"Don't you want to?"
Raon tapped the scabbard of the Heavenly Drive while sticking close to Lawrence.
"What what?"
Lawrence tilted his head as he was about to bring the wine glass to his lips.
"I told you earlier. Let's have a sparring match after so long."
Raon shrugged his shoulders while looking at Lawrence.
"...Wasn't that a joke?"
Lawrence's hand holding the wine glass trembled as he let out a sigh.
"I don't joke about sparring."
Raon nodded emphatically, insisting he was completely serious.
"Hoo..."
Lawrence let out a long sigh as he put his wine glass down on the table.
"My appetite for wine is gone."
He muttered about feeling dizzy as he took a big bite of the roasted chicken leg on his plate.
"My appetite for food is gone too."
-If your appetite is gone, offer that chicken leg to this king!
Wrath gestured for Lawrence to hand over the roasted chicken leg he had set aside, saying it was perfect.
'We shouldn't take what belongs to others.'
Raon shook his head and went to get a roasted chicken leg from the buffet behind them.
-Huh...?
Wrath stared at Raon with bewildered eyes.
-You, you truly have no conscience! How dare those words come out of your mouth!
He shouted angrily again, as if his rage had reignited.
-They say conscience is originally shaped like a sharp triangle that stabs your chest whenever you do something wicked, but your conscience must have not only dulled but become as soft as those angel bastards' down feathers...
Raon stuffed the roasted chicken leg into Wrath's mouth to shut him up. The tender meat and savory chili sauce harmonized to burst happiness throughout his mouth.
-You filthy human... mm, delicious.
As soon as Wrath tasted the chicken leg, his furrowed brow relaxed and his cheeks flushed. Indeed, delicious food was the best way to quell the Demon King's anger.
"It hasn't even been a week since our last sparring match."
Lawrence frowned as he watched Raon chewing on the chicken leg.
"Your injuries probably haven't even healed yet, so what sparring are you talking about..."
"I'm all better."
Raon shook his head as he thumped his own chest.
"Don't lie! It wasn't just external injuries, your internal injuries were severe!"
Lawrence wrinkled his nose, saying he wasn't falling for it.
"It's true."
Rector approached Lawrence's side and lowered his eyes.
"I checked. Both his internal and external injuries have healed cleanly."
He jerked his chin, telling Lawrence to see for himself.
"H-how is that possible? He was coughing up black blood?"
Lawrence grabbed Raon's wrist, saying he couldn't believe it.
"Are you really all healed...?"
After checking Raon's physical condition himself, he gaped in shock.
"H-how is this..."
"I'm just a bit sturdy."
Raon grinned as he rolled his shoulders.
"That's beyond sturdy! Are you a troll or something?!"
Lawrence trembled his jaw, muttering that it was incomprehensible.
-It's not that this brat is impressive, it's because those sucker Demon Kings gave him so much!
Wrath snorted, saying Raon wasn't inherently great.
'Among them, the Demon King of Wrath gave the most.'
-Ugh, that's...
Unable to refute, he just shuddered his shoulders.
"Now that you've confirmed I'm fine, you'll spar with me, right?"
Raon pointed to the back of the training ground, saying they should start right away.
"Why are you so obsessed with sparring?! No matter how much of a genius you are, you couldn't have reached transcendence in a week! The result will be the same!"
Lawrence shook his head vigorously, saying it would be meaningless.
"The result may be the same, but it could be an opportunity for growth."
"An opportunity for growth? Come to think of it, you said you meditated, right?"
He narrowed his eyes as he looked at Raon.
"Yes. A little..."
"Not a little, but all day long, right?"
Martha shook her head as she stood behind Raon.
"Meditating all day long?"
"That's right. After sparring with you, he just meditated in the corner of the training ground day and night."
"Yeah. I thought he was sleeping sitting up."
Runaan nodded, following up on Martha's words.
"Why suddenly meditate? Did you learn how to meditate from that raccoon geezer?"
