Chapter 1096
“The True Martial Palace Lord?”
Raon looked at Karoon with wide eyes.
‘What did he just say?’
Having been the target of Karoon’s jealousy and resentment since childhood, Raon knew that Karoon’s personality and disposition had changed significantly.
However, there was no particular need or reason for Karoon to step forward in this matter.
If he simply stayed quiet, he could secure first place among the successor candidates. Raon couldn’t understand why Karoon would speak up for him.
“Karoon….”
Glenn’s eyelids trembled slightly as he shifted his gaze.
“Do you mean what you just said?”
Since the successor trials began, Karoon had worked day and night, accumulating more achievements than anyone else.
It wouldn’t have been strange if he had been the most vocal opponent when Raon received multiple Gold Badges at once, so he never expected Karoon to defend him instead.
“I am sincere,” Karoon said, nodding calmly.
“Though you did not say it explicitly, I am aware of the rules the Head Of House established. You likely planned to grant only one badge regardless of the achievement. However….”
He turned toward Raon.
“This matter must be viewed differently. The Light Wind Palace Lord did not simply accumulate achievements for the family; he accomplished a feat that could influence the entire continent, far beyond the Five Kings.”
Karoon’s eyes remained calm, as if he were merely stating facts.
“The Sword Monarch, the Blade Monarch, and an Ancient Dragon of the Gold Clan. Since all three will be tremendous assets in the coming war, I believe it is right to give Raon five Gold Badges.”
He nodded, presenting it as a rational judgment devoid of emotion.
“No matter how I look at it, that’s not my brother,” Balder said, raising his hand as if he needed to verify whether this was actually Karoon.
“Could a doppelganger have transformed…?”
“Shut up!”
Aris smacked the back of Balder’s head.
“B-but it is strange!”
Balder frowned, rubbing the swelling on the back of his head.
“For a long time, Karoon let jealousy and stubbornness devour his talent and spirit,” Aris said, looking at Karoon with faintly glowing eyes.
“He probably regrets that time more than anyone, so it’s not strange that he has changed this much.”
She nodded nonchalantly, stating that this was Karoon’s true self.
“Father….”
Burren also bit his lip, looking at Karoon as if moved by his words.
“Hoh….”
The Blade Monarch let out a gasp of admiration while looking at Karoon.
“I heard the general situation from my lord on the way here. To make such a judgment knowing it would be to his own detriment… Zieghart truly has many talented individuals.”
He looked at Karoon with a warm gaze, genuinely impressed.
“You’re actually kind of cool,” the Sword Monarch said, giving Karoon a thumbs-up.
“If you ever need help later, just tell me. This noona will rush to your side whenever and wherever!”
She grinned, clearly taking a liking to Karoon.
》”I heard that eyeball’s father had changed before, but…”
Wrath let out a hollow laugh.
》”He has changed beyond imagination. It feels like I’m looking at a completely different person.”
He shook his head, thinking the boy had changed far too much.
‘I guess so.’
Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked at Karoon.
‘I didn’t know he could change like this.’
There wasn’t a single flicker of hesitation in Karoon’s eyes.
It wasn’t to get on Glenn’s good side, nor was it to score points with the Sword Monarch and Blade Monarch. He truly believed that Raon had achieved a great feat. The bold, decisive change was so profound it almost made Raon’s hands tremble.
“Ahem!”
Glenn let out a long cough while observing Karoon.
‘If Karoon speaks for him, there’s no one left to oppose it!’
If Karoon, who had the support of the direct lineage swordsmen and had earned the most Gold Badges during the trial period, said such a thing, no one could possibly refute it.
“Since the True Martial Palace Leader has acknowledged it….”
As Glenn flicked his finger, Roenn stepped onto the platform with the board containing five Gold Badges, as if he had been waiting.
“Light Wind Palace Lord, come up to the platform!”
Glenn rose from the Jade Throne and called Raon.
“…Yes.”
Raon met Karoon’s serene gaze before ascending the platform to where Glenn stood.
“In high praise of bringing the Sword Monarch, the Blade Monarch, and the Ancient Dragon into Zieghart, I grant the Light Wind Palace Lord five Gold Badges.”
