Raon clicked his tongue as he looked at Ganett, whose eyes had rolled back as he slumped back on the ground.
âHow foolish.â
Ganett had been trying to show off and had twisted his sword slightly, as he had overestimated his strength.
Since there was no way such a sloppy technique would work against Raon, he smacked his own forehead with his sword and fainted, drool trickling from his mouth.
âI thought it would be interesting, but he was nothing but a fool.â
Raon watched his swollen forehead for a bit before turning around.
âWhat is thisâŠ?â
The first person he noticed was Burren. He was gasping, his green eyes unfocused.
âWhat have you been doing over the past year?â
He suddenly stood up and started shouting. He seemed astonished by the fact that heâd crushed the deflection with pure strength.
The jaws of the other swordsmen had also dropped, but their reactions were slightly different.
âWh-What was thatâŠ?â
âDid he just hit himself with his sword and faint?â
âWhat an idiot!â
âSigh!â
âTsk, tsk.â
Unlike Burren, they were calling Ganett an idiot, insulting him while sighing.
It was true that what Ganett did was foolish, but the result wouldnât have changed even if somebody else had been facing Raon instead.
âWho is next?â
Raon tilted his head towards Training Instructor Reff, who was staring at him with his eyes wide.
âI havenât even finished warming up yet.â
âOf course! We havenât gotten started yet, either! Dollan!â
A blue-haired swordsman stood up from the middle of the group. His sturdy body looked pretty strong.
âYou shall be Raonâs opponent.â
âYes!â
Dollan went up to the arena. Raon couldnât even see behind himâhe was as big as an orc. Dollan frowned, looking at Ganett as he was carried away to be healed.
âIâm different from that idiot. You will pay dearly if you underestimate me.â
âIâm not the type of person to underestimate people.â
âFine, come at me!â
Raon nodded and kicked off from the ground. Just like when he defeated Ganett, he raised the sword towards the sky and slammed it down. The blade perfectly carried his explosive strength as it fell.
âHmph!â
Dollan raised his sword in order to block the blow before the training swordâs momentum reached its peak. It was a good defensive method to counter Raonâs powerful strength.
âThat still wonât do.â
Raon changed the swordâs trajectory slightly. The falling blade, aimed towards the center, was raised slightly and fell on Dollanâs sword instead.
Search bit.ly/3iBfjkV for the original.
Clang!
The moment the two blades clashed, Dollanâs training sword was mercilessly shattered.
âArgh!â
Dollanâs wide eyes look like they were about to pop out as he looked at the shattering blade. However, it was too early to be surprised.
Smaack!
Raon quickly raised his training sword and slammed his head with the flat of it.
Along with the sound of a rock shattering, Dollan collapsed with his eyes rolled back. His big body falling to the ground made the sand flutter into the air.
âHe wasnât any different.â
Raon licked his lips, looking at Dollanâs twitching body. He was cautious about his strength, but he didnât consider his technique at all. Because of that, Raon could easily shatter the training sword at its weakest point by slightly tilting the trajectory of his swing.
âDid you just pierce through the weakness in that instant without even using your aura?â
Raon could hear Burrenâs voice. It looked like he was properly watching the fight, since he had perfectly grasped the situation.
âSeriously, what the hell is that guyâŠ?â
He was even more surprised because of that, and he was biting his own finger.
âHmmâŠâ
He looked around the swordsmen while listening to Burrenâs extreme compliments. Their eyes were spinning. It looked like they didnât expect Dollan to also lose in a single strike. They looked like their spirits had pretty much left their bodies.
âOnce again, it was over in a single strike.â
Raon smiled faintly, looking at dumbfounded Reff.
âLetâs call up the next person.â
* * *
Halfway up the North Grave Mountain.
Glenn and Rimmer were standing next to each other on top of a majestic boulder that looked like a roaring tiger, standing as straight as bamboo.
âMy lord, were you aware of the fact that Raon went to the Central Martial Palace for his internship?â
Rimmer took out a document from his chest to wave it around, snickering.
âI know.â
Glenn slightly nodded, as if it wasnât a big deal.
