Under the purple evening sky.
The knights of Gwangpungdan and Habunseong finished dinner at the camp and chatted a lot.
Raon nibbled on the marsh grapes Dorian had brought out for dessert and touched his lips.
‘It’s definitely delicious.’
Swamp grapes had thicker seeds than regular grapes, had a bright red color like a ripe apple, and were easy to eat because they had no seeds.
It was understandable why people are so passionate about wine made from this grape.
-Hehehe… .
Lars, who was lying on his stomach on Raon’s head, looked down at the swamp grapes and whimpered.
‘why are you crying? And get off my head.’
-There aren’t that many swamp grapes anymore. Having to live without being able to enjoy that taste is a loss to your life!
Lars said with tears in his eyes that he had already eaten all the blueberries and that there were not many grapes left.
‘No, you are a demon.’
Stop using the word life. Come down from your head.
-Why does the fun time end so quickly?
Lars pouted as he watched the grapes slowly shrinking without even listening to what he said.
‘Come down.’
-Sweet!
Raon slapped Ras, who was rolling around on his head, with the back of his hand and stood up.
Wow!
They clapped their hands loudly to attract the attention of the Gwangpungdan who were playing.
“You’re not planning on just letting this golden evening pass by, are you?”
“Uh, um.”
“that is… .”
“I think it’ll be fine as is, but… .”
Gwangpungdan was startled by the sound of hand clapping and his lips trembled.
“Danju!”
“help me!”
“It’s already been a while since I left the Aryan family!”
The prosecutors found Rimer, but he had not yet come to his senses because he was mentally damaged by the enormous amount of gold he had lost this time.
“Hey… .”
Rimmer drooled and ate the grapes in one bite.
-Such a waste!
Lars looked at that and pulled out his hair.
-You have to eat it while savoring every single thing, but what are you doing? Take it away now!
‘Either you stop it.’
Raon threw Ras to Rimmer and turned his attention to the Gwangpungdan.
“Shall I do it myself? Or do you want to take care of it yourself?”
Raon looked down at the flustered Gwangpungdan and curled up his mouth.
“Of course I have to do it myself. “I was going to practice even if you didn’t say anything.”
Buren was the first to stand up and tap his sword sheath.
“Because I painfully realized my shortcomings in this battle.”
He said with his heated eyes shining that he never wanted to experience something like that again.
“It’s been a while since I said something true.”
Martha straightened her back, brushing her hair away from her forehead.
“It’s really annoying, but it’s true that it didn’t help much this time.”
She pushed Buren’s shoulder away and went into the forest first.
“I have to do it.”
Runaan bowed her head and grabbed her beloved sword, Tale.
“I don’t want to stay behind anymore either.”
She left the ice cream she was eating and went to the other side of the forest where Marta had disappeared.
The three leaders began their training thinking of themselves as inadequate, even though they were on the verge of becoming a master through this war.
“Lord Budan.”
Mark Goeton approached and bowed his head.
“I’ll go too.”
Since he was also on the verge of reaching the intermediate level of master, he devoted himself to training even while moving to break the wall.
“I want to go too!”
Yua jumped up like a frog and started swinging the sword right next to her. She was full of energy, perhaps because she was about to meet her grandfather.
“If you do it, I will do it too!”
Julius immediately followed Yua’s side and drew his sword. He struck his sword twice as fast as usual, as if he would not lose.
“If this happens… .”
“I can’t help it. “Let’s go too.”
“Well, you have to digest it.”
“I also want to stop being protected.”
The Gwangpungdan’s faces hardened as if they were influenced by the heat of the leaders and Mark Goeton, and they dispersed throughout the forest.
“Hmm… .”
Milland put down the grapes he was eating and looked at the knights and swordsmen with awkward expressions as if they were sitting on thorn cushions.
“Are you going to stay still?”
A chill colder than the evening breeze bloomed in his eyes.
“Gwangpungdan, who is younger than you but stronger than you, went to practice, and grapes ended up in his mouth?”
“Ugh!”
“no!”
“I’m going!”
The knights and swordsmen jumped up and ran into the forest.
Whoa!
In the quiet forest, a small orchestra consisting of the cheers of prosecutors was held.
“I’m going to go warm up too.”
Raon bowed his head to Milland.
“Nothing has changed from before.”
Milland smiled as he threw firewood into the bonfire.
“Didn’t you almost monopolize the training ground even when you were in Ha Bunseong?”
“If people change, they die.”
“okay. “That’s just like you.”
He waved his hand as if to say go.
Raon nodded with a faint smile and headed toward the forest behind, where no one had gone yet.
As I was about to draw my sword, the Sword Demon and his disciple Muston appeared from behind.
“Can I watch you practice?”
The Sword Demon chanted softly.
“it’s okay.”
Anyway, I was planning to practice basic sword skills, as well as Gwanga Sword and Snow Wind Sword, and it didn’t matter because the Sword Demon gave me a lot of help.
“Watch it carefully.”
The Sword Demon called Muston to the side and pointed to Raon.
“You still have limited knowledge, so you need to see a variety of sword techniques. “That child is further along the same path as you, so it will be a good study for him.”
