Raon narrowed his eyes as he watched the Light Wind squad fight against the Gambling Monster by using the great Light Wind formation.
'I can see them so much better now.'
Thanks to the Ring of Fire reaching seven-stars, he could see the weaknesses that each swordsman had and the problematic parts of the sword formation easily.
"Martha, lower your posture a bit more and hold your sword a bit lower. It's important that you fight more safely from the front so that your team members can remain assured from the back."
"Damn it…"
Martha swore, lowering her posture and placing her sword in front of her energy center. The way she was instantly correcting her flaw showed the huge amount of progress she had made over the past month.
"Runaan, you are getting slower at using your aura. You should polish your aura in more detail to stop the general administrator's movements."
"Mhm."
Runaan nodded, the silver energy spreading out from the tip of her sword like mist to dominate the Gambling Monster's space.
"Burren, you have too many unnecessary worries. You should attack more boldly when you see an opportunity. You didn't do anything after noticing the general administrator's opening, and that's a mistake."
"I thought it was a trap…"
"And knowing how to differentiate between a trap and a weakness is part of your ability. You should work on it."
"Kuh, I know!"
Burren shouted, charging at the Gambling Monster head-on. Cold wind was emerging from his decisive strike.
"Let's join him!"
"Mhm."
Martha and Runaan followed him and charged from the sides to perform their respective attacks.
Whenever the Gambling Monster overwhelmed them with astral energy, the Light Wind squad withdrew while maintaining formation, attacking his weakness whenever he was weakened.
'Everyone's doing so well.'
Even though the Gambling Monster was going easy on them, they were still fighting equally against someone who could use astral energy. Raon figured that even the Light Wind members would be proud and satisfied with themselves.
Satisfied?
Wrath gasped and pointed at the Light Wind squad.
Are your shitty eyes really seeing them as 'satisfied'?
Raon examined the Light Wind squad once again, focusing on where Wrath was pointing his finger. Their eyes were slightly unfocused, their breathing was rough, and their hands were trembling. They must've been pushing themselves far beyond their limits.
It could be called a natural phenomenon since they'd been training all week long with almost no rest. However, it was completely necessary for them to go through that training in order to reach their maximum potential.
'I'm sure it's painful, but it will be too late if they experience that state during an actual fight.'
Even Tyler, the Axe King, and the fourth apostle that he encountered during the last mission were difficult opponents to face. Moreover, the Axe King was even capable of annihilating the entire squad.
In order to avoid repeating such a scenario in the future, it was necessary to increase the might and willpower for everyone in the Light Wind squad—including himself.
Hmm, well. That's not wrong.
Wrath nodded, saying that he couldn't argue against that.
The ice cream girl and the beef girl need to survive, after all.
'And there's one more person.'
Raon pointed at Dorian who was staying at the rear of the sword formation because he was too scared.
Ugh…
Wrath slowly nodded, since he had no other choice.
I-I know. He was my first servant…
He sighed, while murmuring and questioning why he'd ever made him his servant.
Tell that coward to move ahead. The formation's flow is getting pushed back because of him.
Wrath pointed out Dorian's drawback with a frown on his face. Regardless of how he acted, he cared for his subordinates from the bottom of his heart.
"Dorian."
"Yees?"
"Stop being afraid. Move forward. You shouldn't keep hiding, since you are the strongest among them."
"O-Okay."
Dorian swallowed nervously, then moved the foot that was slightly outside the formation.
Rumble!
That was enough to render the formation even more effective. Everyone combined their forces to pressure the Gambling Monster.
However, power wasn't all they needed. The Gambling Monster attacked the center of the storming strike with his astral energy.
Whaam!
Since the Light Wind squad was too focused on attacking, they were scattered in all directions from the Gambling Monster's power, which managed to shatter the center of the formation.
"Kuh…"
"D-Damn it…"
"We were too hasty…"
The Light Wind members groaned, lying flat on the ground. Thanks to the various experiences and battles they'd gone through before, they were perfectly aware of their mistake.
