"That, that's insulting the Vice Head's parents, right?"
"Yes. It's written very elegantly, but in the end, it's insulting his parents..."
"Is the Light Wind division really a place only crazy people go to? What kind of Division Leader..."
The swordsmen, who barely came to their senses, swallowed hard as they looked at the magical text that still hadn't disappeared.
"But isn't that really well-written? It's like a poem or song lyrics."
"Right. It sounded like a song."
"I can't get that content out of my head!"
A few swordsmen chuckled in admiration at Raon's writing and Yua's voice.
"The ignorant express their inferiority to others, while the mature recognize their own shortcomings and discipline their hearts!"
"The base seek out those less than themselves to mock, while the noble share knowledge and heart with those who lack!"
The children sang Raon's words like a song. Yua's rhythm was perfectly intact.
"No!"
"Don't repeat it!"
Parents quickly covered their children's mouths, but the phenomenon had already spread throughout the main building, beyond the point of containment.
"In the end, that's a duel challenge, right? This is going to blow up..."
"Given the Vice Head's usual personality, he'd never accept, but if he doesn't take this duel..."
"He'd be a son of a bitch. He'll definitely accept. No, he has no choice but to accept!"
"Raon Zieghart. He's truly a terrifying person..."
The swordsmen shivered as they reread the magical text.
Rimmer, who had been enjoying people's reactions while leaning against the wall, entered the Lord's Manor.
He kicked open the heavy door of the audience chamber and went inside.
"Did you see? The trouble our madman caused?"
Rimmer waved his hand, smiling brightly as if he had turned on a light.
"I just introduced Berbin, and he's made a complete mess!"
Contrary to his words about a mess, he giggled as he looked at the magical writing shining through the window.
"Kuhehehehe!"
Roenn let out a refreshing laugh, which was rare for him.
"I knew Young Master Raon wouldn't stay quiet, but I didn't expect him to plan something like this."
He rubbed the back of his neck, saying that Raon was surpassing imagination more and more.
"It's good."
Sheryl recited Raon's writing drawn in the air, with a subtle smile.
"It's good enough to be called poetry. Even as mockery, it's really well-written, isn't it?"
She murmured that she had memorized it right away, wiggling her fingers.
"I didn't think you'd say something like that?"
Rimmer tilted his head, looking at Sheryl.
"Why?"
"Even if it's elegant, the meaning is still..."
"The Vice Head was the one who brought up parents first. Rather, Raon is being gentlemanly by expressing it so elegantly."
Sheryl shrugged, saying she had to admit it.
"Wow, even our old-fashioned one is admitting it."
Rimmer clapped in the air, praising Raon's plan.
"In fact, the reason it spread so much is probably also due to Miss Yua's power. Her voice has a devilish charm that makes it impossible to stop listening."
Roenn smiled softly, as if proud of Yua.
"That's right. They used their heads well in many ways."
Rimmer nodded in agreement.
"The duel will happen without a doubt."
"It will. Even the slippery Vice Head won't be able to escape after hearing those words."
Sheryl agreed with a smirk.
"I'm looking forward to three weeks from now. But..."
Rimmer looked at the magical writing that still remained, then turned his gaze to the back.
Alice, who seemed like she would be the most excited, was stuck in a corner, deep in thought.
"What are you doing? Your beloved nephew caused such exciting trouble, why are you so quiet?"
Rimmer approached Alice, tilting his head.
"Well..."
Alice frowned, looking at the floating letters.
"At first I liked it, but as I read on..."
"As you read on?"
"It stung a bit."
Her eyes slowly turned towards the podium.
"..."
Glenn immediately turned his head away and squeezed his eyes shut when he met Alice's gaze. Come to think of it, the corners of his mouth, which would normally be turned up towards the ceiling, were drooping.
"Huh."
Rimmer took a deep breath without realizing it as he slowly read Raon's challenge.
