Chapter 85

Raon answered Roen's question and left the main hall.

'What is he thinking?'

I wonder if he really intends to give a bad gift as Roen said, or if he wants to ask more questions about Eden.

'I still can't figure out his personality.'

Through countless experiences, I can read people's psychology to some extent, but Glen's inner thoughts are as invisible as if shrouded in fog.

"Raon!"

As soon as I left the main hall, a familiar voice called out. Sylvia, with red-rimmed eyes, bit her lip and ran over.

"Oh my!"

She knelt down, ignoring the fact that her clothes were being stepped on, and examined Raon's body.

"Y-You fought Eden! Is your arm okay? Why is your waist like this!"

"I'm fine. It's almost healed."

Raon smiled gently. The medicine Limer applied was very effective, and he was almost fully recovered.

"I... "

Sylvia looked at the thick bandages wrapped around his arm, waist, and thigh, and bit her lip tightly. Her expression suggested that tears were about to fall.

'Ah, right...'

She had lost her husband and first daughter to Eden. She felt that she had been too indifferent.

"Mom. I... "

"I regret it."

Sylvia bowed her head. Her hands, which were gripping his arm, trembled.

"I told you before you left on the mission that I wanted to see a side of you that was worthy of Sieghart."

"Ah... "

"When I heard that you fought the Green Blood Demon alone and blocked the Red Blood Demon to save everyone, I really regretted it."

Tears finally fell from her eyes.

"I was afraid that my words might have led you to make that choice. I really... "

Her pronunciation was strange because of her tears, but I could feel what she was trying to say and the emotions behind it.

"I wasn't just a bad swordsman, but a bad mother... "

"I'm grateful to you, Mom."

He held her trembling hands. His warm hands seemed to speak for his heart.

"Grateful? Really?"

"Yes."

He nodded and smiled faintly.

"When I fought the Red Blood Demon alone, I had many thoughts. Should I run? How? Should I give orders to Barren and escape alone? Could I survive by using the trainees and people as bait and running away?"

Raon looked at Sylvia's trembling eyes with an embarrassed expression.

"At that moment, I heard Mom's voice. 'I wish you could live up to the standards of Sieghart's knights, at least.'"

Indeed, if it weren't for Sylvia's voice, which seemed to ring in my ears, I would have fled without saving the village elder and without looking back.

"Ah... "

"If it weren't for those words, I would have died after abandoning everyone and fleeing. Even if I had survived, I would have regretted it for the rest of my life and never picked up a sword again."

He exhaled, recalling the chilling emotions of that moment.

"I blocked the Red Blood Demon and fought to the end because of Mom's words. There's no need to apologize or regret."

Why did I fight the Red Blood Demon? Why did I have to be a shield for others? I endured that painful moment because of my own choice, influenced by her words.

"Sniff... "

Sylvia, who had been holding back her tears, finally burst into sobs. It seemed she had been carrying the burden of Eden's news in her heart.

"It's okay."

Raon, recalling the words Sylvia used to comfort him when he was young, patted her back.

* * *

Raon stayed by Sylvia's side until she fell asleep from exhaustion, then left her room. Helen was waiting outside the door.

"To think that such a small and young young master could comfort the lady, I can die without regrets now."

Helen pretended to cry, covering her eyes with her fingers.

"What do you mean by 'without regrets'? Live a long life. I'll treat you and Mom well."

"That's enough for me, young master."

"I don't plan to just say it."

Raon waved his hand and closed Sylvia's door.

"Then I'll wait with joy."

"Sure."

He nodded and entered his room. In the dark room with the curtains drawn, a slender figure was visible.

"Judele."

Raon called out her name as he sat on the bed, knowing who she was.

"Yes, young master."

Judele, who had been standing by the window, knelt in front of Raon and prostrated herself. Her expression was as cold as marble.

"What's the situation?"

"I've been ordered to return to the main hall. It seems I will be punished."

"Hmm..."

Raon looked at Judele's head and sighed.

'A way to vent his anger.'

Karon Sieghart sent Judele to the annex. Since I couldn't bring back the information about my ascension to Sword Expert and I provoked him in the audience hall just now, he seems to have decided to punish Judele.

'However...'

Judele remained calm even in a situation where her life was at risk.

I thought she was ordinary when I saw her trembling with fear by the lake, but it seems she received proper training as a spy.

"Do you want to live?"

Raon spoke slowly, as if it didn't matter whether Judele lived or died.

Of course, he was planning to save her. He couldn't just abandon a double agent he had worked hard to acquire.

"..."

Judele slowly raised her head. Her eyes, like a lake reflecting the moonlight, trembled. Just as I felt when I first met her, she had a strong attachment to life.

"I'll tell you how to survive."

"Really?"

"Instead of going to the main hall, send a letter saying you've become a personal maid to Raon Sieghart."