Raon smiled faintly while standing at the edge of the platform.
"I'm repeating this once again. The moment you strike is the best moment for your opponent to counterattack. You should always keep that in mind."
"Yes…"
"U-Understood."
The Light Wind squad barely managed to nod their heads with weakened voices.
"And next up…"
"I can't do this anymore! You crazy bastard! Kill me already!"
Martha raised her head from the ground and shouted at him.
"I-I've also reached my limit. O-Oh my god…"
Burren gathered his hands to pray for his life.
"I'm sleeping…"
Runaan closed her eyes without caring about what could happen to her anymore. Her steady breath told him that she really had fallen asleep.
"Listen to the end. The next training exercise will be tomorrow, so you should head out and rest for today."
"Oh?"
"Huh?"
"S-Seriously?"
"Woaaah!"
The Light Wind squad widened their mouths while looking at the sun, which hadn't even set yet.
Because training hadn't ended before sunset for the past week, they all shouted with joy.
"You should brace yourselves for the next session, since we are going to spar against other squads."
"Spar against the other squads?"
"It is necessary to try out your aura blade against opponents on a similar level."
The spar against Raon or the Gambling Monster was sometimes meaningless because the difference in skill was too large.
Experiencing an all-out fight against an opponent on the same level was bound to be extremely helpful for them.
"We are going to take their titles."
"I like it!"
Martha grinned and raised her hand.
"I'll do anything if it means I can get stronger."
Burren also nodded.
"Mmmh…"
Runaan was sleeping.
"So when are we starting this? Let's thoroughly prepare ourselves for a landslide victor…"
"Tomorrow."
Raon grinned and pointed at the fifth training ground.
"Tomorrow at noon, we are going to fight the Blue Hawk squad right here."
Every member of the Light Wind squad widened their eyes and raised themselves upon hearing him. Even the idea of rest couldn't create such a reaction from them.
"Th-The Blue Hawk squad?"
"But they have so many people!"
"W-We don't even have one day until noon!"
"You bastard! Even the squad leader gave us one day to prepare!"
"Oh my god!"
"If demons exist in this world, they should take him away with them already!"
The Light Wind squad pleaded to the gods and demons while smashing their faces on the ground.
I-I'm sorry.
Wrath sighed, unable to raise his eyes from the ground.
Even the King of Essence was defeated…
* * *
Cring!
The sad resonance of the Blade of Requiem resounded throughout the small garden.
'Good job.'
Raon caressed the Blade of Requiem, which sounded like it was weeping, before returning it to the scabbard hanging around his waist.
"This is the Blood Rain. How did you find it?"
He looked at his right side with a faint smile on his face. Roenn, Yua, and Yulius were staring blankly at him.
"Sniff…"
Yua pouted and she started to sob.
"The melody itself is cheerful, but I can't stop my tears because the sword was crying so sadly…"
She was unable to continue as her tears ended up dropping to the ground. She must've felt the sadness of the souls involved in the Blood Rain thanks to her talent in music.
"I-I was impressed! I honestly don't really understand the Blood Rain, but the Blue Rain makes my heart boil. It makes me want to immediately start swinging my sword!"
Yulius smiled while grasping the wooden sword around his waist tightly. His flushed face suggested that he really liked the Blue Rain. Raon smiled at him, because that personality was the stereotype of swordsmen.
"You are really amazing."
Roenn nodded while smiling. Raon's demonstration was the result of his request to see the Blue Rain and the Blood Rain when he came to take Yua and Yulius back home, and Roenn's expression revealed his admiration.
"The Blue Rain seems to have advanced one step—no, multiple steps since the last demonstration. Both the power and range are incomparable to before."
"You are flattering me."
Raon smiled faintly and shook his head.
"And the Blood Rain…"
Roenn narrowed his eyes and waited before he continued.
