Chapter 1284
Raon concluded his business in Cameloon and reached the borders of Zieghart before the first light of dawn touched the sky.
"Greetings to the Acting Patriarch!"
Commander Illiune, the officer in charge of the external fortifications, personally unlatched the heavy gates and dropped to one knee.
"We greet the Acting Patriarch!"
The sentries stationed at the outer wall followed their commander’s lead, bowing their heads with profound reverence.
"......"
Raon let out a soft, lingering breath as he looked down at the kneeling warriors.
'This feels different.'
He had crossed this threshold countless times after finishing various assignments, but the weight of this homecoming was unlike any other. In his early days, he was the one offering desperate salutes; later, he and the commanders shared the mutual respect of peers. Now, the roles had shifted entirely, with a veteran like Illiune being the first to show such deep submission.
Beyond just his martial advancement, Raon felt as though he had truly matured as a man, a realization that brought a flicker of warmth to his heart.
"You may rise."
Composing himself instantly, Raon gave the order with a steady gaze, signaling for the swordsmen to stand.
"Understood!"
Illiune stood up with a sharp nod, and the rest of the perimeter guards followed suit, bowing once more before returning to their posts.
"I trust you will keep the defenses tight."
Raon prepared to move deeper into the estate, offering a word of encouragement to the men guarding the entrance.
"The stories have already reached us!"
Illiune stepped forward, a wide grin breaking across his face.
"Is it true? Did you truly come that close to ending the Heavenly Demon?"
The commander’s hand gripped his sword hilt so tightly it creaked, clearly energized by the rumors circulated by Roseline of the Black Market.
"How could the news have traveled so fast..."
Raon blinked, momentarily stunned.
"The reports started pouring in at daybreak. They say the Acting Patriarch didn't just survive the encounter, but actually dominated the Heavenly Demon. We knew you were capable of greatness!"
Illiune laughed boisterously, expressing that while the news was shocking, it was exactly what he expected from someone like Raon.
"To push back the Heavenly Demon... simply incredible!"
"We'll need a title even greater than Sword Emperor now!"
"Our loyalty is yours, Acting Patriarch!"
The surrounding swordsmen joined in the praise, hoisting their weapons toward the sky in a show of triumph.
"Good grief..."
Raon rubbed his temples, feeling a dull ache starting behind his eyes.
-I am so jealous...
Wrath sat nearby, his lower lip trembling with envy.
-To have such grand tales echoing across the continent... I wish my name carried such weight!
The small being’s cheeks puffed out as he lamented his lack of global fame.
"I didn't think the word would spread this rapidly."
Burren stood with his mouth agape, watching the genuine fervor of the garrison.
"They say gossip has wings, but I didn't realize it traveled faster than a high-level teleportation spell."
He gave a dry, incredulous chuckle, baffled that events from earlier that morning in Cameloon were already the talk of Zieghart.
"Didn't I tell you?"
Martha nudged Burren’s ribs with a smug expression.
"I knew everyone would buy it! When has this guy... excuse me, the Acting Patriarch, ever done anything halfway?"
She smirked, acting as though this outcome was a foregone conclusion.
"Raon. Raon..."
Runaan began swaying in place, mirroring the soldiers by chanting Raon’s name with her arms raised half-heartedly. She looked like she was about to fall asleep on her feet.
"This is exactly how it should be!"
Evelyn beamed, her head nodding in rhythm with the cheers.
"In this world, there is Raon, and then there is everyone else."
She rubbed her palms together, convinced that Raon deserved nothing less than total adoration.
"Haah..."
Raon sighed again, pushing past the gate. His only desire at that moment was to find a quiet room and close his eyes to escape the rising headache. However, the interior of the estate offered no sanctuary.
"Look! It's the Acting Patriarch!"
"Welcome home, sir!"
"You look unharmed! Does that mean the reports are accurate?"
"Sir, did you really stand your ground against the Heavenly Demon?"
"Is it true he was at death's door when the fight ended?"
Because it was breakfast time, the halls were packed with swordsmen who swarmed Raon with intense curiosity. They all wanted a first-hand account of the miracle.
"Actually..."
Raon started to wave them off, hoping to clarify that the stories were exaggerated.
"Every word is true!"
Evelyn cut him off, stepping to the front with her chin held high.
