Boom boom boom.
Raon entered the audience chamber, feeling the warm sunbeams settling down.
As he walked towards the platform, exchanging eye greetings with Sheryl, Serena, and Trevin, the True Martial Palace Master Balder blinked his left eye.
'What the...'
He quickly averted his gaze, letting out a sigh.
'Why is he doing that?'
He couldn't understand why Balder kept blinking like that at every opportunity, even during the executive meetings.
Not wanting to be associated with it, he ignored Balder's gaze and stood in front of the platform.
"I greet the Head of House!"
Raon knelt before Glenn after confirming that the Light Wind division was standing behind him.
The Light Wind division also took the same posture and bowed their heads.
"Everyone rise."
As he heard the dry command to rise, he lifted his gaze. Glenn was showing his empty eyes while resting his chin on his fist as usual.
Raon nodded slightly as he saw Glenn's clouded gaze.
'Now I understand why the Head of House has such a look in his eyes.'
It's clear when Glenn looks at Sylvia; his gaze deepens with regret. He's stuck in the past, not looking at the present.
'I understand. I was also regretting the past... Hm?'
Raon was about to let out a short sigh when he suddenly stopped.
'But...'
Today seemed a bit different...
Glenn's lips, which usually drooped as if weighted down, were slightly raised today, and his eyes seemed less clouded than usual.
"Light Wind Division Leader."
However, before he could think about the reason, Glenn's call was heard.
"Yes, Head of House."
Raon answered, bowing his head.
"How did the Light Wind division, which went out on a monster extermination mission, return as state guests of the Suphren Kingdom?"
"State guests?"
He narrowed his eyes, hearing about state guests for the first time.
"A letter came from the Suphren Kingdom."
Glenn shook the white envelope placed on the armrest of the throne.
"It said they would designate the Light Wind Division Leader and the Light Wind division as state guests of Suphren, and halve the price of the Holy Water supplied to Zieghart."
"State guests? The entire Light Wind division?"
"Not just one person, but all 30-plus members?"
"The state guest status isn't important! Half-price Holy Water is practically free!"
"That's right. The Holy Water from the Suphren Kingdom is among the best on the continent!"
The executives looked at Raon and the Light Wind division with blank eyes.
Glenn nodded his chin as if telling them to explain what had happened.
The other executives also raised their eyes, which had a faint light of curiosity swirling in them.
"When we arrived at Devarn Mountain, Lord Hoppen and the Holy Knights were being chased by monsters. We rescued them, and upon reaching the summit..."
Raon told Glenn and the executives everything that had happened.
Of course, he glossed over things like the Descent of the Demon King and Greed's appearance.
"Hmm..."
"That's insane..."
"Now I understand. No wonder they're calling you heroes of Suphren."
"I thought it was nonsense when I heard rumors about catching demons in the Holy Kingdom, but now I have to acknowledge it."
"Now I see why there was such a commotion..."
The executives let out hollow laughs while expressing their amazement.
"But isn't it a bit strange?"
"Well, I don't know about the rest, but does it make sense that they found the demons faster than the priests of the Holy Kingdom..."
"And how could he fight alone when even the Saintess, Paladin, and Rimmer were defeated?"
Unable to make a show of force like before, the direct lineage executives resorted to picking a fight with ugly words.
"That's..."
"Won't you shut up?"
As Raon was about to answer with a sneer, Balder raised his fist, stomping his right foot on the ground.
"Where do you think you are to make such noise!"
"P-Palace Master?"
"Palace Master or not, shut up! You're in front of the Head of House!"
As Balder twisted his lips, the direct lineage executives turned their gaze away with guilty expressions.
'You're the one cursing in front of the Head of House...'
Raon blinked as he looked at Balder. He winked again with an expression that said, 'I did well, didn't I?'
What's even funnier was Glenn. Unlike usual, he didn't stop Balder, but rather nodded slightly as if he approved.
'What's really going on...?'
As he let out a bewildered chuckle, Glenn lowered the hand that had been supporting his chin.
"Light Wind Division Leader."
"Yes."
"Excellent."
Glenn uttered the word 'excellent' without any preamble. The other executives also widened their eyes in surprise.