"Is a sad song, just as Lady Yua has described. Resentment, screaming, pain, and even yearning can be found in it."
He managed to discern all of the emotions contained in the Blood Rain from listening to it a single time. He was truly an extraordinary warrior.
"It shouldn't really inflict any damage to ordinary people for now, but it can potentially endanger the normal people once the Light Wind's vice squad leader or the Blade of Requiem grows a bit stronger."
"Ah…"
"Honestly, I had to control it slightly this time."
Roenn pointed at Yua and Yulius with a smile. Although the Blood Rain only used to affect the White Blood fanatics that could use the bloody energy, it seemed to also affect regular people after the Blade of Requiem absorbed the apostle's bloody energy.
"Thank you for telling me about it."
His advice was extremely helpful because he hadn't used the Blood Rain for long.
"You should be able to master a more detailed control of your aura by practicing the control of the Blood Rain and Blue Rain's output and range. It will be difficult to achieve, but it will become an important lesson."
"Yes, I'll try."
Raon nodded. He figured it wouldn't be too difficult to control the Blue Rain and Blood Rain because his Ring of Fire had reached the seven-stars.
"Ah, do you still have the pyroxene necklace that the head of house bestowed upon you previously?"
Roenn looked like he just remembered it as he raised his finger and pointed to his neck.
"I'm not wearing it right now since I left it at the annex building."
He left the necklace in his room because it seemed to be a cosmetic item without many effects.
"That necklace is made of refined pyroxene, which grants it a higher protection ability against internal and external injuries and mental attacks compared to other pyroxene necklaces. You should definitely wear it all the time."
"Ah, I will do that. Thank you."
Raon nodded and smiled.
"I'll be taking my leave now. Let's go."
"Yes…"
"Yes!"
He left for the annex building alongside Yua and Yulius.
Roenn smiled while watching Raon's back getting further away.
"He's always looking above him."
Even though he was looking above him, he wasn't neglecting the ones below him either. He was like the ideal warrior despite being so young.
"Good luck in your upcoming battles."
The bright sunlight was shining down Zieghart's lord's manor on the first day of the new year.
While Glenn was listening to Sheryl's report about the Heavenly Blade division's activities, the audience chamber's door opened and Roenn and Chad, the Shadow Agents' leader, entered.
"M-My lord. We are in trouble."
Chad ran up to the center and went down on his knee.
"Trouble?"
Rimmer was standing on the side while leaning his back against a pillar. He tilted his head upon hearing from Chad.
"W-We already knew it would happen though…"
Chad sighed deeply while lifting the document he brought.
"The Axe King Roman sent a l-letter to announce his duel to the death against the Light Wind's vice squad leader on the first day of the year in three years."
"Ah, that one."
Rimmer snapped his finger while pulling his back away from the pillar.
"He gave him some extra time by making it three years after the new year. Although he's a loser, he still has some redeeming features."
They thought it was going to be three years after their encounter with Roman, but the way he gave them three years after the new year revealed that he wasn't a completely shameless person.
"So in three years… Huh?"
Rimmer looked up on the platform upon realizing that the audience chamber had suddenly fallen silent.
Glenn, Sheryl—who was standing in front of him—and Roenn from next to the entrance were glaring at him as if they wanted to kill him.
"Wh-What's wrong with all of you? Why are you looking at me like that?"
Rimmer swallowed nervously while facing their murderous gazes.
"The matter wouldn't have escalated so badly if you had done your job."
"You are pretty much a cockroach at this point. Did you really have to survive by mooching off of your subordinate?"
"Huhu, I think Sir Rimmer is really bad at showing his worth."
Glenn, Sheryl, and Roenn were digging a hole in his heart with their words instead of swords.
"Kuh…"
Rimmer grasped his heart and stepped back.
"Those words are too hars…"
"If you don't like words, shall we use something else instead?"
Crimson sparks flashed from Glenn's hand.
"No! I like the words! Please keep slandering me!"
