Chapter 654

“Ugh…”

Raon’s fingers trembled as he stood up.

“Why are you so surprised?” The little kitty, or rather Merlin landed on his shoulder while meowing.

Sh-she is right!

Wrath hurriedly nodded in agreement.

Why are you so surprised? It’s just the madwoman. You should be ashamed, as the King of Essence’s vessel!

‘Hey, wipe up your drool before you talk.’

Rano glared sideways at Wrath, who was drooling from his mouth.

Hmph!

Wrath wiped his drool away with his forearm and furtively crawled towards the bracelet.

Th-the King of Essence is going to rest because he is a bit tired right now.

‘Are you running away?’

Who’s running?! How dare you say such a thing to the King of Essence! He is just a bit tired!

He went into the ice flower bracelet with his hands trembling in fear.

“When did you get here?”

Raon leaned his back against the tree and shifted his gaze towards Merlin. Since she asked for praise after scratching Killuane’s face, Raon assumed that she’d been around for a while.

“You are asking the wrong question.” Merlin shook her front paw. “You should’ve asked how long we’ve been together rather than when I got here!”

“Th-then…”

“Yes! I came with you to begin with!” She smiled, saying that she’d been with him ever since he returned to the house.

“Uhh…”

Hieeh!

Raon groaned in disbelief, and Wrath’s scream could be heard from inside the ice flower bracelet. Raon honestly wanted to scream as well.

‘I didn’t sense her presence even though I’ve become a Grandmaster…’

Her animal possession skill seemed far too overpowered.

“I actually wanted to slay that old man myself, but I suppressed my urge because I thought it would get in your way.”

Merlin lifted her front paw, saying that it was a shame. Sharp claws appeared from her soft looking front paw.

“I see. Thank you.”

Raon swallowed nervously while looking at the sharp claws. He was glad that Merlin seemed to have become a bit more patient.

“Ah, the match was fun by the way.” Merlin extended her neck with a cheerful smile. “I always believed in your victory, but I didn’t expect such an overwhelming victory since that old man was as powerful as you!”

“It wasn’t really a big deal. I just knew all the martial arts he could use.”

“But there are so many people in the world who can’t execute such a thing even if they are told how to counter the opponent!”

She kneaded Raon’s shoulder with her pink jelly toes. It wasn’t exactly invigorating, but it put him in a good mood for some reason.

Raon narrowed his eyes after watching Merlin massage his shoulder for a while.

‘Wait a moment…’

Merlin had practically been following him all this time. The thought that Merlin might have seen Derus suddenly crossed his mind.

“Did you enter the Sword and Saber Sovereign’s grave as well?”

“I did enter.”

Merlin nodded as if it were an obvious question. Raon was frightened even though he was the one who’d asked the question.

“But my possession was undone right away.”

“The possession was undone?”

“Yes. It was a special space. It didn’t allow entry from a possessed body with a different spirit.”

She bit her lip, saying that she wanted to come with her real body but she couldn’t because of work.

“The Blade’s Rest! I should’ve witnessed the creation of that legend! I’m really sorry!”

Merlin lifted her front paws, saying that she would pull her eyes out as a token of her apology.

“Don’t do it! It’s not even your body! No, don’t do it with your real body either!”

Raon frantically caught Merlin’s paw. He thought she was becoming a bit normal, but she hadn’t changed.

“If you say so.”

Merlin smiled cheerfully and came down to his thigh.

“By the way, what even happened to you?”

Raon was curious because it must’ve been a rather serious issue if Merlin hadn’t come to see him.

“It was a hunt.” Merlin nonchalantly lifted her front paw.

“Hunt?”

“The Fallen has been indiscriminately increasing Eden’s troops nowadays. My mission was to hunt down named monsters.” She nodded, saying that she’d hunted down a rather special entity.

“Isn’t it meaningless to hunt them down, though? Because it should take a significant amount of time for the magic stone to be formed.”

“That’s true, since Eden originally used naturally formed magic stones to create their helmets and masks. However, the Fallen managed to invent a spell that allows him to artificially create the magic stones.”

“That’s possible…?” Raon gasped while looking at Merlin.

“Of course, they aren’t as powerful as the original magic stones. Even though he can create the masks and helmets, the quality is worse.” Merlin lowered her gaze while twisting her lips. “But the Fallen seems to need those troops despite the flaws.”