Glenn forced down the corners of his mouth, which were trying to curl toward the ceiling, as he handed the five badges to Raon.
“Thank you.”
Raon reached out with both hands and carefully accepted the badges from Glenn.
Whether it was because there were five of them or because of Karoon’s words, they felt much heavier than usual.
“Additionally, I will grant you five additional permissions to enter Zieghart’s Treasury.”
Since this was an achievement that couldn’t be measured by Gold Badges alone, Glenn also granted him access to the Treasury.
“Thank you.”
Raon bowed deeply to Glenn.
‘I should go in soon.’
He hadn’t used the Treasury pass he received after slaying the White Blood Lord, so it seemed best to use it in the near future to retrieve necessary items.
“…….”
After carefully putting away the badges, Raon turned around.
“Wooooo!”
“Sword Emperor! Sword Emperor! Sword Emperor!”
“The Light Wind Palace will only get stronger!”
“It might actually become the strongest martial force in Zieghart. No, has it already?”
The executives cheered and applauded his success.
‘Things have changed a lot.’
When he first stood in this place, no one cheered. When he became an executive, half applauded while the other half shot him looks of jealousy.
And today, everyone in this room was congratulating him.
His heart swelled with warmth, feeling as though he had finally become a true member of the Zieghart family.
‘Probably….’
Raon traced a thin smile as he looked at Karoon, who was clapping calmly.
‘It’s because that man changed.’
Because Karoon, representing the direct lineage, had acknowledged him, the entire family was now accepting him.
‘Just as I changed Karoon, did Karoon change me as well?’
His heart raced, feeling as though he had finally entered the protective fence of a true family.
“That will be all for today….”
Just as Glenn raised his hand to dismiss the gathering.
“Wait a moment.”
Raon stood before the platform again and looked up.
“There is still something left. Dorian.”
He turned and gestured to Dorian.
“Bring it out.”
“Ah, yes!”
Dorian smiled and reached into his belly pocket as if he had been waiting for the command.
Rumble!
He waved his hands, and a massive amount of weapons and armor, looking as if they had never been used, poured out of the pocket.
“W-what is this!”
“I can’t even count them! There are too many!”
“It’s not just the quantity; the quality looks amazing! It looks like they were made by Dwarves!”
The executives gaped at the pile of weapons and armor accumulating in the center of the Audience Chamber.
“Hoh….”
Glenn’s eyes widened in surprise.
“There are gold bars here too.”
Dorian, noting there was more, piled gold bars next to the armor and weapons.
“These are items donated by Lord Parateus for the upcoming war. Please use them for the family.”
Raon bowed, explaining that the items were from Parateus.
》”He’s taking it all out?”
Wrath’s eyes widened in surprise.
》”What’s gotten into a greedy brat like you?”
‘Not all of it.’
Raon flicked his fingers side to side.
‘I kept the best gear for my kids.’
The weapons and armor he had brought out were high-grade or better, but he had left the finest items in Dorian’s pocket for the Light Wind Palace swordsmen.
“He gave all of that?”
“With this, we can’t help but trust the dragon!”
“Exactly! He must have emptied the treasures of his lair!”
The executives nodded, now feeling a sense of trust toward Parateus.
“Well, it’s not a big deal, but….”
Parateus, who was ignored by the Sword Monarch and Blade Monarch every day, seemed to enjoy the rare praise and tilted his chin up arrogantly.
“No….”
Unlike the others, Glenn looked at Raon with a very regretful expression.
“If you had something like this, you should have told me sooner. This is also a huge achievement….”
His lips trembled as if he felt Raon could have earned another Gold Badge if he had mentioned it first.
“R-right? Isn’t that so?”
Glenn turned his eyes back to Karoon, seeking support.
“Since things have come to this, don’t you think it’s okay to give him one more?”
He shot a fervent gaze at Karoon, urging him to speak.
“It is true. It is worth giving.”
“Sigh….”
For the first time, Karoon shook his head as if he were exhausted by Glenn.
Raon eventually left the Head Of House’s residence after receiving six Gold Badges.
“I shall take my leave as well.”
Karoon, who had remained until the end, bowed to Glenn and prepared to leave the Audience Chamber.
“Karoon.”
