Chapter 1049
Raon closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them and left the annex.
The maids were beginning their daily routines amid cheerful chatter, and from the lakeside came the sound of Sia swinging her sword.
Taking in the sounds of the annex that always lifted his spirits, he headed toward the lake. Sylvia and Edgar had set up a table behind it and were watching Sia practice her swordsmanship.
“It’s unusual for you to have breakfast with us and still be here at this hour.”
Sylvia set down her teacup and looked at him.
“Aren’t you going to the training grounds today?”
She smiled faintly, as if to say that strange things really did happen sometimes.
》Indeed, breakfast this morning was good.
Wrath relaxed his eyes and smacked his lips.
》The meat, lightly seared in wine, melted softly in my mouth. It was a fine palate cleanser before the grilled Kraken.
The guy nodded in satisfaction, pleased with the meal he had before the war.
“The intensive training period ended yesterday, remember?”
Edgar raised a finger and pointed at the clear blue sky.
“Our son needs a day off too.”
He gently patted Raon’s arm, saying he had worked hard and deserved to rest today.
“Want a cup of tea?”
Edgar pulled out the chair beside him and gestured for Raon to sit.
“I have something to tell both of you.”
Raon sat in the chair Edgar offered and let out a soft sigh. Sylvia and Edgar set down their teacups and turned their gaze toward him, as if to tell him to go on.
“Do you remember the story from about three months ago, when the Light Wind Palace and I captured an Apostle and sank a White Blood Cult galleon?”
Before getting to the main point, he first brought up the details of the mission from three months earlier.
“Of course.”
“Naturally, I remember! I could repeat it word for word without missing a single syllable!”
Sylvia nodded as if it were obvious, and Edgar muttered about the atmosphere of that day as if he truly remembered everything.
“Actually, that wasn’t the end of it after we killed the Apostle. The Sea Spirit I saved told me the location of the White Blood Cult’s main headquarters, and I went there with Evelyn and Roenn….”
Raon told them everything that had happened since then.
“I see.”
“No wonder you’ve been so busy….”
Sylvia and Edgar accepted it all calmly, as if they had already known everything.
“So you knew after all?”
When he left with Rektor, and even when he had gone to the sea alone recently, Sylvia and Edgar had not asked any questions, so he had partly expected this. It seemed they had read his movements and already anticipated the war against the White Blood Cult.
“Don’t underestimate your mother.”
Sylvia waved her hand, saying she could tell even without words.
“I know you better than anyone else in the world.”
She smiled softly, saying she could see right through him.
“It wasn’t just you. I sensed it from Father’s reaction too.”
Edgar rested his chin on the table and raised an eyebrow.
“That man is terrible at lying.”
He snorted, saying he had picked up on it through Rektor, not on his own.
“I see.”
Raon smiled faintly and nodded.
“Are you confident you can win?”
Sylvia met his eyes. In the past, she would have been so worried that tears would have welled up first, but now she was holding herself together, only her hands trembling slightly.
It seemed she did not want to show weakness to the son who was about to go to war.
“I’ve prepared enough that I have no regrets. All that’s left now….”
Raon took a sip of the tea Edgar had poured for him and rose from his chair.
“…is to do my best.”
He bowed to the two of them and said he would return.
“Raon.”
Sia approached the table, apparently having heard that he was leaving.
“Are you going to fight?”
“Yes. There are some bad people who need to be taught a lesson.”
“Can’t I come too?”
She hugged the sword he had given her tightly, as if she wanted to go with him.
“Noona, the place where you need to fight is elsewhere.”
Sia was already strong, and she was growing faster than anyone else. If he sent her to war right now, she could probably still play a major role.
But the enemies she should first draw her sword against were not the White Blood Cult, but Eden. Edgar and he. No, she needed to plunge the blade of vengeance into those who had insulted and mocked their entire family.
“Can you wait until then?”
“Of course!”
