C1037
Raon stood at the bow of the fishing boat, gazing at the approaching port. The harbor and the city behind it lay in ruins, as if swept away by a gigantic wave.
"There are more people than I expected."
Raon narrowed his eyes as he observed the people visible amidst the destroyed city.
"It's because this port has now lost its owner."
Lawaine, disguised as a fisherman, raised his voice as if pushing back the waves.
"The apostle of the White Blood Religion who destroyed this port is dead, and the infamous Kusar Pirates who extorted taxes have disappeared. People have come to settle again. Something similar will probably happen in other ports and villages."
He smiled confidently, implying that those people had come to the port thanks to him and the Light Wind Palace.
"That's fortunate then."
Raon licked his lips as he watched people clearing debris and leveling the ground.
"We won't attract attention even if we move openly."
He had planned to move stealthily from this port, but with so many people around, it seemed they could act openly without attracting attention.
"The wind is pleasant, and the scenery is beautiful."
Evelyn approached him, brushing back her black-dyed hair.
"Should we reserve some land in advance? We could build a villa later."
She smiled and suggested they build a villa to visit every summer.
"Not a bad idea."
Roenn, disguised as a middle-aged adventurer, chuckled after inspecting the entire port.
"If you two build a villa, I'll manage it for you."
His appearance and voice had changed so perfectly that even he would have trouble recognizing himself. No wonder he was called the Assassin King.
"We don't have time for that."
Raon firmly shook his head.
"Not only in the future, but we don't even know what will happen tomorrow."
Now that they had a lead on the White Blood Religion's headquarters, an all-out war against them was inevitable. With the uncertainty of who might die, cheerful conversations about villas didn't register in his mind.
"That's not right!"
Evelyn wagged her finger in front of his face.
"In times like these, it's necessary to keep a calm mind. To imagine a happy future."
She smiled softly, saying she always thought positively and visualized the future, even when she was in Eden.
“I always imagined you by my side, and look, it has come true, hasn't it?”
Evelyn intertwined her arm with his, curving her red lips into a smile.
"Hahaha!"
Roenn burst into laughter, seemingly pleased by Evelyn's words.
"Miss Evelyn is right. Imagining a happy future helps us focus on the present!"
He clapped and said it's always good to have hope.
"I agree. It's better to think positively."
Lawaine nodded, saying things would turn out well anyway, so they should only think of good things.
"I'm glad you two understand!"
Evelyn, delighted by Roenn and Lawaine's words, hugged Raon's arm tighter.
"Mmm..."
Raon sighed as he gently pushed Evelyn away.
'When did these three become so close?'
Although Evelyn, Roenn, and Lawaine knew of each other's existence, they had never seriously conversed. However, after just one day together, they seemed as close as if they had known each other for years. He felt like an outsider.
-That evil woman must have used magic to increase her friendliness.
Wrath shook his head and called her an unbelievable lunatic.
'That's not all.'
Raon frowned as he looked at the smiling Evelyn.
'She's also popular in the annex building.'
Sylvia, Edgar, Sia, and even Helen and the other maids enjoyed chatting with Evelyn and wanted to spend time with her. Her friendliness was almost absurd.
'Well, she even convinced Grandpa.'
Even Glenn had said he wanted to see Evelyn again, so it seemed her friendliness worked on everyone.
«She must have misunderstood Cela's advice.»
It was clear that Evelyn had interpreted her mother Cela's advice to be proactive as a directive to jump headfirst into everything.
"Well, we've arrived."
Lawaine raised his hand as he docked the fishing boat in front of the port, which was split like a cliff after a landslide.
"This is the sea route to the northern sea I mentioned before. You should head in the direction I'm pointing."
He nodded, saying they could see the place of their memory once they went out to sea from this port.
"I'll take a look around this area and wait for the three of you."
Lawaine left with the boat, saying he would be waiting for good news.
"Let's go up."
Raon gestured his chin towards Roenn and Evelyn before heading up to the port. There were more people than expected working on the reconstruction, but it was a large port, and it seemed there was a shortage of personnel.
"We've already taken possession of this area. Go somewhere else."
The people near the port and in the better areas of the city center waved their hands, telling others to go elsewhere. It seemed they were trying to secure good spots in advance.
