C902
"I greet you, Head of House."
Raon knelt on the red carpet of the audience chamber.
"Get up."
Glenn waved his hand, indicating that excessive formality was unnecessary.
"Does that old man like greetings or not?"
Wrath wrinkled his nose, thinking that if Glenn didn't like greetings, he shouldn't have asked for them in the first place.
"...Yes."
Raon awkwardly straightened his bent waist and approached the platform where Glenn was seated.
"I heard you summoned me."
"Indeed."
Glenn moved the fingers resting on the armrest of his throne. The golden chair that had fallen and broken was now repaired and in perfect condition.
"Has Roenn found anything?"
Raon asked the question that intrigued him, hopeful since Roenn was known as the Killing King.
"No. He has been searching thoroughly in Montiro, but he hasn't found anything special yet."
Glenn shook his head, stating that nothing had been discovered so far.
"I see..."
Raon slightly bit his lip.
"Well, it would be stranger if he found something."
Demonblade had said that he could find the Black Tower because the demonic energy of the demonized humans resembled his own death energy. It was natural that Roenn, a killer trained in relatively orthodox martial arts, would have difficulty locating it.
"Fortunately, it seems we are still in contact with him."
Raon had felt uneasy sending Roenn alone, but it didn't seem there had been any problems.
"Yes. We received a message from him this morning."
Glenn nodded, saying he had received news that Roenn would continue the search. He seemed to have complete trust in Roenn.
"He has been searching every corner of Montiro, changing his appearance and identity, but he says it is difficult to find even a single demonized human, let alone a passage to the Black Tower."
He frowned, saying that it seemed to be a more challenging task than expected.
"I suppose so."
Raon let out a short sigh.
"If it were easy to find, they would have discovered it long ago."
Montiro was a well-known tourist destination. If the base of the Black Tower had been carelessly hidden, it would have been exposed long ago, given that even the strongest in the continent had visited the place.
"Then, I am thinking of increasing the number of investigators."
Glenn nodded briefly at Raon.
"You are planning to assign this research mission to the Light Wind Palace, right?"
"Yes. I thought that the Light Wind Division and the Warring Steel Division would be suitable for this mission, as they have recently fought against those wielding death energy. And..."
He lowered his eyes that were gently swaying.
"Because all of you are strong."
"Because we are strong...?"
"This mission will start as an investigation, but it will end in war. The moment you find the path leading to the Black Tower, a battle will break out."
Glenn nodded gravely, saying that the Light Wind Palace should move to win that fight.
"Hmm..."
Raon bit his lip and nodded.
"That is certainly true."
A filthy faction like the Black Tower would not simply allow them to investigate and leave. The moment they discovered the location of the Black Tower and opened the entrance, a fierce battle would ensue with those bastards.
"It's not just because you are familiar with death energy; I trust the martial prowess and unity of the Light Wind Palace, which is why I am assigning this mission to you."
Glenn explained his reasons for entrusting the search mission to the Light Wind Palace as he lowered his wrinkled hand to the armrest of the throne.
"Can you do it?"
"The research mission may be more challenging than the battle, but we will do our best."
Raon let out a small sigh, thinking of Martha, Runaan, and Dorian, who would likely cause trouble during the search.
"However..."
He raised his head again, narrowing his eyes slightly.
"What should we do if the Master of the Black Tower appears the moment we discover the location of the tower?"
If the Master of the Black Tower emerged to block their path, even Raon would not be able to buy time. They needed a plan, or they might not even be able to escape and could be completely annihilated.
"You don't need to worry about that."
Glenn nodded, saying they were prepared to deal with the Master of the Black Tower.
"Are you sure you don't want to go yourself...?"
Raon gasped as he looked into Glenn's calm eyes. Given how he spoke, it seemed he might be planning to go himself.
"No, there is someone who wants to go in my place. It is..."
As Glenn slightly lowered his eyebrows and shook his head, the air in front of the platform opened, and a yellow lollipop appeared.
"It's me!"
With a clear voice that did not match the heavy atmosphere, a girl with a wide-brimmed hat jumped in. It was Chamber, the Archmage of Eternal Flame.
