Raon nodded with a calm gaze.
'Just as I thought.'
Thanks to the numerous monsters covering the continent, the white-eyed humanoid that doesn't exist in the present world, and the events at the Sword Saint's Tomb, he had anticipated that the ancestor who appeared in his dream was the First Patriarch of Zieghart.
"Looking at your eyes, it seems you already knew."
Glenn smiled faintly, as if he had read Raon's expression.
"The F-First Patriarch of Zieghart?"
Burren swallowed dryly as he stood up.
"Then could it be that book too?"
His lips trembled as if he had realized that the Zieghart ancestor who wrote the Sword Control martial arts manual was the First Patriarch.
"It seems so."
Raon nodded as he pulled out the Sword Control martial arts manual from his bosom.
"The First Patriarch wrote that martial arts manual?"
"Woooow..."
Martha and Dorian also widened their eyes in astonishment.
"The First Patriarch's martial arts manual?"
Glenn looked at the martial arts manual in Raon's hand with questioning eyes, as if asking what he was talking about.
"There's something I couldn't tell you about the incident with Darkan."
Raon stepped onto the platform and held out the martial arts manual to Glenn.
"This is the Sword Control martial arts manual that Darkan gave me to repay a debt. But the Sword Control technique written in here..."
He paused for a moment before slowly continuing.
"It was exactly the same as the Sword Control used by the golden-haired, red-eyed swordsman in my dream."
"So that's why you asked such a question."
Glenn nodded slowly, as if he finally understood.
"Now that you mention it, the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation you took."
He raised his gaze, sensing the flickering flames in Raon's energy center.
"That martial art, which hasn't allowed anyone's touch for a thousand years, is also the First Patriarch's."
Glenn grasped Raon's shoulder and smiled gently.
"I've only seen him in writings, but seeing the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation passed down to you and you even dreaming about him, it seems our ancestor is playing favorites with his descendants."
He nodded, not with regret, but rather as if he was pleased.
"What kind of dream was it?"
Runaan raised her blank eyes, as if more curious about the dream's content than anything else.
"Well..."
Raon lowered his hands from his abdomen as he looked at Glenn and Sheryl and Roenn beside him.
'I guess it's okay to talk about it here.'
Since everyone currently in the audience chamber was trustworthy, it seemed there wouldn't be any problem in talking about what he saw in the dream.
"In the current land of the Holy Sword Alliance..."
Raon recounted the story of the First Patriarch and his companions from his dream without any exaggeration or omission.
"Considering that the previous Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance discovered this book in the current Holy Sword Alliance territory, there seems to be a deep connection between the Holy Sword Alliance and Zieghart that we don't know about."
"Hmm..."
Glenn also raised his eyebrows high, as if surprised by that part.
"If that's true, we can't dismiss it as just a simple dream."
Sheryl nodded, revealing a sharp gaze.
"Indeed. Just the fact that you recreated the Sword Control you saw in the dream shows it wasn't an ordinary dream. It could be magic or a spell that captures memories."
Roenn chuckled, saying they should consider it from various angles.
"So there's something I'd like to ask you, Head of House."
Raon lowered the martial arts manual and looked at Glenn.
"What kind of person was the First Patriarch?"
He asked directly, thinking Glenn might know about the First Patriarch's actions.
"The era when the First Patriarch lived was a thousand years ago from now."
Glenn slowly closed his eyes.
"Whether it's true or false, it was a time when the Demonic Dragon descended and monsters ruled over humans. It wasn't the era of humans, so there aren't many records about that time."
He shook his head briefly, saying that even he didn't know much about the First Patriarch.
"I see..."
Raon bit his lip lightly.
'Well, even Derus couldn't find many books from that era.'
Books or records about the history from a thousand years ago barely exist. The only common content is the endless war between the Demonic Dragon and the fight of humans versus monsters. Other details vary widely, making them unreliable.
"However, there are a few records remaining in Zieghart."
Glenn raised the hand that was holding the throne and pointed his index finger.
"That the First Patriarch, along with his companions, slew the Demonic Dragon and built this Zieghart on its corpse. However, other historical materials say it was slain in the south, or that all of humanity joined forces, so the interpretation may vary depending on who's looking at it. But there's one common point in all the historical records..."
He lowered his eyebrows and let out a low breath.
"The point is that after founding the family, the First Patriarch's whereabouts abruptly ceased to be recorded."
"His whereabouts ceased?"
"Yes. After establishing Zieghart and stabilizing the family, he suddenly disappeared."
Glenn shook his head, saying that the First Patriarch never returned to Zieghart after founding the family.
"Hmm..."
Raon narrowed his eyes, mumbling the word "whereabouts."
'It's similar to the story of the Sword Saint.'
Glenn's story had similarities to what he had said in the Sword Saint's Tomb.
'It's becoming more and more questionable.'
