CHAPTER 146
Soun’s manor. I was shocked when we arrived.
This is practically a palace.
It made me realize just how influential Soun was in Wolun.
“Let’s go in.”
Aranseol walked inside as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
The manor was filled with people.
Among them were several groups practicing their swordsmanship.
“They are people who came here after hearing of Master’s fame. Master isn’t taking any more disciples, but since there are so many renowned swordsmen, they’ve formed a system of teaching one another.”
“So they can just stay here indefinitely?”
“Master doesn’t mind them staying, and they’re all hoping he might pass by and offer a word of correction. That’s what they’re waiting for.”
A single piece of advice from the Sword Lord would be a great enlightenment for them.
That was why so many were willing to train at the manor, waiting for a chance to see Soun.
“Ah, Senior Disciple!”
Just then, a few swordsmen who recognized Aranseol immediately offered a fist-and-palm salute.
Men who were clearly much older and larger than her bowed their heads as if it were a matter of course.
Aranseol, also used to it, greeted them back.
“Keep up the hard work, everyone.”
“Yes, Senior Disciple! May your training also progress well!”
Back in Gladion, this never happened unless the Sword Lord’s disciple was officially mentioned.
This must be the Wolun effect. The way people treated Aranseol was completely different here.
“Isn’t that the Divine Lord?”
“Perhaps she has business with the Sword Lord.”
Still, it seemed everyone recognized Aigis, the Divine Lord in our party.
I suppose someone of her rank would have a memorable face.
Thankfully, almost no one recognized me.
We passed the crowd and entered a hallway, where the manor’s staff bowed to Aranseol.
“You get treated like a princess here, Aranseol.”
“Do I look like a princess?”
“Princess Aranseol, I am at your service.”
“Yes, my vassal Harua. I’ll be in your care.”
Honestly, the back-and-forth with Aranseol is always so easy.
“You two act just like a married couple,” Ririran commented from behind us, a look of exasperation on her face. Aigis, however, was smiling warmly as if she found it wonderful to watch.
After walking for a while, we came out into a garden.
A familiar figure was sitting there.
The Sword Lord, Soun.
He stood there, perfectly still and silent.
His expression was more somber than usual.
For some reason, he seemed much older than before.
He had always been a quiet man.
But this was different from how he used to be.
Is it because of Sohan?
It seemed that learning his cherished disciple was part of Black Dawn had been a greater shock than I’d imagined.
I heard Ririran sigh behind me.
She, too, looked worried about Soun’s current state.
“Lord Soun, it’s been a while.”
“...It has.”
Soun replied curtly, then stood up and walked away.
His face clearly said he had no desire for a long conversation.
“...Harua is a Transferee, so he probably reminds him of Sohan.”
I could see now why Ririran had once told me that Soun was a man of deep affection.
That was the face of a man blaming himself, feeling that he was somehow at fault for his disciple’s betrayal.
Was it guilt for failing to lead him down the right path?
Soun, who to me had just been a monstrously powerful being, had a human side.
I also realized that this situation was exactly what Black Dawn had intended.
They had no way of defeating Soun through force.
Even if they could, it would cost them too much of their strength.
But psychologically, even Soun was vulnerable.
If he was struck by a psychological blow, lost his trust in people, and began to neglect Transferees…
He would naturally distance himself from the Regular Army, which had a high percentage of Transferees.
If that happened, Soun’s interventions would gradually decrease.
Those absolute bastards.
They knew exactly how to ruin a person’s life.
So this was why Soun had been so quiet, even after Black Dawn’s recent rampage.
Even if Soun were to act again, what would happen if he encountered Sohan once more? Would Soun be able to strike him down?
Sohan.
The thought of his face made me scowl.
I had thought he was a man with at least some sense of honor.
I had been a fool for trusting people so easily.
The problem was that he had been good enough to earn that trust.
If that was all an act…
Then he’s a true psychopath.
With that, our greeting to Soun was over.
Aranseol smiled at me and told me not to worry about it, but I really, really wanted to see that bastard Sohan again.

Another name had been added to the list of people I needed to punch in the face.
“Now, let’s go meet the person Harua has been waiting for the most.”
If there was someone I’d been waiting for, it could only be one person.
I followed Aranseol, and we soon arrived at a private room.
“Lady Rapiel, it’s Aranseol.”
“Come in.”
It had been a year, but I recognized the familiar voice.
As the door opened, I saw a woman inside, wearing glasses and looking over a book.
The woman with peach-colored hair looked up, and upon seeing me, the corners of her lips slowly rose.
“Harua.”
A smile broke out on my face the moment I heard my name.
“You’ve aged quite a bit since I last saw you.”
“Is that something a human should be saying to me?”
She had a point.
Unlike Rapiel, I was a human, dying a little more with each passing day.
But that was also why every day was precious.
Just like the day I had parted with Rapiel.
“Have you heard anything about me?”
“Only that you’ve been running wild as the ‘Saint.’ I don’t know whose disciple you are, but I was so proud.”
“Seems I’m the disciple of someone pretty amazing.”
Rapiel and I laughed together.
She was the same master as ever.
Aranseol watched us with a gentle smile.
She seemed even happier about my reunion with my master than I was.
When my eyes met Aranseol’s, she gave me a beaming smile.
She has such a pretty smile.
“Harua.”
Watching the two of us, Rapiel spoke quietly.
“Make sure you use protection.”
Some things never change.

