C1100
"I cast my vote for Sepia!"
Krein thrust his hand upward with vigorous energy.
"This is Master's native land, and since we rescued Sepia from Dragon and Eden, I’m convinced the Guardian will back us!"
He gestured emphatically, insisting that our first destination must be Sepia.
"The Black Market remains impartial to everyone, yet it will treat you differently."
Martha offered a gentle smile, as though her vision pierced through all obscurity.
"Consider Denning Rose. A simple conversation with her might secure immediate support."
She shrugged nonchalantly, implying he should reach out to her.
"Also, there’s House Yonaan."
Burren gave a slight nod in agreement.
"Since Lady Encia Yonaan is still in Zieghart, a proper approach could win her favor right away."
Glancing toward the annex building, he hinted that they should visit Ensia first.
"Let’s not overlook the dwarves whom the Palace Master rescued."
Trevin drummed his foot lightly as he mentioned the dwarves.
"I’ve heard that the dwarves have excavated tunnels and established a new village in Mirtan where the blacksmiths now reside. We might travel there to secure their declaration of support."
He smiled confidently, sure that both Mirtan Village and its dwarves would rally behind Raon.
"And then there’s my family, too..."
Dorian rolled his eyes while nervously rubbing his belly pouch.
"The Sephia Company wields significant influence in merchant circles."
He licked his lips, adding that the Sephia Company—where he stands as the successor—would likewise follow Raon.
"We have always stood by our Lord’s side."
"Even if we don’t command many underlings, each one of us is equivalent to a hundred men!"
The Warlord and Blade Queen nodded, urging him to place his trust in them.
"If things go awry, I’ll crush the forces backing the opposition!"
The Blade Queen grinned mischievously, uttering words a retired Transcendent should never speak.
"Even as a jest, that’s a bit much..."
The Warlord exhaled a long, embarrassed sigh.
"Perhaps we should begin our efforts in Zieghart first?"
Mark Goetun interjected, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
He noted, "The Shadow Agents' Leader cares deeply for the Palace Master, and as Martha mentioned, we also have the Wise Martial Palace on our side."
Bowing his head, he proposed that they settle Zieghart’s internal matters before venturing elsewhere.
"Did you know the Shadow Agents' Leader had been watching over me?"
Raon’s eyes widened as he stared at Mark Goetun.
'How could he possibly know?'
It was astonishing that Mark Goetun—usually as oblivious as a brick wall—had caught wind of that.
"What? It seems not only I but everyone is aware of it..."
Mark Goetun blinked slowly, remarking that Shadow Agents' Leader Chad had been far too blatant about it.
"Who could be unaware of that?"
Martha snickered, implying that only a fool would not know.
"It’s not just the Light Wind Palace; surely other factions are informed as well."
Burren rubbed his forehead, noting how glaringly obvious it was.
"Indeed, it was all too apparent..."
Even Runaan blinked, signaling that she was in on everything.
"Hmm..."
Raon’s jaw quivered as he looked at Runaan.
'Could I be less observant than that dozing one?'
–You only noticed that now? Perhaps you’d be better off without eyes!
Wrath clenched his teeth, lamenting that his frustration had driven him to the brink of despair countless times.
–Just tear them out like that berserk swordsman!
He snorted, remarking that his eyes seemed utterly unnecessary—much like Darkan’s.
'N-no way.'
Realizing his own perceptual shortcomings compared to Runaan, his head began to ache and his body trembled as if struck by a sudden flu.
'Damn it!'
Raon regarded Runaan with overwhelming defeat.
"Are the Council of Elders a tough nut to crack...?"
Runaan strode over to the Gambling Monster, whose arms remained folded as he completely ignored Raon’s scowl.
"The Council of Elders maintain an open neutrality. Nothing would be more unbecoming than those elders backing only a single successor!"
The Gambling Monster shook his head, asserting that the Council would not yield easily.
"So, it appears you lack the necessary ability..."
Runaan gave a gentle nod in acknowledgment.
"I—I’m not deficient in ability; it’s simply that the Council adheres to strict neutrality! Besides, I have no ties with them!"
The Gambling Monster bellowed for her to regain her senses.
"Yawn..."
Runaan rubbed her eyes and yawned, utterly indifferent to the monster’s shouting beside her.
'Is that the influence of Sloth at work?'
Raon squinted as he watched Runaan drifting off drowsily.
'Her rate of progress has undeniably surged.'
Perhaps because Runaan’s very nature resonates with the Authority of <Sloth>, her development had accelerated to an unprecedented pace. As her once immature body and mind matured, her latent potential burst forth—hinting that her martial prowess might soon far exceed that of her peers.
"Wouldn't forces like the Five Divine Orders—the White Whale and the Unyielding Blade—assist us as well?"
"And let’s not forget the Vassal Family Arianne!"
