Chapter 574

Raon blinked in the face of Rimmer’s smile.

“Why are you suddenly talking about Seipia?”

Seipia was the holy ground and homeland of every elf. Since it was a place that humans weren’t even allowed to enter, Raon couldn’t tell whether Rimmer was joking or being serious.

“It’s not a sudden decision.”

Rimmer tapped on the sword hanging around his waist. The leaf-shaped handguard wavered slightly.

“I figured it’s about time I returned this sword.”

“But that’s your cherished sword.”

Even when he got stripped naked by a gambling house, he didn’t use his sword as collateral. Raon couldn’t understand why he wanted to return that excellent sword, one that didn’t lose to Heavenly Drive or Heavenly Tremor.

“This isn’t mine.”

Rimmer smiled bitterly while looking down at the sword.

“This is a divine relic of our clan, and I just took it with me.”

“D-divine relic…”

Raon swallowed nervously while examining the sword once again.

‘Did he steal it?’

Raon could imagine Rimmer’s face as he secretly ran from his clan after stealing the divine relic.

“You just thought that I stole it, didn’t you? That’s not the case, so erase that thought right now.”

“Then what?”

“I got permission, of course!”

Rimmer stomped the ground, asking what he took him for.

“It’s unbelievable…”

“I was normal back then!”

Fortunately, he seemed to be aware that he’d become abnormal.

“Then why are you returning it now?”

“Because my arm is like this now.”

Rimmer touched his right shoulder with his left hand.

“Whether I get a new arm or wield the sword with my left arm, I don’t think I’m entitled to keep this sword.”

He smiled, saying that he wanted to return it since his small lingering attachment was gone.

“Is that really necessary?”

“I told you, it’s a divine relic. A divine relic should be used by an appropriate wielder.”

“Hmm…”

“I was planning to head home at some point anyway. It’s been a long time since the last time I’ve been there.”

Rimmer firmly shook his head, showing that he’d already decided.

“Understood. Have a nice journey. I’ll take care of the Light Wind division in the meantime.”

Raon politely bowed at Rimmer and turned around.

“Wait! You are supposed to come with me!”

Rimmer grabbed his wrist once again, asking what he was even talking about.

“Why would I?”

“Are you going to send off a patient on his own?”

He hunched his shoulders while touching his empty sleeve.

“Ugh…”

Raon rubbed his forehead with his palm and let out a sigh.

“But Sepia is the holy ground of elves. How am I even supposed to go there when I’m a human?”

The only humans who could enter Seipia were the ones who had special relationships with elves from that place. It was obvious he would be immediately driven out.

“I’m an elf, and I’m from there! Moreover, you are my disciple and I’m your master. You are obviously allowed to enter!”

Rimmer’s brow furrowed as he shouted, asking why he was even worried about that.

“Weren’t you expelled from there?”

“I wasn’t! I was the definition of a noble elf when I lived there!”

He shouted once again that he was normal back then.

“…I understand.”

Raon nodded, having no other choice. Rimmer wouldn’t get beaten up randomly, but he figured it’d be better to follow just in case.

“I knew it! That’s my disciple for you!”

Rimmer hit his knee with his left hand, saying that it was a great decision.

“By the way, what’s the thing that I would like?”

“You like peculiar and weird food, don’t you? Like the mint chocolate you had earlier.”

“About that…”

Damn Shitty Ears!

Raon was about to tell him that he actually didn’t like it when Wrath, who’d been yawning, suddenly jolted.

You just have bad taste! You don’t understand the refreshing and sweet taste of mint chocolate. How dare you run your mouth now?! What are you waiting for? Slap Shitty Ears’ cheeks!

He was even more furious than when he himself was insulted and started to rampage.

‘Now that I think about it, it’s understandable that he sees me that way.’

He’d been eating strange food pretty much every day because of Wrath. It wasn’t strange for others to consider him to have eccentric tastes.

“There are lots of peculiar and delicious food in Seipia.”

“Don’t elves usually eat uncooked vegetables and fruits?”

“That’s an ancient story. Of course, some of them eat like that, but there are quite a lot of recipes.”

He grinned, saying that there was a lot of eccentric food.

What are you waiting for?!

Wrath quickly shook his hand as if he’d never gotten angry.

Let’s go! The King of Essence wants to try out the food of those shitty ears! He is getting the feeling that it will be to his liking!

He nodded so hard that his chin fat started to shake, telling him that he had to go with Rimmer no matter what.