He became curious about the First Patriarch's purpose, whether he really fought the Demonic Dragon, and who the humanoid with inverted eye colors was.
"If you're really curious, go to the underground of the Shadow Agents."
Glenn briefly jerked his chin.
"The underground of the Shadow Agents?"
"As you know, the Shadow Agents are Zieghart's information organization. Its history is as old as Zieghart itself. Even I haven't seen everything, so if you search there, you might find something."
He advised Raon to investigate directly, saying he would write a permit for him.
"I understand. Thank you."
Raon stepped back and bowed politely.
"Alright. You must be tired, so you can go for today."
Glenn waved his hand, saying Raon had done well.
"I'll come back again later."
Raon bowed once more and left the audience chamber with Burren, Martha, Dorian, and Runaan.
"...It's surprising."
Roenn let out a sigh as he looked at the carpet where Raon had been standing.
"Could it be that the events of that day weren't coincidental?"
He shook his head, recalling how Raon had obtained the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation.
"Come to think of it, didn't you say the First Patriarch's martial arts manual turned to ashes?"
Sheryl looked at Roenn while fidgeting with her fingertips.
"Yes. The martial arts manual burned in golden flames, and Raon said all its contents were engraved in his mind."
Roenn nodded, saying it was something he would never forget in his lifetime.
"Raon. That child is really..."
Sheryl sighed, saying she couldn't understand.
"If coincidences keep happening, they're no longer coincidences."
Glenn shook his head briefly and turned his gaze towards the window.
"It seems Raon might have been chosen by the First Patriarch."
He let out a small sigh as he looked at the distant mountains. ... The three of them fell silent for a moment, watching the sun setting behind the western mountains.
"...Let's investigate about the First Patriarch."
Glenn turned around as if he had made up his mind. A deep, intense light flashed in his previously calm eyes.
"Even if he's our ancestor, I can't let it be if he harms Raon."
* * *
As soon as Raon left the Lord's Manor, he looked back.
"There will likely be a mission soon. Take two days to rest."
He nodded, instructing Burren, Martha, Runaan, and Dorian to rest.
"I'm going to the training ground. I can't leave those squad members alone when they're all slacking off!"
Martha frowned, saying she'd go to the Fifth Training Ground and whip them all into shape.
"Our kids are the same. The fire's gone out of their eyes."
Burren also licked his lips, saying he needed to show them proper training.
"Hmm... Hmm... Hmm... I'll go too."
Runaan licked her lips several times as if contemplating. However, she also clenched her fist, saying she couldn't just leave the squad members alone.
"Me too! I'll take care of Krein!"
Dorian grinned, saying he'd show Krein the dignity of the Mind's Eye.
"Good. Then let's meet at the training ground tomorrow."
Raon waved his hand lightly and left for the annex building first.
'Right. Let's focus on the immediate tasks first.'
There's no need to be hasty about things from a thousand years ago. He was curious about who the First Patriarch was and what his intentions were, but being impatient wouldn't yield information. For now, it seemed best to focus on his current duties while gradually investigating.
-You understand well. Even in cooking, if you suddenly use high heat, everything burns!
Wrath nodded, saying Raon had thought well.
-While we're at it, how about going to the bead ice cream shop after dinner?
He poked Raon's waist with his chubby elbow while watching for his reaction.
'Why not.'
-I thought you'd say no... Huh?
Wrath's eyes flew open.
-Are, are you serious? What's gotten into you?
'Because I received a lot of help from you.'
Thanks to Wrath's intervention, he was able to stop the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance and gain Lust's power. He could easily treat him to bead ice cream.
-Th-Then how about a parfait too?
'Sure, I'll buy it.'
-Ch-Chocolate chip cookies and pineapple cookies?
'Okay.'
-Mint chocolate tea too?
'Don't push it!'
Raon finally couldn't hold back and kicked Wrath.
-Kyeeeek!
After watching Wrath roll on the floor like a ball, Raon narrowed his eyes.
'Hmm?'
He felt like someone was watching him again. But there was no one around.
'Is it Merlin?'
No. If it were Merlin, she would have certainly come to find him, so it couldn't be her.
'Maybe it's just my imagination.'
Raon shook his head and headed back to the annex building.
* * *
"I really like it."
Merlin, transformed into an owl, smacked her lips as she watched Raon walking to the annex building.
"Just seeing that face makes me happy."
She hummed a tune, fluttering her wings excitedly from just seeing Raon.
"Shut your mouth..."
Lust bit her lip as she looked not at Raon, but at the view of Zieghart.
"What is that? Is it really human?"
Something beyond human was felt inside the tallest building. She had encountered many demons and humans while searching for Wrath, but this was the first time she had sensed such a being.
'The moment we enter, we'll be detected.'
