Revenge was a constant shadow in my thoughts.
Even while I was raising the Light Wind division, my desire for vengeance against the Master of the Wise Dragon Sword never faded away.
Even amid happiness, joy, anger, and growing affection, revenge remained with me like an ever-present shadow.
It couldn’t be helped, as I had lost people who were even closer than family to me.
Once I realized that I couldn’t give up on my revenge against the Master of the Wise Dragon Sword and the Holy Sword Alliance, I started to prepare.
I swore to the deceased that I would kill the Master of the Wise Dragon Sword even if I had to sacrifice my life in return.
However, I was unable to achieve that pledge.
I encountered the Master of the Wise Dragon Sword like I’d been dreaming of, but I couldn’t fight with my life on the line.
I was fully focused on stopping him, prioritizing the living instead of the ones I killed.
I was really glad that no one had died. I had no regrets.
However, the sense of guilt was weighing heavily on my shoulders. I immediately went to the grave of the deceased after I returned to the house.
I shouted that I was sorry, that there was no other choice. I swore once again that I was definitely going to kill the Master of the Wise Dragon Sword with my own hands, with my life on the line the next time I met him.
After that day, I distanced myself from Raon and the Light Wind division little by little.
I rarely came to the training ground or helped with their training so that the Light Wind division would still be fine, centered around Raon even after I was gone.
I borrowed the personal training ground of the head of house and only focused on my training.
I abandoned the Eye of the Storm that had a good balance between attack and defense. I focused all my efforts on polishing the Song of Wind and Lightning, which was more powerful in attack, in order to sharpen the fangs to bite the Master of the Wise Dragon Sword’s throat.
I thought I could finally throw away everything and solely focus on revenge.
However, I was unable to go all out against the Master of the Wise Dragon Sword once again.
I resolved myself to cut off the Master of the Wise Dragon Sword’s head without caring about what happened to the Light Wind division, but I ended up spending a large amount of aura in order to protect them instead.
I should feel guilty towards the deceased, but I was strangely feeling at ease.
As if my soul were released from the binding of thorny vines, I could move my body more freely. I realized that it was because my end was near.
Understanding that it was my final moments, I was planning to tell Raon to escape with everyone and put an end to my fight, but that damn bastard went ahead and did it.
He fell into a trance in the middle of a battlefield. It was a madness that even Glenn wouldn’t be able to do.
In the end, my plan to take down the Master of the Wise Dragon Sword with me was completely shattered.
I couldn’t run away or put an end to the fight. I had to use all of my power to protect Raon and the Light Wind division.
However, I had a final opportunity in the midst of that chaotic battle.
The Master of the Wise Dragon Sword panicked because Raon was about to awaken and focused all of his power in the direction of the Light Wind.
And an opening was revealed. It was fatal enough to cut off his head and take away his life.
However, if I attacked that opening, Raon and the Light Wind division were going to die without even leaving a bone behind.
A split-second decision?
No, I didn’t even decide.
My body was blocking the Master of the Wise Dragon Sword’s path before I even started to think.
I removed the Song of Wind and Lightning that I’d been polishing in order to kill him and activated the Eye of the Storm in order to protect everyone.
I didn’t regret being unable to achieve vengeance at all. All I was thinking about was protecting the ones behind me.
I took the demonic energy into my body in order to save them and even shoved the energy of wind into the demonic sword.
I thought it was enough. I closed my eyes, resolving myself to kneeling in front of my companions in the afterlife for being unable to achieve vengeance.
And as I was prepared to die...
That damn Raon stopped the demonic sword. His faint golden eyes, mysterious and elegant, were crushing the Master of the Wise Dragon Sword.
Raon smiled, saying that he was late because he overslept.
That was my line.
My disciple’s back was broader than ever as he advanced while stating the line that I said when I stopped the Blood Raving Demon’s attack. Even Glenn was no match for him even though I’d entrusted my future to him.
