Chapter 568

Chapter 568

“Is that Aries Zieghart?”

Rector clicked his tongue in regret while looking at Aries standing in his way.

“No, it’s not just you.”

He flicked his eyes to the right while facing Aries.

“Huh?”

Aries narrowed her eyes while pushing Rector’s hand away with her sword.

“The Holy Sword Alliance’s dogs are only good at using a sword and have no quality for gathering information. How did you even figure out my name?”

“Of course I’d recognize the Pirate King from the Five Divine Orders.”

“I’m not the Pirate King!”

She clenched her back teeth and stabbed her sword towards the left side of Rector’s chest.

Cring!

Rector swung his right hand in a semi-circle. The side of his hand struck down as beautifully as the setting moon and redirected Aries’s strike. The mysterious flow had removed the aura itself.

Whaaam!

With the trajectory being altered, Aries’s attack smashed the ground and created a crack of a terrifying size.

Whoosh!

Black smoke surged from the ground and created a thin wall between Aries and Rector.

“How did you get here, Lady Aries...?”

Raon swallowed nervously while watching Aries fix the grip of her sword.

“......”

Aries didn’t respond. She was spreading her frightening pressure around herself while glaring at the smoke, showing her animosity towards Rector.

‘I shouldn’t have spoken to her during a fight.’

You really can’t read the mood!

Raon acknowledged his mistake and was about to step back when Wrath shook his finger.

‘What?’

It’s not because you talked to her during a fight. It’s because you used the wrong title!

‘Title...’

Something came up in Raon’s mind, but he doubted it was the reason why. However, he still tried to call her by that title just in case.

“Auntie.”

“Yes! My nephew!”

Aries immediately turned her head and smiled energetically. She looked like a whole different person from when she was showing her bloodlust towards Rector.

“H-how did you get here?”

Raon unconsciously stuttered because it’d been a while since the last time he’d experienced that excessive reaction from Aries.

“I reluctantly returned to the house because they kept calling me over and over, but you weren’t there anymore. I was waiting for you so I could see you before I went back, and I heard that the Light Wind division sent a request for reinforcements. That’s why I immediately came running.”

“Ah...”

Raon fell speechless for a moment while meeting Aries’s confident gaze.

‘She acted so quickly.’

Raon could guess that Aries had ignored Glenn’s order and came running on her own accord.

Just like her first impression, she seemed to be living as she pleased as a free spirit, regardless of Zieghart.

“Aunt... Yes, you must be his aunt.”

Rector nodded calmly after observing Raon and Aries one after the other. The look in his eyes had become even darker.

“What, are you jealous?”

Aries curled her lips into a smile and tilted her head.

“I guess you would be. You would also brag about him everywhere if your nephew became a Grandmaster at twenty-one years old.”

“Nonsense.”

“Why were you trying to take him if it isn’t the case?”

“......”

Rector didn’t respond and revealed a frightening gaze. His eyes were as dry as the desert, reminding Raon of the situation a moment ago.

‘By the way... couldn’t he have just caught me a moment ago?’

Since Raon was extremely close to Rector when he tried to take him by surprise with the Blade of Requiem, Rector should’ve been able to catch him just by clenching his fingers.

Even though Aries used the space sword, Rector should’ve been faster. Raon almost felt like Rector had let him go on purpose.

You guessed right.

Wrath nodded while looking at Rector.

That geezer didn’t catch you on purpose.

‘I knew it...’

Raon weakly bit his lip while looking at Rector. He was certain of it because Wrath had agreed.

He wasn’t too sure why, but Rector must’ve let him go on purpose.

‘And the look in his eyes is a bit strange too.’

Raon could tell because he was taught by Rector one-on-one. The man who personally demonstrated swordsmanship and explained for him still remained in eyes that seemed to be coated by a dry storm.

Moreover, Raon suspected that he was related to his father. He could guess that there must’ve been some interference for such a drastic change to occur.

‘Brainwashing? Or did someone get his weakness?’

He’d never heard that it was possible to brainwash a Transcender, but it seemed more plausible because of how strange the situation was.

“Sir Rector, what even happened to you? If you were brainwashed or someone discovered your weakness...”

“Brainwashed?”

Rector’s cold gaze was directed at him.

“Do you really believe that a Transcender can be brainwashed?”

His slightly curling lips curved into a smile.

“I’m in the Holy Sword Alliance of my free will.”

Rector confidently declared and unsheathed his sword. It was painful to watch the sword that used to teach him be directed at him instead.

‘Is this another form of our bond...?’

If it were in his previous life when he lived as an assassin, he would’ve thrust his sword at Rector without feeling anything. However, since he’d learned about bonding with people, he couldn’t simply show his animosity towards him.

Knowing the relationship between people wasn’t always advantageous.

“Rector.”

Aries nodded while licking her dry lips.

