"Ha."
Raon sighed as he looked at Runaan's small back.
'This kid...'
Even though the growth of her mental world had progressed, he thought it would take a long time for it to manifest in the real world. People don't change that easily.
But that was his misconception. Runaan had grown more mentally than in terms of power.
The gentle child who used to tremble even after killing an enemy had now killed a lifelong servant, deemed a traitor, without a hint of hesitation, pressing down on her enemies with formidable presence.
It seemed she had resolved to protect Rokan, Clara, and the Sullion family.
-Krrhh...
Wrath, watching Runaan, teared up.
-Oh, Ice Cream Girl! You are truly magnificent! Even though you disregarded this king as mere dust, you are splendid!
He sniffled, proclaiming that it was enough. His nose turned red with sincerity.
'He's always so excessive.'
Raon smiled faintly as he watched Wrath shout Runaan's name.
'No, maybe it's not entirely wrong.'
Runaan was always mentally elsewhere.
That must have been the worry of protecting her family from Syria, and the deliberation over what decisions to make.
But by forcibly and willingly erasing those worries, her mind became as hard as steel.
'And also...'
Her martial prowess had also significantly improved.
Runaan had recently become a Master. Normally, she would have faced a period of stagnation, but by devouring Baphomet in her mental world, she had achieved rapid growth.
Runaan's current level was mid-Master. It was absurd, but she had reached a level not much different from Mark Goetun.
"Kneel."
When Runaan aimed the Snow Flower veiled in brilliant light, the ghosts of Eden trembled as they charged at her.
"Graaah!"
"Aaaargh!"
Recognizing this as their last chance, they revealed their hidden fighting spirits as they rushed forward.
Blades, sharpened like the fangs of beasts, rushed toward Runaan's vital points.
Shraaack!
Runaan bent her left knee slightly and drew the Snow Flower into her chest. From her armpit, a silver blade shot out like lightning, scattering icy shards.
Clang!
The ghosts of Eden, disregarding their lives, tried to cut down Runaan, but as soon as they touched her frost, their entire bodies froze and collapsed.
"This is the end. Kneel."
Runaan moved forward calmly, slicing the neck of a ghost wearing an orc helmet and pointing her sword at the traitors again.
"Ugh..."
"How did this happen..."
The traitors of the Sullion family trembled, seeing Runaan's cold eyes. Realizing they couldn't win, they knelt.
"Ha..."
Martha, looking at Runaan's back, let out a hollow laugh.
"You really have gotten stronger. It's true. How annoying."
Despite her annoyed words, she smiled refreshingly as she collapsed backward.
"Then, I'll faint now..."
Dorian, panting like a thirsty puppy, collapsed on the floor.
"You fools! Fight to the end!"
"We're dead anyway if we stay here!"
"Reduce the enemies even by one!"
When the ghosts of Eden, including Nokjeon-Gwi, commanded to fight to the end, a crimson cloak fluttered over the right wall.
Glenn Zieghart. The head of Zieghart and the lord of this land, revealed his eyes, burning with wrath.
"How dare you come here."
Glenn, genuinely angry, unleashed a ferocious aura as he approached the ghosts of Eden.
Rumble!
The sky roared, and the ground trembled with such a massive wave that the ghosts of Eden dropped their weapons and convulsed as if suffocating.
"Ugh..."
"This isn't the end!"
"For the reincarnation!"
Realizing they had no escape, the ghosts of Eden condensed their aura in their energy centers to take their own lives.
"Wha...?"
"What, what's happening!"
"Why..."
But they were baffled to find their aura immobile, as if turned to stone.
"I do not permit your deaths."
Glenn twisted his cold lips as he looked down at the ghosts of Eden.
"You cannot die without my permission."
At that chilling declaration, the ghosts of Eden foamed at the mouth and collapsed.
Raon swallowed dryly as he watched Glenn.
'Is he really human...'
To subdue the ghosts of Eden in such a vast place filled with hundreds of people without lifting a finger... it was beyond human power.
"Ugh..."
Runaan let out a sigh as she sat down on the ground.
"Ah, miss..."
"Are you alright?"
"Runaan!"
The loyalists of the Sullion family, who had been holding off the traitors, ran to check on her condition.
"I'm fine."
Runaan nodded and pointed her finger at the traitors.
"Bind them first."
"Y-yes!"
