[The trait
Raon swallowed dryly as he read the message about the evolution of his trait.
'Traits can evolve?'
He had thought that since martial arts levels started at 1 star and ended at 12 stars, traits would also stop growing at 12 stars.
But contrary to his expectations, the
'Forever Unrippled Mind...'
Just as one can only see their reflection in still water and not in rippling waves, Forever Unrippled Mind meant maintaining a calm and undisturbed state of mind at all times. In other words, it seemed that as
'This is insane.'
Raon smiled as he turned to look at Wrath.
'Why didn't you tell me about this...'
-Grrrr.
As Raon was about to ask Wrath for the reason, the demon king gnashed his white teeth.
-Whaaaaat! You crazy thing! Why did you let it evolve! You should have just left it at 12 stars!
As always, Wrath treated the system like a person, pointing accusingly and hurling insults.
-I really can't take this anymore! I'm going back to Devildom right now and smashing everything!
He grabbed his own head, unable to accept the situation.
'I don't know what it is, but thanks anyway.'
-I'm about to die from rage! Shut up!
'Hmm.'
Raon left the rampaging Wrath alone and checked the messages again.
[The sprout of Ten Thousand Swords has begun to grow.]
[All stats increase by 20 points.]
[The rank of the trait
[The rank of the trait
[The rank of the trait
[The trait
[A new title
20 points, rank increase for three traits, and the creation of one title.
Although this reward might feel small compared to the many benefits gained from recently achieving impossible feats, it was definitely not. Seeing Wrath, who had been pleased with the
-Ugh...
Wrath sniffled, his chin trembling.
-I shouldn't have teased you about getting the Tenacious Leech title. The one whose blood that guy sucked the most was me, the demon king...
He sniffled, saying he had been sucked dry from their first meeting until now.
'It's mutual support, isn't it?'
Raon smiled and patted Wrath's shoulder.
-M-mutual support? Is that something that should come out of your mouth!
Wrath shouted loudly.
-You suck my energy to the bone, throw me a few pieces of Bead Ice Cream, and call it mutual support? You angel-winged bastard!
'That's not a compliment, is it?'
-Of course not! It means you're twice as bad as dog poop!
He raised his fist, exuding intense anger.
-Apologize right now! Apologize for saying mutual support!
'Sorry.'
-Grrr! Your apology makes me even angrier!
Wrath shouted that he couldn't take it anymore and thrust out his fist.
'What am I supposed to do...'
Raon lightly blocked Wrath's fist and then examined the
'Oh?'
He had been worried because the name Tenacious Leech sounded strange, but the content wasn't bad.
-Urgh...
Wrath gaped after examining the title's effect.
-G-gaining favor while acting like a leech? You're saying people should smile while having their blood sucked? What kind of vicious effect is this!
He muttered that it was scary, his chubby cheeks trembling.
-Whose side are you on! You must know that I, the demon king, am living like this!
Wrath swung his arms, shouting at the system to come out right now.
'My ears hurt. Please stop.'
Raon shook his head as he pushed away the clinging Wrath.
-You leech-brained fool! Could you endure it if you were me? Having chunks of flesh torn off every day!
Wrath roughly pulled at his own hair, telling Raon to put himself in his shoes.
'Ah, I get it.'
Raon let out a long sigh. He had finished checking his rewards and wanted to rest quickly, as the injuries from his sparring match were starting to hurt.
'When we get back to the house, I'll eat everything you want for a whole day.'
Raon recited the only spell that worked on Wrath as he reached out his hand.
-Kiaaang!
Wrath bared his teeth like a cat, as if saying absolutely not.
'Two days.'
-Kiaaa!
'Three days.'
-Kia?
'Four days.'
-Kung! It's a deal!
He finally agreed to the deal, nodding his head.
-Ah, I'm tired today! We should hurry and go.
Wrath said he was looking forward to returning to the house and immediately entered the ice flower bracelet.
"Haa..."
Raon shook his head as he watched Wrath disappear, wagging his tail.
'I'm the one who's tired.'
He quickly changed his clothes and lay down on the bed.
'I don't know if I'm living with a demon king or raising a ferocious cat..."
Sometimes he was more mature than Glenn, and other times he became more trivial than a tantrum-throwing kitten. He still couldn't figure out that demon king.
'The day to see those bright stars isn't far off...'
Raon slowly closed his eyes while gazing at the Holy Sword Alliance's night sky, which sparkled like a sea of stars.
