TRAIGS - Chapter 749

Raon narrowed his eyes at the sight of the swordsmen gathered in front of the main hall.

It wasn’t just the warriors of the Central Martial Palace. It seemed the entire Zieghart family had assembled here.

“Are they all here to see the Master of Central Martial Palace?”

“That’s right.”

Dorian swallowed the bread he was chewing and nodded quickly.

“If the Master of Central Martial Palace ascends to transcendence, Zieghart will become the only one among the Five Great Families to have three transcendents. Everyone, from the inner citadel to the outer fortress and even the vassal families, is talking about Karoon Zieghart!”

Dorian clenched his fists, clearly caught up in the excitement.

“Indeed!”

Burren trembled slightly, his satisfaction evident as he bit his lip in anticipation.

-Who cares about the man! The bread is what matters!

Wrath, unconcerned with Karoon, stared greedily at the crumbs Dorian had dropped.

‘Why are you obsessing over a piece of bread…?’

-Because of you!

Wrath shouted indignantly as he lunged forward.

-Thanks to your constant feasting on that hard bread, my mouth is wrecked! Everything I eat tastes like rubber!

He tied a white band around his head, waving his hands dramatically.

-Awaken! This king demands his dining rights be respected!

‘The Demon King, speaking of human rights… ridiculous.’

Raon ignored Wrath’s cries and strode toward the family head’s hall.

“At this rate, there won’t even be a good spot to watch from.”

“Over here, sir! This way!”

As Raon scanned for a vantage point, Krein, who had been waiting in advance, waved him over.

‘This guy never misses a chance.’

Raon chuckled and walked toward Krein.

“The Master of Central Martial Palace entered the reception hall over thirty minutes ago. He should be coming out soon.”

Krein gestured reassuringly, clearly confident they wouldn’t have to wait long.

“What do you think happened?”

Dorian clasped his hands tightly, swallowing hard. He seemed both hopeful for Karoon’s success and curious about the alternative.

“Who knows?”

As Raon casually replied, a steady rhythm of footsteps resounded from inside the family head’s hall.

*Step. Step.*

The sound grew louder, focused and deliberate. Karoon Zieghart, dressed impeccably in his neatly pressed uniform, emerged.

“Ah…”

The moment Raon saw Karoon’s crimson eyes, he knew. Karoon had stepped into an entirely different realm.

-He ascended.

Wrath nodded as if confirming Raon’s realization.

-His energy is already stabilized. It seems he has firmly grasped both will and image.

Despite his usual disdain for Karoon, Wrath begrudgingly acknowledged his achievement.

‘It’s clear.’

Raon nodded solemnly.

‘He’s not just improved—he’s a completely different person.’

Karoon’s previously fierce and imposing aura was gone, replaced by an eerie calm. Within his quiet gaze, a blade gleamed with the precision of a pendulum, sending chills down Raon’s spine.

‘I can’t beat him right now.’

Before entering the Room of Ego, Karoon’s skills at the peak of Grandmaster were evenly matched with Raon’s. But now, defeat was certain.

“Father…”

Burren trembled as he recognized the transformation in Karoon’s presence.

“You’ve improved.”

Karoon noticed Burren’s progress with a single glance and nodded calmly.

“No, it’s nothing…”

Burren awkwardly brushed his hair, clearly flustered.

“It must be thanks to you.”

Karoon’s gaze shifted past Burren to Raon, locking onto him.

“Thank you.”

“What…?”

Raon stepped back instinctively, swallowing dryly.

‘Did he just thank me? That man?’

It felt like hearing a curse. Every hair on Raon’s body stood on end.

“Even if that boy has talent, such rapid growth in such a short time is not easy.”

Karoon praised Raon’s teaching, his eyes momentarily closing before opening again.

“It’s the third squad leader’s own effort.”

Raon shook his head, giving credit to Burren.

“I see.”

Karoon’s gaze lingered on Burren longer than usual, his interest apparent as he nodded slightly.

“Father… about transcendence…”

Burren stepped closer, asking the question everyone wanted answered.

“I’ve reached it.”

Karoon nodded without hesitation.

“Uwooooh!”

“Congratulations, my lord!”

“We knew you could do it!”

“Zieghart now has a third transcendent!”

The Central Martial Palace Division and direct family members swarmed Karoon with cheers and congratulations.

“Of course!”

“Congratulations!”

Even members of rival factions, mindful of the ongoing war against the Five Demons, sincerely applauded Karoon’s success.

“Thank you.”