Raon was powerful. Since he had just awakened, he even used the techniques that he normally couldn’t use and drove the Master of the Wise Dragon Sword into a corner.
That child—no, my king who used to be a child—seemed to be ascending the stairs to the throne, wearing royal robes and a crown.
I couldn’t avenge them myself, but I thought it was worth taking the demonic energy in to head to my demise.
Unfortunately, there was no sense of relief. After all, I wanted to kill the Master of the Wise Dragon Sword myself instead of leaving it to someone else. I never wanted revenge achieved by someone else.
Just as I was thinking about that, Raon defeated the Master of the Wise Dragon Sword with his faint golden flame.
“You lost. No, it’s our victory.”
I felt like my soul was saved by that short sentence, by his firm declaration.
Tears flowed from my eyes before I knew it. I felt like my body and mind, which had always been with the deceased, were awakened from the nightmare.
There was no regret. I didn’t even need to beg for forgiveness from my companions in the afterlife anymore.
Instead, I could tell them that my disciple achieved revenge alongside me.
I closed my eyes.
The excessive demonic energy that I absorbed was filling my entire body.
Since even the Ragged Saint Federick wouldn’t be able to save me, I didn’t even want to live anymore.
I opened my eyes once again and looked at the Light Wind division one after the other.
As I was saying farewell with my eyes to the youngsters that I’d raised ever since their childhood, I could hear heavy footsteps.
It was Raon. He returned after the battle and was looking down at me with blurry eyes.
Was this the final farewell?
I wanted to exchange a heartfelt farewell before my death.
“R-Raon. Thank you. It’s all thanks to you that I...”
I raised my head and parted my dry lips when Raon suddenly furrowed his brow.
“Stop exaggerating and wake up already.”
You bastard!
* * *
Raon bit his lip while looking at Rimmer’s trembling eyes.
‘This is no good.’
Rimmer’s entire body was tainted by the demonic energy. He could die at any moment, and his body was rapidly losing its vitality.
“This is bad. The demonic energy has spread all the way to his organs on top of his mana circuits.”
Martha had analyzed Rimmer’s condition in that short time. She must’ve been continuing her medical studies all along.
“Can you save him?”
“Raon...”
Burren and Runaan’s fingers were trembling nervously.
“Vice division leader...”
“I don’t want to see him die like this!”
“I can’t let him go like this! He should die by getting beaten up in a gambling house instead!”
The Light Wind division fell on their knees and lowered their heads, shouting that they didn’t want Rimmer to die like that.
“Don’t worry. I can save him.”
Raon nodded and examined Rimmer’s condition. Like Martha had said, he could feel the stench of demonic energy even from his organs.
What do you think a brat like you can even do?
Wrath shook his hand, saying that it was impossible for him.
“Hmm...”
Just as Rimmer was about to talk to the Master of the Wise Dragon Sword, Raon raised his hand.
“Let me go first.”
“Why would you even bring me if you were going to do this...?”
Raon ignored Rimmer and looked down upon the Master of the Wise Dragon Sword.
“I-I’m not going to say anything.”
The Master of the Wise Dragon Sword shook his head with trembling pupils.
“Don’t worry. I’m not looking for an answer from you.”
“What?”
“Did the Holy Sword Alliance, Black Tower, and the White Blood Religion form an alliance?”
The trembling of the Master of the Wise Dragon Sword’s pupils halted for a moment.
“I knew it.”
The Six Kings and the Five Demons looked like they were allies, but they simply gathered to hold each other in check without coming to a proper agreement.
Raon had his suspicions when the Black Tower attacked Cameloon and the Holy Sword Alliance and the White Blood Religion attacked Banneret. His reaction confirmed that these three groups had formed an alliance, at least for the time being.
“Black Tower and the White Blood Religion? You’ve fallen so low,” Rimmer murmured weakly.
“Sh-shut up.”
The Master of the Wise Dragon Sword confirmed that Raon’s guess was correct by telling Rimmer to shut up.
