Chapter 1186
"The journey is over."
Raon let out a low whistle, his eyes fixed on the towering, alabaster gates of Zieghart that loomed like a massive snowy precipice.
'Just looking at that entrance settles my soul.'
In all honesty, he had been plagued by uncertainty when he first received Glenn’s blessing to begin this trek. Doubts about his ability to track down the Dragon Lord, and whether he possessed the strength to emerge victorious if he did, had been a constant weight on his spirit.
However, every shred of that hesitation had been incinerated after his triumph over the Dragon Lord and the Ancient Dragons. Standing once more at the threshold of Zieghart, he felt a sense of total liberation, as if a long-standing blockage in his chest had finally cleared.
"Incredible!"
Dorian let out a sharp, breathless gasp as he gazed up at the fortifications.
"Those walls look more majestic every time we return. It feels like they could withstand the impact of the world ending without a single crack!"
He nodded with fervent conviction, asserting that the stone before them wouldn't even flinch if Derus Robert or the Heavenly Demon launched an all-out assault.
"What are you going on about?"
Raon shifted his gaze from the masonry to look directly at Dorian.
"That structure has already been leveled once."
He gave a casual shrug, reminding them of how the barriers had been shattered during the chaotic incursions by the White Blood Religion, Eden, and the Dragons.
"No way..."
Dorian’s jaw dropped, his expression one of pure shock.
"I—I’m not saying I forgot that! I’m just saying they look incredibly tall and unbreakable right now!"
He actually scowled slightly, his voice rising in rare frustration toward Raon.
“Have a little heart! This is your family’s residence!”
Dorian balled his hands into fists, arguing that just because a statement was factually accurate didn't mean it was appropriate to say out loud.
"That was a bit cold."
Burren shook his head in disapproval, placing a comforting hand on the shoulder of the dejected Dorian.
"Raon, you’re definitely in the wrong this time."
He directed a sigh at Raon, clearly taking Dorian’s side in the matter.
"It was a completely unnecessary comment."
Martha chimed in, echoing Burren’s sentiment while shooting a sharp side-eye at Raon.
"Pay them no mind! Raon is absolutely correct!"
Evelyn offered a radiant beam, waving her hand dismissively as if Raon’s words were beyond reproach.
—This brat is something else...
Wrath let out a dry, incredulous chuckle.
—You claimed to have gained an understanding of human sentiment, yet you clearly perceive it and choose to ignore it!
He clicked his tongue in disdain, labeling the boy as truly malicious.
'It’s entertaining, though.'
Raon gave a quiet snicker as he stepped toward the entrance of Zieghart.
'I’m starting to get a feel for what people are experiencing.'
Recently, he had developed the ability to sense the subtle emotional shifts in those around him. He was well aware of the validation Dorian was seeking; he simply found it more amusing to withhold it.
—You’ve grown a bit more powerful and your spirit has become entirely warped!
Wrath wrinkled his snout, grumbling that Raon’s temperament had become even more irritating than his martial skill.
—You desperately need a stern lesson from my frozen fist!
He exhaled a heavy, weary breath, lamenting his inability to win a confrontation of souls.
—One day, when my true essence is restored, a brat like you will certainly...
'Right, right. Save it for later.'
Raon gave a dismissive wave toward Wrath and took his position before the gates. The massive doors, which Dorian had claimed would never budge, swung open with a deep, grinding roar once the party’s identity was verified. External Commander Illiune stepped out to meet them.
"When you departed, you seemed so burdened that I feared the worst, but I am relieved to see you back in one piece."
Illiune greeted them with a warm, genuine smile, evidently still in the dark regarding the fall of the Dragon Lord.
"You don't appear to have a single scratch on you."
He nodded with visible relief after a quick scan of Raon, noting the absence of any visible wounds.
"Yes. Fortune was on my side."
Raon offered a subtle, modest smile, suggesting that things had simply gone his way.
"I’ll never understand why you’re the only one with such luck. At this point, it feels like you're cheating reality!"
Illiune made a clicking sound with his tongue, suggesting that it was high time Raon started calling it expertise rather than luck.
"Back in the day, you were just a small child, but now... Oh!"
He was about to delve into a nostalgic story when his eyes suddenly went wide as if struck by a lightning bolt of memory.
"This isn't the time for small talk. You must head to the Lord's Manor immediately!"
Illiune gestured urgently toward the central palace, his face beginning to lose its color as he insisted they hurry.
"Has something occurred involving the Head of House?"
Raon’s eyes sharpened as he studied Illiune’s nervous energy.
"You'll understand once you arrive."
Illiune waved them off quickly, refusing to waste time on a lengthy explanation.
"Hmm..."
"Is it another crisis?"
Burren and Martha exchanged uneasy glances, letting out soft groans of apprehension.
