C816
Raon nodded with a calm look.
"Just as I thought."
Thanks to the numerous monsters covering the continent, the white-eyed humanoid that doesn't exist in the current world, and the events in the Holy Sword Saint's Tomb, he had anticipated that the ancestor who appeared in his dream was the First Patriarch of Zieghart.
"Looking into your eyes, it seems you already knew."
Glenn smiled slightly, as if he had read Raon's expression.
"The F-First Patriarch of Zieghart?"
Burren swallowed with difficulty as he stood up.
-Then could that book be it too?
His lips trembled as if he had realized that the Zieghart ancestor who wrote the Sword Control martial arts manual was the First Patriarch.
"It seems so."
Raon nodded as he pulled the Sword Control martial arts manual from his chest.
"The First Patriarch wrote that martial arts manual?"
"Wow..."
Martha and Dorian also opened their eyes in astonishment.
"The First Patriarch's martial arts manual?"
Glenn looked at the martial arts manual in Raon's hand with questioning eyes, as if asking what he was talking about.
"There's something I couldn't tell you about the incident with Darkan."
Raon climbed onto the platform and handed the martial arts manual to Glenn.
"This is the Sword Control martial arts manual that Darkan gave me to pay off a debt. But the Sword Control technique written here..."
He paused for a moment before continuing slowly.
"It was exactly the same as the Sword Control used by the swordsman with golden hair and red eyes in my dream."
-So that's why you asked that question.
Glenn nodded slowly, as if finally understanding.
"Now that you mention it, the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation you took."
He looked up, sensing the flickering flames in Raon's energy center.
"That martial art, which has not allowed anyone's touch for a thousand years, is also from the First Patriarch."
Glenn grabbed Raon's shoulder and smiled gently.
"I've only seen it in writings, but seeing the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation passed down to you and even dreaming about it, it seems our ancestor is playing favorites with his descendants."
He nodded, not with regret, but as if he was pleased.
"What kind of dream was it?"
Runaan looked up blankly, as if he was more curious about the content of the dream than anything else.
"Well..."
Raon lowered his hands from his abdomen as he looked at Glenn, Sheryl, and Roenn beside him.
'I guess it's fine to talk about it here.'
Since everyone in the audience chamber was trustworthy, it seemed there would be no problem talking about what he saw in the dream.
"In the current land of the Holy Sword Alliance..."
Raon told the story of the First Patriarch and his companions from his dream without any exaggeration or omission.
"Considering that the previous leader of the Holy Sword Alliance discovered this book in the current territory of the Holy Sword Alliance, there seems to be a deep connection between the Holy Sword Alliance and Zieghart that we don't know about."
"Mmm..."
Glenn also raised his eyebrows, as if he was surprised by that part.
"If that's true, we can't dismiss it as a simple dream."
Sheryl nodded, revealing a penetrating gaze.
"Indeed. The mere fact that you recreated the sword control you saw in the dream proves that it was not an ordinary dream. It could be magic or a spell that captures memories."
Roenn chuckled and said they should consider it from various angles.
"There's something I'd like to ask you, Head of House."
Raon lowered the martial arts manual and looked at Glenn.
"What kind of person was the First Patriarch?"
He asked directly, thinking that Glenn might know about the First Patriarch's actions.
"The time when the First Patriarch lived was a thousand years ago."
Glenn closed his eyes slowly.
"Whether it's true or not, it was a time when the Demon Dragon descended and monsters ruled over humans. It wasn't the age of humans, so there aren't many records about that time."
He shook his head briefly and said that even he didn't know much about the First Patriarch.
"I see..."
Raon bit his lip slightly.
«Well, even Derus couldn't find many books from that time.»
There are hardly any books or records about history from a thousand years ago. The only common content is the endless war between the Demon Dragon and the humans' struggle against the monsters. Other details vary widely, making them unreliable.
"However, there are some records left in Zieghart."
Glenn raised the hand holding the throne and pointed with his index finger.
"That the First Patriarch, along with his companions, killed the Demon Dragon and built this Zieghart on its corpse. However, other historical materials say that he was killed in the south, or that all of humanity joined forces, so the interpretation can vary depending on who looks at it. But there is a common point in all historical records..."
He lowered his eyebrows and let out a low sigh.
"The fact is that after founding the family, the First Patriarch's whereabouts stopped being recorded abruptly."
"His whereabouts ceased?"
"Yes. After establishing Zieghart and stabilizing the family, he suddenly disappeared."
Glenn shook his head and said that the First Patriarch never returned to Zieghart after founding the family.
"Mmm..."
Raon narrowed his eyes and muttered the word "whereabouts."
"It's similar to the Holy Sword Saint's story."
Glenn's story had similarities to what he had said in the Holy Sword Saint's Tomb.
«It's something increasingly questionable.»
