Raon stood up as he watched Glenn leave the audience chamber.
'Where is he going?'
Glenn left the audience chamber abruptly without issuing any punishment to Karoon. It was a situation no one had expected.
'Is he planning to issue a different punishment than what I thought?'
He had predicted that Glenn would suspend Karoon and close the Central Martial Palace.
Additionally, perhaps redirecting the achievements and funds of the Central Martial Palace to the Light Wind division.
Karoon was closest to being the successor and was practically the head of the direct lineage, so that should be enough.
But Glenn left the audience chamber, emanating a tyrannical aura as if he had no intention of ending it like that. It was enough to make even me, who had nothing to do with the punishment, shudder.
"Kuu..."
Karoon bit his lip and turned his gaze. His eyes, glaring at Judiel and Jubel in turn, were as chilling as if they were coated with blades.
"Wait. This won't end like this."
He threw out just two words and left the audience chamber following Glenn. Though his expression showed no composure, his steps were steady and dignified.
Raon narrowed his eyes as he watched Karoon's composed gait until the end.
'I wonder how long he'll remain so dignified.'
From the beginning, I had no intention of dismissing Karoon here.
Even if Glenn punishes Karoon, I should be the one to see his end. Punishment is punishment, and personal revenge is separate.
Karoon and the Central Martial Palace, who toyed with Judiel and Jubel's lives and threatened the annex, will be brought to their knees directly by my forces and martial prowess.
"I wonder if we'll be clearing away a corpse today."
Alice scratched her sunset-colored hair vigorously and followed after Glenn.
"The Head of House is thoroughly angry."
Rimmer approached from the side and chuckled.
"It won't end easily."
"Surely he's not going to the training ground?"
Raon raised his head towards Rimmer. After hearing Alice and Rimmer's words, he could predict where Glenn was heading.
"That's right. He just declared he'd beat his son with his own hands."
He lightly swung his fist.
"He's not one to speak lightly, so this could be quite dangerous."
Rimmer patted his shoulder and left the audience chamber.
"Is the Head of House going to wield a sword himself...?"
"Qu-quickly, let's follow!"
"To think such a thing would happen..."
"These days, incidents never seem to end."
The direct lineage members and executives also ran out with pale expressions.
"Get up."
Raon grabbed the arms of Judiel and Jubel, who were still kneeling in confusion, and helped them stand.
"We should go too."
"Wi-will it be alright?"
Jubel's lips trembled, seemingly flustered by the situation that had grown too big.
"If any problems arise for the Young Master because of this..."
Judiel's lips were also pale blue, seemingly worried.
"Worry about me later, let's move for now."
Raon patted their heads and walked forward.
"We can't miss the sight of the guy who ruined your lives getting a good beating. Let's watch from the front row."
* * *
Glenn slowly closed his eyes as he walked towards the training ground built behind the Lord's Manor.
'It's all my fault.'
Karoon's personality had been ruined like that because he hadn't reined him in at the right time.
When Alice and Karoon were young, he had given them everything they wanted, and when it was time to properly guide them, he was too busy controlling himself, lost in demonic arts.
It wasn't wrong to say that he had raised his children in a dung field, as Ogram had said, since he had missed the most crucial period for education.
Alice had managed to break away from the family and carve out her own life thanks to her free-spirited nature, but Karoon was different.
He took on even the tasks that Alice should have done, building trust, while behind the scenes, unseen by anyone, he didn't hesitate to do dirty and ugly things.
Until now, even knowing this, he hadn't touched Karoon. It was difficult to change him, and it seemed ridiculous for him, who had made Karoon that way, to try to control him.
Honestly, he thought it wasn't bad to have someone like Karoon in this chaotic world.
'But...'
This time, it was too much.
Bringing innocent children, raising them as spies and assassins, and using them as disposable pawns that could be thrown away at any time - it was intolerable.
He was especially angry that Raon and his maid had experienced this. It wasn't something that could be overlooked with a moderate punishment as usual.
"Huu..."
Standing in the center of the training ground, he turned around. Karoon stood opposite him, grinding his molars, while Alice and the other executives had retreated to the edges, swallowing dry saliva.
Usually, he would have sent all the executives away out of consideration for Karoon's honor, but this time he said nothing, thinking it would be better to do this in front of everyone.
Glenn inwardly apologized to Raon, Judiel, and Jubel who had arrived late, then turned his gaze to Karoon.
"Karoon Zieghart."
He stepped forward, calling Karoon's name rather than his title as Central Martial Palace Master.
"Yes, Head of House."
Karoon bowed his head, addressing him as Head of House rather than father.
"For a person to live as a human, there's a line that must be kept."
As Glenn lightly waved his hand, a thin line was etched on the ground between him and Karoon. It was neither thick nor thin, but a clearly visible line.
"Whether one crosses this line or not determines if they remain human or become a demon."
