Dawn without the sun rising.
Raon packed his light luggage and left the annex. The direction is the same as usual: Training Area 5. Thanks to Glenn’s consideration, Gwangpungdan was able to use the 5 training hall where they stayed as trainees.
-Hmm, it’s the same thing that moves from early in the morning.
Lars yawned and spit out a chill colder than the morning air.
-It doesn’t matter whether you train or not, but I want you to eat some breakfast.
‘You can go to the training center and eat it.’
-The taste isn’t that great there. The taste and freshness of the food is the best at the annex.
That statement wasn’t wrong. Thanks to Yua and Helen’s improved cooking skills, delicious new menus are served every day in the annex, but the taste of the meals in the training hall 5 is reduced due to the saltiness, sweetness, and spiciness being reduced for training.
‘This is better for training.’
You can enjoy the taste of food on a daily basis, and when training, just fill your stomach with a light meal. I need to get stronger quickly and have less work to do, but when can I just enjoy the taste?
-That’s pathetic.
Lars clicked his tongue and twisted his chin.
-You don’t know what pungryu is. They only become stronger through ignorance, but there is no such thing as romance.
‘Because he’s a romanticless guy. From now on, I’ll just have to fill my stomach with Nadine bread.’
– Me, Nadine bread?
The guy widened his blue eyes as if he was embarrassed. Nadine bread, which was tasteless, had a rubbery texture, and was full of food, was like Lars’ natural enemy.
-Ji, are you threatening the king now?
‘It’s not a threat, he’s just a romantic guy so he just moves as he pleases.’
-How dare a human being threaten the monarch of the demon world!
A terrifying cold feeling fills my entire body. The anger that Lars had given me began to tear through my emotions and hit various parts of my soul.
Coo coo coo coo!
The coldness and anger that became much stronger than before made me stop walking. An enormous amount of energy rushed towards me, crushing the wall, causing my hands and feet to tremble.
-Just as you grow, so does the King. If you fuss, you’ll get a big nose injury… .
‘That is wrong.’
Raon clenched his fists and forced his trembling hands to stop.
-what?
‘Because I have grown more than you have grown.’
The ring of fire resonated. The six rings created a clear sound, suppressing the anger, and Mangagong and Glacia tore apart Rath’s cold energy rushing through the mana circuit.
-Ugh! Not yet! This is not the true power of this king!
Lars did not give up, but brought out even deeper coldness and anger. He let the cold fall like rain, as if he believed the anger 25 lodged in his soul.
Coo coo coo coo!
My anger had reached 25, so it was definitely too much to just endure, but I calmed down the malicious energy with the ring of fire that had grown beyond that and started walking again.
As I arrived in front of the training center, competing with Ras, a message appeared before my eyes.
[Withstood the interruption of .]
[Stamina increases by 1 point.]
As soon as the message came out, Lars screamed and ran away.
-Jeezjang!
Lars flailed in the air as if he didn’t want to believe in his defeat.
‘I’m in good physical condition.’
Raon nodded, turning off the message. He couldn’t help but smile as he received abilities from Ras for the first time in a long time.
‘I won, so from today onwards, my meal will be one loaf of bread.’
-Now, wait! Wait a minute!
It came running like the wind and landed on my shoulder.
-Bo, the king did everything wrong! Rather starve! Just that bread is not enough! That’s food that’s almost a sin that only fills your stomach!
Lars was shaking as if he was going to have a seizure.
‘Do well in the future. If you mess up again, the bread will last for a month.’
-Ugh, if the King wasn’t a gourmet, he wouldn’t have fallen under your spell. Is it a sin with a noble soul…? .
‘Not a gourmet, but a glutton.’
Raon corrected Lars’ nonsense and opened the training hall door.
“uh?”
Of course I thought there would be no one, but there were trainees. No, the prosecutors who were now members of the Gwangpungdan were gathered together.
“young master!”
Dorian, who was taking snacks out of his stomach pouch and eating them, ran up to me with a grin.
“Are you late?”
“I think you guys came quickly?”
Normally, at this time, it would have been normal for there to be no one in the training hall.
“Raon. late.”
Runan, who had a lot of sleep in the morning, was already at the training ground. She came over, rubbing her eyes, and grabbed his sleeve.
“joy.”
When I heard the familiar snorting sound, I looked to the side and saw Marta leaning against a tree. She has 33 people up to her. She and her whole group, including herself, were at the dance hall.
“Why did you come so quickly?”
“Today is the founding ceremony!”
“The legend of Gwangpungdan begins today, and I’m so excited that I can’t sleep!”
“Wow, now you’re finally becoming a real prosecutor.”