Rimmer violently shook his head with an awkward smile on his face.
Glenn glared coldly at Rimmer for a while before looking at Chad instead.
"Was the letter sent under Roman's name?"
"Yes, it was under the Axe King Roman's name instead of the South-North Union."
Chad nodded while frowning.
"He must be trying to prevent any kind of interference from us by only using his name. The dirty pirate bastard is trying to use his head!"
"Indeed, it's a nasty method. He wants this fight to happen no matter what, while avoiding the harm that could be brought to the South-North Union."
Sheryl and Roenn clicked their tongues before glaring at Rimmer again.
"Ugh…"
Rimmer secretly stepped away from them while trying to avoid provoking them any further.
Whir!
Sheryl tapped the sword on her back and cold pressure started to spread out from her.
"My lord, shouldn't we just destroy the South-North Union already to remove the burden on Raon's shoulders? We already have their location, after all."
She looked at Chad, asking for his approval.
"Ah, yes. W-We managed to locate their headquarters."
Chad nodded. Since Glenn had ordered them to investigate it with the highest priority, he'd managed to locate the South-North Union's headquarters by forcing the agents to move. However, their war potential still remained unknown.
Rumble!
As he was about to report that the South-North Union's war potential was still unknown, a tremendous amount of destructive pressure boiled up from Glenn's feet.
"Indeed, it's about time we got rid of the trash that doesn't even know their place."
He stood up. He looked like he was about to attack the South-North Union right away, and the entire lord's manor trembled from his presence, as if a vast mountain was making its move.
"P-Please wait! We haven't managed to find out about their members…"
Chad tried to stop him, but Glenn's gaze remained completely firm.
"It doesn't matter who they are or how many they are. I just need to remove all of them."
"I expected no less from my lord!"
Sheryl raised her fist in joy.
"Our Heavenly Blade division will be the vanguard!"
"W-Wait…"
"You are too excited."
While Chad couldn't do anything with a trembling chin, Roenn stood in their way with a gentle smile on his face.
"I said this before, but an objective makes people stronger. I think it's better to leave the matter as it is, since the young master Raon is currently getting stronger at an even faster pace than before as he prepares for the duel against the Axe King Roman."
He smiled while remembering how Raon demonstrated the improved Blood Rain for him recently.
"I suggest we wait for two and half years, when he is going to die from a disease."
"D-Disease? I never heard that Roman had a diseas…"
"Ah, it's just an assassination method that I've been researching recently. It's very simple."
Roenn gathered his fingers to gesture a cut to his own neck with a cold smile on his face.
"Hmm, not bad."
Glenn slowly nodded before burying himself on the throne once again.
Sheryl also stepped back while turning her wrist. They sounded like the South-North Union was like a pebble on the road to be removed.
"Uuh…"
The trembling in Chad's chin intensified because of the way they treated the South-North Union like a pebble. He could never get used to them.
"What is the Light Wind squad doing nowadays?"
Glenn looked at Rimmer, who was shrinking in a corner.
"Th-They are training by mostly sparring against the other squads."
Rimmer glared at Chad while murmuring that he came to the lord's manor to report on it. His eyes said that he resented him for being there at the worst time.
"I heard some strange rumors about the Light Wind squad recently."
Sheryl narrowed her eyes while looking at Rimmer.
"Huh? What rumors?"
"That they are the Mad Dog squad rather than the Light Wind squad."
"Hmm…"
Rimmer bit his lip tightly and looked up on the platform. Lightning was sparking from Glenn's eyes, which were directed at him.
"Why are they being called mad dogs?"
"Th-That's…"
"They are being called that way because they never back off in front of an opponent and bite until the end to achieve victory. I heard they also bark like dogs sometimes, but I've never seen that happen…"
Sheryl told him the reason they were called the Mad Dog squad instead of Rimmer.
"Anyway, their win rate is pretty high."
