C1071
- This damn god doesn't listen to his believer! Is he actually dead or something?
Wrath glared at the message with unrelenting anger as he cursed the demon god.
'That's a little too harsh...'
I hope he doesn't actually receive divine punishment. Raon shook his head and checked the message that appeared before his eyes.
[You have achieved a historic feat.]
[All skills increased by 100 points.]
The first thing that was displayed was, naturally, a message about skill increases.
'Skill growth doesn't mean much now.'
His current physical abilities had reached the pinnacle even among Transcendants. He had surpassed human limits to reach a level comparable to Angels or Demons, so skill increases held little appeal.
'However, 100 points are different.'
With a 100-point increase at once, he could feel a clear difference even in his body that had reached its limits.
A surge of joy ran through his body at this growth, reminding him of when he had absorbed Wrath's power during his apprentice days.
- Even when I give you power, you still act like this!
Wrath frowned with displeasure.
- You're in an ambiguous stage now, but once you break through that realm, you'll find a new world.
He shook his head, indicating that the true limits of the body hadn't been reached yet.
- Train so that it's not the mind that controls the body, but the body that controls itself.
Wrath touched his forehead, warning him not to neglect physical training and skill growth.
'So, are you saying you'll keep giving me skill points until then?'
Raon smiled and tilted his head.
'Thanks. You really are the generous tree.'
- Eh? Uh...
Wrath blinked blankly before jumping in shock.
- No way! I'll never give you anything again!
He waved his hands frantically, telling Raon to stop talking nonsense.
'You're always so entertaining.'
Raon chuckled and checked the next message.
[New trait <Blood Control> has been created.]
The second thing he noticed was the new trait.
'What is this?'
With growing anticipation, he checked the details of the new trait. <Blood Control> reduces bleeding when injured and accelerates blood generation. After confirming the trait's effects, Raon snapped his fingers.
'This is pretty good.'
With this trait, even if he received serious injuries during battle, he could reduce blood loss and fight longer than before. It was a perfect trait for him.
- Ugh...
Wrath's eyes trembled as he looked at <Blood Control>. He seemed to dislike it very much.
[Trait <Iron Will> has increased in rank.]
[Trait <Adaptation to Demonic Energy> has increased in rank.]
[Trait <Array Analysis> has increased by two levels.]
[Trait <Snow Flower Veil> has increased in rank.]
[Trait <Snow Flower Absorption> has increased in rank.]
[Trait <Snow Flower Sting> has increased in rank.]
[Trait <Wrath Release> has increased in rank.]
[Trait <Blood Path> has increased in rank.]
[Trait <Asraka Fighting Spirit> has increased in rank.]
[Trait <Heaven's Death> has increased in rank.]
[Trait <Spirit Concealment> has increased in rank.]
[Trait <Danger Sense> has increased in rank.]
- W-why are there so many!
Wrath gritted his teeth, claiming that just seeing all these trait increases was hurting his neck.
'Even I have to admit that's a lot.'
It seemed like many traits had increased in rank because the battle had been long and every situation had been urgent and dangerous. However, the most important information hadn't appeared yet.
[You have received the sincere gratitude of the spirit souls.]
[Trait <Soul Weapon (Spirit)> evolves to trait <Soul Weapon>.]
The spirit souls of the Blade of Requiem left him a great gift as they left this world. He could now use the Soul Weapon without the help of the sword.
'Though, of course, I'll have to work harder.'
Since the Soul Weapon's rank had returned to 1 star, its power had weakened, and controlling it wouldn't be easy.
But since he had already walked this path before, returning to that level shouldn't be too difficult.
- That's a good mindset.
Wrath suddenly adopted a pompous pose and lifted his chin.
- A King shouldn't lament what he lost, but think about how to develop what he has now.
He patted Raon's shoulder, telling him to remember this.
'Yes...'
In the past, he would have dismissed it with "But I'm not a King," but it seemed his personality and way of thinking had changed significantly.
'Finally.'
- More? Is there more??
Wrath moved like a newly caught fish, saying he was going crazy.
'This is the last one.'
[New title <Soul Hunter> has been created.]
'Soul Hunter?'
Looking at the title name, it seemed to be a trait obtained by killing the Leader of the White Blood Religion with the Soul Weapon. However, he felt uncomfortable receiving this title, as he had only launched the Soul Weapon attack while Rimmer and the spirit souls had done the rest.
- What nonsense are you saying now!
Wrath deeply wrinkled the bridge of his nose.
- If you're going to think like that, then spit out everything you've consumed so far!
The creature growled, claiming he had never received a fair reward.
'That's true.'
Raon smiled slightly and nodded. It seemed like Wrath was trying to cheer him up in his own way. Taking courage from his words, he checked the title details.