Lawrence pointed at Zalek, who was conversing with Dorian.
"No. I just found it easy to concentrate."
Raon calmly shook his head.
-Of course you could concentrate easily! Because you got that trait!
Wrath furrowed his brow, as if still upset thinking about it.
-You'll face divine punishment someday... mm, delicious.
Raon stuffed another remaining roasted chicken leg into Wrath's mouth to shut him up.
'Well, you're not wrong.'
Thanks to Forever Unrippled Mind, mental training had become easier. Originally, to practice mental imagery required concentration similar to actual combat. Even he, with his Focus trait, often failed, but after gaining Forever Unrippled Mind, his success rate increased significantly.
Though it wasn't for very long, by entering the mental world once a day to hone his swordsmanship, he was able to organize the sword principles he lacked and lay the foundation to advance further.
"You certainly look like you've gained something."
Lawrence twisted his lips as if disgusted.
"But not today! I feel like I've seen your face more than my own grandfather's!"
He shook his head, saying Raon's face had become more familiar than Rector's, whom he'd seen his whole life.
"Then to commemorate our familiarity, how about a sparring..."
"You leech! Get lost already!"
Lawrence threw his empty plate at Raon, who still wouldn't give up.
"He says just one match. Why don't you do it?"
Zalek caught the plate and wiggled his finger.
"You'll miss this noise later."
"You don't understand, old man. No, you do know! When I spar with this guy, it takes all night!"
Lawrence glared, saying absolutely not.
"Oh? Then would you spar with me for one round, Sir Zalek?"
Raon grinned and extended his hand to Zalek. He liked that there were masters everywhere in the Holy Sword Alliance.
"M-my back hurts a bit."
When it became about him, Zalek immediately refused, patting his curved back.
"Huh?"
Dorian tilted his head as he looked at Zalek.
"Master. Your back is fine right now, isn't it? You don't particularly need anything..."
"Shut your mouth!"
Zalek covered Dorian's Mind's Eye as he lowered his white eyebrows deeply.
"See! When it's about himself, he changes his tune!"
Lawrence snorted, saying he knew this would happen.
"Then how about you two each do one round?"
Raon licked his lips, still trying to get a sparring match.
"Ah! I-I didn't mention that."
Zalek let out a dry laugh as he blocked Raon's words.
"If the day comes when we face all-out war with the White Blood Religion, contact this boy."
He pointed at Lawrence after making eye contact with Raon and Martha.
"He says he'll definitely come help."
"The old man will help, but I won't."
Lawrence calmly shook his head.
"I have my own revenge to take, so I won't be helping, but fighting alongside you."
He revealed a solemn gaze as he spoke of avenging his mother, who had been his nanny.
"That's right."
Martha drew a faint smile as she looked into Lawrence's eyes. She seemed to empathize with him, having a common enemy in the Leader of the White Blood Religion.
"We'll definitely call you, so please come."
"Of course. And, ahem! If there are any other matters, you can call me too..."
Lawrence muttered that he would help if he felt like it, lowering his eyes.
"Thank you."
Raon bowed his head respectfully, feeling he understood Lawrence's heart.
-H-has the effect of the Tenacious Leech activated? Why is someone who had their blood sucked offering to help?!
Wrath ground his teeth, saying the title's effect was already working.
'That's probably not it.'
Raon shook his head as he saw the sincerity in Lawrence's eyes.
"I don't know what it is, but call us too!"
"We'll go anywhere to fight alongside you!"
The Demon Sword Lord and String Sword Lord, who had been sparring with him daily, raised their hands, saying they would definitely help.
"Hehe."
Rector drew a faint smile, as if pleased to see people gathering around Raon.
"Understood."
Raon nodded with a smile. He felt that the greatest treasure he gained from coming to the Holy Sword Alliance was not the growth in power and swordsmanship, but these people.
'The Five Demons weren't completely evil either.'
