Chapter 535

Raon spent the night in the lodgings Denzel prepared for him and headed to the stone stack in front of Haro Mountain.

‘My mother and father wouldn’t be buried here.’

The stone stack was made to comfort the victims of the landslide, and his mother and father from the previous life were slain by Derus’s subordinate while trying to escape with him.

Since the cause of their death was obviously not a landslide, they shouldn’t be buried under the stone stack.

However, he ended up going there because he couldn’t look for them anywhere else.

“Haa…”

Raon sighed to vent his frustration and went to his knees.

‘Our archenemy apparently became even more powerful. Reputation, strength, money, and even people… There’s not even a single aspect I surpass him in yet.’

He delivered his thoughts while thinking about his mother and father, who couldn’t even rest in peace from their worries about their young son.

‘But I have no intention of giving up.’

Raon clenched his fist on his knee.

‘Ten years or twenty years. No, even if it takes my entire life, I’m going to reveal Derus Robert’s villainy no matter what.’

He wasn’t simply saying that to his parents. It was a pledge made to himself, a resolution that he was going to never give up—no matter what hardship awaited him.

‘Please don’t leave yet. Just wait a bit longer. I’m going to bring that fiend’s head here.”

Raon put his hands together. It wasn’t just for his parents. He prayed for the repose of everyone buried there who couldn’t reveal the real reason for their death because of Derus and stood up afterward.

……

Raon looked to the right. Wrath was quiet for once, his eyes closed.

‘What are you doing?’

Can’t you tell? He is paying respect to the deceased.

Wrath furrowed his brow because Raon was asking the obvious question.

Few people in this world obtain the death they desire, but they ended up with the worst end. They died in a completely unexpected way.

He looked down at the stone stack bitterly.

Differences in race don’t matter since they are already dead. The King of Essence is also paying his respect.

Raon smiled faintly while looking at Wrath, who became so quiet.

‘The demon king is praying…’

He said he was paying respect, but he looked like he was praying. He was showing a new side of himself all the time, like an onion that revealed a new layer over and over.

Why are you smiling? That’s unpleasant!

Wrath shook his hand, showing his displeasure over Raon’s smile.

‘Is there anything you want to eat?’

O-of course there is! Grilled salmon, grilled scallops, grilled whole pig, grilled dragon!

‘All of it is grilled…’

He wants something chewy because he only got beef jerky and Nadine bread!

He licked his lips, saying that he was missing juicy meat.

But why are you even asking when you aren’t going to eat it anyway? Are you trying to make fun of the King of Essence…

‘I’m going to eat them.’

R-really? Then let’s go right now…

‘Once we return home.’

Raon shook his hand with a smile. There was no time to waste if he wanted to return at the same time as the Light Wind division.

You damn bastards, seriously!!!

‘You should’ve listened until the end.’

He returned to the village while having a small argument with the extremely irritated Wrath. Denzel was waiting for him.

“So, you are leaving now.”

“I should return since it’s all over.”

“Thank you for your work so far.”

Denzel placed his right hand on his chest and carefully lowered his head.

“This was one of the most worthwhile missions I’ve done so far. I was honored to work with you, White Sword Dragon.”

His unwavering eyes implied that he was being sincere.

“The same goes for me.”

Raon smiled faintly and bowed back to him.

“So, it should be fine to disclose this information about you now.”

“Information?”

“Raon Zieghart, the Dragon Slayer. The name has only been circulating in Aikar, but it’s going to spread all around the continent now.”

Denzel’s face was slightly flushed in anticipation of his name being spread around the continent.

“See you later, Dragon Slayer.”

He quietly disappeared after calling him the White Sword Dragon at first, and Dragon Slayer in the end.

The Black Market’s agents nearby also bowed to him at the same time and disappeared.

Screw the Dragon Slayer! He’s not even a Dragon Slayer since he didn’t even eat a whole dragon, unlike the King of Essence! That name is wasted on you!