"Ah... "

"Your mother, who was worried about my condition, chose you. This way, you won't be suspected."

Raon pointed to his bandaged wounds. If it were known that my injuries were more severe than they actually were, this plan would definitely work.

Moreover, Karon would think that a spy he sent to the annex becoming my direct subordinate would make it easier to extract valuable information.

"That's true. But why are you showing me such consideration...?"

"It's not consideration. It would be a waste to lose a double agent."

"Hmm..."

"Besides, I'll give you some good information. Everyone thinks my injuries are severe, but I'm already mostly recovered. I plan to pretend to recover from my injuries and train in the annex."

Raon gave Judele information about the extent of his injuries without hesitation.

"Only the head of the house and Instructor Limer know this. If you bring this information, it will show that you are helpful."

"That's true."

Judele, whose chin was trembling, nodded.

"Then what are you waiting for?"

He pointed to the door with his finger.

"Go immediately and write this information in a note and send it. If you don't control your expression, they'll find out."

"Ah, I understand!"

Judele covered her cheeks with her hands, bowed, and left the room.

-Your every word and action is pitiful. What use do you have for such a useless spy?

'I'll make her a trap to stab Karon Sieghart in the back. And...'

Raon muttered to himself, looking at the door that was barely visible in the darkness.

It's like seeing my former self.

* * *

Raon, who had been lying on the bed in a daze, got up as soon as the moon was directly overhead.

It wasn't because of the agreed time, but because he sensed someone outside the window.

"Fortunately, you were waiting."

When he opened the window, Roen was smiling.

"Since you said that, I couldn't sleep."

Raon put on his coat and climbed out the window.

"So what did you mean by what you said earlier?"

He spoke, looking at Roen's wrinkled eyes.

"How could I know the head of the house's intentions? You'll see when you get there."

"Hmm..."

He asked to understand the meaning, but Roen was not easily swayed. He clearly knew something but wouldn't answer.

They headed to the main hall, having a light conversation. Strangely, the presence of the knights who were guarding this area had disappeared.

'No one is around.'

Raon followed Roen and entered the main hall without encountering anyone. Even the maids, servants, and knights who usually guarded the main hall were nowhere to be seen.

It seemed Roen had cleared the area in advance.

"Hmm..."

His heart raced with an indescribable sense of unease and tension.

"There's no need to be so tense. The young master's actions were a proud achievement."

He said this and opened the door to the audience hall. The massive doors parted, and light flooded in.

The light was brilliant during the selection ceremony and vivid during the day, but now it was gentle and soothing.

Following Roen into the audience hall, Glen Sieghart, who had been sitting on the throne like a statue, opened his eyes.

'Phew...'

Just that made the relaxed atmosphere of the audience hall tense again.

"I see the head of the house."

"Enough."

As he was about to kneel and bow, his body froze as if turned to stone.

'This aura...'

It wasn't his will. Glen had stopped him with just his voice.

'Really...'

Raon shivered, feeling the next level of martial arts, and raised his head.

Thud.

Glen, who had been staring at him intently, removed his hand from his chin.

"Raon Sieghart."

"Yes, head of the house."

His voice trembled as he bowed his head in response to the call.

"What do you think about footwork?"

'Footwork.'

Footwork is the art of walking.

It's about creating the most efficient path to move in any situation, whether for attack, defense, evasion, or escape.

"I believe it is the most important martial art that determines a warrior's life and death based on its mastery."

"Hmm."

Glen nodded slightly, almost imperceptibly. It seemed to be a satisfactory answer, but also not.

"What footwork did you use when fighting the Green Blood Demon and the Red Blood Demon?"

"I used the Garan Footwork."

Raon used not only the Garan Footwork but also the Shadowless Footwork from his previous life, but he didn't mention it.

"The Garan Footwork is a good footwork that can be used even after reaching a high level, but it is too simple."

That's true.

The Garan Footwork is undoubtedly an excellent footwork, but it only contains basic forms.

On the other hand, the Shadowless Footwork, which focuses on evasion and stealth, is a mediocre footwork unless used for assassination.

He had planned to ask for a new footwork after receiving a card, but that plan was completely derailed.

"Raon."

Just as he was feeling disappointed, Glen called his name again.

"At the noon ceremony, you were rewarded with a silver card for beheading the Green Blood Demon and standing up to the Red Blood Demon. However, you received nothing for discovering their purpose."

Raon involuntarily swallowed. From what Glen had said so far, he could guess what would come next.

"As a reward for discovering Eden's purpose, I will teach you a footwork that suits you."

Glen stood up from the throne. It felt as if the highest mountain in the continent, Mount Elister, was rising before his eyes.

He walked down the dais, placing his right foot forward and his left foot back. It was both noble like a nobleman and rough like a commander on the battlefield.

"Watch carefully. This is your only chance."