"Raon. It's been a while, hasn't it?"
Chamber nodded slightly with the yellow lollipop in her mouth.
"I heard you've been causing trouble since the last time we met..."
She narrowed her eyes as she examined him.
"I see why. I can no longer treat you like a child, can I?"
Chamber whistled briefly, saying that her own nature had changed.
"It's been a while. Chamber... you haven't changed at all."
Her childish appearance and talkative nature had not changed at all since the last time he saw her.
"A charming woman is always consistent."
Chamber brushed her hair back with the back of her hand, saying it was natural.
"But I heard you've caused even more trouble than dealing with the Demonblade?"
She stepped fully out of the divided space and approached him.
"...Are you referring to the Black Tower?"
Raon tilted his head as he looked at Chamber, who emitted a sweet scent of candy.
"Yes. If the Black Tower is really hidden in Montiro, it would be an achievement on a completely different level than killing the Demonblade."
Chamber rubbed her chin, saying it would be a truly magnificent achievement.
"You don't need to praise me so much."
Raon waved his hands. He didn't believe it was that significant since the information had been obtained by chance.
"No, I'm serious. Creating an opportunity to catch the Five Demons, who hide like rats and accumulate power, is a big deal. If the Black Tower is really there, I will do everything I can to help."
Chamber thumped her chest, saying she could ask for anything.
"Ahem..."
Glenn couldn't hide the corners of his mouth that were rising slightly, seemingly pleased that Chamber was openly praising Raon.
"Ah! I will even marry you if you ask me!"
Chamber nodded, saying that although it might be a bit disadvantageous for her, she would be willing to do it for Raon.
"I may look like this now, but when I grow a little more..."
"Chamber..."
Glenn wrinkled his nose, wiping away any traces of amusement from his face.
"Please act your age..."
He let out a strained sigh, as if telling her to come to her senses.
"This is my age!"
Chamber stuck her tongue out at Glenn.
"Well, we can talk about the reward later..."
As she waved her finger, the audience chamber split in two and twisted. It looked like a mirror world, or as if this world itself had been cut in half.
"I will take on the role of protecting you. Don't worry, I will kill that bastard before he can aim at you."
Chamber waved her finger, saying that while she couldn't help with the search mission, she would be at the forefront of the battle.
"From what I've heard..."
Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked at Chamber.
"I heard that your compatibility with the Master of the Black Tower is not good. Will you be alright?"
"I've developed a way to reverse that. That's why I'm here. I've overcome it now."
Chamber lifted her small fist, appearing confident.
"..."
Raon looked at Glenn. He nodded slightly, as if to say it was okay to trust her.
"And there is no one else who can go but me. The dimwit is still trembling, the young king has to protect both Owen and Balkar, the reclusive NEET can’t even come out, and your grandfather..."
Chamber stopped talking as she was about to mention Glenn.
"Anyway, I am the only one who can open the way when you find the passage leading to the Black Tower. It is right for me to go."
She said there was no other choice and told him to trust her.
"Of course, I trust you."
Raon nodded as he looked at Chamber's confident expression. To be honest, he trusted her more because of Glenn than due to his own confidence.
"So when do we leave?"
"You will need time to prepare, so let’s do it in three days."
Glenn raised three fingers, seeming to have planned this in advance.
"Understood. We will prepare accordingly."
Raon nodded, thinking about what he needed to tell the swordsmen of the Light Wind Palace.
"And it won’t just be the Light Wind Palace; other martial forces will also join."
"Other martial forces..."
"Considering the forces that the Black Tower has gathered, you alone will not be enough. At least two martial forces need to unite to minimize casualties during the battle."
Glenn explained that he would add more personnel, saying that even with the mages Chamber would bring, they might be outnumbered by the forces of the Black Tower.
"...I understand."
"Then you may leave."
He waved his hand, saying that Raon probably had much to prepare.
"We will meet again before reaching Montiro!"
Chamber waved her hand, saying they would see each other later.
"Yes. Then..."
Raon bowed to Glenn and Chamber before exiting the audience chamber.
"..."
As soon as Raon left, Glenn's expression hardened.
