Chapter 32

Raon's steps toward the training ground were lighter than ever. It wasn't just his mood; his body felt as if it were riding the wind, lighter and more energetic.

'Thanks to the aura.'

While his stats had increased and his constitution had changed, the biggest difference was the aura.

Aura is a condensed form of mana. Its mere presence enhances human physical abilities.

With two auras condensed in his dantian, it was only natural that his body felt lighter and more vibrant than usual.

'It's not just that.'

His senses had become more refined.

The flow of the wind, the footsteps of wild animals leaping through the grass, and even the presence of the knights guarding the base of the mountain. Everything around him felt as if it were within reach.

"Hmm."

Raon smacked his lips.

'I want to test it out.'

To use his power in a real fight, he needed to know exactly how much he could do now.

'I'll go back to the mountain after today's training.'

The clearing in the Northern Peak where Rimer had taught him about the wind seemed like a good place to test it out.

- Roar!

With a smile of anticipation, Raon walked toward the training ground when Las let out a roar.

- Damn it!

The little guy was still emitting a fierce cold and anger, though it was no longer threatening due to his weakened state.

- How did you see the furnace at that moment?

'Well, I was lucky.'

- Don't kid me! Did you think I wouldn't know you were pulling me in?

Las ground his teeth.

'You monster!'

Raon Ziegfried's ability to block cold and mental attacks was expected.

'I thought it wouldn't matter.'

I believed I could devour his body and soul in an instant, as I had done before.

'But I was wrong.'

He was different.

From the beginning, I targeted the moment when a human's mind is weakest, the state of no-mind where the mental barrier is at its lowest after reaching the peak of cultivation.

Despite unleashing all the anger and cold I had accumulated, Raon's mind did not break.

With his extreme mental strength, he held on and used the heat of the furnace to push me away.

It's still hard to believe that my perfect plan failed.

'Where did such a guy come from...'

Even seasoned demons couldn't endure the pain that the young boy endured without flinching. It was so absurd that I was speechless.

Swallow.

Las swallowed dryly. The terrifying thought that he might have to hang from the kid's arm for the rest of his life crossed his mind.

'I can't let that happen.'

He clenched his teeth. Although he had failed before and today, he couldn't keep giving up.

- Raon Ziegfried. Don't get too comfortable. I haven't even started yet.

"Sure. Try your best."

Raon nodded slightly and walked toward the training ground. That indifferent reaction. The more I see him, the more annoying he becomes.

- Listen up. I, the great demon, don't know the word 'give up.' I'll devour your body and kill everyone around you...

"Good luck."

- Aaaah!

With Raon's matter-of-fact response, Las exploded for the second time.

* * *

Lunan stood in the center of the training ground, staring at the door.

'When will he come?'

Recently, everyone knew Raon's condition was not good, and they knew the reason.

Aura.

Even the kids who started cultivation later than Raon had all created auras, but he still hadn't managed to stabilize his after seven months.

In the 5th training ground, Raon was the only one who hadn't obtained an aura.

After defeating Baren and being recognized as the top student, the kids who had once acknowledged him changed their minds. They now hoped the top position would go to Martha, Baren, or themselves.

'I want to help him.'

Raon had helped her a lot. Training beside him had led to higher achievements, and the refreshing scent he exuded always made her feel good during training.

'Mom said so too.'

Mom had told her to repay those who helped her. So she brought her favorite pearl ice cream again.

Last time, she gave him the last one, but this time, she had three left. She hoped he would eat this and regain his energy.

Click.

As Lunan was stroking the box containing the pearl ice cream, the training ground door opened, and the long-awaited Raon entered.

Tap tap.

She ran up to Raon and stood in front of him. Since he was used to her clinging, his expression didn't change much.

Rustle.

She handed him the small box she was holding.

"Try hard."

Lunan nodded at Raon, who took the box somewhat surprisedly.

'Hmm?'

As she was about to step back to her usual five-step distance, she noticed a stronger, refreshing scent coming from Raon.

Sniff sniff.

It wasn't a mistake. It was a refreshing scent that made her heart flutter.

Lunan's eyes sparkled as she took a step closer to Raon than usual.

* * *

'Why is he doing this again?'

Raon narrowed his eyes. He had come down the mountain in a good mood, but Lunan was sniffing him from a much closer distance than usual, which was a bit awkward.

He looked at the box Lunan had given him. It was the box containing the pearl ice cream.

When he opened it, white cold mist rose, and three pearl ice creams of different colors were inside.

- Wow! It's pearl ice cream!

A voice full of anticipation came from Las.

"Is this for me to eat?"

"Uh-huh."

Lunan, who had been sniffing, opened her eyes and nodded.

- From today, I recognize this girl as my ice cream girl. Raon, eat it all! I want to taste the other flavors too. Start with the black one in the middle...

'Move back a bit.'

He took out a black ice cream from the box and put it in his mouth. It was cool and sweet, like chocolate dancing in his mouth. It was so sweet that it made him feel happy just from eating it.

- Incredible! The coolness fills your mouth, and the sweet chocolate wraps around your tongue like a ribbon. It's a divine taste!

Las described the taste of the ice cream in detail and smoothly, as if he were a critic.

- Eat more! This time, the red one...

"Hmm..."

Lunan, who seemed to want to eat, licked her lips slightly.

"Thanks, it's delicious."

Raon handed the box with two ice creams left back to Lunan.

