Chapter 620

“Hmm?”

Glenn furrowed his brow as if he’d heard an unreasonable request.

“Division leader!” Raon dashed forward and held Rimmer’s shoulder. “What are you even talking about? Why are you handing over the division leader’s spot all of a sudden?”

Raon had thought that he could return to the annex building and rest assured because the issue with Karoon was resolved, but he was hit with a wave of dizziness because Rimmer suddenly declared he would hand over the division leader position.

“It’s about time.” Rimmer grinned while looking back at him. “Since you can even stand up against the Central Martial Palace Master for your maid and her brother, you should be able to protect the Light Wind division against anyone. I believe in you.”

He nodded heavily, showing that he was serious about it.

“But this is still too sudden.”

Raon bit his lip while looking at Rimmer. Becoming the division leader was fine since he was a vice division leader in name only and had been doing the leader’s job anyway.

The reason he was panicking wasn’t because of the division leader’s position, but because he had a feeling that Rimmer was planning to leave the Light Wind division.

“Why are you trying to retire now when you even gained a prosthetic arm? Is there an issue?”

Raon narrowed his eyes while looking at Rimmer’s right arm.

“No.”

Rimmer shook his head while swinging the prosthetic arm like a windmill.

“It’s perfectly fine. It’s even better than my original arm.”

“Then why…?”

“I’m not going to retire.” He smiled while holding Raon’s shoulder. “I’m just going to step back, and you are going to climb in rank. We are only swapping the positions.”

Rimmer shook his head, saying that he had no intention of leaving the Light Wind division yet.

“Why would I resign from this sweet job that pays me even if I don’t do anything?”

He rubbed his fingers, saying that he still had a lot of debt to pay back.

“Ah…”

Raon nodded his head, acknowledging the calmness in Rimmer’s eyes.

‘That’s what he was talking about.’

He’d thought that Rimmer was going to leave the Light Wind division, but fortunately, he was only inheriting the division leader’s position.

“You’ll make a good division leader.”

Rimmer patted his shoulder with his left arm, the one made of flesh and blood, instead of his prosthetic arm.

“Hmm…”

“Make Raon Zieghart a division leader?”

“Well, he is competent enough for it.”

“To be honest, he should be even better than Rimmer.”

The executives were the first ones to react to Rimmer’s suggestion. They nodded, saying that it seemed to be a good idea.

“By the way…” Aries tilted her head in bewilderment. “Wasn’t Raon the Light Wind division leader already, though?”

“That’s true. I also thought that Raon was the Light Wind division leader.”

“I thought he already inherited the position.”

“Raon even writes the reports, doesn’t he?”

She wasn’t the only one. The other executives also found it strange and their eyes widened.

“What are you talking about?! I’m the Light Wind division leader for now!” Rimmer shook his hand, telling them to stop saying nonsense.

“Hmm…” Sheryl rubbed her chin and came in front of Rimmer. “Who manages the training ground?”

“Raon.”

“Who assigns tasks to the members?”

“Raon.”

“Who sends the progress report during a mission?”

“Raon…”

“What about the reports and financial documents after you return?”

Sheryl’s voice became lower and lower, showing that she was getting angry as she asked.

“R-Raon.”

Rimmer stuttered in the end. He seemed to have noticed where it was leading.

“Can you really call yourself a human being?”

“I’m an elf though.”

“Shut up!”

Rimmer fell to his knees, but Sheryl kicked him without reserve.

“......”

Glenn stepped aside to give her more room to beat Rimmer up.

“B-but that’s the subordinate’s job! I’m doing the division leader’s job perfectly fine!”

Rimmer shook his head, saying that everything she’d mentioned was the vice division leader’s job.

“Then let me ask this time.” Aries furrowed her brow and stood on Rimmer’s right side. “Who devises the plan before a mission?”

“Raon, of course!”

“Who makes the decisions during a mission?”

“Raon…”

“Who takes care of the enemy’s leader during the battle?”

“R-Raon, too…”

“Hey! You’re just a parasite!”

She couldn’t suppress her urge anymore and smashed his head with her fist.

Whack!

Along with the thundering noise of a landslide, Rimmer’s neck sank into his shoulders like a turtle into its shell.

“Aack!” Rimmer screamed so that she would stop hitting him, but Aries never stopped.

“You don’t do anything at all! That’s why everyone thought Raon was the division leader all along!”

“You’re better off dead!”

Sheryl ran up to him again and started to stomp on him.

“......”

Glenn stepped back once again, allowing them to step on Rimmer even harder.