The Gwangpungdan members clenched their fists and smiled as if they were looking forward to the future.
“Hmm… .”
Raon quenched his appetite while facing the excited eyes of the Gwangpungdan members.
‘If you wait, you’ll see blood.’
I was convinced after seeing Rimmer yesterday. He hasn’t changed one bit. The children might have thought that now that Rimmer had become sober, something would change, but they were sorely mistaken.
“Then, let’s each do our own training until Danju comes.”
“yep!”
“okay!”
The members of the Gwangpung Troupe smiled brightly and spread out throughout the training hall and began practicing. The occasional chatter was full of expectations about future missions and performance.
“Hmm… .”
“… … .”
Raon checked Runan, who was yawning, and Marta, who was looking at the sky with sharp eyes, and then headed toward an empty space.
‘I should start too.’
He pulled out his training sword and performed soft sword techniques. It was a sword technique that was as familiar as breathing, but with the ring of fire, the manga ball, and the growth of swordsmanship, it has now become more powerful than rising swordsmanship.
Quaaaaa!
The momentum of soft swordsmanship, which had been running proudly like a river, was building up powerfully. The unstoppable flow remained the same, but its power and speed became incomparably stronger than before.
Coo coo coo coo!
The waves of aura spreading from the blunt training sword resonated throughout the 5th training hall.
“Wow… .”
“Um, that’s called soft swordsmanship?”
“I learned the same thing, what’s the difference?”
“Oh, you’re crazy. “I would believe it if they said it was top-class swordsmanship.”
“They say the level of swordsmanship is ultimately human. After all, talent… .”
The prosecutors clicked their tongues as they watched Raon’s soft sword skills affecting the entire training ground. It was a simple technique that could be performed with one’s eyes closed, but in Raon’s hands, an overwhelming wave occurred, like absolute swordsmanship he had never seen before.
“You’re saying something stupid again.”
Marta narrowed her eyes as she watched Raon’s energy soaring into the air.
“While you guys were chasing higher levels of swordsmanship, that guy only trained soft swordsmanship. “The difference in training has become bigger than the difference in talent.”
At the end, she muttered to herself, ‘I was stupid too,’ and pulled out her training sword.
“Wow.”
Runaan’s purple eyes shined as if they could capture the entire trajectory of Raon’s sword.
“Hmm. “You’re still the same.”
Dorian nodded, continuing to chew the snack he had taken out without practicing.
Although the prosecutors spent some time waiting for Danju Rimmer, he did not show up on time as expected.
“Ahaha! “Well, it’s the first day.”
“okay. “You couldn’t possibly be late after giving such a great speech.”
“that’s right. Just wait a little while and he will come soon.”
“Let’s believe in Danju, who will be different.”
The prosecutors said that and waited for another hour, but Rimmer was nowhere to be seen in the training hall.
“Well, you’ll be here soon, right? maybe?”
“That bastard. No, if that elf has a conscience, he should come too!”
“It would have been a little different if you had seduced me with such nice words.”
While the prosecutors were gritting their teeth and forcibly holding on, the door to the training room opened with a squeak.
“You have arrived!”
“Danju!”
“It’s too late… uh?”
The prosecutors who were running toward Rimmer stopped and gaped.
The red-haired elf, who had been radiating coolness with a serious glow just yesterday, dried up as if she had aged 100 years in just one day.
“W-What on earth is going on…?” .”
“Danju! Are you okay?”
“Ugh! Danju!”
The prosecutors’ lips trembled as they supported Rimmer, who was staggering like a zombie.
“Oh, hi… .”
Rimmer seemed to have no strength at all, his eyes were scanning the empty space, and his hands were floundering like reeds.
“Tsk.”
Raon looked at that and briefly clicked his tongue.
‘I lost everything.’
It’s obvious from the look on his face. It was clear that yesterday he went to the casino to save half of his remaining money and lost it all. Otherwise, there was no way that person could have been ruined like that.
‘It’s a good thing I left it out in advance.’
It was terrible to think that if he hadn’t taken half of his money yesterday, his money would have turned to dust.
‘But who on earth is in that casino?’
Although he can’t control his facial expressions, Rimmer is a perceptive, quiet, and sly person. Now I’m curious about who I lose to every time.
“Whoop… .”
Rimmer climbed to the center of the podium and sighed.
“Ji, from now on, we will hold the founding ceremony of the Gwangpungdan. Our goal is my money. Fame and money that no one else has earned. You guys need future performance and my money… .”
Strange words keep coming into the inaugural speech, which should be dignified and majestic. Looking at Rimmer’s expression, it seemed like he was getting angry without even realizing it.