<Soul Hunter> A title granted to swordsmen who have cut an enemy's soul with a mind-forged sword. Slightly increases the power and speed of mind-forged swords.
Raon exclaimed in surprise the moment he confirmed the title's effects.
'This is no joke.'
The Soul Weapon is a decisive yet beautiful martial art that determines battles in an instant. Even a slight increase in power and speed could mean defeating previously invincible opponents, making this an incredible reward. Considering his growth trajectory, this title could be the most significant reward he received today.
- W-why would they give it to him!
Wrath shouted as soon as he read the title's effects.
- Creating something like that requires pouring an insane amount of my power!
He cursed the system, asking if it had gone crazy.
'You just cheered me up, but you've already changed your mind?'
- Cheer you up? Cheeer you up? When have I ever cheered you up?
Wrath frowned, claiming he had never had such thoughts.
'Sighs...'
Raon let out an empty sigh.
'So those were your true feelings?'
It seems like Wrath hadn't been cheering him up, but was actually mocking him. His affection for Wrath suddenly cooled.
"Ah, well..."
As Raon sighed with his eyes lowered, his room door burst open, and Evelyn walked in wearing a neatly pressed maid uniform.
"Ah..."
Raon frowned slightly as he looked at Evelyn.
'Why did it have to be Evelyn?'
He had wanted to review the reward messages and plan his future growth, but with Evelyn there, things would probably get noisy.
"You're awake."
However, contrary to his expectations, Evelyn didn't scream, but silently entered the room and closed the door.
"Eh?"
Raon leaned back as he saw Evelyn's unsettling smile.
"Why are you closing the door...?"
"Because I wanted to have you all to myself right after you woke up."
Evelyn's beautiful smile appeared as a chilling grimace to him.
- That crazy woman...
Wrath trembled his tail, unable to look at Evelyn.
- She came every day and stared at you intensely for 12 hours straight! I thought I was going to die of fear!
He let out a heavy sigh, saying Evelyn's obsession surpassed even Lust's.
'Ugh...'
As soon as he heard Wrath's words, he felt a cold shiver run down his spine. Thinking about it, he remembered hearing Evelyn's happy voice even when he fainted in the White Blood Religion.
"Mom! Dad!"
He called out for his mother and father like a child, but neither appeared.
"I used a magic that silences sounds."
Evelyn lifted one leg onto the bed, suggesting they spend some quality time together.
"Uh... Ah!"
Raon exclaimed as he backed away on the bed. A good idea had occurred to him to stop Evelyn.
"Thinking about it, what happened after I fainted? What about Darkan? And the Head of House?"
He asked about what happened after he fainted to divert Evelyn's attention.
"Hmm..."
Evelyn stopped short and frowned without answering.
"I can't tell you that."
"Eh? Why?"
Raon's eyes widened.
"Grandpa said he would tell you himself. He asked you to go to the Lord's Mansion when you woke up."
Evelyn sighed regretfully, saying she couldn't ignore Glenn's words.
- Ah, this house had another obsessed maniac...
Wrath took a deep breath as he remembered.
- That crazy old man obsessed with his grandson! For the 12 hours when that crazy woman wasn't here, that old man was here instead!
-------------------------------------------------
The brutal war was over, and silence fell upon the White Blood Religion's headquarters. From the ground where the white blood had melted, a red mist rose.
[...kill them.]
A young woman's voice spread eerily through the mist. It was a voice laden with hatred and murderous intent.
[I will kill every last one of them!]
It was the voice of the Leader of the White Blood Religion. The residual thought she left behind the moment her soul perished crawled from the ground with its own will.
[After I grow stronger, Raon Zieghart and Martha Zieghart... No, I will destroy the entire Zieghart family. Derus Robert! You are next!]
The Leader's residual thought revealed a deep malice, as if she wanted to destroy not only the Zieghart family but the entire world. With a hiss, the residual thought transformed its red mist body into a bat and flew into the sky.
[I am of the immortal noble race...]
Just as it spread its wings and entered the forest beside the port city, a torrent of white energy burst from beneath the trees and pierced the Leader's body.
[Screeeech!]
The Leader's residual thought screamed as it fell to the ground.
[Ughh...]
As it trembled all over and looked up, a man with waist-length white hair emerged from beneath the trees.
[You, you are!]
"You came out just as I expected."
Lawrence. The man who had been hiding in the Holy Sword Alliance, aiming only for the Leader of the White Blood Religion, tilted his chin.
"Your will to live is more tenacious than anyone else's."
He scoffed as if he had expected the Leader's residual thought to appear.
"Though I didn't expect it to be just a residual thought, not even a fragment of a soul. It seems Raon's Soul Weapon worked properly."
