Sylvia was tidying up the garden that she couldn’t finish yesterday.
With familiar hands, the messy bushes turned into round shapes like soft cushions.
“Luckily it wasn’t damaged too much.”
Helen, who was assisting from behind, approached her side.
“I know. “If I work hard a little, I might be better than before.”
Sylvia smiled slightly and picked up the scissors. She cleaned up the messy places as if she was trying to erase all traces of her misbehavior when Raiden came.
“Hey ma’am.”
“huh?”
“Is it okay if I leave you like that?”
Helen’s face was as gray as ash. She felt like she couldn’t sleep well because of her worry. Her other maids seemed to have done the same, and she blinked her eyes at the same time.
“To prevent sword fighting at all costs… .”
“I thought so too at first.”
Sylvia handed the scissors to Helen and nodded.
“We have to stop it somehow. I thought we should never allow sword fighting to proceed. “I was going to go see my father right away.”
“But why… .”
“Raon. “That little child suddenly became the face of the prosecutor.”
“ah… .”
“Before I left on my first mission, I had something to say to that kid. “I ask you to live proudly like the old Sieghart swordsman.”
She turned around, made eye contact with Helen, and smiled at the maids.
“Raon is living a much cooler and more confident life than what I told him. “To the point where I’m ashamed of who I am now.”
“lady… .”
“What can a child do if he makes such a face and his mother doesn’t believe him? and… .”
Sylvia raised her eyebrows and looked at the back of the annex where Raon would be.
“Just as Helen felt, when Raon said he was okay, I really had a feeling that everything would get better. All we have to do is believe in that child, smile, and wait.”
* * *
Raon memorized all the information about Raiden that Judiel had given him and then burned it.
Although I had never actually seen Raiden’s soft sword technique, the details were so detailed that it felt like I was picturing it in my head.
‘I can just practice like this.’
Since the goal was to crush Raiden using ordinary sword techniques and fighting methods such as soft sword and garambo, having this information will allow you to prepare for the sparring much more easily.
Based on Judiel’s information, I started training by slightly changing the flow of footwork and swordsmanship.
By imagining the enemy’s movements while swinging the sword and using footwork, my movements became much more systematic.
Whoa!
While I was in the middle of training, a thin stream of cold air rose from the ice flower bracelet.
-It’s truly sad.
Lars clicked his tongue and sneered.
-It’s pitiful that you have to put in such effort to deal with trash. If it were the real king, he would have frozen me to the core with just one breath.
“Even if we fight right now, it’s easy to beat him.”
Raon shouted and pushed Ras, who was blowing air.
“The important thing is to defeat him overwhelmingly. So much so that his sword can’t even touch my body.”
-You don’t understand. Isn’t it enough to win?
“no.”
I shook my head. If it’s a simple sparring match, it doesn’t matter how you win, but this time the situation is different.
“When I touched Raiden, I and the annex became targets for my direct lineage and followers. Even if you win this sword fight and escape the danger of Jinmujeon, there is a possibility that other guys will target you.”
In any family, there is a high and thick wall between the direct lineage and collateral lineage. The wall is so thick that a renowned family like Sieghart cannot penetrate it.
The direct lineage and followers of such a family do not want collateral lineages to reach their position. Even if those are people who were once in direct line.
‘That’s why I have to show it.’
I need to make it clear to Glenn that I am more useful than just my direct lineage.
-Since ancient times, humans have inherited the blood of their ancestors. It was also about the thicker blood. Without even knowing that it was the same red. My guys aren’t even vampires. It is an ugly, dirty tradition.
“For the first time, I agree with you.”
I laughed out loud because it was so absurd that I had the same thoughts as this devil who was always angry.
-work hard. Anyway, everything that belongs to you will belong to the King.
Lars left those words and went back into the bracelet.
“Hey. “It’s also an ability to make people fall out of love with just one word.”
Raon smiled coldly and stood up. As I was about to practice again, I felt someone approaching.
‘It’s not Judiel.’
It wasn’t Sylvia or Helen, but it looked very familiar. As she was waiting quietly, a little doll appeared.
“uh?”
Wild eyes, fluttering silver hair and pure white skin. The person approaching the clearing was Runaan.
“Runan?”
“huh.”
Runan walked lightly like a cat, hugging a wrapping cloth containing something. She came next to her and sat down next to the tree.
