C876
"Well, I'm leaving now."
Raon greeted Sylvia and Edgar, then looked over his shoulder.
"Hey, sis, do you really have to make me leave already?"
He sighed deeply, looking at Sia's head clinging to his shoulder.
"You can't go!"
Sia shook her head vigorously, determined not to let him go.
"I kept the house safe like I promised, so why are you leaving again?"
She pouted, expressing her displeasure at him leaving the annex.
"Forget going, I think my bones are about to break..."
Sia was hugging him with all her might, and he felt his collarbone and ribs were about to break where her arms were touching him. However, remembering his promise, he could only endure it without pushing her away.
"This time it won't take more than a few nights."
Raon clasped his hands and promised to return as soon as possible.
"I'll be sure to bring you a gift, sis."
His voice sounded warm and whispered like autumn leaves. He was truly treating her like a child.
"A gift...?"
Sia raised her head abruptly at the sound of being offered a gift. Her eyes sparkled like rubies.
"What kind of gift?"
"That's a secret."
Since he hadn't thought of anything beforehand, he avoided the question.
"Mmm..."
Sia, seemingly enticed by the word "gift," began to loosen her tight grip on his shoulders.
"Sia, Raon isn't leaving because he wants to."
Sylvia, seeing an opportunity, gently patted Sia's back.
"Of course! Raon goes on missions for our sake. That's why he even lies about gifts... Ack!"
Edgar, muttering that the gift Raon mentioned for Sia was a lie, was kicked by Sylvia. He received such a strong kick that his body flew and crashed into the fence of the annex.
"Mmm..."
Fortunately, Sia didn't seem to have heard Edgar's words. She rolled her eyes back and forth and got off Raon's back.
"I'll be back soon. Please keep the house safe this time too."
Raon gently stroked Sia's head and gave her a loving smile.
"Alright. I understand. But..."
"Yes, I'll definitely bring you a gift."
As he said the word "gift," he stared intently at Edgar, who was still embedded in the wall.
"Okay! I'll take care of the house!"
Sia nodded and placed her hands on her hips, seemingly full of energy because of the promise of a gift. Although her expression was still childish, her aura was like that of a fierce general roaring on the battlefield.
'Maybe it's not a bad idea to teach my sister how to use a sword after I return.'
Given her strong aura, it seemed like a good idea to properly teach her how to control and use her power.
"I'm really leaving now."
Raon greeted Sylvia and Sia, who was in his arms, and left the garden.
"As expected of your sister, she's stubborn. This is going to be problematic."
Wrath clicked his tongue and said he could clearly see the future.
"It's not particularly problematic."
Raon shook his head calmly.
"If anything, it gives me a sense of stability."
In his past life, he might have found it annoying, as Wrath suggested, but having lived this life and learned about family and relationships, Sia's fuss was quite endearing.
"Are you becoming human...?"
"I was human from the beginning, you know?"
"Hmph! You were originally the very essence of an angel."
Wrath snorted, saying that Raon didn't have a human identity to begin with.
"Let's not resort to insults."
Raon laughed and tapped Wrath's nose. It seemed he had changed a lot, now he even felt being called an angel was an insult.
"To think that there's someone who can make the Light Wind Division Leader, Raon Zieghart, squirm like that, I'll have to be careful from now on."
Burren, who was waiting outside the garden, smiled warmly, finding the sibling relationship cute.
"So that innocent smile hides the power of a Grand Master? It's chilling."
Martha licked her lips, expressing her desire to have an encounter with Sia.
"I'm a little jealous..."
Runaan muttered enviously, staring at his own back.
"Let's go quickly! There's a lot to pack for the journey home. Besides supplies, we need to gather all the essentials..."
Dorian enthusiastically listed the necessary items, seemingly excited to go to Sephia Company. It was as if he wanted to pack everything in the world.
"I knew the kids were unique, but this is chaos."
Sheryl shook her head, looking at the squad leaders and Dorian, each focused on their own concerns.
"Well, they were taught by the most unique swordsman of all."
Raon smiled as if it were natural and stepped forward.
"It's true."
Sheryl followed him with a slight smile.
