"Ugh!"
Siyana glared at Leylan running behind her as she pushed through the forest.
"Why didn't you tell me!"
"You were focused on the barrier, so I didn't want to disturb you."
Leylan bowed her head while meeting Siyana's eyes.
"It's not like I can hate you if you can't speak."
Siyana pouted her red lips.
"I'm sorry."
"It's fine. Just run faster."
She sprinted toward the direction of the World Tree, saying she just needed to get there quickly.
Leylan narrowed her eyes at the water shoes enveloping Siyana's feet.
'She really has changed.'
Originally, Siyana was the least talented elf in Sepia.
She couldn't fight, couldn't summon spirits, and was too shy to stand in front of others.
But her life completely changed after summoning the Water Spirit King.
It was as if a dam holding back water had broken, allowing her to handle natural mana as her own, gain genius-level talent in martial arts, and surpass everyone in Sepia in spirit arts.
Not even a week had passed since Eden's attack, and now only Sterin and the Chief Elder could match her in Sepia.
'She is someone to be admired.'
Despite being ignored her whole life, she forgave those who insulted her after gaining power and talent. Her mindset was on a different level from ordinary people.
However, there was one instance where Siyana's wise and compassionate reason would break.
'Raon Zieghart.'
Whenever it involved Raon, Siyana would move heaven and earth.
When Raon was unconscious, she gathered all the precious medicinal herbs in Sepia to make an elixir for him.
It seemed she considered him more important than Sepia itself.
'To be fair, he is that kind of person.'
If it weren't for Raon, Sepia would have turned to ashes, so it was understandable why she valued him so much.
"Lady Siyana, please slow down a bit. It's hard to keep up."
Leylan smiled faintly as she watched Siyana glide like the wind.
"We're almost there! Hang in there!"
Contrary to her encouraging words, Siyana increased her speed, even using the wind spirits, and came to a sudden stop in front of the World Tree's barrier.
"Ah…."
Hundreds of elves knelt before Raon, calling him their benefactor.
Confronted with that majestic sight, the words from Raon Zieghart's biography tickled her mind. Even though she hadn't seen it before, the scenes came to her mind.
'I have to write this.'
It was clear that the reason I was born was to witness and document this scene.
I had to write this part even if I had to pay the author of Raon Zieghart's biography.
Siyana clenched her fist with a new determination.
* * *
Raon's fingertips trembled as he looked at the elves bowing respectfully.
Being under the World Tree, the elves' sincerity touched his heart, sending chills down his spine.
'I appreciate it, but this is too much….'
I played a major role in repelling Eden's attack, but I don't deserve this level of gratitude.
-You fool!
Just as he was about to refuse, Wrath burst out.
-You're trying to be humble again, saying you only did what you had to?
'What?'
-Being humble isn't always a good thing.
Wrath pointed at the elves with his chubby finger.
-Those pointy ears are all sincere. Refusing their gratitude just because you feel uncomfortable is the same as ignoring them!
He frowned, telling him not to ignore their goodwill.
"Hmm…."
Raon looked at the elves again, following Wrath's finger. As Wrath said, they were simply expressing their gratitude.
Refusing it because it was uncomfortable was not just rude but akin to ignoring them.
'Ha, I'm learning from you now.'
-I told you before! I'm more human than you!
'I'm starting to believe it.'
Raon smiled faintly and drew Heavenly Drive.
"Raon Zieghart, Light Wind vice division leader of Zieghart. I accept Sepia's greetings."
He held the sword in reverse, pointing the tip to the ground and drawing the hilt to his chest. The Zieghart sword salute. He responded sincerely to the sincerity that approached him.
Sterin smiled at Raon's courteous yet dignified etiquette.
"Thank you for accepting our greeting."
Sterin stood up. Following him, the other elves also raised their heads.
"What's gotten into you?"
Rimmer approached and tapped his shoulder.
"It's your specialty to step back and make things awkward at times like this."
He smiled broadly, seemingly in a good mood.
"I can't always be the same.
-Hey! You sly guy!
Wrath shouted loudly.
-I helped you!
Raon nodded while watching Wrath struggle.
"And someone told me to stop being so humble."
"I don't know who it is, but they gave good advice."
Rimmer chuckled and waved his hand.
