## Chapter 1115
"Both minerals from the mountains and crystals from the sea come in numerous forms. We have crimson salt, azure salt, and even amber salt."
Dorian, appearing quite pleased by the interest shown by Gluttony, fished more varieties out of his subspace pocket. Just as he described, the grains were identical in shape but shimmered with distinct hues.
"Ooh..."
Gluttony, who rarely displayed such visible wonder, peered intently at the salts Dorian had produced.
"What causes the variation in color?"
Raon squinted as he inspected the glass container filled with the crimson grains.
"It’s due to the specific minerals and foreign elements trapped within. This dark variety over here gained its charcoal shade from volcanic ash deposits."
Dorian provided the explanation without a moment's hesitation, proving that his hoard was matched only by his encyclopedic knowledge of its contents.
-Is it truly wise to consume seasoning laced with volcanic debris?
Wrath directed a skeptical leer toward Dorian.
-Not everyone possesses a gullet forged of molten rock like that ravenous woman.
He nudged Raon’s shoulder, hinting that he should double-check to avoid a bout of indigestion.
'Are you actually showing concern for my well-being?'
Raon glanced at Wrath, feeling a small spark of genuine warmth.
-Hardly! If your gut is in knots, you won't be able to sample anything for days! Cease your rambling and just inquire!
Wrath tilted his head, looking baffled by the suggestion that he cared for anything other than the menu.
'Good grief...'
Raon watched Wrath with a look of tired exasperation before exhaling a heavy breath.
"Dorian. Is the salt containing volcanic ash actually safe for consumption?"
He posed the question to Dorian, utilizing the exact phrasing Wrath had suggested.
"The concentration is so minuscule that it won't affect the body, and since it’s essentially carbon, it’s perfectly fine."
Dorian gave a confident nod, even taking a pinch himself to demonstrate its safety.
"Foreign elements..."
Gluttony began sampling the granules one by one, much like Dorian had, searching for a profile that suited her palate.
"Each of these has its own merit."
She smacked her lips together, seemingly satisfied with the entire collection.
"You must experience this one as well."
Dorian, his fear of Gluttony apparently evaporated, stepped closer and presented a shimmering rose-colored salt.
"This is a mountain salt harvested from the peaks of North Grave Mountain. It possesses a crisp clarity that sets it apart from common varieties!"
With a flourish of pride, Dorian poured the salt into Gluttony’s outstretched hand.
"There are salt deposits in North Grave Mountain? Better yet, how on earth did you manage to acquire them?"
Raon blinked in disbelief while staring at Dorian.
"Because one must be prepared!"
Dorian offered a radiant grin, reciting his habitual justification.
-Instead of resting during his personal time, is that fellow simply roaming the world in search of inventory?
'I was aware of his habits. But I never imagined he was eccentric enough to trek all the way to the frozen heights of North Grave Mountain just for a seasoning.'
Every member of the Light Wind Palace was well aware that Dorian spent his leisure time gathering oddities. However, the depth of his obsession—venturing to North Grave Mountain for salt—was staggering. It bordered on a clinical fixation.
"Hmm."
Gluttony, whose affection for Dorian seemed to be skyrocketing, gave a slow nod as she tasted the rose-colored crystals.
"I find this one superior."
She gestured with her hand, signaling that among the myriad of salts, the harvest from North Grave Mountain was her clear favorite.
"I shall pair it with this."
Gluttony lightly dusted the North Grave Mountain salt over the small spheres of ice cream before taking a bite.
"Mmm..."
Her eyes drifted shut as she chewed with deliberate slowness, fully immersing herself in the experience.
"Ah!"
A soft exclamation escaped her lips as her eyes snapped open.
"Exquisite. This is a sensation I have never encountered before."
Her crimson pupils glittered like falling stars, reflecting a state of genuine awe.
"I am delighted to hear that!"
Dorian wore a wide, beaming smile, looking even more triumphant than the demon who was actually eating.
"I require more."
Gluttony, clearly enamored with the current combination, continued to devour the bead ice cream, seasoning each spoonful with the pink crystals.
-Heh...
Wrath was transfixed by Gluttony’s bliss and the disappearing ice cream, a steady stream of drool escaping his mouth.
-I—I must have that! That is a profile no parlor in the world could replicate!
He clutched his head and shook it back and forth, overwhelmed by a desperate craving for the treat.
'I’m quite curious myself.'
Raon nudged Wrath out of the way, his own tongue darting out to wet his lips.
'This is, after all, the debut of bead ice cream in this place.'
Having observed the entire process from its inception and seeing the look of pure rapture on Gluttony’s face, even Raon, who usually prioritized training over food, felt a strong pull.