âThen, are you also aware of the reason he chose the Central Martial Palace?â
Rimmer giggled, looking towards the Central Martial Palace in the west.
âThat crazy guy went there to pick a fight.â
âA fight?â
âI did somewhat expect it, but I never imagined he would start causing problems on the first day of his internship.â
Karoon did blatantly talk and act like he hated Raon multiple times, but he could never have imagined that Raon would charge at him directly instead of running away.
The boy named Raon Zieghart was like an onion, one that kept showing new layers each time one was peeled.
âHe is so daring. I wonder whose student he is.â
Rimmer laughed, murmuring that his teacher must be handsome.
âWhat did he even do today for you to say that he caused problems?â
Glenn turned around for the first time. He was narrowing his eyes slightly, asking him to tell him about it already.
âThat crazy guy⊠Oh, well, I don't wanna talk about it!â
ââŠâŠâ
âBecause my lord doesnât tell me anything either⊠Kuah!â
Rimmerâs face snapped to the side as he collapsed. Glenn had smacked his face with a shapeless aura, unable to suppress his urge.
âAwwwâŠâ
Rimmer trembled, grabbing his chin. The world was spinning around him because of the direct hit heâd received.
âD-Did you hit me? Did you really hit me just now? Thatâs too much! In which country do people start smacking others with a shapeless aura just because they donât want to talk about itâŠ?â
âYouâd better tell me if you donât want to get smacked again.â
Glennâs crimson eyes were blazing. It really looked like he would punch him again if Rimmer didnât start talking immediately.
âI-I get it.â
Rimmer breathed heavily and stood up.
âIf you care about your grandson so much, you should act like it!â
If he was going to smack his face with a sublime martial art just because Rimmer didnât want to talk about Raon, he shouldâve acted like he cared for him. Rimmer had a bad feeling that Glenn wouldnât even be able to talk to him about it in the end.
âTell me quickly.â
âAs soon as Raon started the internship today, he destroyed all the equipment that Central Martial Palace prepared for him. AndâŠâ
Rimmer told him about Raon destroying a bunch of training equipment in the Central Martial Palace and beating up the swordsmen that were running alongside him, sending them to the infirmary.
âI almost died from suppressing my laughter when he escaped from Urekâs grasp by calling the equipment some cheap and saying that Urek got scammed.â
Rimmer giggled, saying that Glenn shouldâve seen Urekâs face when that happened.
âHah.â
âHuh? My lord, did you smile just now?â
âI didnât laugh.â
Glenn turned his head away, but he couldnât hide his slightly curved lips.
âWow, I can even see your smile on your face if I live a long life.â
âSilence. How did you find out about that?â
âAll of the powerful people except for Karoon are all on a mission right now in the Central Martial Palace. I was stuck next to the wall, avoiding their guards.â
Rimmer grinned, like it wasnât a big deal.
âAnyway, Raon just gets so much greater the more I find out about him. The way he blatantly causes problems in the enemy camp and makes his slippery escape is even worse than my lordâs youth.â
âBut that was only possible because the Striding Steads and the Striding Lightning were on a mission. He wouldâve been stopped already if they were still present.â
âIs that why you sent your second son away? Did you do that for your grandson?â
He saw Karoon leaving the Central Martial Palace with his escorts as Rimmer was returning from watching Raonâs actions. It looked like Glenn had sent him away on purpose.
âNonsense. I only sent him away in order to decrease the unnecessary casualties of war.â
Glenn shook his hand, calling it nonsense, but Rimmer realized his true intentions from the gesture. He cared for Raon and Sylvia from the bottom of his heart.
âEvery day has been so much fun since Raonâs return. Iâm looking forward to what kind of accident he will cause tomorrow.â
Rimmer murmured that he could blatantly watch now that Karoon was gone.
âHe is already causing the next incident.â
âWhat?â
Glenn slightly raised his corners of lips, looking down at the Central Martial Palace.
âHe is beating up the idiots that are indulging themselves with their names and outer appearances.â
* * *
[Translator â Kyangi]
[Proofreader â Harley]
* * *
Thud!
