"So..."
Roan crouched down and wiggled his finger at Dorian.
"You're saying you can predict where I'm going to attack?"
"Well, rather than predicting, it's more like I can read the direction,"
Dorian sat down opposite Raon and briefly smacked his lips.
"It doesn't feel good to hear that my attacks can be read,"
Raon furrowed his brow deeply as he looked at Dorian.
"I-I'm not disrespecting you, Raon! It's really true!"
Dorian shook his head vigorously, insisting that he could really see where the sword was coming from.
"Well, I saw it myself, so I can't not believe it."
Raon clicked his tongue as he examined the Heavenly Drive.
'He blocked sword strikes that should have been impossible for Dorian to see with his current skill level.'
Raon had tried a series of sword strikes that should have been beyond Dorian's perception, but he had blocked them all as if reading Raon's mind. They say coincidences don't happen three times, so it really seemed like Dorian could read his sword strikes.
"So how did you get this ability?"
"I-I'm not really sure myself."
Dorian shrugged, saying he was curious about it too.
"I just learned about the truth of supply from my master and meditated, but I don't know why this happened..."
He shook his head, saying he hadn't learned any swordsmanship at all.
"Really?"
"Yes! If I hadn't practiced during my breaks, my skills would have deteriorated completely!"
"...Does that make any sense?"
Raon let out a sigh as he looked at Dorian's wide-eyed expression.
-That ability is called Mind's Eye or telepathy.
Wrath's lips moved slightly as he looked at Dorian.
'Mind's Eye?'
Raon wasn't familiar with telepathy, but he had heard of Mind's Eye. It was a special ability to read an opponent's thoughts with the mind's eye.
-Even I didn't know, but it seems your wallet had a hidden talent for Mind's Eye.
Wrath scratched his forehead, saying it was a strange thing.
'Wait, then yesterday when he took out the necessary items without me saying anything...'
-That's right. That ability arose as his Mind's Eye awakened. It's ridiculous.
Though it seemed the order of events was quite mixed up, Wrath nodded, saying it was clear.
"Dorian..."
Raon nodded slightly at Dorian, who still seemed dazed.
"Didn't you gain this ability after you started knowing what items other people needed?"
"Uh..."
Dorian blinked blankly before nodding.
"Now that you mention it, I think so. When I started understanding my master's intentions, he told me to go back, saying I wouldn't get beaten to death anywhere now."
He scratched his cheek, saying he didn't understand at first, but now he thought he did.
"Are you an idiot...?"
Raon let out a hollow laugh as he looked at Dorian. It was ridiculous that Dorian only now realized his own ability despite all the hints he'd been given.
"Actually, blocking swords isn't that important to me! Being able to take out essential items at just the right moment is much more important!"
Dorian shook his head, saying he preferred being able to give people the items they needed.
"No, you're a swordsman..."
Raon sighed, his shoulders drooping.
"But I'm a supply officer?"
Dorian blinked, as if asking what Raon was talking about.
"Huh?"
"Eh?"
"You're a swordsman before you're a supply officer!"
Unable to hold back, Raon flicked Dorian's forehead.
"Whoa..."
Dorian seemed to use his Mind's Eye again, leaning back to dodge the flick. It was exasperating how he could use it so well while claiming supply was more important.
"Where to!"
Raon frowned and kicked at Dorian's ankle.
"Oof!"
Dorian finally lost his balance and fell to the ground.
"Ugh..."
"Your evasion skills have improved uselessly."
Raon looked down at Dorian with a frown.
"I knew you'd aim for my legs... Ah! Here!"
Dorian was rubbing his back in pain when he suddenly pulled out cold water from his pouch and offered it.
"Hah..."
Raon let out a hollow laugh as he took the water from Dorian. He had wanted to drink some cool water because the situation was confusing, and it seemed Dorian had read that at that moment.
"Doesn't this suit you better than fighting?"
"That's what I've been saying."
Dorian scratched his head and grinned. He seemed genuinely happier providing supplies at the right time than fighting.
"My master also said that fighting doesn't suit me."
"I think I need to meet your master."
Raon licked his lips as he looked at Dorian.
"My master?"
"He took care of my subordinate, so I should express my gratitude."
Even Wrath and Glenn didn't know that Dorian had the talent for Mind's Eye. Raon wanted to meet him in person to see what kind of person he was.
-Don't make me laugh! It's not gratitude, you're going to challenge him to a duel!
Wrath snorted, saying it was obvious.
'You know me too well.'
Raon nodded with a smile. Until now, he hadn't sought out Zalek for fear of interfering with Dorian's training, but now that he understood the situation, he wanted to spar with him.
"Really?"
Dorian jumped up, his face flushed.
"He's really a great person! He read my thoughts and took care of everything for me!"
He beamed, clearly happy at the prospect of seeing his master again.
'So this master also has the Mind's Eye.'
