Chapter 1306
'Let’s take a look at this.'
Raon prepared to inspect the prize notification he had earned through Wrath's unwitting contribution.
"The... the shaking has stopped."
"Is the battle finished...?"
"It looks like that monster has been slain!"
The onlookers, who had been trembling under the suffocating pressure of Archangel Sariel’s celestial light, began to cautiously raise their heads.
"The demon is no more!"
"The holy man has defeated the devil!"
"A sage! He is a sword sage!"
It appeared the crowd had kept their eyes fixed on the struggle until the very end, even as divine radiance and hellish embers collided, and now they erupted in a chorus celebrating Raon’s triumph.
"He is a sword sage!"
"A master of the blade has graced the Winten Kingdom!"
"Sword sage! Sword sage! Sword sage!"
The citizens hailed Raon with the title of sword sage, thrusting their hands into the air. Despite being drained of spirit and strength by the archangel’s overwhelming divinity, their cheers and clapping showed no sign of fading.
-What utter lunacy!
Wrath gnashed his teeth in disbelief.
-This scoundrel is no man of wisdom; he is a villain! A parasite that bleeds everything dry!
His blue tail whipped back and forth as he complained about having a massive portion of his essence plundered once again.
'That happened because you gave your consent.'
Raon mentally brushed Wrath aside, keeping his expression neutral.
-I gave no such consent!
Wrath shook his head violently, dismissing the claim as madness.
-I was simply appalled by your sheer malice!
He scrunched his nose, insisting that being stunned by someone’s wickedness was entirely different from acknowledging them.
'You definitely used the word "acknowledge," I heard it.'
Raon let out a silent laugh as he dismissed the reward interface.
-Grrrgh!
Wrath fumed, finding himself momentarily without a retort.
-This mouth... always betraying me...
He grumbled that his own speech was his undoing and rhythmically smacked his own lips in frustration.
'Don't lose sleep over it.'
Raon shut his eyes briefly before opening them and exhaling.
'I won't be carrying that title for long, anyway.'
The public had bestowed the grand name of sword sage upon him, but he believed it would vanish into history after today’s events.
"Moving from Sword Emperor to sword sage..."
Burren let out a dry, incredulous chuckle while staring at Raon.
"Admittedly, when viewing his mastery of the blade, calling him a sage isn't an overstatement."
He nodded, conceding that the skill level was undeniable.
"True. Watching Raon handle a sword lately makes him seem like something other than human. However..."
Martha squinted at Raon, her eyes narrowing.
"The issue is that rotten temperament of his."
She scoffed, declaring that his personality made the title of sword sage a total mismatch.
"That..."
Runaan turned her gaze toward Martha, her eyes blinking slowly.
"That isn't a critique Miss Rakshasa should be making..."
She shook her head, implying that Martha was the last person in Light Wind Palace who should be judging someone else's character.
"Hmph! She’s got a point."
Krein glanced at Martha and gave a sharp click of his tongue.
"You lot are looking for trouble!"
Unable to restrain herself, Martha lunged at Krein and delivered a swift kick to his backside.
"Oof!"
Krein went sprawling across the dirt the moment Martha’s boot connected.
"Ow, damn it. I didn't even say anything false. Huh?"
Krein blinked rapidly as he scrambled back to his feet.
"What's wrong with you?"
He tilted his head, noticing Dorian standing nearby with a vacant expression.
"It’s just..."
Dorian let out a heavy, weary breath.
"We played a trick on people who actually admire us."
He clutched his head, admitting that he felt a pang of remorse.
"What remorse!"
Krein slapped Dorian on the back, telling him to snap out of it.
"They provided aid and we returned the favor! We didn't rob them; in fact, we used our own resources and hours to help them out!"
He flared his nostrils, pointing out that they had healed the sick and assisted the locals without taking a single copper in return.
"Besides, it doesn't have to count as a lie! We can just slip away into the night!"
Krein waved a hand dismissively, suggesting there was no reason to fret.
"Is that right?"
Dorian blinked, though he still looked somewhat unsettled by the situation.
"You're making a mountain out of a molehill."
Krein threw an arm over Dorian’s shoulder and pointed ahead.
"The acting leader will probably tell us to vanish from here as well."
He grinned, confident that Raon’s logic would mirror his own.
"Actually, we aren't doing that."
Raon appeared behind the two of them, shaking his head with conviction.
"What...?"
Krein spun around, his eyes wide with shock.
"Then you mean..."
"I intend to tell the truth."
Raon closed his eyes for a beat, then looked at them squarely.
"This situation involves realms under the Five Kings. If the deception is uncovered later, we risk destroying their confidence in us."
His mind was set, and he began walking forward, signaling the others to follow.
"Sword sage! Sword sage! Sword sage!"
The populace continued to chant, many of them dropping to their knees in reverence. It was clear they viewed him as a divine figure walking among them.
"Cease."
Raon came to a halt in the center of the gathering and tapped his foot. At his quiet command, the roar of the crowd died instantly, replaced by a heavy shroud of silence.
"I am no holy man."
Raon swept his gaze across the faces of the people. The citizens remained silent, hanging on his every word.
"My name is Raon Zieghart. I am a warrior belonging to House Zieghart."
Raon cast aside his worn disguise and reverted his blackened hair to its natural gold. His tall frame and the sudden shift in his commanding presence caused the crowd to gasp in shock.
"We received intelligence that celestial beings were manipulating the high-ranking officials and royalty here, and we came to investigate..."
Raon proceeded to explain the full scope of the events that had unfolded.
