Chapter 1246
"Runaan...?"
Raon’s eyes stretched wide as he fixed his gaze on Karoon.
"What is the meaning of this?"
Runaan, who typically exists in a state of perpetual lethargy, is known as the most soft-spoken member among the boisterous warriors of the Light Wind Palace. In the heat of combat, her blade dances with more brilliance than any other, yet he found it impossible to fathom what misfortune could have befallen her while she remained safely within the family estate.
"This hasn't come through the formal channels, so the specifics elude me, but it appears there is a complication regarding the girl’s rest."
Karoon made a slow motion with his head, indicating that he hadn't personally conducted a rigorous inquiry into the matter.
"Burren was consumed by anxiety. He spent entire days driving his blade through the air, claiming he had to surpass Runaan through his own martial development to put an end to her peculiar meditative state."
He lowered his eyelids before looking up again, noting that Burren had been pushing himself to the absolute limit for Runaan’s sake.
"Following those reports, I monitored Runaan from a distance, and just as Burren observed, her state seemed precarious. Even after a full period of rest, she appeared utterly drained. And yet..."
Karoon’s brow twitched slightly, as if he were visualizing the version of Runaan he had encountered.
"That combat potential was undeniable. She was hovering at the very edge of the Transcendent stage. Even with the slightest catalyst—actually, it looked as though she might shatter the barrier of Transcendence through her own sheer willpower, without needing any outside spark at all."
He gave a firm nod, admitting his own astonishment at Runaan’s martial prowess.
"Hmm..."
Raon compressed his eyes into narrow slits, casting his mind back to the last time he had seen Runaan.
'She appeared perfectly healthy at that point.'
Prior to descending into the First Patriarch’s massive training hall alongside Glenn, he had gathered the swordsmen of the Light Wind Palace to brief them on the situation. He had spoken with Runaan during that meeting, but he hadn't detected anything out of the ordinary.
'No, perhaps our interaction was simply too brief to catch it.'
Because his departure was so sudden, there had been no luxury for extended conversations with every Light Wind Palace warrior. He had merely checked in on the progress of Runaan’s cultivation, so it was entirely possible that even if she had been throwing out distress signals, they had slipped past him.
-Well, you've always been incredibly dense about such things.
Wrath let out a mocking snort, suggesting it was par for the course that Raon had missed Runaan’s internal shifts.
'I might be oblivious, but it's not like you caught onto it either.'
Raon scrunched up his nose while shooting a look toward Wrath.
-H-mph! This Great King was merely choosing to observe from the sidelines!
Wrath shook his head emphatically, acting as though he had been fully aware of the truth the entire time.
'They claim demon kings are incapable of deception, yet lately, everything you say is a blatant fabrication.'
Raon exhaled a heavy, weary breath and straightened his posture.
"I understand. I appreciate you bringing this to my attention."
He offered a shallow bow to Karoon, acknowledging the man for sharing information about Runaan despite it being outside his immediate concerns.
"Looking after the welfare of the kin is a duty that falls upon the leader of the house. Furthermore..."
Karoon’s expression remained steady as he shook his head.
"Moving forward, do not lower your head or incline your body to me. You currently hold the position of the temporary head of house for this Zieghart."
He remarked that the gesture of respect had been unnecessary, then turned his shoulders away.
"...Farewell."
Karoon scanned the audience hall of the Lord's Manor, a place that had served as his residence for the past two months, before offering a final nod and walking out.
"Ha ha ha. I can never get over it; that transformation is truly startling."
Roenn gave a dry, bewildered laugh, voicing his amazement at Karoon’s new demeanor.
"I never suspected that the once-malicious young master could evolve in such a way."
Sheryl also rubbed her chin, clearly struck by the Karoon she had observed over the last eight weeks.
-Hey.
Wrath reached out and set a hand on his shoulder.
-Why don't you just pass the crown to that fellow with the big eyes?
The demon seemed to have developed a genuine appreciation for Karoon, giving Raon’s shoulder a persistent nudge.
-Instead, join me in the Devildom and discover what it means to be a true monarch. It’s on a completely different level compared to this place!
Wrath wiped his mouth, promising his full backing if Raon chose to rule the Devildom instead of Zieghart.
'I'll weigh those options later...'
Raon’s eyes narrowed as he focused on the stack of files Karoon had provided.
'For the moment, I must attend to the responsibilities I've been assigned.'
-What?
Wrath’s eyebrows shot upward.
-The girl who likes Bead Ice Cream might be in mortal peril, and you’re just going to sit there instead of rushing to her side?!
The creature ground his teeth together, demanding to know why he wasn't sprinting after the Light Wind Palace immediately.
'Burren is the one leading the Light Wind Palace right now.'
Raon shook his head, visualizing Burren’s face, which bore a striking resemblance to the Karoon who had just departed.
'It was Burren who initially alerted Karoon to Runaan’s abnormal state. If he made the choice to bring Runaan along on the mission, it signifies that he believes he can manage the situation.'
He couldn't shoulder the entire weight of the Light Wind Palace forever. With the combined strength of Burren, Martha, Runaan, and the rest of the Light Wind Palace warriors, they were capable of overcoming any obstacle.