* * *
As Raon enjoyed a brief rest in front of the campfire after dinner, Sheryl approached him.
"Seems like you've gotten used to camping."
Sheryl shrugged as she sat down by the campfire.
"You seemed a little clueless when I first took you out."
"I did fine. They were the slow ones."
Raon shook his head, pointing to Dorian and the three squad leaders who were organizing the area.
'Camping was practically my life.'
Having lived as an assassin for many years, he had quite a lot of experience in camping. If he had seemed strange, it would have been entirely due to the members of the Light Wind division.
"Now that I think about it, it's true. You started by fighting with our division vice leader, didn't you?"
"It wasn't a fight, just an arm wrestle."
"Right. I thought you weren't normal from that moment."
Sheryl chuckled, recalling past events.
"How is he?"
"He's gaining more muscle than before. It seems he doesn't want to lose in arm wrestling again."
She clicked her tongue and said he seemed more obsessed with muscles than martial arts.
"I can understand that in a way."
Raon smiled slightly and looked towards the campfire.
"Umm..."
Sheryl slowly parted her lips after a brief silence.
"I heard that that damn bastard's soul is in the Requiem Sword. Is that true?"
"Yes, it's true."
Raon nodded and looked into Sheryl's trembling eyes.
"Lady Siyana tried to release the Master's soul, but it had taken root in the Requiem Sword and didn't want to come out."
"...Can I see that sword for a moment?"
Sheryl lowered her head and swallowed hard, as if she were making a difficult request.
"Of course."
Raon nodded and handed the Requiem Sword to Sheryl. Although it was a cursed sword that shouldn't normally be entrusted to others, he thought Sheryl would be fine.
"Thank you."
Sheryl received the Requiem Sword with trembling hands.
"Damn fool!"
She stared intently at the red blade of the Requiem Sword, unleashing her suppressed emotions.
"How could you just leave like that...?"
Sheryl pressed her forehead against the Requiem Sword, holding it with both hands. Perhaps due to the flickering shadows of the campfire, she seemed to be hugging Rimmer. After holding the Requiem Sword for a long time, she raised her head, her expression somewhat relieved, as if she had vented some of her frustration.
"Thank you. I feel a little better now."
Sheryl bowed her head sincerely in gratitude and returned the Requiem Sword.
"Umm..."
Raon lowered his voice as he grabbed the still-warm Requiem Sword.
"What kind of relationship did the Master and the Celestial Sword Division Leader have?"
"Eh...?"
Sheryl's face flushed as if she hadn't expected that question. Her usual iron mask seemed to have cracked.
"Well, eh..."
She couldn't answer immediately, shrugging and rolling her eyes, trembling.
"Raon, we're ready! You said we had to arrive before dawn, so let's hurry!"
Just as he was waiting for Sheryl's answer, Martha gestured with her hand, urging them to leave quickly.
"Alright, just a moment..."
Raon nodded and turned to hear Sheryl's answer, but she had already moved away from him and was standing next to Burren in front.
"Let's go! It could be dangerous if we're late!"
Sheryl, with a flushed face, twisted her ankle as if urging them to come quickly.
"Mmm..."
Raon clicked his tongue. It seemed he would have to find out about Sheryl and Rimmer's relationship later.
"But what's going on here? Did Sheryl like the Master more than him?"
As he tilted his head in confusion, Martha patted him on the back.
"Sometimes there are things you shouldn't ask."
"Stupid..."
Runaan also stuck out his tongue slightly as he passed, as if he agreed.
'What does that mean?'
"That's why you're not human!"
Wrath clicked his tongue as if he were exasperated.
"No, I mean, give me an answer..."
"You're an angelic fool."
"I don't care if you insult me, just give me an answer."
"You're a stupid, angelic idiot!"
"You don't know either, do you?"
"...."
* * *
Rokan, a major city in the southwestern part of the continent. Although the thick cloak of night covered the entire city, only the president's office of the Sephia Company maintained its bright light.
"Mmm..."
Adis Sephia, the owner of this solitary light and head of the Sephia Company, was moving busily around his office, writing down numerous sentences. This late hour, which separated light from darkness, seemed to herald a crucial moment for the head of the Merchant Association that would shake the continent.