"May I try a serving?"
Raon extended his hand toward Dorian.
"Of course, right away!"
Dorian smiled broadly as he prepared a vanilla-flavored portion, topping it with the North Grave Mountain salt before handing it over.
"Much appreciated."
Raon gave a small nod of thanks and took a mouthful. Initially, the sharp saltiness of the outer coating was jarring, but that intensity quickly receded, allowing a wave of rich sweetness to wash over his palate.
It was the perfect marriage of salt and sugar. The two contrasting flavors took turns asserting themselves, dancing across his tongue in a playful rhythm.
Thanks to the pristine quality of the North Grave Mountain salt, there was no bitter aftertaste—only a rising urge to take another bite. It was a magnificent flavor that transcended simple indulgence.
-Whoa...
Wrath appeared to be experiencing the same revelation. His azure eyes shone like cosmic bodies as his jaw hung slack.
-I... I find it hard to believe such a masterpiece exists!
He shivered from head to toe, utterly staggered.
-I never suspected the walking treasury and the gluttonous one could produce such a marvel!
Wrath began to clap for the duo, visibly moved by their culinary achievement.
"What is the verdict?"
Dorian asked, his face a mask of nervous anticipation.
"Is the flavor to your liking?"
Gluttony turned to him with a matching shimmer of curiosity in her gaze.
"It’s exceptional!"
Raon gave a firm thumbs-up, signaling his complete approval.
"Hehe!"
"Precisely as I thought."
Dorian and Gluttony shared a synchronized nod and a smile. Observing them in this moment, the demon sovereign and the human youth seemed to share a remarkably similar nature.
"This time, instead of minerals, perhaps a fruit pairing? This is a briny tomato harvested from the southern coasts."
Dorian took the lead once more, proposing they experiment with fruit garnishes.
"Very well."
Gluttony reached for the tomato and the ice cream with a look of renewed excitement.
'Regardless of whether Dorian acquires a new power...'
Raon rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he watched the pair interact.
'It seems a bridge can truly be built between demons and humanity.'
A natural smile touched his lips at the sight of this budding rapport.
-Cease your grinning and secure more of that ice cream!
Wrath hammered on his shoulder.
-I demand you procure another serving of the sweet-and-salty spheres this instant!
He shook a tiny fist, insisting on another round.
'Sigh...'
Raon shook his head while watching the spirit's tantrum.
'You really are beyond help.'
---
Leaving Gluttony in Dorian’s company, Raon accompanied Martha to monitor the drills of the House Arianne warriors.
"Ease the tension in your sword hand. A tighter grip does not equate to a more powerful strike."
Raon offered the crucial correction to a burly swordsman.
"Ah, I see. My apologies."
The warrior who received the tip nodded as if he had just heard a divine decree, then resumed his practice. With the tension released, his blade cut through the air with newfound fluidity.
"Your foundation is lacking. True power in the blade is birthed from the strength of the legs."
Raon instructed a red-haired warrior nearby to center his weight, stepping in to model the correct stance.
"Understood!"
The red-haired man bellowed his response and swung with exaggerated force from his lower body. It looked unpolished, but the impact of the swing was significantly heavier than before. Just as Raon prepared to assist another trainee, a thunderous boom erupted from the far side of the grounds, sounding as if the earth itself had split.
"That’s insufficient!"
Martha shook her head in disapproval after flooring a swordsman who had charged her.
"Even in a drill, you must strike with the intent to survive! Only then can you manifest your true potential in a life-or-death struggle!"
She was honing the skills of the House Arianne guard through relentless personal sparring.
"Next!"
Martha gestured to the warrior standing behind the one she had just dispatched.
"I shall step forward!"
The volunteer was Wendy, the matriarch of House Arianne. She had temporarily discarded her status as a noble head to join the training as a common soldier under Martha’s tutelage. Wendy surged forward like a gale, bringing her steel down toward Martha’s center with a ringing impact.
Martha redirected Wendy’s blade with a effortless flick of her wrist.
"Impressive for a leader. However..."
She shoved the blade aside, a playful glint in her eyes.
"You have a vast distance yet to cover!"
Martha pivoted and brought her own sword down toward Wendy’s head. Rather than backing away, Wendy lunged forward, slipping just inside the lethal arc of the strike. Martha’s blade slammed into the dirt where Wendy had been standing, sending a shockwave through the ground.
Seizing the narrow window, Wendy spun her frame to aim a slash at Martha’s throat.
"Excellent instincts."
Martha smirked as she shifted her shoulder. She parried the incoming steel with ease and immediately thrust her own weapon forward. Though Wendy seemed to foresee the riposte and braced herself, the sheer momentum of the blow sent her skidding backward.