'This has blown up on a large scale...'
***
The Gambling Monster entered the Council of Elders with steady steps.
"Ah!"
"G-Gambling Monster..."
The martial artists inside the Council of Elders trembled, their eyes wavering as if unsure whether to block or retreat from the suddenly appearing Gambling Monster.
"I'm just here to deliver a message, don't mind me."
The Gambling Monster waved off the martial artists and entered the right corridor of the Council of Elders, standing in front of the Vice Head's Office.
"Ah, you can't! Right now, absolutely..."
"Shut up."
Krishon blocked the way, saying entry was forbidden, but the Gambling Monster pushed him aside and opened the door to the Vice Head's office.
"Hmm!"
The Gambling Monster twisted his lips as he surveyed the interior.
Originally, the Vice Head's office was not luxurious but neatly organized without a speck of dust, but now everything was broken as if a battle had taken place.
The ebony desk was split in half and lying around, the bookshelves were completely smashed and collapsed, and the decorations were shattered as if hammered.
"It's a complete mess. It's no different from how you ruined the annex building."
"..."
The Vice Head glared at the Gambling Monster while sitting on a broken chair.
"Seeing it like this, it's impressive. What took someone ten days to destroy, you did in one day. No, in a few minutes. It's fair to say that Raon has won."
The Gambling Monster flipped his thumb as if mocking the Vice Head.
"If you don't want to die here, shut your mouth."
The Vice Head ground his teeth as if he was about to pounce.
"Kuhahahaha!"
The Gambling Monster burst into laughter as if ridiculing the Vice Head.
"To see an old fox like you making such an expression, it's clearing away ten years of indigestion!"
"Gambling Monster!"
As the Vice Head furrowed his brow and tried to stand up, he shook his head.
"Unfortunately, I didn't come here just to tease you."
The Gambling Monster took out a document and threw it at the Vice Head. The paper fluttered through the air and landed in the Vice Head's hand.
"It's a duel challenge from the master of the annex building. A 2-on-2 battle between the annex and the Vice Head's Office. The winner continues to fight."
"2-on-2, you say?"
The Vice Head wrinkled his nose as if he hadn't expected a 2-on-2 match.
"You, even if it's just in name, are the head of the annex. Are you coming out yourself?"
"No."
The Gambling Monster calmly shook his head.
"If it were up to me, I'd come out and cut your throat myself, but that kid won't allow it."
"Hmm..."
The Vice Head narrowed his eyes as if trying to figure out the Gambling Monster's thoughts.
"What are you glaring at? Unlike you, I don't tell lies."
The Gambling Monster twisted his lips and waved his hand dismissively.
"I'll say it again. It's a duel between the annex and the Vice Head's Office. If you bring someone else, you'll end up looking even uglier than you do now."
"...I know."
The Vice Head glared at the Gambling Monster and bit his lip.
"Kuhehe."
The Gambling Monster pulled out a bottle of alcohol from his bosom as if he couldn't stand it.
"Your expression is delicious. I can't miss out on such a good snack."
He emptied the entire bottle while taking in the Vice Head's distorted expression.
"It's funny that even an old raccoon like you can't do anything against that child. Well, I guess you can't stand being called base, ignorant, and someone who didn't learn from their parents."
"You, until the end!"
"I've said all I needed to say, so I'll be going."
The Gambling Monster threw the empty bottle on the floor of the Vice Head's office and turned his back.
Kuwaaaang!
A thunderous sound, as if the ceiling and floor were being crushed, came from the Vice Head's office after he left.
"Even the sound is delicious, huh?"
The Gambling Monster chuckled as he put a second bottle of alcohol to his lips.
***
"Yua. Are you okay?"
Sylvia hugged Yua, who had returned from the magic tower, letting out a sigh.
"I'm fine!"
Yua shook her head vigorously and instead hugged Sylvia.
"Raon! You should have told me instead! Making Yua say such things..."