“Yes, you are the Sword Demon. The great Sword Demon was from the Holy Sword Alliance. All of the reputation you’ve gained so far will be utterly tarnished.”

“The reputation discussed by the others holds no importance.”

Rector proudly raised his gaze, showing that he wasn’t ashamed of himself. His sword incorporated his will and radiated in a dignified manner.

“What truly matters is the meaning I hold.”

“Even a wretched person can utter good words.”

Aries chuckled, returned her sword to its scabbard, and lowered her posture. She seemed to be planning to use a sword draw to cut through the space and gain the upper hand in an instant.

An old woman’s mask was revealed above the fluttering robe, glowing radiantly.

It was Merlin. He wasn’t sure when she had started to prepare her spells, but her magic rushed to Rector’s right side like a ray of light.

Baaaang!

A tremendous storm of light surged from Rector’s spot upon taking Aries, Raon, and Merlin’s attacks from three directions. The spells and sword strikes erupted one after the other and countless rays soared to the sky.

“Are we made for each other?”

Merlin rolled her lips into a faint smile.

“Our timing was perfectly synchronized.”

She raised her chin with an unusually seductive voice.

“Merlin?”

Aries furrowed her brow while looking at Merlin.

“Why did that madwoman do this?”

She shook her head, unable to understand the situation.

“She must be targeting me as well.”

Raon shook his head while sticking next to Aries.

“Let’s put an end to this situation for now.”

“Yes, we should.”

Aries shook her hand, calling the wind to drive the sandstorm away.

Whoosh!

Rector hadn’t moved an inch from the spot he had been standing. His clothes were slightly scorched and torn, but the damage he took didn’t seem to be noticeable.

However, a faint wound was created on his right shoulder, which Merlin had attacked.

“The timing of your surprise attack and the sharpness of your blade... You’ve improved a lot compared to before.”

Rector looked his way. His frightening gaze felt like he was about to stab his neck at any moment, but it also gave him the impression that he was proud of him. Raon started to think that he was going insane.

“And Merlin, was that surprise attack the Fallen’s intention?”

“No, I just came out because you made me angry by trying to take Raon Zieghart away.”

“One Transcender and two Grandmasters...”

He nodded while wiping away the blood flowing from his shoulder.

“It might take some time, but it won’t be too bad.”

“Master of the Bloody Sword.”

Just as Rector was about to make another move, the middle-aged man who seemed to be in charge of the Holy Sword Alliance’s sword demons approached him and quietly whispered to him.

“We need to withdraw.”

“What?”

“The alliance master said it already. We can’t clash against him right now.”

The middle-aged man shook his head while mentioning the alliance master’s name.

“Tsk.”

Rector clicked his tongue in displeasure and sheathed his sword.

“You won’t get another chance like this.”

“Hah, keep talking.”

Aries furrowed her brow and shook her head.

“You’re just running away because his grandfather is coming. Why are you even blabbering so much?”

She snickered, immediately noticing who the middle-aged man was referring to.

“......”

Rector didn’t respond to her and looked at Raon instead. He met his eyes for an extremely brief period of time before he disappeared.

“......”

Raon felt nauseous as he thought about Rector’s cold and emotionless eyes.

‘It’s clear. He wanted to say something to me.’

Rector might be in the Holy Sword Alliance because he really wanted to be there, but he still wanted to say something to him.

Raon had a feeling that he’d come with the intention of teaching him and warning him to begin with. Moreover, it would be his last lesson.

‘What could it be?’

* * *

Rector stopped following the sword demons from the Holy Sword Alliance.

“Master of the Bloody Sword?”

“Go ahead and report. I’m going to treat my injuries before I go.”

He shook his head while pointing at his ear, where blood suddenly started to flow.

“Hmm, understood.”

The middle-aged man nodded and went ahead with his subordinates to leave the forest.

“He really...”

“Master.”

Mustan came walking from the deeper part of the forest while Rector was smiling.

“Are you alright?”

Mustan bit his lip. His eyes were clear, unlike before.

“...has an unbelievable talent.”

Rector wiped away the blood flowing from his ear and murmured that Raon was impressive. A genuine smile appeared on his face for the first time.

“It’s not that. I was asking if your mind is alright, master.”

Mustan lowered his gaze with a gloomy expression as if he were fully aware of his circumstances.

“......”

Rector didn’t respond. He slowly raised his gaze and looked up at the clear sky.

“It doesn’t matter whether I’m alright or not. I’m just doing what I have to do.”

He sighed briefly.

“But it would be better to tell Sir Raon about it.”

“No.”

Rector firmly shook his head.

“His radiance will fade if I’m involved with him. I’m tired of feeling regret. I’ll be satisfied with protecting him from the shadows.”

He smiled, showing that he’d already made up his mind.

“You said that you can also do anything for Raon, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then follow me.”

Rector held Mustan’s shoulder and stood up.

“Since the path opened up from today’s incident, the end should be coming soon.”