The second location that the third prince guided them to was a training ground. However, it wasn't an ordinary training ground since the Silver Knights, who boasted the strongest offensive capabilities in the Owen Kingdom, were training there.
Raon narrowed his eyes and watched the Silver Knights.
'Their sharpness is almost frightening.'
If the royal guards could be compared to a sturdy pillar or shield, the Silver Knights looked like swords that had been polished endlessly.
Their might was clearly different from the knights he saw on the way to the capital. The sharpness emerging from them almost gave him goosebumps.
'Nice.'
The Silver Knights' swordsmanship embodied the Owen Kingdom's characteristic sharp sword and straight sword techniques. He could understand the flow of their swords at a glance, probably thanks to the drastic increase in his realm.
'This is going to be pretty helpful.'
They weren't revealing all of their skills, but it was a good lesson for him because of how excellent the swordsmanship was.
'In particular…'
He looked at the young man on the right who was thrusting his sword at the slowest speed. The man with navy blue hair and brown eyes still looked young, but his energy was on a completely different level from the other knights.
However, his energy felt familiar. He remembered detecting it, even though it was quite a long time ago.
"You really have a good insight."
Rimmer came next to him with a grin on his face.
"That guy is Borini Kitten."
"Borini Kitten?"
"Borini Kitten of the Twelve Stars of the Continent. He's one of the geniuses of the previous generation."
He pointed at the blue-haired young man who was spreading a proud pressure like a sword even though he was simply standing there.
"You knew him!"
The third prince smiled brightly and nodded.
"That's right. He is the Azure Razor Sword, Sir Borini Kitten. I didn't expect the Sword of Light to know about him."
He smiled brightly. He looked like he was rejoicing over the fact that Rimmer recognized Borini Kitten.
"It's only natural that I know about the Twelve Stars of the Continent. After all, people in pubs and gambling houses keep talking about which of the Twelve Stars of the Continent is stronger."
Rimmer blabbered that everyone who frequented the gambling houses were bound to know about them even if they didn't want to.
"Do you also want to try it out? I'll show you the world of adults…"
"Shut your mouth already."
Sheryl frowned and jabbed her elbow into Rimmer's side.
"Kuah!"
Rimmer escaped to the back while grasping his side.
"Hmm."
Borini Kitten noticed their gazes and lowered his sword before coming towards them.
"Your Highness."
The first thing he did was offer a polite bow to the third prince.
"I think you already know, but these are the guests from Zieghart."
"My name is Borini Kitten of the Silver Knights."
Borini Kitten's bow wasn't excessive or insufficient.
"I'm Zieghart's Heavenly Blade division leader, Sheryl."
Sheryl returned his greeting and nodded since she was pretty much the party's leader.
"I'm honored to meet the Heavenly Blade's division leader!"
The pitch of his voice turned higher than before, showing that he really meant it.
"And who is he…?"
"Ah, don't worry about him."
He looked at Rimmer, who was still covering his side, but Sheryl covered his view.
"I'm Raon Zieghart, the Light Wind's vice squad leader."
Since Raon was the next in line, he went next to Sheryl and bowed to Borini Kitten.
'I finally figured out where I saw him before.'
Once he got closer, he remembered when he felt Borini's presence.
It was during the battle against the White Blood Religion he had on a hill nearby Cameloon. The presence that had appeared in the distance back then was the exact same as that of Borini Kitten, who was standing in front of him.
"Raon Zieghart…"
Borini Kitten's eyes wavered violently.
'He grew up so much.'
He'd observed Raon in the past when he was secretly guarding the third prince. Raon was already extremely powerful and elegant for his age, but he looked like a completely different person from that time.
'This is absurd.'
Even though there used to be multiple large mountains between Raon and himself back then, every single one of them had been breached. The young swordsman who hadn't even reached his twenties had already caught up to him, right under his nose.
'How is this even possible?'
He heard about the great stories of the Frostfire Sword of Valor, but he had actually somewhat disregarded him because he was kidnapped by Eden.
However, the meeting with Raon made him realize that no one could possibly underestimate the warrior called Raon. The might he possessed was unimaginable for his age.