Karoon’s voice carried none of the arrogance or intimidation it once did. Instead, he received their praise with calm humility.

“Raon Zieghart.”

After accepting the crowd’s congratulations, Karoon stepped toward Raon.

“Speak,” Raon replied, exhaling a tense breath as he faced Karoon’s tranquil yet overpowering gaze.

“I may be ahead of you now, but one day, you will catch up to me.”

Karoon’s gaze softened momentarily.

“…It will take a long time.”

Raon acknowledged that closing the gap would require extraordinary effort—Karoon was now far ahead.

“No. You will reach this realm sooner than you think.”

Karoon shook his head, as if certain of Raon’s potential.

“But the throne of Zieghart is mine.”

His previously calm eyes surged with emotion, like waves breaking against the shore.

“Even if you match my level or surpass it, the throne will remain mine.”

“Are you…”

Raon widened his eyes. Karoon had just declared his claim to the Zieghart family headship in front of everyone.

“Yes, it’s a declaration.”

Karoon nodded confidently, his tone dry but resolute.

“Then you’ve come to the wrong person. I have no desire for Zieghart’s throne.”

Raon lowered his gaze, speaking with genuine indifference.

-Well said!

Wrath jumped up, perched on Raon’s shoulder.

-All this boy cares about is the sword! It’s obsession, no—love!

Wrath flailed his arms, imploring Raon to spare some interest for food.

“No. You and I will face each other before the golden throne.”

Karoon spoke with a conviction that suggested he had already foreseen the future.

“I will wait.”

With those final words, he turned and walked back toward the Central Martial Palace Division.

“Lord Karoon!”

“Wait for us!”

The swordsmen and direct descendants followed Karoon, leaving the area.

“Raon…”

Burren clenched his fists as he watched his father’s retreating figure.

“My goal to earn his recognition hasn’t changed.”

“I know.”

“The elegance and precision in Gale Swordsmanship…”

Burren smiled, his confidence evident.

“I won’t give up. I’ll make it work.”

With a determined expression, he turned and headed toward the fifth training ground instead of following Karoon.

As Raon watched the father and son move in opposite directions, he couldn’t help but feel detached.

‘Father and son…’

Having never experienced a father in either of his lives, it was a relationship Raon doubted he would ever fully understand.

‘But still…’

Raon frowned, recalling the resolute gleam in Karoon’s crimson eyes.

‘Why did Karoon claim I’d contend for the position of family head against him?’

What could he have seen…?

Before midnight, Raon headed to the family head’s training ground. To his surprise, Glenn was already there, gazing at the night sky—a departure from his usual habits.

“Greetings, Lord Glenn.”

Raon bowed deeply toward Glenn’s back.

“I heard you met with Karoon.”

Glenn turned around, a faint smile on his lips as though he already knew the details of their conversation.

“Yes, he’s ascended to transcendence.”

Raon nodded, replaying the memory of Karoon’s calm yet razor-sharp presence in his mind.

“What did you think of him?”

“It felt like standing in a dark forest at night, where you don’t know what might leap out.”

“You saw him clearly.”

Glenn gestured lightly, commending Raon’s keen perception.

“I expected him to reach transcendence, but his achievements exceeded my expectations. His talent has finally blossomed.”

He chuckled, sounding eerily similar to Wrath. It seemed that those at the same level often shared similar perspectives.

“Raon, do you believe you can reach transcendence?”

“Yes.”

Raon answered without hesitation, bowing his head slightly.

“It’s undoubtedly a distant and towering mountain, but it’s not insurmountable.”

Seeing Karoon today had solidified his belief. Transcendence might be far away, but it wasn’t an unreachable sky.

“A response befitting you.”

Glenn clasped his hands together, satisfied with Raon’s confidence.

“But Karoon mentioned something about the family head’s throne. Do you truly have no interest in it?”

“I don’t.”

Raon lowered his gaze, answering succinctly.

“My main goal was to secure my mother’s place among the direct lineage. If the position of family head had been necessary for that, perhaps. But now, it’s not something I’m concerned about.”

“Good. That’s all that matters.”

Glenn nodded in approval, agreeing that the family headship wasn’t a role to be taken lightly or forced upon someone.

“Then what you’re curious about now must be the Room of Ego.”

He stepped forward, his hands behind his back.

“Unfortunately, the Room of Ego won’t be usable for some time.”

Glenn clicked his tongue, remarking that Karoon had taken far too much from it.

“Consider it unavailable until next year.”

“I understand.”