“… All right.”
Muston glared in this direction with halibut eyes, as if he didn’t like the Sword Demon’s words.
‘Well, it doesn’t matter.’
It’s an opponent you’ve already surpassed.
Raon pulled out the Jecheon Sword. He struck the sword vertically with a heavy sword, a quick sword, and a strong sword.
Whoa!
Even though the aura was not used, a heavy wind blew and cut the evening air.
“Even if it is basic swordsmanship, its power and speed vary depending on the techniques used. “Use your sword techniques in different ways each time to find the method that suits you.”
The Sword Demon gave advice to Muston and pointed out his shortcomings.
‘It doesn’t look like you’re accepting the teachings.’
Seeing the feeling of jealousy on Muston’s face, it seemed as if he was hearing the Sword Demon’s words from one ear and letting them out of the other.
‘It’s a loss.’
The Sword Demon’s teachings are simple yet straight to the point. All I could do was laugh at him for knowingly kicking such luck.
‘Then next… .’
Raon finished basic swordsmanship and unfolded the Gwanga Sword. While I was using the third Chosik, which involves drawing a cross with a sword, I heard the Sword Demon’s voice from behind me.
“Ha, I think it would be good if you stick out your left foot a little more and bend the sword’s trajectory to the right by just 5 degrees.”
This time, it was not advice to Muston, but rather advice of his own, which he insisted was to himself.
“This time, I think it would be better to lower the center of gravity by 10% and focus on the techniques of the heavy sword… .”
Even during the fifth herbivore, he pointed out to himself what was lacking.
‘Here we go again.’
Raon modified the Gwanga Sword as he had pointed out and tried to use it.
‘It’s much better.’
The third herbivore became faster and stronger, and the fourth herbivore’s auror wall blocking the enemy’s space became thicker.
“Look. Swordsmanship is a martial art that can bring about big changes with small differences. “Always try to find a better way.”
“yes… .”
Muston nodded to the Sword Demon, but his eyes flashed like sharp knives embedded in them.
Of course, he was giving more instructions to his students than giving advice to himself, but Muston’s expression gradually became evil.
‘Are you hoping to become friends?’
It must be difficult.
It seemed like the Sword Demon wanted to be close to Muston, but it seemed absolutely impossible.
‘Ugh.’
I let out a small sigh and continued my search for the Snow Wind Sword, and this time I heard the Sword Demon’s advice again.
“I think it would be perfect if the angle of the ankle was a little bigger there.”
“Ugh… .”
Raon licked his lips while listening to Muston’s moans.
‘Thank you, though.’
Why are you doing this here… .
* * *
Muston chewed his lip until it bled.
‘I said I was the only disciple… .’
Why are you teaching that guy!
The master clearly said that he had no intention of taking on another disciple, and gave Raon some swordsmanship advice.
Even though he was teaching me, I couldn’t understand why I was watching the swordsmanship of a guy who could become my enemy someday.
‘There are circumstances? ‘What is that situation?’
I asked the teacher directly why he was teaching Raon, but he said there were circumstances.
I said I would let you know first when I was sure, but I couldn’t believe that.
‘Damn… .’
Neither Raon, who accepted good advice, nor the teacher, who continued to teach him, liked it.
My heart was so hot it felt like it was boiling, so I couldn’t hear what the Sword Demon was saying.
‘They say they’ll even go to Sieghardt, so how can they not be suspicious?’
You’re planning on taking him as your disciple!
The Sieghardt family is considered to be the force that requires the most attention in the association.
My heart tightened as I felt like I knew why I was going there on my own.
‘This is all…’ .’
It’s because of that guy.
I was recognized for my talent in training and became a disciple of Rektar, and now all that was left was to follow his sword and become the strongest, but everything went wrong because of that guy named Raon.
I wanted to rush at him right away and throw my sword at him.
“Muston. That sword technique is a sense sword that opens the opponent’s gap. The real way to use a sense sword is not just to contain strong techniques, but to contain martial arts that are appropriate for the situation. “If you use a sense sword at that level, even if you show herbivory, your weakness won’t be detected.”
“… All right.”
Muston clenched his fists so hard that his nails dug into his palms. He glared at Raon, revealing his feelings of jealousy.
‘I will never lose to you.’
He trampled Raon and watched the swordplay unfold before his eyes in order to regain his teacher’s attention.
* * *
Sieghardt Gaju match.
Glenn, who was leaning back on the throne and looking out the window, looked down at the podium.
“Are you ready?”
“yes.”
Roen, who was standing on his left, bowed his head in response to his question.
“I have created a new gold plaque for Master Raon and a new silver plaque to give to other masters.”
Roen carried a large wooden box and walked in front of Glenn.
“Please check.”
When he opened the box, plaques emitting brilliant light were revealed.
“Hmm… .”
Glenn narrowed his eyes as he looked at the gold plate embedded in the box.
“It looks like the sword pattern on the gold plate has been slightly distorted… .”
“It looks like the colors were darkened to emphasize Sieghardt’s pattern.”
Roen gently swept the gold plate down as if it was not true.