“Th-that’s why I’m giving him my position!” Rimmer shook his hand and managed to escape from Sheryl and Aries’s stomping. “My lord, please say something!”

“Hmm…” Glenn shook his head with a furrowed brow. “I also thought that Raon was the Light Wind division leader.”

He seemed to be serious about it, considering that he said it in such a serious situation.

“Argh, what the hell?” Rimmer shook his head in disbelief. “You can’t be doing this to me, my lord! Do you know how much—”

“Shut up.”

Glenn twisted his lips and unleashed his lightning.

Rumble!

Rimmer was struck by the lightning and tumbled on the ground, his body charred black.

“You are just a leech wasting a salary.”

Glenn kicked Rimmer’s charred body away and walked up to Raon.

“Raon Zieghart.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“What do you think about it?” He lowered his eyebrows, asking if he really could do the division leader’s job. “The Light Wind division is currently the center of attention in the entire continent, not just Zieghart. The team leaders are Masters, and the team members are at the highest level of Expert. Some of them even have the potential of becoming Masters soon.”

Glenn calmly shook his hand.

“The attention of the people isn’t always a good thing—the Light Wind division has made many enemies, too. You can’t hope for someone to save you every single time. Can you become the wall to protect your subordinates even when your life is in danger?”

Glenn’s question was asking for something even further than the division leader’s job. Raon could feel that he’d been thoroughly watching the Light Wind division.

“As you said, the Light Wind division has many enemies. However, I could not call myself a swordsman of Zieghart if I was afraid of the enemies and went into hiding. I’ll create a Light Wind division that terrifies our enemies so that they will avoid us rather than try to fight us,” Raon declared, pounding on the left side of his chest with his right fist.

“And don’t worry about me protecting my subordinates.” Raon smiled while looking at Rimmer, who was trying to stand up while faltering. “That was the one thing I clearly learned.”

“Is that so?” Glenn looked at Raon and Rimmer one after the other and nodded his head. His face looked slightly more energetic. “You will become a good division leader.”

Unexpectedly, he complimented him right away and patted his shoulder. Even though it was unexpected, Raon thought it was understandable considering the situation.

“Raon Zieghart is hereby appointed as the Light Wind division leader.”

The executives sent a dignified round of applause upon hearing Glenn’s declaration.

“Congratulations.”

“‘Gratz.”

Sheryl and Aries came next to him and smiled faintly.

“The appointment was rather late, considering your abilities.”

“I’m looking forward to your cooperation.”

“See you during the next conference of division leaders.”

“You’ll get to learn how frightening the seniors are.”

The executives also congratulated him with smiles on their faces. The direct lines were simply furrowing their brows without saying anything.

“My lord.” Raon took a step towards Glenn. “I apologize for my rudeness, but I have a request.”

“A request?”

“Yes. Can I request that you protect Judiel and Juvel?”

“Y-young master!”

“We’re fine!”

Judiel and Juvel widened their eyes and shook their hands to his unexpected request.

“Don’t say that.” Glenn shook his head while looking at those two. “Don’t feel pressured by it, not when it is only natural that I do so.”

He shook his head, saying that they shouldn’t worry about it.

“Let’s end today’s meeting here.” Glenn turned around, his face drenched in fatigue. “Follow me, all of you.”

He returned to the lord’s manor, calling for Aries, Balder, and Denier to come with him.

“Raon.”

As soon as Glenn disappeared, Rimmer suddenly stood up and came up next to him. He was spreading a burning scent all around him.

“Since you’re a division leader now, I have some things to teach you.”

“I’m listening.”

“First of all, the financial documents…”

“I’ve been doing it all along though.”

“Err, then about the reports…”

“I’ve been writing them, too.”

“Then talk to the head of house from time to time when he is bored…”

“You should keep doing that one.”

He had nothing helpful to teach him in the end.

“I also have something to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“Are you sure you can withstand my training? Because you’re my subordinate now.”

“Ugh…”

Rimmer’s eyes widened, showing that he hadn’t thought about that part.

“The training is a bit too much… Hmm? Wait a moment.” He quickly shook his head. “Haven’t you been doing that already? You’ve always called me along with the others and forced me to train.”

“…That’s true.”

Raon nodded. He realized that he’d been the division leader for a long time already.

“Haa…”

“Hmm…”

He sighed because of the ridiculous realization, and Rimmer gave him a thumbs-up with a grin on his face.

“It’s so sweet to be a deadweight!”

“Stop that!”

Raon couldn’t hold himself back anymore and kicked Rimmer. He was seriously asking for a beating.

What’s a sweet deadweight? Let’s eat it right away!

