A small tavern behind the royal capital.
Despite it being midday, the tavern was full of people enjoying drinks and meals.
"Hey. Have you heard of the Sanctuary of Blades?"
The magician in a brown robe narrowed his eyes as he set down his glass.
"Sanctuary of Blades? Never heard of it."
The knight sitting across from him shook his head calmly.
"You're always slow with news."
"I was at the front lines until yesterday. It'd be strange if I knew the capital's news."
"It's not about the capital, but related to the Sword Saint's tomb."
"The Sword Saint's tomb?"
"Don't tell me you don't even know that the Sword Saint's tomb was discovered?"
"Of course I know that!"
The knight frowned, telling him not to underestimate him.
"Actually, they say the Sword Saint wasn't neutral, but belonged to Zieghart. The place where his tomb was found was also Zieghart land."
The magician in the brown robe leaned forward as he revealed the Sword Saint's secret. Perhaps to hear his words, the noisy tavern suddenly fell silent.
"Is... is that true?"
The knight stood up abruptly, as if he couldn't believe it.
"Given that everyone who survived from there is saying the same thing, it's definitely not a lie."
"Then the Sword Saint's Legacy..."
"Thanks to the consideration of the previous generation, the Light Wind Division Leader, Raon Zieghart, got it."
The magician in the brown robe nodded quickly.
"Huh, he's already a monster, but if he got the Sword Saint's Legacy, I can't even imagine how much he'll grow..."
The knight stammered, seemingly envious of Raon.
"Yeah. It's like a monster growing wings."
"But what about the Sanctuary of Blades you mentioned at first? Is it related to Raon Zieghart?"
"Looks like you're finally catching on. That's right."
The magician raised his voice, feeling the entire tavern's attention on him.
"As you might have guessed, not everyone aiming for the Sword Saint's Legacy entered the tomb. Many formed alliances and waited outside, to ambush whoever came out with the relic."
"They were planning to act like hyenas."
The knight frowned, calling them despicable.
"Right. They were expecting them to be tired and injured. They were aiming for that weakness. However..."
The magician in the brown robe pressed his lips tightly.
"Those guys didn't account for the 'monster obsessed with heads'."
"M-monster obsessed with heads?"
"I'm talking about Raon Zieghart. They say he made a declaration before he could be ambushed after coming out of the tomb. He said from now on, this place is Zieghart land. Put down your swords or get lost."
"So, so what happened next?"
The knight's hand holding the glass trembled with excitement. Everyone in the tavern was so focused that even their breathing couldn't be heard.
"They say 10 seconds later, Raon Zieghart, holding only a scabbard, thrashed all the martial artists and magicians there. Without exception, all their heads were cracked."
"Th-their heads?"
"There were hundreds of martial artists, but not one died. All their heads were smashed. It was sheer terror..."
The magician in the brown robe shuddered as if frightened.
"They say even those who threw away their weapons and tried to run had their heads smashed. So now, in front of the Sword Saint's tomb, there's a red mountain made of discarded weapons and blood flowing from heads."
"So that's why he's called the monster obsessed with heads..."
"That's right. Impressed by the terror of him single-handedly cracking hundreds of heads and his consideration in not causing any deaths, they now call that land Zieghart's sacred ground where swords must be sheathed. The Sanctuary of Blades."
He shook his head, saying Raon was both frightening and admirable.
"Phew, it's hard to believe. Beating hundreds of martial artists with just a scabbard..."
"I told you, he didn't beat them, he cracked their heads."
"No, heads or whatever. I find it hard to believe."
The knight squinted, saying he couldn't understand.
"If he got the legacy from the Sword Saint's tomb, wouldn't he have fought the Five Demons or other forces? How could he then take down hundreds of people?"
"He didn't take them down, he cracked their heads!"
"Fine. Heads! I'm saying I don't believe he cracked those heads!"
"There's proof right over there."
The magician in the brown robe raised his finger and pointed to the right. Not just the knight, but everyone in the tavern turned their gaze in that direction.
"Eheheheh..."
"Ihihihi..."
A swordsman and a magician with bandages around their heads were letting out eerie laughs as they balanced empty glasses on their heads.
"Those two are martial artists who survived that hell. They've been in that state ever since they returned with their heads cracked. The healer said it'll take at least half a year for them to recover."
"Th-that's surviving?"
The knight gaped at the two dazed individuals.
"Well, they're alive, aren't they?"
The magician in the brown robe shook his head calmly.
"Sanctuary of Blades..."
The knight swallowed dryly as he touched his own nearly bald head.
"I'd better not even piss in that direction..."
***
"...That's how the rumors are spreading."
Chamber waved her hand with a bright smile.
"..."
Raon squeezed his eyes shut.
'A monster obsessed with heads...'
The rumors had spread in a strange way.
He had only been testing his increased martial prowess and quickly dealt with the situation to prevent harm to the exhausted Light Wind division, but an unexpected rumor had spread.
However, it didn't seem to be an entirely bad rumor. It meant that more people were acknowledging that area as Zieghart's territory.
-The head-cracking worked! I mean this head, not those heads. Keheh! Keck!
