C783
"Of course, we should choose the Five Demons here!"
The one-handed elder with a ferocious expression shouted, slamming his fist on the table.
"The Five Kings don't even treat us as humans! The Five Demons are pushing them back across the continent, so choosing them is the right decision now!"
He lowered his white brows, stating that the Five Demons were the answer for the Five Divine Orders to regain their strength.
"The Five Demons are evil beings beyond mere ugliness."
The woman with golden hair and piercing eyes calmly shook her head.
"Trusting those two-faced demons is tantamount to suicide. They will surely discard us after using our power."
She closed her eyes, asserting that the Five Demons couldn't be trusted.
"I don't care which side we choose, as long as I can fight fiercely."
The middle-aged man with blue hair and a carefree appearance stroked the spear resting on the table, licking his lips.
"Lately, I've felt deeply unsatisfied."
He mumbled about his boring and frustrating life as he took a swig straight from the bottle.
"That's the problem with battle fanatics: they don't think at all."
The one-handed elder clicked his tongue and turned his gaze towards the center of the table.
"Thespian Emperor. What do you think?"
He nodded towards the silhouette shrouded in darkness.
"All three opinions are valid."
Emperor Ariel, whose beauty was so radiant it could make sunlight seem dim, leaned forward with a smile.
"We cannot stand idly by and must choose one of the two factions. However…"
She raised a finger as she looked at the other leaders of the Five Divine Orders.
"Let's postpone our decision for now."
—"But we don't have much time, do we?"
Queen of Swords Bridget narrowed her eyes.
"Right now, the Five Kings and the Five Demons are holding an auction to obtain the power of the Five Divine Orders."
The dramatically poised Emperor Ariel met the eyes of Kern, the demon slayer; Bridget, the Queen of Swords; and Dreg, the demonic swordsman.
"In an auction, the time increases until a final bid is made."
She pursed her lips as she looked at the map of the continent divided between the Five Kings and the Five Demons.
"We won't be too late if we act after confirming which side offers the greatest reward."
* * *
"Haha…"
As soon as Raon heard Helen's words, he ran towards Federick's mansion. But instead of immediately opening the door, he stood breathless in front of it.
—"What are you doing? Why don't you go in?"
Wrath muttered that he wanted to see his mother, waving his hands.
'I'm a little nervous.'
Raon didn't know what to say to the Rector or Edgar, let alone Sylvia. He felt his mouth and mind freezing up.
—"Family problems are solved just by getting together!"
Wrath pushed Raon's back, urging him to enter quickly.
'Ah, alright.'
Raon nodded dazedly and entered Federick's mansion.
—"You're here."
Federick smiled, indicating the room where the three were, as if telling Raon to enter.
—"Thank you."
Raon bowed to Federick and entered Sylvia's room. Although he was very nervous, the scene he found upon entering was far from what he expected.
—"Damn fool!"
Sylvia was stomping on Edgar's back with a frown on her face.
—"How could you think of dying alone? You should have thought of ways for us to live together!"
—"Ah, well, that's…"
—"What were we supposed to do if you died alone? How were we supposed to live after losing you again?"
She continued to stomp furiously, not listening to Edgar's words.
—"I, I had no choice. I couldn't think of anything but saving you and my father! You put yourself in danger to save me and Sia too! It's the same!"
Edgar shook his head, saying he still didn't regret choosing to save the Rector and Sylvia.
—"That's not all! If you were alive, you should have contacted us somehow! Raon, me, or my father!"
Sylvia now looked at Edgar with a raised fist.
—"That's not fair! I couldn't move my body, and there were monsters everywhere, so I couldn't do anything. I'm still fighting that damn Death Knight's soul!"
Edgar shook his head vigorously, saying he had his own circumstances.
—"Edgar, shut up. She's completely right."
The Rector frowned and sided with Sylvia instead of Edgar.
—"You heard it, Father. It's all your fault. Everything…"
Sylvia collapsed, unable to extend her fist, as tears streamed down her face. It seemed that she didn't actually want to blame Edgar, but was overwhelmed by the fear of losing her family again.
—"I'm sorry…"
Knowing how she felt, Edgar repeated his apologies and embraced Sylvia.
—"Mother! Don't worry! This King will protect you from now on!"
Wrath flew and perched on Sylvia's head.
—"Heh."
Raon couldn't help but let out a small laugh. With Sylvia's disheveled hair, Wrath looked like a little bird in a nest.
—"R-Raon!"
The Rector's eyes widened as he finally noticed Raon.
—"Raon! Are you alright? Does anything hurt?"
Sylvia pushed Edgar away and rushed to Raon, examining him from head to toe.
—"You didn't do anything strange for me, did you? I couldn't live with myself if you did."
Edgar clasped his hands and begged Raon to say he hadn't done anything unusual.
—"Raon, I heard you've done a lot."
The Rector got up from the bed.
