Chapter 970
“Hmm….”
Raon accepted the letter Glenn handed him with both hands. It was clearly just a sheet of paper inside, yet it felt strangely heavy.
“Is the Five Kings Conference being convened again?”
“With the Black Tower fallen, the balance of the Five Kings and Five Demons—no, Four Demons—has collapsed. Naturally, a conference must be held to celebrate our victory and show that we remain strong.”
Glenn’s chilly gaze glinted as he said the Five Kings Conference would create a greater rift among the remaining Demons.
“You’re planning to pull the neutral factions, the ones who still haven’t chosen a side, over to ours.”
Raon clicked his tongue softly as he looked at Glenn.
“Correct. As expected, you’ve already figured it out.”
Glenn nodded as if pleased.
“There are still neutral factions that have not chosen between the Five Kings and the Four Demons. Warriors without affiliations, and countless wandering mages. This Five Kings Conference is an important event to bring them under our banner.”
He slowly opened and closed his eyes, saying this conference could determine the outcome of the coming war.
“We definitely can’t afford to miss that opportunity.”
Raon nodded as he gazed toward the lake bathed in moonlight.
‘If it’s happening, then it absolutely has to succeed.’
If they could draw more forces to the Five Kings, the war ahead would tilt overwhelmingly in their favor. It was exactly as Glenn said—an extremely important event.
“But can someone like me really attend such an important conference?”
Raon narrowed his eyes at the five stars engraved on the envelope.
“This Five Kings Conference exists because of you, Raon.”
Glenn smiled faintly and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“If you hadn’t cut down the Black Tower Lord, this event never would have taken place. If you don’t go, no one should.”
He tilted his chin up, saying the conference was essentially being held thanks to Raon’s achievements.
“Besides, the others said they wanted to see you.”
Glenn looked quite pleased as he mentioned the leaders of the Five Kings wanted to meet him.
“Well, then I should go.”
Raon rubbed the back of his neck and nodded. Hearing that made him slightly embarrassed.
“Raon, you didn’t just bring down the Black Tower—you shattered the very balance of the Five Demons. Even I couldn’t do that. Have confidence.”
Glenn raised a finger, saying Raon’s accomplishment was one that would be remembered in history.
-How grandiose!
Wrath wrinkled the bridge of his nose in displeasure.
-It was all thanks to me! I helped you with everything! Buy me ice cream immediately!
He clung onto Raon’s shoulder, insisting he deserved a reward after hearing such praise.
“I didn’t defeat the Black Tower Lord alone.”
Raon swatted Wrath away and shook his head.
“If Chamber hadn’t been there, none of this would have been possible.”
Not just Chamber. Without Wrath, Gluttony, and Lust, he and the Light Wind Palace swordsmen would have all been buried in that hellish darkness.
“You’re still humble.”
“No, this isn’t humility. It’s the truth. At the moment, I can’t defeat the leaders of the Four Demons.”
Raon said he couldn’t win yet, lowering his tranquil gaze.
“‘For now,’ you say…”
Glenn stroked his beard, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
“So that means you plan to reach that realm soon.”
“Of course. I still have a lot to do.”
Raon nodded calmly, saying he would stand on the same level as the Four Demons’ leaders no matter what.
“Hoo…”
Glenn lifted a trembling hand to cover his face.
‘How admirable. Truly admirable!’
To think he’d feel this proud.
Raon had always been humble—so much so that Glenn expected him to give credit to others again this time. But hidden beneath that humility was a firm belief that he could become stronger.
It seemed he had undergone a change of heart after returning from the Chamber of Self.
“Head of House?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
Glenn quickly wiped the moisture from his hand when Raon called him.
“Where will the conference be held?”
“In Balkan.”
“Because of Chamber then.”
Raon recalled Chamber’s condition when he last saw her and let out a quiet sigh.
“Yes. She still hasn’t recovered her strength.”
Glenn frowned, saying Chamber was still in rehabilitation.
“Ah, then what about King Lecross? Is he alright?”
Hearing Chamber’s name reminded him of King Lecross, who had been attacked by Derus.
“He’s fine. His wounds haven’t fully healed, but he hasn’t lost his power.”
Glenn nodded, saying King Lecross was capable of moving on his own.
“That’s good.”
Raon softened his brows as he recalled the kind face of King Lecross.
‘Now that I think about it, our Five Kings side isn’t doing great either.’
Chamber and Ogram had lost their original strength, and Lecross was still seriously injured. Only Glenn and Magician Tower Lord Larian were completely fine.