“Anyway, I can finally be honest now.”
Rimmer pushed Raon away and stood on his own. His legs were shaking, but he somehow managed to keep standing and calmly looked down on the Master of the Wise Dragon Sword.
“I’m the loser of our previous battle. I lost all my subordinates and my energy center was broken, but you only lost your arm. I admit it. It was your victory.”
“Wh-what...?”
The Master of the Wise Dragon Sword swallowed nervously, unable to understand what Rimmer was trying to say.
“But this time is different. While you were recovering your strength...”
Rimmer held Raon’s shoulder with his left arm.
“I’ve been raising this monstrous disciple. Since he was the one who destroyed you, we are the winner of this fight.”
He must’ve been impressed by how Raon said it was ‘our’ victory. He smiled faintly while repeating the same thing.
“Kuh...”
The Master of the Wise Dragon Sword bit his lip with a frustrated and sorrowful expression.
“I-it’s meaningless since it wasn’t done with your own hands...”
“It is meaningful. You can raise a disciple too if you have a problem with it! Look at how you ended up, an old man flailing about while trying to recover your power. Serves you right!”
Rimmer laughed at the Master of the Wise Dragon Sword with a broad grin on his face. He looked like he would have danced if he were in better condition.
“Dying in a place where no one prays for your repose, it’s such a fitting end for you.”
Rimmer smiled brightly. He looked like he finally had no more regrets left.
“Y-you damn bastard...”
The Master of the Wise Dragon Sword slowly drew his last breath with bloodshot eyes. His expression was even more twisted than when he’d lost against Raon.
“Get lost. Go to hell.”
Rimmer watched the Master of the Wise Dragon Sword for a while after he perished and sat on the ground. He stroked the part where his right arm used to exist and smiled awkwardly.
“Thank you.”
“What?”
Raon blinked while meeting Rimmer’s eyes.
“Thank you. I feel much better now.”
Rimmer sighed deeply and looked up to the clear sky.
“Thank you for saving them. I wouldn’t have felt this way if a single one of them ended up dead. I’m really relieved.”
“Can you say that kind of thing, division leader?”
“What did you even think of me?!”
“But there’s one thing that’s wrong.”
“Huh?”
“We’re relieved because you’ve survived with us, division leader.”
Raon turned Rimmer around to make him look at the Light Wind division. Everyone was smiling in agreement.
“There’s no escape!”
“Help us with our training one by one to make up for skipping it so far.”
“Lazybones.”
“Gambling addict!”
“Penniless!”
“Dirt poor!”
“Trash of Zieghart!”
The Light Wind swordsmen called Rimmer by his nicknames with smiles on their faces. It looked like they’d known about Rimmer’s circumstances all along.
“Trash? Who said that?!”
Rimmer ground his teeth violently while looking for the one who called him trash.
Raon smiled faintly while watching Rimmer’s rampage as he chased after the Light Wind division.
‘It’s all over now...’
Ugh...
Raon was smiling in satisfaction when he noticed that Wrath was looking around with an extremely serious expression on his face.
‘What’s wrong with you? Do you need a restroom?’
What are you even talking about?! It’s coming soon! It’s coming!
Raon spread his aura perception, frightened by his shout. However, he couldn’t sense anything even after he spread his mana for a long time.
‘What’s coming?’
It’s coming! It’s happening! It’s close to us right now!
Wrath didn’t respond and crouched like a feline targeting its prey.
‘Did you eat something bad or what?’
Raon murmured that he was acting strange when messages appeared in the air.
[You’ve reached the Grandmaster’s realm.]
[You’ve revealed your...]
[All stats...]
Messages came up one after the other and blocked his vision.
Kuaaah!
Wrath immediately screamed and jolted into the air.
It’s here! The demon has arrived! Get lost!
Raon blinked in confusion while watching the cotton candy flail in the air.
‘But you are the king of those demons...’