Sia nodded as if to tell him not to worry, then returned to the lakeside and resumed swinging her sword.
“That child has grown up a lot too.”
Sylvia let out a sigh filled with both pride and regret.
“She’s past puberty now. Soon, she may be more mature than I am.”
Raon laughed, saying the days when he could treat Sia like a child were numbered.
“W-wait, Sia’s puberty is over?”
Edgar’s eyes widened in shock.
“She still won’t let me into her room! She does her laundry separately, and we don’t even sleep together anymore!”
He lifted his chin as if demanding to know why.
“……”
“……”
Raon and Sylvia stared at Edgar blankly without saying a word.
“She even throws away the side dishes I pass to her without eating them! Why would she do that?”
Edgar clutched his head, utterly baffled.
》Why, you ask….
Wrath snorted as he looked at Edgar, who was all but wailing.
》Because she hates them, you fool!
===
The Chamber of Sacrifice, where red blood and white blood mingled and flowed.
Blood Demons approached the bound martial artists whose eyes had been gouged out. The Blood Demons seemed unable to control their appetites, panting roughly as they stared at the blood pouring from the empty sockets.
“Eat.”
At a flick of the fingers from the handsome blue-haired man, the Blood Demons unleashed the hunger they had been suppressing and tore into the martial artists’ necks.
“Aaaaargh!”
“Aaaaaaah!”
The martial artists screamed as if their throats were being ripped open, but the Blood Demons only grew more excited at the sound, tearing at flesh with their sharp fangs.
The cries begging for mercy were nothing more than an orchestra in a fine dining hall, heightening the Blood Demons’ appetite.
Huuuu.
The White Blood Lord, who had been watching the scene, lowered her pipe and blew white smoke from her red lips.
“You gathered prey like this in such a short time.”
She smiled and jerked her chin toward the handsome blue-haired man approaching her.
“12th Apostle.”
“All thanks to Your Holiness’s sacred teachings.”
The man called the 12th Apostle placed a hand over his chest and bowed carefully.
“Still smooth with words.”
The White Blood Lord snorted at the smiling 12th Apostle.
“I thought you’d spend your whole life wagging that tongue, but you actually reached Transcendence and came back.”
She lowered her brows, seeming genuinely surprised.
“I can’t even imagine how many sacrifices you skimmed off the top in the process.”
“Ahahaha.”
The 12th Apostle laughed awkwardly as he scratched the back of his neck, as if embarrassed.
“My apologies. I learned so much from Your Holiness’s teachings that I became a little greedy.”
He lowered his gaze slightly, as if he knew he could not deceive the White Blood Lord.
“Normally, that body would have burst before reaching Transcendence. Be grateful your frame is sturdy.”
The White Blood Lord waved her hand as if dismissing the matter.
“Thank you for your understanding. Though it is too little to call it repayment….”
The 12th Apostle extended a hand with a faint smile.
“…I have also brought a gift for Your Holiness.”
At the twitch of his finger, a red-haired archbishop brought forward a woman who was blindfolded, gagged, and bound.
“The Captain of the Royal Guard of the Seavion Kingdom. A Grand Master.”
The 12th Apostle spread his arms as if to say he had not harmed her at all, so she could enjoy her to the fullest.
“I hope this prey becomes the final piece of Your Holiness’s great undertaking.”
“You sly fox.”
Contrary to her words, the White Blood Lord did not seem displeased as she curled the corners of her mouth.
“If you and the 10th Apostle were mixed half and half, you might have become a fairly decent man.”
She clicked her tongue as she glanced at the silent 10th Apostle standing to her right.
“To be compared to my great senior in that way is an honor.”
The 12th Apostle bowed his head toward the 10th Apostle.
“……”
The 10th Apostle only glanced once at the 12th Apostle, then turned his gaze away without saying a word.
“And the atmosphere outside?”
The White Blood Lord asked as she raised her pipe to her lips.
