N/T: Translation made by our friend 'Irving'. A big round of applause for him :)
Chapter 411
Raon gestured towards the table where the Light Wind members were sitting before leaping down below the walls.
"I'll be back in a moment."
"But the festival is starting now?"
"Where are you going?"
"To meet the crocodile."
Raon honestly stated that he was going to see the crocodile.
"What?"
"The crocodile?"
"What kind of crazy talk is that?"
Burren, Runaan, and Martha opened their eyes wide, and the other members of the Light Wind asked what he was talking about, but he didn't answer and descended from the walls.
Stepping on the swampy ground like dry land, he stood in front of the crocodile, it gestured to follow him, and then turned his body.
'A gesture…'
Crocodiles are surprisingly intelligent creatures among reptiles. While they may not be expected to guide humans by gesturing for them to follow, it was clear that this one was Merlin.
"Huff."
After sighing, Raon followed Merlin's tail, which swayed as he entered a vine-covered area.
Creak.
The crocodile entered a place where it could avoid people's eyes and then stopped and turned around, as if beckoning Raon to follow.
Hrrr…!
Wrath forgot his desire to eat and shivered all over as he looked at the crocodile.
The King of Essence can't even imagine what crazy thing that crazy woman will do this time…
'That's right.'
What is she going to say?
Merlin had previously said that the Eden executives were each on different missions and didn't know each other's work well. She also didn't know if Manghong would attack the Arian family, so it was a somewhat ambiguous situation where he couldn't completely trust or distrust her.
"Raon."
Merlin looked up at her and rolled her reptilian eyes.
"How are your injuries?"
"Injuries?"
"Are the injuries from that damn skull-faced bastard better now?"
She extended her front paw and asked if there were still any painful spots.
"I'm fine now."
Raon said it was all healed and waved her hand.
"But what about you this time?"
When he tried to ask Merlin about the recent Manghongwi's attack, she bowed her head deeply before Merlin could.
Even though it was the appearance of a crocodile, it was a gesture of bowing her head deeply.
"I'm really sorry."
She said she had nothing to say about this incident.
"What are you sorry for?"
Raon bent his knees and made eye contact with Merlin.
"I didn't warn you in advance about Manghongwi's attack. I found out too late."
Merlin couldn't provide information at the most critical moment or be by his side, and she shed tears.
'Those crocodile tears…' (lol)
They say not to trust crocodile tears.
Ironically, the phrase "crocodile tears" came to mind at this moment.
However, since he had received a lot of help from her, he couldn't just suspect her.
"Did you know that Manghongwi would attack?"
"No."
Merlin shook her trembling head.
"Originally, that damn skull-faced guy's mission was to taint the treasure recovered from the Swamp of Death and return. Attacking the Arian family and trying to kill you was his own decision."
Merlin scratched the swamp with her foreleg, saying that it was not Tacheon's order, but rather Manghongwi's own judgment.
Raon silently looked at Merlin's expression, but he could not tell what her expression was because she was in the form of an crocodile.
"You don't trust me."
She licked her lips. The piece of meat stuck in her upper teeth was a little creepy.
"I don't completely distrust you. If you really wanted to kill me, you would have used a different method."
Both Merlin and the Manghongwi weren't fools. If they had planned to attack together, there would have been a better way, so Raon's words were likely not false.
However, he wanted to keep his distance from her because he could not trust her, a member of Eden.
You thought well! If you hang around with such a crazy woman, your mind will be ruined
Just when Wrath was about to say something to go back and eat, Merlin raised her right foreleg.
"I thought so, so I made a little preparation this time."
Merlin lightly tapped the swamp with her raised foreleg.
Along with the sticky sound of cracking, the swamp, which was illuminated by the moonlight, turned transparent and began to show something.
"Hmm?"
Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked down at the swamp. Someone was writhing like a bug turned upside down, holding their head in a dark room.
"What is this?"
"The end for the one who touched you."
Merlin's mouth twisted into a chilling smile, not because she was in the form of a crocodile, but because her smile itself sent shivers down one's spine.
