Chapter 210

North Grave Mountain

Midpoint

Rimmer was licking his lips while leaning his back against a long boulder that looked like a leaf laid on the ground horizontally.

“My lord.”

He raised his head to look at the top of the boulder.

“Why did you entrust Raon to that inflexible woman?”

“......”

Glenn didn't respond, instead he just stared at the annex building, where faint light was emerging from the darkness.

“What are you going to do if Raon learns to be as strict as Sheryl?”

Rimmer's hand was trembling, terrified by that possibility.

“He's already meticulous as he is right now, and if he takes after Sheryl on top of that... Aww! I don't even want to think about it!”

He shook his head, telling him that shouldn't be allowed to happen.

“That boy was trying to create his own swordsmanship.”

Glenn opened his mouth, slowly looking up.

“Yes. He's currently researching the heavy sword.”

Rimmer nodded, thinking about the way Raon was practicing the heavy sword.

“The Heavenly Blade leader has trained all different sword's properties to the extreme. She's the most helpful person for him right now.”

Glenn nonchalantly explained the reason he entrusted Raon to Sheryl.

“So, you were taking care of Raon once again. You are really a grandson's grandfather, since you even moved the Heavenly Blade in order to teach him.”

“Silence.”

“If you like Raon so much, and want to take care of him, you should just say it! Or you should at least personally take care of him! It feels so frustrating to watch!”

Rimmer slammed his chest.

“Head of House, you might end up dying without even telling him your feelings a single time! You know, people at our age can die at any time...”

“I guess you get sores in your mouth if you don’t get beaten at least once a month.”

“Huff!”

Crimson sparks appeared in Glenn's hand, and Rimmer shut his mouth tightly.

However, it looked like he couldn't bear the silence, since he opened his mouth again in less than ten seconds.

“It's okay that you did it for Raon's sake, but you made a mistake this time.”

“Mistake?”

“There's no way that inflexible woman would teach him swordsmanship.”

Rimmer frowned intensely.

“She will teach him properly once she starts, but I don't think that's going to happen.”

Sheryl was the strictest person in Zieghart. There was no way she would easily decide to teach Raon.

“Raon is amazing in many ways, but he's going to need at least ten missions with her in order to open her mind.”

Rimmer swayed his arms in circles.

“It's better to open the library and show him various books on swordsmanship than to wait for that to happen.”

Although he acknowledged Raon's abilities, he couldn't imagine Raon overcoming Sheryl's strictness.

“What do you think will happen if Sheryl teaches swordsmanship to Raon?”

“Hmm, it will be extremely helpful for him if she does teach him.”

Rimmer continued while scratching his chin.

“She does teach properly, since she is such a strict person. I'm sure that will allow him to grow a lot.”

If Sheryl decided to teach him, she would keep teaching him until he realized the true meaning. In that case, his proficiency was bound to reach a different level by the time he returned.

“Then there's nothing to worry about.”

Glenn took out an opened letter from his inner pocket.

“Because the Heavenly Blade leader is currently teaching not only Raon, but also the other children.”

“Whaat?”

Rimmer's jaw dropped.

“N-No way! How did that even happen?”

“She was tricked by Raon.”

“T-Tricked? That Sheryl was?”

“Yes.”

“Huh...”

Rimmer's lips were trembling. He never imagined that Sheryl could be tricked by Raon's plans, despite her meticulous personality. He really was an amazing guy.

“She said she would properly teach Raon the heavy sword.”

“Uuh...”

“He's going to grow up a lot by the time he returns.”

Glenn smiled faintly, enjoying Rimmer's surprised reaction.

“I'm looking forward to it a little.”

* * *

Raon narrowed his eyes while looking at Sheryl, who stopped in front of him.

“Did you run away again because you didn't want to cook?”

“Wh-What are you saying right now?”

Sheryl was quickly blinking her eyes in panic.

“You also ran away when we were coming to House Yonaan because you messed up the cooking multiple times...”

It was mysterious that cooking was the one thing Sheryl was bad at, even though she was good at everything else. It was truly a mystery that her food tasted like mud, when mud wasn't even one of the ingredients.

That was terrible...Rread latest chapters at novelhall.com

Wrath sighed. Even the demon king of voracity surrendered to Sheryl's food, labeling it not made for humans.

“That did happen back then, but that's not the case this time!”