A red-haired swordsman fell outside the arena, his tongue sticking out. Raon snickered from the middle of the arena, which was filled with a heavy silence.
âThat was the fifth.â
Including the swordsman that had just collapsed, heâd defeated five swordsmen in total using the exact same method.
Since Raon was superior in both physical strength and swordsmanship, he could defeat the Central Martial Palace swordsmen in a single strike without much difficulty.
âUhâŠâ
âI-Isnât this a dream?â
âDid five people in a row really lose? In a pure contest of swordsmanship?â
âThatâs not even a technique! He is just slamming his sword down!â
âBut there were five whole people that couldnât block that simple slam! You idiot!â
The ones watching the spars couldnât look down on Raon and the defeated swordsmen anymore. They finally accepted the fact that Raon was superior in terms of technique and physical abilities.
âWhat the hell is that guyâŠ?â
âHe wasnât that strong when he fought against Raden.â
âWhat even happened at Habun Castle? Were the rumors actually true?â
âDamn it! We wonât be able to win without auraâŠâ
The swordsmen glanced at Raon and swallowed nervously. They hung their heads, not wanting to spar with him.
âHuhâŠâ
Burren blurted and frowned. His eyebrows were lowered in surprise, but his eyes were still shining.
He was clearly thinking about a way to fend off his powerful slam without using aura.
Burren was the only person that still had the will to fight Raon in that place.
âIs no one else stepping forward?â
Raon called for the next person with his sword on his shoulder, but no one was stepping up.
âIf not, thenâŠâ
âCan I try?â
As he was about to step out of the arena, a voice could be heard from behind him. When he looked around, a young man whose hair was covering one of his eyes was raising his hand.
âYou areâŠâ
His unusual hairstyle and the energy on a different level circulating around him made him remember the name written in Judielâs document.
âHolline.â
Holline was one of the two vice-squad leaders of Striding Lightning. He heard his level was beyond that of an advanced Expert, which matched with the overflowing energy that seemed to be on a different level from the swordsmen heâd faced so far.
âPretty decent.â
He finally had a decent opponent. Raon turned around and nodded.
âOf course.â
âItâs nice to see you being cool about it.â
He snickered and went up to the arena. General Administrator Urek was behind him. It looked like it was him that had called Holline, who was training somewhere else.
âWe are fighting without aura, right?â
Holline asked, putting on the cassiterite cuffs by himself.
âYes.â
âThis is pretty fun in its own way.â
He drew his training sword while saying that.
âIâll allow you the first attack.â
âS-Sir Holline!â
âYou shouldnât do that! You might be defeated in a single strike!â
The Central Martial Palaceâs swordsmen tried to stop him as soon as he said he would allow the first attack.
âHow foolish. Iâm allowing him the first attack because you guys were defeated so easily while bearing the name of Central Martial Palace!â
Holline glared coldly at the swordsmen before turning his head around.
âCome.â
âI wonât decline the offer.â
Raon fiercely kicked the ground, to a point where the ground started shaking. In the blink of an eye, he ripped into Hollineâs space and slammed down his sword.
Clang!
Even though no one had been able to stop the blow up to that point, Holline perfectly deflected it by twisting his blade with precise timing.
âWow, thatâs an amazing strength. My shoulder was almost dislocated.â
With an easygoing smile, he thrust his sword.
Whir!
Even though he wasnât using an aura, the tip of the blade was trembling. It was an ever-changing swordsmanship that couldnât be avoided unless Raon picked the correct direction.
âHe is supposed to be prideful.â
According to Judielâs information, Holline had a proud personality. That meant that his target was pretty obvious.
Clang!
Raon perfectly blocked Hollineâs sword, which was aimed at his forehead, by using the Star Connecting Sword.
âIt looked like you knew where I was aiming.â
âIt was obvious.â
âYou are so arrogant.â
Hollineâs eyes glowed fiercely. He leaned backward like a wolf and leaped for an attack. The bladeâs tip was trembling once again, making it difficult to predict his direction. That seemed to be a characteristic of his swordsmanship.
Raon didnât step back, focusing on his eyes. The moment the tip, wavering like a leaf, would be the most stabilized would be right before the attack.