"Ugh, I really don't want to be sent out on another trek so soon..."
Dorian let out a weary moan, clearly hoping for a reprieve from duty.
"I'm happy to go wherever Raon leads."
Evelyn drifted behind Raon, expressing her readiness to accept a new assignment without hesitation.
—This cursed household never has a single moment of peace!
Wrath shook his head in exhaustion, clearly fed up with the constant activity.
"Let's move out."
Raon signaled the others to follow and took the lead toward the main estate.
'Something is definitely off.'
As they drew closer to the heart of the sect, he could feel a biting, frigid aura pouring out from the Lord's Manor. Given that Illiune hadn't looked devastated at the gate, he didn't think it was a catastrophe, but the atmosphere suggested a high-stakes situation.
'It feels like every ranking member of Zieghart is inside.'
Standing before the grand hall, he could detect the presence of the family's upper echelon gathered in the audience chamber. From high-ranking Palace Masters like Karoon, Balder, and Alice, to the junior executives who were still growing in power. It truly felt as though every person of status in the family had been called in.
'They're in a strange state.'
A palpable sense of fury was radiating from the leaders inside. However, it wasn't a standard rage; it was tangled with heavy layers of exhaustion, sleep deprivation, and sheer boredom. These were nuances he could only pick up because of his connection to the Authority of Wrath.
'What in the world is going on?'
Raon pressed his lips together and pushed through the heavy doors of the audience chamber. The entrance swung open with a resonant thud, revealing the executives lined up like living pillars. The waves of irritation and fatigue he had sensed from the outside hit him even harder now, thick enough to feel against his skin.
'Their faces say it all.'
The gathered leaders were sporting deep shadows under their eyes, and their weariness was visible as a physical weight. Karoon was the only one among them who appeared remotely composed.
—This definitely doesn't feel like a celebration.
Wrath picked up on the heavy air in the room and let out a low, concerned sound.
'Maybe it’s just me... but is their anger directed at me? No, I’m definitely the target.'
Though the executives were staring straight ahead, he could feel their collective frustration focused squarely on his arrival.
'What could have happened... Wait?'
Raon looked up toward the raised dais and blinked in confusion.
'Why is my grandfather beaming like that?'
In stark contrast to the miserable, sleep-deprived executives, Glenn was looking at him with eyes full of life and vigor, as if he had been rejuvenated by two decades. To him, this appeared to be a moment of pure triumph, not a crisis.
"I offer my greetings to the Head of House..."
Raon prepared to drop to one knee in the center of the hall.
"Save it!"
Glenn declared that formalities weren't necessary, using a subtle wave of formless aura to keep Raon upright.
"Yes! You have finally returned!"
He gave an enthusiastic nod, stating that he had been anticipating this specific second.
"I beg your pardon? You were waiting..."
Raon stared, bewildered.
"For twelve hours."
Sheryl, standing at Glenn’s side, let out a long, weary sigh.
"He has been waiting right here from the moment you sent word this morning that you were on your way... until this very minute."
She muttered under her breath that she had endured twelve hours of Glenn’s restless leg tapping in the middle of this supposedly solemn hall.
"Oh..."
Raon looked out the window where the sky had long since turned to ink, his mouth slightly agape.
'Since this morning?'
He had sent his update early in the day, and it was now deep into the night. He felt a shiver of guilt as he realized everyone had been standing in this room for half a day just waiting for him to walk through the door.
"The worst part is that we were forced to wait without a single word as to why..."
Alice bit her lip, glaring at Glenn as if she were contemplating a physical strike against the patriarch.
"Exactly! That was the most agonizing part! It was mind-numbing!"
Balder rubbed his eyes roughly, complaining that he had nearly succumbed to sleep on his feet.
"Seriously, why are we all gathered here like this?"
"My legs are throbbing. I'm a Grandmaster, and yet my legs actually hurt..."
"Give us a reason! We knew we were waiting for the Light Wind Palace Master, but the lack of information nearly drove us insane!"
The leaders fixed Raon with pleading stares, desperate for an explanation. It seemed Glenn hadn't breathed a word about the victory over the Dragon Lord, as their eyes held equal parts resentment and curiosity.
—No wonder it's a madhouse in here!
Wrath let out a hollow laugh, finally piecing the situation together.
—That obsessed old man!
He ground his teeth, calling Glenn an impossible man to manage.
"Ah..."
Raon lowered his head. While defeating the Dragon Lord was a monumental and joyous occasion, there was no need for this level of theater. He felt a heavy pang of remorse for the exhausted executives.
"Well, Head of House..."
"Yes! Recount everything that occurred during your absence!"
Glenn nodded with intensity, urging him to share the tale of the Dragon Lord's defeat, seemingly oblivious to the suffering of his subordinates. The pride and affection radiating from his flushed face and eager eyes made it impossible for Raon to voice any criticism.