“The Five Kings—no, the whole continent—is quiet. But it didn’t feel peaceful. More like a powder keg waiting to explode.”
The 12th Apostle smacked his lips, saying he could feel an ominous tension in the air.
“So they’re preparing to strike us.”
The White Blood Lord blew out white smoke, saying the intentions of the Five Kings were obvious.
“Now that I think of it, it seems it’s about time for you to change bodies.”
The 12th Apostle narrowed his eyes as he looked at the white scales that had appeared on the back of the White Blood Lord’s hand.
“It reminds me of when we brought you that body.”
He shrugged and looked toward the 10th Apostle.
“You stopped me when I tried to eat it, senior. Thanks to that, we still have Your Holiness in the form she has now.”
The 12th Apostle clapped lightly toward the 10th Apostle, as if praising a great achievement.
“……”
The 10th Apostle did not react to those words, which sounded half like praise and half like mockery, and simply kept staring straight ahead.
“A change….”
The White Blood Lord frowned as she looked at the scales on her hand.
“Yes, we should prepare.”
She jerked her chin toward the 10th Apostle.
“Contact the 13th.”
With that final order, she left the Chamber of Sacrifice, taking the Captain of the Royal Guard of the Seavion Kingdom with her.
“Even though I’ve reached Transcendence, it seems Your Holiness still trusts senior more. What a pity.”
The 12th Apostle smacked his lips regretfully and followed the White Blood Lord out.
“The 13th….”
The 10th Apostle slowly parted his lips, his gaze still fixed on the person dying as every last drop of blood was drained away.
===
Raon climbed onto the platform of the 5th Training Ground with heavy steps.
“You’ve all worked hard.”
He looked over the swordsmen who had endured his brutal training for those long yet short two months.
Satisfied with his subordinates, who had grown both physically and mentally, he nodded.
“This assault on the White Blood Cult is being carried out with only a select few in Zieghart aware of the truth, so we will be entering the war as the main force.”
Raon lowered his crimson gaze toward the swordsmen, who were already releasing rough waves of energy in excitement.
“That means we must produce results, even if it means pouring in everything we have and everything we’ve built up. Can you do it?”
He said that anyone who could not do it, or lacked confidence, should step aside now, then stomped the platform with a step that carried the weight of ten thousand pounds.
“Of course.”
Burren answered in an unwavering voice and struck his chest with his fist.
“I’m ready too….”
Starlight wrapped in sheer determination flashed in Runaan’s dull eyes.
“I-I’m scared, but I’ll fight to the end. No, I’ll do it!”
Dorian had not fully conquered his fear, but he clenched his fist and said he would still fight with his life on the line.
“I’ll fight like a madman too, just like our insane Palace Master!”
Krein, his right eye blackened, kept calling him a madman as if he were deliberately provoking him again, but Raon let it go for now because he liked the spirit behind it.
“I’ll follow.” “At last, a real battle against the Four Demons. I’ve been waiting for this.”
Mark Gorton bowed simply, as if to say he would follow, while Trevin slammed his fists together and said he had been waiting for this moment.
“……”
Martha, who was always the first to roar, said nothing. She only gripped her sword so hard that veins bulged on the back of her hand. That alone was enough to show what kind of resolve she was bringing into this war.
“Let’s go.”
Raon stepped down from the platform with a calm, settled gaze and headed toward the exit of the training ground.
Gooooooo!
The swordsmen of the Light Wind Palace followed behind him, releasing sharp waves of energy as if they had already drawn their swords.
Leading the swordsmen, who had become like a single honed blade, Raon entered the Head Of House’s training ground.
Rumble!
The Head Of House’s training ground was the largest space in Zieghart, but with the combat divisions summoned by Glenn all lined up, almost no room remained.
“Light Wind Palace, this way please.”
Following Roenn, who had been waiting for them, Raon led the group to the left side where the divisions were lining up.
“Remain on standby until I give the order.”
After instructing the swordsmen of the Light Wind Palace not to move, he headed to the platform where the executives were standing.