"Are you not going to eat more?"

Lunan looked at the returned box with a blank expression.

"Enough. Thanks."

- Enough? I'm still hungry! Eat it all!

'Can't you see she wants to eat it? Act your age.'

Raon pressed Las, who was causing a commotion, with his palm.

"Feeling better?"

"Huh? Oh..."

Raon smiled at Lunan, who was looking back and forth between him and the box.

'Sure enough.'

Seeing her expression of wanting to eat confirmed it. Lunan had given him the ice cream to help him regain his energy.

Though she had few expressions and spoke little, Lunan was a kind and affectionate child.

"Feeling better. Thanks."

"Uh-huh!"

Lunan smiled and took the box, holding it close to her chest like a treasure hunter who had found a treasure.

"But."

"Uh?"

"Never mind."

Lunan shook her head in the middle of speaking. The strange thing was that she was closer than usual and sniffed more often.

'I really don't get it.'

Raon shrugged and waited for Rimer to come back and clean up.

* * *

"I'm planning something special a month from now."

Rimer, who was ten minutes late for the training session, grinned.

"Teacher, you're late again. Ten minutes is enough time to swing a sword a hundred times."

Baren frowned and raised his hand.

"Ah, sorry. I needed some preparation."

Rimer apologized with a familiar gesture but continued with a smile. Though he said he was sorry, his expression showed no regret. He just smiled.

"Hmm."

Baren's displeasure was clear, but he lowered his hand.

"You'll enjoy it. It's been a while since we've had a proper training session."

Rimer smiled and pointed behind him. A circular pattern was drawn on the back of the training ground.

"After seven months of building a foundation and continuous cultivation, it's time to heat things up. We'll have a sparring session a month from now."

"Whoa!"

"Finally!"

"Sparring!"

The children roared in excitement. It was natural for them to be happy, as they finally had a chance to test the auras and sword skills they had been practicing repeatedly.

Baren's frown smoothed out, and Martha's cold smile widened. Lunan's blank expression remained unchanged.

"The results of the sparring will be part of your graduation scores and will determine the rankings. It's best to prepare well over the next month."

"Excuse me."

Martha, who had been smiling leisurely, called out to Rimer.

"What about the lagging friend who still hasn't created an aura?"

Though she didn't name him, everyone looked at Raon.

Raon, despite the attention from the other students, showed no reaction. He looked at Rimer with a calm expression.

"Fortunately, that friend has finally created an aura."

"Really? When...?"

"Yesterday? Today?"

"Oh, is that so?"

Martha's head snapped around. Her black eyes gleamed like a black pearl buried in mud.

"Finally, the opportunity has come. I was almost bored to death."

She approached with a smile, a mix of mockery and arrogance.

"Remember what I said before. I don't take orders from someone weaker than me. I think I've been patient enough. Let's end this. You..."

"Martha Ziegfried. Step back."

Before Raon could step forward, Baren intervened.

"Are you saying you have no honor as a knight, planning to spar with someone who just obtained an aura a day ago?"

"Hah! Honor?"

Martha curled her lip. She shook her finger, drawing a clear sneer.

"Do you think honor feeds you in a noble family?"

"Martha."

"Honor is only shown to those who deserve it. The lagging ones behind you managed to create auras in a month, but our top student took over half a year."

She pointed to the recommended students practicing the Linden Aura Cultivation Technique.

"Even with a high-level cultivation technique, creating an aura in seven months means he has no talent. You know this best, don't you?"

"Hmm..."

Baren frowned and pursed his lips.

'Surely...'

He himself had mastered a top-tier aura cultivation technique in two weeks. No matter how great the technique, it was a problem if it took over half a year to reach the first level.

"I acknowledge that he has talent in swordsmanship and martial arts, but that's all. If he has no talent for auras, it's meaningless."

"Hmm."

"True."

"There are no famous martial artists with weak auras."

The students nodded in agreement with Martha's words.

"Is the teacher's sudden sparring plan to change the top student?"

"Maybe?"

Rimer raised an eyebrow and shrugged.

"Raon Ziegfried. You've been in the top position for too long, considering your abilities. No one follows you... or rather, only a few. It's time to give up that position, don't you think?"

Martha glanced at Dorian and a few other students behind Raon and smiled.

"As we discussed before, the winner of the sparring will take the top student's position..."

"No."

Before Martha could finish, Raon shook his head.

"What?"

"Do you think you can sit at a gambling table without any money? If I put my top position on the line, you should put something of equal value on the table."

"Do you know what's going on here? Your supporters are... few."

"Scared?"

Raon tilted his chin and smiled, a deeper sneer than Martha's.

"Scared? Are you talking to me? Hah! Fine. I'll accept your last provocation."

Martha smirked, her black eyes filled with irritation as she took out a small wooden box from her robes.

"This is the spirit medicine, Gua Hua Dan, given to me by my father. If you win the sparring, I'll give it to you."

Gua Hua Dan is a spirit medicine made from nine herbs, known for its ability to enhance the body and aura.

'Las, this is the moment I mentioned before.'

- What do you mean?

'I told you I would find something to eat from Martha. This is it.'

He already knew Martha had the spirit medicine from the chatterbox Dorian.

'Gua Hua Dan is perfect.'

Raon smiled thinly at the wooden box containing Gua Hua Dan and the provoked Martha.

As a prize for a sure win.