Chapter 1161
Raon made his way toward the Great Hall of the Lord's Manor alongside Wrath. Although the blue king seemed up to something, his cravings were so transparent that Raon figured he could indulge him for once.
-Ohhh!
Wrath let out a gasp of pure wonder as they stepped into the dining area.
-The Lord's Manor is truly a paradise! There isn't a single delicacy missing from this spread!
The demon king practically salivated, his gaze locked onto the mountain of food presented on massive silver platters.
'It isn't normally this over-the-top.'
Raon gave a small shake of his head, reaching for an empty plate to begin his meal.
'Grandfather must have given special orders for this, considering how brutal the training sessions have been lately.'
While the culinary standards at the Lord's Manor were already the pinnacle of Zieghart, this particular buffet was a unique luxury Glenn had arranged specifically for the warriors pushing their limits.
-Who cares about the reason! This is magnificent!
Wrath was oblivious to the logistics; his soul had already been captured by the feast laid out before them.
-Hehehehe!
His eyes darted between the platters with the same frantic intensity he’d shown when facing Lust.
'So...'
Raon let out a quiet breath, holding the porcelain plate against his hip.
'What am I supposed to pick?'
Expecting very little from Wrath’s refined "palate," he gave a slight nod for the demon to lead the way.
-Now, pay attention! Fetch exactly what this king commands!
Wrath pointed a chubby finger forward with the gravity of a general making a strategic move.
-Take two portions of that pale pizza on the far right. Then, grab the honey and the sesame seeds from the condiment station!
The demon was already licking his lips in a state of high tension.
'Pizza, honey, and seeds? That’s all?'
Raon looked skeptical as he came to a halt in front of the pizza tray.
-First, I shall initiate you into the true mysteries of gastronomy!
Wrath huffed, his pride wounded by Raon's hesitation. He gestured for Raon to just shut up and follow directions.
'Fine.'
Adhering to the instructions, Raon took two slices of the plain-looking pizza and a side of honey, then found a place to sit.
-Start with the pizza as it is.
Wrath signaled toward one of the slices.
'Understood.'
Raon took a moderate bite and chewed.
-Well? What do you think?
Wrath watched him closely, his eyes shifting with anticipation.
'It tastes like pizza.'
Raon shrugged, offering the most literal assessment possible.
-Sigh, you useless...
Wrath’s brow twitched with irritation.
-Do you think I don't know it's pizza?! I am telling you to analyze the profile of the flavors!
The demon king ground his teeth, demanding a more sophisticated critique.
'It's decent. The cheese has a sharp saltiness and a bit of a pungent kick. The base is crisp, and because the toppings are minimal, the flavor profile is quite focused.'
Raon offered a more clinical breakdown of the dish.
-Exactly. You have a basic grasp of it. That is the essence of that specific cheese pizza.
Wrath stroked his chin, satisfied that Raon wasn't completely hopeless.
-Now, dip the slice into the honey and give it a dusting of those sesame seeds.
He swallowed hard, his excitement reaching a fever pitch.
'Hmm...'
Raon squinted at the pizza in his hand.
'I don't see how this is going to change much.'
-Stop talking and eat!
'Alright, alright.'
Ignoring the outburst, Raon coated the edge of the slice in honey and took a bite.
'Just as I thought, it’s—wait.'
Raon’s eyes snapped open. He chewed slowly, his expression shifting into one of shock.
'What on earth? This is a completely different experience!'
Earlier, the saltiness and the strong scent of the cheese had felt like minor flaws, but the introduction of the honey and seeds had harmonized the entire bite.
'The sweetness cancels out the harsh salt, and the pungent aroma has vanished. The sesame seeds add a layer of earthiness that ties it all together.'
The honey acted as a bridge, mellowing the cheese perfectly while the seeds provided a nutty finish. He nearly let out a laugh; it was hard to believe such a simple addition could transform the dish so radically.
'This is actually incredible.'
While the original slice was fine, this combination was something he would actually call a masterpiece.
-Ha! So your tongue isn't made of lead after all!
Wrath nodded triumphantly, feeling a rare moment of kinship.
-Next up, that golden fried fish over there!
The demon pointed toward a platter of crispy, boneless fillets, his mind already moving to the next course.
'Fish is a solid choice. High protein, good for recovery, and light enough that I can go back to training without feeling heavy.'
Raon nodded, viewing the food through the lens of a martial artist.
-That is not why we are eating it!
Wrath shook his head so hard his cheeks wobbled.
-Forget the training! Forget the recovery! Focus entirely on the sensation of the taste!
The demon king seemed genuinely pained by Raon’s constant obsession with the sword.
'Fine, I'll play along.'
Raon gave a small nod. Since Wrath had actually delivered on the pizza, he was willing to let the demon guide the meal.
-Now, head to the sweets and fruit section. Bring back a lemon and some of that fresh basil.
'Another strange request.'
With a faint tug of a smile, Raon gathered the items and returned to his seat.
-Eat a piece of the fish plain first.