"Moreover, there are numerous villages and kingdoms we’ve helped rescue, including the city that once concealed the Black Tower."
"Even the inhabitants of Robert’s territory, from which Derus fled, might come to our aid."
The swordsmen exchanged smiles as they recited the names of allied forces.
"With such a multitude following the Palace Master, we could even establish our own kingdom, couldn’t we?"
Burren chuckled wryly, remarking that he hadn’t expected the numbers to be so vast when tallying them one by one.
"So, among all these regions, where do you intend to proceed first?"
Martha stroked her chin, urging him to decide without delay.
"I’ll choose the path myself; you all concentrate on today’s cultivation."
At that moment, as Raon gave a sudden nod, the Blade Queen and Warlord stepped down from the platform and positioned themselves before the Light Wind Palace Swordsmen.
"Since today is Sia’s day of respite, let’s indulge in play all day long!"
With a cold smile, the Blade Queen vowed to administer a rigorous session.
"Follow me," she commanded.
The Warlord merely nodded sharply, leading the swordsmen away without further words.
"…"
Raon settled himself before the now-silent platform and licked his lips thoughtfully.
'Now that I think about it, I ought to check that as well.'
–That? Seems the clueless buffoon has overlooked yet another detail!
Wrath let out a snicker, showing no sign of halting his ridicule.
–Your idiocy appears to be diminishing my own intellect...
[You have achieved a legendary feat.]
[You have received recognition as a lord from the retired Transcendents.]
[You have received recognition from <Sloth> and connected a new medium.]
[All stats increase by 100 points.]
Just as he was poised to launch into further mockery, unexpected reward messages materialized.
–Urgh!
Wrath halted mid-sneer, frozen like a statue.
–Th-this...
'Come to think of it, I never bothered to review the reward messages.'
Raon gently tapped Wrath’s head, his smile brightening.
–A h-hundred? 100 points all at once?
Wrath stared in disbelief.
–This guy did absolutely nothing! He just got incredibly lucky!
He erupted into a tantrum, protesting that he could not accept such fortune. Naturally, the system remained unyielding in its decision.
'Should we proceed to the next message?'
Disregarding the flailing Wrath, Raon summoned the subsequent notifications:
[The rank of trait <Snow Flower's Veil> is raised.]
[The rank of trait <Array Analysis> is elevated.]
[The rank of trait <Wrath Release> is advanced.]
[The rank of trait <Blood Path> is augmented.]
[The rank of trait <Authority Enhancement> is boosted.]
[The rank of trait <Crisis Detection> is upgraded.]
[The rank of trait <Authority Management> is heightened.]
[The rank of trait <Spirit Transformation> is amplified.]
All eight traits surged simultaneously. Much like the overall stats, the magnitude was astonishing.
–Really, what did you do to earn eight enhancements? You merely talked!
Wrath bellowed at the system, demanding it regain its senses, yet the trait messages were not yet finished.
[The value of trait <Wrath> is substantially elevated.]
[The value of trait <Sloth> is significantly raised.]
Now, the system informed him that both <Wrath> and <Sloth> had experienced a tremendous rise.
–Huh...?
Wrath’s quivering pupils stretched out like those of a cat.
–W-why has my Wrath surged so drastically! I comprehend that Sloth would rise after encountering Sloth, yet why should Wrath escalate as well!
He gawked in disbelief, asserting that it defied logic.
'You’re correct.'
Raon blinked in sheer perplexity.
'Why did my Wrath escalate?'
Indeed, as Wrath pointed out, Sloth’s increase was expected from its own influence, yet the amplification of Wrath remained peculiar.
'Well, it’s beneficial in a way. Let’s continue.'
Raon grinned while brushing aside the reward notifications.
–I just can’t move on...
Wrath shook his head, his jaw trembling with emotion.
–This time, I simply cannot let it pass!
He unleashed his Wrath, proclaiming that he could no longer tolerate it.
–You foolish system! Come forth immediately! I am far more attractive and handsome!
'That is absurd. As if the system would allocate rewards based on one’s appearance...'
Just as Raon shook his head in exasperation,
[Strength increases by 1 point.]
The system boosted Strength by one point, seemingly in agreement with the notion.
–See! The system is acting this way because it judged your looks!
Wrath ground his teeth, declaring that he had at last uncovered the reason.
"Huh..."
Raon stared into the distance, blinking in confusion.
'Could it truly be assessing based on appearance?'
***
Whoosh! At the decisive gesture of Glenn, a golden dimension unfurled in the heart of the audience chamber.
"You are permitted to select eight treasures from Zieghart's treasury," he announced.
Glenn nodded, explaining that with eight opportunities granted, he could claim eight treasures.
"Do not succumb to greed; only acquire that which is genuinely necessary," he advised.
"I’ll bear that in mind," came the reply.