Of course, Wrath had to interfere because he couldn’t read the mood.

‘That might be true.’

Raon chuckled and was about to leave Capply Village when the village chief walked up to him from the other side.

“Did you come to sightsee around the village?”

The village chief tilted his head, unable to recognize Raon’s different disguise. He had more wrinkles than before, implying that he’d been suffering a lot mentally.

“Yes. I dropped by on my way.”

Raon nodded while looking at the village chief’s exhausted face.

“What you are seeing right now isn’t what our village usually is like.”

“Did something happen?”

“Some demonic people were apparently experimenting with necromancy while hiding in our village. The heroes said they got rid of them all, so it should be restored soon enough.”

The village chief had called the Black Market’s agents shameless robbers at first, but he was praising them as heroes now.

“You will be able to see our village’s usual appearance if you visit again. Make sure to come back!”

“Yes.”

Raon smiled while looking at the wrinkles around the village chief’s eye.

“I’ll definitely be back.”

* * *

Rumble!

The vibrations starting from Glenn’s throne were making the entire lord’s manor tremble, not just the audience chamber.

Instead of dust falling from the ceiling, small cracks started to appear on walls and floor.

“My lord.”

Roenn walked up to Glenn’s throne and bowed to him.

“Many swordsmen are terrified by the earthquakes nowadays. We are even getting fissures on the ramparts and the ground, so please be patient.”

He sighed while looking at Glenn’s leg, which was affecting the entirety of Zieghart.

“Ahem!”

Glenn cleared his throat and made his left leg stop.

“I know, I really do, but…”

He bit his lip while sweeping his disheveled hair back.

“We aren’t making any contact at all! We have no news whatsoever since the bit about him successfully slaying Kaibar!”

Glenn twisted his lips, and his leg started to shake once again.

“Maybe I should just go look for him instead…”

“He must be resting after slaying the dragon. He should be back soon.”

Glenn stood up and was about to leave, and Roenn hurriedly shook his head.

“In that case, he should send a message. Sylvia is coming here every day, and I don’t have any excuse to refuse her anymore.”

Glenn sighed, showing his fear of facing Sylvia.

“This is frustrating.”

He shook his head and took out a booklet from his clothes. He opened the book and started to slowly read it, and his face finally started to look calmer.

“Haa…”

Roenn breathed out a sigh of relief upon seeing the book he was holding. Since he was reading Raon's gospel, his rampage should stop for a while.

‘But he really has changed a lot.’

No one would ever imagine that the Destructive King of the North, who was arguably the strongest in the continent, would be calming himself down while reminding himself of what his grandson had said.

To be honest, he looked more like the strongest doting grandfather than the strongest on the continent.

“Hmm…”

Roenn lowered his head at Glenn upon noticing the sound coming from outside the lord’s manor.

“The Light Wind division seems to have returned.”

“Hmm.”

Glenn slowly nodded and returned Raon’s gospel to his clothes.

“I should feel better after seeing them. Bring them in.”

“Yes.”

Roenn smiled and left the audience chamber.

* * *

The Light Wind division checked their attire while standing in front of the lord’s manor.

“I’m nervous because it’s been such a long time.”

Burren swallowed nervously and fiddled with his sleeves.

“Why would you be afraid when we did nothing wrong?”

Martha furrowed her brow with her hands placed on her waist, asking what he was so afraid of.

“I’m not afraid. I’m just nervous.”

“Nervous? Look at her.”

She pointed at Runaan, who was standing blankly next to her.

“You should be thoughtless like her sometimes.”

“Hmm…”

Runaan was staring blankly at the sky. She really looked like she wasn’t thinking at all.

“But she’s going too far. Shake the dust off at least instead of standing still like that.”

Burren walked up to Runaan and brushed the dust and snow from her shoulder.

“I want ice cream,” Runaan quietly sighed.

“I knew you were going to say that.”

“With everyone here and Raon.”

“Hmm…”

Martha closed her mouth. She was also reminded about Raon and bit her lip slightly.