Thanks to them, he realized that not everyone in the Five Demons was evil.
'Of course, that bastard is an exception.'
Derus Robert. No matter what circumstances there might be, he would kill that evil demon who spread malice to the world by even summoning an Archangel, with his own hands. As Raon clenched his fist once again, vowing revenge, it was then.
-The food here is really... hm?
Wrath furrowed his brow as he was enjoying the smell of food.
"N-no way..."
Almost simultaneously, Rector swallowed dryly as he looked towards the entrance.
"Grandfather?"
Raon cautiously approached Rector's side.
"What's wrong..."
"Step back. No, leave this place!"
Rector waved his hand at Raon without even turning his gaze.
"Right now!"
He revealed distorted eyes as he shouted for them to leave this place.
"Why..."
Raon extended his Aura Perception as he stepped back following Rector's hand.
'Huh...?'
He sensed an indescribably massive aura coming from the entrance leading to the rocky mountain.
'This aura...'
It was powerful enough to remind him of Glenn, with a familiar quality emerging from the immense pressure.
"Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance?"
Though the size and flow of the aura had changed, the qualities of the former Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance were clear.
"Lawrence, Zalek!"
Rector called Lawrence and Zalek's names through gritted teeth.
"Take the children out through the back passage!"
He bit his lip as he mentioned a passage other than the rocky mountain.
"G-got it!"
Lawrence seemed to have sensed the former Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance's aura too, as he gestured to Raon's group with a trembling jaw.
"There's no time to explain! Hurry!"
He turned his back immediately, shouting for them to follow. But Raon didn't follow Lawrence and remained motionless.
'It's already too late.'
Just as he had seen the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance, the other had seen him too.
"Raon! What are you doing?! Hurry..."
"Where are you going?"
As Lawrence tried to grab Raon's arm to take him away, a split voice rang out from the center of the banquet hall. With a sharp gust of wind, a red-haired man descended. He wore a black eyepatch over his eyes and was dressed in tattered dragon robes. The Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance. The Sword Fanatic who was thought to be dead had returned.
'But that guy...'
Something was different. A strange softness had settled into the aura of the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance, which had previously contained only fighting spirit. Though the qualities were the same, he seemed to have become a different person.
"Darkan..."
Rector bit his lip as he called out the former Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance's name.
"It's been a while, Rector. Or should I call you Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance now?"
Darkan turned his head towards where Rector was standing, despite wearing a black eyepatch.
"You were alive?"
"Luckily so."
He drew a small smile, saying it was by a hair's breadth.
"Why appear only now?"
"My soul was torn apart to the brink of death, and I had things to think about. But..."
Darkan slowly turned his chin as he answered the question. He twisted his lips into a smile as he looked at Raon's group behind Lawrence.
"I'm not sure if this is the Holy Sword Alliance or Zieghart."
Darkan revealed a ghastly smile as he immediately recognized the identity of Raon's group in disguise.
"As I expected, you and that child are no ordinary acquaintances."
He muttered words suggesting he had been suspicious of the relationship between Raon and Rector.
"That's..."
"Ah, it's fine."
Darkan calmly waved his hand.
"You're the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance now, aren't you? By law, one can only sit in the leader's seat once. The leader doesn't need to explain his reasons to me."
"Do you truly mean that?"
Rector lowered his eyebrows as if he couldn't believe it.
"Of course. The swordsmanship received while sitting in the leader's seat was quite appealing, but it's meaningless now."
Darkan waved his hand, saying he really had no lingering attachment to the leader position.
"Because I have a new goal and prey."
A strange desire flashed within the black eyepatch he was wearing.
"You..."
Raon bit his lip as he stepped out in front of Lawrence.
"How are you alive?"
Even if others didn't know, the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance had been right in front of Glenn. He couldn't understand how he had survived.
"Raon Zieghart. Yes. An explanation would be meaningful to you."
Darkan was clearly already aware of his identity.