"..."
Karoon silently stared at the line etched on the ground.
"Distinguishing that line is easy. Because one knows better than anyone else whether they should cross it or not."
Glenn frowned as he brushed his hair back.
"This time, no, even before that, you crossed this line."
He stood in front of the line drawn on the ground, looking down at Karoon.
"Even if you had killed those children for your needs, I wouldn't have said much. Even if you had killed a member of our family based on your judgment, I would have let it slide. Even if you had kidnapped a martial artist from another faction, I would have covered it up. Because all of those don't cross the line of humanity. However..."
As Glenn clenched his fist, the entire training ground shook and the line drawn on the ground snapped.
"You toyed with and mocked people's lives. You committed acts that only gods or demons should do, with a human body."
He pulled up his long robe and drew the Heavenly Tremor. An immense aura rose as if shaking heaven and earth, and crimson lightning flashed around.
"I'd like to end it here, but since I'm also at fault for not teaching you properly, I'll give you a chance."
Glenn lightly traced his sword, and a new line was etched on the training ground floor. It was thinner and longer than before.
"If you can cross this line even by one step, I'll let this pass without any punishment. I'll make sure no one questions it."
He lowered the Heavenly Tremor as he said those words.
"Are you serious?"
Karoon gritted his teeth as he looked at Glenn.
"I am not one to say one thing and mean another. If you're ready, draw your sword."
Glenn looked around at the executives nearby, as if to show he would keep his word.
Srring.
Karoon bit his lip as he drew his sword. He immediately raised his willpower and astral ring, as if not to miss this opportunity.
"Give it your all. If not..."
Glenn raised the Heavenly Tremor. He brought down the sword that was raised as if to pierce the sky.
"You'll die."
The moment the aura flashed on the sword's edge, crimson lightning struck in front of Karoon.
Kuwaaaaaaang!
* * *
Raon used his Evil Eye of Wrath to peer through the lightning that blocked his view.
Kwaang!
Karoon was thrown backwards, unable to control his body, and the astral ring he had been operating was torn apart like a rag.
"Uuuugk..."
Karoon trembled as he wiped the blood flowing from his mouth. He had suffered internal injuries just from blocking a single strike.
"Merely."
Glenn turned his head while swinging the Heavenly Tremor crackling with lightning.
"You toyed with others' lives with merely that level of skill?"
"Hreup!"
Karoon inhaled sharply as he stepped to the right, away from Glenn.
He extended his sword strike towards the lightning ahead. Within his noble yet disciplined sword technique, the rising astral ring pierced through the wall of lightning.
Chiiiiing.
Just as he was about to cross the line etched on the floor with his advancing momentum, Glenn raised a light sword technique as if chasing a butterfly.
Lightning stemming from the sword's edge shattered Karoon's sword strike and pressed down on him.
Kuwaaaaaaang!
The shield of the astral ring surrounding Karoon's entire body was crushed, and he rolled on the ground like a kicked ball.
"Keuhheuk!"
Karoon coughed up blood as he looked at the unperturbed line on the ground.
"Karoon."
Glenn lowered the Heavenly Tremor and exhaled softly.
"You had talent in martial arts. If you had used your time for martial arts, you would have been in a higher place than Alice is now."
Glenn struck Karoon not only with his sword but also with his words.
"I just wanted to become the Head of House!"
Karoon gritted his teeth and stood up. His teeth appeared all red due to the blood.
"You could have become it. Alice wasn't interested in the position of Head of House, so if you had reached the same level as her, you would have become the successor. But you were looking elsewhere instead of at yourself. You've only achieved this level because you headed towards evil, leaving aside the closest path."
Glenn frowned as he met Karoon's wavering eyes.
"A wrong path can be retraced, but you've stepped into black mud. It can't be undone even if you regret it."
"Keuuk..."
"Stand up. What you've done can't be forgiven with just this much."
He flicked his finger with a cold gaze, as if looking at an enemy rather than a son.
"Because we haven't even started yet."
A low voice and lightning struck simultaneously.
"Iik!"
Karoon rolled on the ground to avoid the lightning. But Glenn's lightning twisted like a spiral as if alive, striking Karoon's waist.
Kuwaaaaaaang!
Karoon's body trembled, his waist bent like a nail hit by a hammer. Blood streamed from his mouth and waist.
Raon's fingertips trembled as he watched this scene.
'He's serious.'
Karoon had suffered internal injuries worse than his external ones.
His entire mana circuit was damaged, and his energy center had received a severe shock. Even if they stopped here, he would need several months of recovery.
"Huuk..."
Despite being in a state where he should have remained lying down, Karoon stood up again in front of Glenn.
Though an ugly human being, his pride was at least admirable.
"Kuaaaaaa!"