'Therefore...'
Raon tightened his lips slightly, staring down at the records Karoon had prepared and the briefing materials he needed to master as the temporary head of house.
'I will focus on the duties that require my attention here.'
Snap-pop-pop-pop!
The moment Karoon pushed open the entrance to the Central Martial Palace, magical pyrotechnics erupted in rapid succession above him.
"Wooooooo!"
"Palace Master! You've done incredible work!"
"Welcome back to your home!"
"You have no idea how desperately we’ve been waiting for your return, Palace Master!"
The warriors of the Central Martial Palace bowed with deep reverence toward Karoon. Aside from those currently out on assignment, the entire roster seemed to be present, making the expansive Central Martial Palace feel cramped.
"My thanks to you all."
Karoon gave a measured nod, accepting the enthusiastic reception from the Central Martial Palace swordsmen as if it were expected, and acknowledged their presence.
"Are there any urgent matters to report?"
He made a dismissive gesture to indicate the welcome was sufficient, then turned his attention toward the butler.
"Did you not maintain a constant watch over the Central Martial Palace while you were preoccupied with your role as temporary head of house?"
The chief butler let out a short, hollow laugh while looking at Karoon.
"Nothing out of the ordinary occurred, so there is no cause for concern."
He shook his head, confirming that nothing significant had happened beyond what had already been communicated in the reports.
"Very well."
Karoon slowly blinked, absorbing the information.
"Hearing that makes the reality of it sink in. That my tenure as the acting leader has reached its conclusion."
Through the butler's confirmation, he felt the heavy mantle of the temporary head of house finally lift from his shoulders, and he let out a long, grounded breath.
"I am scheduled to visit the subterranean training grounds to meet the head of house tomorrow, so I must begin my preparations."
Karoon noted that there was much to organize before his audience with Glenn and began walking toward his personal training area.
"Palace Master! Do not be troubled!"
"Indeed! You are destined to be the successor, Palace Master!"
"We will ensure you ascend to the position of head of house no matter what!"
"Even the common folk are now speaking highly of Lord Karoon’s administrative skills!"
"We should simply address you as head of house starting now! Words have a way of becoming reality!"
The warriors of the Central Martial Palace looked on with unwavering conviction, signaling their absolute belief that Karoon would eventually claim the leadership.
"Cease this foolish talk. That path is far from simple."
Karoon shook his head as he addressed the Central Martial Palace swordsmen.
"My rival has attained a level of power that I might struggle to reach even with a lifetime of dedicated training. It is a struggle that begins from a position of disadvantage, so claiming that throne might be an impossible feat from the start."
He bit his lip, thinking back to the intensity in Raon’s eyes and the sheer weight of the martial presence he had felt today—a pressure so profound it made one’s very soul feel unsettled.
"Ugh!"
"That is..."
"Raon Zieghart..."
The Central Martial Palace warriors also seemed to recall Raon’s terrifying aura and his staggering list of triumphs; they fell silent, their shoulders visibly tensed.
"Nonetheless, do not fret."
Karoon looked at the anxious members of the Central Martial Palace and, in a rare moment, allowed a faint smile to touch his lips.
"Because I haven't surrendered. On the contrary, I have no intention of ever giving up."
He squared his shoulders toward the training grounds and lifted his head high.
"Walk behind me. That trail will be the one that leads directly to the golden throne."
With those final words, Karoon stepped into the training area without a second glance. In his wake, the thunderous roars of the loyal swordsmen shook the air.
Uoooooooooo!
"Phew..."
Raon set down the reports he had been scrutinizing and let out a long sigh.
"I’m more or less finished."
Between reviewing the files Karoon had meticulously prepared and the manuals detailing the essential protocols of the head of house, the sun had long since set, replaced by the moon.
He had always considered himself efficient at administrative tasks, but the sheer volume of work required to maintain a massive clan like this was on an entirely different scale.
"Heh heh heh!"
Roenn wore a kind, fatherly smile, seemingly reading Raon's exhaustion.
"Don't be too hard on yourself. For an acting leader, your rate of comprehension is exceptionally high."
He nodded, noting that Raon had mastered the complexities of the role far faster than he had anticipated.
"It’s true. You've outpaced the previous acting leader by several hours."
Sheryl gave a soft chuckle, admitting her surprise that he had been even quicker than Karoon.
"To be honest, I didn't expect you to process that entire mountain of paperwork and data within a single day."
She gave a low whistle as she eyed the massive stack of documents Raon had moved to the finished pile on his right.
"It is always best to clear away the immediate responsibilities first."
Raon shook his head, ensuring the very last document was perfectly in place.
"Then I assume you’re off to find Runaan now."
Sheryl’s smile widened, taking his next move for granted.
"Ensuring the well-being of your subordinates is also a core duty of the head of house."
She gave an encouraging nod while clutching her own files, as if urging him to leave.
"Heh heh heh!"
Roenn’s lips also curled upward, expecting Raon to vanish from the room instantly.
"......"