"...It was because of all of you, who gathered here to witness the sage, that I could corner Archangel Sariel and provoke his pride so he wouldn't flee. This victory belongs to everyone, and I thank you."
Because the citizens had served as the perfect audience, he had been able to lock the archangel into a prideful confrontation. Acknowledging that he hadn't done it in a vacuum, he bowed his head in a show of genuine appreciation.
"I realize it may feel as though I manipulated you. For that, I offer my sincere apologies alongside my gratitude."
Raon lowered his head again. Just as Krein had noted, Raon had spent his own funds to cure ailments, rebuild homes, and stop the criminals who preyed on the vulnerable. He had done nothing but good, yet because the people had come seeking a holy sage, he felt it was necessary to come clean.
"R-Raon Zieghart?"
"The Sword Emperor?"
"The one who took down Derus Robert..."
"To think the Sword Emperor himself was the sage all along..."
The people swallowed hard, staring at Raon in total amazement.
"Huu..."
Raon ignored the murmurs and kept his head bowed for several long seconds before standing tall.
"S-sword sage!"
"That’s right! Regardless of your name, you are a sage to us! A sword sage!"
"Sword sage! Sword sage! Sword sage!"
"Sword Sage Raon Zieghart!"
"Waaaaaaah!"
The moment Raon looked up, the cheers returned even louder than before, the title echoing through the streets.
"The reasons don't matter—my mother is alive because of you!"
"You saved my child’s life!"
"Because of the sword sage’s guidance, we caught the crook who stole our heritage!"
"I finally have a child on the way because of the medicine you provided!"
"Thank you, sword sage!"
The people insisted there was no need for an apology and offered deep bows of their own.
"It wasn't 'regardless of intent'! Your motives were noble!"
"Yes! If that angel had kept control over the throne, we would have suffered!"
"The disguise doesn't change anything! Don't let it weigh on you!"
The majority of the crowd wore bright smiles, dismissing the deception as a minor detail in the face of his deeds.
"You are the person who shattered the feelings of inadequacy I’ve struggled with my whole life."
Count Asak stepped toward Raon, accompanied by several other high-ranking nobles.
"Whether you are called a sage or a sword sage, the truth remains. My thanks."
He expressed his gratitude once more and knelt, lowering his head to the pavement.
"We thank you!"
The other nobles followed suit, bowing deeply.
"You liberated us from the archangel's influence. We are in your debt."
"I feel like a long nightmare has finally ended."
"Thank you for our lives!"
The royals from Sarion Kingdom and Ropels Kingdom struggled to their feet and offered their respects to Raon.
Kugugugugugugu!
An immense number of people knelt and bowed in unison. Even after learning his true identity as Raon Zieghart rather than the fictional Doraen, they harbored no bitterness—only profound appreciation.
Kuuuuk.
Raon tightened his grip. As the sincere gratitude of thousands of people washed over him, he felt his very essence becoming more substantial. It wasn't merely a sensation; in that moment, his spiritual realm was expanding.
"To the title of sword sage..."
Raon accepted the name they were calling out and allowed a genuine smile to form.
"I will give my all to be a warrior who lives up to that honor."
"Waaaaaaah!"
While the crowd roared with joy, a certain monarch of the underworld simply snorted.
-Sage, my foot!
Wrath shook his head in disgust.
-You are fundamentally incapable of true virtue!
"I appreciate all the effort you've put in."
Raon offered a bow to Roseline, the head of the Black Market, and Federick, the Ragged Saint.
"It was thanks to both of you that this plan reached its conclusion."
While the Light Wind Palace members had worked tirelessly, these two had been indispensable. It was no exaggeration to say that his performance as the sage Doraen was only convincing because of their support.
"Partners should do at least this much for one another."
Roseline waved off the praise, indicating that such thanks weren't required.
"I missed some sleep, but it was worth it! It felt like the charity work I haven't had time for lately, so I had a good time!"
Federick’s lips curled into a smile, clearly pleased with the outcome.
"Besides, I witnessed something truly remarkable."
He looked at Raon, his eyes narrowing into thin slits.
"To manipulate the soul with such precision... even that old friend of mine wouldn't be capable of such a feat."
Federick nodded, suggesting that even Glenn would struggle to match Raon’s delicate touch in soul manipulation.
"I was simply fortunate."
Raon gave a modest smile, noting that the entire mission had been a stroke of luck.
"Always so humble."
Federick chuckled.
"The name sword sage isn't something one stumbles upon by chance."
He clapped Raon on the shoulder, encouraging him to carry the title with the pride it deserved.
"Sword sage..."
Roseline tested the weight of the new title and smiled softly.
"To be honest, it’s a heavy title for such a young man, yet it seems to fit you perfectly, Lord Raon."
She agreed that the name felt right for the person he had become.
"It does feel like quite a burden, to be honest."
Raon rubbed the back of his head, looking slightly embarrassed. Though he had vowed to live up to it, the sheer weight of the name was daunting.
"I have no doubt you can manage it, Lord Raon."
Roseline gave a firm nod of confidence.
"But tell me, when do you intend to head toward the temple where the archangels reside?"
Her expression turned curious as she asked about the next phase.
"I have to move with caution. Archangel Uriel is still a foe I cannot take head-on. However, I plan to conduct a reconnaissance of the area."
"Then that means..."
Roseline’s eyes widened, anticipating his response.
"Yes."
Raon took a slow, steady breath, his eyes turning sharp and frigid.
"I'm setting out immediately."