She violently shook her head, telling him that he was mistaken.

“Then why did you suddenly decide to come here?”

“Haa, I told you I would teach you the heavy sword...”

Sheryl's voice was weak, probably because she realized the situation was already unfolding differently from what she wanted.

“I properly see it through once I start something. I didn't finish my lesson about the heavy sword.”

She narrowed her eyes while pointing at Heavenly Drive.

“There's a huge weakness in your heavy sword right now. I came here to teach you about that, not because of the food. It's true!”

“Ah, okay...”

Raon awkwardly nodded. Judging from the way she emphasized it, the cooking must've been part of the reason.

“I have a question before I teach you the heavy sword.”

“Please go ahead.”

“Why are you trying to create a new swordsmanship instead of learning an existing one?”

Sheryl was apparently aware that he was trying to create a new swordsmanship through the principles of the heavy sword.

“Can you answer?”

“I can, since it's not a big deal.”

Raon nodded nonchalantly.

“I kept training the Star Connecting Sword, even after I learned advanced swordsmanship. I was just trying to warm up and remind myself of the basics, but the swordsmanship started to transform to match my tendencies at some point.”

“Transform?”

“The Star Connecting Sword is originally more focused on defense than offense, but the one I've been using is more focused on offense. The swordsmanship has evolved to match my personality and aura.”

He was enlightened after he reached the highest level of Expert and created Frost Pond. He was capable of changing a swordsmanship's flow itself once he learned it to the extreme.

“However, it was still lacking compared to the swordsmanship I had created myself, despite all the changes. Just as custom clothes feel more comfortable than ready-made clothes, the swordsmanship I created myself was more powerful and reactive, with more possibilities for progress.”

“I see. It should suit you better than any other swordsmanship, since you can use it the way you want to. However, it's an extremely difficult path.”

Sheryl nonchalantly looked at Heavenly Drive.

“Creating a new swordsmanship is a matter of enlightenment. The door might not open, even if you learn countless swordsmanship styles and increase their proficiencies.”

“I don't mind it.”

“What?”

“Even if I don't manage to create a new swordsmanship, I'm already enjoying training and getting stronger.”

Raon smiled. He wasn't lying. Just like he told Wrath, the joy of progressing and getting better was bringing him more happiness than any other emotion.

“I see. So that was why.”

Sheryl nodded with a faint smile on her face.

'He really isn’t an ordinary guy.'

His response was brimming with wisdom. She was wondering how he got the temperament of a young founder, and it was because his willpower and his soul level were completely different from ordinary people.

'That's pretty good.'

Wherever it is.

* * *

* * *

Once Raon returned from his training, the tents were already completed and the meal was ready, the entire camp filled with a mouthwatering fragrance.

That's a nice fragrance. Duck seems to be today's meat. Roasted duck with butter is bound to be delicious.

Listening to Wrath's mumbling as he guessed the food from nothing but the scent, he went to Encia's carriage.

A small bonfire was ignited in front of the carriage, and Encia, Runaan, Dorian, and Krein were sitting around it in a circle.

“Erm, Lady Encia?”

Dorian threw firewood into the bonfire, then waved his hand at Encia.

“I heard you had an excellent eye for beauty. Is that true?”

“It's not that great. I'm just slightly better than others in that aspect.”

Encia smiled lightly, telling him it wasn't a big deal.

“Then can you check me as well? How is my face?”

Dorian raised his finger and pointed at his face.

“Hmm.”

Encia narrowed his eyes and examined Dorian's face from different angles before nodding.

“You look cute.”

“R-Rather than cute, how about being handsome...”

“You look kind.”

She comforted Dorian by describing him with words that were used when she couldn't find anything to compliment.

“No, instead of kind, there's that other word! The thing you tell the vice-squad leader all the time!”

“Those clothes look good on you.”

She smiled, never calling him handsome. She was apparently the type of person who couldn't lie.

“Can you check me as well?”

Krein swept up his bangs, which were covering his left eye, to the side and stood in front of Encia. Judging from the way he lowered his voice, he apparently wanted to be called handsome at all costs.

“I don't really lose in terms of appearance... “

“You look cool.”

“No, but I'm asking whether I'm handsome or not...”

“You look nice.”

Once again, Encia just smiled without telling Krein what he wanted.

“Then, how about Sir Raon's face...?”

“That goes without saying! He's so damn handsome!”