Well, that would make sense. Zalek had chosen Dorian from the start, leaving behind Burren, Martha, and Runaan. He must have recognized Dorian's talent because he had the Mind's Eye himself.
"Then, please lead the way."
Raon nodded after gulping down the water Dorian had given him.
"Yes!"
Dorian nodded and sprang to his feet. He seemed happy to be going to meet his master.
-Ah, this won't do!
Wrath, who had been floating absentmindedly in the air, suddenly blocked Dorian's path.
-You're taking an unshakeable leech to your master!
He waved his hands frantically, but of course, Dorian couldn't see him and walked out onto the street.
-Your master's blood will be sucked dry!
Wrath's wail echoed emptily in the deserted training ground.
* * *
Dorian stopped in front of a small cabin by a quiet lake. Like Lawrence's cave, it seemed isolated from the village and not easy to find.
"Master!"
Dorian knocked on the cabin door with a bright smile.
"Didn't I tell you not to call me master! And why did you come back when I told you to leave!"
The old, worn door of the cabin opened, and an old man with a full white beard walked out.
'Is that Zalek?'
Though his back was hunched, he was generally short in stature. Not just his beard, but his eyebrows and hair were also white, and his round face made him look like an aged raccoon.
'Is this really... a Grandmaster?'
Zalek's martial prowess was at the peak of Grandmaster level. Though he hadn't reached transcendence, it should have been a level Raon could defeat, but strangely, he didn't feel confident about winning.
-What an unusual old man.
Wrath licked his lips with interest and perched on top of Raon's head.
"You are..."
Zalek raised an eyebrow as he looked at Raon standing behind Dorian.
"I'm Raon Zieghart. I came to express my gratitude for taking care of my subordinate."
Raon bowed his head, revealing his identity since Rector had said Zalek was trustworthy.
"This is a small gift, if you'll accept it."
Raon took out a wooden box containing an elixir and offered it to Zalek.
"Gratitude?"
Zalek let out a hollow laugh and tilted his chin.
"Do young people these days express gratitude with a glint of competitiveness in their eyes?"
He approached Raon, leaning on the cane he had left standing in front of the cabin.
"So this is why the Alliance Leader boasted so much about his grandson."
Zalek nodded as he looked Raon up and down.
"You're truly a bundle of talent. But it's not innate talent, it's cultivated talent."
He shook his long eyebrows, saying it was unbelievable now that he saw properly.
"Your eyes are unusual too. You were born with Human Sight, but now both Heavenly Sight and Demonic Sight dwell within them."
"Are you talking about my eyes?"
"They say the eyes are the mirror of the soul. Just by looking at someone's eyes, you can tell what kind of person they are and how they'll live."
Zalek stroked his beard as he spoke these mysterious words.
"Zalek, you..."
Raon began, looking into Zalek's calm eyes.
"Do you have the Mind's Eye?"
"You knew about the Mind's Eye?"
Zalek raised his chin slightly, seeming surprised.
"I've only heard the name."
"It's called the Mind's Eye, but it's not as impressive as actually reading minds. It's more of a protective ability, you could say."
He chuckled softly, saying it was like a hedgehog's quills.
"Master. Please sit down."
Dorian approached Zalek eagerly, offering him a wooden chair and a steaming cup of tea.
"Alright."
Surprisingly, Zalek didn't refuse Dorian's gesture and sat down, sipping the tea.
"Raon, here you go."
Dorian took out the box of bead ice cream that was left over from what he had given to Runaan yesterday.
"Huh...?"
"Don't you need this?"
"Not really?"
Raon shook his head firmly.
-I do! I need it!
Wrath nodded vigorously as he sprang up.
-It really is telepathy! It worked because I kept thinking about wanting to eat it!
He shouted triumphantly. It seemed he had been clinging to Raon's head with this in mind.
"It's fine."
Raon lowered his hand, telling Dorian to put it away.
-Noooo!
Wrath let out a scream of protest.
-If you refuse that, I'll keep interfering with your sparring from today on! I won't let you sleep either!
'Ugh...'
Raon let out a long sigh and accepted the box of bead ice cream from Dorian.
"Thanks..."
"It's nothing!"
Dorian beamed, seemingly happy that his judgment wasn't wrong.
"Now, tell me your real intention."
Zalek nodded as he put down his empty teacup.
"I'd like to experience what a real Mind's Eye is like."
Raon bowed his head to Zalek.
"May I request a sparring match?"
If even Dorian's naive Mind's Eye could block his sword, he was curious about how he'd fare against a true master of the Mind's Eye. Moreover, Zalek was the second strongest martial artist he'd met since coming to the Holy Sword Alliance, so he really wanted to face him properly.
"I heard you have a talent for learning other people's martial arts."
Zalek raised his nearly closed eyelids.
"The Mind's Eye will be difficult. This is..."
He looked at Dorian, who was humming while pulling weeds.
"It's a talent that only kind and timid folks can possess. Like that boy over there."
Zalek shook his head, telling Raon not to think about acquiring the Mind's Eye.
