently.
"I see. It looks like your condition has improved."
Glenn lowered his eyebrows, seeming to have assessed Raon's condition at a glance.
"I heard it would take at least a month for you to recover, yet here you are training after just a week. You really are..."
He let out a wry laugh, expressing his disbelief.
"I guess I take after my grandfather in being quite robust."
Raon said he naturally recovered quickly while rotating his wrist.
Glenn clutched his head and exclaimed, as if shaken to his core by Raon's words.
"Oh, it seemed you were training with the Light Wind Palace children today as well. Why have you come here?"
He nodded slightly while gripping the broken armrest of the throne with a trembling hand.
"A week ago, I sent a letter to the Thespian Emperor of White Whale, expressing my desire to meet with the Five Divine Orders."
Raon took out the reply he had received from the Thespian Emperor.
"You sent a letter to the Thespian Emperor asking to meet?"
Glenn narrowed his eyes as he looked at Raon.
"No, given that you mentioned wanting to meet the Five Divine Orders, I assume you intend to see the Queen of Swords as well."
"That's correct."
Raon nodded calmly.
"What's the reason?"
Glenn narrowed his eyes, asking why Raon had contacted the Thespian Emperor at such a time.
"If we leave the Five Divine Orders alone, they might be recruited by the Five Demons."
Raon clenched his fist holding the letter.
"Currently, the Five Demons must be in a state of emergency due to the deaths of the Black Tower Master and The Fallen. They'll be hiding even deeper than before, trying to reorganize internally. However..."
He narrowed his eyes while looking at the map of the continent hanging on the wall of the Lord's Manor.
"Once they're somewhat prepared, they'll move to gather forces again. And knowing Derus Robert, that preparation time won't be very long."
"That's likely."
Glenn tapped the armrest of the throne with his finger, as if telling Raon to continue.
"So we need to meet the Five Divine Orders before the Five Demons make their move. Though now they're the Two Divine Orders."
Raon took a short breath.
"The Shadow Agents' Leader and I had similar thoughts. But it's unclear how to persuade the Thespian Emperor and the Queen of Swords."
Glenn briefly licked his lips as he looked at Raon.
"There's no need to persuade them."
Raon shook his head firmly.
"What do you mean?"
"Even though Demonblade and Demon Slaying Spear chose the Five Demons, the Thespian Emperor and the Queen of Swords didn't move, just watching the situation to inflate their own value."
He continued, twisting his lips fiercely.
"But now the situation has changed significantly. The Black Tower has fallen, and The Fallen is dead. If they're still looking for opportunities and calculating benefits in this situation, there's no need to bring them to our side..."
Raon gripped the Heavenly Drive, exuding a chilling murderous intent.
"I'll cut them down right there."
"Cut them down? Why?"
Glenn tilted his head as if asking for the reason. However, his eyes remained calm, as if he had already read Raon's thoughts.
"To calculate benefits when their own and their subordinates' safety hangs by a thread is not the attitude of a martial artist, but that of a merchant. Such swindlers could betray us at any time for greater profit, so whether they join the Five Demons or stand behind us, they're a problem. I think it's right to cut them down before issues arise."
Raon bowed his head to Glenn, asking for permission.
"Hmm..."
Glenn didn't answer immediately, slowly stroking his chin.
"Not fearing blood, acting without hesitation, and always maintaining composure. That's the attitude a head of house should have. Now I understand what that guy meant."
He looked out the window with a somewhat nostalgic gaze.
Roenn laughed as if he understood Glenn's cryptic words.
"What do you..."
Raon opened his eyes wide, not understanding Glenn's words.
"There was someone who insisted I should unconditionally pass the position of head of house to you. It's been a while since I thought of him."
Glenn briefly licked his lips and shook his head.
"Ah..."
Raon bit his lip slightly as he realized who Glenn was referring to.
"So, are you confident?"
Glenn lowered his gaze calmly, as if asking if Raon was confident he could defeat the Thespian Emperor and the Queen of Swords.
"I know the Thespian Emperor is the strongest among the Five Divine Orders. However..."
Raon straightened his back and rubbed his chin.
"I don't think I'll lose."
