30 minutes before Raon's return to Zieghart.
"Haah..."
Glenn let out such a deep sigh it seemed the ground might cave in.
'When is Raon going to return?'
It had been over a month and a half since Raon left Zieghart. Normally, Glenn would have waited patiently for Raon's return, but the swordsmen of the house were accumulating tablets at an unexpectedly rapid pace.
They seemed to be holding off on completing missions, then resolving them all at once to rack up massive achievements, making it possible that Raon might be eliminated from the successor candidates at this rate. (E/N: I still feel like this makes no sense. 1 month of achievement = several years worth for Raon = dozens of years worth for Karoon/etc?)
"Ngh..."
Glenn pressed his lips tightly and began shaking his left leg. Rumble! His anxious willpower spread through his leg, causing strong vibrations throughout not just the Lord's Manor, but all of Zieghart.
"Heh heh heh..."
Roenn entered the audience chamber with a quiet laugh.
"You've started again today, I see."
He nodded as if he had expected this.
"Though you did manage to hold out a bit longer than usual today."
Sheryl sighed as she looked at Glenn's leg.
"This is ominous..."
Glenn furrowed his brows deeply, muttering that something unexpected might happen.
"Surely he won't return without achieving anything?"
He began shaking both legs simultaneously, as if imagining a scenario where Raon failed to even qualify as a successor candidate. Rumble! Dust fell from the audience chamber's ceiling, and screams of swordsmen could be heard from outside the Lord's Manor.
"I would have given him a tablet even for the minor achievement of catching some wanted criminals..."
Glenn bit his lip hard, growing impatient enough to consider cheating.
"That won't do!"
Sheryl rushed to the platform and waved her hands.
"You know how hard the swordsmen, including the Central and True Martial Palace Masters, have been working to build their achievements!"
She shook her head, saying that while she too liked Raon, such favoritism wasn't acceptable.
"I know. I was just saying..."
Glenn waved his hand, claiming it was a joke, but his complexion remained pale.
"That didn't sound much like a joke."
Roenn laughed dryly while brushing away the dust that had fallen from the ceiling.
"Don't worry too much. I'm sure Lord Raon will bring good news."
He nodded, suggesting that he knew Raon better than anyone.
"That may be true, but time is running out. If Raon doesn't return soon..."
Glenn looked out the window, deeply furrowing his brows.
"He really might not make it as a successor candidate."
He frowned, speaking of monsters who moved only to accumulate achievements, neither sleeping nor eating.
"R-really?"
"Hmm..."
Sheryl and Roenn gaped in shock, apparently never having considered that Raon might not even make it into the top five successor candidates.
"This test was created to select successor candidates while developing the swordsmen's martial prowess and mental strength, but it caught fire beyond my expectations."
Glenn let out a short sigh.
'It's certainly a good thing, but I can't be happy about it because of that kid Raon.'
The swordsmen were accumulating achievements both inside and outside the house, not wanting to miss their only chance to become successor. While this was certainly what he had wanted, as the moment approached when Raon might be eliminated from the successor candidates, an ominous feeling ran down his spine.
'Wait. The swordsmen started moving so actively because of Raon too.'
While most had given up on becoming head of house, most of the family's swordsmen participated in the successor candidate test because of Raon's advice that participating would be beneficial no matter what. Come to think of it, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Raon had brought this crisis upon himself.
"What are you doing! Quickly, call Raon!"
"I'll try to contact him."
Sheryl and Roenn also called out Raon's name, their chins trembling as if sensing something ominous.
"That won't do."
Glenn shook his head with difficulty.
"I told Raon that I believed in him. What would that make me if I called for him now?"
He bit his lip, saying that although it was difficult, enduring was the only option.
"Hmm!"
"Heh heh heh..."
Sheryl and Roenn also began shaking their legs like Glenn, worried about Raon.
"Ahhhhh!"
"W-what! The earthquake is worse than usual!"
"The ground is splitting! Everyone run!"