—"Tell us what has happened all this time."
He lowered his white brows, more concerned about Raon's well-being than his own.
—"And Sia! What happened to Sia? She's alive, right?"
Sylvia clasped her hands together, as if begging for confirmation that Sia was alive. Despite having just woken up, seeing the three people worrying about him and Sia first, Raon offered a slight smile.
«So this is family.»
The Rector, Sylvia, and Edgar thought of their family before their own condition or aura. He once again felt what a true family means.
—"Since there are many questions, I'll answer them all at once."
Raon stepped back and met the three's trembling eyes.
—"Please follow me."
* * *
Raon entered the audience chamber with Sylvia, Edgar, and the Rector.
—"I've been waiting."
Glenn rose from his throne as if he had expected them to come.
—"Father."
—"Father-in-law, it's an honor…"
Sylvia and Edgar lowered their posture as if about to kneel before Glenn.
—"Greetings are done. Follow me."
Glenn gestured to the Rector and headed to the basement first.
—"Let's go."
Raon guided the three to the basement where Sia was staying.
—"Ah! So be it! So be it!"
As soon as Sylvia saw Sia, she rushed to the bed and hugged her tightly.
—"I never thought I could touch Sia again with my own hands…"
Edgar also stayed close to Sylvia's side, holding Sia's hand, who hadn't yet woken up.
—"To think this child is my granddaughter…"
The Rector simply observed, biting his lip as if feeling the pain Sia had endured.
—"Hm? Wait! Sia's fierce fighting spirit is gone?"
Edgar's chin trembled as if he had noticed the change in Sia.
—"Could it be that you expelled the Green King?"
He turned to Raon with expectant eyes.
—"Y-Yes, that's right."
Sylvia also swallowed hard, feeling the pure aura emanating from Sia.
—"Raon, what happened all this time?"
She bit her lip as if asking him to speak.
—"It's going to be a bit of a long story."
Raon told Sylvia, the Rector, and Edgar to sit down, then stood in front of the three.
—"Thanks to the Rector stopping the jewel's explosion, we survived, but Mom was seriously injured because the replica didn't disappear. After that…"
He briefly explained what had happened, making eye contact with each of the three in turn.
"…and that's how we were able to revive Sister's soul. Actually, it wasn't me who did it, but Murkada."
Raon stepped back after explaining how Murkada had saved Sia's soul.
—"A benefactor and a saint."
Edgar exhaled heavily as he held Sia's hand.
—"Leaving such an unpayable debt and leaving like that…"
He gritted his teeth, seemingly regretful that he couldn't thank Murkada in person.
—"If we had met a little earlier…"
Sylvia also sighed, regretting not being able to meet Murkada.
—"Raon, there's one thing I'm curious about."
The Rector, who had been silently watching Sia, finally spoke.
—"The Fallen wouldn't have been hit by the explosion, so how did you defeat him?"
He narrowed his eyes, as if he didn't understand what had happened to the Fallen.
—"Mmm…"
Wrath swallowed with difficulty, seemingly thinking it was time to tell his story.
—"I'll explain that part now."
Raon stepped back and began to speak, looking at the four people, including Glenn, who had waited despite knowing about the Demon King's existence.
—"When the Fallen tried to kill us while we were defenseless, I borrowed the power of a friend."
Raon licked his lips as he fiddled with the ice flower bracelet.
—"A friend?"
—"What kind of friend could defeat the Fallen?"
The Rector and Sylvia opened their eyes in disbelief.
—"…"
Edgar, apparently having some idea, closed his previously talkative mouth.
—"I-It's a little embarrassing…"
Wrath squirmed, feeling the attention focused on him.
—"You don't have to be embarrassed."
Raon shook his head as he patted Wrath's head.
«Thanks to you, the people here were able to survive.»
Although many people had collaborated in this war, Wrath undoubtedly played the most important role. If it weren't for him, everyone except Glenn would have been kidnapped or killed by the Fallen, so it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he was the main contributor to the victory.
—"It's a Demon King."
Raon revealed Wrath's identity after preparing himself.
—"A D-Demon King?"
—"A Demon King, you say?"
Sylvia and the Rector's eyes widened so much it looked like they were going to cry.
—"Yes. I borrowed the power of my friend the Demon King to fight the Fallen."
—"N-No. If you borrowed the power of a Demon King, you'd have to offer your soul!"
Sylvia ran to Raon and hugged him, crying.
—"No! I won't let you go no matter what! Take mine instead!"
She shouted that she would die in his place, despite having just woken up.
—"Hmm, it seems you didn't offer your soul."
The Rector exhaled deeply, seeming to regain his composure at Raon's calm attitude.
—"Yes. Not my soul, but…"
Raon chuckled as he looked at Wrath, whose face had turned red.
—"I just need to give him delicious food."
—"Food?"
—"You just need to give him food?"
