C821
"Miss Alice?"
Raon took a deep breath.
'Could something have happened to her?'
The situation on the continent is still not good. Although it is not as bad as before, small and large wars are still occurring, causing anxiety over the possibility that Alice might have encountered an unfavorable situation.
'Derus is capable of anything.'
While all Five Demons, except for the Holy Sword Alliance, were dangerous, Derus Robert's silence was particularly concerning. Even Raon could no longer predict his actions, which sent chills down his spine.
"Should I go look for Lady Alice now...?"
Raon swallowed hard while looking at Glenn.
"There’s no need to worry so much."
Glenn shook his head with a calm expression.
"It's not unusual for her to be out of contact for days."
He lowered his hand, indicating that this was a familiar situation.
"You should be more suspicious if she responds immediately. She doesn't even reply unless it’s you."
Glenn clicked his tongue and asked if Raon hadn't experienced Alice's personality firsthand.
"But Lady Alice must understand the seriousness of the situation..."
"I only sent her information about the Soul Crystal. The other matters were too important to put in writing."
He shook his finger and said that he had only written to Alice about the return and the Soul Crystal.
"I see..."
"And it's not that we haven't received any response."
Glenn slightly lowered his eyebrows and bit his lip.
"Alice and those... pirates."
He seemed embarrassed that the leader of those pirates was his own daughter, his voice trembling slightly.
"Alice left only a few people on the ship and moved to the port of Zeben, so we didn't get a proper response."
Glenn shook his head and explained that the Azure Wind pirate ship only had new recruits left, so they couldn't get the desired response.
"Besides, that girl has grown since she met you."
Glenn looked at Raon with gentle eyes, unlike when he remembered Alice.
"She won't be defeated by any scum, so don't worry."
He told Raon to relax, saying that if anything had happened to Alice, the continent would already be in an uproar.
"That's true."
Raon nodded softly.
"If Alice had been captured or killed, rumors would have already spread."
Although Alice is the Pirate Queen among the Five Divine Orders, she is still officially affiliated with Zieghart. If she were killed or captured, it would pressure not only Zieghart but all Five Kings, so rumors would have already circulated through various channels.
"Now is the time to think about Sia instead of that troublemaker."
Glenn let out a long sigh. It was the first time Raon had heard someone call his daughter a troublemaker, but it didn't sound strange at all.
"Anyway, that girl probably doesn't even know or remember it."
"...Yes."
There was nothing to refute. Alice was the type of person who would see a Soul Crystal right in front of her and simply say, "How peculiar?"
'It wasn’t in the Holy Sword Alliance, where the hell could she be?'
There were two reasons she had gone to the Holy Sword Alliance. The first was, obviously, to train, and the second was to find the Soul Crystal. She had trained with all the swordsmen of the Holy Sword Alliance and had asked them about the Soul Crystal, but the only answer she received was that they didn’t know.
"We have contacted the Five Kings, the Black Market, vassal families, and neutral forces allied with us, but no one has seen it. Even those who know of its existence are rare, except for Chamber and the Master of the Magic Tower."
Glenn frowned deeply and seemed frustrated even while speaking.
"Federick says we still have time, but I'm getting impatient just waiting."
He rarely revealed his innermost thoughts while holding his forehead. He appeared quite overwhelmed.
"I haven't done much for you, but for that girl, I'm just a useless grandfather. I can't do anything..."
Glenn bit his lip hard. He seemed exhausted by the helplessness of not being able to wake Sia.
-....
Wrath closed his mouth in silence. Raon thought he would reprimand Glenn for being weak and pathetic, but surprisingly, the demon frowned with an apparently sympathetic expression.
"How can you say you've done nothing? Grandfather, you taught me the sword of Zieghart and instilled in me a sense of conviction. Those two values are the most important pillars that make me who I am today."
Raon shook his head firmly.
-Please don't worry too much about my sister. I'm sure she'll wake up.
He placed his right hand over his left chest, where his heart was, and raised his gaze.
"I will search the entire continent if necessary and definitely find it."
He clenched his fist, determined to find it not only with the connections he had built so far but also mobilizing the power of the Demon King if necessary.
"Ah..."
Glenn's eyes widened in surprise at Raon's declaration, then he nodded slowly.
"Alright. I will believe in you."
He smiled softly, seemingly recognizing the growth of his grandson, whom he had believed to be still young.
"Then I will leave now."
Raon bowed deeply and exited the audience chamber.
“Ho, ho, ho.”
Roenn approached the podium, letting out an amused laugh.
"The young master has truly grown."
He looked toward where Raon had been with eyes full of pleasure.
—Indeed. I didn't expect him to comfort me.
Glenn nodded, sinking deeply into his throne.
"I can no longer see him as a child."
After Raon left for the Holy Sword Alliance, Glenn had been subconsciously shaking his leg, not only because he missed Raon but also due to the anxiety that there was no way to save Sia anywhere, and his time was running out.
Right now, he had almost begun to tremble his leg again without realizing it, but seeing Raon’s reliable gaze calmed his agitated heart.
It seemed like everything would be resolved well, just as Raon had said.