"Then, are you also timid, Zalek?"
"Of course. I was both timid and weak. I took that boy with me because he reminded me of myself in my youth."
He laughed, saying Dorian was exactly like him when he was young.
"Then that works out well."
Raon nodded calmly.
"I'm also timid and kind."
He said this with a grin.
-Huh...?
"What?"
Wrath, who had been drooling over the ice cream, and Dorian, who had been pulling weeds, both widened their eyes simultaneously. Drool dripped from both their mouths.
-What nonsense are you spouting!
"What crazy thing are you saying!"
* * *
Srrng. Raon stood facing Zalek and raised the Heavenly Drive to an upper stance.
"You're full of thoughts about devouring me."
Zalek chuckled as he drew a sword from the cane he had been leaning on.
"Let's see just how good this continent's best talent your grandfather boasts about really is!"
He spoke as if waiting for Raon to attack first, but then he kicked off the ground. As Raon had been noticing, Zalek's words and actions were completely opposite. Whoosh! Zalek's footwork was as leisurely as if he were riding a cloud, but his speed was as fast as lightning. In the blink of an eye, he had approached Raon's right side. Clang!
Raon turned his left ankle and unleashed the Blizzard Sword Art, imbued with Heavy Sword and Strong Sword techniques, towards Zalek. Blue cold energy that seemed to press down on space itself bloomed from the tip of his sword.
"Hmm!"
As if he had foreseen the Blizzard Sword Art, Zalek gently twisted his wrist and split the heavy cold energy. Clang! The moment the Heavenly Drive was deflected, Raon used the recoil to draw the Revolving Sky, imbued with the subtleties of Quick Sword and Thunder Sword. A rotating flame, like a windmill, dropped towards Zalek's right arm.
"Your reactions are quick."
As if reading his own sword path, Zalek extended his cane sword and struck the center of the Heavenly Drive. Clang! The Heavenly Drive was pushed back, leaving only flames behind, and hit the ground. It was unbelievable that Raon was pushed back despite attacking first. Thud!
Raon used the Supreme Harmony Steps to move behind Zalek's back. Scraping the ground, he unleashed the Flame and Ice Unification with the Heavenly Drive.
Whoosh! A wave of bright red flames enveloped Zalek's entire body.
"Even if it looks like a wave, it's still just a sword strike in the end."
Without a hint of panic, Zalek stabbed the upper and middle sections five times each with his cane sword. Bang! As blue light flashed from his sword strikes, the wave of the Flame and Ice Unification subsided, and the flames scattered into the air.
"Phew..."
Raon exhaled softly and lowered his gaze.
'It's different from fighting Lawrence. It feels like I'm fighting an old rival who knows me well.'
If Lawrence erased Raon's sword strikes like an eraser, Zalek felt like he was solving all of Raon's problems by looking at an answer sheet. It was similar, yet completely different.
'This is interesting.'
Raon pushed off the ground with a deep smile. He charged forward, infusing the Heavenly Drive with Quick Sword, Wind Sword, and Thunder Sword. Unlike when sparring with Dorian, he put in his full power, causing the Heavenly Drive to extend like a red flash. Clang!
Zalek blocked the center of the Heavenly Drive as it struck down like lightning, while aiming for Raon's abdomen with the back of his cane sword. His movement was as natural as a single, flowing picture.
'Abdomen? No...'
This is aimed at the chest. Was it because he was fighting Zalek, who possessed the Mind's Eye? It seemed Raon could read where Zalek was aiming. Clang! He erected a small Fire Wall to block Zalek's sword strike.
"Oh?"
Zalek furrowed his brow in surprise as he swung his sword. His cane sword bent strangely and thrust towards Raon's shoulder.
'This time it's the waist.'
Raon read the true information from Zalek's gaze, the movement of his sword, and the ripples in the air. It felt like the numerous sparring matches he'd had at the Holy Sword Alliance were giving him the answers. Clang! Drawing a semicircle with the Heavenly Drive, he deflected Zalek's sword that was digging into his waist.
'It's like playing chess.'
It didn't feel like a battle of martial prowess, but rather a battle of moves like chess. Excitement welled up inside him, and he found himself smiling naturally.
"Let's go faster!"
Raon grinned as he charged straight at Zalek. Clang! Zalek raised his right eyebrow as he blocked Raon's sword strikes that seemed to have a pattern yet were unpredictable.
'What's this...?'
When he first saw Raon, there was clearly no talent for the Mind's Eye at all. But now, Raon seemed to have awakened the Mind's Eye, reading Zalek's psychology and engaging in a battle of wits.
"What are you..."
Zalek tilted his head with a look of disbelief.
"How did you awaken the Mind's Eye!"
"Rather than the Mind's Eye..."
Raon calmly shook his head as he deflected Zalek's cane sword that was aiming for his thigh.
"It's intuition. I'm quite perceptive, you see."
-Damn it! Is that something that should come out of your mouth!