Wrath tapped his own head before letting out a dry cough.
'You cough every time you speak. Just stay quiet for a bit.'
Raon pushed Wrath back into the bracelet and looked at Chamber.
"But you're here with me now, so how are you hearing these rumors?"
"You think an Archmage can't manage that much?"
Chamber put a lollipop in her mouth, telling him not to underestimate magicians.
"Actually, I didn't believe everything you said."
Her eyes glinted with a mysterious light. The magician who had been showing only friendliness until just now was no longer there.
"I checked if your words were correct by compiling outside rumors, and it seems they're not far off."
As those words entered his ears, Chamber's atmosphere lightened again, as if she was looking at a young child.
Raon bit his lip.
'She's a frightening person...'
Smiling on the outside while inwardly comparing rumors with my testimony, she wasn't someone who could be judged by appearances. No wonder she was called one of the Six Kings.
"So, you did crack their heads, right?"
"...I did crack them, but I didn't expect the rumors to spread so quickly."
He had moved quickly enough, but he never thought the rumors would move faster.
"Rumors are usually faster than feet. It's probably spreading not just in the capital, but across the entire continent. It'll be easy to take that area, won't it?"
Chamber clapped lightly, congratulating him.
"More than that, it's impressive that you didn't kill a single person. You've got the right attitude for a strong person."
King Lecross nodded approvingly.
"No, that's not right. They're clearly villains. Instead of cracking their heads, you should have taken their necks."
Chamber lowered her eyebrows, showing her disapproval.
"After what happened with Kuzan and Barfil, I didn't want to see blood."
"Hmm, I see."
King Lecross nodded in understanding.
"But isn't it scarier to crack their heads and turn them into idiots?"
Chamber tilted her head with a finger on her chin.
"...There's one more thing I need to show you both."
Having nothing to say, Raon immediately changed the subject.
"Something to show us?"
"Seems like you're changing the subject, but alright."
Chamber nodded with a bright smile.
"It's this."
Looking at the two of them, he took out a piece of scabbard imbued with Dark Current. The piece was still stained black.
"Is that a piece of pottery?"
"I sense an extremely gloomy aura from it?"
Unlike Lecross who was beyond dimensions, Chamber narrowed her eyes as soon as she saw the piece.
"After I defeated the martial artists around the tomb..."
Raon explained to Chamber and Lecross about the situation when he was attacked by Derus.
"So this black energy is the aura of the guy who attacked you?"
"Yes. It's believed to be from the leader of the force that planned this incident."
The scabbard of the Heavenly Drive was made directly by Vulcan, the world's greatest craftsman. It has the effect of trapping internal aura, so it was able to contain Derus' Dark Current for a short period.
"Wait. Don't tell me the energy contained in this is death?"
Chamber bit her lip as she touched the scabbard piece.
"Yes. It's at least an aura released by a Transcendent Warrior. According to Alice, it's at a level that could reach even our Head of House."
"That pirate girl?"
"Yes."
"With her eyes, she wouldn't be seeing things..."
She said it was surprising as she touched her lips.
"This is certainly valuable information. Thank you."
Chamber nodded with eyes shining with a calm light.
"I'd like to see it too."
Lecross licked his lips as he looked at the scabbard.
"I've memorized it. I'll send it to you."
As Chamber snapped her fingers, the scabbard in her hand moved to Lecross's hand.
"Oh my..."
Lecross let out a breath as he looked at the scabbard.
"Death really is embedded in this. To think such an aura existed..."
He too widened his blue eyes in surprise.
However, Raon was surprised for a different reason.
'Was teleportation magic that easy?'
The distance between Balkar and Owen is considerable. She had just sent a sword earlier, and now she moved that scabbard piece with just a finger.
Even though Chamber was an Archmage, he hadn't thought she could use teleportation magic so freely.
"There's no need to be so surprised."
Chamber smiled faintly, as if understanding Raon's doubt.
"There's a small dimensional line connecting this room and that guy's room."
"A dimensional line?"
When Raon looked at Lecross, he nodded as if to confirm.
"You two seem closer than I thought."
"She was my teacher after all."
"Teacher?"
"That's right. She became my etiquette teacher when I was 5 years old. She even disguised her identity to enter."
Lecross drew a faint smile as if reminiscing about old times.
"Why are you bringing up old stories!"
Chamber pulled her hat down as if displeased.
Raon blinked his eyes.
'5 years old? Etiquette teacher?'
Lecross appears to be middle-aged, but in reality, he's as old as Glenn.
If she was his etiquette teacher when he was 5 years old, Chamber's age was far beyond prediction.
"Then Chamber's age is..."
Unable to contain his curiosity, he unconsciously moved his lips.
Tick!
At that moment, Raon's vision was suddenly cut off.
***
"Hmm..."
Raon lifted his trembling eyelids. An unfamiliar ceiling came into view. It was engraved with geometric patterns that looked like constellations.
'Where is this...'
-Anyway!
Wrath thrust his crumpled face forward.
-You always have a problem with that mouth of yours!
'Mouth? What did I do?'
Raon frowned as he rubbed his temples.