"Ugh..."
She let out a pained grunt and tried to reset her footing, but Martha’s sword tip was already resting against her neck.
"The victory is yours."
Wendy let out a long sigh and inclined her head in defeat.
"That was a respectable showing."
Martha smiled, acknowledging that Wendy had fought with skill that exceeded her raw rank.
"I am still far from where I wish to be."
Wendy exhaled, clearly frustrated by her current limitations.
"No. You performed admirably."
Raon placed a steadying hand on Wendy’s shoulder with a warm expression.
"With the right catalyst, you might very well ascend to the rank of Grandmaster."
This wasn't empty praise. Though she was only now standing at the threshold of that peak, her natural aptitude was such that a single moment of enlightenment could push her across the boundary.
"Do you truly believe so?"
Wendy’s eyes widened in genuine shock.
"Our leader does not offer false flattery regarding such matters."
Martha nodded, confirming the assessment was sincere.
"Simply maintain the discipline you have shown today."
Raon nodded, expressing his faith in her future.
"I... I am deeply grateful."
Wendy bowed, her voice thick with sincere appreciation.
"Do not thank me. This is merely the result of the labor you’ve put in while leading your house."
Raon smiled and dismissed the gratitude. Wendy had never allowed her duties as head of house to stall her personal growth. He could easily see her achieving the Grandmaster rank through her own sheer will in the days to come.
"Ah, that reminds me. I have a gift for you!"
Wendy clapped her hands, as if the thought had just resurfaced.
"It was finalized just this morning."
She reached into a concealed pocket and produced a silver-plated emblem shaped like a marshland.
"This is the newly minted crest of House Arianne. I wish for you to hold the very first one as a symbol of our unwavering support for your claim as successor."
She explained that she wanted him to possess the inaugural piece of their new legacy.
"Are you certain this is appropriate?"
Raon stared at the shining crest in Wendy’s hand, his voice tinged with surprise.
"Had you not intervened, neither I nor this family would remain in this world."
Wendy closed her eyes briefly, a small smile playing on her lips as she reopened them.
"The events of that day... I will carry them with me for as long as I breathe. Please, accept this token."
She dropped to one knee and presented the emblem with both hands.
"Our thanks to you!"
The warriors throughout the training ground, following the lead of their matriarch, also knelt and lowered their heads in a display of deep respect.
"I accept this with a heavy heart and great gratitude."
Raon took the crest from Wendy’s palm with care, feeling the weight of the alliance they had forged with House Arianne.
"The pleasure is ours."
Wendy offered a bright smile, signaling that he shouldn't feel indebted.
"I have a further proposal for you, Matriarch."
Raon stepped closer to Wendy while looking at the silver emblem.
"As you are aware, the conflict with Derus Robert is looming. Would House Arianne be willing to stand on the front lines with us?"
He formally invited House Arianne to join the coalition for the upcoming struggle.
-Aren't these mortals a bit fragile?
Wrath knitted his brows, suggesting it might be kinder to spare them from the carnage.
'It would be far more perilous for them to remain here isolated.'
Considering Derus was capable of summoning Archangels, his ambitions likely extended far beyond the Five Kings. Since the organization known as Eden was clearly orchestrating a global catastrophe, there was safety in numbers.
"Without question! I shall reach the Grandmaster rank by the time the drums of war sound!"
Wendy slammed a fist against her palm, vowing to be ready. As Raon and Wendy shared a smile, a chilling, rhythmic scratching sound echoed from behind them.
"Hmm?"
Raon turned his head and spotted Evelyn. She was hunched over, carving a bizarre mana sigil into the stone floor of the training ground with an unsettling intensity in her eyes.
"What... what exactly are you doing?"
Raon asked, his throat dry.
"Claiming the territory. This ground is ours now."
Evelyn flashed a frigid smile, explaining she was leaving a permanent mark of their presence.
"Since when do you do this?"
"It isn't new. I have left this mark at every location we have graced with our presence."
She nodded matter-of-factly, mentioning she had done the same at Habun Castle and Sepia.
"What is the nature of this mark?"
Raon whispered, his voice low.
"Hehe."
Evelyn simply narrowed her eyes and offered a cryptic smile, refusing to elaborate.
"Ah... I see..."
Raon felt a cold shiver run down his spine at the sight of her expression and took several steps back.
-Cease! Cease bringing that woman on our travels!
Wrath wailed, pleading for Evelyn to be left behind in the future.
'I wish I could. But she’s already part of the crew...'
"Hehehe."
Evelyn’s grin only widened as she tracked Raon’s movement.