The warriors, surprised by Runaan's first display of authority, suppressed the traitors' aura and tied their limbs while unable to take their eyes off her.
"Runaan."
Raon approached her. Her once clear eyes had already returned to their usual dazed state.
Those eyes suit her best. He held back a smile and asked.
"How's your condition?"
"I can endure."
Runaan blinked her eyes as if she were fine and then crawled towards Rokan and Clara.
After fulfilling her duties as the Acting Head of House, she finally checked on her parents' condition.
"Ha..."
Only after confirming their safety did Runaan let out a deep sigh.
Seeing her prioritize the family's situation over her parents in such a crisis, it seemed she had truly earned the right to be the head of the house.
"What about Syria, no, the Evil Goat Demon?"
Runaan, holding her parents' hands tightly, asked about Syria's whereabouts.
"He's over there."
Raon supported Runaan and showed her the pit where Syria's corpse lay.
Syria's body and severed arm remained there, but his helmet was still missing.
"Although there are some oddities, he's definitely dead."
"Hmm, the Evil Goat Demon might still be alive."
Runaan shook her head as she looked at Syria's corpse.
"What do you mean?"
Raon narrowed his eyes. Syria was already a corpse, so he didn't understand what Runaan meant.
"Before you arrived, Syria threw a strange orb. He said it was a precaution for any unforeseen circumstances..."
Runaan pointed to the corner where Syria had thrown the orb.
"A precaution..."
Raon bit his lip as he looked at the corner Runaan indicated.
'I don't know.'
The ground had collapsed due to the fierce battle with Syria, so no orb was visible. He couldn't sense any particular energy either, so he had no idea what the orb was.
'Wrath.'
-You only call for this king at times like this.
Wrath frowned as if displeased.
'It's not for me, but for your beloved Ice Cream Girl.'
-Khh!
Grumbling, Wrath reluctantly surveyed the pit.
-There's no peculiar energy here. I can't see any orb either.
Wrath shook his head, indicating nothing unusual.
'You're really no help.'
-You wretched brat!
'Hmm...'
Raon smacked his lips. He wanted to ease Runaan's troubled mind, but without a definite answer, he felt frustrated.
"Runaan. For now..."
"It's okay."
Runaan shook her head and looked up at the clear sky.
"My brother is already dead. The Evil Goat Demon is an enemy. Even if he comes back, I will stop him."
She clenched her small fist tightly, determined to end Syria herself.
The resolute light in her eyes showed a determination not to waver anymore.
-If anything happens, this king will help you!
Wrath clung to Runaan's sleeve, pledging to help in any way.
"Tell me if you need help."
"Yeah. Thanks. Um..."
Runaan nodded, then slowly lifted her gaze.
"That dust that came into my mental world with Raon..."
"Huh? Oh."
"It suddenly turned into a person and said something to me. Do you remember? It felt oddly familiar, and I'm curious..."
She blinked as if recalling Wrath's true form.
-Oh! Ice Cream Girl! Did you realize that!
Wrath jumped up, making a noise like a seagull.
-Tell her my words at once!
Overjoyed to have met Runaan, Wrath continued with a bright smile.
-This king has watched over you since you were little, helped you greatly, and even filled the hole in your stomach as a parent would...
"He did say something."
Raon smiled slyly as he relayed Wrath's words.
"He said he was hungry."
"Ah..."
Runaan opened her mouth wide in disbelief.
-What nonsense is that! This king...
Wrath's face turned red as he screamed.
-Actually, he did say he was hungry. When are we eating?
'...'
"Raon Zieghart."
At Glenn's call, Raon approached him.
"I greet the head of house..."
"Enough with the unnecessary greetings. What happened here?"
"It's a long story."
Raon lowered his eyes, indicating it wasn't something to discuss in such an open space.
"Then come to the Lord's Manor by noon tomorrow. You can tell everyone then."
Glenn looked at Raon, Runaan, and the unconscious Rokan in turn and nodded.
"First, take the wounded to that guy. He should at least earn his keep."
"Yes, sir."
Raon recognized that Glenn was referring to the Ragged Saint, Patrick, and bowed.
Glenn left the cleanup to Roenn and vanished into thin air.
"I will handle things here, Raon. Please, go and rest."
Roenn sent a kind smile with his eyes.
"Thank you."