“What about the other Five Demons?”

“They’re the same. They’re quietly gathering their forces.”

“Are they really planning for a war?”

Raon narrowed his eyes. Since not just Eden but all of the Five Demons were quietly gathering their forces, the war seemed to be the only explanation.

“Did the Fallen say anything to you?”

“He doesn’t really tell me his plans since he just assigns me to missions. I haven’t met him directly in a while either.”

“That means…”

“Yes. Like you said, I think he’s grown even more suspicious of me.” Merlin nonchalantly nodded as if it wasn’t her own business.

“…Be careful.”

Raon wasn’t too sure if he should be telling her to be careful since she was Eden’s pawn, but he couldn’t be quiet about it either because she’d helped him many times already.

“It might be a good idea to leave Eden right now if you have a bad feeling about it.”

“Uhuhuhu.”

“Wh-why are you laughing?” Raon leaned backward, listening to Merlin’s eerie laughter.

“My heart flutters whenever you’re worried about me. It feels so good.” Merlin blushed and meowed with a smile.

“Uah…”

Hieeh!

Raon’s jaw dropped in disbelief, and Wrath’s scream could be heard. Raon couldn’t understand why he was hiding if he was going to listen anyway.

“I’ll be taking my leave.”

Merlin waved her hand, saying that she’d given him all of the information she knew. She said she was leaving, but she was clearly going to keep watching through a different animal’s gaze.

“Can’t you please say something before you appear?”

“Hmm? But I did say something. I said ‘praise me.’.”

“That’s not what I meant…”

Raon furrowed his brow. He felt like he got caught up to her pace whenever he spoke to her. He tried to explain it again, but she shook her hand.

“This one is looking for a herb called catnip. It apparently heard about it from a domesticated cat, and it said it wanted to try rolling on catnip because of how nice it smells.”

“W-wait! What’s catnip?!”

Raon extended his hand, but Merlin was already gone, and the cat’s black eyes were directed at him instead.

“Meow.”

The round eyes on the round face and the fur sticking out like a hedgehog looked extremely cute, probably because Merlin wasn’t inside anymore.

“Catnip?”

“Meow.”

“What is that…?”

“Meow!”

The cat raised her claws. She seemed to be telling him that it was his job to find it.

“Alright, I get it…”

Raon searched throughout the North Grave Mountain with the cat in his arms. However, he couldn’t find any catnip no matter how hard he looked for it. In fact, he couldn’t even tell if he’d missed it or not because he didn’t know what catnip was.

Meow!

After three hours of searching, Raon went down from North Grave Mountain and headed to the annex building after the cat beat him multiple times with its fluffy paws.

“Young master?” Helen widened her eyes, looking at the kitty in Raon’s arms. “What is that cat…?”

“Helen, do you know about catnip by any chance?”

“Catnip? Are you talking about the catmint?” She nodded, implying she knew what catnip was.

“Do you have it?”

“No, of course not.”

“Meow!”

The cat started to punch him with its fluffy paws again as soon as Helen said she didn’t have it. Raon was sad that it kept attacking him even though he’d been looking for the catnip for almost half a day for the cat.

“Catmint? I have it!”

Dorian’s voice could be heard from behind him. Raon looked around and saw him raising his hand energetically.

“You have it?”

“Yes, it’s a necessity!”

Dorian blabbered bullshit about ‘necessity’ again and took out a plant with a rectangular stem and triangular leaves with soft angles.

“Come over here!”

He laid down the catnip on the ground, and the kitten left Raon’s arms, leaping toward Dorian.

“Meow!”

“Good boy. You’re such a nice cat!”

Dorian took a cat toy in the shape of a fishing rod from his belly pocket and played with the kitty. The cat was making an expression that Raon had never seen before as it rolled on the catnip while playing with Dorian. He started to feel pain inside.

“Hey.” Raon twisted his lips while looking at Dorian.

“Yes?”

“It must be nice to be you.”

“Eeh…?” Dorian tilted his head, unable to understand what he was talking about.

“It must be nice.”

Wrath shook his head at his pathetic behavior.

What a loser.

* * *

“Haa…”

Sylvia was sighing, lying on the hospital bed, when the door opened without a knock.

“Raon?”

She lifted herself with a bright smile on her face, but Aries entered through the open door with a flower bouquet that seemed to have been sloppily put together.

