-What nonsense is that old geezer spouting!
Wrath trembled at his fingertips as he shot up into the air.
-Room of Self? Absolutely not! Just hearing the name reeks of Nadine bread!
The guy shook his head violently, saying he couldn't take it anymore. The level of his shaking almost seemed like it would generate wind.
"Does that mean you'll let me into the Room of Self if I want?"
Raon's lips moved as he looked at Glenn behind Wrath.
"That's right."
Glenn nodded with a calm gaze.
"May I know the reason?"
Apart from whether to enter or not, it was sudden, so he wanted to know the reason.
"The lines you and the Light Wind division drew on the map have been connected in reality. As of yesterday, it all became Zieghart's land."
Glenn turned his gaze to the window where the sunlight was fading. His shoulders, like iron towers, seemed to tremble slightly.
"As I said before, it's not an exaggeration to call it a great achievement to take land without waging war and with the recognition of others. I just thought giving a few martial arts manuals wasn't enough. And..."
Glenn slowly closed his eyes and opened them again with his hands behind his back.
"I've seen the Sanctuary of Blades you created."
"Pardon?"
"The martial artists who visited that place unsheathed their weapons, which are like extensions of themselves, and entered."
A small sound of wind escaped from his lips.
"When one person does something, it's just stubbornness, but when a thousand do it, it becomes a rule."
Glenn's gaze captured the heat of the sunlight reflecting on the windowsill.
"You've created a new rule in the name of Zieghart. It's not strange to give someone like that the opportunity to enter the Room of Self."
"I saw it too."
Roenn stepped forward, picking up on Glenn's words.
"The martial artists and magicians who visited the Sword Saint's Tomb showed their respect for the Division Leader by placing their weapons beside the tomb of swords. I've lived for quite a long time, but I've never seen anything like that before."
He smiled softly, saying that he led people with awe, not fear and violence.
-What nonsense are these old geezers talking about!
Wrath glared at Roenn.
-If they're holding a sword, you'll smash their heads in, who wouldn't throw it away!
The guy frowned, saying he couldn't stand seeing people ruled by fear and force.
"Hmm."
Raon slightly bowed his head as he received the gazes of Glenn and Roenn.
'It wasn't something I intended.'
He wanted to test his grown martial prowess and just hit them on the back of the head because he didn't want to see blood, but he never thought this would happen. The world was truly unpredictable.
"I think that's enough of an answer."
Glenn turned his head as if it was now Raon's turn to answer.
"What will you do?"
"...I won't enter."
Raon closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them and shook his head.
"And the reason?"
Glenn wasn't surprised at all, as if he had expected it.
"Because it's not time yet."
He gave the answer right away because he had thought about it beforehand.
-Ra, Raon!
Wrath approached, his large eyes trembling.
-It's because of my food! You've finally come to your senses!
The guy nodded while sniffling.
-Then I can't stay still either! From now on, I'll recognize you as a filthy demonized human!
'Never mind.'
Raon pushed away the fidgeting Wrath in front of him and looked at Glenn.
"Alice has said something about the Room of Self."
Thanks to Rimmer's chatter, he knew about the Room of Self, but he learned detailed information about it through Alice.
"Surprisingly, many people enter the Room of Self and come out without gaining anything."
"That's correct."
Glenn nodded in acknowledgment.
"The Room of Self isn't like a shortcut to growth. It's common for people to gain nothing or achieve only a tiny bit of growth."
"Alice said that the common point among those who return without making a significant difference is..."
Raon licked his lips as he looked at Glenn.
"That they haven't reached their limits."
"Limits, huh..."
"She mocked that entering the Room of Self without facing an insurmountable wall is a foolish act."
As he said this, he recalled Alice's advice.
[Raon. You'll reach the peak of Grandmaster in the near future. But from there to transcendence is really far. It might take longer than the time you've spent building your martial arts so far, or you might never reach it in your lifetime. That's when the Room of Self will be of great help to you.]
Alice smiled as she gave advice that only someone who had walked the same path could give.
'She's right.'
Overcoming the final wall to the next realm is an incredibly difficult task.
Even as a Master, he quickly rose to the highest level, but it took a really long time and anguish to reach Grandmaster.
Having experienced despair in front of a thick wall myself, I thought Alice's words were right.
The Room of Self is a place you can enter only once in your lifetime. My real goal wasn't the Axe King, but Derus Robert, so I had to look to the future, not now.
"There's less than five months left until the life-and-death battle with the Axe King. Are you confident?"
Glenn cast a heavy gaze, asking if he was confident he could win without the Room of Self.
"The life-and-death battle with the Axe King is not the end point, but just one part of my journey."
Raon smiled as he gripped the hilt of the Heavenly Drive sword.
"As I told you when I was young, my most important goal is to elevate my mother to the direct lineage. I have no intention of dying before achieving that."
He raised his eyes proudly, his voice filled with conviction.
