Chapter 51

Jake watched as Raon ascended to the training arena and moistened his lips with his tongue.

'Finally.'

After a tedious and monotonous time, the most crucial moment of his visit today had arrived.

Rumble.

He slowly rotated the mana circle in his heart, careful not to let Rimer notice.

'I need to hide magic within magic.'

He had to layer spells to ensure the orc could inflict a fatal wound on Raon.

"Sir Mage."

As he prepared the incantations for several spells in his mind, Rimer approached.

"That one is the strongest here. Please bring out the strongest orc among the monsters you have."

"Understood."

Jake nodded, moistening his lips.

'What a relief.'

With the direct request to enhance the orc, it became much easier to use the hidden spell. He barely managed to suppress a smile as he began the incantation.

"Summon Monster."

Jake raised his hand and summoned the orc from the Dulan Mountains that Karun had given him.

Boom!

The ground shook as the largest orc yet emerged from the drawn magic circle.

Its fangs protruded from its mouth, reaching its ears, its muscles bulged with elasticity, and its eyes were ferociously bloodthirsty.

"Raaaah!"

The orc's roar made the trainees' faces pale.

"Ah, quite a strong-looking orc."

Rimer, unable to discern anything unusual, nodded in approval.

"Then I will cast the enhancement spell."

"Ah, go ahead."

"Strength, Endurance."

As Jake cast the physical enhancement spells, he embedded the Berserker spell he had prepared in advance into the orc's body.

The Berserker spell increases the target's physical abilities by more than 1.5 times. Moreover, this orc was from the Dulan Mountains, far beyond the level a mere trainee could handle.

With such a ferocious creature, it would surely sever one of Raon's arms before the instructor intervened.

Jake extended his wrist to make the orc appear in human form and nodded.

"Prepare for the duel."

As Raon nodded and began to warm up, Jake activated the Berserker spell embedded in the orc's body.

"Roooar!"

As the Berserker spell activated, the orc's muscles swelled, and the magic circle restraining it shattered.

"Raaaah!"

The orc, naturally, charged at Raon, who was the closest.

Bang!

The orc, with its massively bulging muscles, sprinted, filled with an overwhelming intent to kill Raon instantly.

'Got it!'

Raon hadn't even drawn his sword. Under the orc's murderous intent, at least one of his arms would surely be severed.

Jake watched with a gleeful expression as the orc swung its sword at Raon.

Swish!

Not a red line, but a golden line, like the setting sun, cut through the dark sky.

"Keh…"

The orc's body stiffened, and its head fell to the ground.

"What, what is this!"

What is this!

An orc from the Dulan Mountains, with all kinds of enhancement spells and the Berserker spell that boosts all abilities by 1.5 times.

Raon had cut down this monster with a single strike. Without hesitation, fear, or naivety, it was a perfect strike, as if he were already a master swordsman.

It was beautiful, despite the situation.

Boom!

As the orc's body collapsed, Raon Zighard's eyes met Jake's. The fiery red eyes made Jake's heart sink.

"Ugh!"

Jake fell backward without realizing it, clutching his throat. The overwhelming aura from the young trainee made it hard to breathe, as if his lungs had vanished.

'Monster…'

He stumbled backward, and just before he wet his pants, the intense killing intent ceased.

"Ah…"

The killing intent was gone, but the fear remained. As Jake trembled, Rimer approached.

"Sir Mage, you seem very tired. After all, you've been summoning monsters all day."

Rimer chuckled and helped Jake up.

"Still, only one more is left. He's very enthusiastic. Please try just one more time."

Rimer's finger pointed to Runan, who stood in front of the training arena.

"Y-Yes, I understand."

Jake nodded, his jaw trembling. As long as he didn't meet Raon Zighard's eyes, he felt he could do anything.

He regulated his rapid breathing and prepared for the final summoning.

* * *

"Runan, are you okay? Can you do it?"

"Yes."

