Raon swallowed hard as he looked at the golden flames surrounding him.
'Is it not taking me to the First Patriarch's memories?'
Usually when encountering golden flames, one would be transported back a thousand years to the time of the First Patriarch. But now, they merely blocked his path. Unlike what he experienced at the Holy Sword Alliance, these flames didn't seem to lead to the past.
'It's not hot.'
He placed his hand on the flickering flames before him, but felt no heat. They were only as warm as the autumn afternoon sun.
'It doesn't seem to be trying to hinder me.'
He sensed no wariness from these flames towards him, only a feeling of familiarity.
'Why is it blocking my way?'
As he narrowed his eyes in confusion, the golden flames rippled gently like morning mist, then slowly began to subside.
'Now it's disappearing.'
Just as he thought this strange occurrence was over and was about to move on, the golden flames suddenly leapt up like water droplets hitting the ground, then spread out in all directions.
The scattered flames took on human shapes, then began to act as if they were the clerks working here - handling documents and reading books.
'What is this....'
Raon let out a breath. Seeing the First Patriarch's memories was already surreal, but watching these flame figures move like people made him feel like he was dreaming.
-What are you doing?
Wrath furrowed one eyebrow, asking why Raon was spacing out.
-Don't waste time and finish up quickly!
He waved his hand, saying they should just skim through and go eat.
"Light Wind Division Leader, is something wrong?"
Chad also tilted his head, seemingly unaware of anything unusual.
'Can only I see them?'
Raon's fingertips trembled as he watched a flame figure pass right through Chad.
'Come to think of it....'
Though the flame figures appeared to be working, they couldn't actually touch the books or shelves. Like ghosts, they seemed unable to affect physical objects and were only visible to him.
"Shadow Agents' Leader, is this place always like this?"
Raon shook his head briefly as he watched a flame figure emerge through Chad's shoulder.
"Hmm, now that you mention it, it does feel warmer than usual today."
Chad rolled up both sleeves and furrowed his brows.
"This archive is always kept cool to protect important books and documents, but the temperature seems to have risen a bit today."
He said he should check the temperature control device and headed towards the right wall.
"..."
Raon narrowed his eyes, not at Chad, but at the flame figures moving back and forth beside him.
'What are they doing?'
The flame figures moved throughout the entire archive filled with historical records, acting as if they were recording and reading something. It really looked like watching people working here.
"Hmm, there doesn't seem to be any problem with the device. How strange."
Chad clicked his tongue, saying he might need to call a magician later.
"I'll continue the tour for now. This way, please."
"...Yes."
Raon nodded and followed behind Chad. The flame figures continued to focus on their own tasks, paying no attention to Chad or himself.
-Is something wrong with you?
Wrath tilted his head after examining Raon's face. Having spent a long time together, he seemed to know Raon's state just by his expression.
'Flame figures have appeared and are organizing this archive.'
-What nonsense.
He waved his hand dismissively, telling Raon to leave if he was going to talk gibberish.
'...I suppose it would sound that way.'
Raon chuckled lightly as he followed Chad deeper into the archive. He decided to ignore the flame figures for now, since they seemed to have no purpose or effect on himself or others.
"From here are historical records from 700 years ago."
Chad pulled out an old book. Despite being 700 years old, it didn't look too ancient due to good preservation.
"This part says, 'The First Patriarch closed the sky of hell and opened the world of humans.'"
He turned the book around to show Raon.
"I see."
Raon nodded as he looked at the book. As Chad said, it contained content about the legend of the First Patriarch written in grand calligraphy.
"Of course, such content can be found in any prestigious kingdom or family."
Chad smiled, saying legends like this were piled up in mountains for any renowned kingdom or family.
"But what's a bit unusual is..."
He brought out an even older book and opened it, his intelligent eyes gleaming.
"That everywhere, it's written that he closed the sky."
The book Chad showed contained a phrase stating that the ancestor closed the pitch-black sky.
"The sky?"
"Yes. Isn't it peculiar? For ordinary families or kingdoms, it would say they hunted a terrifying monster, defeated a demon king, or slayed a well-known demonic dragon. But for us, there are many phrases about closing various types of skies."