As cracks formed in the frozen ground and buildings shook violently, the swordsmen fled screaming. Rumble! Just as Glenn, Sheryl, and Roenn were splitting the earth in half while exhaling murky sighs like cigarette smoke, the audience chamber door creaked open and Shadow Agents' Leader Chad entered.
"L-Lord. The Light Wind Palace Master is returning, they say."
Chad bowed his head, saying that Raon was currently passing through the gates and heading to the main building.
"Raon? Why are you only telling me this now!"
Glenn's expression twisted sharply.
"I-I only just found out myself. It seems he traveled using Evelyn's magic, so he wasn't caught by our information network."
He fidgeted with his fingers, saying he had come as soon as he heard the news.
"Is there anything wrong with Raon?"
"There's no problem, but they say he's coming with three people we haven't seen before."
Chad lowered his eyebrows, saying these were people who didn't exist in the Shadow Agents' information network.
"People we haven't seen before..."
Glenn placed his hand on the armrest and licked his lips.
"I don't care if they're wanted criminals, martial artists from prestigious families who'll help with the war, or reclusive masters!"
He nodded while tightly clenching both fists.
"Let them be people who can help Raon build achievements!"
Glenn clasped his hands together in prayer, hoping they weren't just ordinary people.
"Please!"
***
"G-Grandfather!"
Raon called out Glenn's favorite title as he saw the man's soul trying to leave his body.
"Hup!"
At the word "grandfather," Glenn seemed to come to his senses, taking a sharp breath and swallowing back his escaping soul. The light returned to his previously empty eyes.
"Are you alright?"
Raon looked at Glenn with worried eyes.
-That old geezer. He really almost left this world!
Wrath trembled his chin, saying humanity's greatest combat force had almost ridiculously disappeared.
-How can an old man with such strong martial prowess be so weak-hearted!
He frowned, saying he couldn't understand why Glenn became so weak in front of his grandson.
'To think he almost ascended...'
Raon blinked blankly.
'Was he really that shocked?'
Though he knew Glenn would be surprised, he hadn't expected such an extreme reaction. His own heart felt like it might jump out of his chest from the shock.
"I-I'm fine. So..."
Glenn swallowed dryly as he looked at the Blade Queen standing to his left.
"The first person is Senior Blade Queen, the second is Senior Warlord, and the third is an Ancient Dragon of the Gold clan, is that correct?"
He blinked several times as if unable to believe his own words.
"That's correct."
Raon nodded calmly.
"The Blade Queen and the Warlord..."
Karoon narrowed his eyes as if probing the aura of the two Transcendents.
"It really is true."
He pressed his lips tightly as he sensed the aura the Blade Queen and Warlord were concealing.
"T-the Blade Queen and the Warlord? Weren't they both dead?"
Balder's jaw dropped so far his tongue nearly fell out.
"We thought they had already passed away since there was no trace of the Blade Queen and Warlord even in the Black Market and Shadow Agents' intelligence..."
Chad breathed rapidly as if paralyzed.
"To think they were alive and looking so young..."
His eyes trembled as he said he hadn't expected the Blade Queen and Warlord to remain in such youthful forms.
"Of course I'm alive! I haven't even had children yet!"
The Blade Queen shook her head fiercely, saying she had no intention of dying anytime soon.
"Right?"
She nudged the Warlord beside her with her elbow.
"That's right..."
The Warlord's face reddened slightly in embarrassment, but he answered calmly.
"You look much younger than when I last saw you."
Glenn's eyebrows twitched as if the mere fact of meeting the Blade Queen and Warlord was surprising.
"We've gained much insight since then."
The Blade Queen smiled sweetly, thanking him for the kind observation.
"The Destructive King of the North has far surpassed us. Congratulations on your great achievement."
The Warlord bowed respectfully, seeming to have sensed Glenn's level of mastery.
"Thank you."
Glenn returned the Warlord's greeting. It was extremely rare for him, the leader of Zieghart and the pinnacle of the continent, to show such formal courtesy.