Encia raised her voice while looking at Raon, who was spectating from behind, as if she'd been waiting for that opportunity.

“His hair, skin, nose... Everything's crazy...”

“No, but lots of people told me I'm handsome...”

“He's matchless!”

She got angry at him instead, as if she were scolding him about asking that useless question.

“Dorian.”

“Yeah.”

Krein called out to Dorian, and Dorian slowly nodded as he stood up.

“Let's die.”

“Yeah.”

They nodded, groaning in sadness with their eyes closed.

“Why would you do that when appearance isn't even that important...?”

Raon clicked his tongue while looking at them.

“Kuh!”

“That’s going too far!”

Dorian and Krein ran into the forest while wiping around their eyes with their sleeves.

You should really be a demon king instead.

* * *

The journey was smooth.

The road was well paved, there were no monsters nor bandits, and since Encia was holding out pretty well, it looked like they would be able to arrive at Retran faster than they'd estimated.

“We will be at Retran once we cross this forest. Brace yourselves, since we are going to move without resting!”

Sheryl pointed at Krun Forest, which was filled with broad-leaved trees and grasses as dense as an animal's fur. Since going around would take them an extra three days, crossing the forest was the fastest route to Retran.

“Enter!”

Once she confirmed everyone was ready, she took the lead and entered Krun Forest.

“Enter!”

Raon and the swordsmen repeated after her and followed her. Raon advanced through the forest road while focusing on his aura perception, but he couldn't feel anything yet.

'Are they still not coming?'

He was looking forward to the Robert bastards, since Krun Forest was the best place for them to attack, yet he could only sense animals and monsters.

'I'm sure they won't miss this opportunity though, considering their personalities.'

“Vice-squad leader.”

While he was trying to predict Temas's thoughts, Dorian came up next to him.

“I heard the war in Retran has been going on for multiple months. What are they even fighting for?”

He asked while scratching his cheek. It looked like he finally got curious about it. The other swordsmen also seemed interested, since they secretly looked at them.

“What are you even expecting? Wars don't break out because of important reasons.”

“What? What else?”

“The reason is usually trivial. And the same goes for Retran.”

Raon continued while looking at the swordsmen, including Dorian.

“The houses currently fighting in Retran are Basin and Trian, and the reason why they are fighting...”

“Wh-What is the reason?”

“It's because of one child.”

“Child?”

“Child?”

He was sure, since he heard it from Judiel, and confirmed it in Dembell City. There was only one reason for Retran's war, and it was because the two sides wanted to take a young boy with genius talents.

“H-How is that even possible? How can a war even break out just because of one single boy...?”

“The boy was the trigger, but you know how the two houses are sharing Retran between them. He triggered a battle of pride, which aggravated into a war.”

“Then what happened to that boy?”

“I don't think they are even interested in him anymore. They are just fighting for their pride.”

A conflict like that was extremely common in the continent. It was the same in his previous life, where people often fought because of a small portion of land or some item that wasn't even amazing.

“The Saint must be going through lots of trouble.”

“Indeed...”

Raon started nodding, then narrowed his eyes in the middle.

Whoosh!

Once they entered an area where the leaves from the wide-leaved trees became a bit darker, the atmosphere became cooler, and he could feel extremely small presences.

'They are here after all.'

He was worried they might have given up because they didn't show any signs of movement, but that wasn't the case. Temas didn't betray his expectations—he went there before them to install formations and have assassins waiting for them.

Sheryl and Ekan's eyes were serious. Apparently, they were already aware of their presences, but were planning to use the situation to teach the Light Wind.

Rumble.

The moment Encia's carriage passed next to an oak tree with a huge hole, the presences covering the entire forest moved at once.

“Enemies are here!”

“Prepare for battle!”

As soon as Sheryl and Ekan gave the order, the Heavenly Blade spread out in four directions and created a defensive formation.

“Light Wind, create the small sword formation and stay behind the carriage!”

“Understood!”

Burren understood the situation, taking the swordsmen behind the carriage to create a sword formation.

“No one's going to die if you move according to orders!”

Raon encouraged the nervous Light Wind members, then turned his head.

Tchng!

Looking at the twisted forest as if it had been engulfed by a storm, which was the result of the formation, Raon calmly smiled.

“Did you wait for a long time?”

‘Just like you've been waiting for me, I've also been waiting for you.’