"President."
The old butler Ligwin bowed carefully.
"It's getting late, so maybe you should retire for the night."
He clasped his hands in front, suggesting that the president shouldn't exert himself too much.
"Normally you'd be right, but this time there's an important matter at stake."
Adis shook his head vigorously, as if to say he appreciated the advice but couldn't accept it.
"Dorian, that boy is coming back, so I can't make careless preparations!"
He couldn't hide the smile on his face, seemingly excited to see his son after so long. At this late hour, the few lights that decorated the city weren't a testament to the Merchant Association head's conviction, but rather the paternal love of a father.
"Are you that happy?"
Ligwin shook his head and said it had been a while since he had seen such a smile.
"Ahem! How was I smiling?"
Adis' lips trembled, remembering someone from the north.
"You're smiling quite nicely right now."
Ligwin shrugged as if asking if he should bring a mirror.
"It's not that! I'm a little excited because I've been hearing rumors that my son has been active here and there!"
Adis waved his hands as if to deny it, but he still couldn't help the corners of his mouth from turning up.
"But I wonder when he'll arrive..."
He lowered his eyebrows, seemingly impatient.
"The letter arrived today, so even if they use a Dimensional Gate, it'll probably be tomorrow or the day after tomorrow."
Ligwin shook his head, suggesting that there was no need to rush the preparations.
"Well, I suppose you're right."
Adis was about to sit down, accepting that it would be good to take things a little more calmly, when suddenly...
"Mmm?"
Ligwin frowned and brought his hand to his ear.
"What's wrong?"
Adis narrowed his eyes and looked at Ligwin.
"Well..."
Ligwin exhaled sharply and looked out the window.
"The young master and the Light Wind division leader have arrived..."
"What? Now?"
"Yes, they already passed through the main gate."
"Eh..."
Adis opened his eyes in disbelief.
"I didn't expect them to arrive so quickly."
"Let's prepare to welcome them first."
Ligwin quickly ordered the messy office that Adis had created. With every movement of his hands, the dust disappeared, revealing the original neat appearance of the office.
"Ahem!"
Adis smoothed out the wrinkles in his clothes and sat down at his desk, picking up a pen. As he pretended to work, someone knocked on the door.
"President, the young master and the guests have arrived."
A butler's voice was heard from outside.
"Enter."
Adis nodded, lowering his voice as much as possible.
'Dorio?'
However, as soon as he saw his son, he couldn't help but gape. His son, who had always been chubby, had lost weight all over and seemed more dedicated than any swordsman he knew. Of course, compared to Raon, who entered right behind him, he paled a little, but he was still impressive enough to overwhelm ordinary people.
"Father!"
Dorian, excited for their long-awaited reunion, ran towards him.
"Mmm..."
Adis lowered his eyebrows. Normally, he would have set his son aside to raise and make him strong, but seeing how much he had changed, a weak heart arose in him that wanted to embrace him.
"Well, he's worked hard."
Seeing that his son must have made a great effort to become like this, he decided to open his heart just this once.
"Dorio!"
Just as Adis opened his arms to embrace his son, Dorian suddenly stopped and took a small note out of his pocket.
"We need a lot of things. First, fire-resistant stone walls, external injury medicine, internal injury medicine, holy water, tents, and beds..."
As Adis awkwardly kept his arms open, Dorian recited a list of items he needed.
"..."
The fire of expectation in Adis' eyes quickly cooled.
* * *
"And we also need hammers and saw blades... Ack!"
"That's enough."
Raon pushed back Dorian, who was endlessly asking for supplies, and bowed to Adis Sephia, who was standing there dumbfounded.
"Lord Merchant Association President, it's been a while."
"Ah, yes..."
Adis, seemingly having regained his senses, lightly tapped his temple and bowed his head.
"It's been a while. I see that the Light Wind Division Leader and the Celestial Sword Division Leader are also here."
He greeted not only Raon but also Sheryl with courtesy.
"I apologize for visiting you at such a late hour."
Sheryl bowed deeply, looking apologetic.
"It's alright. I was working on some paperwork anyway."