“Hey! Nephew!”
“You’re here.”
Balder and Denier, who had arrived first, waved to him.
‘Denier.’
It was still unclear whether Denier was an ally or an enemy, but there was a foul stench about him, one similar to Derus Robert. Raon absolutely could not lower his guard and had to remain cautious until the very end.
“My greetings to the two Palace Lords.”
“You’re late.”
As Raon bowed to Denier and Balder, Karoon stepped forward from the far left.
“Raon! It’s been a while! I heard you took great care of our kids!”
Aris popped out from behind Karoon and ran up to him.
‘What the….’
Raon felt hollow wind brush past him as he looked at Karoon and Aris.
‘They’ve grown that much?’
The two Transcenders had reached such a high realm that they were almost unrecognizable from before. If the Heart Sword were excluded, it would not be an exaggeration to say they had risen right up to his heels.
‘Amazing.’
He was astonished and curious what kind of training they had undergone to grow at a rate comparable to his own. No, beyond that, he was moved by the effort they had put in.
“You’ve worked hard.”
Instead of saying he was glad to see them, Raon spoke words that acknowledged the effort Karoon and Aris had poured in.
“Ahem!”
Karoon seemed to understand what he meant, blushing slightly as he let out a fake cough.
“I knew you’d understand.”
Aris embraced him brightly, as if she had expected that exact response.
“You’ve changed a lot too. How did you grow so fast?”
Just as she laughed and said his growth was even more shocking—
Boom!
The doors to the Head Of House’s training ground opened, and Glenn entered together with the Heavenly Sword Division.
“Greetings to the Head Of House!”
“Greetings to the Head Of House!”
Following Karoon’s lead, all the executives and all the members of the combat divisions inside the training ground knelt and lowered their heads.
Thud.
Glenn crossed to the center of the training ground with a stride overflowing with majesty, then climbed onto the platform. Under the immense, crushing pressure of his aura, cold sweat ran down the backs of the swordsmen.
“All of you, rise.”
At Glenn’s low command, the swordsmen raised themselves from their trembling knees.
“The intensive training of the past two months. You’ve all worked hard.”
Glenn slowly looked over every swordsman gathered in the training ground and nodded.
“Some of you may have wondered why we held an intensive training period for two full months, when usually it lasts one month or is not held at all.”
He lowered his crimson gaze and looked toward Raon.
“The Light Wind Palace Master will explain why.”
“Yes.”
Raon nodded and climbed onto the platform. Calmly accepting the gaze of the swordsmen, all fixed solely on him, he parted his lips.
“You all know that the Light Wind Palace slew the 9th Apostle and stopped the White Blood Cult. But there have been several developments since then.”
He explained everything that had happened up to this point to all the swordsmen of Zieghart. Since he had already told Sylvia and Edgar back at the annex, the words came out smoothly and without hesitation.
“Y-you found the White Blood Cult’s main headquarters? Under the sea?”
Aris’s eyes widened as if she could not believe it.
“A war against the White Blood Cult….”
Karoon clenched his fist, seeming pleased that he would finally have a chance to use the power he had gained.
“……”
Denier said nothing, only watching Raon and Glenn with an unreadable gaze.
“A full-scale war with the White Blood Cult?”
“So that’s why we trained for two months….”
“Right. Now that time makes sense.”
“Strangely enough, I’m overflowing with confidence.”
Perhaps because they had gained confidence through those two months of intensive training, the swordsmen raised their fighting spirit and released powerful waves of energy.
“So when does that war begin!”
Balder stepped out in front of the platform, clearly thrilled at the coming battle against the White Blood Cult, and stomped so hard that the ground trembled.
“……”
Raon looked not only at Balder, but at all the swordsmen of Zieghart standing behind him, then raised one finger toward the sky.
“Now.”
Pointing toward the blue dimensional gate rising above his head, he growled fiercely.
“The war has already begun.”