He was curious about the First Patriarch's purpose, if he really fought the Demon Dragon, and who the humanoid with inverted eye colors was.
"If you're really curious, go to the Shadow Agents' underground."
Glenn briefly nodded his chin.
"The Shadow Agents' underground?"
"As you know, the Shadow Agents are Zieghart's information organization. Their history is as old as Zieghart itself. Even I haven't seen it all, so if you search there, you might find something."
He advised Raon to investigate directly and told him he would write a permission for him.
"I understand. Thank you."
Raon stepped back and bowed politely.
"It's alright. You must be tired, so you can leave for today."
Glenn waved his hand and said that Raon had done well.
"I'll come back later."
Raon bowed once more and left the audience chamber with Burren, Martha, Dorian, and Runaan.
"...It's amazing."
Roenn let out a sigh as he looked at the carpet where Raon had been standing.
"Could it be that the events of that day were not a coincidence?"
He shook his head, remembering how Raon had obtained the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation.
"Now that I think about it, didn't you say that the First Patriarch's martial arts manual turned to ashes?"
Sheryl looked at Roenn while fiddling with her fingertips.
—Yes. The martial arts manual was burning in golden flames, and Raon said that all its contents were engraved in his mind.
Roenn nodded and said it was something he would never forget in his life.
"Raon. That kid is really..."
Sheryl sighed and said she couldn't understand.
"If coincidences keep happening, they're no longer coincidences."
Glenn shook his head briefly and turned his gaze towards the window.
"It seems Raon might have been chosen by the First Patriarch."
He let out a small sigh as he looked at the distant mountains. ... The three fell silent for a moment, watching the sunset behind the mountains in the west.
"...Let's investigate the First Patriarch."
Glenn turned around as if he had made a decision. A strong and deep light shone in his eyes, which had been calm until then.
"Even if he is our ancestor, I can't allow him to harm Raon."
* * *
As soon as Raon left the Lord's Mansion, he looked back.
"There will probably be a mission soon. Take two days to rest."
He nodded and ordered Burren, Martha, Runaan, and Dorian to rest.
"I'm going to the training ground. I can't leave those squad members alone when everyone is slacking off!"
Martha frowned and said she would go to the Fifth Training Ground and put them all in shape.
"Our children are the same. The fire has gone out in their eyes."
Burren also licked his lips, saying he needed to show them proper training.
"Hmm... Hmm... Hmm... I'll go too."
Runaan licked his lips several times as if he was pondering. However, he also clenched his fist and said he couldn't leave the squad members alone.
—Me too! I'll take care of Kerin!
Dorian smiled and said he would show Kerin the dignity of the Mind's Eye.
"Alright. Then see you tomorrow at the training ground."
Raon waved his hand slightly and headed to the annex building first.
—Alright. Let's focus on the immediate tasks first.
There was no need to rush things from a thousand years ago. He was curious to know who the First Patriarch was and what his intentions were, but impatience wouldn't give him information. For now, it seemed better to focus on his current duties while gradually investigating.
-You understand well. Even in the kitchen, if you suddenly use a lot of fire, everything burns!
Wrath nodded, saying that Raon had thought well.
-Since we're at it, how about we go to the pearl ice cream shop after dinner?
He touched Raon's waist with his chubby elbow while watching his reaction.
'Why not.'
-I thought you'd say no... huh?
Wrath's eyes widened in shock.
-Really? What's wrong with you?
“Because I got a lot of help from you.”
Thanks to Wrath's intervention, he was able to stop the leader of the Holy Sword Alliance and obtain the power of Lust. He could easily invite him to pearl ice cream.
-And then how about a parfait too?
«Of course I'll buy it.»
-Ch-Chocolate chip cookies and pineapple cookies?
'Okay.'
-Chocolate and mint tea too?
'Don't push it!'
Raon finally couldn't hold back and kicked Wrath.
-¡Keeeeek!
After watching Wrath roll on the floor like a ball, Raon narrowed his eyes.
'Mmm?'
He felt as if someone was watching him again, but there was no one around.
'Is it Merlin?'
No. If it were Merlin, she would have surely come looking for him, so it couldn't be her.
«Maybe it's just my imagination.»
Raon shook his head and returned to the annex building.
* * *
"I like it a lot."
Merlin, transformed into an owl, clicked her lips as she watched Raon walk towards the annex building.
“Just seeing that face makes me happy.”
She hummed a tune, flapping her wings with enthusiasm just to see Raon.
"Shut your beak..."
Lust bit her lip while not looking at Raon, but at the sight of Zieghart.
"What is that? Is it really human?"
Something more than human was felt inside the tallest building. She had encountered many demons and humans while searching for Wrath, but this was the first time she had perceived such a being.
"The moment we enter, we will be detected."
A firm resolution to protect that entire region emanated from within her. It wasn't just strength, but an intense conviction that sent chills down her spine.