"Yua said she wanted to do it. And..."
Raon shook his head as he patted Yua's head.
"Only Yua could have done that task."
It wasn't a lie. Thanks to Yua's recitation, the words I wrote were resonating like a song and poem.
If Sylvia had said those words, the effect would have been much less than it is now.
"But she's still just a child..."
"Don't worry. There were hardly any bad words."
To be frank, it was essentially saying "What were your parents doing?", but I wrote it as politely as possible to avoid sullying Yua's mouth.
"Yua! Well done! It feels so refreshing!"
Helen burst into laughter as she grabbed Yua's shoulders.
"Me too! I couldn't see that old geezer's angry face, but just imagining it feels so good!"
"I had a hard time holding it in, but now I feel better!"
"I'll sleep soundly tonight!"
The other maids couldn't wipe the smiles off their faces, as if they were overjoyed.
"Me too..."
Even Judiel nodded her head emphatically. Seeing everyone so happy showed just how cruel the Vice Head had been.
"Honestly, I feel a bit... no, very refreshed too."
Sylvia awkwardly smiled as she stroked the back of her head.
"I just feel sorry for Yua."
"I'm really fine!"
Yua shook her head as she caressed Sylvia's bruised hand.
"I was genuinely angry too. I'm glad I could help, even with something like this."
Yua had shown anger for the first time after seeing the damaged state of the annex building upon her return.
Thanks to that, she readily agreed to my request, and when using the amplification magic, she genuinely put her heart into it, stirring everyone's emotions.
"And Mother, you have a different role to play."
"My role?"
Sylvia tilted her head as if asking what he meant.
"You know that writing is a duel challenge, right?"
"Yes."
"I didn't challenge them to a one-on-one duel."
Raon lowered his gaze as he watched the magical writing slowly disappear.
"I challenged them to a 2-on-2 match. A style where the winner continues to fight."
"Then, that means..."
Sylvia's eyes widened as if she finally understood what he meant.
"Yes. You need to go out as the vanguard, Mother."
Raon nodded calmly.
"The ones coming from the Vice Head's Office will be Krishon and the Vice Head, so you should handle Krishon and then face the Vice Head."
"Both of them?"
Sylvia's jaw dropped. She looked bewildered at the suggestion of facing not just Krishon, but the Vice Head as well.
"You were frustrated, weren't you? Having to protect the annex building, but being unable to do anything."
"..."
She didn't say anything, but her tightly bitten lips answered for her.
"I'll give you a chance to express that anger."
As he said this, Raon took out the Vice Head's Ten Forms Sword Style manual.
"We have three weeks until the duel. It will be several times harder than the Council of Elders' inspection. The choice is yours, Mother."
He looked into Sylvia's eyes as he said this.
Slowly burning red eyes. The woman who had shed countless tears and blamed herself for her weakness was no longer visible.
What existed now was only a swordsman who had taken up the sword to protect her family.
-Mom has quite a talent, but she won't be able to win.
Wrath shook his head as if more disappointed after looking at Sylvia's eyes.
'That might be true.'
-Why, if you know that?
'Because there are times when you have to fight with your own hands, even if you lose 999 out of 1,000 times.'
Raon nodded as he met Sylvia's red eyes.
"No need for an answer. Let's begin right away."
***
The clearing at the entrance of North Grave Mountain was torn up as if it had been bombed.
"Huh..."
Sylvia rolled on the ground that had been dug up like a pit, letting out a rough breath.
"You're slow. It's not about thinking with your head and then moving your body, but your body and mind need to move simultaneously."
Raon swung down his Heavenly Drive sword as he followed the retreating Sylvia. The silver blade, distorting the sunlight, fell towards Sylvia's legs.
It wasn't the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation swordsmanship, nor was it the Fangs of Insanity. It was the Ten Forms Sword Style, where the sword transforms into ten lights.
"Urgh!"