"That's right. If I remember it correctly, it was even better than twenty-five wins out of thirty matches. They've been pretty much undefeated recently."
Chad nodded while supporting Sheryl's statement.
"And Raon is being called the Mad Dog squad leader, since he tames the mad dogs."
"Not bad."
Glenn slowly nodded. He was apparently satisfied with his new nickname and the Light Wind squad's win rate.
"Young Master Raon seems to be talented at raising people, on top of his martial art."
"I remember that his team leaders were very obedient to him when we went on a mission together last time."
Roenn and Sheryl also smiled.
"Rimmer."
Glenn suddenly stopped smiling and looked at Rimmer.
"Yes?"
A chill suddenly ran down Rimmer's spine as he swallowed nervously.
"You must be glad that the Light Wind squad got so much stronger."
"I-I'm just thankful that the kids are following my teachings so nicely."
"In that case, who was their sparring partner yesterday?"
"…What? Yesterday?"
Did they spar yesterday?
He was completely unaware of it because he'd been cultivating all day long the day before, since Raon and the Gambling Monster were in charge of their training recently.
'He will kill me if I say I don't know…'
The experience engraved in his cells was telling him that he was going to die if he couldn't answer the question.
'Their first partner was the Blue Hawk squad, and the next up was the Soaring Sky division. The third was…'
He racked his brain to look for the answer as if his life depended on it, and he managed to remember the only organization that didn't have a spar yet.
"The Warring Steel squad! It's the Warring Steel squad!"
Rimmer raised his fist and shouted. However, Glenn's pressure didn't subside—it doubled instead and crushed his shoulder.
"Ugh…"
"Erm, th-the Warring Steel squad was promoted to the Warring Steel division last year."
Chad turned his head towards him slightly and whispered.
"Even though you are the squad leader, you seriously don't even know what kind of training your members go through, or who they are sparring against?"
"A-Actually, what I did yesterday was…"
Glenn shook his hand to dismiss his excuses, and Sheryl and Roenn slowly walked towards him.
"You are really hopeless. You must've been playing in the gambling house again to lose more money."
"This makes me a bit angry despite how I usually stay calm. Huhuhu."
They walked up in front of Rimmer with murderous gazes.
"I was cultivating all day long yesterday! That bastard Raon keeps making me trai…"
"Bastard Raon? Did you just dare to insult our lord's grandson with your meager mouth?"
"Ahu!"
Sheryl kicked Rimmer's side to throw him into a corner and started to beat him up.
Whack! Smack! Smaaack!
Chad swallowed nervously as he watched Rimmer getting mercilessly beaten up.
'Th-This confirms it.'
The head of house cherished Raon Zieghart the most.
The previous leader of Shadow Agents Alissa's prediction was wrong.
And Glenn wasn't the only one. Even Sheryl and Roenn, who held pretty much the highest authority, cherished Raon the most in the world.
'I need to do something.'
He figured it was necessary to gain Raon's favor in order to survive in Zieghart. Chad started to think about how to greet Raon in order to leave a good impression while listening to Rimmer's screams.
"The leader of the Shadow Agents."
Glenn closed his eyes before opening them again to look at Chad.
"Yes!"
"We recently got a request about the White Blood Religion, didn't we?"
"It's a request from the Grand Seville. Lots of people suddenly started to go missing at the end of the last year, and a corpse was recently found at Molve Lake with its flesh chewed off, which makes the White Blood Religion the most likely suspect."
Chad nodded while remembering the mission request they had received a few days prior.
"Did the client have any specific requests?"
"They asked to come as fast as possible, and asked for the Light Wind squad if possible. It must be because the Light Wind's vice squad leader—no, I should call him 'the venerable Light Wind's vice squad leader'—managed to slay the fourth apostle."
"I see."
Glenn nodded with a faint smile on his face.
"They've rested enough since it's already been three months."
Since training and spars were all they'd been doing, it was about time to let them experience another mission.
"I'm giving the Light Wind squad a new mission."