He clicked his tongue briefly, saying it was unusual.
"Ah, of course I mean it's strange, not ridiculous."
Chad waved both hands, thinking Raon might have misunderstood.
"No, I have similar thoughts."
Raon nodded calmly.
'His actions were unusual in many ways.'
From Zieghart's training hall, the underwater dungeon, the World Tree, the Sword Saint's Tomb, to the land of the Holy Sword Alliance's predecessor. The seeds he planted were spread wide and deep. It seemed like only an opponent of hell or the sky would make sense.
"Oh! You're the first person to agree with my opinion!"
Chad smiled brightly and stepped forward, seeming pleased.
"I'll pull out the books I remember for now. Of course, I haven't read all the records here, so I can't find everything."
In just a few minutes, he pulled out dozens of books and placed them in front of Raon. To remember the contents of all these books, he was indeed an extraordinary person.
"Unfortunately, I have to leave now. There's a morning conference."
Chad bowed carefully after piling up a mountain of books in front of Raon.
"Thank you for accommodating me so early in the morning."
Raon put down the book he was reading and bowed to Chad.
"Not at all! If it weren't for the conference, I would have spent all day finding books for you. That's what's regrettable."
Chad clicked his tongue long, seeming genuinely disappointed.
"No, I'll search from now on."
Raon smiled faintly and nodded.
"I understand. Please call me anytime if you need help."
Chad gave a polite bow and headed towards the exit. He kept looking back, seeming truly regretful.
"..."
Raon narrowed his eyes as he watched Chad's back.
'Is he still following Karoon?'
Chad was someone who had given help and recognition even when everyone else ignored him. Though Raon had thought it might be hard to trust him completely, as he could have been sent by Karoon or another direct lineage member like Judiel had been, lately he felt a bit different.
'Let's just focus on my task for now.'
Regardless of who Chad followed, what was certain was that he had affection for Zieghart. Since Raon wasn't competing for head of house, there was no need to worry about the Shadow Agents. He immediately sat down and opened a book.
-Instead of those thousand-year-old humans, why don't you pay attention to a supreme being who has lived for thousands of years?
Wrath wiggled his chubby hand, telling Raon not to waste his efforts.
'Don't tell me this supreme being who has lived for thousands of years is....'
Raon lowered his eyebrows as he looked at Wrath.
'You?'
-Of course! There is no being in this world more noble and knowledgeable than this king!
Wrath elegantly spread his hands, seemingly unaware that he looked like a cotton candy.
'...Then have you heard of Anima?'
-Is that the name of a new ice cream? It sounds delicious!
He smacked his lips. It seemed he had forgotten despite hearing about it together from the Sword Saint.
'I should have known.'
Raon sighed and turned his attention back to the book.
-Ugh! T-Then finish quickly. This king still has many things he wants to eat...'
'Be quiet before I make you eat Nadine bread.'
-Gasp!
Wrath immediately shut his mouth without another word.
'Seems you really hate Nadine bread.'
-Of course! I hate it as much as those crazy women!
He shook his head vigorously, saying he absolutely hated it.
'But they love you a lot. Should I help connect you....'
-Shut up!
* * *
"Damn it!"
A swallow perched on a tree branch frowned as it looked down at the Shadow Agents' building.
"Where did he go?"
Raon's presence suddenly disappeared after following the man with the unpleasant expression. Even though Merlin had been watching through the window, she couldn't tell his location anymore, making her feel frustrated.
"I can't enter with this body either..."
That building, befitting Zieghart's information gathering organization, had such tight security that not even a mouse could slip in. It was an impenetrable place even for someone like her who could borrow the bodies of various animals.
"Hmph."
A mocking sound came from the air. Looking up, a very faint pink mist, like melted azaleas, was rippling. It was that stalker. After fighting all day on the cliff, they had reached a draw and made a small agreement to enter Zieghart together.
"Is that all you can do?"
Lust looked down at Merlin and snorted.
"Well, I suppose that's the limit of human stalking. Your effort was commendable."
She let out a small sneer, saying it seemed the outcome had been decided.
"Ugh..."
Merlin's wings trembled as she looked up at Lust, who had dissolved her spiritual body into the atmosphere.