Sylvia hastily used her footwork. She retreated so quickly that her shadow disappeared, but Raon's sword followed her like a magnet.
"The Ten Forms Sword Style isn't just about phantom sword and variable sword techniques. It's incredibly fast. If you don't prepare properly, your limbs will be cut off before your eyes can even adjust to the phantom sword."
Raon rushed in front of Sylvia and thrust the tip of his Heavenly Drive sword towards her chest.
"I understand!"
Sylvia shouted her response as she barely managed to deflect the sword strike aimed at her solar plexus.
Piiiik!
But the true essence of the Ten Forms Sword Style wasn't speed, but change and illusion, so the rapidly spreading trajectory of the sword cut her flesh.
"Hup!"
Despite being cut by the sword, Sylvia continued her swordsmanship with an unperturbed expression.
"It's good that you're not panicking, but your movements have become stiff."
Raon stepped into Sylvia's space as she swung her sword, splattering blood. He deflected the incoming sword strikes with his Heavenly Drive and struck Sylvia's waist with his left elbow.
Beoeoeogh!
Sylvia let out a short scream as she fell to the dirt ground.
"Urgh..."
"As a swordsman, you can't focus solely on swordsmanship. Your opponent is a cunning old fox. He's several moves ahead of you, so you need to be prepared for all situations."
"I see..."
She bit her lips tightly and stood up again like a tumbler. Despite feeling pain and exhaustion, her eyes never wavered.
Her determination to never let the annex family suffer again was burning as willpower.
"Then, let's start again."
Raon stomped the ground roughly. He approached with a footwork as hazy as a watercolor painting and unleashed a series of Ten Forms Sword Style techniques.
Kwaaaaaaa!
The sky and ground were filled with the sword's trajectories. Numerous sword strikes became a storm that swept through.
"Ah..."
Sylvia's lips trembled, unable to read the overwhelming flow of sword movements.
"When fighting against phantom sword and variable sword techniques, the most important thing to be cautious of is your own eyes. If your eyes are deceived by the opponent's flow, it's over at that moment. Even if it's difficult and your head feels like it's burning, you must analyze with your aura and aura perception until the very end."
Raon finished his brief advice and brought down the storm of sword strikes that filled the ground and sky.
Hwaaaaa!
Sylvia didn't move. She only stared at the trajectory of the Ten Forms Sword Style's Wind Fang Destruction technique with eyes boiling like lava.
Piiiik!
As the sharp sword strike began to cut her skin, her hand shot out like lightning. A single thrust. But that thrust pierced through the center of the Wind Fang Destruction technique.
Jeoeoeoeoeng!
The extremely refined thrust subdued the sword trajectories that had filled the heavens and earth. Dozens of light swords settled down like rain-soaked leaves.
"Haa..."
But just as Sylvia let out a sigh of relief, the dying flow of swords revived.
"Ah!"
The sword strikes, now even faster, grazed past Sylvia as if tearing through her.
"Ugh..."
Sylvia staggered and fell to her knees, while Raon stood in front of her and shook his head.
"I told you, didn't I? Your opponent is a cunning old fox. He can use even such techniques as feints."
Raon looked down at Sylvia with cold eyes.
"Stay focused until the end. In your current state, you won't even last ten exchanges with the Vice Head."
"...I understand."
Even though Raon didn't tell her to get up, Sylvia stood on her own and gripped her sword firmly.
Chiiing!
The moment Raon and Sylvia made eye contact, they thrust their swords towards each other's vital points.
Jeoeoeoeng!
A powerful shockwave exploded, causing leaves to fall as if frightened.
The training between mother and son, with similar eyes, continued even as the sun set and rose again.
The leaves hanging on trees and bushes fell one by one, as if they had been waiting, each time their swords clashed.
When all the leaves had fallen from the trees, their swords finally stopped, and the three weeks had passed.
The day of the duel had dawned.