Even though the King of Essence is extremely merciful, he canât overlook this matter!
âYou call yourself merciful? Thatâs such bullshit.â
Raon sighed. Wrath was flipping out, and his rampage was about to start. Raon ignored him and checked the messages that had appeared.
[Youâve witnessed a transcended sword.]
[All stats have increased by 10.]
[Three traces of the sword have been engraved in the mental world.]
[The proficiency has increased for the swordâs properties.]
[Title The Survivor has been created.]
Raon couldnât stop his exclamation as he read the messages.
âThere are so many rewards⌠No, this might be natural.â
He went through a fierce battle, utilized Wrathâs power, and even watched a fight between the transcenders. Considering what all he did, the number of rewards he received wasnât exactly strange.
Uaaaah! Damn it!
Mr. Giving Doormat was screaming in denial though.
Whap!
The ten-point increase in all stats removed his pain as if he had been healed completely.
âGaining stats always feels great.â
His injuries werenât actually healed, but the exhilaration from getting stats removed the pain. He felt like he could finally think straight.
âWhat are the three traces of the sword engraved in the mental world?â
It was telling him that three traces of sword were engraved in the space where he fought against Loctar and endured Wrathâs assault, but he couldnât exactly understand what it meant.
It is what it says.
Wrath glared at him. It seemed to be an expression of his irritation, but he didnât look scary at all because he looked like cotton candy.
Itâs not just the mental world. It means that the trace of the sword youâve witnessed will be engraved in your brain.
âTrace of the sword? Does it meanâŚâ
You guessed right. The three techniques your head of house used after opening the sword field were engraved in your head.
ââŚThatâs crazyâŚâ
Raonâs chin trembled unconsciously.
âHis techniques are being engraved in my head? Those three strikes?â
He wasnât really aware of what kind of techniques they were, but he was aware that they were part of one of the few transcendental swordsmanship on the continent. His heart pounded like crazy from realizing that such a great swordsmanship was engraved in his head.
âThen can I also use thoseâŚ?â
You canât.
Wrath shook his head firmly.
This is your current realm.
He raised his hand by the width of the pillow on the bed.
Actually, Iâm overestimating you a little, considering how fast youâve grown so far.
âHow about the head of house, then?â
That old manâŚ
Wrath furrowed his brows and floated into the air to point at the ceiling.
âThe ceiling?â
He already went through the roof and reached the sky. You are even weaker than one of that old manâs fingers in your current state.
He ground his teeth, telling him that he shouldnât even hope to achieve Glennâs level.
âI thought so.â
Raon chuckled and nodded. Wrath had previously mentioned that he needed to exchange tens of thousands of blows to defeat Glenn, and he mustâve gotten even stronger since then. Raon was too weak to look up to such a transcender.
âDoes that mean that Iâll realize what kind of swordsmanship that was once my realm becomes higher?â
Indeed. Although that might never happen.
Wrath told him that he might never be able to find out what kind of technique Glenn had used, as if he were making fun of him.
âThatâs fine, then.â
Raon was satisfied with that. He was fine as long as he could one day learn what kind of technique Glenn had used.
âBecause I have no intention of copying it as-is.â
He wasnât going to copy Glennâs swordâjust use it as a reference to create his own sword field. Copying other peopleâs techniques wasnât going to allow him to ascend to a higher realm.
âIâll reach it eventually if I keep sucking the stats out of you.â
ArghâŚ
Raon shook his hand with a snicker, and Wrathâs eyes became distorted. Raon couldnât understand why he kept provoking him with words when he shouldâve learned by then that he couldnât possibly win.
Raon easily defeated Wrath and looked at the next message.
âThe proficiency increased for the swordâs properties.â
It was telling him that the proficiency of his swordsmanship principles had increased after watching Glennâs technique through the Ring of Fire.
And the message implied that all of his swordsmanships had improved instead of a specific one. Raon couldnât believe his eyes even though the message was right in front of him.
âThey are both soâŚâ
He couldnât tell whether he should be praising the Ring of Fire or Glenn.
âAnd finally.â
Raon checked the title after seeing the message at the bottom.
[The Survivor
This title is given to the one who looked for a way to survive in a crisis instead of losing their calm.
Effect: All stats +5, the head cools down during a crisis.]
Judging from the description, he mustâve gotten the title because he took Edenâs treasures to get stronger despite being kidnapped.
âThis is pretty good.â
Even though heâd been an assassin, the crisis still managed to shock him sometimes. The title should be helpful if he had to face such dangerous situations.
âHaaâŚâ
Raon checked all of the messages before smiling in satisfaction.
âThese are the best rewards so far.â
He especially liked the part where his swordsmanship had improved, and Glennâs techniques had been engraved in his mental world.
âIâve gotten closer to the Sword Field Creation.â
Since the rewards had further developed his mental world, it wasnât an overstatement to say that heâd gotten closer to the Sword Field Creation.
âI want to try moving my body already.â
His limbs were itching for action. He wanted to try swinging a sword already.