“Ah! You like Nadine bread too, don’t you?”

“Well, I find it pretty decent.”

Raon nodded since Nadine bread was really his preference.

“The one who invented that bread is in Seipia.”

Rimmer shrugged his shoulders, asking if it made him curious.

N-Nadine bread?

Wrath sharpened his eyes, intense murderous intent emanating from him.

He has to die. The King of Essence is going to kill that demon who inflicted the terrifying pain of rubber on him! Let’s go right now!

But you said you were going to like it a moment ago…’

* * *

Encia calmly nodded after she took the measures of Rimmer’s arm and shoulder.

“It will take some time, but I’ll do my best.”

She wrote down what she’d confirmed while examining his shoulder on her notepad.

“Uhh…”

Raon’s lips trembled the moment he saw Encia’s notepad.

‘She has my photo there, too…’

A large photo of his face was engraved on the cover of the notepad Encia was holding. Raon couldn’t even look at it because it was so embarrassing.

“By the way, are you heading to Seipia?”

“Yes, I think I’ll be going there.”

Raon nodded.

“In that case, could you bring back a piece of the world tree by any chance? Like a leaf or a branch. A root is also fine.”

“Why do you need a piece of the world tree?”

“As I said before, I need a material that properly incorporates the energy of nature in order to avoid burdening the wearer of the prosthetic arm. I believe the world tree should do the job.”

“I think it will be difficult…”

The world tree was pretty much like a mother to the elves. Since they guarded it day and night all year long, Raon thought it would be difficult to take anything from it.

“It should be impossible to take from the world tree because its leaves and branches are managed by the council of elders. You never hear about pieces of the world tree circulating outside, do you?”

Rimmer licked his lips, saying that it would be difficult to acquire.

“Indeed.”

“But, well, we could just steal it, I think.”

He rubbed his fingers, saying that they could steal it in the worst case.

“Wow…”

Raon’s jaw dropped. He was shocked by the fact that an elf had just suggested stealing a piece of the world tree.

…Is it really okay for him to be like that?

Even Wrath worried about Rimmer’s mentality despite being a demon king.

“It can’t be helped if we can’t get it. We’ll acquire something else. Don’t push yourselves so much.”

Encia smiled gently, as if she were trying to relieve Rimmer.

“Why are you being so kind to me now?”

Rimmer blinked while looking at Encia.

“I was just joking because you seemed to be in a bad mood earlier.”

Encia shook her head, telling him not to keep it in his mind.

“Right? I knew it! There’s no way my appearance would be ambiguous!”

Rimmer recovered his confidence about his appearance and smiled cheerfully.

“Yes, you are damn handsome.”

“I knew it! My face actually doesn’t even lose to Raon’s…”

“It’s just a firefly next to the sun. It can’t even be compared.”

Encia completely stopped smiling and gazed at him coldly.

“Ah…”

Rimmer’s lips trembled in fear.

“I’ll be taking my leave now. I need to make the preparations.”

Encia went into the annex building with the ice cream that Raon gave her as a present, saying that she was going to make the blueprint already.

“I-it hurts. It hurts so much because she was so serious about the last thing she said…”

Rimmer let out a painful groan, clutching his chest with his left hand.

“Hmm?”

Raon narrowed his eyes while observing Yua, who jumped upon seeing the ice cream Encia was holding.

“By the way, elves are good singers, aren’t they?”

“Most of them are.”

Rimmer slowly nodded.

“Then how about taking Yua with us? She could learn something from them.”

“Huh? That’s a good idea.”

He bobbed his finger, saying that it would be nice.

“Then when are we leaving?”

“There’s no need to delay, so let’s leave in two days.”

“Understood.”

Rimmer was right. Since the next mission could happen at any moment, Raon figured that it would be better to return quickly, before the vacation ended.

“Then see you in front of the lord’s manor in the morning in two days.”

Rimmer cheerfully shook his left hand and left the annex building’s garden.

Raon sighed while watching his right sleeve flutter in the wind.

‘I hope everything goes well, regardless of the case.’

Grrr…

Raon briefly licked his lips when he heard a groan from Wrath.

That person is going to die! He needs to die no matter what! That’s his only goal right now!

‘......’

‘Why are you acting like that? So scary.’

* * *

“Huaaah!”

Burren sighed in exhaustion while putting down his training sword.

“That damned bastard, I thought I caught up to him a little, but he went up to the sky now.”