'It's time to go back.'
* * *
The time when Raon fell asleep. Rector welcomed two guests in the reception room.
"You must be very pleased."
Lawrence sat on the sofa, stretching his hunched back.
"Your grandson is so damn talented, you must feel full even without eating."
He frowned as he popped a cookie from the table into his mouth.
"It's not just the stomach that's full."
Zalek twisted his lips as he picked up on Lawrence's words.
"With a grandson who's the continent's top talent, you must feel refreshed even without sleep."
He sat on the sofa with a snort.
"Heh heh heh."
Rector leaned back in his chair with a big smile, looking pleased to hear praise for Raon despite the underlying sarcasm.
"Don't just laugh, tell us. What happened all this time?"
Lawrence leaned forward, thumping his chest as if frustrated.
"What the hell did you do to create a monster in his early twenties that's on par with me!"
He shook his chin, saying he couldn't have imagined someone like Raon existing.
"It's not quite like that."
Rector calmly shook his head.
"If you hadn't gone easy on him, Raon wouldn't even be standing today."
He smiled gently, expressing his gratitude.
"There's no need to put killing intent into a regular spar, is there?"
Lawrence snorted, saying it was obvious.
"And Raon, that arrogant brat, didn't provoke any murderous intent in me either. The result would have been the same."
He chuckled, saying it would have ended in a draw anyway.
"Is that so."
Rector smiled softly as he looked into Lawrence's eyes.
"It's funny. You seem to have become quite close with Raon."
"C-close? What are you talking about! I'm just relieved that annoying guy is leaving soon!"
Lawrence shook his head vigorously, hiding his reddened face behind his long hair.
"You're still not honest with yourself. However..."
Zalek let out a deflated laugh as he watched the embarrassed Lawrence.
"You've improved a lot compared to before. This must be thanks to Raon too."
He lowered his eyebrows, saying Raon's role had been significant.
"M-mind your own business!"
Lawrence turned his face away abruptly, his ears turning red.
"Enough! Just tell me how you found that guy!"
He lowered his hand, saying his curiosity was like thorns in his mouth.
"I'm also interested in that part."
Zalek nodded as he sat down next to Lawrence.
"How were you able to bring a Direct Lineage of Zieghart as your grandson?"
He also expressed his curiosity about Raon and Rector's circumstances.
"Well, it's a bit of a long story, but..."
Rector moistened his throat with tea and began to tell the two men about everything that had happened.
"...I see."
Zalek bit his lip tightly.
"Now I understand why I felt an unusual desperation from that young man."
He nodded heavily, saying he could finally understand Raon now.
"That damn guy..."
Lawrence let out a long sigh and clenched his fist.
"When he heard about my past, he had a strangely empathetic look in his eyes. I thought it was just sympathy, but it wasn't. He's lived a life as difficult as mine."
He nodded, saying he felt he could understand Raon's life as well.
"And the Alliance leader too."
Lawrence frowned as he looked at Rector, who had his hands clasped together.
"So the reason you came before and asked me to take care of the Holy Sword Alliance if you died was also because of Raon."
He brushed back his disheveled white hair, saying he understood everything now.
"That's right."
Rector calmly stroked his chin.
"I was thinking of sacrificing my life for Raon. I'd dealt with all those who worshipped the previous Alliance leader, so I thought you could take over the Holy Sword Alliance."
He smiled slightly, saying he had trusted Lawrence.
"Then you should have told me this story!"
Lawrence frowned, asking why he was only opening up about this now.
"I'm sorry."
Rector bowed his head, saying he had no words.
"...I have no children or grandchildren, but I understand the Alliance leader."
Zalek nodded calmly.
"Is this what it means to grow old?"
He smiled softly as he looked at Rector.
"Hah, I thought I was the only one experiencing the world's crazy events, but I guess not."
Lawrence clicked his tongue and looked up at the reception room ceiling.
"I didn't know there was someone worse off than me living so diligently."
He bit his lip as if ashamed of the years he'd spent holed up in his cave.
"It's not too late yet."
Rector shook his head as he looked at Lawrence.
"You can't change the past, but you can change the future with your own hands, can't you?"
"Of course, I know that."
Lawrence's golden eyes flashed as if he had been waiting for this.
"When Raon and Martha strike at the White Blood Religion, I'll be there too. No, I'll stand at the front."