"Finding the demons and defeating King Bauren who was possessed by demonic energy isn't particularly impressive. However..."
He raised his index finger. An absolute aura that seemed to press down on everything spread from his thin finger.
"Ugh..."
"Urk..."
The executives standing in front of the pillars couldn't withstand Glenn's aura and either retreated or fell to their knees.
"Fighting head-on with a demon that overwhelms even a Grandmaster is definitely not an easy task."
Glenn looked down at the direct lineage executives who had doubted Raon's achievements with a cold gaze.
"Umm..."
"Urgh..."
The direct lineage executives couldn't even raise their waists under Glenn's aura and could only tremble their hands.
"Even if Rimmer and the Saintess were exhausted, if the demon possessed demonic energy that made it difficult for them to stand, it must have been at least a mid-level or high-level demon. Defeating such a high-ranking demon is an achievement worthy of praise from anyone, regardless of your age."
As befitting the master of a renowned sword family, Glenn valued defeating the demon with a sword more highly than saving the Suphren Kingdom.
"The same goes for all of you."
Glenn's gaze shifted to the Light Wind division standing behind Raon.
"Even if they were low-level, it's nearly impossible for you to defeat demons and hell hounds at your current level. You've accomplished a great feat."
"It's thanks to the new martial arts that the Division Leader taught us."
"If it weren't for the Gale Wind Style, it would have been difficult to catch those bastards!"
Burren and Martha bowed their heads, giving credit to me. Their faces were flushed, perhaps because they had received direct praise from Glenn.
"Handsome Raon."
Even in this situation, Runaan muttered "Handsome Raon" while blinking. My face turned red.
"I-Isn't the Gale Wind Style the martial arts that the Light Wind Division Leader created recently?"
"That's right. To think it was a martial art capable of catching demons..."
"Was the rumor about it being a Supreme Martial Art true?"
"I can't say anything but that it's truly insane..."
The executives' lips trembled, seeming even more surprised by the Light Wind division's words.
"Ahem!"
"Kuhuhu."
Dorian and Krein straightened their backs with their noses in the air, seeming to enjoy the people's astonishment.
"Impressive!"
Balder grinned and raised his thumb. He was still winking with one eye. Unable to understand his intention, it gave me goosebumps.
"Ahem!"
Glenn cleared his throat loudly, covering his chin and mouth with his right hand. The tips of his fingers seemed to tremble.
"Defeating the demon is the greatest achievement, but I can't help but praise you for finding it first to reduce casualties, and for returning as state guests of Suphren."
Despite his expression of reluctance, Glenn's voice trembled slightly.
"I will bestow Golden Tablets on all members of the Light Wind division and grant them the authority to choose Transcendent equipment."
At his declaration, all the executives' jaws dropped.
"A-All of them get Golden Tablets? And Transcendent equipment on top of that..."
"Does this mean you're opening the treasury?"
"Not just one or two, but all of them? This is a bit..."
"It seems fine to me. They saved an entire kingdom after all."
"That's right. Since they've become state guests, connections will be easier, and half-price Holy Water is an enormous benefit."
Some executives frowned as if it was too much, but others, especially Balder's frowning face, made them keep their mouths shut.
"And."
Glenn wiggled his finger at Raon as if he wasn't done speaking.
"I'll give the Light Wind Division Leader, who led the Light Wind division, the authority to choose two pieces of equipment."
* * *
Snap!
After bestowing Golden Tablets on all members of the Light Wind division, Glenn snapped his fingers.
Whoosh!
A golden light like dawn spread throughout the audience chamber, and countless weapons, armor, and accessories rose up, cutting through dimensions.
"Wow..."
"T-This is..."
"Every single one is Transcendent equipment. I can't take my eyes off them."
The Light Wind division and the executives swallowed hard as they looked at the equipment, each revealing its own unique color.
"I summoned the equipment from Zieghart's treasury."
Glenn waved his hand lightly as if it was no big deal.
"The Light Wind division should choose the equipment they want directly."
He nodded as if to say it didn't matter what they chose.
"T-Thank you!"
The Light Wind division shouted their thanks to Glenn first, even though they couldn't take their eyes off the equipment.
However, there was one person who stood apart from this.
"I was broke, but now I've got something to sell... Ack!"
