C884
"Ah, what a waste..."
Dorian sighed briefly while touching his blackened and bruised eye.
"If I had managed to grab all the items I put in my bag, we wouldn't have to worry about supplies for a while!"
He shook the spoon in his hand, seemingly lamenting his inability to steal everything from the Sephia Company.
"Thinking about stealing all that, you really are insane..."
Martha shook her head at Dorian.
"I never thought your father could get so angry."
She let out a hollow laugh, expressing her disbelief.
"Yeah. Uncle's face turned red..."
Runaan rubbed his chin, apparently remembering Adis's flushed face.
"Of course! What came out of this guy's bag was bigger than the Sephia Company's building!"
Martha said she had never seen anything like it while putting down the bowl of stew she was holding.
"Can't everyone eat in silence? You're being rude to the other customers!"
Burren frowned while wiping the dining table with a cloth.
"Instead of scolding us, why don't you give a sermon to that thief over there?"
Martha gestured, suggesting that Burren should preach to Dorian.
"I'm planning to re-educate that thief as soon as we get back."
Burren gritted his teeth, saying it was a disgrace to the family.
"Hey, taking family items isn't stealing! Anyway, they're ours."
Dorian rolled his eyes, suggesting they could use what he brought.
"You didn't take family items; you took merchandise!"
Sheryl hit the back of Dorian's head while grinding her teeth.
"Ugh!"
"You used to be very quiet, but now you seem the craziest. How has that guy managed to raise these kids..."
She clicked her tongue, looking at Dorian with her face resting on the table.
"Mmm..."
Raon, ignoring the noisy table, piled his empty plates to one side.
- This place isn't bad, right?
They had planned to have lunch with Nadine's bread, but wanting to give the injured a more nutritious meal, they entered a small restaurant in the city. Surprisingly, the taste was quite good.
- Hmm! Although the chef's skills are a bit lacking, I could feel the sincerity in the cooking.
Wrath murmured that it was quite good while patting his full belly.
- However, this king is strict when it comes to dessert. It must be well-made.
He waved his chubby hand, saying he was looking forward to the chef's dessert.
"This is just a countryside restaurant. There's no chef or desserts..."
Raon sighed. Being such a small village restaurant, the cook was the owner himself, and there weren't even desserts.
- Is that so?
Wrath smiled as if he wasn't bothered by the criticism.
- Then I'll have to eat double dessert when we get home!
He licked his lips longingly, as if it didn't matter at all.
- Being able to eat everything I want for ten days! I can't wait for that! It's going to be so much fun!
Wrath chuckled to himself, saying he would not only visit the annex dining room but all the famous restaurants in Zieghart.
'...'
Raon said nothing and just stared at Wrath, who was humming.
- W-what?
Wrath frowned and looked at the silent Raon.
- You're not thinking of breaking your promise now, are you?
His blue eyes trembled, seemingly feeling uncomfortable.
- No, of course, I will keep my promise.
Raon shook his head with a smile. From the beginning, he had set the deadline for ten days, discarding seven days first, so he naturally intended to keep his promise.
- Then why do you have that face?
Wrath frowned, apparently disgusted.
'My face? What's wrong with my face?'
- Like a dog's face meditating on whether to eat Nadine's bread or not!
He huffed, saying it irritated him just to look at him.
"It seems you're feeling better now."
Raon smiled as he saw Wrath's expressions becoming more varied.
- Well, the food at that guy's place was decent, and we've been eating delicious things continuously on our way here.
Wrath nodded, saying he felt a bit better.
- Well, they treated us quite well.
Adis had always given him the best treatment, except for the moment he caught and hit Dorian at the end. Wrath's better mood was also due to the high-quality meals he had provided.
—Then I guess it's okay to look at it now, right?
- Huh? Look at what?
'The reward.'
Raon summoned the reward he hadn't been able to check before with a flick of his finger.
[You have perfectly deceived the King of Balrogs.]
[You have achieved a great feat.]
[All abilities increase by 40 points.]
[The trait <Manipulation of Battle Spirit> becomes <Askara's Battle Spirit>.]
[The grade of the trait <Askara's Battle Spirit> increases by two levels.]
