Chapter 1143
"Resentment? Or is it spite?"
Raon knit his brows together, his gaze fixed on Evelyn.
"Has Evelyn truly never experienced a flicker of jealousy?"
In the past, whether he was sharing a treat with Runaan or dedicating an entire day to grueling combat practice with Martha, Evelyn had never uttered a word of complaint. Instead, she had always encouraged him to enjoy himself. There were moments when he felt relieved that her intense focus on him seemed to have mellowed, but he never suspected that the green-eyed monster was lurking beneath the surface.
"..."
Evelyn remained silent, her glare directed at Lust radiating pure annoyance.
"Are you sure you aren't mistaken?"
Raon gestured with his chin toward Lust, silently asking for a second opinion.
"No, my eyes didn't deceive me."
Lust gave a mischievous smirk, asserting that Evelyn’s fundamental nature wouldn't change no matter how many times one looked.
"She has been suppressing it this entire time."
"For what reason?"
Raon’s eyes thinned, his face a mask of genuine confusion.
"As expected, our dear Wrath is completely oblivious to such matters."
Lust's grin widened as she lifted a solitary finger.
"Why else? She stifled those feelings because she didn't want to diminish herself in your eyes."
She tilted her lips upward, as if the answer was so simple it barely required stating.
"Would you mind being quiet?"
Evelyn, her face contorted in a rare display of temper, shot a lethal look at Lust.
"I am merely the messenger of truth."
Lust gave a casual shrug, noting she was only providing answers because Raon had sought them.
—Sh-she was actually jealous?
Wrath’s jaw dropped as if his mind was beginning to fracture.
—And she keeps it hidden? I thought Lust was the pinnacle of obsession, but I was wrong! This chaotic woman is both the most powerful and the most terrifying!
He let out a long, shaky breath, eternally grateful that Evelyn’s intensity wasn't focused on him.
"Hmm..."
Watching the tension in Evelyn’s face, Raon began to accept that Lust’s assessment was accurate.
'Was this her own way of showing me kindness?'
If Lust believed Evelyn’s jealousy was potent enough to rival her own brand of obsession, then the depth of that emotion must be staggering. The fact that she had managed to mask such a volatile feeling for so long without a single slip meant she held him in incredibly high regard. He couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude for her restraint.
"Taking <Lust> from me, which has evolved into obsession, would be powerful, but claiming <Envy> from Envy is also a viable path."
Lust suggested with a smile that either source of power would allow Evelyn to reach new heights.
"I told you to shut up!"
Evelyn lunged a hand toward Lust, desperate to silence her.
"I'll be quiet now. My work here is done anyway."
Lust dissolved into a swirling mist of pink vapor, dancing away from Evelyn’s reach before playfully sticking out her tongue.
"This is honestly..."
Just as Evelyn began to channel her mana in a fit of pique.
"I appreciate it."
Raon offered a small, sincere nod as he looked at Evelyn.
"W-what?"
Evelyn blinked, her frustration replaced by total bewilderment.
"What did you just say...?"
She shook her head slightly, certain that her ears had played a trick on her.
"I said thank you for being so patient and holding those feelings back for me."
He truly wanted to acknowledge her discipline—her ability to prioritize his wishes over her own turbulent emotions.
"Huh? Oh, right."
Hearing his direct gratitude, Evelyn tucked her chin and looked down, a blush of embarrassment coloring her cheeks. It was a vulnerable side of her that rarely, if ever, saw the light of day.
"Hey! What about me? Thank me too!"
Lust’s face popped out of the pink haze, demanding her share of the credit.
—Arrrrghhh!
Wrath let out a yelp of terror at the sudden proximity and scrambled backward.
"My thanks to you as well."
Raon gave a polite nod to Lust.
"Enough games. Hand over the Authority to Evelyn."
"So, you're passing on Envy?"
"Someone else will take that burden. Besides..."
A small smile played on his lips as he glanced at Evelyn.
"It is possible Evelyn can handle two different Authorities."
Given that her soul had endured the weight of centuries, he suspected she might be capable of hosting multiple powers, much like himself. It was only logical to grant her <Lust> immediately.
"Very well. It's no great labor for me."
Lust agreed with a nod and glided toward Evelyn.
"Allow my power to amplify your deepest desires."
She whispered her expectations and softly brushed her fingers against Evelyn’s wrist. With a soft whoosh, a pink bracelet shaped like a rose bloomed on Evelyn’s skin, distinct from the one Raon wore.
"At last, we have matching pieces!"
Evelyn let out a sly, satisfied smile as she compared her new mark to the pink flower on Raon’s wrist.
"I have one as well! Actually, mine is the original—yours is just a copy!"
Lust flashed her teeth, pointing aggressively at the bracelet on her own arm.