Aranseol left to receive her daily training from Soun.
So, I decided to begin the training I had been so eagerly anticipating.
“Lady Rapiel, I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“As have I. I never imagined Harua would be indebted to the Divine Lord.”
Somehow, it had turned into a meeting between our respective masters.
“Lady Aigis, what kind of regimen did you put Harua through?”
Hey, “regimen”?
Rapiel’s choice of words was a bit harsh.
“Hmm, I mainly trained him to maintain a state where his Holy Magic is constantly active. I found he grows faster that way.”
“My thoughts exactly. Harua learns better through physical conditioning than by simply imparting knowledge.”
Both of them wore pleased expressions.
It was as if they both saw each other as a ‘true master.’
“Then, for this training as well…”
“Yes, let’s go with that approach.”
My masters were sharing terrifying ideas.
What’s so praiseworthy about torturing your disciple while he’s still alive?
They may be my masters, but neither of them is sane.
I began to subtly back away, but Rapiel and Aigis’s gazes snapped to me at once.
“Harua, you said you wanted to learn the advanced course of Holy Magic, didn’t you?”
Holy power surged violently from Rapiel’s body.
It was a fearsome power, proving she was indeed the daughter of the former head of the Grace Magic Tower.
“Sir Harua, as a Holy Knight, you must strive to improve even further. Let’s focus on honing the technique you recently acquired!”
An explosive burst of divine power erupted from Aigis.
Isn’t this on the same level as when she fought Bloody Crown?
Looking at the two of them, all I could do was smile bitterly.
I’ll do my best.

There’s a saying about resolutions lasting only three days.
But after going through this training, I felt that saying was wrong.
They should invent a phrase for one-day resolutions.

Just kill me already.
Of course, I’d just be revived even if I died, but still, just kill me.
Rapiel and Aigis truly pushed me beyond my limits.
Undergoing training for both Holy Magic and the Divine Order simultaneously was not something a human was meant to endure.
But for me, it was also unavoidable.
I could feel the final, all-out war with Black Dawn slowly approaching.
The suspicious movements of the Gladion Imperial Family.
And Black Dawn, which had grown even quieter since our last battle.
The phrase ‘the calm before the storm’ couldn’t be more fitting.
It was true that Black Dawn’s forces had been diminished through their repeated defeats.
On the other hand, everyone on our side was revived by me.
In effect, only Black Dawn had suffered a net loss of forces.
But why?
The more time passed, the more I couldn’t shake the feeling that things were unfolding exactly as Black Dawn intended.
The reason for that was a single person.
Asheria Eve.
The most terrifying type of human I had ever met.
That woman smiled as if she held the entire world in the palm of her hand.

Would a woman like that really fight a battle where she only takes losses?
No, I could guarantee she wouldn’t.
A woman like her definitely has something up her sleeve.
I’ve dealt with Black Dawn countless times now.
I could feel their next move drawing steadily closer.
I’ve really got a serious case. A hopeless case.
My mind is completely occupied with thoughts of Black Dawn all day long.
I had a feeling this wouldn’t go away until I finally dealt with Asheria Eve.
It was a festering grudge inside me.
I pushed myself up from where I had collapsed.
“Hmm? Sir Harua, you’re up already?” Aigis asked, surprised.
I forced my creaking body to move.
“I was just thinking, this is no time to be lying down.”
There’s no telling when Black Dawn will make their move.
I had to get stronger, even if just by a little, every single day.
There was no time to be idle.
“The advantage of Holy Magic is that you don’t need rest, right?”
Even that has its limits when your holy or divine power runs out, but who was I?
Thanks to my constant use of Resurrection, my holy power had been forcibly amplified to massive levels, and so much divine power had accumulated in my body that the Saintess herself had to draw it out.
My mind would give out long before my holy or divine power ran out.
Which meant that as long as I didn't suffer a mental breakdown, I could train indefinitely.
“Let’s go all the way.”
“You’ve truly grown so much stronger.”
Watching me, Rapiel smiled with satisfaction.
Well, whose disciple do you think I am?
From now on, the training would be hell.
Endure it, Harua.
A few weeks later, after I had somehow survived the insane training…
“Harua, want to go on a date?”
The unexpected words came from Aranseol.