"However, you two..."
Glenn swallowed dryly as he parted his trembling lips.
"Is it true that you're accompanying Raon?"
He exhaled deeply, saying he found that part even harder to believe.
"It just happened somehow."
The Blade Queen nodded with a sweet smile.
"It's only natural to follow our Lord, who fulfilled our sect's deepest wish."
The Warlord clasped his hands together as he referred to Raon as Lord.
"L-Lord?"
"Heh.heh.heh."
"T-this is a dream, right? I must be having a wild daydream?"
Sheryl, Roenn, and Chad's jaws dropped simultaneously.
"R-Raon is the Lord of the Blade Queen and Warlord?"
Alice grabbed the hair falling on her forehead with both hands, as if unable to believe it.
"Nephew! What have you done this time!"
She made a strange expression as if experiencing both interest and confusion at once.
"Lord..."
Glenn placed his hand on his forehead, repeating the word "Lord" that had come from the Warlord's mouth.
'This is driving me crazy.'
It was shocking enough that Raon had brought the Blade Queen and Warlord to Zieghart, but hearing them call him Lord made him wonder if this was really reality.
'Have I been bewitched by an angel or ghost?'
He was so suspicious he wondered if this might be a scenario crafted by Derus.
"Raon. How did you come to accept these two?"
Glenn couldn't hold back and asked Raon about the circumstances.
"I'll explain from the beginning. Previously, at the Sword Saint's Tomb..."
Raon told them everything that had happened at the Sword Saint's Tomb and his recent experiences at the Sturin Mountains. Of course, since there were many people listening, he slightly twisted the parts about Sloth.
"A serendipitous encounter. No, this must be the guidance of Heaven's Flow."
Glenn let out an excited exclamation, saying he finally understood the situation. He nodded as if his doubts had been completely erased.
"In the name of Glenn Zieghart, I accept the Blade Queen and the Warlord. Welcome."
Glenn lowered his chin, asking them to take good care of Raon.
"Please take care of us too!"
The Blade Queen winked her left eye at Glenn.
"We are grateful for the Destructive King of the North's consideration."
The Warlord extended his clasped hands forward. It seemed to be a respectful greeting unique to him.
"However..."
Glenn's gaze turned to the Gold Dragon Paratheus standing beside the Warlord.
"The dragon..."
He narrowed his eyes deeply as if concerned about Paratheus.
"I understand your concern, Head of House. But that fellow is a trustworthy dragon."
The Warlord went to Paratheus's side and nodded.
"He's an eccentric who cut ties with other dragons long ago. He even ignores the Dragon Lord's words."
The Blade Queen grinned as she patted Paratheus's back.
"If Paratheus betrays us, I will offer you my head."
The Warlord bowed his head, saying they trusted Paratheus more than their own lives.
"I'll stake my sword on it too."
The Blade Queen tapped her sword, which was more precious than her life, indicating she felt the same way.
"Y-you all..."
Paratheus's eyes reddened as if moved by the Blade Queen and Warlord's support.
"..."
Raon narrowed his eyes as he observed the emotions between the three that went beyond mere friendship.
'What kind of relationship do they have?'
Usually they acted like they couldn't wait to eat each other, yet at crucial moments they trusted each other with their lives. It seemed like a relationship that couldn't be explained by the word "friend" alone.
"You can trust him. He won't leak information or betray us."
Raon also smiled faintly in support of Paratheus.
"L-let's get along well?"
Paratheus slurred his words like a tipsy middle-aged man as he rolled his eyes. It seemed he was still scared of Glenn.
"Very well. Paratheus of the Gold clan. You too are welcome."
Glenn nodded as if choosing to trust the words of the Blade Queen, the Warlord, and Raon.
"Blade Queen! Please take care of us!"
Sheryl shot such an intense gaze at the Blade Queen that it seemed hot enough to burn. She seemed very interested in the female swordsman who had made her name before her.