He placed his hand on the Heavenly Drive, revealing his confidence in victory.
"Then what about the Queen of Swords?"
Glenn smiled as if he had expected this, bringing up the Queen of Swords' name.
"The Queen of Swords seems to follow the Thespian Emperor's opinion, but if she can't be persuaded either, I'll cut her down too."
He tightened his grip on the Heavenly Drive, resolving to be ruthless in order to protect his precious people and land.
"That's not what I meant. I'm asking if you can defeat the Queen of Swords."
Glenn shook his head as if telling Raon to speak properly.
"The Queen of Swords...?"
Raon exhaled softly as he looked into Glenn's calm eyes.
'Isn't the Queen of Swords weaker than the Thespian Emperor?'
He couldn't understand why Glenn mentioned the Queen of Swords, who was less powerful than the Thespian Emperor.
'Could he be thinking about them fighting together?'
Glenn seemed to be worried about a joint attack from the Thespian Emperor and the Queen of Swords. As Raon was about to answer that concern, Glenn spoke first.
"It seems you still don't know."
Glenn nodded slowly, as if he had expected this.
"Then go and experience it for yourself. You'll gain something regardless of the outcome."
He waved his hand, indicating that he would accept Raon's mission proposal.
"Be careful on your journey."
"...Understood."
Raon expressed his gratitude and left the audience chamber with a puzzled expression.
"Are you not going to tell him?"
Roenn looked at Glenn with a chuckle.
"That child's incompetent teacher once said something like this."
Glenn looked up at the blue sky, wondering how far it stretched.
"Raon grows stronger with every hardship. This time too, he'll return changed in some way."
He smiled gently, as if believing Raon would return with answers.
***
After leaving the Lord's Manor, Raon returned to the fifth training ground where the swordsmen were waiting.
"In two days, we're going to White Whale."
Raon stood at the edge of the platform and brought up the new mission.
"The mission is to persuade the Thespian Emperor and the Queen of Swords to form an alliance with the Five Kings. However..."
He shook his head, emitting a chilling aura.
"If those two don't accept our proposal, we'll eliminate White Whale and the Unyielding Blade on the spot."
Raon clenched his fist, saying that was the real purpose.
"A-Are you serious?"
Burren's jaw trembled, as if he hadn't expected to hear about erasing White Whale and the Unyielding Blade.
"I'm serious. There's no need to accept those who might become enemies or stab us in the back."
Raon nodded, saying it was only natural.
"In the worst case, we might end up in an all-out war with White Whale and the Unyielding Blade, so prepare thoroughly."
"When do we leave?"
Martha licked her lips in anticipation of the potential all-out war.
"In two days."
Raon wiggled his finger, telling them to fully recover their physical strength, mental fortitude, and aura within these two days.
"Understood!"
The Light Wind Palace swordsmen sharpened their fighting spirit, as if already entering battle mode.
"Prepare well... First, check your weapons..."
Runaan turned her back and gave her subordinates points to be careful about. Her eyes were still blank, but her advice seeped into their ears with surprising clarity.
"Then dismiss, and let's meet here again at dawn in two days."
At Raon's dismissal order, the Light Wind Palace swordsmen left the training ground in an orderly manner.
"You're damn busy, aren't you?"
The Gambling Monster furrowed his brow, asking if Raon really enjoyed being so busy.
"Well, at least I won't have to worry about the kids for a while."
He licked his lips, saying he should pour himself a drink after so long.
"Thank you for always helping."
Raon bowed his head to the Gambling Monster as he was about to leave the training ground.
"If you know that, then buy me a drink."
The Gambling Monster left the training ground with a staggering gait, indirectly telling Raon to return safely. Raon chuckled as he watched him go, then whistled towards the sky. A thin cry was heard from above, and a small swallow landed on the tip of his finger.
"I'm counting on you."
He took out a small letter from his pocket and tied it to the swallow's leg. The young swallow soared high into the sky before flying off into the distance.
-Who did you send it to this time?
Wrath wrinkled his nose, saying that the swallow seemed to have no time to rest.
'I sent it to grandfather.'
Raon shook his head with a smile.
'He must be worried, so I should at least let him know I'm safe. I'm also curious if there's anything else going on.'