He gritted his teeth, vowing to avenge his mother who had been his nanny.
"Before, I was too scared to even say it out loud, but thanks to that crazy guy, I seem to have gained some courage."
Lawrence showed a faint smile as he remembered Raon's reckless charges.
"Hmm."
Zalek stretched his hand over the table, smacking his lips.
"I'll join you when that time comes."
"Why, you cowardly old man? Did you grow fond of Raon after being bullied by him?"
Rector twirled his finger around Zalek's head, letting out a scoff.
"Don't talk nonsense!"
Zalek swatted away Rector's hand, furrowing his brow.
"I can't just leave my second disciple, who I took on in my later years."
He smacked his lips, saying Dorian was on his mind.
"Didn't you say he wasn't your disciple?"
Rector chuckled and waved his hand dismissively.
"Ahem, don't play with words."
Zalek cleared his throat and lowered his gaze.
"Dorian is too kind-hearted. He's an even bigger coward than I used to be, so I can't help but worry."
"Then someday, Dorian might surpass you."
Rector nodded slightly, observing Zalek's wrinkled expression.
"Well, that could happen."
Zalek drew a thin smile, as if he would actually like that.
"It seems I'll be joining you that day too. This has become interesting."
Rector took out an expensive bottle of liquor from the bookshelf and placed it on the table.
"That's a rare one, isn't it?"
Lawrence's eyes widened as he looked at the bottle.
"It's for commemoration. Let's have a drink, hoping that all three of us will gather on the day we strike at the White Blood Religion."
He filled Lawrence and Zalek's glasses with liquor and raised his own glass first.
"To my grandson's happiness."
"For my mother's revenge."
"For the coward."
The drinking session of the three men, which began with their individual pledges, continued well past dawn.
* * *
In the dim dawn.
The Gambling Monster stopped in front of the door of the Fifth Training Ground.
"Has he come again today?"
He smirked as he sensed the presence of someone inside the training ground.
"He's really something else, I tell you."
The Gambling Monster briefly smacked his lips before opening the door and going inside. The first thing that caught his eye was Rimmer, who was tamping down the floor of the training ground.
"What wind has blown over you?"
The Gambling Monster approached Rimmer, furrowing his brows deeply.
"For two months, you've been coming out at dawn to prepare for training, and you haven't even shown your shadow at the gambling den. Have you gone mad?"
While Raon was away at the Holy Sword Alliance, Rimmer had been coming to the training ground at dawn to prepare for the swordsmen's training, and focusing on his own cultivation at night after everyone had left. He was so different from the Rimmer he knew that it was worrying enough to make him think the world might be ending. It was like seeing that elf when he first came to Zieghart.
"Why am I getting scolded even when I'm living diligently?"
Rimmer shrugged his shoulders as if dumbfounded.
"Since the Division Leader is not here, I'm just filling in as the Acting Division Leader."
He waved his hand, saying he was just filling in for Raon's absence.
"You've got to be kidding me!"
The Gambling Monster lowered his eyebrows deeply, looking suspicious.
"You're doing things now that you never did when you were the Division Leader?"
"If I had remained the Division Leader of the Light Wind division, I probably wouldn't have done this."
Rimmer shook his head as he looked at the well-tamped floor of the training ground.
"But Raon is the Division Leader now. I don't want to tarnish his reputation."
He drew a thin smile, saying that was all there was to it.
"You're serious, aren't you..."
The Gambling Monster narrowed his eyes as he looked at Rimmer, who seemed to have become detached.
"You really do regard Raon as your king."
"I've been saying it all along. He's our King. Though he's still a bit inexperienced."
Rimmer muttered that things would change even more in the future, telling him to remember it well.
"Hmph. He's your King, not ours."
The Gambling Monster shook his head firmly.
"Your heart has already surrendered, yet you're still pretending otherwise."
Rimmer smirked as he looked at the Gambling Monster.
"You're here at this hour because of Raon too, aren't you?"
"Huh, don't talk nonsense! I'm just here to ask a favor..."
"Says the man who pants like a puppy every time Raon brings back alcohol when he returns."
He stuck out his tongue as if he knew everything.
"W-who's a puppy!"
The Gambling Monster gnashed his teeth, his face turning red.
"Well, regardless of whether we're dogs or cats, Raon will come back changed, so we can't just sit still either."
Rimmer said that was all there was to it and resumed tidying up the training ground.