Raon left the Sullion family cleanup to Roenn and the Light Wind division, then headed to the red mansion where Patrick resided with the injured.
"Rokan Sullion? Isn't this Runaan? What on earth happened?"
Patrick widened his eyes as he looked at the unconscious Runaan, her parents, Martha, and Dorian.
"There were some circumstances."
"Circumstances?"
"Yes. In the Sullion family..."
Since the saint was alone, Raon briefly explained what had happened.
"Ha, those ghostly bastards even had their claws here..."
Patrick sighed, unable to believe Syria Sullion and the main members of the family were ghosts of Eden.
"Those who can deceive even family by removing their helmets..."
"Using people's emotions, they are truly malevolent spirits."
His brow furrowed deeply, showing his genuine hatred for Eden.
"I will take care of them. But you don't look well either."
Patrick tilted his head as he observed Raon's pale complexion.
"I overexerted myself a bit. It's not a serious injury."
Raon smiled faintly, shaking his head. Although he had severe internal injuries from Wrath, he didn't want Patrick to know, so he refused his treatment.
"Is that so."
Patrick chuckled and tossed a pill from his pouch.
"It's internal injury medicine. A new product. Try it out."
With that, he took the patients inside.
'He knew.'
The saint couldn't have missed my internal injuries. He must have understood my circumstances.
"Thank you."
Raon bowed towards Patrick's back and left the mansion.
Upon returning to the annex building, Sylvia was startled, her eyes widening.
"Why are you back already? And why do you look so pale!"
She trembled, upset that he had returned injured after saying he was going out for a celebration.
"Something came up..."
Knowing she would soon find out, Raon briefly explained to lessen the shock.
"Is Runaan alright?"
"She won't be okay, but she'll endure."
"What about you?"
"I'm fine too."
Raon forced a smile, pretending to be okay.
"Fine, my foot! Rest now!"
Sylvia, noticing his forced smile, pushed him towards his room, urging him to rest.
She entered the kitchen, instructing the maids to prepare food, likely for the injured.
-As expected, mothers are kind!
'She's not your mother.'
Raon pushed Wrath away and entered his room.
"Ha..."
Was it the release of tension or the injuries? He collapsed on the floor as all strength left his body.
'This is worse than I thought...'
The aftereffects of Wrath were much more severe than expected. It was more painful than when he had exhausted all his strength and suffered injuries down to the bone.
-This king told you. It's too early for you to handle pure Wrath.
Wrath smirked.
'But I didn't expect it to be this bad.'
-Like the Perception of the Snow Flower, Snow Flower's Veil, or Evil Eye of Wrath, you have been using Wrath by following the paths this king laid out.
Wrath raised a round hand, continuing his explanation.
-But this time, you went beyond the path this king set and wielded Wrath on your own. Wrath is far more potent than aura, so it's natural for your body to be strained.
'I know.'
Raon nodded, acknowledging honestly.
'Let's put out the urgent fire first.'
Raon swallowed the internal injury medicine Patrick had given him and activated the Ring of Fire.
The ring swirling around his heart traced the line where pure mana and the medicine's healing power met, enhancing the internal recovery power.
Whooosh!
The Divinity Born from Darkness spread inside his energy center, gradually calming the severe internal injuries and significantly reducing the pain.
"Haa..."
Only after fully absorbing the medicine's energy did Raon open his eyes.
-That's why this king always says! Know your place!
Wrath continued to nag, probably since earlier. As expected, he kept talking even if not listened to.
'You talk too much.'
-It's not enough to scold a pitiful brat like you. Come here. I'll teach you properly today.
Wrath patted the floor, gesturing for him to come closer.
-It's a thousand years too early for you to handle this king's Wrath! In the Devildom...
Just as Wrath was about to start bragging about himself again, a message appeared, blocking his blabbering.
[You have overwhelmed and defeated an opponent of higher rank.]
[You have observed the flow of another's mental world.]
[All attributes increase by 17 points.]
[The rank of the trait
[The rank of the trait
The rewards for defeating Syria and assisting Runaan's mental world had arrived.
-Ah...
Just as Wrath was about to speak, another message appeared.
[A new trait
"Wrath Release?"
-Nooooo!
Wrath glared at the message, grabbing his hair.
-Kill me. Just kill me!
He deflated like a punctured balloon, tears welling up.
-Stop draining me, and please just kill meee!