Raon pushed aside Wrath, who was writhing pathetically on the ground, and checked the message about Wrath Release.
You can use the energy received from the Monarch of Wrath together with your Aura. (Usage Limit: 5%)
The content was simple, but the effect was not. It meant that I could properly use the emotion of Wrath, which I couldn't handle before.
'It starts at 5%, but it will change as I grow.'
The amount of Wrath energy I could handle at my current level was only 5%. It was not even Wrath's full form, just a mere 5% of the Wrath he had given me, so it could be considered insignificant.
But as my level increased, that percentage would also rise, so I was looking forward to the future.
-What are you talking about! This king has never given this guy any energy!
Wrath screamed as he looked at the message.
-He is just using the Wrath I forced into him to take over his body as he pleases!
Wrath pounded his chest with his round fist, feeling frustrated.
'Once given, it's over. Stop being clingy.'
Raon clicked his tongue as he looked down at Wrath.
-C-Clingy? Did you just call me clingy!
Wrath's mouth hung open in disbelief.
-Would you leave a thief who took all your wealth and kept stealing the money you earn!
'I would forgive them.'
-Aargh! My neck…!
Wrath clutched the back of his neck and collapsed. Seeing his eyes roll back, it seemed he fainted from rage.
"Hmph…"
Raon ignored Wrath and checked the message again.
'It's going to be hard to use all the time.'
Even though I had acquired the ability, maintaining Wrath constantly would be a burden on both my body and mind.
It seemed best to use it at critical moments to end the fight quickly, like how Martha used her berserk mode.
'I need to recover from my internal injuries and test it out.'
I couldn't recklessly draw out Wrath while my internal injuries were still not fully healed.
While I was envisioning Wrath Release in my mind, I felt a small wriggle in my chest.
"Hmm?"
Raon took the mole out of his inner pocket.
"Merlin?"
He called Merlin's name and gently shook the mole, but there was no response. He could hear breathing, so she was alive, but it seemed she hadn't woken up yet.
Uwoong!
He tried healing her with Divinity Born from Darkness just in case, but there was no response.
"Too much, huh."
Sighing, he put Merlin back in his pocket and felt the wriggle again.
"Hey."
Raon immediately took her out and tapped her belly.
"You're not pretending to faint, are you?"
"Pfft…"
As Raon looked intently at the mole's face, she started to tremble and opened her mouth.
"Hahaha!"
Merlin couldn't hold back her laughter and raised her head.
"Sorry. Your warmth was too comfortable, I wanted to stay longer."
She smacked her lips, saying she could stay like that forever.
"You're really…"
Raon shook his head, looking exasperated.
-Crazy woman! Gyaa….
Wrath, who had barely managed to stand up, hit his head and fainted again at Merlin's words.
"Are you really okay?"
Raon looked into Merlin's eyes to check her condition.
"Yeah. No major problems."
Merlin nodded and flapped her arms like wings.
"Then why did you faint?"
"I didn't faint."
"Huh?"
"I was lying down because I was weak, but you put me in your pocket. I thought it was an opportunity, so I stayed still."
She laughed with a blush on her cheeks. Who would have thought a mole could blush.
"Haa…"
Raon rubbed his forehead and leaned against the wall. He was annoyed by the prank, but relieved that there was no real problem.
'A sigh of relief…'
What kind of relationship is this?
They started as enemies trying to kill each other, but now it had turned into Merlin helping him. It was a strange bond.
"Today was so happy that I feel like I won't be able to sleep… Ah."
Merlin, who was laughing, fell backward. Her hands and feet trembled violently.
"Merlin?"
"I guess I overdid it a bit."
"I thought so."
Raon frowned. Even though she had the helmet, it was natural that she overdid it by creating a passage into someone else's mind.
'And she said she hadn't slept for weeks while looking for me.'
When they met at the coast, she was controlling thousands of animals without sleep, so her mental and physical strength would not have recovered yet.
Raon opened his spatial pouch. He took out a leaf of the Sea Spirit Flower he had obtained from the coastal dungeon and handed it to Merlin.
"Eat this and rest for a while."
"A transparent leaf?"
Merlin's eyes widened as she looked at the Sea Spirit Flower leaf.
"It's a Sea Spirit Flower leaf."
"Sea Spirit Flower? That legendary elixir?"
"Yeah. It helps recover physical and mental damage. It'll be good for you now."
The Sea Spirit Flower leaf was a top-grade elixir, but the help he received from Merlin was much greater. He didn't hesitate at all.
"I don't need it. You take care of yourself first."
Merlin shook her head, showing no interest in the leaf.
"I already had some, and I have more left."
He showed her the remaining leaves, gesturing for her to take it.
"Haa…"
Merlin sighed as she took the leaf with both hands.
"I'll treasure it for life. No, I'll found a nation and make it a national treasure!"
"Just eat it…"
Raon frowned and shook his head.
"Okay, got it."
Merlin smiled and fiddled with the Sea Spirit Flower leaf. A white shimmer appeared in her hand, and the leaf disappeared as if it melted. It seemed she sent it to her original body.