"The Heavenly Demon retreated with wounds so deep you could see his skeletal structure after Raon was through with him!"
Using her magic, she projected an image into the air—a captured visual of the Demon’s injuries—and amplified her voice so it echoed through the corridor.
"Loudly now! Raon! Raon! Raon!"
She stomped her foot, demanding the crowd show their appreciation.
"Is that video...?"
"Look at that helm! That's definitely the Heavenly Demon!"
"The legends are real!"
"I never doubted him!"
"Victory to the Acting Patriarch!"
"Raon! Raon!"
"Sword Emperor! Long live the Sword Emperor!"
The gathered warriors erupted, their cheers echoing the frantic energy Raon had witnessed back in Cameloon.
"That's not quite right..."
Raon tried to intervene, but the crowd was swept up in Evelyn’s theater. They weren't interested in his corrections; they only wanted to celebrate.
"Ugh..."
Realizing he couldn't win, Raon gave up and simply shook his head.
"Everyone, return to your duties or go rest."
After dismissing his personal squad, he made a beeline for the central audience chamber.
"Hoho! You've returned!"
Roenn greeted him with a polite bow, offering a cup of freshly brewed tea that smelled of mountain herbs.
"I've been briefed on the rumors!"
Sheryl walked over, her eyes dancing with excitement as she bit her lip.
"The Heavenly Demon..."
"Not you too, Division Leader."
Raon slumped into a chair, looking at them with exhaustion.
"I barely managed to survive a single strike from him. It nearly cost me my life."
He explained that Roseline had inflated the truth for her own reasons.
"Hehehe."
"Tsk, how dull."
Roenn gave a knowing, gentle smile, while Sheryl wrinkled her nose, clearly disappointed by the humble reality of the situation.
"Enough with the jokes. Please, just give me the reports that piled up while I was gone."
Raon downed the hot tea in one go. Despite his fatigue and the lingering internal damage from the battle, he was determined to handle his administrative responsibilities first.
"It might be hard to believe you truly dominated the Heavenly Demon, but..."
Sheryl set a heavy stack of parchment on the desk.
"I can see that you certainly possess the spirit of a true Patriarch."
She smiled, acknowledging that Raon was fitting into the role better than anyone expected.
"I am of the same mind."
Roenn refilled the tea cup.
"A leader who puts the safety of his people above all else will always have a loyal following."
"No. I still have a long way to go."
Raon shook his head firmly, pulling the first document toward him.
"I don't want to lose anyone in this family. Therefore..."
He bit his lip, the memory of the overwhelming pressure from Pride and the Heavenly Demon still fresh in his mind.
"I have to reach a higher level of strength."
"Sword Emperor Raon Zieghart..."
The Heavenly Demon stood in solitude, his muscles rippling as they constricted around the jagged wound on his shoulder, which was torn open to the bone. He whispered the name like a mantra.
'Zieghart breeds many fascinating souls.'
He had unleashed the Heavenly Defeat with the full intent to kill, yet Raon had met the blow head-on without flinching or retreating. Of course, the boy had been completely incapacitated afterward, unable to even twitch a finger, but the mere act of withstanding that specific strike exceeded all calculations.
'How long has it been since my intuition regarding martial prowess failed me?'
He couldn't recall a single instance. He had been born with a divine affinity for combat; he could replicate any style at a glance, master ancient manuals in a day, and find enlightenment in the simple rhythm of his breath. Because he considered himself the ultimate authority on martial logic, Raon’s resilience was a profound jolt to his system. It was the reason he had honored the "blood debt" the boy had demanded.
"This is becoming quite intriguing."
He flexed his wounded arm, watching the torn flesh knit together as he smirked.
"It was bound to be."
Pride stepped out from behind a massive tree that pulsed with an eerie blue light, looking much like a corrupted World Tree.
"That boy is the vessel for <Wrath>, the only being I consider a true rival. Though, it seems he treats Wrath more like a toy."
Pride’s lips curled into a mocking smile, clearly amused by Raon’s influence over the other Authority.
"<Wrath>..."
The Heavenly Demon’s brow furrowed at the mention of the Authority.
"So that explains it."
Whenever he encountered Raon, the <Pride> embedded in his own spirit reacted violently. During their recent clash, his internal <Pride> had reached a fever pitch of madness, likely triggered by the proximity of <Wrath>.
"You look pathetic."