Wrath suddenly jolted even though he was yawning in boredom.

Raon closed his eyes tightly after looking at Rimmer and Wrath.

‘This is so exhausting…’

* * *

Raon returned to the annex building with Juvel and Judiel. Sylvia and the maids were already out in the garden, probably because they’d heard the news about his return.

“Judiel!”

Sylvia dashed at them right away and hugged Judiel.

“Madam…”

Judiel bit her lip tightly in Sylvia’s embrace. She seemed to be trying to suppress her emotions, but her eyes were becoming slightly moist.

“I was so worried. You should’ve said something at least before you left.” Sylvia hit Judiel’s back with the hand that was hugging her. “But I’m glad that you returned safely. Welcome back.”

“…I’m sorry.”

Judiel hung her head, repeatedly whispering apologies, and Sylvia's shoulder gradually grew damp.

“Judiel!”

“Are you okay?”

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

Helen, Yua, and the other maids also came running and surrounded Judiel and Sylvia. Rather than asking for her circumstances, they breathed a sigh of relief at the fact that Judiel was safe.

“Judiel, where have you been?”

“A-are you okay?”

Encia and Siyan also came closer and observed Judiel’s complexion.

“Hmm…”

Juvel grabbed her wrist tightly with his trembling hand while looking at the maids surrounding Judiel. He seemed to be impressed by the fact that so many people were worried about his sister.

“Raon.” Sylvia raised her gaze while rubbing Judiel’s back. “What even happened? You said you would explain it after you returned.”

“I didn’t say anything like that thou—”

Tell her that you said you would! You seriously can’t read the mood!

Wrath smacked the back of his head.

Is he even a human? He should be a demon…

He furrowed his brow, calling him so insensitive.

‘Ugh…’

Raon nodded while rubbing the back of his head that was smacked by Wrath.

“Then we should stay back for now.”

Helen was going to return with the other maids, but Sylvia shook her head.

“No, let’s listen to him together. There should be no secrets between family.”

She made everyone sit on the ground in the garden, not leaving out a single person.

Raon narrowed his eyes while looking at Sylvia.

‘It looks like she has changed a little. No, that might be my mother’s original personality.’

Sylvia had become more confident and steadfast than before once her energy center had recovered. It was befitting behavior for a Zieghart’s swordsman, like she’d taught him.

‘Her might has changed even more though.’

She had already recovered to the intermediate Master level. Actually, she was almost at the advanced Master’s realm.

Even though the artificial energy center contained as much mana as a Grandmaster, her growth was still extremely fast. He could tell why people were saying that she was the most talented among Glenn’s children.

“Tell us about it now.” Sylvia looked around at everyone and nodded.

“It started quite a long time ago. When Judiel first arrived…”

Raon told everyone in the garden what had happened so far.

“I’m sorry.”

After his story ended, Judiel went on her knees and lowered her head to the ground.

“I deceived everyone including you, madam. I really have no excuse…”

“Stop it.” Sylvia interrupted her and hugged her again. “It must’ve been hard.”

Judiel’s shoulders trembled violently upon hearing her gentle voice. The maids didn’t say anything either and joined Sylvia to hug Judiel together.

“So you’re Juvel.” Sylvia raised her head to look at Juvel with Judiel still in her arms.

“N-nice to meet you. I’m…” Juvel’s lips trembled in panic.

“Welcome to the annex building.”

Sylvia smiled brightly at Juvel like a flower under the dappling sunlight. Even though she’d heard that Juvel had been living as an assassin, she wasn’t afraid of or angry at him. She simply accepted him.

The other maids also smiled to welcome Judiel’s little brother.

Raon had expected that Sylvia and the maids would accept Juvel and Judiel because of their painful lives, but they were treating them even better than his expectations. Raon was just thankful to them.

“Let’s go in.” Sylvia grabbed Juvel and Judiel’s hands and headed towards the annex building. “We’ve prepared the special treat in the annex building for you!”

She smiled cheerfully, telling them to wait for just a moment.

Food! Special treat! Delicious stuff!

Wrath had been expressing his anger with his arms crossed, but he flew towards the annex building faster than anyone else as soon as he heard that it was time to eat.

‘This is where I feel the most at ease, after all.’

Raon chuckled as he watched Sylvia and the maids from behind, as well as Wrath, who was wagging his tail.

Come here already! The King of Essence won’t be able to eat if you don’t!

‘I’m coming.’

* * *

The Ragged Saint Federick examined Karoon’s body with a gloomy gaze.

‘It wouldn’t be strange if he died.’

