C831
—Just the right moment! That damn thing always hits the right moment!
Wrath shook his reddened head back and forth, expressing his growing anger.
It's probably just a coincidence.
Raon waved his hand dismissively.
—Coincidence, my ass! Do you think it's a coincidence that it throws rewards at that moment every time? It's clearly mocking this king!
Wrath clenched his fist and shouted that it was as clear as day.
—As soon as this king returns to Devildom, I'll beat them all to near death!
Beat them all? Then...
As Raon was about to ask Wrath a question, Alice approached and touched his shoulder.
"It's lucky. We'll be able to return soon."
Alice burst into her characteristic refreshing laughter, seemingly excited to meet Sia.
"Yes. We were lucky."
Raon nodded as he dismissed the message.
"Considering you were the first to discover the Soul Crystal, it doesn't seem like mere luck."
Alice waved her hand, suggesting that the heavens seemed to have recognized her desire to save Sia.
"Agreed."
Rimmer raised his hand to shoulder height.
"Since you arrived on this island, you've been searching for the Soul Crystal tirelessly. If it weren't for you, no one would have found it."
He nodded, indicating that it was natural for him to search.
"I'm relieved that we can leave this island, no matter who found it."
Martha let out a long sigh, saying that she almost got tired of the sea in a single day.
"I didn't mind."
Burren smiled softly, saying there was a romantic aspect to searching for the Soul Crystal while enjoying the scenery.
"I liked it too. The water was refreshing..."
Runaan nodded and said she enjoyed the fresh sea water.
"S-So, are we leaving already? There are still a lot of things to collect..."
Dorian's lips trembled as he mentioned the numerous supplies they still needed to collect.
"What kind of supplies are you talking about? What could there be to collect on a deserted island?"
Kerin frowned, unable to comprehend.
"Trees! Rocks! Grass! Flowers! Fruits! They're things we can't get in Zieghart!"
Dorian snorted, wondering why Kerin was asking about such obvious things.
—That's why I'm asking you! Why do we need those things?
"I don't know now, but I'm sure they'll be useful later!"
Kerin and Dorian stared at each other, their foreheads almost touching.
"Those two are fighting again."
"I wonder who will win today?"
"Dorian might win with a sword, but he's no match for Kerin in a war of words.
The swordsmen of the Light Wind division chuckled as they watched the verbal exchange between Kerin and Dorian. Thanks to the finding of the Soul Crystal, everyone's faces were filled with energy. They could all return in a very good mood.
-Aunt, do you need anything?
Merlin smiled brightly as she massaged Alice's shoulders.
"Ah, no. Who are you to..."
Alice's chin trembled, seemingly uncomfortable with the old woman's mask Merlin was wearing.
"Why do you call me Aunt?"
She let out an exasperated sigh.
"I call you Aunt because you're my Aunt."
Merlin tilted her head and said it was like asking why an apple is called an apple.
"R-Raon? What's going on here?"
Alice moved away from Merlin, seemingly nervous. The term "Aunt" was used by a wife to refer to her husband's aunt, so she seemed genuinely surprised. Ugh! Every time Merlin clung to Alice, Raon could feel Lust awakening an intense desire from the depths of the sea. She was truly angry.
"...Just ignore it."
Raon waved his hand, telling Alice to pay no attention to Merlin's words.
“To think that even the Aunt I trusted would end up like this.”
Seeing even Alice lost, it seemed that there was no one in Zieghart who could match Merlin.
—As expected of a crazy woman!
Wrath nodded emphatically, as if he had expected this.
—Fake madness can't beat true madness!
'Are you happy?'
-No, it's not that...
* * *
Raon returned to his lodging on Sevilla Island and pulled out the reward message that he hadn't properly reviewed before.
[You have achieved an impossible feat with an ingenious idea.]
[You have defeated a Transcendent Warrior.]
[You have comforted a wretched soul.]