In response to Rimer's question, Runan nodded vigorously and ascended to the training arena.

The floor was soaked with blood, but her eyes remained unwavering. Her violet eyes, devoid of fear, looked straight ahead.

"Please prepare."

"Ah, understood."

Jake, trembling, raised his hand and summoned the orc. Despite his fear, he cast the enhancement spells properly.

"Then, I will begin."

He cast the final illusion to make the orc appear human and released the magic circle restraining it.

"Raaaah!"

As the orc charged, Runan drew her sword.

Swoosh!

A pale blue aura rose in the air, accompanied by a silver mist.

"Roooar!"

Frost spread, freezing the orc's skin, but it couldn't stop the orc's charge. The orc, covered in frost, continued to rush forward.

"Hmm."

Runan slightly pursed her lips and stepped lightly, dodging the orc's axe by sliding left and right.

"Kiaa!"

The orc, despite its frozen skin, did not retreat. With a resolve to die together, it continued to swing its axe.

"Hmm."

Runan couldn't easily strike with her sword and only dodged the axe. However, the frost emanating from her sword continued to freeze the orc, which was already more than half frozen.

Tsk.

Raon, watching Runan, who only emitted frost to avoid the orc, clicked his tongue.

'Not resolved yet.'

Since ascending to the training arena, Runan hadn't swung her sword once. She only ran and froze the orc.

'Too kind.'

The reason Runan was brainwashed by Sera was simple.

She was too kind.

Knowing what death was at a young age, she feared blood and couldn't hurt the orc.

This was different from his past self, who had killed to survive.

Runan, often mistaken for being haughty due to her cold appearance and eyes, had a completely opposite personality.

'That kindness shows in her swordsmanship.'

In the duel, she didn't imbue her blade with cold but spread frost in the air to subdue the opponent without causing injury.

Runan was the kindest and most gentle person in this 5th training arena. Sera had used this kindness, chaining her heart to manipulate her.

'Runan.'

Thinking back, Runan might have approached him in the training hall not to follow the training method but out of concern for him being alone.

"Runan!"

"Just cut it down!"

"Runan!"

The instructors and trainees called out Runan's name, but she only blocked the orc's axe, unable to attack and only running.

"Ugh…"

Perhaps from using too much aura to spread frost, Runan's movements gradually slowed. In contrast, the orc, despite most of its body being frozen, swung its axe with even more ferocity.

"Hmm."

Raon licked his lips and stood up. He couldn't let the orc freeze to death. He needed to finish it himself to break Sera's brainwashing.

"Runan!"

For the first time, Runan turned her head in response to someone's call.

"It's okay."

Smiling and assuring her that everything would be fine, Runan's wavering eyes stopped. Her violet eyes emitted a deep silver light, like an untouched snowfield.

Raon felt the darkness in her eyes dissipate like dust.

"Kiaaa!"

The moment the orc raised its axe to strike Runan's head, a silver trajectory soared through the air.

Crack!

The silver blade split the axe handle and pierced the orc's heart.

"Keh…"

The orc's mad eyes went out like a candle, and it fell backward.

Squish!

Warm blood spurted from the orc's heart, which hadn't fully frozen. Runan's hands were soaked in the orc's blood, but her expression remained calm.

She turned to look at him. Nodding as if asking if it was good, he nodded back.

- She's free.

'Yes.'

Raon smiled. There was no fear in Runan's expression now.

Instead, she wore a refreshing, clear smile.

It would take more time, but Sera's darkness was definitely lifted. The brainwashing she created could no longer consume Runan.

'I know this better than anyone.'

Having lived most of his past life under brainwashing, he was certain of this.

"Ugh…"

"What, what is this?"

"Why did Raon say something to suddenly change like this?"

"Wh-What."

The trainees, seeing Runan's ability to freeze the orc with a single strike and Raon's influence, gaped in shock.

