Could it be that they weren’t sparring?
They said it was a spar.
But if it wasn’t a spar?
If they had both gone all out?
That can’t be…….
However, even if it wasn’t a spar but a full-powered fight, the current situation couldn’t be explained.
The gap can’t be that wide…….
Spelten, who had reached the same realm as Rakid—the 12th head of the Schutaren Sword Family, called the greatest and strongest sword master in history.
For such a Spelten to go all out and be unilaterally defeated?
He knew Gaon was strong, but it didn’t make sense.
It was right then.
“Karlin.”
“Yes.”
Karlin, who had been looking at Spelten, flinched and responded to Gaon’s call.
“It’s just temporary exhaustion, so no need to worry that much.”
“……Ah, I see. Understood.”
Honestly, he wasn’t worried at all.
Because he trusted Gaon.
He believed Gaon wouldn’t harm Spelten.
But he had no choice but to agree with Gaon’s words.
He couldn’t say he wasn’t worried.
And Gaon continued to ask.
“Do you perhaps want to spar?”
“……!”
Karlin didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he just gauged Gaon’s reaction.
Honestly, he did want to.
But was it okay to request a spar?
Wouldn’t it be wasting time, causing trouble?
It was Gaon, after all, so he was cautious.
“If it’s okay…….”
Since Karlin didn’t answer, Gaon spoke.
Realizing from the atmosphere that it wasn’t the time to gauge reactions, Karlin urgently shouted.
“I do! Please guide me!”
“Sure.”
Gaon smiled brightly and responded to Karlin’s answer.
“Then, contact the other Sword Lords too. Tell any Sword Lords who want to spar to come to the family head’s training room.”
He had already gotten permission from Spelten.
To spar with the Sword Lords in the family head’s exclusive training room.
Spelten had readily agreed.
If they sparred in an external location and the Sword Lords were overwhelmingly defeated, it wouldn’t be good for leading the family in the future.
“I’ll contact them right away!”
“Sure.”
At Gaon’s response, Karlin bowed deeply in greeting and hurriedly left.
And not long after.
Having recovered some stamina, Spelten raised his upper body.
“Hoo…….”
And after exhaling deeply, he stood up.
“Thank you.”
Spelten smiled broadly and expressed his gratitude to Gaon.
And Gaon asked.
“Did you find the path?”
The reason Spelten wanted to spar was because he couldn’t see the ‘path’ ahead.
Gaon was curious.
Whether Spelten had found the path through the previous spar or not.
“Yes, I’m not certain, but I’ve at least grasped the direction.”
Spelten answered with a relieved expression.
And Gaon smiled brightly.
“That’s good.”
He had wondered what to do if Spelten hadn’t found the path.
He could help with magic, but he had nothing to impart regarding enlightenment in martial arts.
“But are you really planning to spar with all the Sword Lords? Aren’t you giving up too much time…….”
Spelten trailed off with a slightly apologetic expression.
From the family head’s perspective, if all the Sword Lords sparred with Gaon, it was something to welcome with open arms.
Because they would gain a lot from sparring with Gaon.
If the Sword Lords grew stronger, the family’s power would grow stronger.
But wasn’t it taking too much time from Gaon?
“Ah, it’s fine.”
Gaon responded as if it were nothing.
“It won’t take long anyway.”
If the number of Sword Lords was in the thousands?
Gaon wouldn’t have thought to spar with all of them.
Currently, there were only 9 Sword Lords staying at the Schutaren Sword Family’s main house.
Moreover, the sparring time would end much faster than with Spelten.
And there was also the method of facing them simultaneously.
“No need to feel burdened.”
Deep within the Rios Empire’s imperial palace.
Currently, the deep palace held the emperor ‘Larun’ and the real powers of the palace.
The topic of conversation was one.
Namely, the ‘Varta Kingdom.’
“It’s said that the Varta Kingdom has completely subjugated the Asgerus Kingdom’s territory.”
“That’s fast…….”
“What should we do about the Varta Kingdom? If they stop here, it doesn’t matter, but…….”
“They won’t stop.”
The Varta Kingdom, which had fallen from its position as the continent’s strongest in decades, was rapidly expanding its size again.
At this rate, it would soon reclaim its past glory.
The problem was that if the Varta Kingdom reclaimed its glory, it would become a major issue for the Rios Empire.
“Shouldn’t we start checking them now?”
“I think the same.”
“If we watch any longer, it might get out of hand.”
“But how do you plan to check them?”
“Dispatch troops to adjacent countries. We can make up a reason.”
“There are rumors that traitors are causing trouble in some kingdoms, so we can send them for prevention purposes.”
“Oh, that’s a good idea.”
It was right then.
Larun, who had been silently listening, spoke.
“It’s said that Gaon visited the Schutaren Duchy.”
“……!”
“……!”
Then everyone flashed their eyes.
The cause of the current situation was ‘Gaon.’
If not for Gaon?
The Varta Kingdom wouldn’t have reclaimed its glory.
It would have continued down the path of decline and met its end.
That’s how bad the Varta Kingdom’s situation had been.
Yet Gaon visited the Schutaren Duchy?
“Who is scheduled to come from the Schutaren Duchy for this supreme council?”
The supreme council was the most important meeting in the empire, presided over by the emperor.
So, it was customary for the highest decision-maker of each family to attend the supreme council.