"I will defeat the Axe King with my own strength and return."
-What do you mean your strength! It's all my power!
Wrath furrowed his brow as if dumbfounded.
-You shameless bastard!
The guy grabbed Raon's shoulders and shook him, demanding he reveal the truth.
"How do you plan to spend the remaining time?"
"I've passed on the martial arts I created to the Light Wind division. After gaining practical experience through missions, I plan to return and prepare for the life-and-death battle alone."
"Is that so."
Glenn's lips softened gently. Raon had seen his sneers many times, but this kind of smile seemed like a first. It was as if he had anticipated this situation.
"If that's your intention, I'll have to accept it. However, your achievements won't disappear, so I'll leave you the authority to enter the Room of Self."
"Thank you."
Raon bowed deeply. Perhaps because the territory had expanded, Glenn's consideration seemed to have broadened as well.
"Then I'll take my leave now."
"Wait."
As Raon straightened up to leave the audience chamber, Glenn waved his hand.
"Have you eaten?"
"Not yet."
Glenn nodded as if he had expected that.
"Then let's eat together."
"Uh..."
-What are you doing! Nod your head right now!
When Raon was too flustered to speak, Wrath quickly jumped forward.
-It's obvious that if we eat with that old geezer, they'll serve a feast!
The guy licked his lips as if they had hit the jackpot.
'It could just be Nadine bread.'
-Ugh...
Wrath opened his mouth wide as if recalling Glenn's eating habits.
-Th-then what should we do...
There's nothing to be done. It's impossible to refuse a dinner invitation from the head of house.
"I'll prepare it right away."
Roenn left the audience chamber with a bright smile.
-Hey, they won't really serve Nadine bread, right? Right?
'I wonder what he's going to say this time...'
Raon and Wrath swallowed hard, each with different thoughts.
* * *
Unfortunately, the meal wasn't Nadine bread. As Wrath had hoped, a feast was laid out on the long rectangular table.
-Kuhh! As expected of our grandfather!
Wrath beamed, calling Glenn grandfather for the first time in a while.
'Hmm...'
Raon chewed on a long slice of steak while slowly regulating his breathing.
'I can't tell what it tastes like.'
The potato soup was thick, the stew was tender, and the meat melted quickly in his mouth.
However, he couldn't taste any of it. Being uncomfortable in this situation, it felt like eating food in a dream.
-Kahya! The meat here is good! Huh? I love meat!
Only the demon king was chattering excitedly, wagging his tail.
'Yeah. I'm glad at least you're happy.'
Raon inwardly sighed as he brought and ate the foods Wrath wanted one by one.
"What's the name of the martial art you created?"
Glenn turned his gaze for the first time after wetting his lips with water.
"...It's called Gale Wind Style."
Raon answered after chewing and swallowing the shrimp in his mouth.
"A martial art of super sense using wind, it's a fitting name indeed."
"Thank you."
He gave an awkward smile, not expecting to be praised for naming it well.
"Gale Wind Style is a martial art that maximizes its effectiveness as the martial artist becomes stronger. Practice it every day without fail, like aura cultivation."
"I'll keep that in mind."
"If you really want to achieve super sense, it would be good to make it detect danger even when not activated. It seems you could do this by slightly twisting the current method of operation."
"What do you mean by twisting..."
"If you make the mana circuits below the energy center move in double layers, the sensitivity will increase. It may not be perfect, but it will be an improvement."
Glenn spoke as if it were nothing special while directly pointing out the location of the mana circuits.
"And to draw in the wind's energy more strongly, breath control is essential. The higher the level of martial art, the bigger the difference small details make. Make sure to pass this on properly, not just to you but to the Light Wind division children as well."
He explained a few more theories, telling Raon to fine-tune the martial art.
"Thank you."
Raon bowed his head, imprinting all of Glenn's advice in his mind.
"There's no need for formalities during mealtime."
Glenn waved his hand lightly as if to brush it off.
-Next is that! The chicken leg covered in red sauce is calling for me!
'Why does such a small thing have such a big appetite.'
As Raon sighed and reached for the roast chicken that Wrath wanted, Glenn's finger lightly tapped the table.
"...Is Sylvia doing well?"
"Yes."
Raon nodded as he lowered his hand. He had expected this question might come, as he had sensed Glenn taking care of Sylvia recently.
"Fortunately, she's recovering without any aftereffects. She can't sit still because she's itching to move around."
He smiled, recalling Sylvia whom he had visited before passing on the Gale Wind Style to the Light Wind division.
"Is that so."
Glenn's expression was the same as usual, but there seemed to be a slight moisture in his voice.
"Mother would be happy if you visited her, Head of House."
He mustered the courage to ask Glenn to meet Sylvia.
-Ooh? What's gotten into you?
Wrath opened his mouth wide as if in admiration.
"If the opportunity arises."
Glenn said that and then didn't open his mouth again.