“Why are you here… .”
“fight.”
It seems that Runan already knew that Raon was fighting Raiden. Of course, it wasn’t just a fight, it was a sword fight.
“That’s why I came.”
She began to wiggle her small hands and unwrap the cloth she had brought with her.
“hmm… .”
Raon, who was looking at Runan, felt many eyes and raised his head. Sylvia, Helen, and the maids were watching this place from behind the walls, rocks, and trees.
‘Anyway, those people.’
I thought he was getting a little serious, but he quickly relaxed. They are truly strange people.
“done.”
I turned my attention to Runaan’s voice. Inside her well-wrapped cloth was a box of ice cream that she carried around like her treasure.
widely.
When Runaan opened the lid of the box, five ice cream beads, bigger and sparkling than anything she had seen before, appeared, emitting a white chill.
“eat.”
Runaan held out the opened box. Her sunken eyes sparkled just like ice cream. It seemed like it meant eating whatever you wanted.
“hmm.”
Raon looked at the ice cream for a moment without touching it.
“eat.”
As I stayed still, Runaan waved his hand. When I looked at those eyes, I felt like I needed to eat something. However, Runaan had to choose something other than her favorite pink ice cream.
-What are you doing! Eat quickly!
The lath that went into the bracelet a little while ago stuck out like a mole.
-The king is attracted to the green color over there! Eat that green chocolate-studded thing! hurry!
Lars became more anxious when Raon didn’t touch him, so he threw cold air like crazy.
‘It’s noisy.’
I frowned. I didn’t even see the green ice cream that Lars wanted. As she savored what to choose, Runaan’s hand moved towards her head.
‘what?’
I wondered if I should avoid her hand, but I felt neither alive nor hostile. She relaxed the muscles of her entire body, preparing to move at any time.
Knock knock.
As if to ignore the tension, Runaan’s hand really lightly tapped her head twice.
“Runan?”
Raon opened his mouth and raised his gaze. Runaan nodded and touched her head again, raising the corners of her mouth just barely enough to make her visible.
“are you okay.”
When I heard the gently shining silver eyes and calm voice, my heart ached.
‘This guy… .’
Now I understand why Runaan came here.
This child came to the annex to return what he said was okay when sparring with an orc before.
“under.”
Raon let out a laugh. It’s ridiculous to be worried about this kid again.
However, it didn’t feel that bad again. It felt like an emotion that I couldn’t pinpoint was making her heart round.
“Why are you laughing?”
“no.”
I shook my head and took out the black bead ice cream from the box and put it in my mouth. A sweet yet bitter taste enveloped my mouth, just like the current feeling.
-oh! chocolate! It looks like sugar and coffee were added to the chocolate and then aged for a long time. When the King was in the demon world, he drank coffee… Well, what are you doing!
‘shut up.’
Lars, who had started a long chat, was forced into the bracelet.
“delicious?”
“It’s delicious. thank you.”
“Eat more.”
“No, that’s enough.”
It was really enough. It feels like my heart is full rather than my stomach being full. There was no need anymore.
“okay.”
Runan gulped down the red bead ice cream on her right and stood up.
“I’ll go.”
And just like that, he left. It seemed like he had finished his work and was leaving without disturbing the training.
“I am indeed.”
Raon smiled as he watched Runan walk more cheerfully than when he arrived. Now, just looking at the back of that guy’s head makes me laugh.
“Raon.”
As soon as Runaan left, Sylvia, who was hiding behind a tree, approached.
“Mom, don’t you think we’re closer than friends? That’s no ordinary ice cream. “It’s a very expensive snack.”
“I’m curious too. “I guess this isn’t the first time I’ve had ice cream.”
“Raon. Mom, have a talk with that kid… .”
“Neither of you say any more than that.”
Raon waved his hand. I didn’t like it when he was drooping, but I hated seeing his playful eyes like that even more.
“please… .”
* * *
next day.
A second guest came to the annex.
“hmm… .”
Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked at the customer walking in with a grumble.
To be honest, I thought Runaan might come. Because the child wants to imitate or learn from your training methods.
However, that guy was truly unexpected.
“Burren.”
Raon tilted his head as he saw Buren approaching with the graceful steps of a nobleman. I really couldn’t figure out why that guy came here.
“I heard you were having a sword fight with Raiden.”
Buren stopped, pouting.
“Did you find out too?”