"There's something I want to ask."
"Ask anything!"
"You saw it too…"
Raon talked about the story Runaan told him and asked about the life and death of Syria Sullion.
"I don't know either."
Merlin shrugged lightly.
"You don't know?"
"I told you before, Eden is divided into factions. We work together, but we aren't really on good terms. You must have noticed, one side wears helmets, the other side wears masks."
"Ah…"
Raon nodded, recalling the ghosts of Eden he had met so far.
"Sometimes a helmeted idiot comes to our side, and sometimes a masked maniac goes to their side, but generally, we stick with our own."
Merlin tilted her head, saying she didn't know about this incident either.
"Syria was cherished by the helmet ghosts. If they gave him a special artifact, it's not impossible for him to be alive. But the important thing is I don't care about him, so I don't know."
It seemed pointless to ask her about Syria.
"Then…"
Raon erased Syria from his mind and asked another question that had been on his mind.
"The leader of the masked ones is The Fallen, and the leader of the helmeted ones is the Heavenly Demon?"
"Yes. Though the Heavenly Demon rarely shows up."
"Just as I thought."
Raon nodded slowly. Thanks to Merlin, he confirmed a lot of information. He was grateful.
"Thank you."
"Don't mention it."
Merlin shook her head and shivered her shoulders.
"I really overdid it. I should go."
She waved her trembling hand. While Raon was worrying about what request she would make next, the mole's mouth opened.
"This kid wants to eat a snake."
"A snake?"
"Yes. A mole's natural enemy is a snake. He's always been preyed upon, so he wants to try eating one. Please!"
Merlin waved her hand vigorously and disappeared.
"In this winter?"
Raon laughed helplessly as he looked outside. It had started snowing a little while ago.
"Kiu."
The mole gestured with its hand, urging him to quickly find a snake.
"This is crazy…"
Raon sighed and went outside. He spread his senses to the maximum, like in battle, and found a hibernating snake in four hours, fed it to the mole, and returned to the annex building.
"Exhausting…"
After a quick bath, he entered his room, feeling dazed. He immediately lay down on his bed.
'I need to sleep.'
Both his body and mind felt exhausted. He closed his eyes, intending to use the energy of Sloth.
-You had a hard time because of the crazy woman. Now you can rest… no, wait!
Wrath, who seemed to agree that Merlin was troublesome, suddenly stopped.
-Didn't you say you'd give me everything I wanted today!
'....'
Raon had already fallen asleep and didn't hear Wrath's voice.
-You damn dog! Wake up! I haven't eaten a single meal today!
The next day at noon.
The iron door of the audience chamber in the Lord's Manor opened with an imposing sound.
Zieghart's warriors stood on the outer edge of the red carpet leading to the platform.
Palace masters, division leaders, and squad leaders. The executives who were in or near the manor stood in front of the pillars of the audience chamber with pale faces, clenching their fists.
There was only one reason the executives were so tense. The King of the North, Glenn Zieghart, was emitting a dry and terrifying aura from the throne.
"Hoo…"
Raon pushed away the suffocating pressure and walked to the center of the audience chamber with Runaan.
"Begin."
Before they could even greet him, Glenn ordered them to get to the point. Nodding, Raon looked at Runaan.
"Yeah."
Runaan stepped forward and began to recount what had happened to her.
The brainwashing and torment by Syria since childhood, the abduction, and the forced helmet. As the unbelievable story continued, a groan spread through the quiet audience chamber.
"…When I woke up, Raon was fighting the ghosts of Eden."
"I'll take over from when Runaan put on the helmet."
Raon continued the story from when he went to find Runaan after she didn't show up at the agreed time, to capturing Syria, and entering Runaan's mind to face Baphomet.
Of course, he omitted anything about Merlin, saying it was by chance that he touched her mind.
"Eden. Those bastards!"
Balder, the True Martial Palace master, couldn't hold back his anger and stomped his foot. The immense force shook the entire audience chamber.
"..."
Denier, the Wise Martial Palace master, also showed a cold expression, revealing his anger.
"Ha!"
"The ghosts have crossed the line."
"Eden…"
"The masked ones must be mad to want to die."
The squad leaders and division leaders also bit their lips in anger at the thought of Zieghart being toyed with.
"..."
Glenn remained silent, eyes closed. He did not show any anger, maintaining his initial expression, which only made the tension more suffocating.
"Please kill me!"
Rokan, who was below the platform, knelt before Glenn.
"It's all my fault!"
He smashed his head on the floor, making a bone-cracking sound.
"I was too proud of my son, I didn't suspect him at all."
Rokan turned his gaze to Runaan, biting his lips until they bled.
"Even though Runaan warned me, I trusted Syria and didn't listen to her. It's all my incompetence! Please kill me!"
His blood stained the white floor.
"Dear, stop!"
Clara, standing beside him, forcibly stopped him, or Rokan seemed ready to take his own life.
"..."
Runaan didn't move from her spot. She looked at Glenn, taking deep breaths.
"Head of House Sullion."