After that, no words were exchanged. It was a quiet meal, but a strange warmth seemed to bloom.
* * *
"Roenn!"
Glenn curled his lips slightly as he looked at the place where Raon had left.
"Yes. I'm writing it down."
Roenn was writing in the Raon Gospel without even looking at Glenn.
"There were many great lines today, but this one's probably the best."
He lowered his hand holding the pen and raised his voice as if reciting.
"'The life-and-death battle with the Axe King is not the end point, but just one part of my journey.' I got goosebumps when I heard those words."
Roenn's eyes reddened as he said Raon had really grown well.
"That's good too, but I liked when he said, 'I will defeat the Axe King with my own strength and return.' It means he has faith in himself."
Glenn clenched his fist tightly, recalling Raon's gaze.
"It's all good. There's not a single thing to leave out."
Roenn turned his gaze to Glenn as he wrote down Raon's words in the Raon Gospel.
'Is he finally gathering his courage?'
Seeing Glenn invite Raon to dinner, it seemed he was also gathering courage to approach Sylvia and Raon.
'Young Master Raon's flustered reaction was cute.'
Raon's eyes had widened like a rabbit's as soon as he heard the invitation to dine together. It made Roenn smile, reminded of Raon's childhood days.
'Of course, it'll take a while for this oblivious grandfather and grandson to grow closer...'
Raon still didn't properly understand Glenn's intentions, and Glenn had no intention of revealing his true feelings to Raon.
It would take a really long time for the grandfather and grandson to understand each other's hearts, but for today, this one step was satisfying enough.
"Head of House."
"Hmm?"
Glenn, lost in thought, turned his gaze at Roenn's call.
"Didn't Young Master Raon ask you to visit Lady Sylvia?"
Roenn smiled faintly and waved his hand.
"How about paying her a visit?"
"...Isn't she being discharged today? That'll do."
Glenn closed his eyes for a moment as if pondering, then shook his head.
"She's being discharged today? I didn't know, how..."
Roenn shook his head as if he didn't know.
"Ahem, that quack just came and told me."
Glenn waved his hand as if he had found out by chance and left the dining room.
Roenn smiled slightly as he watched Glenn's back as he cleared his throat repeatedly.
'He must have visited her every day.'
Federick hadn't come to the Lord's Manor recently. Glenn must have known Sylvia's discharge date because he had visited her hospital room every day to check on her well-being.
"Since we've made progress after a long time..."
Roenn licked his lips as he stacked the empty plates.
"I think we should stop here for today."
* * *
Martha crossed the main gate of the Wise Martial Palace with wind swirling around her fingers.
'This is really something.'
She thought she would only use earth attributes her whole life, but she never expected to suddenly be able to handle wind.
'And so easily at that.'
Thanks to Raon's arrangement, the wind moves like her own body.
Of course, there were still many shortcomings, but it was unbelievable to learn and use a supreme martial art in just a week.
'A monster is a monster indeed.'
Not only creating a supreme martial art but also calculating the way to learn it immediately, Raon's talent and depth of mind were becoming frightening.
The more she used the Gale Wind Style, the deeper Raon and Rimmer's intentions were engraved in her heart. It seemed she had no choice but to become stronger, if only out of gratitude to the two of them.
'Yes. I must become stronger.'
Because I haven't achieved any of my goals yet.
Martha bit her lip as she clutched the necklace swaying inside her training clothes.
'Mom....'
Reclaiming her mother's body captured by the Leader of the White Blood Religion, and walking together with Raon, who had given her courage when she had almost given up on that goal.
She had given up on catching up to Raon. She knew better than anyone in the world that it was impossible.
That's why she wanted to walk beside Raon. She wanted to support him and become a sharper sword than anyone else.
Martha turned her back as she was heading towards her room.
'If I want to achieve that, now is not the time to rest,'
She changed her direction and headed to her father's training ground. Standing in the center of the empty training ground, she drew her sword.
As she swung her sword while using Titan's Aura, the wind of Gale Wind Style naturally arose, adding speed and sharpness to her sword strike.
Kuuuuuuu!
The floor of the training ground was deeply gouged, and the surrounding sand was swept away like waves.
'It's really amazing.'
Her previous swordsmanship felt dull and heavy in comparison to her current one.
Although she couldn't maintain it for long since her Gale Wind Style was only at 1-star, the speed and sharpness pushed by the wind seemed like they would be a great help in future battles.
Martha smiled with satisfaction as she performed a series of moves. Only after pouring out all the energy of the Gale Wind Style did she lower her sword.
As she wiped the sweat from her forehead and was about to prepare for more practice, Denier entered the training ground.
"Father!"
Martha ran towards him with a smile, thinking of showing off her Gale Wind Style, but Denier's expression was as stiff as dry firewood.
"Martha..."
Denier furrowed his brow deeply, not seeing Martha's smile.
"There's something I need to tell you about your mother."