‘Though the Four Demons’ side isn’t perfect either.’
Derus, the White Blood Cult, and Eden remained strong, but the Holy Sword Alliance had already turned from their path.
They would never side with them, even if they didn’t support the Five Kings.
-You’re forgetting ‘him’.
Wrath climbed atop his head and tilted his chin upward.
-The sword-obsessed madman who gouged out his own eyes.
‘The former Holy Sword Alliance Lord…’
Raon bit his lip, recalling the most grotesque swordsman he’d ever seen.
‘He’s definitely a problem.’
The former Holy Sword Alliance Lord promised not to touch the Alliance itself, but he never said he wouldn’t join the war.
‘He’ll come for sure.’
He was a monster who lived solely to cross swords with Glenn. He would join the war even if it meant siding with the Four Demons.
“You need not worry about Zieghart while the conference is underway.”
Glenn smiled faintly, having misinterpreted Raon’s expression.
“Chamber and the Tower Lord developed a new teleportation spell that leads straight back to the main estate. Once exposed it may be traced, but for now it’s safe.”
He clenched his fingers, saying he would never allow a repeat of the attack on King Lecross.
“That’s reassuring.”
Raon had been worried the main estate might be attacked again, but it seemed unnecessary.
“So you’ll go?”
“Of course.”
He had no grounds to refuse anymore, and it didn’t seem bad to use his reputation and strength to pull the neutral factions toward their side.
“Good choice.”
Glenn lowered his hand, saying they would depart in a week.
“Head of House. I have a question…”
“Call me grandfather.” (T/N: Is this reallll? Gramps is now asking Raon to call him grandpa???!! Where are you Rimmerrrr!!? 🙁 )
He shrugged lightly, saying this wasn’t an official matter.
-That old man is truly troublesome.
Wrath shook his head as if exhausted.
“Grandfather. Is my aunt doing well?”
Raon thought of Aris, whom he last saw as she returned from Mirthan Village.
“She didn’t come back after going to the main estate…”
As he expected, Aris had retrieved the cursed sword from Mirthan Village.
But she hadn’t returned afterward, so he was worried.
“She’s doing ‘too’ well.”
Glenn sighed tiredly, lowering his eyelids.
“If you’re worried, you should check on her yourself.”
He turned immediately, as if ready to take him there now.
“No, she’s probably already asleep. I’ll visit tomorrow or later…”
“No.”
Glenn shook his head firmly.
“She’s awake. And…”
He lifted two fingers with a grin.
“Both of them.”
—
Raon followed Glenn to the Head of House’s training ground.
‘Hmm…?’
A barrier that erased sound and shockwaves surrounded the area. It was quiet, but someone was definitely inside.
“From here on, suppress your presence. You might interrupt their training.”
Glenn entered through a silent side door he didn’t normally use.
“Yes.”
Raon nodded and stepped quietly inside the training ground.
Zzzzzzzzzang!
The moment he stepped inside, earth-shaking booms erupted one after another.
He turned toward the sound and saw Karoon and Aris driving their swords toward each other’s throats.
Kwadadadadak!
Their aura-wrapped blades crashed violently, blue sparks bursting around the training ground.
Fweeeeen!
Despite their flesh tearing under the pressure of each other’s powerful energy, neither stepped back. Their sword strikes brimmed with murderous intent.
‘They’re sparring?’
Raon focused on the transcendent aura crashing between them and then looked at the black sword in Aris’s hand.
‘As expected, she obtained that black sword.’
He had assumed she went to Mirthan Village to retrieve it.
She seemed to have grown accustomed to using the sword’s power.
‘Are they venting built-up emotions?’
Raon exhaled silently as he observed the duel.
‘Why are they fighting so viciously?’
This wasn’t sparring—this was an attempt to kill each other. Neither even noticed Raon and Glenn entering.
Kugugugugu!
The two exchanged blows until all strength in their limbs was gone. After about an hour, the relentless sword strikes finally began to slow.
Kuuuuung!
As if waiting for it, both dropped their swords and collapsed.
“You’re too stable.”
Aris narrowed her eyes at Karoon.
“Sometimes you need to be provocative, aggressive—create variables. But you’re so stable your moves are obvious.”
She snorted, saying he was easy to deal with.
“I have advice for you as well. You don’t think at all—you fight purely on instinct.”
Karoon sighed disdainfully.
“Instinct isn’t bad, but if you don’t think at all, you’re no better than a beast. Actually, worse.”