"Your head of house was greedy. He was aiming not just for me, but all the leaders of the Five Demons."
He continued speaking as he stroked his rocky jaw.
"If Glenn had used a completed Soul Sword or targeted only me, I would have died. But he thought too much about protecting you all. Thanks to that, I was able to survive, albeit in an ugly state."
"Ugly?"
"Yes. Seeing that beautiful Soul Sword, I thought I could die without regrets, but I also wanted to wield that sword with my own hands. So I barely managed to endure by tearing apart my own soul."
Darkan let out a viscous laugh, contrary to confessing his own ugliness.
"My soul was mercilessly torn apart, but I was able to survive. Even now, it's chilling to think about. A sword of the mind that cuts the soul! It was a realm I couldn't even imagine, being satisfied with Sword Control. I can only explain it as madness."
He burst into an eerie laugh, excessively excited as he drew out his words.
"Then your eyes..."
Raon bit his lip as he looked at the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance's black eyepatch. If he held a grudge over those eyes, he might not be able to leave alive today.
"No. That's not it."
Darkan firmly shook his head.
"As I recovered from the wounds to my soul, I kept recalling your head of house's sword. The Soul Sword that cuts the soul. I traversed the mental world countless times, imagining it. But no matter what I did, it wouldn't appear in my hands."
The more he spoke, an eerie chill began to creep up Raon's back.
"I went back to the beginning and thought again. An invisible sword. A sword that cuts the soul. A sword of the mind. It's a sword that can't be seen or grasped from the start. So..."
Darkan revealed a grotesque smile as he tore his lips.
"I plucked out my eyes."
He removed his black eyepatch. Indeed, as if he had torn them out raw, his two eyeballs had been roughly ripped out.
"Huk!"
"Ah..."
"Th-that..."
Even the swordsmen of the Holy Sword Alliance trembled their lips, as if plucking out one's eyes raw was appalling.
"Only then could I see it. What the Soul Sword is."
But Darkan smiled, saying it was a satisfactory result.
-I knew he was crazy from the start, but to this extent...
Wrath bit his lip, saying Darkan was quite revolting.
"But I couldn't reach the same level as your grandfather. That's why I'm very interested in you."
Darkan licked his lips as he looked at Raon.
"I think I can achieve the same result by studying you."
"Step back!"
"Raon! Come behind me!"
Lawrence and Zalek stepped in front of Raon, blocking Darkan's gaze.
"Ha..."
Darkan sighed as if his excitement had subsided and shook his head.
"Destruction technique and Mind's Eye. I have no business with you bastards."
He extended his hand as he let out a voice filled with killing intent. With a thunderous sound, Lawrence and Zalek couldn't withstand Darkan's massive aura and were slammed to the ground. Black blood spurted from their mouths.
"What I want is that child..."
"Then what about me?"
Rector cast a calm gaze as he stood in front of Raon.
"Surely you must have sensed my change as well?"
"Of course."
The corners of Darkan's mouth curled up again.
"Your growth is surprising even to me. It seems you've gained enlightenment in a different way than I have."
He nodded his head, smiling as if pleased.
"If I had remained in that position, I might have really been consumed."
Darkan raised his voice, saying he was excited.
"Shall we start right away then?"
As he wiggled his finger, the sword of the fallen Zalek was drawn and grasped in his hand.
"Grandfather!"
Raon couldn't help but call out to Rector.
"Didn't I tell you? I will protect you even if I die."
Rector turned to look at Raon and smiled as if to say it was alright.
"Grandfather, is it? That makes me want it even more."
Though Darkan's eyes were gone, his desire seemed not to have disappeared, but grown even more intense.
"I won't lose this time."
Rector stood before Darkan with his sword drawn.
"Good. Satisfy me."
Darkan tilted his chin up with the sword resting on his shoulder. The moment Rector and Darkan's breaths stopped, their swords extended simultaneously with a defeaning clash.