“I’m so sorry, I’m not your cute son.” Aries smiled while handing over the bouquet.

“A-Aries—I mean, Lady Aries.”

“Just call me Aries.” She shook her head, furrowing her brow slightly. “No one is here to listen. No, you can call me Aries even if someone is around. I’ll split their skull if they start bitching about it.”

Aries bared her teeth, saying that she would even fight her father if he complained.

“Thank you.” Sylvia accepted the bouquet with a faint smile on her face.

“How is your condition?” Aries sat on the chair next to the bed, examining Sylvia’s state.

“It doesn’t really hurt, but it’s a bit suffocating that I have to stay still,” Sylvia sighed, saying that she felt like she was locked up in the room.

“I definitely misjudged you, it seems.”

“What?”

“I used to think you had a weak-kneed personality. I didn’t expect you to leave the house for your loved one, and I didn’t think you would keep swinging your sword on the verge of death like you did yesterday.”

“I heard you helped us back then. Thank you.”

“The matter bothered me because I couldn’t help you. I didn’t really do anything.”

Aries ruffled her hair, showing that she was ashamed of herself.

“You also gave up the dragon heart used to create my energy center. No, it wasn’t just me. You also helped Raon in many ways.”

“Raon just makes me want to help him.” She nodded while looking into Sylvia’s eyes, which looked just like Raon’s. “He is such a good person that it’s difficult to believe that he was born in this degenerate Zieghart. He is so powerful at his age, yet he cherishes people and possesses a humble nature. He really grew up so nicely.”

Aries smiled faintly, saying that she liked Raon’s personality even more than his might.

“I don’t usually get jealous of other people, but I’m jealous of you when it comes to the child’s growth.”

“There’s no reason to be jealous. He is your nephew, after all.” Sylvia smiled while hugging the bouquet.

“Right? He is my nephew, right? I’m feeling so much better with his mother’s permission!” Aries clenched her fist, saying that she would engrave the word auntie into Raon’s mouth.

“I’m sorry.” She was smiling, but suddenly bit her lip upon meeting Sylvia’s eyes again.

“Aries?”

“To be honest, I haven’t been visiting you because I couldn’t muster the courage to see you. I would’ve come earlier if I knew this was going to happen.”

“Ah…”

Sylvia licked her lips while looking at Aries. She thought Aries always did whatever she wanted, but she seemed to have some heavy worries inside.

“Aries.” Sylvia shook her head, holding Aries’s hand. “You don’t need to apologize for something you didn’t do. I’m satisfied with the present.”

“…Thank you.” Aries gripped Sylvia’s hand before she stood up. “Since I finally saw straight your face, I should be going back now.”

“Going back…?”

“I’m going to play as a pirate again. And…” She smiled faintly, looking outside the window where the sun was setting. “I want to look for my naughty son who I’ve lost contact with.”

“Ah…”

“I was originally planning to stop caring about him even if he died, but I started to miss him as I kept watching Raon.” Aries slowly waved her hand. “Let’s make him spar with Raon once he comes back. The winner pays for a meal, how about it?”

“Sure.” Sylvia nodded peacefully. “But make sure to come back quickly.”

Aries returned to her usual expression. She nodded with a cheerful smile.

“Sure.”

* * *

Zieghart

Audience Chamber

All kinds of books were forming a mountain on the platform that normally had nothing but a throne on it.

“This is too basic, and this one lacks a framework. This one is too simple, making it uninteresting.”

Glenn skimmed through the books one after the other and furrowed his brow deeply in displeasure.

“What is our lord doing right now?” Rimmer entered the audience chamber while yawning and went to Roenn to ask the question.

“He seemed to be picking which book of martial arts to bestow upon the young master Raon.” Roenn smiled faintly while looking at Glenn.

“A book of martial arts?”

“Yes. Sir Raon created a new martial art this time. He seems to be picking a book that can help him with his next creation.”

Roenn smiled gently, saying that he hadn’t seen Glenn enjoy himself so much in a long time.

“Of course he enjoys it.” Sheryl parted her back from the pillar and nodded her head. “On top of becoming a Grandmaster at a young age, his grandson even has the talent as a founder. No one in the world would be displeased at that.”

She smiled, saying that she could fully understand Glenn’s feelings.