[The grade of the trait <Adaptation to Demonic Energy> increases.]
All abilities increased by 40 points, <Utilization of Battle Spirit> became <Askara's Battle Spirit>, and its grade immediately increased by 2 levels.
As befitting the message of a great achievement, the level of reward was extremely high.
- W-what?! Why do they give so much just for playing a little with Askara?
Wrath frowned, unable to comprehend.
"It's obvious."
Raon shook his head at Wrath.
"It's because you recognized Askara as a Demon King. That's why they're giving you so much."
Wrath had confirmed with his own words that Askara was a dangerous being who had kicked the Demon King's seat. It was natural to receive a great reward since it had been certified by him.
- When did I...? Ah!
Wrath tightly closed his mouth, apparently remembering what he had said.
- Even if this king said such things, it wouldn't be too much!
His head turned red with anger. It's hard to say whether this is purity or stupidity, as the color of his skin changes with his emotions.
- Damn it!
'Please, stay quiet now.'
Raon ignored Wrath's tantrum and called up the description of <Askara's Battle Spirit>. <Askara's Battle Spirit> A battle spirit directly passed down by the King of Balrogs who conquered the fighting forest of Devildom, has strong resistance to light and dark attributes. It has pain and injury resistance, allowing one to exert their original strength even when severely injured.
'Eh...'
Raon let out a hollow sigh as he looked at the content of <The Askara's Battle Spirit>.
"It's not at the level of a Demon King's authority, but it's no joke."
Askara's battle spirit was basically similar to an aura, but it also had the special ability of pain resistance. As seen this time, even transcendents can get injured, so it seemed it would be of great help in future battles.
- Grr!
Wrath grabbed his floating head in frustration.
- That Askara! When this king returns to the Demon Realm, I'll freeze him and bury him in a tunnel!
He gritted his teeth, saying he wouldn't let it go easily.
—So, are you going to fight for me? As expected, there's no one else but you, Wrath.
Raon patted Wrath's shoulder and thanked him.
- Huh? Ah, is that how it works?
Wrath blinked and then swatted the air.
- Damn it! Nothing ever goes right!
He shook his head up and down, saying there was nothing he could do.
"It's very fun to watch."
"Excuse me, division leader."
As Raon smiled at Wrath, who was struggling to survive, Dorian approached him.
"Could you ask the Demon King to let us tour his castle? I'm really looking forward to seeing it..."
Despite saying he only wanted to look around, Dorian was drooling.
'What do you think of that?'
- Why is everyone around you, including you, crazy?
Wrath shouted that everyone surrounding Raon was just like Raon.
- Why is this place tougher than the celestial realm!
* * *
In the tunnel where dry lava and molten frost still competed, on the infernal ground where the ceiling had collapsed and the walls had been scraped by Askara's battle spirit, a shadow darker than darkness itself spread. It seemed to have entered from outside, as black waves continued between the cracks of the rocks.
A woman with pale blue hair emerged from the black shadow. Even in such a narrow space that small animals would struggle to stand, she crawled through the tunnel with the same naturalness as a mollusk.
"..."
The blue-haired woman, who had been scrutinizing the entire tunnel, stopped at the place where the white-haired man had died, crushed by Askara's flames. She lowered her cold gaze while holding the black ashes and the ground that seemed to have been burned with blood in both hands.
"To think a Balrog of the level of a Demon King would simply retreat..."
The blue-haired woman slightly nodded while looking at the end of the tunnel where Askara had disappeared.
"It seems Raon Zieghart has an even bigger secret."
After placing the ground burned with the blood of the white-haired man in her bosom, she disappeared among the cracks of the collapsed space.
* * *
"We have many guests today."
The external commander Illiune slightly raised his eyebrows as he looked at Borgos and the artisans.
"These are the masters of the Gray Hammer guild. They have come to help us with our work."
Raon did not mention what had happened in the underground village; he only said they had come to help with the work.
"I've heard of the reputation of the continental master Borgos. It's a pleasure to have you here."
Illiune said he welcomed them despite knowing the circumstances and personally opened the doors of the outer castle.
"Thank you for your hospitality."
Borgos seemed pleased with Illiune's frankness and returned the greeting upon entering the outer castle.