“The target is my money?”
“Fame and my money?”
“Performance and my money?”
“That person could not be… .”
The Gwangpungdan members’ expressions hardened as if they had now understood the situation a bit.
“Damn… . “Why did I come here?”
Marta pursed her lips and glared at Rimmer.
“Haam.”
Runaan yawned and blinked as if nothing had happened.
“… That is how our Gwangpungdan will operate.”
Rimer also must have come to his senses and no longer used the word “my money.” However, his face became paler.
“to… . Because the current number of people is 33. We will divide into three groups. The first leader is Marta Sieghardt, and the second leader is Runan Slyon. The number 3 leader position is left vacant for now. Raon Sieghardt commands the unit from his position as vice-captain. “From now on, please use polite language in public places.”
“yes!”
“All right!”
“Then I will call Joe from now on. First, in group 1, there are Setrai, Yanden… .”
Rimmer called out the prosecutors’ groups one by one in a dying voice.
“Who is the vacant position number 3?”
“This is the place for the poor guy who will be joining us soon.”
Everyone knew who the incoming guy was, so they nodded.
“Then I will tell you the Gwangpungdan’s first mission. You guys, starting today… .”
Rimer licked his lips and looked at the swordsmen below the podium. The prosecutors swallowed their saliva and waited for his next words.
“Rest.”
“yes?”
“Shhh, shush!”
“Now that it’s done, are you taking a break? “What is that!”
When I told them not to take a short break, but to take a break altogether, the prosecutors rushed forward with their eyes wide open.
“Rest is rest. “What is it?”
Rimmer shook his head with murky eyes half filled with soul. He still couldn’t get over the shock of losing all his money.
“under… .”
Raon looked at that and narrowed his eyes.
‘It’s a little uncomfortable without that guy.’
At this time, the situation became annoying because Burren, who was in front and holding Rimmer’s collar, was nowhere to be seen. I didn’t know that I would feel sad that he wasn’t there.
– That’s what the world is like. You don’t know its value when it’s there.
‘hmm?’
These were difficult words to come from Lars, so I looked down at the bracelet with wide eyes.
-Actually, it’s okay if you don’t have the bright eyes, but the world is in sorrow because the great being called the King is gone. He might go bankrupt sooner or later… .
I wanted to say something nice this time, but in the end, I’m proud of myself.
However, he said that it was not the demon world, but the world. It seems like something happened to the demon lords of the demon world like during Sloth.
“Oh, I don’t know. “Just figure it out.”
Rimmer lay down on the platform as if his stomach had been cut open.
“Iik!”
“This elf is really… .”
“I’m crazy!”
The prosecutors stared at Rimmer with blind eyes and their fists trembled.
“Whoa… .”
Raon sighed and approached Rimmer.
“When you say rest, you’re saying that you’ll be going on a mission soon, so you should prepare for it, right?”
“Uh, that. That’s it. “As expected, you are always giving.”
Rimmer nodded with open eyes.
“I will convey Danju’s words. The word rest does not simply mean to rest, but to prepare for the task ahead. “Take time to reorganize your battle and strategy, including the signals and inspections we will use among ourselves.”
The prosecutors took a step back at Raon’s serious voice.
“But Danju, why are you doing that?”
“Where are you hurting?”
“Yesterday, Danju lost money at the gambling house… .”
“hey! men and horses!”
When I was about to tell the truth, Rimmer grabbed my shoulder. His face was still pale, but his grip was full of strength.
“Well, rumors spread strangely if you say something wrong. Please be careful about things like this… .”
“okay.”
Raon nodded and looked at the prosecutors again.
“Yesterday, Danju lost ‘all his money’ at the gambling house, so he is not in a good mood right now. From now on, I will take command. First, let’s start with the basic signals. “Let’s all change into our training uniforms and gather again.”
“ah… .”
“no wonder… .”
“I said it was quiet these days.”
“Tsk.”
The prosecutors glanced pitifully at Rimmer behind Raon and then headed to the locker room.
“Danju.”
Raon turned around and slightly bowed his head to Rimmer.
“Because I don’t want strange rumors to spread because I say something wrong. “He told me all the facts honestly.”
“Ugh… .”
He opened his mouth until his jaw hit the floor, as if he was dumbfounded.
“Well, how did you know that I went to the gambling house yesterday and lost everything? “You went first.”
“Would a dung fly just leave the poop? “It’s obvious.”
“Someone is a dung fly!”
Rimmer’s shoulders trembled. The word ‘dung fly’ was the same thing Glenn had said to himself.
‘A set of grandchildren who don’t even look like humans!’
