C872
"Oh..."
Raon let out a soft moan as he watched the corners of Glenn's mouth twitch like a freshly caught fish.
'Why is he acting like that?'
He had seen Glenn's mouth twitch before, but never as violently as today. It was worrying enough to make him fear that the man's lips might fall off.
"Seems like the old man's having a lot of fun."
Wrath snorted, commenting that Glenn seemed to have regained his vitality.
"Mm!"
Glenn, apparently realizing he was twitching, quickly raised his hand to cover his mouth.
"Well, I heard a general report about the defeat of the dragon, but there were no details. Could you explain it yourself?"
He nodded, indicating that Raon should explain not only to him, but also to the other executives present.
"Hey, nephew! Is it true you brought down three dragons?"
Balder waved his hand vigorously, urging Raon to speak.
"And I heard two of them were ancient dragons. I'm sure the Guardian must have helped."
Denier narrowed his eyes to slits, implying that it would have been impossible to do it alone.
"..."
Karoon didn't speak, but he looked at Raon with a more piercing gaze than usual. Maybe it was his imagination, but it seemed like he was glaring at him.
"Three dragons..."
"Even with the Guardian's help, it's still an incredible feat."
"I'm curious how you caught them. We'll have to deal with those beasts a lot in the future."
Not only the three Palace Masters, but also the Division Leaders and other executives fixed their gazes on Raon, filled with curiosity and expectation.
"Then I'll give an oral report. When we arrived in Sepia, we saw a Golden Dragon emerging from the Great Forest. After that..."
Raon gave Glenn and Zieghart's executives a detailed account of the war in Sepia.
"...And that's how we were able to defeat Matirus in the end."
He only recited the facts of what had happened there, without exaggeration like in Siyana's books.
"So the rumors were actually true! As expected of my nephew!"
Balder showed a wide smile and gave a thumbs up.
"The rumors were understated..."
Even Denier couldn't hide his surprise and let out a sigh.
"..."
Karoon looked at Raon with an even more piercing gaze than before. Though it wasn't filled with hatred like before, it was strangely cold.
"Ha, you've really become a monster."
"We should have spent all our fortune to bring him to our side during the selection..."
"He must have reached a stable Transcendence. We can't even hope to catch up to him now."
The executives, seemingly surprised by Raon's achievements, forgot that Glenn was on the podium and chatted loudly as if in a marketplace.
"Well then!"
Glenn, however, seemed very pleased with the situation. Not only the corners of his mouth, but even the hand covering it began to tremble.
"H-House Leader?"
Raon blinked as he watched Glenn's arms and legs shake.
"Ahem! E-Excellent!"
Glenn forcefully pulled down the corners of his mouth with his finger, trying to control them.
"Defeating three dragons, including two ancients, and saving Sepia is an indescribable achievement."
He nodded emphatically, seemingly pleased to be able to openly praise Raon after so long.
"The Light Wind division also did well. Without you, Sepia would have fallen even with Raon there."
Glenn didn't forget to praise the Light Wind division's efforts in the fight in the Great Forest.
"There are still a few more things I need to report."
Raon raised his hand again after Glenn finished speaking.
"More? Is there even more?"
Balder licked his lips, eager to hear more.
"Alright. Go ahead."
Glenn leaned forward, his eyes filled with expectation.
"After defeating Matirus, the Guardian of Sepia told us that his lair was nearby. So..."
Raon continued to explain how they attacked Matirus' lair after the war with the dragons, gave the Dragon Heart to Sterin, and finally, how they solidified their alliance with Sepia.
"D-Did you raid a dragon's lair?"
Balder burst into laughter so loud that it made the audience chamber shake, clutching his forehead.
"Of course he did! That's my nephew! He always handles things decisively!"
He even clapped, pleased with Raon's handling of the situation.
"Silence, Balder."
Karoon covered Balder's mouth, muttering something about being in front of the House Leader. Curiously, his sharp gaze had softened a little.
"A good choice."
Glenn clasped his hands in front of him and looked at Raon.
"No, it's just that the lair was nearby..."
"That was good too, but I'm talking about giving the Dragon Heart to the Guardian."
He nodded with a look of approval, as if he were truly proud.
"You can run faster alone, but you can go further accompanied. Helping the Guardian and accepting Sepia as an ally is a greater achievement than killing ten dragons." (E/N: *inserting into the quote dictionary*)
Glenn said that only the Light Wind division could have done this, smiling slightly.
"Mm."
Karoon stroked his chin impassively, seemingly agreeing with Glenn's words. At that moment, that man's thoughts were harder to read than Denier's.
"We didn't think too much about it. We just thought it was the right thing to do."