"Are you sure you will be okay? I still think it would be better if I went."
He narrowed his eyes, seeming worried about Chamber.
"I told you I will be fine. I was just surprised because I didn't expect that bastard to have absorbed all the power of that artifact. I can win if I face him again."
Chamber shook her head, saying she could handle it this time.
"And even if they push me back, at least I can ensure that you and our people can escape, so don’t worry."
"It's not that I don't trust you. I'm just worried because the Master of the Black Tower has always used dirty tricks."
"I am the one who has faced him the most. It's right for me to go, no matter what happens."
She waved her finger, which was covered in candy dust.
"Besides, you don't have much time or leisure, old man..."
Chamber slightly tipped her hat and frowned.
"You are already doing more than your share just by holding that throne. This time, trust me and your grandson."
Chamber waved her hand, telling him to trust her and wait.
"By the way..."
She narrowed her eyes slightly.
"Who else are you sending? More than two martial forces?"
"Just one."
Glenn shook his head calmly and smiled slightly.
"Someone who will get along well with Raon."
--------------------------------------------------
<Status Window> Name: Raon Zieghart. Title: <Transcendent> Status: None.
Traits: <Wrath>, <Sloth>, <Envy>, <Gluttony>, <Lust>, Ring of Fire (9 stars), Water Resistance (11 stars), Fire Resistance (10 stars) Perception of the Snow Flower (11 stars) Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation (9 stars), Glacier (9 stars), Bleeding Curse (5 stars), Backstab (13 stars), Iron Will (9 stars), Adaptation to Ghastly Energy (10 stars), Forever Unrippled Mind, Poison Resistance (6 stars), Evil Eye of Wrath (10 stars), Spiral Power (7 stars), Water Affinity (6 stars), Array Analysis (2 stars), Fire Affinity (5 stars), Snow Flower's Veil (5 stars), Divinity Born from Darkness (8 stars), Aura of Death Resistance (6 stars), Magic Armor of the Snow Flower (9 stars), Snow Flower Absorption (4 stars), Snow Flower Piercing Spear (4 stars), Wrath Release (2 stars), Flame Overcoming Death (5 stars), Blade of Death (6 stars), Divine Power Resistance (1 star), Blood Path (1 star), Askara's Fighting Spirit (4 stars), Flying Spirit (1 star), Heavenly Killing (1 star), Authority Enhancement (1 star), Light Resistance (1 star), Death Energy Detection (2 stars).
Strength: 1451.
Agility: 1483.
Vitality: 1442.
Energy: 1458.
Perception: 1496.
Wrath: 250.
Sloth: 150.
Envy: 150.
Gluttony: 100.
Lust: 50.
Raon let out a small gasp as he looked at the status window that appeared before his eyes.
"It's getting hard to read now."
As the number of traits and skill scores increased, it became difficult to see the status window at once. His neck ached from having to lift his head to see everything.
"Hup!"
Wrath let out a groan as if his breath had been cut off. Raon continued looking at the status window without turning his gaze toward him.
"Lust has been added to the traits."
The <Lust> he had received from Lust had taken its place in the status window, and its value had increased significantly.
He couldn't feel much effect yet, but once that number exceeded 100, it would start to exert its ability for real.
"But..."
Why isn't Backstab changing?
Focus had become Forever Unrippled Mind when it reached 12 stars, but Backstab remained the same even after reaching 13 stars.
It seemed that more experience was needed for the name to change.
"Well, that's a skill I've had since my past life."
In his past life, he had killed people with assassination techniques instead of brute force. Since that skill had been exceptional from the start, it seemed it required more achievements to change.
"Askara's Fighting Spirit is doing well for a trait I acquired late."
Since it was a transformation of the fighting spirit he originally possessed in Askara's Fighting Spirit, it had already reached 4 stars despite being acquired late.
Having felt the importance of fighting spirit in the battle with Demonblade, he thought it would be of great help in the future.
"Death Energy Detection is at 2 stars..."
This is a bit disappointing.
It would play the most crucial role in this search for the Black Tower, but it was unfortunate that it was only at 2 stars.