“Seriously, division leader. Where is he?”

Burren walked up to Rimmer and frowned.

“Hmm? I don’t know either,” Rimmer said as he shrugged his shoulders.

“What?”

“But you said you knew!”

“You told us he is doing fine!”

Burren, Martha, and Runaan rushed at Rimmer and held him by his collar at the same time.

“I did that to reassure you. He should be fine. It’s just like the saying, ‘No news is good news’.”

Rimmer scratched the back of his head and smiled cheerfully. He was taking Raon’s well-being so lightly, as if he’d been with him all along and only got separated recently.

“How could you do that?!”

“Die!”

“Are we really serving this as our division leader?”

The other Light Wind swordsmen also ran up to him and grabbed Rimmer’s hair and clothes to start shaking them.

“W-wait! Don’t be like this…”

Rimmer started to become afraid of them and hurriedly shook his hand just as Roenn walked out of the lord’s manor.

“It’s been a while, everyone.”

Alongside his gentle laughter, he lowered his head at the Light Wind division.

“The head of house is waiting. Please enter, everyone.”

“Haa…”

Rimmer escaped to Roenn’s side without missing the opportunity when everyone was distracted.

“Let’s go! We can’t make the head of house wait!”

“We aren’t done yet.”

“Let’s continue after the audience.”

Burren and Martha ground their teeth while raising their fists.

“You are so dead.”

Runaan also pouted while looking at Rimmer.

Rimmer got right next to Roenn without even fixing his disheveled attire and hair.

“By the way, I noticed some fissures on the ramparts and buildings. Was there an earthquake or something?”

“Huhuhu.”

Roenn guided Rimmer and the Light Wind division to the audience chamber with his usual laughter instead of answering his question, then opened the door for them.

Wham!

The noble metallic gate separated and the audience chamber could be seen. Golden sunlight shone upon the pillars, surging like spears of a giant, and created a majestic and mysterious sight.

However, the most noticeable part of the room was Glenn, who was sitting at the center. His eyes, even redder than the sun, were emanating a powerful spirit capable of crushing the entire world.

“He’s acting cool once again,” Rimmer sighed quietly and gestured with his chin to the Light Wind division behind him. “Let’s go.”

“Hmm…”

“Haa…”

Unlike him, the Light Wind division entered the room while feeling so pressured that their heavy limbs felt like they weren’t their own anymore.

“Greetings, my lord!”

“Greetings, my lord!”

Following Rimmer’s greeting, the Light Wind division went on their knees and lowered their heads.

“Stand up, everyone.”

As Glenn gestured with his hand, Rimmer and the Light Wind division raised their heads and straightened their backs. Glenn was looking at Burren, who was standing right behind Rimmer.

“Burren.”

“Yes!”

Burren’s voice was jumping because he didn’t expect to be called.

“Is your left eye okay?”

“I-I had some headaches at first because my vision improved too much, but I’ve gotten used to it now.”

“I don’t feel any evil from it, but we don’t know where it came from. You might find yourself in danger if you completely trust that eye, so you shall always consider all possibilities and make the best decision for the situation.”

“I’ll keep that in mind!”

Burren took Glenn’s advice to his heart and raised his chin.

“Runaan.”

Glenn’s gaze was directed at Runaan, who was standing on Burren’s right side.

“Do you feel any pain from the injury in your abdomen and thigh?”

“I’m fine now,” Runaan replied casually and nodded, just like when she was dealing with anyone else.

“You don’t need to sacrifice yourself in order to protect others. You should think deeply about what you can do”

“Yes.”

Her short response almost felt like she was taking him lightly, but her clear eyes implied that she was thinking about Glenn’s advice.

“Martha.”

Glenn lowered his eyes and called Martha’s name.

“You seemed to be concerned about the fact that you couldn’t help your companions.”

“Hmm…”

Martha bit her lip after looking at Burren and Runaan one after the other.

“I believe I should bear the burden for the rest of my life since my companions could’ve died while protecting me.”