Raon shook his head in Glenn's direction. Honestly, he felt uncomfortable receiving praise, as his desire to take care of Sterin, Rimmer's grandfather, outweighed his intention to make Sepia an ally.
"Is that so."
Glenn smiled gently and said that whatever the reason, a good deed was still a good deed.
"And raiding the dragon's lair is also worthy of praise. There hasn't been anyone like you in a thousand years."
"Ah, that wasn't me, Dorian figured it out."
Raon pointed to Dorian who was behind him.
"He found all the spaces where Matirus had hidden his gold bars and treasures."
"Eh? N-No! It was just by chance!"
Unlike when he became obsessed with finding treasures, Dorian waved his hands, sweating profusely.
"I see. You did well too."
Glenn nodded towards Dorian, saying that he had done a good job.
"Hueeeeek..."
Dorian collapsed on the spot, seemingly overwhelmed by the House Leader's praise.
"We've brought the dragons' corpses, divided into parts. There's enough so that, if we have enough artisans, we can provide dragon bone swords and scale uniforms to all of Zieghart's swordsmen."
He mentioned that they had also contacted the dwarves in Sepia.
"S-So will I be able to use a sword made of dragon bone too?"
"Well, with three dragons, there should be enough to supply all the swordsmen and more!"
"I'm more excited for the dwarves to make them!"
The executives looked at Raon and the Light Wind division with eyes filled with appreciation and gratitude.
"That's great! The dragon you killed was in such small pieces that there was nothing that could be used!"
Balder smiled and nudged Karoon.
"If you don't want to die, shut your mouth..."
Karoon gritted his teeth, reminding Balder that they were in front of the House Leader.
"Mm!"
Denier looked at Raon and Martha with a seemingly kind smile. If this was an act, he would be a monster even greater than Raon.
"There's one thing I should mention."
Glenn raised one finger towards the executives.
"The Light Wind division's trip to Sepia wasn't an official mission. It was an unofficial mission to deliver the belongings of the Light Wind division's vice leader. In other words, the loot from there is yours, not Zieghart's. And yet..."
He looked not only at Raon, but at the entire Light Wind division, lowering his eyebrows.
"Are you saying you'll use the gold bars and dragon bones to provide Zieghart with weapons and equipment?"
"Of course."
Raon nodded without a moment's hesitation.
"Why?"
That question wasn't asked by Glenn, but by Denier, who revealed eyes as dark as a lake reflecting the night. It was unusual for him, who normally didn't step forward.
"Because I... no, we..."
Raon looked from the Light Wind division to Denier and then to Glenn, touching the burning sword emblem on his chest.
"Because we are Zieghart's swordsmen."
He bowed his head and said: What other reason was needed?
"Ah..."
Glenn let out a weak moan and dropped the hand covering his mouth. The corners of his mouth began to tremble violently, curving almost to his earlobes.
"The question was poor, but the answer is satisfactory."
Karoon nodded approvingly, all trace of his sharp gaze gone.
“That's right! People can exert greater power when they have a sense of belonging!”
Balder clapped loudly, visibly pleased.
"Zieghart's swordsmen. Is that so?"
On the other hand, Denier, who had asked the question, stroked his chin with an inscrutable look.
"Even if it was an unofficial mission, we can't leave the Light Wind division unrewarded for such an achievement."
Glenn snapped his fingers, as if there was no need to ask the opinions of the other executives.
"Yes, I've prepared in advance."
Roenn chuckled and stepped onto the podium, carrying a wide board filled with golden tablets.
"I will deliver golden tablets to all members of the Light Wind division and personally teach martial arts to the division leader, Raon Zieghart."
For the first time, Glenn officially mentioned teaching Raon martial arts.
"Dad, you?"
Balder's eyes widened because he couldn't imagine Glenn personally teaching him.
"The House Leader in person...?"
"It's a great opportunity. The best opportunity!"
"I think he's more than deserving."
"I agree. This event could change not only the history of Zieghart and Sepia, but the continent."
The executives rolled their eyes and looked at Glenn and Raon with awe.
"Does anyone have any objections?"
Glenn looked at those below the podium with eyes that seemed ready to kill anyone who disagreed.
"N-No! I'm fine with that!"
Balder raised his burly arm, shouting his approval.
"I also believe it's an appropriate reward."
Karoon clasped his hands calmly in front of him. He seemed to think that level of reward wasn't out of place.
"..."
Denier didn't even open his mouth, as if he wasn't interested in those matters.
"Ahem! Light Wind division leader, come to the House Leader's training ground today!"
"Um, father. The nephew must be tired today..."
"Today!"
At Glenn's shout, Balder shrank his neck like a turtle. Now that the grandfather had openly declared that he would teach his grandson martial arts, no one could stop him.