Pride glanced at the blood still seeping from the Demon’s shoulder.
"Or perhaps I should just call you an idiot for damaging your own vessel?"
He clicked his tongue in mock pity.
"I gave my word. It was a debt that required payment."
The Heavenly Demon looked at his injuries with detached calm, showing no sign of regret.
"Wasn't that the very 'arrogance' you often preach about?"
He leveled a piercing gaze at Pride, unmoved in his convictions.
"Regardless, you remain as stubbornly ignorant as you were as a child."
Pride rubbed his forehead as if nursing a migraine.
"What do you want?"
The Heavenly Demon lowered his guard, signaling for the other to get to the point.
"Sikyur has entered a state of transcendence. It seems her duel with the vessel of <Wrath> sparked a new enlightenment."
Pride mentioned the Death Sword Spirit, Marquess Sikyur, with a hint of calculation.
"Go and oversee her progress. If she survives this awakening, she will reach a tier far beyond her current limits."
He gestured for the Heavenly Demon to go to her aid.
"I decline."
The refusal was sharp and absolute.
"I brought her to the Absolute realm. My obligation is finished."
He made it clear that his deal with Pride had reached its natural conclusion.
"Truly, you never make things easy."
Pride exhaled a long, weary sigh.
"Sikyur needs to be stronger if you ever hope to reach your 'ultimate objective.' Surely you felt it today? If the vessel of <Wrath> is already this formidable, then Glenn Zieghart must be a monster beyond your current reach. You cannot afford to be complacent."
He wagged a finger, reminding the Demon of the reality of their situation.
"......"
The Heavenly Demon remained silent, processing the logic. Pride wasn't wrong.
"I will do as you ask this one time. However..."
His eyes turned cold as he glared at the smirking Pride.
"Once this is done, our contract is void."
The Heavenly Demon stood tall, his fighting spirit flaring up despite his numerous injuries. He radiated a pressure that even the surrounding forest seemed to shrink away from.
"Fine by me."
Pride gave a dismissive nod.
"I’ll look forward to seeing what you do then."
He tilted his head back with characteristic vanity.
Whoosh!
After a final, tense look at Pride, the Heavenly Demon vanished into the wind.
"The Demonic Dragon that will unmake the world..."
Pride watched the space where the Demon had been, a dark smile playing on his lips.
"Is that so?"
"Phew."
Raon finally set down his pen, exhaling as he cleared the final stack of paperwork.
'Done at last.'
He had arrived before the sun rose, yet the shadows of evening were already stretching across the room by the time he finished. Dealing with the bureaucracy of a Great House felt more taxing than a physical duel.
-See! This is why you should just dump the work on your underlings like I do!
Wrath huffed, unimpressed by Raon’s diligence.
-A true ruler knows how to delegate!
'I can't do that. I have to see these things for myself.'
The documents that reached his desk had already been screened by the Shadows and Roenn. If they made it this far, they required his personal attention. To ignore them would be to fail his duty.
-You really are a glutton for punishment.
Wrath shook his head, floating lazily in the air.
-If you just followed my lead and focused on the next meal...
'Isn't "delegating" just a fancy word for laziness and exploitation? I thought you said your subjects were precious to you.'
Raon gave the small being a skeptical look.
-Wait, what...?
Wrath’s jaw dropped.
-That’s—that’s not it! I was providing them with opportunities for professional growth!
He waved his stubby arms around, trying to sound convincing.
'I'm starting to see why the system is so hard on you.'
Raon chuckled, finding the system's constant mockery of Wrath much more understandable now.
-No! You've got it all wrong! The system is just a rabid beast that snaps at everyone!
Wrath gnashed his teeth, insisting he was an innocent victim.
'The more defensive you get, the more suspicious I become.'
Raon shrugged, organizing the final set of files.
-This is maddening! I am telling the truth! I am the one being bullied here... Wait?
Wrath stopped his tantrum, watching Raon stand up from the Patriarch’s throne.
-Where are you off to? Is it finally time for dinner?
Even in his anger, the thought of food immediately piqued his interest.
'Not yet. I have something I need to look into.'
-Something to do?
'I’m not entirely sure yet, but...'
Raon smiled, pulling his dark Black Dragon Coat over his shoulders.
'I think I’ve figured out how to trigger <Pride>'s awakening.'