“That would be disrespectful towards your companions.”

“Ah…”

“What you need to do in the future is to act like always and put your companions ahead of yourself when danger arrives, just like they did for you. Companions are not indebted to one another.”

“…Understood.”

She nodded, saying that she would protect everyone at the cost of her life.

“Dorian.”

“Yes!”

Dorian trembled intensely as he nodded upon being called after the other three.

“Rimmer’s report stated that you are the biggest coward in the Light Wind division.”

“Th-that’s true.”

Dorian lowered his eyes while admitting that he was a coward.

“No coward in the world puts others before themselves. If you risked your life for the sake of your companions, you aren’t a coward.”

Glenn respectfully lowered his chin while looking at Dorian.

“You’ve grown, Dorian Sephia.”

“Ah, erm…”

Dorian was unable to respond. He hung his head with trembling shoulders.

Glenn continued to compliment and advise every single person from the Light Wind division afterward.

“Mark Goetten.”

“Yes.”

Mark Goetten was the last one to be nominated. He stepped forward and lowered his head.

“This world has always been unfair. The wall of martial arts is even thicker than a mountain for some people while being thinner than a piece of paper for others. If you are too concerned about others, you will miss the precious thing inside you. You should solely focus on yourself instead of others in the future and keep progressing.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Mark Goetten placed his hand on his chest and nodded.

“Erm…”

Rimmer grinned and pointed at himself with his finger.

“Is there anything for me?”

“About you…”

Glenn frowned intensely just as a knock could be heard from the door.

“Enter.”

“We have a guest who visited to see you, my lord. What should I do?”

“I’m talking to the Light Wind division right now, so call on them later.”

“Understood. Then what about having some tea with me…?”

Roenn smiled cheerfully, glad about his response, and was about to close his door.

“Hmm?”

Glenn furrowed his brow while looking at Roenn’s behavior.

‘Tea?’

Roenn looked like a kind person, but it was rare for him to have tea with others.

“Wait a moment, who is the visitor?”

“Hmm…”

Roenn poked his head back out and lowered his eyebrows.

“The Light Wind vice division leader has returned.”

“L-let him in! Tell him to enter right now!”

“Raon?”

“Is Raon here?”

Glenn stuttered for the first time and hurriedly waved his hand. Rimmer and the Light Wind division were also surprised and turned back.

“What a shame.”

Roenn smiled and opened the audience chamber’s door.

Rumble!

A man wearing a black robe was standing next to Roenn.

He took off the robe, and blond hair even brighter than the sunlight engulfing the audience chamber fluttered in the air, a nose as straight as a blade revealed as he did.

A smile formed gently around his mouth in contrast to his ragged uniform, making it impossible to take one’s eyes off him.

Step.

Raon met the Light Wind division’s eyes one after the other as they looked at him and walked forward steadily. He stood behind Rimmer and knelt before Glenn.

“Greetings, my…”

“Stop it!”

Glenn shook his hand, telling him that the formality was unnecessary.

“What have you even been doing to come back so late?!”

His reddened face made it look like he was angry.

“I was dropped at a corner of the Owen Kingdom when the barrier was destroyed, and my aunt rescued me. We went out to the ocean while I was unconscious…”

“What?”

Glenn’s lips turned blue—as if they were frozen.

“Wh-what did you say just now?!”

“What? I said that we went out to the ocean.”

Raon blinked while looking at Glenn.

“Before that part!”

“The barrier was destroyed, and I was dropped at a corner of the Owen Kingdom—”

“After that part!”

“My aunt rescued…”

“Aunt…”

Glenn’s hand trembled as he held onto the throne. The audience chamber started to tremble—no, the entire lord’s manor was shaking.

“Did you just say aunt???”

***

If you find any errors or have suggestions, please feel free to provide feedback.

Thank you for reading!

[Author – Writing Ant, 글개미]

[Translator – Kyangi]

[Proofreader – Harley]