"The road is wide. No wonder it's the pinnacle of the Six... no, of the Five Kings."
He let out a hollow sigh while looking at the wide road leading from the outer castle to the inner castle.
"However, the heat rising from the ground is low, as expected from the northern lands."
Borgos frowned, apparently displeased with the weak geothermal energy.
"The geothermal energy that the artisans of Zieghart work with is no less than that of Bright Abundance Mountain. You will like it when you see it."
Raon smiled and said he would introduce them soon.
"Is it Vulcano's workshop? It's something we look forward to."
Borgos nodded, apparently excited to meet Vulcano.
"It's not that big, but you'll be satisfied with the geothermal energy."
While explaining about Vulcano's workshop and the interior of Zieghart, they had already arrived in front of the Lord's Mansion.
"This is the lord's mansion. Let's go in."
"Wow, I don't know who made it, but it's not an ordinary person."
Borgos murmured that the aura emanating from the building was astonishing as he entered. As if word had spread that guests were going to arrive, the doors of the audience chamber were wide open, and the remaining family executives occupied the seats in front of the columns.
Glenn was sitting on the throne with an aura even greater than usual, perhaps because it was the first time he was meeting Borgos.
Just looking at his red, deeply sunken eyes sent chills down the spine.
"Ugh."
Raon let out a brief sigh and entered the audience chamber. After confirming that Borgos and the other artisans had followed him, he knelt in the center of the audience chamber.
"We are in the presence of the Head of House."
"We are in the presence of the Head of House!"
Burren, Martha, Runaan, and Dorian followed him with a greeting that seemed like it would blow the Lord's Mansion away.
"...Borgos of the Gray Hammer greets the King of the North!"
Borgos, apparently overwhelmed by Glenn's presence, was the first to bow with a rigid expression.
"W-we greet the King of the North."
The other dwarves and artisans also conveyed their greetings with difficulty, pressured by Glenn's presence.
"Welcome to Zieghart."
Glenn nodded gently as if he had never shown such an intense aura.
"I regret what happened at Bright Abundance Mountain. We should have moved faster."
He clicked his tongue briefly and said it was a shame.
"Please, don't say that. We thank you for sending the leader of the Light Wind Division and the leader of the Heavenly Sword Division."
Borgos shook his head, saying that thanks to them, at least those who remain now are alive.
"...I heard you want to start working right away. Are you sure?"
Glenn squinted slightly, as if asking if it would be okay.
"Staying idle will only complicate my thoughts, which is why I want to work."
Borgos shook his head, saying he wanted to repay the kindness he had received.
"Hmm, I've heard the general news, but tell me the exact details."
Glenn lowered his chin and asked why Borgos and the artisans had come there.
"Yes. First..."
Raon stepped forward and explained what had happened. Of course, he did not mention the part where he acted as Wrath to send Askara away.
"Mmm..."
Glenn looked at Borgos with sunken eyes, as if asking if it was really okay.
"The work is fine, but there's something I would like to ask you."
Borgos let out a brief sigh while looking at Glenn.
"Could you allow us to stay here for a while?"
"Even after finishing your work?"
"Yes."
He nodded and said he wanted to stay in Zieghart.
—I have no problem allowing it, but how can you trust us and decide to stay here?
Glenn tilted his chin slightly, as if he didn't understand.
"To be honest, I don't trust Zieghart."
Borgos slowly turned his gaze to look at Raon.
"What I... no, what we trust is the Light Wind Division and Raon."
He nodded calmly, saying he trusted Raon, not Zieghart.
"Ah..."
Raon shook his head hurriedly.
"This isn't good."
Since he said he trusted him more than Zieghart in front of Glenn, who reveres the family as something sacred, it's hard to predict what kind of response he will receive. He turned his gaze towards the platform, feeling tense. But Glenn's reaction was very different from what he expected.
"Mmm..."
Instead of getting angry, Glenn's curved lips trembled as if he were happy and delighted. He even began to cover his mouth with his trembling hand, as if he couldn't control his emotions.
'Huh?'
*Sigh, the old man is back in action...*
Wrath shook his head, saying it was disgusting.
-
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