He spoke bluntly, pointing out Aris’s flaws without hesitation.
“I ‘am’ thinking!”
Aris frowned, saying she was swinging her sword while thinking hard.
“Maybe your head just isn’t good? Then there’s no helping it…”
Karoon waved a hand tauntingly.
“You’re scared to fight, aren’t you? You don’t have the guts to enter my range!”
Aris glared at him and grit her teeth.
“Then shall we go again? Like savage beasts.”
“Fine. I’ll kill you! Thoughtfully!”
They rose immediately and clashed once more. Their strength and aura had diminished, but a new flow and vitality bloomed between their swords.
“This is…”
Raon swallowed dryly and turned to Glenn.
“It’s mutual-growth training. Two warriors of similar ability point out each other’s strengths and weaknesses while growing together.”
Glenn nodded, saying Karoon was stronger but adjusted himself to match Aris.
“Mutual-growth training…”
Raon clicked his tongue.
‘That’s enviable.’
To grow by clashing at full power with someone of equal strength—that stung his chest with longing.
‘Who is on my level now?’
He figured only the Thespian Emperor. Maybe the Demon Slayer Spear if he stretched it.
“Do you know why those two are still training?”
Glenn pointed at Karoon and Aris, then at Raon.
“It’s all because of you.”
“…Because of me?”
He hadn’t expected that, and his mouth fell open.
“Karoon doesn’t want you standing ahead of him. He vowed to catch up no matter what. And Aris wants to repay what she received from you.”
Glenn laughed, saying both were training because of him.
“……”
Raon silently watched Karoon and Aris. Seeing them swing their swords through blood and sweat, his chest thumped like a drum.
-To keep fighting even after watching your growth… Karoon is more impressive than I expected. (T/N: Yeah, out of all the characters here Karoon has the best development so far.)
Wrath let out a dry laugh.
-He really is that kid’s father.
He nodded heavily.
‘True.’
Raon bit his lip as he watched Karoon wielding a refined sword despite drenched in sweat.
‘No one has ever kept up with me like this.’
Honestly, he was cheating his way through life.
Wrath’s stats and traits, the Ring of Fire, and Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation—each one was broken on its own, yet he had them all, letting him reach Transcendence in his twenties.
Anyone seeing such absurd growth would lose motivation. But Karoon didn’t fall. He rose right back up.
Seeing him training overnight with Aris to catch up left Raon both impressed and stunned.
‘Aunt too.’
Aris still hadn’t fully sorted out her heart. Her body and mind must be exhausted, yet she stood there training because she wanted to help him. It was overwhelming.
“……”
Raon watched their duel a while longer, then slowly stood.
“Leaving already?”
“My hands are itching.”
He grasped Heavenly Drive’s hilt with a calm smile.
“I need to climb even higher so those two never catch up.”
He walked toward the exit, vowing he would never lose.
“Hmmm…”
Glenn leaned back in his chair, smiling deeply.
“To think I’d be blessed with both child and grandchild in my later years. Of course, it’s all thanks to you.”
He watched Raon’s back warmly as he left the training ground.
‘Thank you, Raon.’
—
A week later.
Raon stood on a platform wearing a black uniform, looking down at the Light Wind Palace swordsmen.
“Today we head to Balkan, the center of the continent and the location of the Five Kings Conference.”
He nodded at the Light Wind Palace swordsmen, who emitted sharp, statue-like aura pressure.
“This conference may change the very landscape of the coming war. And our Light Wind Palace has the honor of escorting the Head of House to such an important event.”
Raon exhaled lightly and lifted a finger.
“As you know, many still refuse to believe we completely destroyed the Black Tower. Some may be from the Four Demon spies, others may simply be paranoid fools—but convincing them is a waste of time.”
Raon stepped forward. Behind him, golden flames—like a demon’s wings—unfurled.
“Show them strength. Show those who doubt who we are and what we’ve done. Etch the name Light Wind Palace into their skulls.”
“We obey!”
The Light Wind Palace swordsmen slammed their hands over their hearts and shouted with enough force to shake the ground.
“Then let’s depart.”
Raon stepped down the platform. His black dragon cloak swirled at his knees as he walked through the center of the Light Wind Palace ranks.
Step.
With each step Raon took, the Light Wind Palace swordsmen placed their hands on their sword hilts and followed behind.
Fwoooooosh!
Raon and the Light Wind Palace swordsmen radiated a noble, blade-like aura as they set off toward Balkan.