"No way... is that...?"
"Yes. That wretched skull-faced bastard."
She nodded that it was Manghongwi.
"Hu..."
Raon examined the struggling person more closely. Torn robes and a skull mask with a hole in the center of the forehead. It was indeed Manghongwi he had fought to the death with just a few days ago.
"Why is he like this?"
"I locked him up in an artifact called the Gold-framed Aquarium." (Golden Frame Aquarium)
She said it casually, like catching a mouse in a trap.
"You, you locked him up?"
"Yeah."
Merlin nodded, her eyes turning blood red.
"He hurt you, didn't he? That trash."
She muttered that it was too late to help, so she locked Manghongwi away so that he could never come out into the world again.
"Won't this be discovered by the Tacheon?"
"I won't be caught unless I kill. My real body is somewhere else right now."
Merlin raised her head. She thought about the movements of the other executives and let out a cold smile.
"But..."
Raon pointed to Manghongwi reflected in the swamp. He was trembling all over as if he was in severe pain.
"Why is he in such agony?"
He's just trapped in there, so why is he suffering like this?
"I'm cursing him."
"...Curse?"
"Yes. I repeat the curse imbued with my will, which gives mental pain."
Merlin looked down at Manghongwi with her eyes flickering.
"He won't be able to get out of the aquarium, but even if he does, he'll run away as soon as he sees you."
When she hit the swamp with her foreleg again, the image changed. The ceiling was seen through the perspective of looking up at the aquarium from below.
'That's....'
there was a gigantic Merlin with glowing eyes. Her crimson lips kept twitching continuously.
Ah...
Wrath, while looking at Merlin's eyes floating above the tank, fell backward as if he had fainted.
Th-that woman is truly insane! She's even crazier than the stalkers in the Devildom!
He hid behind an ice flower bracelet, saying that he had turned even worse than the stalkers in the Devildom.
"Ugh..."
Raon swallowed dryly and nodded his head. When he had heard Wrath say that she was crazy before, he didn't feel much, but after witnessing the curse being cast, his heart tightened.
Do you know what's scarier?
Wrath lifted his head slightly, holding his head above the ice flower bracelet.
Right now, that image. It's connected to the woman's lifespan.
'Ah…'
That's right. To perform magic in that state, Merlin had to deplete her own lifespan. There was really nothing about her that didn't send shivers down one's spine.
"You can stop now."
"Huh? Don't you want to see more? He's the one who tormented you! Even if I watch him all day, it wouldn't be enough!"
"Your lifespan is decreasing."
"Are you worried about me? I can throw away a thousand years for you if I have to!"
Merlin's eyes sparkled with emotion as she attempted to enlarge the image even more. She was truly an overwhelming woman.
"It's enough, so stop."
"Really? Don't you want to see more?!"
"You're losing your lifespan."
"I'm not concerned about that. Are you worried about me? If it's for you, I can give up a thousand years!"
Merlin's eyes glinted with emotion as she tried to enlarge the image even more. She was truly an overwhelming woman.
"It's enough, so stop."
"Hmm...?"
Raon exhaled heavily and touched the swamp where Manghongwi was shimmering. The waves splashed, and the Manghongwi's image disappeared.
"Doing this much won't really matter."
Merlin looked disappointed as she sucked her lips.
"Anyway, Manghongwi won't come out again, right?"
"Yeah. Even if he does, he'll become a beggar and won't be able to do anything."
"That's true..."
Raon nodded his head. If Merlin continued to cast curses from above, no one would be able to withstand it. Just thinking about it made his hair stand on end.
'Anyway, I'm relieved.'
Manghongwi's abilities this time were terrifying.
Even if he didn't have the orb, he was clearly a strong man, so if he couldn't use his power, it would have an impact on Eden as well.
'I need to get stronger.'
He thought about it as he lowered his gaze. If it hadn't been for the support of the four factions, including Milland, and Rimmer's surprise attack, they might have suffered even greater losses, and many people might have died.