He thought he should keep using it on the way to increase its achievement even a little.
"How much have my skill scores increased?"
According to the reward message, thanks to the authorities of the demon kings, his scores had increased by more than 500 since the last time he checked his status window. It was incredible even seeing it with his own eyes.
"That's why even Transcendents can't keep up with physical strength."
The reason he hadn't been physically surpassed by Demonblade, who had consumed a living sacrifice, was due to those absurd numbers. Although the importance of aura and martial arts increases in the world of masters, physical abilities are equally important.
Although the efficiency of skill scores has decreased, unlike others, he can continue to grow steadily, so it will be of great help in the future.
"Arghhhh!"
Wrath finally couldn't hold it in and let out a yell.
"Why are there so many?! I can barely see it properly!"
"You can't see it anyway."
Raon tilted his head. Wrath could see the content of the messages, but he couldn't see the status window itself, so why was he making such a fuss?
"I can't see the content, but I can see the size of the status window! It's big enough to cover the sky, how could I not know!"
Wrath gnashed his teeth as if asking why Raon was making fun of him by calling out the status window.
"I'm not making fun of you. I'm checking my traits before this mission because I don't know what might happen."
With so many traits, it's difficult to use them properly without thoroughly checking them. He was just making sure of what he could do beforehand.
"Grrrr!"
Wrath gnashed his teeth at the status window he couldn't see properly, as if Raon's words weren't getting through to him.
"All the blood and sweat of this King are in here!"
He shouted indignantly, scratching the air with his round hands.
"He's covered his ears again..."
Shaking his head, Raon left the Division Leader's office. The Light Wind Division and the Warring Steel Division had finished preparing for the mission and were lined up in front of the platform.
"They look more alike now."
Raon went up to the platform, satisfied with the yellow madness nesting in the eyes of the Warring Steel Division.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes!"
The swordsmen of the Light Wind Division and the Warring Steel Division nodded in unison, as if they had perfectly prepared for departure.
"This mission is crucial: we need to find traces of the hidden Black Tower. The mission could fail if someone's identity is revealed, so there can't be even the slightest mistake."
Raon lowered his chin, saying that from the moment they entered Montiro, they shouldn't be Zieghart swordsmen but tourists, travelers, or mercenaries.
"Don't worry! I'd rather take my own life if I'm discovered!"
Martha thumped her chest, appearing confident.
"No."
Raon shook his head firmly.
"The Black Tower is a large but organic force. If your identity is discovered, it means everyone in the Black Tower already knows, so value your own life."
As he had learned from Derus, he had no intention of completing the mission through someone's sacrifice. Having changed from the assassin Raon to the swordsman Raon Zieghart, he wouldn't watch his comrades die.
"Hmm!"
"Palace Master..."
"...Understood."
The swordsmen slightly bit their lips, surprised by his unexpected words.
"Since the situation is urgent, we will determine the structure of the Light Wind Palace after we return. For now, we will move under the names of the Light Wind Division and the Warring Steel Division as before."
"Yes!"
The swordsmen below the platform nodded, seeming more comfortable with that arrangement.
"Lastly, I hope you all return to this place without a single person missing."
Raon conveyed his order and wish to the swordsmen before descending from the platform. He walked among the Light Wind Division and the Warring Steel Division and opened the door to the training ground. The swordsmen of the Light Wind Division and the Warring Steel Division followed him, dressed in jet-black and blood-red uniforms, respectively.
Responding to Raon's tyrannical aura, the swordsmen of the Light Wind Palace emitted a solemn yet sharp energy, like a single sword, as they walked down the main road.
"Not bad. There's still room to grow in the future... Hm?"
Raon narrowed his eyes as he headed toward the main gate of Zieghart, sensing the energy of the Light Wind Palace swordsmen who seemed to have become one.
"Is it them?"
The martial force Glenn said he would send was already waiting. As he approached the main gate, examining who they might be, he saw a familiar face.
"You're late."
Karoon Zieghart. His noble red eyes looked down at Raon.
"Light Wind Palace Master."
-
More Ch4pters on KoreanPlayer
↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓
Thanks for the support