He screamed as he charged forward. Despite bleeding from his entire body due to ruptured muscles and mana circuits, he thrust his sword forward. A massive current like a wave rose from the sword's edge.
It was a transcendent sword technique that even I couldn't block if I gave it my all now.
But Glenn remained unshaken even as he saw this sword technique.
He raised the Heavenly Tremor with a calm gaze, as if he were merely sipping tea.
There was no intense lightning like before. Pure swordsmanship. A solemn sword technique, neither flashy nor heavy, ascended towards the sky.
Jeoeoeoeoeoek!
Karoon's sword strike was shattered, and his sword broke into pieces like glass. Bright red blood spurted from his chest as his eyes widened in disbelief.
Raon swallowed hard as he watched Glenn's sword technique.
'It's the Azure Sky Sword.'
And it's a form I haven't mastered yet.
Right now, Glenn didn't use his usual lightning swordsmanship, but broke Karoon's sword with the Azure Sky Sword technique he had taught me.
He probably wasn't trying to teach a lesson in the midst of this, but a small realization stimulated my mind.
"Keheuk..."
Karoon fell to his knees, gasping for breath as if he would die soon.
'Not yet.'
Raon narrowed his brows as he looked at Karoon.
'Get up quickly.'
It's not that he wanted Karoon to die.
He wanted to see more of Glenn's sword techniques. It was more educational than direct dueling, so it would be too disappointing if it ended like this.
-You're truly insane...
Wrath shook his head as if disgusted.
-Even in this situation, you're thinking about training!
He messed up his hair, begging Raon to control himself.
Raon ignored Wrath's hand and looked at Karoon, who had stood up again.
He exploded his astral ring and ran towards the line, but was struck by another form of the Azure Sky Sword and collapsed like a scarecrow with broken legs.
"Keueueuuk..."
Karoon, now seemingly unable to bear the pain, clutched his wounds and let out a feverish groan. He bit his lip until it bled as he looked at the line on the ground that seemed so far away.
"Karoon Zieghart."
Glenn stood in front of the line that had despaired Karoon and shook his head.
"You toyed with others' lives when you can't even cross this line?"
"..."
Karoon couldn't answer and lowered his head. He seemed dazed from losing too much blood.
"Bring everything you've created and all the deeds you've done."
"... Y-yes, I understand."
Karoon nodded while coughing up blood. Seeing the blackened blood, it seemed his internal injuries had worsened severely.
"Denier, Balder."
"Yes."
Denier and Balder swallowed hard and stood before Glenn.
"Mobilize the Wise Martial Palace and True Martial Palace to search the entire Central Martial Palace. Investigate everything, don't miss even the smallest detail."
"Understood."
"Yes!"
The two quickly responded and bowed their heads.
"From now on, seal off the Central Martial Palace, and Karoon Zieghart is suspended. I won't set a time limit."
Not setting a time limit meant it could last for life.
"...Understood."
Despite his deathly pale expression, Karoon straightened his back and bowed his head. To stand up in that state, his endurance was comparable to mine.
"And."
Glenn sheathed the Heavenly Tremor and lowered his gaze.
"Bring all those you've toyed with and apologize to them directly."
"Keuhu..."
Karoon bit his lip, unable to respond.
"If you don't like it, there's another choice. Of course..."
"I'll do it."
He bowed his head, seemingly realizing what the other choice might be.
Raon narrowed his eyes as he assessed Karoon's condition.
'He's on the verge of death.'
Glenn had ordered an indefinite suspension for Karoon, but even without that, it seemed he wouldn't be able to stand on his own for a long time.
"We are not the Five Demons, but the Six Kings. Keep the minimum line that allows a human to remain human."
"Keuhu..."
Karoon closed his eyes and collapsed, unable to even respond to Glenn's final words. But his last groan sounded almost like a sneer.
"Take him away."
At Glenn's gesture, the martial artists waiting nearby carried Karoon and ran out of the training ground.
"All of you, remember this as well."
He shook his head as he looked at each of the executives in turn. He kept telling them to maintain the line, as if fearing something.
"Sure enough, incidents happen when you come."
As Raon was quietly watching Glenn, Rimmer approached.
"Pardon?"
"As soon as I heard you were coming, the sky darkened. I knew some incident would happen, though not to this extent."
He pointed at the sky, curling his lips.
"So it's just the right day."
Rimmer chuckled and stood in front of Glenn, who was about to turn away.
"I have something to say to the Head of House."
"What is it?"
Glenn turned back to face Rimmer.
"To be honest, I've been thinking a lot. Whether it's my greed or my wish. But after seeing today's events, I'm certain. I think it's time to pass it on."
Rimmer knelt down and placed his prosthetic hand on his left chest.
"As of today, I'm stepping down from the position of Light Wind Division Leader..."
He met Glenn's red eyes with a gaze full of certainty.
"I recommend Raon Zieghart as the Light Wind Division Leader."