"They're quite greedy."
Raon replied lightly before heading towards the outskirts, where there were fewer people. After entering a corner out of sight, he gestured towards Roenn and Evelyn.
"Let's pretend we're establishing our base here during the day and carry out our search at night."
Not knowing where the White Blood Religion's eyes might be placed, it seemed better to create an identity and proceed accordingly.
"Understood."
Roenn nodded, as if to say he would simply follow the conversation.
"Then let's build that villa we talked about before!"
Evelyn smiled and said that since they were at it, they should build a proper villa.
"Do as you wish..."
Raon nodded, realizing from Evelyn's expression that he couldn't dissuade her.
"Alright! Leave it to me!"
As soon as Raon gave his permission, Evelyn began lifting and throwing away construction debris with her own hands.
"I see the young lady would be good at both supporting and leading."
Roenn chuckled, seemingly impressed.
—Of course! There's nothing I haven't tried.
Evelyn laughed, pleased by Roenn's words.
"Sigh..."
Raon exhaled deeply as he looked at the undulating sea.
"This is starting to get out of control again."
—I told you not to bring her!
Wrath sobbed, as if asking why Raon hadn't listened to him.
—She's scary!
'I'm scared too!'
But he can't say it out loud!
***
A white room with eight red curtains cascading down. White smoke billowed from the ceiling where sunlight didn't penetrate.
"Is the Ninth Apostle dead?"
The incomparably beautiful woman lying on the red dais lowered her long pipe and narrowed her obsidian eyes. She was the leader of the White Blood Religion, the solid pillar of the Five Demons, and master of tens of thousands of blood demons.
"Yes. His body was found in Sikot Port."
The Tenth Apostle knelt before the dais, bowing his head.
"It could be..."
The leader of the White Blood Religion tapped her pipe on the dais, recalling a name from previous reports.
"Raon Zieghart?"
She frowned delicately, as if merely uttering the name irritated her.
"He was involved, indeed. However..."
The Tenth Apostle looked up to meet the leader's transparent black eyes.
"It wasn't Raon Zieghart who killed the Ninth Apostle, but Martha Zieghart, the leader of the Natchal Division."
He lowered his eyebrows, saying the 9th Apostle had been defeated by Martha before Raon arrived.
"Martha Zieghart? Has that girl already become strong enough to defeat the Ninth Apostle?"
The leader of the White Blood Religion exhaled sharply, seemingly remembering Martha.
"It seems she had some kind of enlightenment."
The Tenth Apostle reported that, although he hadn't seen it directly, Martha seemed to have grown while fighting the Ninth Apostle.
"What happened to the Blood Spirit Ship and the Blood Wolf?"
"The Blood Spirit ship was cut into four pieces and sank, and as for the Blood Wolf..."
He bit his lip, as if reluctant to speak.
"It seems the Ninth Apostle sacrificed his own blood energy to drive it mad, but it was annihilated by Raon Zieghart."
"The Blood Wolf was annihilated? That spirit with superior transcendent-level power?"
The White Blood Cultist's grip on her bear-bone staff trembled.
"I had a bad feeling from the moment that damned name appeared..."
As she lowered her voice, the red curtains hanging in the room began to tremble violently, as if spilling blood.
"Mmm..."
The Tenth Apostle trembled completely before the leader's chilling aura.
'Her blood energy has grown stronger again.'
Since drinking Ogram's blood, the leader of the White Blood Religion seemed to have completely broken through a wall, emanating a different level of aura each time they met. Now, it was impossible to measure how much she had grown.
"She beheaded the Black Tower Master, severed the Fallen One's soul with the Soul Weapon, and now she's even taken down that spirit? It's hard to believe even if she's the reincarnation of a war god."
The leader of the White Blood Religion clicked her tongue and said it was hard to believe every time she heard about Raon.
"He really is a damned bastard."
She exhaled red smoke as if soaked in blood, seemingly genuinely angry.
"Tantrum..."
The leader of the White Blood Religion looked at the Tenth Apostle with clear eyes, as if she had exhaled her anger along with the smoke.
"Reinforce the protective magic and defenses protecting the headquarters for a while. Change the surrounding terrain as well. And prohibit entry and exit from the outside."