"Sounds like someone with a straightforward personality who always says the right thing."
-Ahem!
Wrath coughed while looking at Rimmer.
-The pointy ear finally said something right!
He grinned as if he liked it. I didn't know why this demon king was so weak to compliments.
"Raon Zieghart."
Sterin approached and gave a gentle smile.
"Thank you."
He thanked him once more and patted his shoulder.
"I should be thanking you."
"Hmm?"
"Thanks to the Guardian teaching me the essence of the Harmony Bow, I was able to win."
This was sincere. If the Requiem Sword and Willpower hadn't connected at the last moment, the Crimson Flame Demon would have been the victor.
"What...?"
Sterin widened his eyes as if asking what he was talking about.
"You, you achieved that?"
"I was lucky."
Raon briefly explained the battle with the Crimson Flame Demon.
"Huh..."
Sterin shook his jaw as if he couldn't understand even after hearing the explanation.
"Even if the sword and willpower connected, how could a low Grandmaster use Sword Control..."
"Old man, I told you."
Rimmer smirked, looking at Sterin's raised eyebrows.
"You can't think of my disciple in ordinary terms."
He patted Raon's head and shook his head.
"Just as there are High Elves among elves, he's a High Human. Don't apply common sense."
"You're talking nonsense again..."
Raon sighed, looking at Rimmer.
"Maybe..."
But Sterin blinked as if he believed it. It seemed that successfully using Sword Control was that astonishing.
"It's not like that. I'm just a regular human."
Raon quickly waved his hand.
"It's almost more believable that he's saying nonsense than a low Grandmaster using Sword Control."
Sterin sighed, pointing at Rimmer.
"Moreover, he's the Fire Spirit King's Contractor! Such a human is unprecedented in the continent's history!"
Erian approached and nodded vigorously. Now he was talking about continental history. He was as tiresome as Rimmer.
"N-no, it's not."
At the thin voice, everyone's gaze turned to the right.
Golden hair like melted sunlight shimmered, and her blue eyes, touched by dawn moonlight, revealed a delicate color.
Her overwhelming beauty was enough to make one forget to speak just by meeting her eyes. She was outstanding even among elves, the most beautiful of all races.
"L-Lady Siyana?"
"Y-yes…."
Siyana lowered her head, her cheeks turning red.
"R-Raon, hello…."
Even without her blanket, her voice was quieter than before.
"You've come out from under your blanket now."
"Th-thanks to you…."
Siyana still looked at the ground and nodded.
"Siyana, what do you mean by 'it's not'?"
Sterin gestured for her to continue.
"Ah, Raon is not the Fire Spirit King's Contractor."
"Lady Siyana, what do you mean!"
Erian stomped, unable to believe it.
"Raon is undoubtedly the Fire Spirit King's Contractor! You saw him fight with the Spirit King!"
"No, he's not."
Siyana shook her head firmly, unlike when she was dealing with Raon.
"I heard it from Elim."
She raised her trembling gaze to look at Raon.
"Raon is the Fire Spirit King's elder brother!"
At Siyana's bizarre declaration, everyone under the World Tree momentarily held their breath.
"Wha...?"
"What does that…"
"E-Elder brother? Not a contractor, but an elder brother?"
"Ugh…."
Sterin, Rimmer, and Erian widened their eyes in disbelief, while Raon closed his eyes tightly.
'Please….'
It seemed that the strawberry-flavored candy Spirit King had gone to the spirit realm and talked about me.
"Why is Raon the Spirit King's elder brother?"
Rimmer blinked rapidly, unable to imagine it.
"I don't know either. Ifrit said he would serve Raon as his elder brother right after returning to the spirit realm…."
Siyana shook her head, saying even the Spirit Kings didn't know why.
"Whew…."
Raon sighed as he heard that.
'At least that's a relief.'
I was worried about how to explain Wrath, but fortunately, Ifrit didn't mention the crucial parts.
If he had to explain the situation, he would have had to reveal that he was devoured by Wrath, so it was understandable.
"Not a contractor, but an elder brother!"
Erian trembled as he looked at Raon.
"My eyes weren't wrong! I felt Raon's spirit from the first time I met him!"
He shouted that his intuition was the best among the elves.
"That's not what's important right now!"