[All skill scores increase by 60 points.]
—Sixty? Sixty hit points?
Wrath's eyes widened as if they were about to pop out.
—Is this even possible?
'It's possible.'
Raon nodded as he looked at the message indicating the increase of 60 points.
"We defeated a Transcendent Warrior at the Grand Master level and comforted Lavera's soul. If anything, 60 points seem low."
As he said it was low, he felt powerful mana seeping throughout his body.
While he hadn't felt much from ordinary point increases as his overall abilities improved, the sudden increase of 60 points revived the euphoria of his body and soul growing.
-B-But still, this is a little...
'Even in Devildom, a Grand Master-level fighter probably hasn't caught a Transcendent Warrior before.'
-...There have been.
Wrath hesitated for a moment before shaking his head.
'There have been?'
-Of course, the circumstances were a little different, but you're not the only talented one in this world!
He shook his head, telling Raon not to be so self-centered.
'Who was it? The Demon King?'
—You don't need to know!
Wrath wrinkled his nose, seemingly unwilling to divulge any information.
'Mmm...'
Raon clicked his lips. He was curious to know who it could be, but he felt that it wouldn't make sense to keep asking, so he checked the next message.
[A new trait, <Spiritual Concealment>, has been created.]
[The rank of the <Snow Flower Perception> trait has increased.]
[The rank of the <Snow Flower Magic Armor> trait has increased.]
The second set of messages was about traits.
A new trait, <Spiritual Concealment>, was created, and the ranks of Snow Flower Perception and Snow Flower Magic Armor, which he had used to resist the Second Apostle's attacks, had increased.
—Grrr! They're giving so much! So much, damn it!
Ignoring Wrath's angry words, Raon checked the Spiritual Concealment skill. <Spiritual Concealment> Reduces the upper dantian overload and aura consumption when using Sword Control.
«That's good, isn't it?»
The newly created trait was a skill that allowed for more efficient use of sword control. While it might not have much effect now, it would surely be a great help as its rank increased.
—Nooooo!
Wrath let out a scream as he saw the Spiritual Concealment skill.
-If they keep spoiling you like this every time, what am I supposed to live on? You damn bastards!
'For the Demon King to be so upset about something like this...'
—Just? Juuuust? Even the richest house on the continent would be ruined in less than a year if they were robbed every day! You, merchant of stolen goods!
He waved his arms and asked how one could stand to be robbed every day.
—Damn it! I should have fallen from the beginning...
Wrath lowered his head and said that it was the biggest mistake of his demon life.
"If you had gone back then, you would never have tasted pearl ice cream in your life. Would that be okay?"
-Mmm...
Wrath's round shoulders trembled slightly.
'Besides, when we go back and wake up my sister, you'll have that mountain of ice cream you've been craving and a banquet will be served, won't it?'
-Slurp...
The sound of Wrath swallowing could be heard.
—Will they open it right away?
He slightly raised his head. The look of disappointment for losing his power had disappeared, replaced by a glimmer of anticipation for ice cream and food.
—Of course. Even if I don't open it, my grandfather or my mother will.
—Ahem! Then this magnanimous king will understand! However, as you said, a grand banquet... Aaaargh!
As Wrath was about to demand the necessary preparations, he suddenly collapsed with a scream as he saw a pink current of air. Judging by his rolled-up eyes, he seemed to have fainted.
"Lust?"
Raon let out a gasp as he saw the pink current of air. Seeing the power of Lust residing in his soul react, it was undoubtedly Lust.
"Bark!"
The space next to Lust opened and Merlin appeared. It seemed that they had been together from the beginning.
"Why did you two follow me all the way here?"
Raon nodded as calmly as possible, given Lust's presence.
-Neither of you should be here, right?
Merlin had left Zieghart saying that she would gather information, and Lust had promised to return to Devildom and wait for Wrath. Raon couldn't understand why these two had come all the way there.