"I'm the one who can follow him best."
Lust, thinking she had won the stalking competition, slowly advanced towards the Shadow Agents' building with her pink current subsided. Except for her sluggish speed, she seemed like she wouldn't be detected by anyone.
"Urgh..."
Merlin bit her beak until it bled. As she was considering sending out her soul even at the risk of losing her body, she spotted a tiny spider clinging to a window crack.
"That's it!"
Merlin immediately flew over and stood in front of the spider.
"!"
The spider, caught in the eyes of a predator, trembled in fear, unable to move from its spot.
"It's okay, it's okay."
Merlin initiated a spiritual conversation with the spider. Though the success rate with insects was extremely low, that wasn't important right now. She had to succeed somehow, even if by sheer willpower. Fortunately, the spider agreed to her request. Of course, Raon would have to pay the price later, but for now, she only thought about winning.
"Ha!"
Merlin sent the swallow away and, after seeping into the spider's body, sharply raised her head.
"Moving so slowly, when do you plan to enter? I'll die of old age!"
Merlin waved her hand at the slowly flowing Lust and crawled into the window crack.
"That little..."
Lust forcibly leapt up onto the window. She consumed her soul to block the window frame Merlin was trying to enter.
"Move!"
"You can't go!"
The 241st duel between Merlin, now a spider, and Lust, now a cloud, began.
* * *
"Haa..."
Raon let out a short sigh as he put down the history book from 900 years ago.
'It's not here either.'
All the books Chad had pulled out contained information about the First Zieghart Patriarch. However, there was no content about what the First Patriarch actually did or who he fought. There were only unbelievable achievements like closing the sky or destroying hell, and records of establishing Zieghart afterwards.
'There must be something else...'
What he wanted to see wasn't this, but information about the Anima the First Patriarch fought and what he had prepared. It seemed he needed to look at even older content.
'The next book is...'
As he reached out to his right, there was nothing to grab. It seemed he had already read all the books Chad had piled up in the meantime.
'Wow, already?'
-Already? Alreeeeeady?
Wrath furrowed his brow and thrust his round face forward.
-It's already night outside since we're underground! What are you doing, not even eating?
He grabbed Raon's collar and shook it up and down, asking why they had to starve even at home.
"Hmm..."
Raon looked up at the ceiling and smacked his lips.
'It does seem to be evening already.'
Feeling hungry, it seemed Wrath was right that a lot of time had passed.
'Then should I take out the Nadine bread...'
-Grrrr!
As Raon touched his subspace pouch, considering taking out the Nadine bread, Wrath gnashed his teeth like an enraged beast.
-If you take out that bread, both this king and you will die!
Wrath trembled his fist, saying they should all die. Though he looked cute like a fluffy puppy, Raon couldn't take out the Nadine bread because Wrath had been quiet and patient until now.
'Alright, let's go back for today.'
-You should have done that earlier!
'I'll just tidy up quickly.'
Raon put the books he had read back on the shelves. The flame figures were still moving around the entire archive, but having seen them often, he was now used to them and didn't feel much. As he was about to turn around after putting the last book on the shelf, the behavior of some flame figures seemed strange.
'What are they doing?'
Unlike the flame figures that appeared to be working - looking at, pulling out, and organizing books - two flame figures just stood in front of the farthest wall without moving.
'That posture is...'
Guards? Their stance, not moving even their gaze and standing in place, looked like they were guarding something.
"Hmm."
Raon swallowed dryly and approached the wall where the two flame figures were standing.
-What are you trying to do now!
'Just a moment.'
Raon muffled Wrath's mouth as he was about to act up, and stood in front of the wall. The flame figures didn't seem to notice him, still not moving from their spots. Raon placed his hand on the wall with a low exhale. Naturally, nothing happened.
'I guess not?'
As he was about to remove his hand with a wry smile, he felt the warm energy he had first experienced here from the flame figures on either side.
'Could it be...'
Raon pressed his lips tightly and simultaneously activated the Ring of Fire and Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation. At that moment, the flame figures on either side - no, all the flame figures in this space - gathered at his fingertips and opened a door of flames on the wall before him.