* * *
In the audience chamber after everyone left.
"Cough! Cough!"
A shower of laughter fell from the throne of the Zieghart House Leader.
"Are you that happy?"
Sheryl let out a sigh, seemingly dumbfounded.
"He has every right to be. All his grandchildren are devoted to him and young master Raon is especially exceptional among them."
Roenn chuckled and said that the harvest of grandchildren was abundant.
"I know, but I hate seeing him laugh like that!"
Sheryl frowned and said that his laughter was creepy.
"Ahem, I've gotten used to holding back laughter."
Glenn cleared his throat and smoothed his wrinkled mouth.
“I may not understand laughter, but I can certainly understand joy.”
Sheryl smiled slightly, looking at the carpet where Raon had been.
"I didn't expect Raon to grow up so much either."
She shook her head, saying that she knew they would surpass her, but not so quickly.
"I didn't expect that child to cross the barrier at twenty either. But I'm not happy about it."
Glenn shook his head slowly.
"I'm impressed that he hasn't changed despite reaching Transcendence, forging his own path while taking care of others."
He smiled softly and said he was proud of Raon for taking care of Sterin and Sepia.
"It's true. His character as a person surpasses his martial talent."
Sheryl raised her eyes slightly, saying that she recognized that.
"I still can't forget how young master Raon took care of Lady Sylvia during the selection."
Roenn chuckled and said that the young Raon who protected Sylvia was still present.
"At times like this..."
While everyone recalled Raon with soft smiles, Sheryl clicked her tongue briefly.
"That lazy bum would have told him to go and speak honestly, right?"
Sheryl didn't lose her smile even when she mentioned Rimmer's name, seeming to have resolved her feelings to some extent.
"And then..."
Roenn nodded and returned her smile.
"The House Leader's wrath would have attacked."
"After..."
Glenn wiggled his finger, continuing Roenn's words.
"He would have caused a ruckus demanding paid vacation."
The three smiled with a hint of nostalgia, remembering Rimmer who wasn't there.
* * *
"Hey! Nephew!"
When Raon came out of the Lord's Mansion, Balder, who was leaning against the wall, gestured with his hand.
"You were amazing! Your decision must come from me!"
He hit Raon's shoulder hard, as if the praise in the audience chamber wasn't enough.
"Jajaja..."
While Raon laughed awkwardly and shook his head, Karoon came out from behind Balder.
"Central Martial Palace Master?"
Raon's mouth opened involuntarily, not expecting Karoon to be waiting along with Balder.
"Come over here for a moment."
Karoon headed towards the back of the Lord's Mansion, gesturing for Raon to follow him.
"What's wrong with that guy all of a sudden?"
Balder tilted his head, seemingly unaware that Karoon had been frowning since the audience chamber. As expected, he was no match for his lack of perception.
"Let's go see."
Raon clicked his tongue briefly and followed Karoon.
"Did you bring Matirus' head too?"
Karoon turned around near the entrance of North Grave Mountain. His eyes gleamed menacingly, as if he were ready for war.
"Yes. We brought the whole head, without separating the teeth or horns."
"Can you show it to me?"
He lowered his voice as if it were a very important matter.
"I don't have it with me. Is it okay if I call a subordinate?"
"Of course."
Karoon nodded and said that was fine.
"Dorio!"
Raon nodded and gestured towards Dorian, who was watching from afar.
"What's wrong? Did Matirus do something to my brother?"
Balder frowned, finally sensing the gravity of the situation.
"..."
Karoon didn't answer, he just waited for Dorian to approach.
"U-Um, what is it?"
"Take out Matirus' head."
"Matirus' head? Uh... Ah!"
Dorian stared blankly at Karoon without understanding before suddenly nodding in surprise.
"O-Okay."
He rolled his eyes and took Matirus' head out of his abdominal bag. The sight of a dragon head as big as a house coming out of that small bag was truly mystical.
"Mm..."
Karoon examined Matirus' head with an even fiercer gaze than before. He wasn't just looking at the exterior, he was meticulously measuring the length from the tip of the nose to the horns with the palm of his hand.
"Central Martial Palace Master. What's going on?"
Raon swallowed hard as he looked at Karoon. Judging by his serious posture, it seemed like a very important matter.
"Hmm!"
After finishing his measurements, Karoon showed his first deep smile of the day.
"The one I caught was two spans longer."
He raised his chin abruptly, as if he were declaring his victory.
"..."
Raon revealed his eyes narrowed coldly as he looked at Karoon, who was sporting a deep smile as if he had won.
'What's wrong with this guy...?'
"What else? Another weirdo..."
Wrath shook his head and said that everyone around Raon was broken in some way.
-
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