"As expected, that boy's talent is not his martial skill, but that unyielding mental strength."
Raon never despairs no matter how difficult the situation is; he always finds a way to move forward. It seemed that after enduring many adversities since childhood, the method of not giving up and overcoming challenges was ingrained in his body and soul.
"Still, we can't leave everything to Raon. Let's contact everyone again."
Glenn nodded and said he must do what he could.
"Yes!"
Roenn bowed deeply, apparently pleased to see Glenn regaining his spirit.
"I will contact Alice myself. I need to ensure that the troublemaker receives the message clearly."
Glenn picked up a pen and said he needed to rein in the troublemaker.
* * *
After leaving the Lord's Mansion, Raon headed to Federick's mansion.
-I'm sorry, but please wait a little longer for dinner.
Raon clasped his hands and addressed Wrath, who was clutching his stomach.
-This King is not a glutton!
Wrath shook his head, seeming to understand Raon's feelings and not rushing him.
-I can wait as long as necessary, don’t worry!
He huffed, saying not to underestimate the Demon King.
'...Thank you.'
Raon gently stroked Wrath's head as he entered Federick's mansion.
“You come every day, both during training and after it ends.”
Federick nodded, as if welcoming him.
"Do you like me that much?"
—Yes. If I don’t see the Saint even for a day, it feels like thorns grow in my mouth.
"Hehe, you’ve become quite talkative now."
He laughed amused and nodded his chin, indicating him to enter.
"Go on. Your mother and father are here too."
Federick told him not to make too much noise before entering Sia's treatment room.
"Thank you."
Raon bowed towards Federick's back before entering Sia's hospital room. Sia was still lying on the bed, breathing weakly, while Sylvia and Edgar looked at her with their hands intertwined as if praying.
"Raon?"
Sylvia turned around, sensing his presence, and stood up.
"I heard you were training. Are you back?"
She took his hand and asked if he had eaten.
"Yes, I'm eating well."
Raon nodded with a slight smile.
-I'm eating well my foot!
Anger swelled like a well-baked bread.
-You haven't eaten anything but water today!
He gritted his teeth and said he couldn't stand the lies about food.
"Your face is half its usual size."
Sylvia puffed out her cheek and let out a brief sigh. It was heartbreaking to see her worry about him now after being concerned about Sia.
"I really ate. Have you two eaten?"
"Of course we ate well. Today we feasted. It's nice not to have to eat strange food when you’re not around. I don't understand the pineapple pizza thing. I kept eating it because you liked it, but I always wondered why we ate it. Should I say that the taste is raw?"
Edgar shook his head, saying he didn’t understand. He was always talkative, but he seemed to be speaking faster than usual, perhaps trying to lighten the heavy atmosphere.
-You're a flavorless fool! The sweet and savory taste of pineapple pizza is unmatched!
Wrath, as simple as ever, fell for Edgar's words and shouted angrily.
-You have no taste, dad.
Raon responded to Edgar's words, borrowing Wrath's indignation.
"How is my sister?"
"She is fine."
Sylvia nodded, stroking Sia's hair.
"Actually, it’s not much different from sleeping. That makes it even sadder."
She bit her lip hard, seemingly lamenting that Sia had lost her adolescence and her twenties.
"Then we will have to make her even happier when she wakes up."
Raon looked at Sylvia and Edgar, who were sobbing and had forgotten their chatter, and then took Sia's hand. He nodded and conveyed the warmth of the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation.
"I will definitely make you wake up."
Sia had been kidnapped as a child and had lived her whole life as Eden's pawn, and now she found herself in a state where it was unknown when she would wake up. It was an even grimmer situation than her past life, where she could do nothing of her own will, so he wanted to save her at all costs.
"I'm leaving now."
Raon squeezed Sia's hand tightly and exited the mansion.
-Where are you going?'
'To the annex building. I need to eat quickly and train.'
The stronger he became, the more he could do. He wanted to reach transcendence as soon as possible and open a path to save Sia.
-Hmm, just for today...
Wrath clicked his tongue and sat on Raon's shoulder.
-I’ll allow Nadine bread just for today.
'Eh?'
Raon opened his eyes wide and looked at Wrath.
'Really?'
-Hurry up and eat before I change my mind!
Wrath shook his head and said he would endure just for today.
'Wrath....'
Raon smiled gently at Wrath, who had wrinkled the bridge of his nose. He felt his heart warm at the demon's consideration.
-Okay. When my sister wakes up, I will organize a festival for you all.
-Certainly! And it should be a big one! This king has a great appetite!
'What size are we talking about?'
-Well, to start, there should be at least ten bowls of pearl ice cream! And three pineapple pizzas!
"...Is that supposed to be big?"
-Um...? Then, eleven bowls and four pizzas?
'Your appetite is quite small...'
Raon returned to the Fifth Training Field and conversed with Wrath.
* * *
"I've realized!"
Kerin opened his arms and looked up at the sky.
"What have you realized?"
Dorian turned to look at Kerin, tilting his head.
"Crisis detection!"
Kerin immediately spat out the answer as if he had been waiting for the question.
"I may not be able to read the opponent’s psychology like your Mental Eye, but when it comes to evasion ability, I'm the best!"