"To gain more power..."
Evelyn completely tuned out Lust, her eyes locked onto the floral mark.
"I simply need to maintain my obsession with Raon, just as I've always done, correct?"
She licked her lips with a cold sort of satisfaction, seemingly thrilled that her fixation was now 'officially' sanctioned.
"Precisely," Lust confirmed.
"Though, no matter how hard you try, you'll never match the intensity of my devotion."
She smirked, reminding them that she was a manifestation of obsession itself.
"We shall see who stands at the top when the time comes."
Evelyn let out a scoff, her resolve to win clear in her voice.
"You really think you can?"
Lust lifted her chin, signaling her refusal to be outdone.
"That's enough fighting."
Raon sighed, physically moving to stand between the two.
"Evelyn. Focus your mind on the energy radiating from that mark."
"Understood!"
Evelyn complied instantly, her demeanor turning obedient as she stepped to the side.
"Lust."
Raon took a stabilizing breath before facing her again.
"I have one further request."
"And what might that be?"
Lust nodded, inviting him to speak his mind.
"Before long, the Archangels will descend to bring ruin to this land. I want you to stand with me in that conflict."
Raon met Lust’s gaze with a cold, detached expression that mirrored Wrath’s typical look.
"With a stare like that, I couldn't say no even if I wanted to!"
Lust let out an excited breath, clearly moved by the intensity in his eyes.
"I've bestowed my Authority upon that jealous girl, and since you carry a spark of 'Lust' yourself, the conditions are met to manifest my full strength!"
She smiled, noting that the laws of causality were now firmly in her favor.
"Thank you."
Raon inclined his head toward her.
"Think nothing of it—after all, look at what's between us."
Lust laughed, pressing her shoulder against his as if they were long-time lovers.
—W-what do you mean 'between us'!
Wrath’s chin quivered in pure horror.
—There is absolutely nothing between me and you!
He gnashed his teeth, demanding a clarification that didn't come.
"Uhuhu."
Lust merely continued her rhythmic laughing, clearly delighted by the chaos she was causing.
"Take that behavior somewhere else. Better yet, don't do it at all!"
Evelyn sat nearby, her forehead creased in a dark, displeased scowl.
—I haven't even done anything, so why does this keep escalating!
Wrath wailed, pleading for a moment of peace.
—Where is this madness even headed!
Raon collapsed onto his bed once Lust and Evelyn had finally departed.
—Arrrgh...
Wrath was gasping for air, his very skin looking parched and cracked. The back-to-back encounters with Evelyn and Lust had clearly pushed his mental and spiritual limits to the breaking point.
'Are you still with me?'
Raon couldn't suppress a dry chuckle as he looked at the exhausted Monarch.
—Th-this has to be some cruel joke or a trick played by the Demon God.
Wrath let out a sigh so profound it felt heavy enough to crack the floor.
—To think two such absurd creatures exist. No, the real tragedy is that someone like you is at the center of it!
He wagged his head, mourning the inevitable downfall of the world.
'Even for you, that was a lot to handle?'
—Hmph! I am the Sovereign of the Devildom! This is nothing more than a minor annoyance!
Despite his previous complaining, Wrath thrust his chin up with a surge of hollow pride, warns Raon not to doubt his resilience.
'I'm glad to hear that.'
Raon’s lips curled into a knowing smile as he reached into the air.
—Hmm? What's so good about it?
'I was going to wait, but since you're feeling so energetic, I'll check the results now.'
With a flick of his wrist, he summoned the system notifications he had been ignoring.
[You engaged in combat with <Lust>.]
[You have guided and awakened <Lust>.]
[You have accomplished a legendary feat.]
[All stats have increased by 100 points.]
The mere act of awakening Lust had yielded a staggering 100-point boost. It was a testament to how monumental that achievement truly was.
—Ei-eighty?
Despite his earlier boasts, Wrath’s face turned a sickly shade of purple.
—These absolute scoundrels...
He shook his fist at the empty air, his fury directed equally at Raon and the governing system of the world.
'I thought you said you were fine.'
—I am definitely not fine!
Wrath threw his head back and bellowed at the ceiling.
—I am not meant for this kind of—!
'Just eat this and be quiet.'
Raon retrieved the final serving of bead ice cream from his storage and stuffed it into Wrath’s open mouth.
—Mmmmm...
Wrath’s jaw slowed as he chewed, the frozen treat seemingly washing away his rage in an instant.
'You really are a simple soul.'
Raon smiled and moved to the next set of logs.
[The rank of <Snow Flower's Veil> has ascended.]
[The rank of <Wrath Release> has ascended.]
[The rank of <Askara's Fighting Spirit> has ascended.]
[The rank of <Authority Enhancement> has ascended.]
