Chapter 91

Sword Duel

As the name suggests, it is a duel with swords, but there are two conditions.

The first is that both participants must have the qualifications of a swordsman. The second is that each must set a condition for victory.

Raon thought that a sword duel was the best way to get out of this situation and somehow brought up the word.

"Since this is the land of swordsmen, could you allow us to decide by the way of swordsmen?"

Glen nodded, calming his intense aura.

"Indeed, I did say that. It's not a wrong statement."

"Lord, Lord! I also request it!"

Raiden clapped his hands in agreement and stepped forward.

"I also have a debt to repay to him. Please allow the sword duel!"

"Hmm."

Although the situation was sudden, Valder seemed to think that a sword duel was better and stepped back, closing his mouth.

"Raon Zighard. By mentioning the sword duel first, you must be confident, right?"

"Yes."

Raon nodded confidently.

"Raiden Zighard."

This time, Glen's gaze turned to Raiden.

"Yes!"

"According to what I've heard, you were outmatched by Raon from start to finish. Do you have confidence that you can win if you fight again?"

"O-of course. I was complacent because I didn't know his sword would fly. If we fight again, I can crush him overwhelmingly!"

Raiden nodded vigorously, like a woodpecker pecking at a tree.

"A small entertainment, then."

Glen's lips, rarely seen, curved slightly.

"Raiden. What is it that you want?"

"To destroy Raon Zighard's dantian and sever his mana circuits."

"Mana circuits and dantian, huh."

"Yes. Both of them!"

"Permitted."

Despite the brutal conditions, Glen's expression remained unchanged.

"Thank you!"

Raiden's face brightened as if a magic lamp had been turned on.

"Raon Zighard."

"Yes."

"What do you want if you win the sword duel?"

"For Raiden Zighard and his butler to kneel and apologize to my mother and her maids, and to provide material compensation. And to not approach the annex in any way related to the Jinmu Hall."

"Apology and no approach. That is also permitted."

"Father! The apology is Raiden's matter, but the no-approach is related to the Jinmu Hall. It exceeds the authority that can be achieved through a sword duel…."

"Valder."

Glen's red eyes turned to Valder, who lowered his eyes to the floor as if facing the sun.

"Last warning."

"I'm sorry."

Valder stepped back and bowed deeply.

Roar.

Glen, maintaining his storm-like aura, looked at Raon and Raiden in turn.

"Your conditions are all permitted. We will hold the sword duel at the grand training ground in a week."

"Yes."

"Thank you!"

Raon and Raiden bowed simultaneously.

"The conversation is over. You may leave."

"Yes."

Raon, having said everything he needed to, left the audience chamber.

"A sword duel, so you're finally taking our side."

Valder stepped forward and smiled.

"No matter how talented he is, or that he is Sylvia's son, he is still a collateral. I will show the clear difference between the direct and collateral lines. Raiden, are you confident?"

"Of course. Through this mission, I reached Expert Mid. A newly minted Expert Low like him is no match for me."

Raiden and Valder, father and son, narrowed their eyes and smiled.

"Why not just kill him in the sword duel? To prevent arrogant collateral members from rising."

"No, everyone will be watching, so that's not good. It's better to cripple him and crush his hope. For both mother and son to become cripples with their dantian and mana circuits severed, it sounds amusing just to think about it."

Valder laughed maliciously, seemingly harboring ill will towards Raon and Sylvia, who were his younger brother and niece.

"Indeed, that sounds right."

Raiden nodded with a grin. The two seemed to already be talking as if they had won the sword duel and Raon was in their grasp.

"You may also leave."

"Yes."

"See you in a week."

Raiden and Valder left the audience chamber with smiles on their faces.

"Lord."

After everyone left, Roen stood in front of Glen.

"Master Raon is at Expert Low, and Master Raiden has already stabilized at Expert Mid. Isn't it dangerous given the clear difference in their levels?"

Roen's voice lowered slightly, as he usually had a good impression of Raon.

"A swordsman's battle is not decided by mere levels or sword techniques. The most important factor is who the person is."

"I know that, but…."

"Of course, there is a difference in their levels. However, Raon's eyes were calm. He had confidence, not arrogance or overconfidence, in facing someone he had beaten before. Seeing those eyes, I couldn't help but believe in him."

Glen smiled softly, his eyes warm as if watching a grandchild's antics.

'Besides…'

Unlike Raiden, Raon thought of his family rather than himself when setting the conditions. There was no mention of protection or compensation for himself. The more he saw, the more he liked the boy.

"Roen."

"Yes."

"Find any excuse to halve the Jinmu Hall's budget next month. Recall all missions."

"There will be resistance."

"Doesn't matter. Tell them to come to me if they have complaints."

"Um, understood."

Roen bowed and looked up at Glen, who had a rare look of anger in his eyes.

'Of course, he's touching a sore spot.'

Sylvia and Raon were sore spots for Glen. It seemed he couldn't forgive them no matter what.

'He's gradually returning to his old self.'

Roen smiled, hiding his face. Glen's appearance was like a grandfather avenging his grandson, making him laugh involuntarily.

* * *

When Raon returned to the annex, Sylvia and the maids were all outside.

"Why are you out here?"

"How did it go?"

Sylvia's hands, clasped in front of her chest, trembled. She seemed confident in her own matters but nervous about her son's.

"A sword duel has been set for a week from now."

"A sword duel?"

"A sword duel?!"

Sylvia and Helen grabbed Raon's shoulders and arms, shaking him.

"What? What did you say?"

"No, what could have happened to lead to a sword duel…."

Their eyes, like sails hit by a storm, wavered. The maids couldn't close their mouths, gasping in shock.

"I've thought about it from all angles, and a sword duel is the best way."