âNow!â
The moment the variation decreased to the point that he could see it with his eyes, Raon thrust his sword like a ray of light.
Clank!
The training sword parried the variated strike and brushed past Hollineâs waist. He was aiming for his abdomen, yet Holline had twisted his body in the air during that short instant to make it a graze. He wasnât a vice-squad leader for nothing.
âWas your name Raon Zieghart?â
Holline gasped, looking at his torn side.
âYou arenât ordinary.â
He giggled and pounced at him again. His footwork was faster and more diverse than before. Although he was right in front of him, it felt like he was also moving from the left and right sides.
âBut I already saw it before.â
Raonâs perception was higher than his strength. Thanks to that, he didnât even need aura to grasp every single movement of his opponent.
Raon swung his sword in the direction his perception was pointing.
Clang!
Holline, who was trying a surprise attack, urgently swirled his sword to defend.
âThereâs no need to miss this opportunity.â
As Holline quickly stepped back, Raon followed him and consecutively used the Fangs of Insanity. His sword was thrust like a beastâs fang, aiming at his preyâs back.
Clang! Claang!
Unable to reverse the flow, Holline could only keep defending.
âHow crazyâŠâ
His face looked clearly flustered, since he didnât expect such a thing to happen.
If Hollineâs level was at the peak of Expert, the same went for Raon. Since Raon was superior in terms of physical abilities, there was no reason he would lose.
âHuff!â
Raon inhaled Hollineâs insecurity and slashed horizontally.
Claang!
Along with the sound of crushing steel, Hollineâs sword bounced away before getting stuck in the ground.
* * *
In the training ground, not even the sound of breathing could be heard. No one could open their mouthsâincluding Urek, who had brought Holline over, Reff, who was the referee of the match, and Burren, who was gritting his teeth as he watched.
âHuh, I lost.â
The first person to snap out of it was Holline. He was laughing bitterly, as if he couldnât believe what just happened, and started at Raon.
âWere you really fighting without aura? You are as strong as an ogre.â
Holline grasped his wrist and skimmed over the different parts of his body. He looked like he just witnessed something ridiculous.
âGasp! D-Did Sir Holline really lose?â
âHow is this possible?â
âHe only became a swordsman recentlyâŠâ
âUhâŠâ
The swordsmen that were spectating the match finally came back to their senses, their lips trembling.
âHmmâŠâ
Holline looked around them with a smile before walking up to Raon.
âWell, I certainly lost, but shall we have a second match?â
He pulled the sword from the ground and carried it on his shoulder.
âIâm not making an excuse, but my swordsmanship relies heavily on aura. What do you think?â
He was right. His specialty was a variable sword and illusion sword. He would be at a completely different level once he used his aura.
âIâm fine with it.â
âI like how cool you are about it. You are different from the rumors.â
Raon nodded, and Holline grinned before taking off his cassiterite cuffs. With the removal of the barrier blocking his aura, his pressure started to create waves that were powerful enough to crush the skin.
Whir!
Hollineâs energy wave overflowed from the arena like a living creature to engulf the entire training ground. It was a power befitting the highest rank of Expert, a warrior that had almost reached Master level.
âMoreover.â
It wasnât just an ordinary aura. It had an ice affinity like Runaan, and the training groundâs fervor cooled under his aura.
âItâs too late for regrets.â
Holline raised his chin and curved his mouth into a smile. He seemed to believe he would undoubtedly win as long as he was using his aura.
âRegrets?â
Raon snickered and gathered the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation that had been suppressed by the cassiterite. The blazing flame of crimson light pressed on the coldness covering the training ground.
Rumble!
The wave of flame spreading from his feet melted the pebbles and sand to engulf the space.
âWhatâŠ?â
Feeling the tremendous energy wave, which didnât lose to him at all, Hollineâs eyes wavered like a boat on a stormy sea.
âDid you believe you would win if you used your aura?â
A crimson ray of light shone from Raonâs eyes. He raised his sword, burning in crimson flame, and pointed it at Holline.
âCome. Iâll show you who is going to have regrets.â