She nodded, shaking the ash from her pipe.
"Do you suspect they will come looking for our headquarters?"
"The Ninth Apostle and other blood demons wouldn't have said anything about this place. But it's possible they checked the devices on the ship, so it's right to be cautious."
The leader of the White Blood Religion lowered her hand and said they should prepare completely given the situation.
"Understood."
The Tenth Apostle, seemingly in agreement with the leader, rose without hesitation and left the white room.
The leader of the White Blood Religion bit the tip of her pipe with her red lips and looked at the back of her hand, as white as if it had never seen sunlight. She raised her eyebrows as she saw a piece of skin standing up like fish scales.
"It's starting sooner than expected."
***
On a dark night with a crescent moon descending, Raon, Evelyn, and Roenn were on a deserted beach, wearing sleepwear inscribed with blue magical formulas.
"I've put magic on those diving suits to suppress presence and sound. It's my special creation. It won't be easily detected, not even by a Transcendent."
Evelyn smiled confidently and said that even a Transcendent would have difficulty detecting it.
-I, have to admit, she's special in that aspect...
Wrath shook his head and said that, as the Monarch of Wrath, he had to acknowledge her skill in that area.
“I’ve also made it so it eliminates the waves generated when swimming.”
Evelyn raised her fist, saying they wouldn't be detected at all by movement.
"However, I couldn't add invisibility magic because it's a bit heavy and might cause mana leakage."
She wagged her finger, saying it would be better to move without invisibility.
"It's light and easy to move, considering the magic it contains."
Roenn chuckled and said he had no problems using his aura.
"You've done well in such a short time."
Raon stroked the diving suit Evelyn had made, expressing his gratitude.
—Oh, come on, there's no need for that between us.
Evelyn patted her back, as if to say those words weren't necessary.
"W-well, shall we go?"
Raon told Roenn and Evelyn to follow him before diving into the sea first.
-Do you know where to go?
-Yes, I can see it clearly.
As soon as he entered the sea, the location the sea spirit remembered appeared. It seemed they should head north, towards deeper waters.
[Follow me.]
Raon sent an aura message to Roenn and Evelyn and began swimming slowly, following the sea spirit's memory.
'We could sell these diving suits.'
The effect of Evelyn's diving suits was evident. Breathing was comfortable, and a single kick propelled the body forward smoothly.
[This is cute. I feel like I'm on a honeymoon with Raon.]
Evelyn smiled as she touched the passing fish with her fingers.
[Hahaha.]
Roenn let out a fatherly laugh, seemingly pleased by Evelyn's endless enthusiasm.
[Please, be quiet...]
Raon covered Evelyn's mouth and focused again on the search.
'I've seen this place before.'
The sea spirit hadn't only left a path to the White Blood Religion's headquarters but had engraved landmarks like rocks and seaweed in Raon's mind. Following those memories, he could move without confusion.
[We're getting closer. We must be careful now.]
According to the sea spirit's memory, they would soon arrive near the White Blood Religion's headquarters. There might be magic traps, so they needed to completely suppress their presence and move slowly from now on.
'From here there should be... Eh?'
Why isn't it here? According to the sea spirit's memory, there should be a rock shaped like a turtle shell, but nothing was visible in his field of vision. He felt perplexed for the first time, as the sea spirit's memory had been accurate until now.
Did we get the wrong place? No, this direction is correct.
Just in case, he looked around, but the other areas weren't at all in the sea spirit's memory.
"It's difficult to find a direction like this..."
Now all he could see was the sand of the seabed. In that state, it was impossible to get one's bearings.
[Please, look for a rock shaped like a turtle shell around here.]
Raon explained the rock from his memory to Evelyn and Roenn before heading north.
"I also can't see the giant pink coral that should be after the turtle rock."
Losing their bearings at the turtle rock, he couldn't find the next location.
'Have we been discovered?'
He wondered if the White Blood Religion had realized they had started searching and were on the move.
-No, that's unlikely.
If they had known they were being followed, they wouldn't have acted so obviously. They were probably just being cautious because of the submersible.
[Be very careful from now on.]