"Jejeje."
Merlin, residing in the owl's body, laughed as she looked at Lust.
"With that body, will you become the grandfather's sheath the moment you enter?"
She nodded, saying that Lust should jump if she wanted to die.
"No, no."
Lust exhaled softly and shook her head.
"This isn't the first time I've encountered a human like this."
"What do you mean?"
Merlin raised her ears.
“When I first arrived here, I encountered a huge being, beyond human. A true monster. Of course, it was a half-breed, but...”
Lust frowned and said she didn't know there were two humans of that caliber.
"Yes. I'm not interested in the other one. It's all over."
Merlin flapped her wings, mocking Lust with her owl face.
"How is it over?"
Lust looked at Merlin, tilting her head.
"If you move a single step from there, the grandfather will fly over and cut off your head. So the stalking competition ends here."
Merlin laughed, making a cutting motion along her neck with her wing.
"Then I'm leaving now."
She shouted that she would live well and eat well with him and then spread her wings.
"Wait!"
Lust lowered her eyebrows and shook her head.
"Not yet."
She bit her lip tightly and put her hand over her right eye. Her blue eye turned red as an intense fragrance began to spread. ¡Uf! Lust created a transparent smoke with a pink current and sent it floating towards Zieghart. It was a search that used the demon king's soul, not aura or mana.
"Soul?"
Merlin's eyes widened as she watched Lust's soul dissolve into the air.
"Dissolving your soul into the atmosphere? You won't be able to get it back, you know?"
Unlike her ability to communicate with animals, a soul consumed in that way could never be recovered. It was literally like throwing away one's own soul.
"Don't compare me to a human like you."
Lust raised her chin and scoffed.
"I don't mind discarding that much."
She shook her head, saying that for her beloved, even her soul wasn't too precious to give up.
"Hmm!"
Merlin gritted her teeth and jumped into the air. Using her owl wings, she flew the fragments of Lust's soul that were scattering in the air away from Zieghart. It was an equally stupid act of wasting her soul.
"What are you doing!"
"Flapping my wings."
Merlin snorted, saying she was just flying.
- Stop it! I haven't finished dissolving it yet!
“Why don't you try to win against this mediocre human? Come on! Let's see it!”
* * *
While the demon king and the magician fought, risking their souls against each other, Raon finished his dinner and headed to his room.
-¡Kyaaah!
Wrath waved both hands with his cheeks flushed.
-Home-cooked food is really the best! Not only is it delicious, but there are so many dishes I like, and they're full of love!
He smiled as he held his belly, saying it was a satisfying meal after a long time.
"You seem to be in a good mood."
Raon smiled as he sat on the edge of the bed.
-¡You can bet I am!
Wrath nodded quickly.
-I've already filled my belly with rich food, and now I'm going to eat the ice cream you're going to buy me. How can I not be in a good mood!
He clicked his lips and said he was looking forward to it.
"Ah..."
Raon let out a brief sigh as he watched Wrath lick his lips.
"You know, after eating all the food you wanted, I'm full. How about we go tomorrow..."
-¡Guau!
Wrath let out a bark-like scream, as if to say no. Unlike his cute scream, his wavering blue eyes looked like those of a general on the battlefield.
-¡Don't ruin my good mood now!
'Alright, alright.'
Raon let out a long sigh as he stood up.
-¡You should have done that from the beginning!
Wrath snorted, saying that Raon doesn't listen unless he's forced.
-I've filled my belly with delicious food and seen Mom, so I'm in a great mood. Don't ruin it.
Just as he was moving his hand, urging Raon to hurry.
[You have received a sincere recognition from a Transcendent Warrior.]
[You have achieved an impossible feat.]
[All skills...]
[Trait...]
[Trait...]
The reward messages that had accumulated from defeating Darkan suddenly appeared.
"I was wondering why they weren't appearing."
Raon smiled as he looked at the messages.
"Do you feel good?"
As he said this and turned around, Wrath's jaw trembled as if he was forcibly suppressing his emotion.
-¡¿Who do you think I am?! I am the Monarch of Wrath! Of course I was expecting this!
Wrath shook his head and said he wasn't angry, but the messages weren't over yet.
[You have outsmarted the Demon King of Lust.]
[You have achieved an impossible feat.]
[All skills...]
The second set of messages appeared about outsmarting Lust.
"Wrath?"
-Grrr, I'm still fine. Quick, to the ice cream shop before I breathe my last...
Just as he was forcing a smile and trying to lower his hand, another message appeared.
[The Trait <Lust> is unlocked.]
Wrath's forced smile shattered as he saw the last message.
-¡You're looking for a fight with me now, aren't you?!
Unable to hold back any longer, Wrath threw a punch at the message.
"Wrath. Are you alright?"
-¡¿How could I be alright, you sword psychopath?!
-
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