Balen and Martha also looked at him with trembling eyes, clearly surprised.

"What did you say, exactly?"

Dorian approached with wide eyes.

"Nothing much."

Raon smiled and shook his head.

"She did it on her own."

Giving a suitable response, he looked up at the platform. Jake, who met his eyes, gasped and stumbled backward.

'Now, then.'

It was time to instill fear in that guy, so he wouldn't dare to touch them again.

Boom!

Just as he was about to send a thin, sharp aura to the platform, Rimer intervened.

"You don't seem to be feeling well. Let's end it here."

Rimer chuckled and helped Jake up.

"Tsk."

Raon clicked his tongue and dissipated his killing intent.

'It's not over yet.'

He hadn't instilled fear deep into Jake's soul. While this would prevent him from attacking again or having foolish thoughts, he regretted not seeing him wet his pants.

"Everyone, well done."

Rimer, supporting Jake, smiled.

"Honestly, it wasn't an easy training, but you all did better than I expected."

He gave them a thumbs up.

"Today's experience will be very helpful in real combat. Once you pick up a sword, never hesitate. Your hesitation can lead to a comrade's death. Understand?"

"Yes, sir!"

The trainees stood straight and answered loudly.

"Good to hear. You're ready for real missions now."

"Ooh!"

"Mission?"

"Really?"

The mention of a mission brightened the children's faces.

"Yes. Start preparing slowly. That's all for today's training. Finally, let's give a round of applause to Sir Mage Jake for his efforts today!"

"Thank you!"

Rimer, hearing the trainees' applause, led Jake out of the training arena.

* * *

"Ugh…"

Jake, supported by Rimer, left the 5th training arena. He wanted to move on his own, but the shock from Raon's killing intent left his limbs weak.

"You must have pushed yourself too hard."

Rimer, seemingly unaware, gently supported him and led him to the magic tower.

"Phew…"

Feeling the cool breeze, his senses gradually returned.

"I, I'm fine now. I can go on my own from here."

Jake stopped near the 3rd training arena, where the combat unit was training. He needed to report today's failure to the main hall.

"Ah, is that so? Understood."

Rimer nodded and helped Jake sit on a nearby chair.

"Thank you for your help."

Jake, sitting, bowed to Rimer. When he raised his head, he realized something had changed.

The strong wind that had been blowing, fluttering his clothes, had completely stopped. It was as if the wind had vanished.

And in front of him, a chilling killing intent rose, making his skin crawl.

He didn't want to see it. But a strange force compelled him to raise his head.

There he was.

The monster that had unleashed madness beside Glen Zighard decades ago. Zighard's mad sword, with its golden eyes, looked down at him.

"A-Ah…"

His throat tightened, and his nose bled. He couldn't move a finger.

'I heard he collapsed…'

He had heard that Zighard's mad sword had become a cripple due to a damaged dantian. But that wasn't true. The monster might have weakened, but it hadn't disappeared.

"Go and tell them."

Rimer's cold voice made his teeth chatter.

"Whether he's the son of the head or not, if he touches our kids, I'll cut off his head."

The wind didn't blow, but blood spurted from his cheek, and his skin split. The killing intent alone was cutting his body.

"Ugh!"

This man knew everything. He had known and simply watched to see how far it would go.

"A-Ah…"

His heart felt like it had stopped. Paralyzed by fear, he couldn't do anything.

Boom!

A thick green wind surged from the ground where Rimer stood.

"Ah!"

Jake, blinded by the intense wind, thought about his end. But there was no pain.

When the wind subsided, and he cautiously opened his eyes, Rimer was gone. But the killing intent he left behind lingered in the air.

"Ah! Master or disciple, they're all monsters, monsters…"

Jake knelt on the ground, water streaming from his eyes, nose, and mouth. His eyes darted back and forth like those of a madman.

"Ugh!"

Unlike Raon's regret, Jake's soul was deeply and thoroughly imprinted with fear.