Hey!
âAre you still unhappy about it? Isnât it about time you stoppedâŚâ
Thatâs not it!
Raon sighed in response, and Wrath shoved his face into him.
The King of Essence has a question for you.
âHmm?â
Raon narrowed his eyes. Despite his expectations, Wrathâs face was completely calm.
You mentioned that the halfling was one of the two heads of the helmet group, didnât you?
âAre you talking about the Fallen?â
Thatâs right. You said that he was one of the two people who could deal with the bloody demon.
âI did.â
Who is the other one, and where are they?
Wrathâs face was completely stiff, which was rare coming from him.
âI donât really know either.â
You donât know?
âI said that there are two people in Eden who can deal with the White Bloodâ Religionâs leader, but only one of them is active.â
Are they inactive because of an injury?
âI donât know about that, either.â
Raon shook his head.
What do you mean�
âThere was a prestigious house called Rumen a few dozen years ago. They were famous for their spear techniques.â
Rumen?
âYes. They werenât as strong as the Six Kings and the Five Demons, but they were prominent enough to be ranked right under them. However, that house⌠was ruined overnight.â
House Rumenâs spearmanship was excellent enough to be considered the best in the continent. They wouldâve become the seventh king if theyâd kept accumulating power for dozens of years, yet the huge house had perished overnight.
âEdenâs second head was the perpetrator of that incident. However, thatâs what Eden said, and no one survived or witnessed it. Thatâs why no one knows whether he really exists or if heâs just made up.â
Because House Rumenâs sudden downfall was such shocking news, there were countless rumors about Eden's second head, but he had never appeared nor acted after that.
Some people even started to believe that he never existed in the first place.
âBut why are you asking⌠Donât tell me, are you thinking that he must be another demon king?â
Indeed.
Wrath nodded. He must be thinking that the other head mustâve been related to the Demon King of Pride, as the Fallen had the power of the Monarch of Pride.
What is his name?
âThe Heavenly Demon.â
There was no way to know which helmet he wore, whether he was a man or a woman, or whether he really existed or not, but Edenâs demons called him the Heavenly Demon.
The fallen heaven and the heaven of demonsâŚ
Wrath frowned. He looked like he realized something.
Is thatâŚ
Just as he was about to ask another question, the wardâs door opened.
âHuh? Raon?â
Runaan had brought a wet towel and bandages for him, and her eyes turned round upon seeing him. Her surprised voice resounded, and peopleâs screams followed right after.
âGasp!â
âVice squad leader!â
âSir Raon!â
âDid you finally wake up?â
The Light Wind squad gathered around Runaan and completely covered the door.
âRaon!â
âYou bastard!â
âHeâs finally awake!â
âWow!â
âVice squad leader!â
Starting with Runaan, Burren, and Dorian, every member of the Light Wind squad ran into the room.
âWoah!â
Raon tried to stop them with his hand, but the Light Wind squad ran straight up to him and pounced on the bed like puppies welcoming their master.
âYou are finally awakeâŚâ
âIt looks like there are no major problem.â
âSniff! Iâm really glad!â
Runaan pouted while holding his hand, Burren breathed out a sigh of relief, and Dorian sniffled with teary eyes.
âYou took way too long to wake up!â
âHow are your injuries?â
âSir Raon!â
âVice squad leader!â
Everyone from the Light Wind squad was crushing him on the bed. The pain was a secondary problem because he couldnât even breathe.
âWhat a heartwarming sight.â
âArghâŚâ
Rimmer was there before he knew it, and grinned at him while saying that it must be nice to be young even though Raon was running out of breath. Raon realized once again that he was completely useless.
âYou bastards, Iâm a patient right nowâŚâ
Raon barely managed to move his finger with unfocused eyes.
âM-move back, everyone!â
Burren finally realized the situation and made everyone move away. However, Dorian and Runaan were determined to stay next to him.
Search "pawread.com" for the original.
âHaaâŚâ
Raon exhaled roughly and wiped off his cold sweat.
âI almost died right there.â
A little bit longer and he wouldâve become famous for suffocating to death at the hands of his companions after surviving Eden and the White Blood Religion.
âStillâŚâ
It wasnât a bad feeling. It was because Raon was aware that they were worrying about him from the bottom of their hearts.
Zieghart had taken an important place in his heart through the incident, and he felt like the Light Wind squad had become even more important to him.
âHmm?â
Raon examined the Light Wind swordsmen one after the other with a faint smile on his face, but tilted his head upon noticing someone was missing.
âWhereâs Martha? Was she injured or something?â
âThatâs not the case.â
Rimmer shook his head in front of the door.
âItâs not because of an injury, but she looked shocked for some reason.â
âShocked?
âI canât tell what the problem is because she refused to say anything, but she hasnât come out of her room for two days now.â
Burren shook his head, saying that it was an unusual behavior coming from her.
âNow that I think about itâŚâ
Raon remembered Martha dropping her sword upon seeing the White Blood Religionâs leader and the Fallen. Even though they were such powerful opponents, it was strange for her to do that considering her personality.