Adis waved a document that had nothing written on it. He seemed too nervous to realize it was blank.
"However, seeing that you arrived so quickly, it seems the matter is more urgent than I thought."
"Yes. Do you have any information about the Grey Hammer Guild?"
Raon stepped forward and asked. Since Rokan wasn't far from where the Grey Hammer Guild was located, there was a high possibility that Adis would have some news.
"To be honest, I haven't met Borgos this year. At the end of last year, when I sent him a gift, he told me he had important matters to attend to and not to contact him for a while."
Adis shook his head and rested his arms on the desk.
"As the Light Wind Division Leader knows, it's quite common for artisans to suddenly lock themselves in their workshops. I thought it was no different from usual, but since you asked, it seems something has happened."
"Yes, I didn't write it because it might cause misunderstandings, but..."
Raon took out the letter Borgos had sent and showed it to him.
"Hmm, that's indeed his handwriting. However..."
Adis frowned as he looked at the letter Raon had taken out.
"He's not the type to send that kind of content..."
He frowned and said that Borgos would rather die than ask for help from someone he wasn't close to.
"He must have been in a very urgent situation."
"Then we should leave right now..."
"Wait a moment. I sent my son to check the Grey Hammer guild directly, so he should be back soon."
Adis gestured for them to sit on the sofa and told them that it was time for his return.
"I understand."
Raon nodded heavily and sat down on the sofa that Ligwin guided him to.
"S-So I'll go get supplies! I'll be back soon!"
Dorian looked back and forth between Adis and Raon, moving restlessly like a puppy that needed to go to the bathroom.
"Sigh, do whatever you want."
Adis stared at Dorian before waving his hand dismissively.
"Yes, sir!"
Dorian raised his hand in greeting and left the office without even looking at his father.
"...How is that boy?"
As soon as Dorian left, Adis asked about him.
"He's scattered and timid, not very suited for a swordsman's life."
Raon calmly described Dorian's usual behavior.
"I see..."
"But now he's developed enough conviction and skill to overcome that fear. No matter what others say, he's an excellent Zieghart swordsman."
"Hmm, I see."
Adis' lips curved slightly, seemingly pleased with Raon's sincere praise.
"He's a friend I can fully trust to watch my back."
"To that extent?"
"Yes, I mean it."
"Ha ha!"
As he expressed laughter and surprise, sounds of things breaking could be heard from various parts of the Merchant Association building.
"That boy! How much...!
Just as Adis frowned and was about to get up, the office door opened and Dialun Sephia, Dorian's older brother, entered along with a dwarf with a brown beard twisted into a roll.
"Father! Something terrible has happened."
Dialun took heavy steps forward, exhaling with difficulty.
"Calm down first."
"I can't calm down!"
He shook his head and pointed to the dwarf next to him.
"Most of the dwarves of the Grey Hammer Guild, including Master Borgos, have been captured by monsters!"
Dialun's lips trembled as he said that the dwarves had been attacked in their own fortress.
"Mmm?"
Adis shook his head and looked at the dwarf.
"Is, is that true?"
"Yes..."
The dwarf nodded, his chin trembling.
"What exactly happened?"
Adis slammed his hand on the desk, urging the dwarf to explain quickly.
"The monsters emerged from beneath the Burning Earth where we had set up our workshop. We tried to stop them, but their power was too overwhelming..."
The dwarf's chin trembled as he spoke of the desperate power they faced.
"Then you should have asked for help!"
Martha frowned.
"Dwarves rarely seek help from others. They try to solve everything with their own strength."
Adis shook his head and said that dwarves only ask for help from others when their entire race is in danger.
"What kind of monster was it? A giant worm or some other large monster?"
"No. They could speak like us, but they were huge, had red wings, and wielded fire swords or whips."
The dwarf clutched his head, saying that their weapons were ineffective against these creatures.
"Fire swords or whips?"
Raon narrowed his eyes as he listened to the dwarf's words.
'Were there monsters like that?'
He racked his brains but couldn't recall any such monsters.
"Mmm..."
As he was about to ask again, Wrath scratched the bridge of his nose and shook his head.
'What is it?'
"Those sound like beings this king knows..."
-
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