“I took the greatest care in making the gold plaque for Raon so far, so you don’t have to worry. “Only the outside is gold, and the inside is platinum.”
“Not bad.”
When it was said that Glenn paid special attention to Raon, he nodded as if he liked it.
“Matriarch.”
Cheryl approached Glenn, who slightly curled his mouth.
“If you’re Raon’s personality, you’ll be happy just because the head of the family personally gives you a gold plaque. Do not worry.”
“Keuhum!”
Glenn cleared his throat and waved his hand.
“I don’t care what he thinks of me. If the family symbol is drawn incorrectly, your prestige as the person giving the award will be damaged. That’s right. He doesn’t intend to give special treatment… .”
He shook his head and muttered some lame excuse.
Cheryl smiled softly as she looked at Glenn whose face was slightly red.
‘I heard you’re cute.’
He didn’t know when Raon would come, so as soon as he returned to the family, he ordered a new gold plate to be made, finished organizing the gifts to be given, and even wrote down a list of drinks he wanted to drink with Raon.
Seeing how he openly cared for his grandchild but couldn’t show it on the outside, I couldn’t help but laugh.
As Cheryl and Roen made eye contact and smiled as if they thought Glenn was cute, Chad, the non-banquet owner, came into the throne room with a heavy knock.
“See you, matriarch.”
Chad bowed his head politely and then came forward.
“What’s going on?”
“I received a call from Gwangpung Danju.”
He took out a yellow envelope from his pocket.
“Did you see the content?”
“no. “I brought it right away when I received it.”
“Let me read it.”
“All right.”
Chad nodded and opened the envelope. Inside was a thin piece of paper.
“uh… .”
He read the letter with his eyes and his chin trembled.
“Non-banquet owner?”
“Oh, yes!”
“Don’t add unnecessary things, just read it as it is.”
“Oh, I understand.”
Chad moistened his lips with his tongue and began reading the letter again.
“Well, Raon has caught the ghost of a ghost. wow… .”
When he said wow, his voice trembled as if he had a spasm in his throat. He glanced at Glenn. She looked like a thick tendon had sprouted from his forehead.
“The Sword Demon came to the Aryan family, and he and Raon get along well. This is my real grandfather… .
It felt like my shoulders were being weighed down by the heavy air, as if the sky had collapsed. I felt a waterfall of cold sweat pouring down my back.
“Woah, we’re hanging out at Habun Castle. I don’t know when it will come. Pop, pop… .”
He took down the letter with trembling hands. His mouth could no longer be opened due to the chill that felt like frostbite on his skin.
“You’re crazy. “It just turned right.”
Cheryl sighed and shook her head.
Wooooow!
As I was thinking about what to do, the letter spontaneously came to mind and flew to Glenn.
After checking the letter to see if it really said that, Glenn burned the paper without leaving a single piece behind.
“This guy really looks like my grandfather…” .”
The corners of his mouth rise slightly. It was an eerie smile that would make your heart stop just by looking at it.
“Roen, Cheryl.”
Glenn revealed his teeth by twisting the armrest of the throne like a piece of paper.
“Prepare for Gwangpungdanju’s funeral.”
Red sparks flickered around him as if he was sincere.
“If you want to die, you have to kill me.”
“yes!”
“Hehehe.”
Cheryl clenched her fists and nodded, and Roen let out his usual smile.
Chad swallowed his dry saliva as he looked at the three people whose hair stood on end.
‘Gwangpungdanju.’
May your soul rest in peace.
* * *
Raon looked up after climbing a hill filled with pure white snow.
I saw a tall castle wall full of dried blood stains and yellow grime.
Ha Bun-seong, who took the final exam to become a prosecutor and received his first nickname, did not change much from before.
“It’s been a while since I smelled this smell.”
The nostalgic bloody smell brought a small smile to my face.
“Ugh! “It smells the same!”
Dorian made a noise that sounded like a pig being slit and crumpled his face. She was lucky that she didn’t gag like she used to.
When I saw Habunseong Fortress, which still had traces of battle, I remembered the time I spent here. I felt my heart beating fast because it was a place where I went through countless battles and laid the foundation for becoming who I am today.
“The commander is returning! “Open the door!”
“Open the door!”
The gates of Habun Fortress opened with a loud noise that seemed to shake the earth.
Milland looked at the gate opening, revealing the silver light of the snowy mountain, and then turned around.
“When I first came, I was a novice mercenary who was not welcomed.”
He smiled darkly and pounded his left breastplate with his fist. The look in his eyes was intense, as if he had returned to being the owner of this castle, not just an acquaintance who had traveled with him.
“In the name of Miland Brydon, Lord of Habun Castle, we welcome the return of our benefactor Raon Sieghardt!”
“Wow!”
Along with Milland’s shout, a huge cheer erupted from inside the castle.
A chill ran down my spine as Ha Bunseong’s military uniform was as heavy as a lance.
‘It’s a return… .’
My heart sank that they still thought of me as a member of the castle.
Raon looked at the knights and scouts waving their hands and hit his left chest with his fist.
“I’m home.”