Have you really achieved it?
Dorian let out a sigh, as if he couldn't understand.
"Do you remember when the division leader suddenly threw me the sword control during concentration training? There was real intent to kill in that, you know? Yes, I fought with absolute stubbornness, thinking he was trying to kill me, and after that, I felt like my soul had detached from its shell."
Kerin smiled, saying that the sense he acquired when his life was in danger had definitely awakened.
"Let's see..."
Dorian licked his lips and then drew his sword, stabbing Kerin in the chest. It was a sword strike that would be hard to block even if one was prepared.
"Ugh!"
Kerin's eyes widened in surprise, but he bent his waist back like a branch blown by the wind, avoiding Dorian's sword strike.
"W-What were you trying to do? Kill me?!"
He gritted his teeth and grabbed Dorian's neck.
"Oh, it's real."
Dorian clapped, even with his neck being held.
"I really didn't think you would dodge it."
—Then you really were trying to kill me! Are you following Raon Zieghart's example?
Kerin gritted his teeth and pressed his forehead against Dorian's.
"That's not something you should say about a person! I'm human!"
Dorian frowned and demanded an apology.
"Ah, I'm sorry. I went too far."
Kerin apologized, clasping his hands together.
-But do you know what I've been thinking?
He lowered his voice and dusted off his hands.
"We have a different advantage compared to the division leader right now."
"A different advantage?"
Dorian tilted his head, as if asking what he meant.
"Our division leader is already at the top of the Grand Master rank, right? It could take him years or even decades to reach that level."
Kerin shook his head, looking at Raon who was sitting on the podium with his eyes closed.
"In the meantime, we can keep rising. Of course, it's absolutely impossible to catch up to the division leader, but growing has its flavor, you know?"
He shook his head and said they should take comfort in the feeling of growing faster than Raon.
"Hmm, is that so?"
"I’m telling you! Just look at this concentration training. The division leader remains the same, but we all became stronger! You felt it too, right? My crisis detection ability!"
As Kerin laughed and urged Dorian to take pride in himself, something happened. The Heavenly Drive, which had been placed next to Raon, unsheathed and floated in the air. A pale golden flame emerged from the sword; the sight resembled a fire dragon ascending.
"Is that really true?"
Dorian rolled his eyes and asked if they were really growing faster than Raon.
"It was just a dream..."
Kerin lowered his head, unable to continue speaking for a while.
* * *
Raon captured the return of the Heavenly Drive that had traversed the sky, a satisfied smile on his face.
'Amazing.'
When he combined the Fire Ring with the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation, the power of his swordsmanship clearly increased. He never thought that such a technique lay hidden within him.
'And moreover...'
The achievement of Sword Control had also improved. The Fire Ring seemed to have influenced not only the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation but also Sword Control, enhancing his swordsmanship. Although his aura hadn't increased much and his martial arts realm hadn't risen, he was confident he had become significantly stronger.
'The most surprising thing is...'
This isn't even the end. Less than three days had passed since he obtained the fortuitous encounter from the underground archives. The enhancing effect of the Fire Ring was still ambiguous, but if this was his power now, he was curious about the results when he fully mastered it.
-You really have ridiculous luck!
Wrath frowned while looking at the embers left in the Heavenly Drive.
-Of course, you also have to put in a little effort to get that luck...
The demon licked his lips, as if feeling a bit sorry to call it pure luck.
"I appreciate you saying that."
Wrath chuckled as he sheathed the Heavenly Drive.
-Wrath, can I ask you something?
-Speak.
'If I were to fight a low-level Transcendent Warrior now, what would happen?'
-There are no detailed rankings like low or medium levels in the realm of transcendence.
Wrath shook his head and said that the transcendent realm was different from other places.
-But if I had to say, I could probably match someone who has just entered transcendence.
The demon expressed his honest opinion, not joking or taking the situation lightly.
-You would definitely die, but the Transcendent Warrior facing you would probably also die.
Wrath nodded and said that Raon had reached a level where mutual destruction was possible.
-That’s similar to what I thought.
Raon clenched his fist.
'I feel like I could fight a Transcendent Warrior now.'
There are many Masters on the continent, and although Grand Masters are few, they exist, but Transcendent Warriors are mostly leaders or former leaders of super large factions. His heart raced at the thought that he had reached a stage where he could fight against those monsters.
'Now, with this ability...'
-What are you going to do?
Wrath swallowed dryly, as if curious about Raon's next move.
"I'll give them a beating."
Raon smiled as he looked at the swordsmen of the Light Wind division who were training.
"Eh?"
"Why does it suddenly feel so cold?"
"Yes, winter is still quite far away..."
The swordsmen trembled as if they had read his mind.
-This guy is really crazy...
Wrath let out a sigh and shook his head.
-That’s not something you should say in this situation!
"It makes no sense to get stronger all by myself."
As Raon smiled, preparing for a new hellish training, a snow-white falcon descended before him.
'That mark is...'
Raon frowned upon seeing the folded paper tied to the falcon's leg.
"White whale?"
-
More Ch4pters on KoreanPlayer
↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓
Thanks for the support