Raon warned Roenn and Evelyn that there might be movement from the White Blood Religion in the area before activating his Clear Blue Eye. The eye that could see everything didn't detect any blood energy or artificial aura.
'Wrath.'
Raon clicked his tongue briefly and called out to Wrath.
'Can you sense anything?'
-Certainly, there have been small changes in this area not long ago, but it's not the power of magic or spells.
Wrath shook his head and said that while there had been changes, he couldn't pinpoint exactly what they were.
"If even you can't find it, it's not around here..."
Raon sighed inwardly and headed north again.
I'll have to search again.
He continued to look around, letting his body be carried by the ocean currents, but nothing appeared. There was only gray sand and seawater. Finally, Raon returned to the port before dawn, having found nothing.
"Huff, let's stop here for today."
He looked again at Evelyn and Roenn, shaking the seawater from his hair.
"It's getting light. We have no choice."
Evelyn calmly nodded.
"Don't be too discouraged. We have to be patient with these things."
Roenn lowered his chin, as if to say they shouldn't rush.
"If the terrain you knew has changed, it surely means the White Blood Religion is nearby."
He clasped his hands and said it was certain that the White Blood Religion was hiding, so they should remain calm.
"I think so too. From where we got lost, we couldn't see any sea monsters or any fish."
"Now that you mention it..."
Raon widened his eyes, catching Evelyn's words. As she said, they hadn't seen a single fish or monster in that area.
"You're right. There's something there."
Evelyn shrugged and said it was definitely the work of the White Blood Religion, even if she didn't know exactly what.
"Yes. Let's narrow down the area little by little."
Raon smiled softly at Roenn and Evelyn, who were giving him hope.
"Then, shall we start building our villa now?"
Evelyn approached him and said they should build a house of love.
"Sigh."
Raon exhaled heavily as he watched Evelyn laugh.
«This might be more exhausting.»
***
Raon frowned as he emerged.
'I still can't find it.'
For ten nights after their initial search, they went out to sea every night to search for the location of the White Blood Religion, but they couldn't find any trace of them anywhere.
'The memory is fading...'
Since it wasn't his own memory, the memory the sea spirit had imprinted on his mind was becoming blurry. He needed to find the location of the White Blood Religion's headquarters before the scenes disappeared completely.
"Are you alright?"
Evelyn looked at him with worried eyes.
"Shall we rest for a while?"
Roenn lowered his eyebrows, suggesting they take a break.
—No. We still have time before dawn, so let's search a little longer.
Just as Raon was about to wave his hand and suggest they return to the sea, a small drop of water came between him and Evelyn. It transformed into a young wolf upon landing. It was the sea spirit he had saved.
"You..."
Raon's eyes widened as he saw the sea spirit again.
"Kyaryung."
The sea spirit squinted happily and rubbed its cheek against his hand.
"Is this the spirit you mentioned? It's so cute!"
Evelyn petted the sea spirit's head, saying it was cuter than she expected.
- Kya-ling!
The sea spirit looked at them and scratched the sea with its small front paw. It seemed to be saying it wanted to dive together.
"Don't tell me..."
Raon swallowed dryly as he looked into the sea spirit's transparent eyes.
"Are you going to guide us directly?"
- Kyaung!
The sea spirit nodded, as if confirming it was correct.
"But you must be scared..."
The sea spirit had been captured by the leader of the White Blood Religion and had been directly injected with magic, so even approaching that area would likely terrify it. Even in the memories it had shown, its trembling gaze was palpable.
"Are you really okay with this?"
Raon bit his lip as he held the sea spirit's front paws.
- Kiao!
The sea spirit let out a small cry, as if to say it was fine, but its paws trembled slightly, unable to completely overcome its fear. Still, it seemed to trust him.
"Then I will trust you. I promise to protect you no matter what."
Raon nodded as he stroked the soft mane of the sea spirit.
"Let's go."
Raon gestured for Evelyn and Roenn to follow him.
"This time we will find our way."
Raon made a motion for the two to follow him as they entered the sea. They descended into the dark seabed, following the sea spirit that emitted a soft light, melting the cold seawater. Raon clenched his fist as he engraved the image of the sea spirit in his mind, trembling with fear of the White Blood Religion.
«This time, for sure.»
-
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