Lawrence clicked his tongue as if he were slightly disappointed.
[H-how are you here...]
"I'm here because I am me. Because I know you better than anyone."
He shook his head with a cold smile.
"Ah, being just a residual thought, maybe you can't understand?"
Lawrence mocked as he grabbed the Leader's bat-shaped residual thought in his hand.
"In this state, you could create a new soul by drinking human malice and blood to grow, but that won't happen now."
He smiled as he ripped off the bat's wings and burned them.
[Screeeech!]
The Leader of the White Blood Religion's residual thought screamed in agony, just as it would have if its original body was still alive.
[W-wait! Wait. I can...]
The Leader's residual thought struggled desperately, releasing faint bloody energy as if clinging to life.
"Be quiet. Just disappear."
As Lawrence released white flames gathered in both hands, the Leader of the White Blood Religion's residual thought began to burn along with its bat body.
[Aaaaargh!]
"Denier Zieghart was right. You should never have existed in this world."
With a bitter voice, Lawrence watched as the last traces of the Leader of the White Blood Religion's existence were completely erased.
"Haa..."
Lawrence closed his eyes and let out a sigh heavy enough to sink the ground, seemingly experiencing multiple emotions at once.
"Is this really it...?"
Rector emerged from behind Lawrence with a low groan.
"Will you be satisfied with this?"
He narrowed his eyes as if asking if Lawrence would be alright.
"The real one was destroyed by Raon and Martha, and what you just killed was literally just a residual thought. Even if it had hidden and grown stronger, it would have become a being different from the Leader."
Rector deeply furrowed his eyebrows, seeming worried that Lawrence wouldn't achieve his revenge.
"This is enough."
Lawrence brushed the dust off his hands as if he were satisfied.
"Those children and that sword had deeper bonds than mine. Just witnessing that was enough."
He drew a thin smile, saying he felt satisfaction from watching Martha and Raon's fight.
"Besides, you and I participated in the war."
Lawrence rubbed his chin calmly, saying they won thanks to his support from behind.
"Even so..."
"We need to think about what comes next. Derus' eyes could be anywhere, so it was right not to reveal the Holy Sword Alliance here."
He looked at Rector with calm eyes, suggesting they should prepare for the future.
"That future is my responsibility. It's not your concern..."
"You interfered in my life, so I need to interfere in yours to even it out."
Lawrence snorted and passed Rector towards a cave deep in the forest. Inside were men in white clothes who appeared to be Angels and black-masked assassins, all collapsed with their eyes still open.
"We need to throw them into the sea, so get ready."
Until now, there had been too many people around to dispose of the bodies, but now that the Five Kings martial artists had left, they could throw them into the sea.
"Alright. I understand."
Despite his words of agreement, Rector turned his gaze to the White Blood Religion's headquarters. He smiled softly as he looked at the ground where Raon had fought to the end.
"Well done, my grandson."
--------------------------------------------
'Since it's late now...'
Raon clicked his tongue briefly as he looked at the moonlight falling through the window.
'It would be better to go after dawn.'
Though Glenn had asked him to come immediately, since it was now dawn, it seemed better to go to the Lord's Mansion after dawn.
'Now that I've also sent Evelyn away, should I go back to sleep?'
As he closed his eyes to go back to sleep, since not all his wounds had healed yet, a sharp sound of sword wind came from the lakeshore.
'Is it Sister?'
He smiled naturally as he felt Sia's distinctive sword aura that he had taught her.
'She's improved so much.'
Just from the sound of the sword wind, he could tell how much Sia's swordsmanship had improved. It was natural, given that a genius like her was working so hard.
'Yes. Just like that... Hm?'
As Raon was about to close his eyes, using Sia's sword wind sounds as a lullaby, he heard a man's voice somehow familiar from the lakeshore. Since it wasn't Edgar or Julius, he focused his aura on his ear.
"That's how you do it?"
"Perfect! You're overflowing with talent! No, you're almost at your brother's level!"
"Really?"
"I'm telling you! Do you want to train with me?"
Sia and the man chatted warmly like old acquaintances.
'Train? Who could it be?'
Unable to contain his curiosity, Raon opened the window and stepped out. As he approached the lake, he saw a tall man standing beside Sia, observing her swordsmanship.
'That back of the head looks familiar... Gasp!'
Raon's jaw dropped as he looked at the man's back.
"D-Darkan!"
Darkan's back of the head, which he had seen countless times during their beggar training sessions, was right there next to Sia.
"Why are you here?"
"Oh! You're awake!"
Darkan turned to him with a refreshing smile.
"Your sister's swordsmanship is quite interesting! Can I train with her?"
He gestured to Raon like an old friend.
"Of course not!"
Raon couldn't help but shout.
"You crazy bastard!"
-
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