"Let me ask you one thing. What will you do if Raon has no intention of becoming the head of house?"
The Gambling Monster stood before Rimmer with a serious look in his eyes. He seemed ready to bear down on Rimmer depending on his answer.
"It's my wish for Raon to become the head of house, but even if that's not the case, it doesn't matter. Isn't it a subject's duty to follow wherever the one they've acknowledged as King goes?"
Rimmer shrugged his shoulders, saying that was all there was to it.
"Hmm..."
The Gambling Monster loosened his grip, as if the answer was unexpected.
"And instead of paying attention to me, worry about that side. At this time, every time..."
As Rimmer shook his head, a strong vibration came from the direction of the Lord's Manor. The entire Zieghart began to shake as if an earthquake had struck.
"That old geezer is causing earthquakes every day because he's going through Raon withdrawal symptoms!"
Rimmer pointed at the shaking Lord's Manor and yelled.
"It's because of that guy that I can't sleep anyway!"
* * *
Rector held a small banquet in the mansion's training ground before Raon's return. Though it was incomparably smaller in scale than Zieghart's festivals, the alcohol and food were made from ingredients grown by the swordsmen themselves, giving them a unique taste and aroma.
-That! Try that first!
'I can understand even if you say it only once.'
Raon put the pumpkin pie Wrath pointed at into his mouth. The crispy bread, sweet pumpkin, and peanuts that had seeped in between created a strange harmony.
-It's amazing! It's a healthy taste, but I'm drawn to it!
'I know. The first taste is bland, but it keeps pulling you in.'
Raon agreed with Wrath and put another pie in his mouth.
-There's no fancy or stimulating taste, but you can feel the sincerity. This kind of thing is nice sometimes.
Wrath smacked his lips, saying he liked it.
'You're so picky, I swear.'
-It's not that I'm picky, you're just dull!
He shouted not to talk nonsense and gestured for Raon to eat new food.
'Alright, alright.'
As Raon moved towards the food Wrath wanted to eat, he turned his gaze to the right. Burren, Martha, and Runaan were chatting with the swordsmen of the Holy Sword Alliance, and perhaps because they had been sparring daily, there was a sense of camaraderie like that between comrades.
'It was a good decision to bring them.'
In the end, they couldn't break through the wall of Grandmaster, but all three of them had reached the pinnacle of Master level. It was a great gain, as they could break through the wall anytime given the right opportunity.
'Of course, the one who made the biggest change was that guy.'
Raon smiled slightly as he watched Dorian moving through the banquet hall as if it were his own home. With his unique friendliness, he seemed to have built relationships with everyone in the Holy Sword Alliance, creating laughter as he distributed supplies here and there.
'His martial arts growth itself is minimal, but...'
He's become stronger than anyone. Though he didn't understand it himself yet, if Dorian fought with his Mind's Eye open, he could defeat even stronger swordsmen. The ability to read an opponent's thoughts was that much of a cheat-like ability.
'Of course, I too...'
As Raon turned his head with a smile, his gaze met Lawrence's. The latter was leaning against the wall, glaring at him fiercely as if something had upset him.
"Sir Lawrence?"
Raon approached Lawrence and tilted his head.
"Is something wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong!"
Lawrence lowered his eyebrows as if telling Raon to mind his own business.
"...Ah!"
Raon looked at Lawrence and smiled faintly.
"Are you sad because I'm leaving? Ah, as I thought, loneliness..."
"W-what nonsense are you spouting! I'm relieved you're going!"
Lawrence waved his hand, telling Raon not to say crazy things. He was so flustered that the drink in his hand splashed around.
"You're right."
Zalek approached from the side and nodded.
"He cried because you're leaving."
He laughed, saying that Lawrence had shed tears during their drinking session with Rector.
"Has this old geezer gone senile! Who cried!"
"You cried because Raon is leaving. Saying you'll be alone again..."
"Shut your mouth! Want to fight? Huh?"
Lawrence yelled at Zalek, his face turning red.
"May I do the fighting? I've had some new inspirations while meditating for the past few days."
Raon grinned as he pointed to himself.
"You shut up!"
Lawrence clutched his head, begging them to be quiet. As everyone was enjoying their time, a man appeared at the entrance of the rocky mountain leading to the Holy Sword Alliance. The red-haired man with a black eyepatch covering both eyes twisted his lips, wearing a tattered dragon robe over his shoulders.
"As expected... he came here."