[The rank of <Authority Manipulation> has ascended.]
A flurry of trait upgrades followed. It seemed that his recent experience of weaving raw emotion into his blade work had specifically bolstered his mastery over the Authorities.
—Mmph mmph!
Wrath tried to speak through a mouthful of ice cream, gesturing wildly at the screen. He looked annoyed, but the sugar was clearly winning the battle against his anger.
'I can feel it clearly now.'
Raon squeezed his fist, sensing the concentrated power of the demon kings pulsing within his soul.
'I understand how to wield these powers, and how to forge them into something greater.'
Previously, he had been a mere passenger to these abilities, using them as they were. Now, he felt a burgeoning confidence that he could truly command and shape the demon kings' Authorities. Of course, such a feat would require him to push his body and mind to even greater heights.
'This power won't stay with me forever, but until it leaves...'
Raon’s smile turned sharp as he gripped the handle of Heavenly Drive.
'Derus Robert. I will make sure you feel every ounce of it.'
Once he was certain that the repairs to the Suphren Holy Kingdom were moving forward steadily, Raon gathered his gear and exited his quarters.
—You're heading back later than I thought.
Wrath nodded, his mood seemingly restored by a satisfactory breakfast.
'I had to ensure the reconstruction was on the right track and that no issues had cropped up.'
Raon looked out over the central district of the north, where the massive craters were finally being filled.
—After you were the one who leveled it.
'That is exactly why I'm checking. I have to see my actions through.'
He felt a twinge of guilt for the scale of the destruction, but he had provided more than enough resources and wealth to ensure the city would rise again, grander and more resilient than before.
"Are you departing already?"
As Raon crossed through the palace greenery toward the throne room, Holy King Hoppen stepped out from behind a manicured hedge.
"I was planning to look for you. What brings you here?"
"My savior is leaving; it is only natural that I come to bid you farewell."
Hoppen lacked the stiff formality one might expect from a sovereign. He remained, at his core, the same humble and dedicated holy knight Raon had first encountered.
"I must thank you again for preserving Suphren, both in the past and in this current crisis."
He offered a deep, respectful bow, wanting to cement his appreciation before Raon took his leave.
"You bow every time you see him. You're going to throw your back out at this rate."
Saintess Olga appeared in Hoppen’s wake, her tongue clicking in disapproval.
"You've said your thanks plenty of times. Let the man go."
She sighed, suggesting that Raon was likely feeling overwhelmed by the constant gratitude.
"She has a point. You can relax now."
Raon gave a soft smile, reaching out to help Hoppen straighten his posture.
"We are allies. As I've said before, helping when I am able is simply what is required."
He shook his head, insisting that such extreme displays of respect weren't needed.
"I understand," Hoppen replied with a faint smile. However, his eyes betrayed the fact that he would likely be just as formal the next time they crossed paths.
"This is it, then?"
Olga leaned against a pale stone column, her eyes fixed on him.
"I have to go. With the support of the Suphren Kingdom, I've secured my place in the successor trials. Now, I need to focus entirely on my training."
Suphren was an ancient Holy Kingdom with a massive population and far-reaching influence. Its backing alone was likely enough to see him through the trials without needing further political maneuvers.
"Just how much stronger do you plan on getting?"
Olga let out a sharp breath, admitting that the gap between them now felt impossible to bridge.
"I am still nowhere near where I need to be. I won't stop until I've taken the head of Derus Robert."
Despite the massive leaps he had made, bringing him close to the power of the Five Kings' leaders, the distance between him and Derus Robert remained vast. He had thirteen months left to close that gap, and he intended to spend every second of it risking his life to grow.
"Derus Robert..."
Olga stared at the clouds for a moment, then gave a slow, deliberate nod.
"If anyone else had made that claim, I would have mocked them. But you... you might actually pull it off."
Her usual sharp edges were gone, replaced by a calm, genuine recognition of his strength.
"Oh?"
Hoppen’s eyes widened as he looked at the Saintess.
"What's come over you, Saintess? I’ve never seen you be so kind or complimentary to anyone!"
He let out a baffled laugh, joking that the world must be turning upside down.
"Do you think I'm a toddler? That I can only be rude?"
"Well, you are quite immature. And 'rude' is usually your default setting."
Hoppen shook his head, noting her habitual bluntness.
"Is it possible you've developed feelings for Raon—"
"Be quiet!"
Just as Olga was about to swat the back of the King’s head, ignoring his royal status entirely, the garden was suddenly plunged into darkness. It wasn't a natural sunset; a colossal shadow had draped itself over the entire palace grounds. A low, vibrating roar filled the air. Raon narrowed his eyes, looking up at the gargantuan creature that had blotted out the sun.
"A Dragon."