'Still, I can't just ignore what the executives went through.'
He had to make amends.
Waiting twelve hours with a restless Glenn must have been an ordeal of its own. He decided the best course of action was to apologize for the delay while presenting the Martial Arts Manuals and blades he had acquired.
'Even so...'
Raon felt a small smile tugging at his lips as he watched Glenn’s grin widen.
'It’s good to see him this happy.'
"...And that is the current state of affairs; the remaining Dragons are likely to align themselves with the Five Kings."
Raon finished his report, speaking through the lingering cold glares of the audience. As his narrative unfolded, the executives' irritation began to melt away. By the time he reached the detail of his one-on-one duel with the Dragon Lord, the room was flooded with shock and genuine elation.
"He's a freak of nature. Taking down three clan leaders and the Dragon Lord by himself..."
"If the Dragon Lord is truly dead, then today's wait was actually worth it!"
"I’d wait twelve days for news like this, not just twelve hours."
"The Dragons aren't just staying neutral but are actually backing us? That changes everything."
"I see now why they're writing a biography for the Light Wind Palace Master. I want to go out and tell everyone what I heard today."
The leaders' anger toward Raon and Glenn evaporated instantly, replaced by thunderous exclamations of respect.
"That's my nephew for you! I never doubted you!"
Alice wiped away her tired expression and thrust a hand into the air.
"He's built differently! But seriously, when do I get to see those Martial Arts Manuals..."
Balder licked his lips, his greed for secret techniques surfacing even in his exhausted state.
"The Dragon Lord..."
Karoon uncrossed his arms and slowly opened his eyes.
"That is a feat that will be etched into history."
He gave Raon a stiff, formal nod, acknowledging that the achievement was beyond dispute.
"Ahem! Kehehem!"
Glenn let out a series of sounds that were halfway between a laugh and a cough, his neck turning crimson as if he had been anticipating this reaction all along.
"This was a task that only you could have seen through, and I am deeply gratified by your success."
He stomped his foot for emphasis, praising Raon as if trying to elevate him even further.
"What you have achieved will serve as a lifeline for countless souls in the coming conflict with the Two Demons. It is a triumph that words cannot fully capture."
Glenn told him he had done incredible work and began to applaud. His hands trembled slightly, as if he were fighting the urge to rush down and hug Raon.
"Incredible!"
"The name Sword Emperor is exactly where it belongs!"
"One day, he’ll likely ascend to the rank of Sword God, following in the footsteps of the Head of House."
The executives joined Glenn, filling the hall with applause and cheers for Raon.
"There is one more thing I wish to address."
Raon signaled to Dorian.
"I recovered a collection of armaments and Martial Arts Manuals from the Dragon Lord’s hoard, and I intend to distribute them among the executives gathered here."
Seeing the mood had shifted, he decided this was the perfect moment to present the treasures as a form of apology. Since he couldn't possibly utilize them all himself, it was far more logical to strengthen the entirety of Zieghart.
"Yes! Right away!"
Dorian beamed, clearly happy to finally play his part, and began pulling blades and scrolls from his spatial pouch.
"Whoa..."
"There are this many high-level items?"
"Did the Dragon Lord really hoard all of this out of a sense of rivalry with our Patriarch?"
"There’s so much variety, I don't even know where to start."
"I don't care about anything else! Long live the Light Wind Palace!"
The leaders were stunned by the sheer volume of treasures pouring out, praising Raon’s generosity and offering another round of applause for the opportunity to improve their own strength.
"Phew..."
Raon exhaled a breath of relief, sensing that the lingering resentment from the long wait had vanished completely.
While they wouldn't have actually harmed him, they were family, and he wanted to maintain a positive relationship with them.
—Hmph!
Wrath gave a derisive snort.
—You’ve finally started acting like a person. You’re incredibly slow at these things.
He nodded, conceding that Raon had become slightly more tolerable.
—But compared to you...
Wrath’s lip curled in distaste as he looked at Glenn on the platform.
—That old man has lost all sense of restraint! Look at his face; he’s definitely planning something outrageous again!
He squeezed his eyes shut, predicting that Glenn would announce some ridiculous reward.
'You're probably right...'
Raon swallowed hard as he looked at Glenn, whose face was now so flushed that the color had spread down his throat.
'He definitely doesn't look like he's finished.'
His shoulders tensed slightly, unable to guess what kind of reward Glenn was about to drop on him this time.
"Not only have you brought the Dragons to our side and slain the Dragon Lord, but you have brought home a fortune in treasures! This is a feat without precedent in our family's history!"
Glenn’s voice trembled as he spoke, mirroring Raon’s own internal tension. He gave a sharp, decisive nod.
"To the Light Wind Palace Master, for his monumental contributions today..."