He frowned while looking up at the blue sky.

“Wow. You’re thinking the same thing as me for once.”

Martha leaned her back against a wall and swept her sweat-drenched hair back.

“I finally became a Master to be on the same level as him, and now he’s gone to an unreachable place.”

She clenched her fist, murmuring that it was irritating.

“The interesting thing is that I’m not jealous of him even though I’m frustrated.”

Burren lowered his gaze and chuckled.

“Well, it can’t be helped. After all, he must be training as we speak.”

Martha nodded in agreement.

“That’s not true.”

Runaan swallowed the bead ice cream she was holding and shook her head.

“What?”

“He had ice cream with me this morning.”

She bobbed her finger, saying that Raon had bought that ice cream for her.

“That’s so unexpected. He even calculates what he eats, but he actually likes ice cream.”

Burren tilted his head, saying that he couldn’t understand it.

“Raon is similar to me.”

Runaan blinked, saying that she liked that part about him.

“Regardless of everything else, the fact that I’m even losing to that idiot is so irritating…”

Martha furrowed her brow while looking at Runaan.

“Heh.”

Runaan stared at Martha blankly, then raised the corners of her lips. Her eyes weren’t smiling, but she only moved her lips, turning her face into an eerie smile.

“Guuh…”

Martha clenched her fist and trembled.

“I’m going to catch up. I’ll catch up no matter what, even if I have to train all night long!”

She turned her head, saying that she was never going to lose.

“Now that I think about it, who is going to help us with evening training now?”

Burren brought it up as if he’d just remembered.

“Training?”

“It should be difficult for the division leader to help us now.”

“Hmm, that’s true.”

Martha nodded heavily.

“The Gambling Monster and Raon teach us from dawn until afternoon, so we can’t exactly ask them to help in the evening as well…”

“It can’t be helped, we’ll have to train by ourselves…”

“Can I help you with that?”

While Burren and Martha were contemplating the matter, a gentle voice came from the training ground door.

Creak!

The training ground door was opened and Denier Zieghart nodded at them.

“Father?”

Martha’s eyes became as round as a rabbit’s.

“What brings you here…?”

“I came to find you because you didn’t come back for the meal.”

Denier smiled faintly and waved his hand.

“Ah, I’m sorry. I had an appointment…”

Martha scratched her head, saying that she’d just remembered.

“It’s fine. But I heard you needed someone to help with your evening training. Am I right?”

“That’s true…”

“If it’s fine with you, I’m fine with helping you in the evenings.”

He nodded, saying that he could make time for them if they wanted.

“R-really?”

“It’s not exactly a difficult task. Of course, I can’t do it when I’m busy.”

“That’s good enough!”

Burren swallowed nervously and parted his lips.

“Is it really fine? You have a lot of work to do nowadays.”

Martha looked at Denier worriedly, asking if he wasn’t overworking himself.

“Making that much time for my daughter and nephew isn’t that big of a deal.”

Denier patted Martha’s head, telling her not to worry about him.

“I’ll help you reach even higher.”

* * *

Daybreak, two days later

Raon entered the audience chamber with Rimmer. Since the division leader and the vice division leader were leaving at the same time, they needed to get permission from the head of house beforehand.

“Greetings, my lord.”

“Stand up.”

Glenn roughly shook his hand as if he couldn’t be bothered with greetings.

“So, I heard you are going to Seipia.”

“Yes.”

Raon straightened his back and nodded.

“Since it might be difficult for the Light Wind division leader to go there alone, I’d like to guard him on the way.”

“Hmm…”

A faint light glowed from Glenn’s emotionless eyes.

“The timing isn’t bad since there won’t be any missions for you for a while. However…”

He continued while glaring at Rimmer.

“Can you even enter Seipia? Weren’t you expelled?”

“Haa… You’re asking the exact same question just because you’re from the same bloodline.”

Rimmer shook his head and stepped forward.

“I wasn’t expelled! I left of my own free will!”

“Same bloodline?”

“This guy said the exact same thing as you just now!”

He frowned and pointed at Raon.

“Ahem!”

Glenn covered his mouth with his hand, which used to support his chin, and nodded his head. His left leg suddenly started to shake violently.

“It can’t be helped because you always do the strangest things.”

“Anyway, I wasn’t expelled. Don’t worry about it.”

Rimmer shook his hand, saying that he just needed to show his face. That was enough to enter Seipia.

“I understand. It’s fine if you can enter.”