He couldn't be satisfied with just being in a slightly higher position. He needed to strive for even greater heights.
After returning to Zieghart, he thought he should train with the Light Wind squad and undergo hellish training.
Merlin was silently looking this way.
"Are you really okay?"
"What do you mean?"
"What if you get caught by Tacheon?"
"Wow, you're worrying about me for the second time today? Is my love finally seeping into you?"
"Stop with the nonsense."
"I won't get caught, but even if I do, I'll be fine when I come out."
Merlin whispered that she no longer had any attachment to Eden, that she was here for him.
"Sigh..."
Raon shivered as he shrugged his shoulders. There was really nothing about her that didn't send shivers down his spine, with her eyes constantly cursing from above.
"Now, it's almost time."
Merlin waved her hand as if it were all over.
"I'll be going now. See you next time."
She smiled as if it were finally over.
"Thank you for thinking of me."
"Oh..."
Merlin didn't seem to expect those words and her eyes widened. Her lips curled slightly.
"As expected, my choice was right."
"Stop with the strange talk. The crocodile is going to eat, right?"
Raon smiled faintly as he looked at the crocodile's teeth.
'That's easy.'
Once they crossed the city walls, there would be plenty of delicious meat waiting for them. A few pieces would be enough.
"No."
Merlin replied firmly.
"No...?"
"I want you to scratch my back."
"My... back? You want me to scratch your back?"
"Yes, just scratch it for 30 minutes. See you later."
She asked him to scratch her entire back and waved her hand before disappearing.
Creak.
Merlin's presence disappeared, and Raon felt the crocodile's wild instincts awakening in its long, slender eyes.
Creak!
The crocodile seemed to be urging him to keep his promise by pushing its back against him.
"Sigh..."
Raon sighed as he put his hand on the crocodile's rough back.
"You really do some strange things."
Did she finally go?
---
Musten narrowed his eyes as he looked at his master, Rekthar's back.
'Why is he acting like this today?'
Although Rekthar had said he wanted to see Raon Zieghart's swordsmanship, when he saw Raon in person, his expression froze.
Instead of asking about the swordsmanship, he didn't say anything and spent the whole day looking out of the window.
Even though they had spent a lot of time together as master and disciple, Musten had never seen him like this before.
'What could possibly be happening?'
Rekthar had praised Raon's sword earlier when he saw the traces on the sword. But when he actually saw him, he couldn't say anything.
The only reason why a swordsman who was obsessed with the sword would react like that is one.
'Is it talent?'
It was clear that Rekthar was reacting that way because he was amazed by Raon Zieghart's talent.
'Damn it…'
Musten was irritated that his master, who never showed his emotions to him, had changed because of a young warrior who had just turned twenty.
'I never liked him from the beginning.'
He had to admit that he felt inferior. He should have been the one to receive the nicknames of young Sword Demon and White Sword Dragon, since he was a disciple of the Sword Demon.
When he thought about how Raon had all of them even though he was younger, his fist clenched.
In particular, the relationship between him and his master was far from the normal master-disciple relationship, which made his sense of inferiority even greater.
Musten exhaled heavily, trying to release the tension in his chest.
"What's wrong, master?"
Rekthar, who had been indifferent, finally turned his gaze towards Musten.
"Master, are you okay?"
"Don't worry about it, go out and enjoy the festival."
He waved his hand as if chasing away a fly. The look in his eyes when he glanced at Musten was completely different from what he had seen before.
'Is he really that amazing?'
'He must regret having me as his disciple.' thought Musten, his mind wandering.
"Is Raon Zieghart really that remarkable?" he finally asked.
"What?" replied Rekthar, turning to Musten for the first time. His eyes held an intense light that Musten had never seen before.
"What do you want to say?" asked Rekthar.
"May I request something as well?" Musten inquired.
Rekthar raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"
"I want to challenge White Sword Dragon in a duel."
"A duel?"
"Yes. I will defeat Raon Zieghart and prove that I am the one who is most suited to acquire the young Sword Demon nickname!"