—"W-What do you mean…"
This time, not only Sylvia and the Rector, but also Edgar and Glenn were speechless with surprise.
—"He especially likes the food Mom makes in the annex building."
Raon waved his hand and said the Demon King only needed to have his appetite satisfied.
—"Eh? What?"
Sylvia blinked incomprehendingly, as if she didn't understand the current situation.
—"Wait! So I also came back to life thanks to the Demon King's power?"
Edgar rubbed his chest, as if finally understanding how he had survived.
—"Ah, that was a different Demon King."
—"T-Two Demon Kings…"
Sylvia slumped into a chair, seemingly dizzy.
—"To think our son is friends with Demon Kings. Two of them, at that…"
—"Good!"
Edgar, on the contrary, raised his fist with an exclamation.
—"Father! Did you hear that? Your grandson is friends with Demon Kings! I've never seen a Demon King, but he's friends with them! This is historical!"
He smiled broadly with open arms and seemed pleased.
—"Oh, you fool!"
Sylvia frowned as she hit Edgar's back.
Despite being separated for over 20 years, they gave off the air of a couple who had lived together all along, which made Raon involuntarily smile.
—"Raon."
The Rector approached Raon.
—"Is your friend here now?"
—"Yes."
Raon calmly nodded.
—"He's watching from beside me."
As he said this, he nudged Wrath, who was slightly trembling, with his shoulder.
—"I see."
The Rector adjusted his clothes and knelt on his left knee before Wrath.
—"On behalf of the leader of the Holy Sword Alliance, Rector, I offer my gratitude to the Demon King."
He bowed his head, expressing gratitude even after hearing that Wrath was a Demon King.
—"That's right. That should come first."
Edgar slapped his cheek and assumed the same posture next to the Rector.
—"Demon King. Thank you for saving my son and daughter."
He conveyed his gratitude to Wrath with a smile.
—"If there's any food you desire, let us know anytime."
Sylvia also expressed her gratitude, bending her knees and bowing.
—"Thank you for protecting all of us. Truly…"
She reddened her eyes, thanking him for helping her son.
—"Thank you."
Glenn knelt on one knee among the three.
—"On behalf of the Head of House Zieghart, I wish to convey my gratitude."
He also bowed his head and said he was simply grateful.
—"T-This King simply…"
Wrath's lips trembled as if he hadn't expected such a greeting.
—"I did what I could! Because it was annoying!"
He abruptly turned his body, and his nose turned red.
'Are you crying?'
—"W-What crying! I'm surprised because it's the first time so many humans know my identity and still thank me!"
Wrath sobbed and shouted that he was simply surprised. Raon expected him to proudly accept the greetings, declaring it was only natural. What a peculiar Demon King, indeed.
'You deserve it.'
Raon smiled as he patted Wrath's back.
…"And you too, Raon."
Glenn stood up and gave Raon a warm smile.
—"What? Why me...?"
—"Even with the power of a Demon King, defeating the Fallen isn't an easy task. You've been through a lot."
He said this while patting Raon's head. It wasn't the appearance of a cold family head, but that of a family man who wanted to protect his family.
—"I feel the same."
The Rector looked at Raon with warm eyes and took his hand.
—"You must have been more tired than anyone, but thank you for fighting to the end without giving up."
He smiled gently, just as he did when he taught Raon swordsmanship.
—"No, I… No, it was simply what I had to do."
Raon waved his hands and bowed his head to Glenn and the Rector.
—"…"
Sylvia watched Raon exchanging greetings with his two grandfathers and let fall the tears she had been holding back.
—"Well, we can't thank you with just words. Both Raon and the Demon King. Do you need anything?"
Edgar raised his hand as if asking Raon to inquire about Wrath's wishes.
—"What's the point of asking?!"
Wrath raised his head, wiping the snot that had run down.
—"Food! And not just any food, but a mountain of dishes so large that even this King can't finish them all! Bring all the beaded ice cream!"
He smacked his chubby belly and said the Lord's Mansion should be filled with food.
—"He says he wants to have a feast. With lots of dishes."
Raon nodded, saying that was all.
—"Don't simplify it like that! Say it properly!"
Wrath grabbed Raon's hair and told him to convey his words accurately.
—"Ah, then it must be the Demon King of Gluttony!"
Edgar smiled as if he finally understood.
—"No!"
Wrath shouted at Edgar.
—"Don't compare me to that glutton! I'm the Monarch of Wrath!"
He shook his head vigorously, telling Raon to say it correctly.
'Gluttony. Actually, gluttony fits too.'
Raon smiled as he watched Wrath and Edgar excitedly murmuring about gluttony.
—"Ugh, I want to freeze them all, but since I received thanks, I'll restrain myself for just today—"
Just as Wrath was saying he would restrain himself for just one day, a whistling sound filled the air. Silver Frost appeared out of nowhere and enveloped Wrath.
-
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