'Other people won't even realize it.'
He wouldn't even have noticed Raon's skills if he hadn't learned Owen's special detection technique that allowed him to discover his opponent's power, or if his might was lower than what it currently was. His head started to spin.
"Sir Borini?"
"Ah, yes."
As the third prince called his name, Borini Kitten barely managed to come back to his senses and nodded.
"Welcome to the Silver Knights. The captain is unfortunately absent right now. I'll be guiding you instead, although I might be inadequate."
Borini Kitten bowed politely and told them to follow.
"Hmm."
Raon kept staring at his back instead of the training ground's equipment or the knights that he introduced.
'I wonder…'
There was a huge difference in skills before he went to Habun Castle, to the point that he could barely feel Borini's presence, but that wasn't the case anymore.
His realm was still higher, but Raon managed to catch up close enough that he might be able to win in an all-out fight.
'I'm glad to be here.'
Raon smiled while tapping on his scabbard.
'I should be able to gain a lot from this.'
Derus Robert smiled gently after taking a sip of the tea.
"It surely has a nice taste and fragrance. The bitter taste in the beginning and the sweetness at the end show how well the velvet coral dried."
He put down his teacup and briefly licked his lips.
"Velvet coral tea of this quality would be difficult to acquire even for me, as someone from House Robert. This is truly amazing."
"I'm glad for the recognition."
King Lecross smiled with his eyes. He nodded, rejoicing over Derus recognizing the tea's taste—unlike Glenn.
"By the way, I met the Frostfire Sword of Valor on the way here."
Derus raised his teacup once again and looked at Glenn.
"I understand why the head of house looks so much happier than before. He is the most outstanding among all the young swordsmen I've seen before."
"The Sky Sword Saint agrees with me after all."
King Lecross smiled, saying that he thought the same thing.
"Everyone's bound to agree since he even reached the intermediate Master at the age of nineteen. He even managed to notice the difference between our martial art types."
"The types?"
"Yes. Since he said he got nervous upon feeling Your Majesty's sharp and straight pressure, he must've correctly figured it out."
"Huh…"
King Lecross gasped and shook his head.
"That's truly a frightening amount of talent."
"Yes, I'm sure he will grow even more splendidly in the future."
Derus examined Glenn's expression while complimenting Raon.
'He's emotionless. No, is he slightly glad about it?'
Glenn's expression looked as cold as during their first encounter, but the corners of his lips were slightly raised. He was pretending he wasn't, but it looked like he cherished Raon.
"Even against the Twelve Stars of the Continent, he should be able to prevail against the four weakest ones and put up an equal fight against the four intermediate ones."
Derus offered even heavier compliments to check Glenn's reaction.
'Hmm, maybe not.'
Even though they were all called the Twelve Stars of the Continent, they naturally weren't exactly equal in strength.
Because of the difference in age, talent, and martial arts, they were divided into the four weakest, the four intermediate, and the four strongest.
Although the four intermediates were veteran warriors whose names were already known throughout the continent, Glenn's expression remained unchanged when Raon was compared to them.
"I felt the same way."
King Lecross slowly nodded.
"Our Borini is an intermediate, and I think he would put up a good fight against him."
"Yes. It would be an interesting match if he ended up fighting our Cadis."
Derus examined Glenn's expression once again while mentioning Cadis. His eyes had turned even colder than before.
'Hmm, I guess I was mistaken.'
The level of fame and achievements of Borini Kitten and Cadis Robert were incomparable to Raon.
Considering the fact that his expression wasn't changing at all despite his grandson being compared to them, Glenn didn't seem to cherish Raon that much.
'I guess that coldhearted man would never cherish anyone.'
The Glenn he knew didn't even care about his children, let alone a grandson. The previous attack on Eden must've simply been from the anger of Eden underestimating Zieghart, and it was obvious that he had no intention of saving Raon.
'It should be fine to start my plan.'
Derus smiled faintly and put down the teacup.
"Since this is a nice occasion where we've all gathered in one place, how about holding an interesting contest?"
"A contest?"
"What contest are you talking about?"
Glenn and Lecross turned their heads toward Derus at the same time.