The Chief Elder pushed Erian aside and stood before Raon.
"How on earth did you become the Fire Spirit King's elder brother?"
"Yes, please explain!"
"What did you do?"
The elders and elves crowded around, curious about the matter.
"Well…."
Raon frowned and sighed.
'How do I explain this…'
Telling the truth was out of the question. As he was trying to think, a brilliant light suddenly flashed from the sky.
Whoooosh!
The World Tree spread its branches like wings, just as when they first met.
The grand natural energy gathered among the transparent leaves, emitting a brilliant and beautiful light.
Whoooooo!
The sphere of light, flickering like a meteor, slowly descended and floated in front of Raon as if riding a cloud.
As Raon instinctively reached out, the bright light subsided, revealing a fruit slightly larger than an apple.
'This is….'
It was a fruit he had never seen before. The skin had patterns of overlapping circles, beautiful and intricate like an artist's engraving.
Its color was a red similar to raspberries, looking so appetizing that he wanted to eat it immediately.
The most impressive thing was the scent. Even without cutting it, the sweet and pure aroma was enough to make his mouth water.
"F-fruit…."
The Chief Elder's jaw dropped as he looked at the red fruit.
"It's the World Tree's fruit!"
"The World Tree gave a fruit…."
"This, this is the World Tree's fruit?"
Not just the Chief Elder, but all the elves there trembled with astonishment at the sight of the fruit.
He had heard that the World Tree's fruit was an incredible elixir, but he didn't know it would be surprising even to the elves.
"It's only natural."
Sterin swallowed dryly as he looked at the World Tree's fruit.
"Contrary to the saying that it ripens once every hundred years, the World Tree's fruit is a sacred artifact that the tree gives only when it feels like it. It's no wonder they're surprised."
He sighed, saying they should be praised for not fainting.
"Is it really okay for me to receive such a precious…"
-Take ittttt!
Wrath screamed like a banshee.
-Take it unconditionally! You stupid sly guy! I told you, and you're being humble again!
He frowned, telling him not to ignore the World Tree's goodwill.
'Wipe the drool off your mouth before you talk.'
Wrath was pretending to think of me while drooling like a flood.
-Slurpp!
He quickly wiped away the drool and smacked his lips.
-Anyway, take it unconditionally! You suck up my power like an anteater, so why are you so considerate of others!
Wrath raised both hands, saying he'd curse him for life if he didn't eat the fruit.
"Ha."
Sterin shook his head in disbelief.
"You must be the only one who would say such a thing in front of the World Tree's fruit."
"See, he's like this. So frustratingly unlike Zieghart."
Rimmer sighed and pushed the World Tree's fruit back into Raon's hand.
"This is yours. Since the World Tree gave it directly, you're the only one who can have it. We are all witnesses here."
"He's right. Take it."
"When you see it right before your eyes, you have to accept it."
"Y-yes. Raon, you should take it!"
The Chief Elder, Erian, and Siyana also nodded.
Raon smiled faintly at the elves.
'They all feel like the Division Leader.'
Though he hadn't known them for long, it already felt like they were close. It was probably thanks to the World Tree's direct transmission of emotions.
"Then I will accept it gratefully."
Raon hugged the World Tree's fruit to his chest and bowed to Sterin and the elves.
Whooosh!
The World Tree's widely spread branches swayed in the sun's path. It seemed to be smiling with joy.
-Kuhehehehe!
Wrath burst into a vulgar laugh as he looked at the World Tree's fruit.
-The World Tree's fruit! It was worth coming to this boring place! Happiness has come after Nadine bread!
He showed delight as if the World Tree's fruit had already entered his mouth.
-Stupid elves. They'll feel like their stomachs are bursting from the pain of losing the fruit to this sly guy!
'No one seems to be thinking that?'
-They only look that way on the surface! No one smiles when their possession is taken!
Wrath clicked his tongue, asking if he didn't know that.
-Eat it right here and now before they take it back or lose it! Mock the pointy ears who made Nadine bread!
He seemed to hate the elves because of Nadine bread.
'Sigh….'
Just as he was thinking how troublesome this demon king was and sighed.
[You have become the benefactor of the elves.]
[You have earned the respect of the
[You have achieved a great feat.]
[All attributes have increased by 25 points.]