-Sigh! Forget it!
Wrath waved his hand, muttering that Raon was hopeless.
"You're awake."
It was Alice's voice. Looking to the right, he saw her sitting on the sofa, smiling.
"What did you say to that witch? I've never seen her face scrunch up like that before."
"Ah..."
When she mentioned the face scrunching, he remembered. He recalled how his vision suddenly went dark while talking about age.
"I asked Chamber about her age."
"Ah! That's why!"
Alice burst into laughter, unable to hold it back.
"Ah, that makes sense. Actually, that witch's age is hun-"
As she was about to speak, the ceiling twisted and lightning struck from a clear sky.
Kuuuuung!
Alice looked up at the ceiling that was shaking as if it would collapse, then quickly shook her head.
"Let's stop this conversation here."
She waved her hand as if checking the mood.
"The witch- I mean, what did Chamber say?"
"Both of them actually thanked me."
Raon sighed as he lifted his upper body.
"I survived thanks to them, so I don't understand why they thanked me."
"That's only natural."
Rimmer shook his head as he opened the door and entered.
"Kuzan and Barfil tried to save you even as they were dying, and you lived up to their expectations by killing the mastermind and saving people. They thanked you because you didn't let their subordinates' deaths be in vain."
He continued with a serious look in his eyes, unlike his usual self.
"That's the attitude a leader of the Six Kings should have. You should learn from this opportunity too."
"...I understand."
It was rare for Rimmer to give such advice. Raon once again etched King Lecross and Chamber's gazes and voices in his heart.
"Take this."
Alice tossed him the blackened scabbard piece.
"They both confirmed it well. They said they'd help with the search too."
"Ah, thank you."
Raon carefully put the scabbard piece in his chest after receiving it.
'It's all over now.'
The reason for coming to Balkar wasn't just to announce the deaths of Kuzan and Barfil.
It was also to inform Chamber and King Lecross about the Dark Current left by Derus Robert, and it seems they accepted it properly.
If Derus ever uses the Dark Current, he'll be caught in their sights, so it was a very big gain.
"What are you going to do now?"
Rimmer tilted his chin while crossing his arms.
"I have to return to Zieghart."
-Keheh! Keck!
"However..."
Raon smiled faintly as he heard Wrath's cough.
"Before going back, I need to eat just one mint chocolate ice cream."
-Ooh!
Wrath popped out over the bracelet with a shout.
-Just mentioning mint chocolate suddenly stopped my cough! The power of mint choco is truly amazing!
'If the cough stopped, there's no need to eat it...'
-Keheheck! Keeeck! Kieeeeeck!
Wrath started howling like a beast. It seemed like blood was flowing from his throat.
'...I'll eat it. Stop now.'
***
A group of people dressed in black stood in the garden in front of the Zieghart Annex Building.
"The garden has expanded. No, did they also extend the building?"
The middle-aged blonde man standing at the front of the group sneered as he examined the garden and annex building.
"We should start with that, Vice Head of the Elder's Council."
He bowed his head to the white-haired old man standing to his right.
"Don't say stupid things, Krishon."
The old man called Vice Head frowned as if exasperated.
"The garden was always this size, and the annex extension was approved by the Head of House. If we touch unnecessary parts, we might face a counterattack. It seems you didn't investigate properly."
"I-I'm sorry."
Krishon bowed his head, grabbing the back of his head.
"I just thought they were all scarecrows without Raon Zieghart anyway..."
"Tsk."
The Vice Head clicked his tongue briefly.
"Now that Karoon, who kept the branch family rabble in check, has ended up like that, you better get your act together. This is the only place we can get a hold on Raon Zieghart's leash."
"But I'm not sure if that will really work well..."
Krishon sighed worriedly.
"Do you know how to subdue a lion as big as a mountain?"
"Um, well..."
"If you rush from behind and grab its nape strongly, it can't move at all. It's because it can't forget the memory of its mother biting its nape when it was young."
The Vice Head twisted his lips.
"To grab Raon Zieghart's leash, we must first put a leash on Sylvia's neck."
He glared at the annex building with eyes full of disgust.
"I can't stand to see a runaway woman who crawled out of Zieghart on her own and a mongrel of unknown origin standing at the core of Zieghart, even if dirt gets in my eyes."
"You're absolutely right."
Krishon nodded, agreeing that he couldn't accept that either.
"Then straighten up and follow me."
The Vice Head walked towards the annex building with a cold gaze. Krishon and the martial artists belonging to the Council of Elders followed behind.
Crunch.
Despite there being a path, they trampled on the flowers blooming in the garden as they stood in front of the annex.
"Ahem."
Receiving a nod from the Vice Head, Krishon cleared his throat and stepped forward.
"This is the Council of Elders' order! Everyone in the annex, come out!"
He shouted first to intimidate, but his voice vanished just before reaching the annex.
Woong.
The main gate of the annex opened quietly, and a golden-haired female swordsman in white martial arts attire, looking as if sunlight had melted, walked out.
"Hmm..."
The Vice Head bit his lip as he met the calm red eyes of the female swordsman.
'Is that Sylvia?'