"Since this is a rare occasion where the young warriors are gathered in one place, let's hold a friendly tournament. It would be interesting if we divide them between Experts and Masters."
Derus smiled while lightly tapping on the table with his finger.
"Since I'm curious about what's going to happen if the Frostfire Sword of Valor really fought against the Twelve Stars of the Continent, I'll make my child participate."
"The Blade of Shattering Wave, Cadis? Isn't he ranked the highest among the intermediates?"
The Blade of Shattering Wave, Cadis Robert, was the fifth strongest among the Twelve Stars of the Continent. He was a bit too strong for Raon.
"It's a friendly match anyway. There will be no danger."
"Hmm, it shall be interesting at least. We will also get the Azure Razor Sword to participate."
"How about the head of house…?"
"Fine."
Glenn nodded without showing any emotion.
"I'm looking forward to which of the future prospects will prevail in the end."
Derus gathered his hands with a faint smile on his face.
"Sir Derus?"
Roenn narrowed his eyes and called Derus's name.
"Blood is flowing from your glove."
Just like he said, blood was dripping from his black glove.
Derus simply smiled without being surprised in the slightest.
"Ah, it's not a big deal."
He stroked his hand, and the blood was completely cleaned up.
"I'll announce it during the banquet. I think we should prepare the gifts for the children."
"Hmm, indeed."
"I will take my leave now. Until the banquet."
Derus bowed to Glenn and King Lecross before leaving the reception room.
"I'm also going to leave now."
Glenn put down his empty teacup before he stood up.
"Please make yourself at home."
Glenn nodded at Lecross, who came to send him off, before leaving the reception room.
"Hmm…"
Roenn narrowed his eyes while following Glenn through the hallway.
'He looks like he's suddenly in a bad mood.'
It was only a moment ago that Glenn was happily listening to the compliments about Raon, yet his gaze had turned completely cold.
'I don't understand why.'
Even though he believed that he knew everything about Glenn, he was still clueless when Raon was concerned.
"My lord, did something happen?"
Roenn couldn't suppress his curiosity and created an aura barrier before coming up next to Glenn.
"There's no way I wouldn't be angry when he said 'that'."
"What would 'that' be…?"
"Raon…"
"Raon?"
"Was compared to the mere Twelve Stars of the Continent! His talent and virtues are on a different level from them! Even his personality is way better than theirs!"
Glenn furrowed his brows and clenched his fist, suggesting that he was truly angry.
'Huh…'
He wasn't even satisfied when Raon was compared to the Twelve Stars of the Continent, who were expected to become transcenders in the future. Roenn realized he'd been underestimating this grandfather who loved his grandson too much.
However, he wasn't wrong about it. Although it might not be the case at the moment, the Twelve Stars of the Continent were bound to kneel under Raon in the future.
Roenn smiled brightly and nodded.
"That's right. We should be able to show it to them this time."
* * *
Derus Robert immediately returned to his room and called for the two butlers.
"Martio."
"Yes."
The butler standing on his left lowered his head to heed his call. He was the butler of the underworld who never took off his mask.
"Can you recognize the assassins you've raised?"
"Of course."
Martio nodded without hesitation.
"The assassins have a characteristic gesture and atmosphere around them, and that can't be erased no matter how much time has passed. If it's someone I've raised myself, I'm confident I can recognize them."
"Even if twenty years have passed and they learned a different martial art?"
"I use the bird's imprinting method in my education techniques, and it would be impossible to overcome it even if they were reborn."
He declared as much, his eyes brimming with confidence.
Derus smiled faintly and took off his glove. The blood that spilled from the scar on the back of his hand had already dried up.
"Hmm?"
He looked towards the window while still holding the glove.
"Did anything happen?"
"…Nevermind."
Derus narrowed his eyes and turned his head back.
"Do you remember Raon by any chance?"
"…Is this about the Raon I'm thinking about?"
"Yes."
"Of course, I remember him."
Martio nodded with serious eyes. There was no way he wouldn't forget about the hunting dog that left an unremovable scar on the back of his master's hand, even though he'd raised him ever since his childhood.