“Rumors abound throughout the family. “You arrogant bastard caused a major accident.”
“It was a major accident… .”
“He threw a sword at his direct descendant, even though he was a subordinate, and requested a sword fight even though he did not have the qualifications to be a swordsman, so people in high places are bound to dislike him.”
Buren looked down at himself sitting and snorted. She was about to ask him if he was there to tease her when his mouth opened again.
“But I think you did well. Like it.”
“what?”
My mouth fell open, dumbfounded, at the words I never expected to come out of Burren’s mouth.
“Rayden is a piece of trash who brings disgrace to Sieghardt’s name even though he is in a direct position. “He is only strong, but he has no honor or faith.”
His voice was hot, as if filled with anger.
“As soon as I heard you and Raiden had a problem, I thought it was that damn bastard who started the fight first. “It was as expected.”
“hmm… .”
That means Burren believes in him. This guy showed an unexpected side today.
“ruler.”
Buren took out a palm-sized box from his back pocket and held it out.
“What is this?”
“It is a medicine applied to wounds. “It’s a cheap item that I don’t even use, but I thought it would look good on you, so I brought it.”
“uh… .”
“Take it. Fast!”
Buren forced the medicine into his hand and turned his back.
“You are the head of the 5th training hall. “Be responsible and never give up.”
After saying that, he went back the way he came. Funny enough, my walking speed got faster and faster. When I saw that my earlobes were red, I was feeling embarrassed again.
“Hmm.”
Raon opened the lid of the box in his hand. A sweet and clean medicinal scent wafted out.
I took a small amount of the medicine and applied it to my injured wrist. The pain in my wrist disappeared along with the warm energy.
‘This is cheap?’
Considering the elegant scent and color of the medicine, it is definitely not cheap. When I looked at the back of the lid, it said “Siman.”
Saiman is a guild famous for making highly effective medicine. This medicine was difficult to obtain even for money.
“What is it?”
Raon shook his head and put the medicine in his pocket.
“Raon. When did you get along with Burren? .”
“young master. My friend again… .”
As Burren disappeared, Sylvia and Helen, who were watching, began to approach with smiles.
“Please don’t come!”
* * *
Unlike the busy annex, Jinmujeon was quiet thanks to Raon, who practiced as hard as he could every day.
He was confident of victory and seemed to have no interest in the sword fight with Raon.
Raiden also took advantage of this atmosphere and did not train, spending more leisurely time than usual.
“That young master.”
Butler Merkin bowed his head towards Raiden.
“why?”
Raiden, who was lying on the bed with his red-haired maid, turned his head.
“Shouldn’t you do some training now? “The sword fight is only a few days away.”
“training? “Are you just saying this to me?”
Raiden laughed and stood up.
“What kind of training does it take to deal with a guy like that? “If I had used a soft sword back then, that bastard would have already been turned into a piece of fish and buried in the ground.”
“Ha, but his movements are not normal. “I expected the sword and blocked it, but I didn’t even see the fist coming.”
Merkin smoothed out the area where Raon had hit him.
“Am I just like you? yes!”
Raiden threw the glass containing alcohol on the table. The glass containing the wine broke and blood-red water spilled onto the floor.
“It’s obvious what that bastard is using! The soft sword method that I know all about is the Garambo method. “If you just use a soft sword, you can tear a guy like that to pieces with your eyes closed!”
“hmm… .”
“You do the training yourself. “A bastard who rolled his eyes and fainted at a critical moment.”
“sorry.”
“go away!”
Raiden screamed and lay down on the bed again. Merkin bowed his head and left Raiden’s room.
‘That’s bad.’
Merkin shook his head as he looked at Raiden’s room, where the sound of laughter was coming from.
He seemed to have no intention of training at all because of the humiliation of being treated by Raon.
It was clear that he was taking pride in showing that he could defeat him even without training.
‘Raon Sieghardt.’
On the other hand, I heard that Raon, who was in the annex, was training as hard as he could every day.
‘That guy is really not normal.’
Raon’s movements were strange. He looked like an assassin, but his movements were difficult to read.
“Ugh… .”
Merkin sighed. For some reason, I felt like I could see the outcome of this sword fight right in front of me.
* * *
Martha was sitting on a tree at the entrance to Bukmangsan Mountain, overlooking the annex vacant lot.
“Tsk.”