Wrath mimicked the earlier procedure, insisting on a baseline comparison.
'Got it.'
Raon popped a piece of the fried fish into his mouth.
'Exactly as expected. Rich and savory, but the oil makes it a bit heavy. I couldn't eat much of this before feeling greasy.'
-Precisely. You are correct again.
Wrath’s expression softened, agreeing with the assessment.
-Now, give it a squeeze of lemon and top it with the basil.
'Instead of all this effort, I really should just finish up and head out...'
-Do it!
'Okay...'
Raon sighed and followed the steps, adding the citrus and the herb before taking another bite.
'Again? It’s totally different.'
The heartiness of the fish remained, but the sharp acidity of the lemon and the aromatic basil cut through the grease entirely. It left a refreshing, clean aftertaste that made him feel like he could eat a dozen more pieces without getting tired of it.
'Superb. It’s significantly better.'
Impressed, Raon finished the rest of the fish with genuine enjoyment.
-Whehehehe!
Wrath let out a joyous, almost innocent laugh. He was clearly delighted to have his culinary wisdom validated.
'Did you come up with these yourself?'
Raon looked at the small king with a hint of amusement.
-Eating Gorgonzola with honey is a classic tradition, but the sesame seeds were my own genius addition. And while lemon on fish is common, the basil is a royal secret of my own making.
Wrath puffed out his chest, taking full credit for the refinements.
'I never knew these combinations even existed.'
Raon felt a strange sense of discovery. At the annex, the food was always good, but he usually ate as a necessity—fueling up as fast as possible before sprinting back to the training grounds. He had never considered that food could be an exploration.
-And that is why you are a dimwit.
Wrath sighed, pitying Raon for his narrow worldview.
-But you see now, don't you? Isn't this enjoyable?
The demon king smirked, suggesting that there was more to life than just swinging a blade.
'Yeah...'
Raon looked down at the plates, a small smile playing on his lips. The subtle shifts in flavor had opened a new perspective.
'It actually is fun.'
-Then don't just sit there!
Wrath shouted, throwing his hands up.
-On to the next course! Fetch the lamb and the mint!
"Am I seeing things?"
Krein rubbed his eyes vigorously as he watched Raon carefully selecting items for his plate.
"Is he actually still in the dining hall?"
He let out a bewildered chuckle.
"I was wondering the same thing," Burren added, his brow furrowed in confusion. "I haven't seen the Palace Master stay in here for more than five minutes in years."
He swallowed, remembering how Raon usually inhaled his food like a vacuum and vanished before the steam stopped rising from his bowl.
"Is he finally losing his mind?" Martha muttered, leaning in with a suspicious glare. "First he's trying to nap next to Runaan, and now he's lingering over his food like some sort of critic, eating the weirdest combinations."
She bit her lip, clearly unsettled by Raon’s departure from his usual mechanical efficiency.
"Raon is just being Raon... I think..."
Runaan tilted her head, a fork halfway to her mouth.
"He just seems... softer. More human."
She nodded to herself, recalling the strange sense of peace she felt when Raon had slept near her earlier.
"Softer, huh?" Martha scoffed, clearly not ready to buy into the new Raon.
"Let’s just watch for now. I’m sure there's a method to his madness," Burren said, though his own confusion was evident.
"Mmmm!"
Dorian had already piled his plate high and sat down.
"What's that? Those aren't your usual picks," Krein noted, looking at Dorian's plate.
"I’m trying whatever Raon is having," Dorian explained. He mimicked Raon’s technique, dipping his pizza into the honey and sesame seeds.
"Whoa!"
Dorian’s eyes nearly popped out of his head as he chewed.
"This is incredible! The heavy cheese taste is balanced perfectly—it’s sweet and nutty all at once!"
He finished the slice in a single go and moved immediately to the lemon-basil fish.
"Unbelievable! It’s like my taste buds are performing a sword dance!"
He shivered with delight, praising every one of Raon’s choices.
"I want in on this!" Krein shouted, grabbing a fresh plate.
"Is it really that good?" Burren asked, though he was already standing up.
Martha and Runaan were already at the buffet, reaching for the pizza.
"That guy..."
Burren watched Raon continue to experiment with different pairings.
"He isn't planning on quitting the sword to become a chef, is he? Please tell me he isn't..."
After his crash course in fine dining from Wrath, Raon went to find Dorian.
"Wait, what? You want me to teach you how I manage supplies?"
Dorian’s jaw dropped. He looked like he’d just been told the sun was going to rise in the west.
"Yes. I want to understand your process for selecting and storing gear."
Raon nodded, looking completely serious.
"Well, it's not that hard! I knew you’d eventually appreciate the art of logistics!"
Dorian beamed, feeling like all his hard work had finally been recognized.
"Let's get to it then! Follow me!"
He led Raon into the nearby woods, explaining that he needed to restock some basic materials.
"I need to find some high-quality timber and stones. We went through a lot of our stock back at the Suphren Holy Kingdom."