"Observe Raon Zieghart from now on."
Derus tore off the blood clot from the back of his hand and smiled coldly.
"Try to find the traces of an assassin that you've raised yourself."
"…Understood."
It was such an absurd order, as he was implying that Raon Zieghart was related to the shadow Raon, yet Martio didn't question him. His reaction was the exact same as that of a dog that simply obeys its master's order.
Derus put his glove back on with a frightening smile on his face.
"I already made the opportunity for you."
* * *
Raon returned to his room and changed into his formal suit.
Aren't you going to rest?
Wrath tilted his head, asking why he was changing clothes.
'There's going to be a welcoming ceremony.'
Hmph, humans always hold those annoying ceremonies. The King of Essence can't understand…
'There will be all kinds of food since it's a banquet.'
What are you waiting for?!
Wrath was snorting, but he was in front of the door before Raon realized with a frown on his face.
The King of Essence really loves banquets! Let's go already! The food is getting cold!
'It's not the time for it yet.'
Raon shook his head. He never thought he would get the impression that he could never get bored of watching the demon king.
"Haa."
Raon sighed deeply and lay on the bed.
'Wrath.'
Food time?
'It hasn't even been a minute yet…'
Although it hadn't even been a minute since Raon told him it wasn't time for the banquet, Wrath was already asking for food. Considering the way he was deceived by the last stew story earlier, Raon realized once again that Wrath was truly crazy for food.
'It's not because of that. You remember the king we saw today and my archenemy, right?"
Of course.
'Which one of the two is stronger?'
Derus must've been stronger judging from what Wrath had said, but Raon asked just in case.
The King of Essence can answer that question without any doubt. The thief that took away your lash dish is stronger.
'…I see.'
Raon frowned.
'He leaped into another realm.'
Derus used to be considered the weakest leader among the Six Kings twenty years ago. It was a natural course of action, since he was the youngest among them, but he seemed to have overcome that difference.
Raon was aware that he had an excellent talent despite his shitty personality, but he didn't expect him to catch up to another leader of the Six Kings despite the difference in the length of time they had lived.
Don't worry.
'Hmm?'
The King of Essence will open the path of your revenge.
Wrath patted his shoulder while looking like a frowning cotton candy.
It must've been his fault that you turned into a madman who can casually eat Nadine bread and ignore delicious food to train instead.
'Uhh…'
He wasn't exactly wrong. The reason he didn't care about the taste was because of the assassin training he went through.
The wrath from food is the King of Essence's wrath! He shall help you smack the thief's face!
'Huh.'
Food was all he was talking about at that point. Raon couldn't believe that he was the monarch of wrath.
'Are you planning to give me some stats or traits?'
No, that's not it…
'I thought so.'
Raon chuckled. There was no way Wrath would volunteer to give them up, not when he was stingy when it came to the stats and traits.
'Then what—'
When he was about to ask one more time, he was able to sense a small movement under the window. He turned his head and saw a juvenile squirrel in front of the window.
"A squirrel?"
He saw small animals like squirrels in the sword graveyard and the garden, but it was abnormal for a squirrel to approach a window because they were normally afraid of people.
Tap. Tap.
The squirrel tapped the window. It looked like it was asking him to open it.
'Is it someone's pet?'
He tried spreading his aura perception, but he couldn't feel any special energy from the squirrel.
'Did you just say you found some strange energy from that squirrel?'
It looks like an ordinary squirrel, but there's an extremely faint presence of mana inside. It's probably been tamed over a long period of time.
Wrath frowned, telling him that he couldn't tell for sure.
"Hmm…"
Raon placed his hand on the Blade of Requiem's hilt and walked up to the window. He opened the window while staying alert, planning on cutting it down if it did anything dangerous.
Tap.
The squirrel pushed itself into the small gap in the window and entered the room. It casually jumped down to the drawer located right underneath it.
"Who are you—?"
"Why did it take you so long?"
The squirrel was talking in the human language. Its speech was clear despite being awkward, and the tone reminded him of a certain person.
Raon's eyes widened as he looked at the squirrel's grin, which looked rather human.
"Merlin…?"