Raon bowed in deference to Glenn before stepping into the golden dimension. Whoosh! As his body ascended, a chilling energy enveloped his skin. Gradually, upon opening his eyes, he beheld a vast treasury landscape that extended boundlessly, reminiscent of a continent.
Supreme elixirs, renowned swords that had retained their gleam for centuries, mesmerizing artifacts, and time-worn martial arts manuals each exuded a distinctive aura, as though greeting him warmly.
–Why toil over collecting items? Simply request what you require from the system.
Wrath scrunched his nose, advising him to conserve his energy and simply converse with the system, clearly exasperated.
'Still seething? What sort of demon king clings to anger for this long?'
–Quiet! You wouldn’t understand, as you have not lived through it yourself!
Wrath bared his teeth, insisting that Raon must experience it firsthand to truly comprehend such indignity.
'Sorry, but that's unlikely to ever occur.'
Shoving aside a sulking Wrath with his foot, Raon proceeded toward the area where the elixirs were stored.
'Are there unexpectedly many remaining? Or have they been replenished?'
He had assumed that all the prized items had vanished following the influx of martial artists into the treasury after the war with the White Blood Religion; yet, the elixirs appeared completely restocked, implying that Glenn had refilled them.
'That’s just like grandfather,' he mused.
Recalling Glenn’s expression, Raon selected four supreme elixirs, capable of boosting aura as well as facilitating recovery.
"Next..."
Noticing that his original gloves and boots had been torn in the previous war, he inspected the available equipment.
'These will suffice,' he concluded.
While lacking any unique properties, he chose robust gloves and boots noted for their durability—even capable of withstanding Astral Rings.
–Now, proceed to review the martial arts manuals.
Wrath snorted dismissively, remarking that it was evident.
'You understand me too well,' came the retort.
Raon grinned as he made his way toward the circular bookshelf lined with innumerable volumes.
'I wonder if there’s a martial arts manual that I truly require?'
He rested his hand upon the center of the shelf, reminiscent of when he acquired the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation, but this time, no reaction ensued.
'Could it be that my current martial arts possess no deficiencies?'
Alternatively, it might imply that he needs to discover it independently. Likely the latter, as his maturation and newfound strength indicated that he must now forge his own path.
"Very well."
Raon offered a faint smile as he scanned the bookshelf.
'It’s decent, yet nothing truly captivates me,' he mused.
He perused the supreme martial arts manuals, yet none managed to seize his attention. In reality, having already mastered numerous martial arts, he saw little need for additional swordsmanship manuals, as acquiring mediocre techniques would be of little benefit.
'Perhaps I should simply opt for two artifacts instead... Hm?'
Just as he prepared to leave—licking his lips—he spotted a book bearing the title <Using the Mind>.
'What is this?'
Sensing an odd resonance, he opened <Using the Mind>.
'It bears a resemblance to the Soul Sword manual bestowed by grandfather?'
The handwriting and style mirrored that of the book Glenn had provided to aid his Soul Sword cultivation, yet the content was the antithesis of that manual.
'This might prove intriguing.'
I shall take this, he decided. Despite it potentially being a squandered opportunity, he trusted the resonance within his heart and claimed the martial arts manual.
'Now, which artifact should I select at last?'
He licked his lips while gazing at the glass showcases where artifacts were arranged like precious jewels.
'Surely there remains something worthwhile...'
Considering that each artifact serves a distinct function, what one might dismiss as trivial could be extraordinarily potent for another. With a thorough search, he might uncover something that would significantly bolster his capabilities in future conflicts.
'Not this one, and that one isn’t impressive either... Ah! If only I possessed this...'
Raon’s eyes ignited like flames as he licked his lips in anticipation.
'That would be the ideal starting point, wouldn’t it?'
***
"Four supreme elixirs, Villaten's glove and boot set, and <Using the Mind> plus the artifact."
Glenn nodded after inspecting the items that Raon had retrieved from the treasury.
"I have verified all eight items."
He handed back the treasures, instructing him to reclaim them.
"It is astonishing that you extracted eight items simultaneously, and moreover, that particular item was present."
Glenn furrowed his brows as he observed Raon’s hand, seemingly curious about his thought process.
"This is in preparation for undertaking the second successor candidate test properly."
Raon smiled, affirming that he had gathered all eight items for the test.
"I know, which is precisely why you sought the reward," Glenn replied, nodding as if it were obvious.
"So, where do you intend to proceed?"
"Truthfully, before entering the treasury today, I was uncertain about my initial destination."
He raised a leaf-shaped ocarina.
"Yet this artifact has revealed the path to me. I..."
Raon offered a subtle smile as he gently tapped both the ocarina and the Wooden Ring Sword.
"I intend to head to Sepia first."
-
More Ch4pters on KoreanPlayer
↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓
Thanks for the support