The settlement for this event seemed to have just been completed, as messages appeared before his eyes.
-Keooook...
Wrath's mouth, which had been laughing brightly, twisted strangely. But the messages weren't over yet.
[The achievement of
[The achievement of
[The rank of
[The rank of
The second set of messages indicated the increase in achievements for Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and Glacier. Enduring the Crimson Flame Demon's fire had caused the ranks of Fire Affinity and Fire Resistance to increase.
[A new title
The messages finally stopped after creating a new title.
'It's always a pleasant sound.'
Raon felt vitality returning to his still-unrecovered body and clenched his fist.
-Kkeueue...
On the contrary, Wrath trembled all over as if about to cry.
'Does your stomach hurt?'
Raon raised the corners of his mouth, looking at Wrath clutching his plump belly and shivering.
-Yes! It hurts so much I might die!
Wrath shouted that he couldn't stand it and lunged with bared teeth.
-Kyiaaaak!
* * *
Zieghart Main House.
Shadow Agents' Leader Chad trembled as he looked at the report in his hand.
"E-Eden attacked Sepia. The Crimson Flame Demon wearing the former Fire Spirit King's helmet and the treacherous grey elves of Sepia came…"
He swallowed dryly as he read the words written in the report.
"Damn it!"
Alice clenched her fist and turned around.
"I'll go!"
She was ready to dash out, saying she would go to Sepia right away.
"It's not over yet. Keep reading."
Glenn stopped Alice and gestured for Chad to continue reading.
"Ah, yes. There, the Light Wind vice division leader and…"
Chad checked the report to the end and recited how Raon saved Sepia and even received the World Tree's fruit.
"Damn it!"
Alice tied her hair tightly and turned around again.
"I have to go right now!"
"Where do you think you're going when it's all over? We need to find those Eden bastards…"
"Since it's all over, they'll have a festival! As Raon's aunt, I'll surely be treated as an honored guest!"
She even used footwork as she dashed to the door.
"Sigh, Roenn."
"Hahaha."
Roenn appeared like a ghost and blocked Alice's way.
"Please restrain yourself."
"Argh…"
Alice couldn't bring herself to use her hands on Roenn and just frowned.
"To use the expression 'benefactor of the elves,' I've never heard that before. It's truly an achievement."
Sheryl sighed as she looked at the report in the Shadow Agents' Leader's hand.
"Haha, to become a Spirit King's Contractor, I really don't know how far he'll go."
Roenn also stiffened his expression, which was unusual, as if he was astonished.
"Kuhm…"
At the sudden sound of someone holding back laughter, everyone in the audience chamber looked toward the platform.
"Didn't you just hear a strange sound?"
Alice tilted her head, finding it strange. The others knew who had laughed, so they said nothing.
"I-I find this part amazing."
Chad shook his head, pointing at the report.
"The World Tree personally giving a fruit, a human seeing the World Tree is historically significant, but receiving its fruit is likely unique."
"He surpasses expectations every time."
Roenn nodded, agreeing with Chad's words.
"This level of achievement could lead to diplomatic relations with the elves."
Sheryl smiled, saying it seemed a new path had opened.
"I told you, Raon is gifted. If he becomes the head of house, Zieghart will prosper beyond comparison."
"Kuhm!"
As soon as Alice praised Raon, the sound of someone holding back laughter was heard again.
"What is it! Who is it! Is there someone else on the platform?"
Alice climbed onto the platform and searched everywhere. She didn't think the owner of the platform had made the sound and just blinked her eyes.
"What are you doing? Get down."
Glenn removed his hand from his mouth and frowned at Alice.
"I really heard it…"
Alice tilted her head, saying it was strange.
"Kuhm! Since Raon has become the elves' benefactor, it would be a bit odd to greet him normally, right?"
Glenn gave a short cough and suggested welcoming Raon.
"Of course! We should welcome him grandly!"
Chad shouted that it was only natural and clapped his hands.
"That's right. He has achieved a great feat that will significantly aid Zieghart's diplomacy, so we should give him proper treatment."
Sheryl nodded with a refreshing smile.
"Hahaha!"
Roenn laughed heartily, seemingly just enjoying the moment.
"Then I'll bring him!"
Alice nodded and quickly ran to the door.
"Stay still for a bit!"