"Haaaaah..."
Mark Goetun panted as if he might die from the excitement of having the greatest martial artist of the sword right before his eyes.
"N-now we can remake our plans! A bread- no, a sausage bread just rolled right into our lap!" (E/N: Sounds like a funny Korean expression?)
Chad's eyes flashed like a beast's, seemingly delighted that the number of Transcendents they'd been worried about had increased.
"H-how many Golden Tablets should this be worth?"
Burren swallowed dryly as he turned his eyes to Raon.
"The Blade Queen, the Warlord, and even an Ancient Dragon. Shouldn't this be worth at least five Golden Tablets?"
Martha licked her lips, saying honestly even five wouldn't be enough.
"I agree with five too, but the Head of House has only ever given one at a time until now."
Trevin lowered his eyebrows, saying it didn't seem easy to give five at once.
"No! He should get at least five!"
Balder raised his right hand, insisting that five Golden Tablets was appropriate.
"Since when do you say the right things? But it's not enough. This isn't something that can be settled with Golden Tablets alone, we need other rewards too!"
Alice shot a fierce glare at Glenn as if pressuring him.
"..."
Karoon still said nothing, just looking at the Blade Queen, the Warlord, and Raon in turn. Rather than being empty, his eyes seemed to burn even more intensely.
"Raon."
Glenn gestured lightly toward Raon.
"Is there anything else you've done besides this?"
He clutched his head, asking Raon to tell him now if there was anything else.
"...No, there isn't."
Raon shook his head calmly.
-What do you mean there isn't? You received support from Sloth and backing from the guys of Habun Castle!
Wrath shouted, asking if he'd already forgotten as he knocked on Raon's head.
'That's not something to mention now,'
The prejudice against demon kings was too strong to bring up Sloth's story right now. Similarly, mentioning the support of Milland, the lord of Habun Castle, wasn't a good option at this stage.
"I see."
Glenn briefly licked his lips as he looked at Raon's calm eyes.
'So how many Golden Tablets should I give?'
He had been ready to give a Golden Tablet even for minor achievements, but now that Raon had returned with accomplishments far beyond imagination, he was troubled about how to reward him. He was happy but had a headache.
'Five Golden Tablets...'
Though he wanted to give all the Golden Tablets he had, he couldn't do that.
'Since I've only given one at a time until now.'
During the successor trials, he had established the principle of giving only one Golden Tablet at a time. Since he had given only one tablet even to those who deserved multiple tablets for outstanding achievements, it was awkward to increase the number now.
'Especially...'
Glenn glanced down at Karoon.
'Since Karoon's mission from a few days ago would have warranted three tablets.'
Recently, Karoon had successfully hunted an Ancient Dragon, rescued many people who had been kidnapped by it, and recovered a large number of artifacts and gold bars. (E/N: Raon did that too, something like 150 chapters ago)
Though it was an achievement worth three Golden Tablets, he had given only one according to his rule, so he couldn't give Raon many tablets now.
"Ahem..."
Glenn bit his lip as he cleared his throat softly.
'It can't be helped.'
He had no choice but to give one tablet as predetermined and compensate in other ways. He was about to raise his hand with a regretful sigh.
"One Golden Tablet to the Light Wind Palace Master..."
"Five."
Karoon stepped forward to the platform, interrupting Glenn.
"At this point, with the near-certain departure of two of the Five Kings' Transcendents, the achievements of bringing in the Blade Queen, the Warlord, and the Ancient Dragon are beyond measure." (E/N: Karoon referring to the fact that some of the Kings are too injured to fight anymore, I think)
He raised his right hand wide open toward Glenn.
"Please grant five Golden Tablets to the Light Wind Palace Master."
Karoon bowed his head calmly, saying that was the right thing to do.
"That person..."
-That eagle-eyed bastard...
Balder and Wrath blinked blankly as they looked at Karoon.
"What, did he eat something wrong?"
-What, did he eat something strange?