***
There is a separate building to the west of Jungmujeon. The outbuilding, which had not been maintained for a long time and was full of dust, was being touched for the first time in a long time.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been here.”
Tias, the butler who had raised Buren since childhood instead of Karun, smiled as he cleared the fireplace full of cobwebs.
“… … .”
Burren said nothing, but looked at the pillar on the right. Under the pillar, there was graffiti that looked like it had been drawn by a child. It was a picture of a man, a woman, and a young boy holding hands.
“That picture… .”
Tias narrowed her eyes. It was a graffiti that Burren had drawn when he came here as a child, and it was a picture of the ideal family he had hoped for.
Burren stroked the doodle with a look in his eyes that was opposite to that of the smiling child in the picture.
Pieces of pigment clinging to the dust fell down in a flash. Before we knew it, the child in the picture had disappeared, leaving only the man and woman whose hands had fallen.
“Tias.”
Buren turned his head. The green eyes, which seemed to be filled with a warm breeze, were as dull as gray.
“I want to be alone. “Go back first and rest.”
After saying that, he went into the dark room without the lights off without cleaning.
“young master… .”
Tias bit her lip until it bled. He has seen him since he was young, but this is the first time he has seen eyes filled with emptiness like now. I felt like I had lost my purpose in life.
‘It wasn’t like this when I lost to Master Raon.’
At that time, he was even more passionate, vowing revenge, but now he had dead eyes, as if all the firewood had been burned out.
‘There are 19 days left now.’
The 20 days following the selection ceremony are an additional registration period during which new prosecutors who were not selected can decide on their affiliation. There were many places that would accept Buren if he moved, but he seemed to have no intention of moving.
‘I don’t have much time.’
I hope Burren can overcome his current feelings on his own, but that may be difficult. Because being recognized by Karun was the most important goal in his life.
‘If you can’t stand up on your own, you have no choice but to ask for help.’
You cannot cause Burren yourself. There is only one person who can do that.
‘Even if it means sacrificing your life… .’
Tias promised herself that she continued to clean the outbuilding, which was as dirty as a ruin.
***
A week has passed since the selection ceremony ended.
During that time, Raon reorganized the prosecutors’ hand signal system and improved the stability of the prosecutors so that 33 people could fight together.
Prosecutors also felt that the real battle was not far away and accelerated group and individual training.
Quang!
When Raon and the swordsmen were taking a short break after early morning training, the training hall door opened roughly. It’s Limerda. As if being on time wasn’t enough, he went up to the podium dressed stylishly in his dark red uniform.
“It’s good but also boring because there’s no one to start a fight every chance I get.”
Rimmer swallowed his appetite as he looked at the door shaking as if it would break. The expressions of the Gwangpungdan members darkened slightly because they knew who they were talking about.
“Well, that’s not what I want to talk about today.”
He caught the attention of the prosecutors with his characteristic clapping of his hands.
“Hand signals and examinations have been completed to some extent, so now is the time for personal preparation.”
“Personal preparations?”
“I practice every day.”
“It’s not like that.”
Rimmer shook his head loudly.
“Now is the time to throw away the low-quality supply equipment and proudly pack your personal equipment as a Sieghart prosecutor. It is time to take on your personal sword and uniform.”
He swept down the Sieghardt uniform he had come with.
“First of all, uniforms are custom-made. Go to Ohwadan and order directly. It’s free at first. “Insert all the options you can.”
Rimmer struck the sword at his waist a second time. It was not a standard sword that was normally used, but a famous sword that was used to cut down a mad blood demon.
“It’s the same with the sword. You can use a sword you received as a gift, or a sword you inherited that you have never used before, or you can make a new sword. “Please prepare yourself for the remaining waiting period!”
“yes!”
The members of the Gwangpungdan responded so grandly that they left the gym.
“I can finally use my Dark Phoenix.”
“Wow, I’m already excited to be able to fight while holding the Daehwaun Sword.”
“My main sword, Super Haksar, wants to taste blood… .”
Most of the swordsmen seemed to have prepared their swords in advance and grinned, muttering names that didn’t even make a snort.
“Hmm… .”
“Budanju, come this way.”
As Raon was thinking about how to fit his uniform, Rimmer made a gesture.
“You also received a call.”
“If it’s contact… .”
“The old man told me to call you.”
When I mentioned that Rimmer was an inspiration, one person came to mind. Vulcan, a stubborn old man who guarded the extremely hot kiln while learning comics. The majestic gaze of the man who had reached the pinnacle of blacksmithing came to mind.
“Are you talking about Balkan?”
“that’s right. That’s the inspiration.”
Rimmer smiled and nodded.
“They say the promised time has come.”