However, the Schutaren Duchy always didn’t follow the custom.
Larun was curious.
Whether they would break the custom this time as well.
“We haven’t received a response yet.”
Ashultz, the administrative minister and head of the Peilo Marquis Family, answered with a bitter smile.
“Hmm…….”
Larun let out a groan as if displeased.
And after Ashultz exchanged glances with the surrounding real powers, he cautiously said to Larun.
“No one can deny that the Schutaren Family is a great help to the empire, but I think now we need to reclaim at least some of the rights given to that family. The family head not attending the supreme council?”
There were countless noble families in the Rios Empire.
Among them, two were special.
Namely, the Schutaren Duchy and the Valen Duchy.
The reason the two were special wasn’t because they were ‘duchies.’
There were a total of eight families that had received the duke title in the empire.
Then why were the two special?
Because they held autonomy.
Holding autonomy wasn’t because they were ‘duchies.’
Other duchies didn’t have autonomy.
No matter how immense their influence within their territories, the empire’s orders took precedence.
The reason only Schutaren and Valen held autonomy was because they were founding contributor families of the Rios Empire.
They hadn’t simply helped with the founding.
Originally, the Rios Empire was a nation founded by the combined efforts of three families: the Rios Family, the Valen Family, and the Schutaren Family.
The reason the nation was named ‘Rios’ was because the Schutaren Family and Valen Family had no interest in the throne.
That’s why autonomy was given to the Schutaren Duchy and Valen Duchy.
Because they weren’t in a lord-vassal relationship to begin with.
However, just because there was a valid reason didn’t mean everyone accepted it.
A considerable number of families held dissatisfaction toward the two families.
Ashultz was just the representative; all the families of the real powers present thought the same.
“Hmm…….”
At Ashultz’s words, Larun let out another groan.
And at Larun’s reaction, Ashultz smiled inwardly.
It wasn’t agreement.
But that alone was sufficient gain.
If he continued to frame the current situation maliciously going forward?
He could achieve his wish.
It was right then.
“The connection between the Schutaren Duchy and Gaon is very deep.”
Merton, the head of the Tesler Duchy, spoke.
“In the worst case, we must keep in mind the possibility of the Schutaren Duchy seceding.”
“……!”
“……!”
Merton, who had spoken directly, and the rest except Larun all wore surprised expressions.
And Ashultz calmed his surprise and continued with a troubled expression, gauging the atmosphere.
“Do we really need to go that far?”
“We don’t know. Honestly, speaking frankly, there are more than a few who see the empire and Schutaren separately. As long as Schutaren doesn’t show loyalty to the empire, I think we need to keep the worst-case scenario in mind.”
“Let’s watch for now.”
At Merton’s words, Larun spoke.
“Listen to the Schutaren Duchy’s thoughts at the supreme council. We’ll discuss this again after that.”
Having finished speaking, Larun stood up.
“Let’s adjourn for now.”
And he ended the meeting and left.
Larun had left, but the real powers including Ashultz didn’t leave immediately.
Because they had separate matters to discuss.
“Duke Merton, why suddenly bring up such a topic…….”
“How long are we going to just gauge reactions? And I didn’t say anything wrong. More than that…….”
Trailing off, Merton continued with a bitter expression.
“I feel like this is the last chance.”
“……Last chance?”
“What do you mean?”
At Merton’s ominous words, several asked.
“Don’t you all know how strong the Schutaren Duchy’s influence is now?”
Since the demon world invasion began, the Rios Empire’s influence had grown even stronger.
And the Schutaren Duchy’s influence had grown even more than that.
To the point where even if everyone present combined their full strength, they couldn’t be sure of victory.
“If we drive out the demon world like this, the Schutaren Duchy will become even more untouchable than now. Am I the only one who thinks that?”
“……”
“……”
“……”
No one responded to Merton’s words.
They couldn’t refute it.
And Merton continued.
“The lack of interest was the past Schutaren. Can you all be sure that the current Schutaren has no interest in the throne?”
The 5th mansion of the Schutaren Sword Family.
Currently, Gaon, Spelten, and the Sword Lords were gathered in the grand dining hall of the 5th mansion, having a meal.
The table was filled with luxurious dishes that lacked nothing in splendor.
Gaon picked up a piece of the pork barbecue right in front of him and ate it.
And he took a sip of the Schutaren Sword Family’s specialty liquor, reminiscing about memories with Rakid.
Countless past moments of drinking the specialty liquor and talking after each spar came to mind, bringing a smile to his face.
Soon, finishing his reminiscence, Gaon looked at the Sword Lords.
Not a single one was focused on the meal.
Without exception, all were blankly lost in thought.
It was behavior contrary to dining etiquette.
But Gaon didn’t mind at all.
He had told them to do so in the first place.
It would be too wasteful to lose the enlightenment gained through the spar by focusing on the meal.
And only the Sword Lords were lost in thought.
Gaon looked at Spelten.
Then Spelten smiled brightly and spoke.
“Does it suit your taste?”
“Yes, very much.”
Gaon nodded with a satisfied expression and answered.
And Spelten, gauging the mood, asked.
“But are you really planning to leave right after the meal?”
“Yeah, it’s quite urgent.”
Originally, Gaon had planned to stay at the sword family until tomorrow.
He had told Spelten that as well.
But right after the spar ended, he received contact from Kerhen.
That the elixir was complete.