“So that’s why so many books are piled up there.” Rimmer nodded, showing that he could finally understand the situation. “He was definitely amazing this time.”

Rimmer nodded, saying that he had to admit it.

“Even I didn't expect that he would thoroughly dismantle the Sword of Ten Forms to create a hard counter for it.”

“Ahem! That’s not the case. I just wanted to check out the books of martial arts since I haven’t done so in a long time.”

Glenn’s lips were twitching violently because of how much he enjoyed Roenn, Sheryl, and Rimmer’s compliments for Raon.

“If you are giving him something, it would be better to give a martial art that suits his style.”

“That’s right! The martial art he creates will be the best no matter what he gets, but the result will be better with better material!”

Glenn turned his head slightly and nodded. It looked like the corners of his lips were connected to his earlobes.

“That’s my disciple!” Rimmer energetically raised his fist while looking at Glenn.

“Hmm!” Glenn gazed down upon Rimmer with a serious look on his face. “That is incorrect. He was my grandson before being your disciple.”

He shook his head, telling him to stop saying nonsense.

“You can’t even call him your grandson in front of him though.” Rimmer grinned, saying that no grandfather in the world acted like that.

“Kuh…”

Glenn bit his lip, gripping the throne’s armrest. Rimmer hit the mark, but Glenn couldn’t strike him with lightning, unlike the other times.

“Moreover…” Rimmer shook his head while looking at the books Glenn had prepared. “Raon will have to gain an achievement before you can give him the books you’ve picked.”

Glenn never gave presents to Raon for no reason. Since he’d always given something as a reward for an achievement, Raon was only going to get those books after a long time.

“But his great master here doesn’t have that condition! I can give him things whenever I want to, and not give them to him if I don’t! Everything is up to me!” Rimmer shrugged his shoulders with a smirk. “Doesn’t that make his teacher much closer to him than his grandfather who can’t even call him a grandson?”

“Y-you…” Glenn’s fist trembled as he glared at Rimmer.

“Hmm…”

“Huhuhu.”

Even though Sheryl and Roenn normally would’ve stopped Rimmer, they weren’t doing anything for once.

“Well then, I’m going to head out to give some gifts to Raon!” Rimmer cheerfully waved his hand and left the lord’s manor.

Crack!

The throne’s armrest crumbled into pieces under Glenn’s hand. His eyes sparked crimson.

“You bastard…”

‘I’ll show you what a grandfather can do!’

* * *

Raon went to the fifth training ground after entrusting the cat to Dorian. He touched the hilt of his sword while watching the swordsmen, who were absorbed in their training.

‘What should I do about the Light Wind Division’s martial arts?’

Since the Spiral Light Style was created for Sylvia and the maids, it wasn’t suitable for the Light Wind Division. He needed to create a new martial art that could maximize their potential.

‘For now, it needs to be practical like the Spiral Light Style, and it should have a good mix of offense and defense, at around the proportion of 6 attack and 4 defense. I need to think of the synergy with the Light Wind formation too.’

There were lots of conditions, but it wasn’t really a big issue. However, he wasn’t getting any ideas for the center of the martial arts, the pillar serving as the foundation.

Raon sighed briefly while brushing his hair back because it was disheveled by the wind.

‘It would be nice if it also helped my training…’

He’d achieved some growth from visiting the Sword and Saber Sovereign’s grave, but his prowess hadn’t increased drastically. Since there wasn’t much time left until the duel, he had to think about his own improvement as well.

‘What should I do now?’

While Raon was licking his lips in contemplation, a cool wind landed behind him.

“What are you doing?”

Rimmer smiled while tossing back his scorched-black hair. His glossy skin implied that he’d earned a lot from gambling again. He looked so noble whenever he had money, but immediately started to look like a beggar when he ran out of it. He was such a mysterious person.

“I was thinking about making the Light Wind Division’s martial art.”

“The Light Wind Division’s martial art?”

“Yes. But I’m not getting any ideas even though I’ve been pondering about it.” Raon told Rimmer about his contemplation.

“Hmm, your own growth and the Light Wind division’s martial art…” Rimmer stroked his neat chin before he lifted his gaze. “You have all four attributes now because you gained the earth attribute last time, right?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Then it’s time to nurture the wind.”

A wind brushed elegantly past him.

“Have you ever heard about the song of the wind?”

***

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]