Rimmer, without even greeting, rushed towards the weapons but was struck by red lightning and fell.
-That idiot...
Wrath shook his plump chin disapprovingly.
-I thought he'd gotten a bit better, but he's still the same. Keh-lok!
He furrowed his brow as if recalling Rimmer, who had told him to run away as he blocked Gluttony.
'Well...'
Raon smiled faintly, recalling the conversation he had with Rimmer in front of the campfire.
"Wow, this is insane. Look at this sword! The blade is serrated like a saw! It's terrifying!"
"This armor ripples like liquid!"
"Earrings that amplify Aura? Ah, but earrings are a bit... no matter what..."
The Light Wind division was scattered around the audience chamber, examining the equipment. Long smiles were drawn on everyone's faces, seeming to enjoy themselves.
"I've finally found a sword to replace my Dark Phoenix! From today, your name is Storm of Chaos!"
"Huh. Can you keep up with my Green Wave ver.2?"
"Super Hakssar. I'm sorry. Destiny of Fate is calling me!"
There were already swordsmen choosing weapons and naming them. Back in the Light Wind squad days, those names gave me goosebumps, and their naming sense was still the same.
Raon let out a deep sigh and headed towards the right side where there were no weapons.
'I don't need a sword.'
With the Heavenly Drive, Blade of Requiem, and Thousand Slaughter Dagger, he didn't need any more weapons. (E/N: oh, yeah...the daggers...definitely didn't forget about them...)
'Then what should I... Hm?'
As he looked around at the armors, a thin piece of clothing that didn't seem to fit in caught his eye.
'Why is there underwear here?'
Thinking it was strange, he touched it, and felt a steel-like texture instead of cloth.
However, the inside that touched the skin was soft like a cotton shirt.
"It's True Iron Cloth."
Rimmer approached from the side with his arms crossed.
"True Iron Cloth?"
"It looks like ordinary clothing, but it's an artifact that absorbs impacts. It's tough enough to save your life at least once."
He nodded, saying it would be good to choose the True Iron Cloth.
"It's not bad."
It was light and soft, with nothing bothersome about it. Not only was it tough, but it also had shock absorption capabilities, making it perfect to wear under the uniform.
Raon took the True Iron Cloth and walked towards the accessories to find the next item.
'There are so many, I don't know what to choose... Huh?'
While examining various accessories of unknown use, his eyes widened.
'This is...'
* * *
"No way..."
Sheryl looked up at the platform with a faint smile.
"I didn't expect you to bring out Zieghart's treasury like this. Isn't this the second time?"
"It's the third time."
Roenn chuckled and shook his head.
"The first young master received it."
"Ah!"
Sheryl clapped her hands as if she remembered.
"Well, that incident was quite unbelievable."
She licked her lips as if she understood.
"I suppose it means that the Light Wind division's achievement this time is no less significant than that incident."
Roenn nodded while looking up at Glenn.
"Ahem, well, even if it's not quite to that extent, it was quite good in its own right."
Glenn cleared his throat and turned his head. The corners of his trembling lips began to curl up like the tip of a crescent moon.
Sheryl and Roenn smiled faintly as they watched Glenn's smile gradually curve upwards.
"Oh, I'm dying..."
Rimmer shook his head while rubbing his neck.
"My voice is hoarse from explaining about all the equipment."
He brushed back the hair sticking to his forehead, saying he was exhausted from helping the entire Light Wind division choose their weapons.
"What are you up to?"
Sheryl narrowed her eyes as she looked at Rimmer.
"What do you mean?"
"If it were the usual you, you'd just pick your own and run straight to the pawnshop. Why did you help the kids?"
"I'm the Vice Division Leader. I should at least do this much."
"You didn't do this even when you were the Division Leader, though?"
"My thinking has changed a bit."
Rimmer shrugged his shoulders.
"Your thinking has changed? What does that mean?"
Sheryl glared at Rimmer with narrowed eyes.
"..."
Rimmer just gave a faint smile without answering, then turned his gaze to Glenn.
"Head of House. What's the second item Raon took? It's something I've never seen before."
"It's something that has been there since before I became the Head of House."
A faint golden light reflected in Glenn's red eyes.
"No, it's been there for much longer than that."