Glenn raised his hand. Calling him by his name rather than his title as True Martial Palace Lord meant he wanted to speak privately.
“Please speak.”
Karoon approached the platform again and looked at Glenn.
“Are you truly alright?”
Glenn frowned slightly.
“The Gold Badges you spent over a month struggling to collect were matched by a single achievement. Can you truly bear that?”
He let out a low groan, sounding genuinely worried for Karoon.
“Thank you for your concern. However, my heart….”
Karoon raised his right hand and placed it over his left chest, where his heart beat.
“…is more peaceful than ever. In fact, I feel quite good.”
He smiled, stating he was in his best state.
“W-why?”
Burren, who had been waiting for Karoon, couldn’t hold back and spoke up.
“Burren. One must look at the forest, not just the trees.”
Karoon nodded with a soft gaze.
“Raon did not simply accumulate achievements for Zieghart; he created a feat that could change the history of the continent. Bringing in the Sword Monarch, the Blade Monarch, and the Ancient Dragon is worth that much.”
He traced a faint smile while looking at the sunlight pouring in from behind Glenn.
“Even if someone becomes the successor—no, the Head Of House—it is meaningless if the family cannot be sustained. This was an achievement that wouldn’t have been a waste even if he were given ten badges instead of six, so there is nothing to regret.”
Karoon nodded heavily, showing his sincerity.
“Karoon….”
Feeling Karoon’s sincerity, Glenn’s eyes widened.
“I see….”
Burren clenched his fist, feeling proud of Karoon for thinking this way.
“Furthermore….”
Karoon waved his fingertips up and down.
“Running alone is boring. A fight is only exciting when there is a proper opponent.”
He nodded, admitting he hoped Raon would chase after him.
“Does this answer your question?”
After answering Burren, Karoon looked up at Glenn and smiled.
“That is sufficient.”
Glenn nodded, saying he understood everything.
“Then….”
Karoon bowed politely to Glenn and left the Audience Chamber with Burren.
“This….”
Glenn traced a deep smile as he looked at the seats of the Palace Lords where Karoon and Raon had stood.
“No matter who becomes the Head Of House, I think I’ll be both regretful and not regretful at the same time.”
As Raon walked toward the Annex with the Sword Monarch, the Blade Monarch, and Parateus, a familiar face appeared in the distance.
“It seems you’ve returned.”
The Gambling Monster lowered his eyebrows upon seeing Raon.
“It took quite a while this time. What were you doing?”
He took a swig from the liquor bottle in his hand, telling Raon to speak so he would have something to accompany his drink.
“I’ve brought Sword Monarch and Blade Monarch sunbaes to Zieghart. And an Ancient Dragon is also with us….”
Raon briefly explained the party behind him.
“Pffft!”
Upon seeing the Sword Monarch and Blade Monarch behind Raon, the Gambling Monster sprayed the liquor in his mouth like a fountain.
“I-I am Harian Zieghart, who uses the epithet Gambling Monster!”
His indifferent, bored expression shifted to one of sheer shock.
“Just call me the Sword Monarch.”
“Pleased to meet you. I am Yubert.”
The Sword Monarch and Blade Monarch accepted the Gambling Monster’s greeting and introduced themselves.
“I-it is a pleasure!”
The Gambling Monster bowed deeply, his hands trembling as if he hadn’t been drinking.
“I’ll explain everything properly at the Training Hall.”
“Uh-huh….”
The Gambling Monster nodded, with liquor and saliva dripping from his chin, telling Raon to do as he pleased.
It was when Raon passed the trembling Gambling Monster and arrived near the Annex.
“Oh! You’re back?”
Saint Fedrick of the Rags waved his hand.
“You have many guests today. Who are they all?”
He traced a benevolent smile, asking Raon to introduce the party.
“I’ve brought Sword Monarch and Blade Monarch sunbaes to Zieghart. And an Ancient Dragon is also….”
Raon repeated the words he had told the Gambling Monster.
“Ah, those with epithets that sound strong… eh?”
Deep wrinkles formed on Fedrick’s usually relaxed face.
“Y-you say the Sword Monarch and Blade Monarch are here now…?”
His mouth hung open in disbelief.