Dorian signaled for Raon to watch closely as he scanned the area around North Grave Mountain.
"You're looking for stones and wood with specific qualities, like these." He smiled as he tucked a few items into his pocket.
"Like this one?"
Raon reached down and picked up a smooth, head-sized stone, presenting it to Dorian.
"Absolutely not! That’s trash!"
Dorian’s friendly demeanor vanished instantly, replaced by a sharp, commanding tone.
"What...?"
Raon blinked, startled by the sudden shift.
"That stone is useless! It's completely different from what we need!"
Dorian pulled out the stone he had just found, which looked nearly identical to Raon's, and pointed out invisible flaws.
"This is a waste of space! Try again!"
He shook his head with the intensity of a veteran general inspecting a new recruit's gear.
"Okay, how about this?"
Raon brought over a branch from the same species of tree Dorian had been harvesting.
"No! Look at the curve! It’s warped and fragile. Don't you have eyes, Raon?"
Dorian’s glare was fierce. In any other situation, he was the group’s comic relief, but when it came to his specialty, he was terrifyingly professional.
"I see..."
Though Raon briefly wondered if he was wasting his time, he stayed by Dorian’s side, helping him gather materials until he began to see the logic behind Dorian’s obsession.
"Now you're catching on. Every piece of wood is different. Depending on the grain, the bend, and the thickness, they all have different roles."
Dorian gave a curt nod of approval. The following afternoon, Raon tracked down Burren.
"You? You want to talk about my fashion sense?"
Burren looked shocked, but a smug grin quickly spread across his face.
"So you've finally realized that I’m the only one in this group with style!"
"In the Light Wind Palace, you're the one who cares most about appearances."
Growing up as a Direct Lineage member, Burren had a refined taste for luxury and understood the nuances of color coordination, even in basic training gear. Raon figured there was something to be learned from that attention to detail.
"Excellent! I'll give you a masterclass!"
Burren gestured to himself, radiating confidence. However, his patience didn't even last ten minutes.
"What is wrong with you?! Green trousers and a red shirt? Are you trying to look like a vegetable?!"
Burren looked genuinely offended by Raon’s choice.
"...I'll try something else."
Raon went back, changed, and returned.
"Sky-blue pants with a yellow top? Oh, gods..."
Burren shielded his eyes as if the sight physically pained him.
"Just go! You're a lost cause!"
He waved Raon away, appalled by the lack of aesthetic sense.
"Give me one more shot. Please."
Raon actually bowed his head, showing a rare moment of humility.
"Fine. Look, if you can't figure out colors, just stick to the basics. White on top, black on bottom. Do not touch yellow or red until you know what you're doing!"
Thanks to Burren’s mellowed attitude, Raon managed to learn the fundamentals without being kicked out. Feeling slightly more confident, Raon returned to Runaan. But even here, he hit a wall.
"Raon. You're bad at napping."
Runaan shook her head, looking at him with pity.
"I know..."
Raon slumped his shoulders.
'This is harder than I thought.'
He could understand Dorian’s logistics and Burren’s fashion rules, but Runaan’s ability to simply shut down and sleep seemed like an impossible feat.
"Hmm, but your face... it looks less tense."
Runaan leaned in, studying him closely.
"Raon. Tense every muscle in your body."
"I can do that."
Raon focused, flooding his frame with strength until his muscles were taut.
"Now, let it all go at once."
"Okay."
He exhaled, releasing the tension.
"Do that ten times, then try to sleep."
Raon followed the advice of the resident sleep expert. He cycled through extreme tension and total relaxation ten times, feeling his bones creak and then settle.
'Wait, I actually feel... heavy.'
As the artificial tension drained away, a natural lethargy began to seep into his limbs.
'My eyes are getting heavy on their own...'
Usually, he had to force his mind into a meditative state to rest, but now, his eyelids were dropping without effort.
'Haah...'
Leaning against a wall warmed by the afternoon sun, Raon felt the heat radiating into his back. He breathed in the warm air and let out a long, slow sigh.
"Hup!"
His head snapped back as his body jerked, his waist bending forward instinctively.
"Ah, damn it. I almost had it!"
He felt a pang of frustration that his concentration had broken just as he was about to drift off.
"I'll try again."
"No..."
Runaan shook her head slowly, a tiny smile touching her lips.
"You did it. You were out for about five minutes."
"I was? Ah... now that I think about it..."
He checked his internal clock. Using his heightened mental perception, he realized that a small gap of time had indeed passed.
"That felt good. I want to try that again."
A genuine smile appeared on his face. The sensation of letting go, even briefly, was surprisingly pleasant.
'Dorian has his supplies, Burren has his style, and Runaan has her rest. They all have something they truly desire, and they find joy in fulfilling it.'
Raon felt a warm glow of realization. He was beginning to understand the small, quiet things that made a life feel complete.
'Maybe this is what it means to be human.'
Just as he had unknowingly fallen into a brief sleep, he was now moving toward a new level of understanding.
'Beyond the need for vengeance... what is it that I truly want for myself?'