Musten gripped his sword as if he had unwavering confidence.
"Is that so?"
Rekthar lowered his gaze, his eyes showing a cold, unreadable expression.
"Do you have confidence in yourself?"
"Of course!"
Musten nodded confidently.
"Very well."
Rekthar nodded in agreement, stood up from the sofa, and said, "Do as you wish."
"I won't disappoint you!" Musten declared as he left the room.
"Whew…"
Rekthar let out a soft sigh as he followed Musten.
"Perhaps it was a misunderstanding."
---
After spending about 30 minutes scratching the crocodile's back, Raon climbed back up to the castle.
The festival was in full swing, with laughter and cheers erupting from all corners.
I'm tired of dealing with the crazy woman. Let's eat soon!
'I should at least wash up.'
Raon's body was covered in mud from bouncing while scratching the crocodile's back. He needed to clean his hands and face first.
"Ugh."
Raon sighed and descended below the castle.
"Did you play in the mud or something? Why are your clothes like that?"
Burren asked with a chuckle.
"Did you really have fun with the crocodile?" Runaan's eyes widened, and she seemed eager, as if she wanted to join in.
"You're the vice-squad leader, you should act your age. Playing in the mud at your age," said Martha, shaking her head.
Raon quickly gestured with his hand, indicating that he had just come back after scratching the crocodile and headed to a nearby well.
He scooped up some water to wash his hands and face. As he did, a young man in a white robe with an emblem on it approached him.
"That's...," Raon thought.
This was the young man who had called Rekthar his master. He had stood out since their first meeting due to his fierce demeanor.
Rekthar, who was tall and naturally eye-catching, was following him.
'Did he come out to enjoy the festival?'
Today in the morning, his reaction was a bit strange, but since he helped him, it's only right to greet him first. As he was about to approach Rekthar, his disciple stood in front of him.
'Hmm?'
Raon turned his gaze towards the disciple, wondering what this meant. The disciple, however, lowered his head in greeting first.
"It's our first meeting, I am Musten, the disciple of Rekthar."
"I am Raon Zieghart of the Light Wind squad."
Musten maintained some courtesy despite his fierce demeanor, and Raon returned the greeting.
"Excuse me, but I have a favor to ask. Would you be able to help me?"
"A favor?"
Musten glanced briefly at the approaching Rekthar from behind and flicked his sword hilt lightly.
"I'd like to experience the power of the White Sword Dragon, who has made a name for himself across the continent. Would you be willing to spar with me?"
He bowed his head again, saying please.
'A disciple of the Sword Demon, huh'
'There was no need for further words; he was undoubtedly a formidable opponent. The aura he exuded, befitting a disciple of the Sword Demon, was incredibly powerful. It carried the characteristics of a master who had incorporated numerous martial arts into his swordsmanship.
'It wouldn't be bad, would it?'
He would be able to learn a lot from him, regardless of the outcome of their duel.
'However...'
He looked up at the Sword Demon standing behind Musten and licked his lips.
'If I fought the master instead of the disciple, I would be able to learn more.'
'Since he was recognized by Wrath, even if he were to be defeated in a single sword stroke, he would learn more than he would from Musten.'
This opportunity was a blessing that came rolling in for him, who needed to get stronger faster than now.
"I understand."
Raon nodded to Musten and then looked at the Sword Demon.
"In return, can I ask you a favor?"
"A favor?"
Sword Demon spoke for the first time.
"If I have the strength left after facing your disciple, I would like to have the opportunity to share a sword with sir Rekthar.”
The meaning of exchanging swords was more like wanting to learn from him than to duel.
"What are you talking about now!"
Musten looked like his pride was hurt, and he showed a fierce aura with his teeth bared.
"An opportunity...."
Rekthar's gaze sank sharply.
"Are you confident?"
He smiled faintly as he stroked the sword hilt of Raon’s Heavenly Drive. A reddish haze appeared over his eyes.
“I will show you the results.”