---
Retreating from Evelyn’s unsettling gaze, Raon made his way back to the rooms where Dorian and Gluttony were staying. A rhythmic grinding sound, reminiscent of a turning mill, drifted from Dorian’s quarters. Confused by the noise, he pushed the door open to find a strange contraption dominating the room.
A cylindrical device was rotating at high speed, churning out perfectly round pearls of frozen cream. As it spun, Dorian began to mist a fruit extract over the contents, causing the colors to shift.
"Strawberries are a classic pairing for cream. However, these specific berries are unique; they possess a dark hue and a profile that leans more toward savory salt than tartness. This allows us to create a treat that amplifies the saltiness while maintaining a sweet base."
Dorian beamed, looking like a man possessed by a vision.
"Marvelous! Simply marvelous!"
Gluttony hummed a tune as she watched the spinning machine, completely captivated.
"Oh? You’ve returned?"
Dorian inclined his head toward Raon, who was frozen in the doorway.
"I don't understand..."
Raon’s jaw worked as he watched the frozen pearls take shape.
"Why are you manufacturing the beads themselves? I thought you were merely adding seasonings to existing ice cream?"
When he had left for the training grounds, they were only experimenting with toppings. The sudden jump to full-scale production was baffling.
"Lady Gluttony expressed a desire to craft the ice cream from its base components. We are utilizing only the most premium ingredients."
Dorian chuckled as he addressed her by name, clearly having established a rapport with the demon.
"You actually possessed a machine for manufacturing bead ice cream?"
Raon’s mouth hung open. He hadn't even considered that such specialized gear existed.
"It is a fundamental necessity, is it not?"
Dorian nodded as if carrying an industrial ice cream maker was as common as carrying a bedroll.
-In what world is that a necessity!
Even Wrath, whose love for the treat was legendary, roared at the absurdity of the claim.
"I am quite fond of this one."
Gluttony looked at Dorian with a rare, genuine smile.
"Could you not gift him to me?"
She pointed at the youth as if he were a prized object she wished to add to her collection. Raon worried for a moment that she was serious.
"Gluttony. I have a request for you."
Raon knelt down to match the demon’s eye level.
"A request? Speak it."
Gluttony nodded, seemingly in a generous mood.
"A conflict with an Archangel is brewing on this continent. Will you stand with us when the time comes?"
Raon took a shallow breath before stating his true reason for seeking her out.
"I will. However..."
Gluttony gave her consent without hesitation, but added a caveat.
"Because of the laws of causality, I cannot manifest the full extent of my power."
She shook her head, explaining she might be as limited as Sloth had been.
"In exchange, I will fulfill one wish for you."
Raon held her gaze firmly.
"A wish that addresses your deepest craving."
"A wish..."
Gluttony narrowed her eyes as she watched the strawberry-infused pearls near completion.
"Then provide me with a sensation I have never known. The most exquisite and groundbreaking flavor I have ever tasted."
She agreed that for such a reward, she would defy causality and unleash her full might in the coming war.
"Very well. I shall find a way to make it happen."
Raon rose to his feet with a confident smile.
"And one more thing. Could you bestow a fragment of your Authority of Gluttony upon him?"
Raon pointed his finger directly at Dorian.
"A—Authority? But I don't even have a particularly large appetite?"
Dorian waved his hands frantically, claiming he was ill-suited for such a power.
"It is true. This human lacks the hunger required for true gluttony. However..."
Gluttony’s eyes traveled over Dorian, eventually coming to rest on his oversized pouch.
"He possesses a trait that is remarkably similar."
"Similar in what way?"
Raon asked, tilting his head.
"This human is driven by an obsession to fill his void of space, just as I am driven to fill my void of hunger. To put it another way..."
Gluttony nodded as she looked into Dorian’s wide, trembling eyes.
"He possesses a profound talent for compulsion."
"C—Compulsion...?"
Dorian shook his head with vigor.
"It isn't a compulsion! I am simply prepared for any eventualities!"
He began frantically pulling items from his pouch to prove his point.
"Since one never knows where they might be forced to camp, it’s only logical to carry collapsible houses, full-sized beds, and porcelain bathtubs! And this ice cream apparatus is vital for when one desires a fresh dessert!"
Dorian hoisted the bathtub and the machinery, insisting that these were standard travel supplies.
"Normal travelers do not pack bathtubs for a journey..."
Raon sighed as he watched Dorian break into a cold sweat.
-They certainly do not pack industrial dessert machines either...
Even Wrath, the ultimate ice cream enthusiast, scoffed at the excuse.
"It is undeniably a compulsion."
-It is absolutely a compulsion.
"It is not!"
-
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