Glenn had carved a scar that could hardly be healed inside Karoon’s body, as if he was trying to kill him. A slight delay in treatment would have left Karoon crippled or even dead.

‘Well, it’s understandable though.’

Karoon had done something that a human being should never do. He could feel Glenn’s anguish and pain as he had to drive his son to the verge of death.

Federick furrowed his brow and tapped one of Karoon’s vitals with his finger. Black blood oozed from the pores all around Karoon’s body down to his skin, which had turned as red as if it had been burned.

He didn’t stop moving his finger even though he was breaking out in cold sweat. His hand kept stimulating his mana circuits as if the passage of time didn’t exist anymore, and it only stopped when the dim moonlight clashed against the window.

“Haa…”

Federick lowered his hand and put the medicine inside Karoon’s mouth.

“Kuh…”

Karoon slowly opened his eyes after enough time had passed to finish a cup of tea. His groan and trembling lips showed that his pain was intense.

“You finally woke up,” Federick sighed while touching Karoon’s forehead.

“The Saint?”

“Did you see the road to heaven?”

“Hmm…”

Karoon furrowed his brow upon remembering why he was beaten up by Glenn.

“Why did you do that?”

“......”

He closed his eyes without saying anything.

“Well, whatever. I’m not here to blame you anyway.” Federick examined Karoon’s state once again and shook his head. “Even though you are a Grandmaster, your internal injuries are too severe. A few weeks won’t be enough to completely recover.”

“I’m well aware.” Karoon calmly nodded, implying that he was aware of his own condition.

“You’ve escaped the throes of death, but the inside of your body is completely ragged. Don’t even cultivate your aura for a while.”

“Yes…”

“I’ll be back at dawn.”

Federick watched Karoon for a moment then stood up.

“…Thank you.”

“You should rest.”

He shook his hand and left the medical ward.

“Haa.”

Karoon finally opened his closed eyes.

‘I still have my aura at least.’

As Federick had said, his energy center and mana circuits had been torn apart like a rag, but it wasn’t impossible for him to recover. It would take a long time, but it seemed possible to recover, at least.

‘I didn’t expect my father to take action…’

He’d thought that he might be severely punished but hadn’t expected him to personally beat him. He figured that he would need to change his predictions of Glenn.

“Haa…”

“Do you regret it?”

Karoon sighed, and a coquettish voice could be heard from below the hospital bed.

Whir.

A faint light wavered from the dark shadow, and a man wearing a pure white robe without a speck of dust floated in the air.

“You…”

Karoon wasn’t surprised and simply furrowed his brow, implying that he’d seen him before.

“You should’ve joined forces with us. This wouldn’t have happened if you did,” the robed man sneered while shaking his head.

“How did you get in here?”

“We exist everywhere and nowhere at the same time.”

The robed man shook his head, showing his refusal to answer his question.

“What do you think? How about becoming our ally now?”

He raised his snow-white hand.

“If you do, we will get rid of Raon Zieghart and make you the head of Zieghart.”

“Kah!” Karoon sneered while looking at the robed man. “Do you think that vermin like you can do it when you can’t even take advantage of the information I provided?”

“I’m sorry to hear that. It was because your information was wrong.”

The robed man shook his head.

“Anyway, you’ve made up your mind now, haven’t you?”

He extended his transparent hand towards Karoon.

“There’s only one way left for you now…”

“Stop with your bullshit and disappear.”

Karoon glared at the robed man with bloodshot eyes.

“Didn’t you desire to become the head of house?”

“I do. No, I am going to become the head. However, it’s meaningless if I don’t achieve it with my own strength.”

He violently ground his teeth, like a beast.

“It would be difficult in your current state. No, it’s impossible.”

“I’m Karoon Zieghart. I might destroy Zieghart myself if I can’t become the head of house, but I have no intention of joining forces with trash from the outside.”

Karoon clenched his fist despite the weak state of his body, showing his determination to never go back on his word.

“Hah.”

The robed man shook his head.

“Seriously, people from Zieghart have too much pride.”

He extended his hands and brought them together into a chopping motion.

“You seriously don’t know your place when you are just a fly that has lost its wings. A bug that doesn’t know its place…”

The robed man slammed his hands down at Karoon.

“Needs to be stomped to death!”

At that moment, a red lightning sparked and grasped the robed man’s wrist.

Crack!

It was Glenn Zieghart. The man who should’ve been in the lord’s manor had smashed the robed man’s wrist all the way to the bones.

“You shouldn’t leave the window open.”

Glenn’s red eyes were oppressing the moonlight seeping through the window.

“After all, a bug managed to enter.”

***

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]