Beef Girl indeed fell silent after seeing those two.
Wrath also nodded, saying that it wasnât normal.
âThe Fallen and the White Blood Religionâs leader.â
Raon narrowed his eyes while remembering their appearances.
âIâm gonna need to visit her.â
* * *
[Translator â Kyangi]
[Proofreader â Harley]
* * *
Raon got up after the Light Wind squad finally calmed down and left the room. Various parts of his body were still hurting, but it wasnât exactly unbearable.
He wanted to visit Martha since he needed to exercise for rehabilitation anyway, but Runaan refused to leave his side. It looked like she wanted to guard him because she was too upset when he got kidnapped.
âIâll be fine here, though.â
âJust in case.â
Runaan shook her head and looked around with her blank eyes.
âIâm still glad that her blank eyes returned.â
Runaanâs eyes were extremely sharp and had even turned into a frightening red color during the incident, but they had returned to the blank purple color. Her slightly unfocused eyes gave him a sense of relief.
âAlright. Please guide me to Marthaâs room.â
âMhm.â
Runaan nodded and headed to Marthaâs room, which was located at the deepest part of the lodging area.
Whatâs up with you? You normally prefer training over caring about her.
Wrath approached him while floating in the air.
Is this another scheme of yours?
ââŚHow could this be a scheme?â
Raon laughed bitterly. Wrath apparently believed that he was planning something in every move he made.
âI just wanted to check how she was doing.â
Really? When you only care about something if thereâs something to gain?
âI used to do that, but it will be different in the future.â
Wrath was right. If the same thing had happened before the kidnapping event, he wouldâve brushed it off as nothing special.
However, everyone had come to save him, and Martha was one of them. That was why he wanted to check on her condition and help her if there was anything he could do.
âItâs here.â
Runaan pointed at the tightly closed door at the deepest part of the corridor. Untouched food was placed on a tray in front of the door. Raon could guess that she hadnât eaten for the two days she had stayed in her room.
Knock. Knock.
Raon knocked lightly. Even though he could sense a personâs presence inside the room, there was no reaction.
âMartha.â
He called her name, and a small bit of movement was detected inside the room. However, the door still didnât open.
âIâm entering. Tell me if you donât want me to.â
Raon picked up the food tray and approached the door.
âI donââ
âIâm entering because you didnât respond.â
He opened the door and entered before she could say no.
Since the windows were covered by curtains, the room was completely dark. He couldnât find Martha on the bed or the chair.
âWhy did you enter?â
A dry voice could be heard from a corner. Martha was crouching in a corner with a blanket covering her.
Is she really Beef Girl?
âHmmâŚâ
Raon narrowed his eyes while looking at the depressed slant of Marthaâs shoulders. Her situation seemed more serious than he thought.
âBecause you didnât respond.â
âSeriously, you bastardâŚâ
âIâm turning the light on.â
He could still see Martha even without the magic lamp, but he decided to light it because he figured it would be better to have a bright room.
âAck!â
Martha briefly groaned, as she hadnât seen the light for a long time.
Raon placed the food tray on the table before sitting on a chair.
That food is pretty good. Are you going to eat it?
âAre you serious about that?â
Raon decided to ignore Wrath since he was spouting nonsense, instead looking at Martha.
âDid something happen?â
ââŚNothing happened. Leave already, because I want to be alone right now.â
Martha helplessly shook her hand.
âHaaâŚâ
Raon briefly sighed, as it was difficult to believe that such a weak gesture came from Martha.
âYou know, I always thought I was alone.â
âWhat?â
âIt was the same when Eden kidnapped me. I never thought someone was going to come to my rescue. I just braced myself to survive on my own.â
It was true. The reason he took the elixirs, sparred against Unfaceable Snake, and absorbed the helmetâs soul was to catch the opportunity whenever one presented itself to him. The house coming for his rescue was beyond his imagination.
âHowever, my mindset has completely changed thanks to all of you coming to save me.â
Raon lightly tapped on the table with his finger. A pleasant sound resonated throughout the silent room.
âIt was all thanks to you, Runaan, and everyone coming to save me that I could gain this sense of belonging.â
He looked at Martha before looking at Runaan standing behind him and nodded.
Heâd been treating them with a small amount of companionship and the intention of repaying his debt of gratitude, but it felt like that kind of calculation had completely disappeared.
âThere are many problems in the world that canât be solved on my own. I should actually say that itâs more improbable that I could solve anything on my own. We arenât the head of house, after all.â
Raon smiled faintly and stood up from the chair.
âSince I just managed to realize I wasnât alone, I donât think Iâm entitled to give any advice. However, you should still tell me if anything is worrying you, as Iâll worry about it with you as if itâs my business.â
Raon was about to leave to give Martha some time to think about it when he could hear the sound of the blanket dropping onto the ground.
âMy momâŚâ
Her wet voice echoed throughout the room. Raon looked around, and dull light was radiating from the droplet necklace that she was holding onto tightly.