"If it's been there for that long..."
"Perhaps there really is such a thing as fate."
* * *
"I'm tired..."
Raon sighed as he sat down on the bed.
His voice was hoarse from explaining everything that had happened to the annex residents after Glenn.
It was especially tiring because of Ensia, who was making a fuss about starting to write a new work right away.
-Keh-heuk!
Wrath let out a small burp while floating in the air.
-Home-cooked meals are indeed the best. Keh-lok!
He shook his head, saying that no matter what food he ate, nothing could beat home cooking.
-Hey.
"What?"
-Now eat some bead ice cream.
Wrath grinned, pointing at the bead ice cream dessert that Sylvia had prepared.
"Why did mother prepare something like this..."
Sylvia had prepared five sets, probably thinking that I liked bead ice cream.
The thought of eating all of that made my head hurt.
-That's our mom for you!
Wrath grinned and wiggled his hands, urging me to open the box quickly.
"Sigh..."
Raon sighed as he opened the frozen box containing the bead ice cream. Five scoops of mint chocolate ice cream appeared along with white steam.
-Mom!
Wrath shouted "I love you" and clasped his hands together.
Although I didn't feel like eating it, I put the mint chocolate in my mouth because Wrath had done me a favor, and it was Sylvia's sincere effort.
-Kuuuu.
Wrath let out a deep exclamation.
-This is it! The cool refreshing taste spreading within this sweetness! It's cleansing my stuffy mouth completely!
'You could just brush your teeth, you know.'
-That's different!
"Sigh..."
Raon finished eating all the ice cream in the box and lowered his hand.
-I'm so happy. Keh-lok!
Wrath floated in the air with his belly up, saying he felt good.
"Then should I fill my stomach too?"
Raon took out his Subspace Pouch.
-F-Fill your stomach?
"The Gluttony hasn't activated yet, you know."
Looking at Wrath's frightened eyes, he pulled out a Nadine bread from the Subspace Pouch.
-You fool.
Wrath snorted and shook his head.
-Don't you even know your own trait?
'What are you talking about?'
-Unlike Gluttony, your Gluttony trait only activates when you feel something is delicious. It doesn't work just by filling your stomach!
He giggled, saying I wouldn't be able to eat Nadine bread anymore.
'Hmm...'
Raon glanced at Wrath and then put the Nadine bread in his mouth.
-Hey! You bastard!
Ignoring whatever Wrath was saying, he chewed the bread thoroughly.
As expected of Nadine bread. His stomach felt instantly full, as if it might burst.
-Ah, no...
Wrath grabbed his head and let out a scream.
-It tastes like rubber! The happiness that the bead ice cream had soaked me in is burning up and turning black!
He ran his round fingers along his tongue as if trying to erase the rubber taste.
"It's good."
Raon nodded with a satisfied expression after eating all the Nadine bread.
-Keh-lok! Didn't I tell you! The Gluttony won't activate, and you've just ruined your taste...
Just as Wrath was about to argue.
[Trait
Along with the notification that Gluttony had been activated, a message appeared saying that his abilities and the realm of the soul had slightly increased.
-Huh...?
Wrath opened his eyes wide in disbelief.
-Why is this...?
He stared blankly at Raon.
-You, you really find this rubber bread delicious?
'Yeah. It's fine.'
Raon nodded calmly. Having lived eating weeds in his past life, Nadine bread was excellent food in comparison.
-What, such a weirdo exists! Let me see that tongue! There must be dog poop smeared on it! It doesn't make sense otherwise!
Wrath screamed in disbelief.
-W-Wait! Then from now on...
He examined the pink tongue and shook his head.
'I guess I'll have to eat Nadine bread every day.'
-Nooooooo!
'Nice scream.'
Raon lay back on the bed, listening to Wrath's screams.
A sword-shaped tassel with red and gold threads harmoniously mixed fell out of his shirt pocket.
-Hmm...
Wrath, who had been wailing, frowned as he looked at the tassel.
-Come to think of it, why did you choose that thing? I can't feel anything from it.
He shook his head, not understanding.
"Because it's worth it."
-Worth?
"Yes."
Raon nodded as he caressed the tassel.
"This belongs to the First Patriarch of Zieghart."