She twirled the black hair that brushed her cheek with her finger and clicked her tongue.
“It’s so popular. “There are a lot of people who come like that.”
Marta’s gaze was focused on Raon, who was sitting in the clearing and talking with trainees from the 5th Training Center. While I was watching here, 7 practitioners had already visited Raon.
It wasn’t clear, but it seemed like they were cheering me on to win the sword fight.
“Hmph, since when did we become friends?”
I felt sick to my stomach when I saw the trainees pretending to be friends, saying they had become a little closer to each other through past missions, while watching cows and chickens in the training hall.
“Everything is pathetic… .”
“Why don’t you go too?”
“Aaaah!”
Suddenly, Martha screamed at the sound of a voice behind her and fell from the tree.
“Wow, you have a taste for teasing.”
When I raised my head, Rimmer was giggling, kicking his feet in the air.
“Raon doesn’t get surprised when I do things like this, so it’s not fun.”
“You damn elf… .”
Martha gritted her teeth and stood up. Just as her black eyes were about to turn red, Rimer waved her hand.
“Is that okay? “Everyone was caught?”
I followed his chin and turned around. Raon, who was in the vacant lot, was looking this way.
“Ugh, it’s like this on purpose… .”
“If you come to visit, it would be nice to see your face and cheer you on.”
“I didn’t come here to cheer you on!”
“uh? So what are those things in that pocket? Are you going to give it to me?”
“Because you saved me on this mission… .”
Marta put her hands in her coat pockets and wrinkled her nose.
“Please support me. “It will definitely help you.”
Rimmer smiled and pointed toward the vacant lot. Raon was still looking at this place.
“shit… .”
Martha pursed her lips and went down the mountain.
“Hmph!”
Rimmer lay down on the branch where Marta had fallen and hummed.
“You’re so immature. Well, that’s the children’s privilege.”
* * *
Raon narrowed his eyes as he watched Martha coming down from Bukmangsan Mountain. She knew she was up there, but she didn’t think she would come down. It looks like Rimmer was playing a prank.
“hey.”
Marta threw me a small glass bottle and a square box wrapped in cloth.
“uh?”
Raon caught the box and glass bottle flying towards his chest.
“It’s a reward for that time. Eat before the sword fight begins.”
“hmm… .”
“It’s not poison. It’s Cheongsimsu, which completely restores physical strength and mental strength. “Eat it or throw it away, it’s up to you.”
As I was looking at the glass bottle, Marta took a step closer and frowned.
“thanks.”
Raon put the glass bottle in his pocket.
“That monkey kept getting angry, so I tried to step on it, but you hit it. If you’re going to fight, kill it for sure. “Don’t let your mother mess with you again.”
“okay.”
“If I lose to that monkey bastard, I’ll cancel my promise with you.”
Just nodding, Marta flipped her black hair that now fell down to her shoulders.
“Goes.”
She left the training center without even looking back.
“Why didn’t you tell me about this?”
Raon tilted his head and opened the box Marta gave him.
“beef?”
There was beef inside, and it seemed to be of much better quality than the meat I usually ate at the annex.
‘It was this guy.’
Sylvia said that there was sometimes good quality beef placed in front of the annex, and it appears to have been a gift from Marta.
-Are you saying that those black eyes left that delicious beef behind?
‘okay.’
-Well, that’s good. As a monarch, this king has a broad understanding. From today onwards, I will call the girl with black eyes a beef girl.
‘… … .’
Ignoring Lars’ nonsense, Sylvia and Helen burst out of the bushes like moles on the ground as they packed up the beef.
“Beef, Cheongsimsu, and Raon are full of thoughts.”
“sure. “Meat is meat, but the fact that you gave us expensive things like Cheongsimsu shows that we are not an ordinary relationship.”
“Raon. Later invite Martha to dinner… .”
“Oh, please go away!”
Raon shook his head. The two went back into the bush like ghosts and returned to the annex.
‘Really… .’
A few days ago, I was worried because it was so saggy, but now it has become so light that I can’t handle it.
‘Well, it’s better now.’
Sylvia and Helen believed that they would win, and were showing such a cheerful appearance in order not to make people worry.
These people are naturally bright like that. In order to protect their smiles, we must prevent even the shadow of harmful things from reaching them.
Raon slowly caught his breath, got up, and started training again.
The training continued day and night, and the morning of the sword fight arrived.