A firm resolve to protect this entire region emanated from the human inside. It wasn't just strength, but an intense conviction that sent chills down her spine.
"Hehehehe."
Merlin, residing in the owl's body, giggled as she looked at Lust.
"With that body, you'll become grandfather's scabbard the moment you enter?"
She nodded, saying Lust should jump in if she wanted to die.
"No, no."
Lust exhaled softly and shook her head.
"This isn't the first time I've encountered such a human."
"What do you mean?"
Merlin perked up her ears.
"When I first came here, I encountered a massive being beyond human. A true monster. Of course, he was mixed, but..."
Lust frowned, saying she didn't know there were two humans of that caliber.
"Yeah. I'm not interested in the other one. It's all over now."
Merlin fluttered her wings, mocking Lust with her owl face.
"What do you mean it's over?"
Lust looked at Merlin, tilting her head.
"If you move even one step from there, grandfather will fly over and cut your head off. So the stalking competition ends here."
Merlin giggled, making a slicing motion across her neck with her wing.
"Then I'll be going now."
She shouted that she'd live well and eat well with him, then spread her wings wide.
"Wait!"
Lust lowered her eyebrows and shook her head.
"Not yet."
She bit her lip hard and placed her hand over her right eye. Her blue eye turned red as an intense fragrance began to spread. Whoosh! Lust created transparent smoke with a pink current and sent it floating into Zieghart. It was a search using the demon king's soul, not aura or mana.
"Soul?"
Merlin's eyes widened as she watched Lust's soul dissolve into the air.
"Dissolving your soul into the atmosphere? You won't be able to recover that, you know?"
Unlike her ability to communicate with animals, a soul consumed like that could never be recovered. It was literally like throwing away one's own soul.
"Don't compare me to a human like you."
Lust raised her chin and sneered.
"I don't mind discarding that much."
She shook her head, saying that for her loved one, even her soul wasn't too precious to give up.
"Hmph!"
Merlin gritted her teeth and jumped into the air. Using her owl wings, she blew Lust's soul fragments spreading in the air away from Zieghart. It was an equally foolish act of wasting her soul.
"What are you doing!"
"Flapping my wings."
Merlin snorted, saying she was just flying.
"Stop it! I haven't finished dissolving it yet!"
"Why don't you try winning against this mediocre human? Come on! Let's see it!"
* * *
While the demon king and the magician fought, staking their souls against each other, Raon finished his dinner and went to his room.
-Kyaaah!
Wrath flapped both hands with his cheeks flushed red.
-Home-cooked meals are truly the best! Not only delicious, but there are many dishes I like, and it's full of care!
He grinned while holding his belly, saying it was a satisfying meal after a long time.
'Looks like you're in a good mood.'
Raon smirked as he sat on the edge of the bed.
-You bet I am!
Wrath nodded quickly.
-I've filled my belly with delicious food, and now I'm going to eat the ice cream you're buying me. How could I not be in a good mood!
He smacked his lips, saying he was looking forward to it.
"Ah..."
Raon let out a short sigh as he watched Wrath licking his lips.
"You know, after eating all the food you wanted, I'm full. How about going tomorrow..."
-Woof!
Wrath let out a bark-like cry, as if saying absolutely not. Unlike his cute cry, his wavering blue eyes looked like those of a general on the battlefield.
-Don't ruin my good mood now!
'Alright, alright.'
Raon let out a long sigh as he stood up.
-You should have done that from the start!
Wrath snorted, saying Raon doesn't listen unless forced.
-I've filled my belly with delicious food and seen mother, so I'm in a very good mood. Don't ruin it.
Just as he was moving his hand, urging Raon to hurry up.
[You have received sincere acknowledgment from a Transcendent Warrior.]
[You have achieved an impossible feat.]
[All abilities...]
[Trait...]
[Trait...]
The reward messages that had accumulated from overcoming Darkan suddenly appeared.
"I was wondering why they weren't showing up."
Raon grinned as he looked at the messages.
"Are you feeling okay?"
As he said this and turned around, Wrath's jaw trembled as if forcibly suppressing his excitement.
-Wh-What do you take me for! I am the Monarch of Wrath! Of course I expected this much!
Wrath shook his head, saying he wasn't angry. But the messages weren't over yet.
[You have outwitted the Demon King of Lust.]
[You have achieved an impossible feat.]
[All abilities...]
The second set of messages showed up about outwitting Lust.
"Wrath?"
-Grrr, I'm still fine. Qu-Quickly, to the ice cream shop before I breathe my last...
Just as he was forcing a smile and trying to lower his hand, another message appeared.
[Trait
Wrath's strained smile shattered with a crack upon seeing the last message.
-Y-You're picking a fight with me now, aren't you!
Unable to hold back any longer, Wrath threw a punch at the message.
"Wrath. Are you okay?"
-How could I be okay, you sword-psychopath!