Raon said, meeting Sylvia's eyes.

"There's no other way."

We are collateral, and they are direct. Not only to make Raiden kneel, but to protect the annex, we need to gain Glen's recognition through a sword duel.

"But Raon, what you saw isn't all of Raiden."

Sylvia approached and held his hand. The tremor from her hand traveled up his wrist.

"Valder's weapon is a flexible sword. Raiden must have learned flexible sword techniques. When he reveals his true strength, he'll be completely different from yesterday!"

"Y-yes, Master. The swords of the Jinmu Hall's swordsmen are famous for their versatility. You shouldn't underestimate it. He'll be stronger than the Green Demon you defeated!"

"This time, he won't be complacent, and you haven't fully recovered from your injuries! It's definitely not possible. I need to go to Father! If I ask him now…."

"Mom."

Raon stopped Sylvia, who was about to run to the main hall, by holding her shoulder.

"It's okay. Trust me."

A faint smile made Sylvia, who was about to run, turn around.

"Lord told me something."

"Father did?"

"Yes. Using that, I can win."

"Um…."

"Also, the training ban we agreed on will be nullified."

Raon finished speaking and entered the annex. Sylvia stood there, unable to stop him.

"Lady, even if he learned from Lord, shouldn't you stop Master?"

Helen stood beside Sylvia, swallowing hard.

"I tried, but when I saw Raon's eyes, I felt a sense of relief I can't explain."

"Um, actually, I…."

Helen nodded, feeling the same emotion.

"Still, we can't just stand by. Let's find something we can do for Raon, even if it's small."

"Yes."

The maids bowed in unison. Judioel, standing at the end, looked at the annex where Sylvia and Raon had entered, her eyes gleaming.

* * *

Raon changed into training clothes in his room and headed to the annex courtyard. The maids glanced at him as he passed, but he ignored them.

'The sword duel is urgent now.'

News of the sword duel will spread quickly. Since he's already drawn attention, it's better to receive more to prevent the Jinmu Hall from doing anything else.

To achieve this, he needs to show an overwhelming victory, not just a win, in the sword duel.

"A flexible sword…."

A flexible sword is, simply put, a flexible sword.

From slightly elastic to freely bending like a whip, there are various types of flexible swords.

The Jinmu Hall's swordsmen are those who harmonize their flashy sword techniques with such flexible swords.

The more skilled a swordsman, the more flexible the sword. Standing before a skilled flexible sword user can feel like facing a wall of swords.

'Raiden's flexible sword must be incredibly elastic.'

As the son of the Jinmu Hall's head, Raiden's flexible sword technique must be far superior to the average.

However, he didn't feel the slightest doubt about winning.

He had learned the Taihua Step directly from Glen and had assassinated a skilled flexible sword user in his previous life.

Whether Raiden used a flexible sword or was at Expert Mid, it held no meaning for him.

Clang!

Raon untied the bandages Sylvia had forcibly wrapped around him and drew his sword.

He performed the Flexible Sword Technique while stepping in the Galam Step. The movements, smooth like a single line, were already near perfection.

When he performed the final move of the Flexible Sword Technique, Raon took a different step from the Galam Step, extending his left foot instead of his right and pushing off the ground.

Swoosh!

At that moment, Raon's body became faint like dust and reappeared three steps ahead, as if he had vanished and reappeared right in front of you.

Whoosh!

Raon struck his sword. The sword strike seemed to split the air diagonally, a sword aura that could cut through anything in front of it.

"Huff…."

Raon exhaled and stopped his sword.

'This is the Taihua Step.'

The Taihua Step is not just a simple step.

It is a special footwork that can be inserted between other steps to create the most suitable movement at that moment.

With the thought of fighting those who insulted Sylvia and Helen firmly in his mind, his training quality seemed to improve.

If he uses this time to the fullest, he will surely become stronger.

"Then."

Raon stood up again and moved his feet, continuing until the rising sun blended into the darkness.

* * *

The next day, Raon's routine remained unchanged.

From dawn, he swung his sword in the courtyard, over and over. If someone else saw him, they might ask why he kept repeating the same thing, but Raon knew it was right.

'This repetition can save your life.'

In a life-or-death battle, what saves you is not a newly learned sword technique or an expensive armor.

Only continuous training, making martial arts as natural as breathing, can save you.

Raon didn't even take a break, moving his feet and swinging his sword.

He inserted the Taihua Step into the Galam Step, increasing his proficiency in the Taihua Step.

By the time lunch came, Judioel approached the courtyard with a tray covered in white cloth.

"Master, I've brought your lunch."

"Lunch?"

Raon stopped his training and turned around.

"Yes. I've brought sandwiches for a quick meal."

His stomach growling, Raon sheathed his sword and sat at the table where Judioel had placed the tray.

"Since you've been moving your body, eat slowly to avoid indigestion."

"Thank you."

"Yes."

Judioel bowed and returned to the annex.

Raon wiped his hands with a wet towel and lifted the white cloth covering the tray.

"Hmm?"

Next to the neatly cut sandwiches, there was a thin book he had never seen before.

'What's this?'

Frowning slightly, he picked up the book. It had no title, and the cover was smooth as if it had just been made.

"Ha!"

Raon chuckled as he opened the book. Inside were the names and characteristics of the sword techniques and steps that Raiden Zighard had learned.

They were neatly organized and perfectly arranged for easy reading.

'This book…'

It was clearly a book containing significant information, but it was not something that existed before.

'It's newly made.'

Judioel must have created this book in just one day, using information about Raiden and the Jinmu Hall.

To create such a book while performing her duties as a maid was no small feat. It was a talent too valuable to be left as just a spy.

"Hmm."

Raon smiled as he watched Judioel's retreating back.

"Not just useful, but more useful than I thought."