He smiled faintly, saying it was a letter sent to Rector.
-Come to think of it, it's been quite a while since we've seen that old man.
Wrath licked his lips, wondering what that other doting old man was up to.
'Indeed. I'm curious too.'
Raon smiled softly as he looked at the sky where the swallow had disappeared.
'If this mission goes well, it might not be a bad idea to pay him a visit after so long.'
***
"I see."
Rector put down the neatly folded letter with a refreshing smile.
"Is it a letter from Zieghart?"
Mustan, who was training with his sword behind him, asked while wiping the sweat from his forehead.
"How did you know?"
Rector blinked as he folded the letter.
"Only Raon or Sia can make you smile like that, Master."
Mustan grinned, saying that the letter's sender was evident from Rector's expression.
"Ahem!"
Rector cleared his throat, trying to suppress his involuntary smile.
"It's nice to see, so you can leave it as is."
Mustan waved his hand, saying it was a smile that improved his mood just by seeing it.
"So what's in the letter that made you smile like that, Master? Please tell me too."
He rolled his eyes slightly, expressing his curiosity.
"Read it yourself."
Rector tossed the letter to Mustan, as if telling him to check it himself.
"Ah!"
Though startled, Mustan reached out and unfolded the letter he received from Rector.
"It's from Raon. Ha. Gasp! Hmm..."
As he read the letter, his eyes widened dramatically and then narrowed repeatedly.
"I heard rumors about the deaths of Demon Slaying Spear and The Fallen, but I never imagined Raon was behind it!"
Mustan's hand trembled as he held the letter, seemingly shocked.
"And the Heavenly Demon too, it's truly insane..."
He could barely breathe as he recited the shocking facts from the brief letter.
"It's somewhat funny that after writing such amazing stories, he ends by worrying about your health, Master."
Mustan chuckled as he read the last sentence of the letter, which said, 'Grandfather, I'll visit soon, so please stay healthy.'
"That's because he's an affectionate kid."
Rector carefully tucked the letter Mustan handed back into his chest, wearing the smile of a loving grandfather.
"When I first saw Raon, there wasn't much difference between us, but now the gap has widened so much..."
Mustan sighed, saying that while he respected Raon, his growth was beyond comprehension.
"For someone like Raon, it's best not to think about catching up, but to let him go his own way."
Rector shook his head, recalling Raon's talent for mimicking others' martial arts.
"You also possess talent that could be called genius, so keep pushing forward as you have been."
He waved his hand, telling Mustan to focus only on his own mindset and martial arts.
"I know that too. Don't worry!"
Mustan smiled genuinely, saying he no longer felt jealousy or envy.
"Then I should write a reply too."
Rector wrote a letter to Raon right there.
"M-Master! Me too! Please mention me as well!"
Mustan waved his hand, asking Rector to just send his regards.
"I've already written it."
Rector waved his finger as if to say not to worry, then tied the letter he had written to the swallow's ankle. Just as the black swallow bowed its head once and flew into the sunset-lit sky, a white hawk swooped in like lightning from the west and grabbed the swallow's neck. The swallow let out a shrill cry.
The swallow screamed and struggled, but the white hawk didn't loosen its grip, as if determined to kill it.
"What is this..."
Rector frowned. It was surprising that the swallow sent by Raon, which was a special spirit beast, was caught helplessly in the hawk's talons. Tsk. As Rector clicked his tongue and reached out his hand, the white hawk was drawn into his grasp. With a twist of his wrist, Rector snapped the neck of the white hawk that was trying to kill the swallow.
The swallow chirped weakly. Only then did it break free from the hawk's talons, exhaling a thin breath.
"Can you go on?"
The swallow chirped softly. When Rector showed a concerned look, the swallow let out a small cry as if to say it was alright, and then flew back into the sky.
"M-Master."
Mustan swallowed dryly as he pointed at the dead white hawk.
"There's a l-letter here."
He trembled as he looked at the black letter tied to the white hawk's leg.
"How... No one should know this place..."
Mustan chewed his lips, unable to understand the situation.
"In the end..."
Rector exhaled heavily as he saw the House Robert crest engraved at the end of the letter.
"What was bound to come has come."