Glenn slowly opened his eyes. Rokan trembled as he met the cold and empty red eyes.
"You have shown extreme loyalty to Zieghart since childhood. I want to trust you, but I can't ignore the fact that Syria Sullion was connected to Eden."
"Of course."
Rokan nodded, prepared for his fate.
"Wise Martial Palace Master."
"Yes."
Denier stepped forward and bowed.
"Mobilize all the Wise Martial Palace's personnel to thoroughly investigate the Sullion family's members, finances, and actions. There must be others still connected to Eden."
"I will comply."
Denier knelt, vowing to do his best.
"..."
Even though Sullion was a vassal family of Zieghart, this thorough investigation was a huge humiliation.
But Rokan only bowed his head without a word.
"We will address the head of House Sullion's punishment after the investigation. Until then, remain on standby."
"I accept the command."
Rokan bit his lip and bowed.
"Light Wind vice division leader."
As soon as Glenn finished speaking, Karoon, the Central Martial Palace master, beckoned Raon.
"I have a question."
"Please speak."
"Isn't it strange that you went to the Sullion house as soon as you realized Runaan was late? She could have had a reason to be late. Why did you rush there?"
He looked at Raon with blatant suspicion.
"The vice leader is usually punctual, and she always arrived at least an hour early for ice cream appointments. I knew something was wrong considering the relationship between Runaan and Syria…"
"Do you think that makes sense?"
Karoon clicked his tongue.
"Why are you doing this? He did a good job."
Balder, the True Martial Palace master, tilted his head, puzzled.
"Isn't it strange to go straight to her house just because she was late? And breaking in after hearing the butler's words. It's as if you staged the whole thing…"
"Karoon."
Glenn's cold gaze pierced Karoon. He called him by his name, not his title, making a chilling point.
"Shut up. I haven't finished speaking."
"…Sorry."
Karoon trembled and stepped back.
"Raon Zieghart."
"Yes."
Raon bowed and stepped forward.
"You have done a great job."
Glenn nodded deeply, as if to erase all of Karoon's suspicions.
"People who achieve great deeds see and feel things differently. If you had ignored Runaan's tardiness, the Sullion family would have fallen into Eden's hands, and they would have stabbed us in the back in the future."
He continued in a serious tone.
"You didn't just save the Sullion family; you saved Zieghart. It's no exaggeration to call it a great achievement."
"Th-Thank you."
Raon bowed, feeling dazed. He didn't expect such high praise.
"Hmm…"
Karoon seemed to want to say something, but after the scolding, he bit his lip.
"Come up."
Looking up in surprise, Raon saw Sheryl and Rimmer waving at him.
"What are you doing? Come up quickly!"
"Ask for money! Lots of it!"
Raon chuckled at Rimmer's words and stepped onto the platform.
"For defeating the Evil Goat Demon and saving the Sullion family, I award Raon Zieghart a Golden Tablet and a red necklace."
Glenn handed a Golden Tablet and a red necklace to Roenn, who passed them to Raon.
"Thank you."
Raon bowed cautiously, not expecting to receive another Golden Tablet so soon.
Kugugugugu!
As Raon descended from the platform, Glenn stood up. The grandiose pressure swept through the audience chamber like a rising mountain.
"Eden. No, since the Five Demons' influence has reached our vassal families and even the inner parts of Zieghart, we will establish a special inspection department for a while."
Glenn pointed to Balder.
"I appoint the True Martial Palace Master as the head of the special inspection to find and root out all traitors within the family."
"Leave it to me!"
Balder, who seemed surprised to be given such a task, soon smiled brightly and bowed.
"Ah…"
Raon widened his eyes as he saw Balder clenching his fist.
'Is he using that brute for inspection?'
Using Balder, who was basic, straightforward, and belligerent, for such a delicate task was unexpected.
"Hoo…"
Raon sighed deeply.
'This is going to be a lot of trouble for a while.'
"Head of house."
After all the executives had left, Rimmer approached the platform.
"You don't really intend to leave everything to the True Martial Palace Master, do you? He'll probably just smash everything if he doesn't like it…"
He shook his head, looking at the floor where Balder had stomped.
"You're right, Balder is not fit for the inspection."
Glenn nodded and looked at Roenn.
"Roenn. Activate the Black Swarm."
Hearing this, Roenn's kind eyes turned cold and sharp.
"When Balder starts his brute-force investigation, the spies will surely reveal themselves. Find and capture them all."
"As you command."
Roenn placed his hand on his chest and bowed. His usual gentle aura was replaced by a sharp, knife-like intensity.
"Balder will cause chaos in the open, and the Black Swarm will investigate in the shadows. Not a bad plan. But…"
Rimmer sighed in worry.
"The True Martial Palace Master will openly challenge us, which will be troublesome."
He clicked his tongue, dreading the thought.
"Why worry about that?"
Sheryl looked puzzled as she tilted her head.
"What?"
"We have that person in the Light Wind division."
"That person? Oh!"
Rimmer clapped his hands and lifted his head.
"Should we actually look forward to Balder coming?"