Raon bowed deeply, accepting the news without complaint. Having seen Karoon’s transformation, he had anticipated this.

“Let’s begin today’s training, then. This time, I’ll teach you the Mystic Soul Sword.”

Glenn took a solemn stance, gripping the Heavenly Drive.

“It’s an advanced sword technique leaked from the Holy Sword Alliance. Even for you, it will be a significant challenge.”

He raised his blade toward the heavens as if preparing Raon for the struggle ahead.

*Ssshing.*

Clearing his mind of thoughts about transcendence and the family head’s throne, Raon lifted the Heavenly Drive with composure. His crimson eyes glowed faintly, like embers burning in the dark.

“I’m ready.”

—

A towering woman moved through a sprawling forest of massive trees that seemed to rise chaotically from the earth.

Her face was obscured by a black orc helmet, but her pale and youthful skin hinted at a surprisingly young age.

As she walked, the dense underbrush parted, and branches shifted to clear her path. It was as though the forest itself welcomed her, as if she were an elf.

Even more astonishing were the beings following her. Monsters born of the fertile forest and soil trailed behind, forming a slow-growing horde.

Goblins, kobolds, orcs, gnolls, trolls, and even massive ogres marched together. Creatures that should have been fighting to the death moved in eerie unison, as if possessed.

*Whistle.*

A man wearing a green snake helmet let out a whistle as he observed the surreal procession.

“Awakened kings really are something else.”

His voice carried genuine astonishment.

“This is so much more effective than using the mask rituals. Is that why you brought her along?”

“No. I didn’t know,” replied a two-headed figure standing beside him, shaking its heads.

“Her mother’s bloodline seemed useful, so I thought she could be a good Red Ghost or Green Ghost. I had no idea she could control not just greenskins but all monsters.”

The figure chuckled, as though marveling at their luck.

“Fortunate, indeed. Especially with that included.”

The man in the green snake helmet gestured toward the Severing Sword lying nearby.

“I brought that one intentionally,” the two-headed figure said, smirking as it turned to glance at the sword.

“The aura was weak, but the swordsmanship was insane.”

It licked its lips, expressing a desire to fight again.

“You’re still such a freak.”

The green snake helmet man scoffed, unfolding his arms.

“We’ll need to pace this gathering. If it happens too quickly, they might come for us.”

“I know.”

The two-headed figure waved its hand dismissively.

“I’m curious to see how much this force can grow, but we’ll have to wait. Too many tasks as it is.”

The man in the green snake helmet grumbled about being overworked in Eden before disappearing.

*Hum.*

As the man left, Severing Sword quivered before trailing after the woman in the black orc helmet.

The two-headed figure chuckled as it watched the sword follow.

“Instinct? Or something else…?”

—

Near midnight, Raon stood in the fifth training ground, his faint smile illuminated by the glint of dozens of swords shining in the darkness.

‘They’ve all grown significantly.’

-To be honest, they’re on a completely different level compared to three months ago.

Wrath nodded in agreement, remarking on the Light Wind Division’s dramatic improvement in both power and spirit.

‘I didn’t expect them to develop this much either.’

The Light Wind Division had upheld their determination to rise above mediocrity. Except for Yua and Yulius, all had surpassed the barrier to the Master level.

Burren, Martha, Runaan, and even Mark Gorton had reached the pinnacle of the Master stage. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say every swordsman in the training ground had advanced significantly.

‘I’m the only one who hasn’t undergone a breakthrough.’

But there was no need to rush.

Even if his power remained the same, the techniques he had learned from Glenn had significantly enhanced his swordsmanship. He had also mastered several new techniques, many now ready for practical use.

‘Especially the Mystic Soul Sword.’

The Mystic Soul Sword, a technique from the Holy Sword Alliance, fit Raon like a glove. Its mixture of severity and grandeur seemed to bind his past and present lives together.

Carrying the intense energy of the training ground in his heart, Raon headed toward the family head’s training ground.

As he practiced the Mystic Soul Sword under the soft glow of the lights, Glenn entered the room.

“Greetings, Lord Glenn.”

Raon bowed respectfully.

“I saw the fifth training ground on my way here.”

Glenn returned the greeting with a wave before stepping closer.

“They’ve all made great progress. Aside from the two newest additions, everyone’s level has advanced significantly.”

He smiled faintly, clearly proud of the Light Wind Division’s dedication over the past three months.

“They still have a long way to go.”

Raon shook his head humbly.

“Then…”

Before Raon could finish, Glenn raised his hand.

“You’re ready to take on a new mission.”