Glenn slowly shifted his gaze and looked at Raon.

“Light Wind vice division leader.”

“Yes.”

“Seipia isn’t an ordinary city. It’s the holy ground of elves. You should be careful with how you behave, as Zieghart’s executive.”

“Understood.”

It was a long way of saying it, but the meaning was simple. He was asking him to stop Rimmer from doing anything strange.

“And…”

Glenn briefly closed his eyes before opening them again, then continued.

“Since you became a Grandmaster, you won’t experience much physical change anymore. The important thing from now on is enlightenment and your mental world, so you should see and experience as many things as possible.”

He gave out sincere advice with a cold voice.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Raon politely lowered his head with his hand on his chest.

“You can leave now.”

Glenn shook his hand, showing that he was done talking.

Raon lowered his head, and just as he was about to leave the audience chamber, the door opened violently.

Whaam!

It was Aries. She shoved her head inside before the door even finished opening.

“Are you going to Seipia? Let me join!”

She nodded her head, saying that she wanted to go together.

“Where do you think you are going?”

Glenn furrowed his brow and shook his head.

“I told you to write all the reports that you haven't done so far.”

“Argh, how am I supposed to write all that? That’s twenty years’ worth of reports!”

“It’s your fault for postponing your work. You won’t go anywhere until you are done with that.”

He furrowed his brow, saying that she wouldn’t be able to escape.

“Raon! Please tell Father that you want to go with me! I’m going to die from old age if I stay here!”

Aries grabbed Raon’s sleeve with a trembling hand.

“Hmm…”

Raon closed his eyes and rapidly wracked his brain.

‘If I go there with Lady Aries…’

He could imagine the world tree being cut into half and falling with Aries smiling in front of it. The scene of the elves attacking them with their faces twisted like evil fiends followed.

Cold sweat flowed down his spine. They weren’t going to get killed by enemies if Aries was with them, but he was getting a premonition that the elves were going to shoot them with their bows.

Raon confidently shook his head while looking at Aries.

“No thanks.”

* * *

“Have you finally arrived?”

“Young master!”

When Raon left the lord’s manor, Dorian, who was eating a round snack, and Yua waved their hands at him.

“I heard about Yua coming with us, but Dorian is also coming?”

Rimmer tilted his head while looking at Dorian.

“We need to carry the bag since we are going to travel.”

Raon shrugged his shoulders, saying that it was an obvious question.

“Err…”

Rimmer laughed bitterly.

“People call me crazy, but from what I see, you are the real crazy one…”

He shook his head while looking at Raon.

“I’m used to it.”

Dorian smiled, telling him not to mind it.

“I’m already getting tired even before the departure. Let’s go already.”

“Young master Raon!”

Rimmer went ahead, urging them to leave, when Roenn’s voice could be heard from behind.

“Sir Roenn?”

Roenn quickly came up to him and handed him a luxurious pouch.

“Is this…?”

“He said to buy some gifts on the way to Rimmer’s homeland.”

He smiled gently, saying that Glenn gave it to them.

“Oh!”

Rimmer grinned happily while looking at the full pouch.

‘I knew it was going to work.’

Rimmer had told Glenn that he had the same bloodline as Raon on purpose, and he guessed that it was the reason he was getting all that money.

He could imagine the corners of Glenn’s lips soaring to the sky, his legs shaking.

“Tell him that I’m thankful…”

Rimmer extended his hand, but Roenn pulled back the pouch.

“Huh?”

“He said to entrust it to Sir Raon instead of Sir Rimmer.”

He gave the pouch to Raon, saying that it was Glenn’s order.

“Understood. I’m only going to use it for buying gifts.”

Raon lowered his head and accepted the pouch from Roenn.

“Haa, what a stingy lord…”

Rimmer clicked his tongue and shook his head. However, the faint smile around his mouth showed that he was in a good mood.

“Raon.”

“I won’t give it to you no matter what you tell me.”

Raon shook his head at Rimmer and put the gold pouch in his pocket.

“That’s not it. It’s about what the head of house said earlier.”

“About gaining experience?”

“Yes. You might be able to see an arrow flying in the air once you get there.”

“But don’t arrows normally fly in the air?”

“Th-that’s true.”

Rimmer blinked in a daze.

“What are you even trying to tell me?”

“Let me say it again.”

He curled his lips into a smile while drawing the trajectory of an arrow with his finger.

“You’ll see an arrow that can fly freely in the air once we get there.”

***

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]