"I was planning to leave quietly too, but I ended up making a bet with her."
Merlin chuckled and nudged Lust.
"A bet? What kind of bet?"
"It was a bet on who could follow you more silently."
Merlin pointed at herself proudly.
"Of course I won! Thanks for finding her first!"
She tilted her head slightly with an expression that said, "I did well, didn't I?"
"Ugh, I got too close because I wanted to see your face..."
Lust sniffed in the pink current of air, seemingly frustrated by her loss. As Lust's aura bloomed, the desire to embrace her took hold of Raon's heart. At the same time, he used Wrath's anger and the Fire Ring to push back the power of Lust that Lust had naturally evoked.
"Haha..."
Raon let out a long sigh after calming his mind.
"Those occasional gazes I felt in Zieghart were also from you two?"
-That's right, it was us!
Merlin smiled and said that she had been watching from afar.
-Yes. I saw you in that state...
Lust nodded, saying that she had been dissolving her soul into the atmosphere.
"Ah..."
Raon grabbed his throbbing head.
'I'm going crazy. Really...'
They're telling him about their stalking contest directly to his face, while the winner laughs and the loser cries. He can't understand the situation. In fact, it wouldn't be strange to arrest them both and put them in jail. But if he really did that, those two would probably enjoy it.
"My head hurts so much right now that I don't know how to explain this..."
Raon let out a long sigh as he looked at Merlin and Lust in turn.
"Are you praising me? Yes, praise me!"
Merlin opened her arms, demanding a prize for the winner.
"Hnng..."
On the contrary, Lust was crying. She seemed truly upset at having lost the stalking contest.
"In stalking, there is no winning or losing! You're criminals!"
Raon finally couldn't hold back and shouted.
—You! Didn't you say you were going back? Aren't you going to keep your promise?
"I lost..."
Lust was lost in despair at having lost to Merlin, not even listening to Raon's words.
—And you said you needed to gather information! If you were going to be like this, you could have stayed in Zieghart!
"Give me a prize! Anything will do!"
Merlin continued trying to hug Raon, insisting that the winner should receive a prize.
-Urgh, what's going on...?
Wrath slowly rose, as if regaining consciousness.
-Wrath, you're awake.
Raon knelt to support Wrath.
'They say they've been following us and they're having a stalking competition! Those gazes we felt from behind were from these two!'
Raon told Wrath about the stalking competition between Merlin and Lust.
-...
Wrath looked at Merlin and Lust with calm eyes. Unlike his usual self, he had a serious aura. He seemed genuinely angry.
—Yes, Wrath! You should say something...
Just as Raon was about to step back, trusting Wrath.
—I just want to die!
Wrath shouted and slammed his forehead against the ground. Bam! Perhaps due to his spiritual body's will, he collapsed with glazed eyes.
'Wrath!'
-N-Now I can be at peace...
Wrath let out a weak laugh as he lowered his head, falling back into unconsciousness.
"Now I can be the only one stalking you! I'm the real stalker!"
"To think that I, who followed Wrath for thousands of years, would lose..."
"..."
After looking at Merlin laughing and Lust crying, Raon drew the Heavenly Drive sword from its scabbard.
"I don't know what to do anymore."
Raon raised the Heavenly Drive sword towards his own forehead and struck himself, following Wrath's example.
* * *
The next day, Raon woke up and left Sevilla Island with the Light Wind division, with the unease of Merlin and Lust's disappearance. Standing on the deck, looking at the crashing waves, he recalled how the day before, in Lavera's mental world, the lump of despair had infiltrated his feet.
-Nothing will happen, right?
Although he felt a little uncomfortable, he clicked his lips, thinking that there wouldn't be any problems since the energy had been purified once. As the island disappeared and the seagulls diminished, he heard footsteps behind him. Turning around, he saw Rimmer standing with his hand raised.
"What are you thinking about so deeply?"