“You heard correctly.”
“I am, though lacking, the one who uses the epithet Blade Monarch.”
The Sword Monarch and Blade Monarch nodded to Fedrick.
“I-I am Healer Fedrick.”
Instead of his epithet as the Saint of Rags, Fedrick used the word “healer,” a term he might have used in his childhood.
“If you’re a healer, we’ll be seeing each other often.”
“We are aware of the name Saint of Rags. We look forward to working with you.”
The Sword Monarch and Blade Monarch greeted Fedrick politely.
“Ah, yes.”
Fedrick straightened his bent back and took a sharp breath.
“I’ll visit you soon.”
Raon gripped the dazed Fedrick’s shoulder and entered the garden of the Annex.
“Son!”
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
“You’re too late!”
Edgar, Sylvia, and Sia, who were in the garden, rushed toward him simultaneously.
“I’m home.”
Raon bowed to Edgar and Sylvia.
“This person is the Lord’s mother? Isn’t she more like a noona?”
The Sword Monarch gasped, surprised by Sylvia’s beauty.
“She certainly doesn’t give off the feeling of a mother,” the Blade Monarch added, nodding in surprise at Sylvia’s appearance.
“I’m the noona!”
Sia frowned, asserting that she was Raon’s sister.
“Oh my! Who are these wonderful people?”
Sylvia, delighted to receive compliments on her appearance immediately upon meeting them, clasped her hands and asked for introductions.
“The person in front of Mother is the Sword Monarch, and the gentleman behind her is the Blade Monarch. And the one at the end is Lord Parateus, an Ancient Dragon of the Gold Clan.”
This was the third time Raon had introduced the party since leaving the main building.
“T-the Sword Monarch and Blade Monarch?”
“You’re lying, right? That makes no sense!”
Sylvia and Edgar’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“Who?”
Sia tilted her head, completely clueless.
“I am indeed the Sword Monarch. I’ve never told a lie in my life.”
“I am Blade Monarch Yubert.”
The Sword Monarch and Blade Monarch introduced themselves in a light tone, having already adapted to the situation.
“Gasp!”
“W-what on earth did you do to bring the Sword Monarch and Blade Monarch….”
Sylvia and Edgar collapsed to the ground, looking as if they were about to faint. The two looked at Raon with eyes pleading for an explanation.
‘This is kind of….’
Raon grinned as he looked at the shocked Sylvia and Edgar.
‘Fun, isn’t it?’
Seeing everyone’s reaction to the epithets of the Sword Monarch and Blade Monarch, a natural smile escaped him.
‘Is there anyone else I can surprise? Someone who reacts intensely.’
》”That’s enough!”
Wrath waved his hand, telling him to stop.
》”If you go any further into madness, there’ll be no hope for you!”
“Phew….”
As soon as Raon returned to his room, he perched on a chair.
‘Now I can finally relax.’
Since the names of the Sword Monarch and Blade Monarch were heavy burdens even for him, he felt his tension ease now that he was home and could rest.
》”Eat some food and take a deep nap, and you’ll feel better.”
Wrath licked his lips, insisting that he eat and rest unconditionally.
‘That sounds good, but….’
Raon took off his outer coat and gripped Heavenly Drive in his hand.
》”Y-you don’t tell me….”
‘I need to train a bit. There’s still time before dinner.’
Since he hadn’t been able to train properly during the return journey, he wanted to loosen up his body.
》”You’re crazy as it is, but when it comes to the sword, you’re truly insane. Even the demons called Sword Gods in the Demon Realm aren’t like you!”
Wrath gnashed his teeth, feeling exhausted just by watching.
‘Now, being called crazy feels like a compliment.’
Just as Raon chuckled and rose from the chair.
Bam!
The door flew open violently, and the Sword Monarch, the Blade Monarch, and Sia—who was being hugged by the two of them—burst in.
“Our Lord’s sister….”
“To our Lord’s sister….”
The two of them, their cheeks flushed with genuine excitement, pushed Sia forward.
“Can we take her as our disciple?”
“May we pass on our martial studies to her?”
(T/N: Sia is turning into a monster! Imagine, being thought by the Darkhan, Sword Monarch and Blade Monarch.)