Yet, contrary to what both of them expected, Raon didn't budge from the throne; instead, he narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.
"Evelyn."
Rather than rushing out to find Runaan, he spoke Evelyn’s name while remaining firmly seated.
"Yes! You called for me?"
Evelyn dropped her cloak of invisibility from the right side of the hall as if she had been standing by for this exact moment and stepped forward.
"Ugh!"
"Wh-what the!"
Both Roenn and Sheryl jumped, startled by Evelyn’s abrupt appearance, their mouths hanging open in shock.
-Aaaahhhhh! Not again! She’s appeared out of thin air again!
Unlike the two guards, Wrath was paralyzed with fear, letting out a sharp yelp.
"How did you know I was standing here?"
Evelyn smirked, suggesting that perhaps their souls were finally starting to align.
"I simply had a feeling you would be lurking nearby."
Raon shifted his attention to Evelyn and gave a subtle smile. He had guessed she would be observing the proceedings, but he had also caught a faint trace of her presence through his refined aura detection. It seemed his perceptive abilities had sharpened significantly after his time in the underground training grounds.
"I knew it! We are destined for one another! Only Raon truly gets me!"
Evelyn exclaimed that she was so overwhelmed with joy she could practically faint, and she gently stroked her own neck.
"Enough of that."
Raon sighed, dismissing her theatrics with a wave of his hand.
"You're aware of what's happening with Runaan, aren't you?"
He tilted his head slightly, confident that Evelyn would have insight into Runaan’s condition.
"Hmm..."
Evelyn’s face clouded over with a look of irritation.
"I find it quite unpleasant when the names of other women cross Raon’s lips."
She turned her gaze away, acting as though she were unwilling to discuss the topic.
"I'm asking you seriously."
Raon met Evelyn’s eyes with a look of genuine sincerity.
"Ugh..."
Evelyn’s nose crinkled as she looked back into Raon’s eyes.
"It’s impossible to say no when you look at me like that!"
She let out a heavy sigh, complaining that it wasn't fair.
"Fine. The condition that sleepy girl is suffering from is an ancient form of magic. It’s a technique primarily utilized by monstrous beings. It’s a cruel method that pulls the victim into a dream state, traps them within that illusory world, and eventually turns them into a mindless puppet in the waking world as well."
Evelyn clearly understood the nature of the spell cast on Runaan and provided a thorough explanation.
"Inside dreams? A puppet?"
Raon felt the air leave his lungs at the unexpected revelation.
"Yes. Once you’re caught in that spell, you lose all desire for reality, wanting only to remain in the dream. No matter how much rest you get, you feel drained; the migraines and exhaustion only intensify. Yet, despite the pain, the urge to sleep remains, because the world inside the dream is so blissful."
Evelyn shuddered, calling the magic repulsive as she shook her hands.
"It’s a remarkably complex spell, requiring materials that cost a literal fortune, and there are almost no practitioners left who can cast it correctly. Whoever did this must have been truly desperate."
Evelyn shook her head, confessing that even she would likely struggle to perform such a ritual.
"I see..."
Raon bit his lip, his fingers tracing the edge of the throne's armrest.
-How dare they!
Wrath threw a punch into the air, looking ready to annihilate whoever was responsible for Runaan’s torment.
'I believe I have a good idea who is behind this.'
Even without seeing Runaan in person, the description of the magic was enough for him to pinpoint the likely culprit.
'I have to move.'
If it were anyone else, he might hesitate, but if his intuition was right, Runaan was in grave peril. It felt necessary to intervene personally.
"At this moment..."
Just as Raon was preparing to stand and descend from the dais.
"However, something quite intriguing took place."
Evelyn held up a finger, noticing Raon’s dark expression.
"The one with the foul mouth came to me, begging for a way to save the sleepyhead. She claimed she would pay any price."
She licked her lips, as if savoring the memory of the desperation in Martha’s eyes.
"And what happened?"
Raon’s grip on the throne tightened as he looked up sharply.
"I managed to concoct a solution and handed it over to her. The terms were quite favorable."
Evelyn grinned while touching her wrist.
"If all goes as planned, those two might actually be able to fix this on their own."
She tilted her head, thinking the outcome would be fascinating to watch.
"Or would you prefer to handle it yourself?"
Evelyn shrugged at Raon.
"It might take a bit more time, but it would certainly be more effective than just running there."
She traced a circle in the air with her finger, noting that even if they didn't act this second, they weren't in an immediate rush.
"......"
Raon stared at the motion of Evelyn’s finger, his mind filled with images of Runaan and Martha, who had spent so long as bitter rivals. He shut his eyes for a moment, then opened them and settled back into the throne.
"Huh?"
"Temporary Head of House?"
Both Roenn and Sheryl looked on in confusion, surprised that Raon wasn't leaving the seat when they were sure he was about to bolt.
-Wait, what...?
Wrath’s jaw dropped in disbelief.
-You... you idiot. Are you seriously staying here?
'Just this once.'
Raon sank back into the depths of the throne and reached for the final documents with a slight tremor in his hands.
'I'm going to place my faith in them.'