Rimmer chuckled, placing his clasped hands behind his head.
"Nothing much."
Raon shook his head and said that he was just looking at the sea.
"Is that so? But why do you look so worried? Is there a problem with the Soul Crystal?"
Rimmer narrowed his eyes and noticed that Raon didn't look well.
-Ah, it has nothing to do with that.
Raon shook his head. He was anxious only because he didn't know where Merlin and Lust might be following him from, not out of any worries about the Soul Crystal.
"That's good then."
Rimmer chuckled and rested his arms on the railing. He watched the crashing waves for a while before speaking.
"You can finally wake up your sister. You must be happy."
"Yes, I'm looking forward to it. However..."
Raon nodded calmly.
"I'm even happier to be able to relieve the worries of my mother, my father, and my two grandparents."
Glenn, Rector, Sylvia, and Edgar had been searching for ways to save Sia day and night, constantly visiting her room in the hospital. Being able to relieve the worries of those four people made him as happy as waking up Sia.
"The more I see, the more surprised I am."
Rimmer turned his gaze towards Raon.
"Huh? What…?"
"It's surprising that you, who used to brush aside relationships, have come to appreciate family so much. Not long ago, you couldn't even call Alice 'Aunt'."
He smiled and said that he liked the change in Raon.
“Thanks to my family, I realized that I don't have to distrust people so much.”
"It seems Sylvia taught you that. She's stubborn as always."
"While my mother certainly taught me a lot, the people in the annex aren't my only family."
Raon shook his head as he looked at Rimmer.
"Hmm?"
"The Light Wind division is also my family. Of course, that includes you, Vice Leader..."
It wasn't just Sylvia who made him who he was now, someone who appreciated relationships. It was also thanks to Rimmer and the swordsmen of the Light Wind division. If everyone hadn't connected with him, he would still be alone, thinking only of revenge.
"Aaaaargh!"
Rimmer shook his head vigorously, his arms trembling.
"Can't you see how embarrassing that is?! It makes me want to curl up!"
"Ah, no. That's..."
Raon's lips trembled as his face flushed.
"I'm kidding."
Rimmer laughed, lightly hitting Raon's head.
"Well, thanks for considering me as part of the family. Still, it's embarrassing that you always seem to be looking at someone."
Despite his words, he had a cheerful smile that suggested he was pleased.
"And I feel the same."
Rimmer nodded and slowly turned his body.
"You and the Light Wind division are as valuable to me as Siyana. Though not as much as gambling, of course."
He left the deck after dropping that playful comment at the end.
—Is he crazy too?
Wrath tilted his head, seemingly surprised.
"He's always been like that."
Rimmer occasionally showed a serious side beneath his light and frivolous appearance. He was someone impossible to hate.
“That's why the Light Wind division remains united.”
Raon turned to look at the waves, sporting a smile similar to Rimmer's.
* * *
Except for an encounter with a small group of pirates, the Azure Wind was able to return to its original port without incident.
"Let's take the dimensional gate and go back home right away! Lawaine will pay for this!"
Alice gestured vigorously as soon as she stepped off the ship.
"Me? Why should I..."
Lawaine blinked, seemingly unable to comprehend.
"Because of you, we wasted time looking for those useless pentagonal stones!"
Alice kicked Lawaine's butt, frowning.
"Aaaargh!"
Lawaine fell to the ground and took the blow before he could defend himself.
"H-How was I supposed to know it would turn out like this…?"
"If you didn't know, then pay."
Alice placed her hand on Lawaine's head as she stood with one leg bent, a typical gangster pose.
"O-Okay..."
Lawaine turned his back as he sobbed. Only Raon could see him silently cursing Alice.
"I'll pay, so don't worry."
As Raon chuckled and moved to help Lawaine up...
"Miss Alice!"
A short, hunched middle-aged man rushed towards Alice on the deck of the Azure Wind.
We've found a real trace of the young master!
-
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