"Hah..."
Raon let out a wry laugh as he looked at the door burning with golden flames.
'Was this really the answer?'
It seemed that the flame beings who had been wandering around this archive all day existed to open this door. He felt almost apologetic for realizing it so late.
'If I had looked here from the beginning...'
No, that wouldn't have been right. Thanks to spending over half a day in this archive, he was able to realize that the flame being standing in front of the wall didn't move. Even if he had seen this wall from the start, he wouldn't have thought there was anything special hidden there.
-What, what is this?
Wrath also seemed to be able to see the door made of flames, as he widened his eyes.
-For such a thing to happen without any phenomenon...
Judging by his reaction, it seemed that even his senses couldn't detect the space behind this wall.
'There was a phenomenon.'
-What phenomenon are you talking about?
'I told you earlier. That the flame beings were moving. Those friends opened this door.'
-That, that was real? Not nonsense?
Wrath's jaw trembled in disbelief.
'That's what I'm saying.'
-Grr, to think that even I, in my spirit form, couldn't notice such a trick...
He pressed his lips tightly, seemingly hurt in his pride.
'Still, there's no sense of harm.'
Like the flame beings, only a warm sensation emanated from this door. There was no malicious energy or quality, so it seemed safe to enter as it was. Raon took a slow breath and gradually moved his feet into the flaming door. Whoosh!
As soon as he entered the door, the world darkened as if the lights of a theater had been turned off, and everything before his eyes turned pitch black.
'What's this?'
He had clearly been in reality, but now he felt as if he was floating, as if in a dream. Wrath, who had been perched on his shoulder, was nowhere to be seen, and his own body began to blur like mist. As he looked around cautiously, his vision brightened as if the lights had come back on.
A familiar space. It was the underground archive of the Shadow Agents where he had spent the entire day.
'No, it's different.'
It was clearly the underground archive of the Shadow Agents, but it was quite different from what he had seen. There were fewer bookshelves, records, and documents, and people dressed as scholars were busily moving around the entire archive.
'Those people, could they be...'
The flame beings? The way they wrote in books, organized them, and stacked documents was exactly the same as the flame beings who had been moving around inside the archive.
'Then...'
Raon swallowed dryly and turned around. He could see the wall at the end where he had just entered, and in front of it, two martial artists were standing motionless like statues. As he had expected, those two were swordsmen guarding this wall.
'They're strong.'
Even though he was watching a memory, he could feel the powerful martial prowess of the two swordsmen. Though not as strong as his current self, they were fully matured Grandmasters. It was surprising that martial artists of such skill were guarding the wall.
'Should I go back there?'
While he was pondering where to go, there was a commotion behind him. When he turned his head, he saw a blonde swordsman and a magician wrapped in a blue robe walking down the stairs.
The swordsmen guarding the wall and the scholars who had been writing records all stopped what they were doing and bowed deeply. Deep respect and trust were evident in everyone's eyes.
[I told you, no need to bow.]
The blonde swordsman waved his hand with a gentle smile.
'The First Patriarch...'
Although his face wasn't clearly visible, just from his gestures, Raon could tell that this person was the First Patriarch of Zieghart.
[Keep up the good work.]
After giving a polite greeting to the family members, the First Patriarch headed towards the wall. When he placed his hand on the wall, a door made of golden flames rose up, just like it had for Raon earlier.
[It's working well.]
The First Patriarch nodded, seemingly pleased.
[Of course it is. With you and me working together, it would be stranger if it didn't work.]
The magician in the robe grumbled as she entered the door first.
[Is that so.]
The First Patriarch let out a light laugh and followed behind her.
'I should follow... huh?'
Just as he was about to follow the First Patriarch, his perspective naturally shifted, and he found himself standing in a small room built with what looked like red bricks. Whoosh. Seeing the First Patriarch and the magician in front of him, it seemed he had been pulled into the flaming door regardless of his will.
[It's done.]
The First Patriarch placed a single book on a small bookshelf in the center of the room. The cover looked stiff, as if it had just been made.
[Why are you making this so complicated?]
The blue-robed magician frowned as she looked at the nameless book.
[You could just tell the direct lineage verbally, or put it in the treasury like the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation.]
She shook her head, saying she didn't understand.
[That won't do.]
The First Patriarch shook his head firmly, in contrast to his warm voice.
[Don't tell me you don't trust them? The people here would willingly give their lives for you without hesitation.]
The magician wrinkled her nose, as if asking him to understand.
[I know. But the future will be different.]
The First Patriarch gave a gentle smile, asking for understanding.
[In the future, our achievements will be forgotten, and various martial arts and treasures will be leaked. The Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and the Ring of Fire might be among them.]
[Le-leaked?]
The magician widened her eyes, as if she had never even thought of such a thing.
[Yes. Probably many things.]
The First Patriarch nodded as if it wasn't a big deal.
[If you know that, you should prevent it!]
[Fate isn't something that can be prevented just because you try to prevent it.]
He revealed a detached look in his eyes as he used the word 'fate'.
'Leaked...'
Raon swallowed dryly as he looked at the First Patriarch's back.
'Come to think of it...'
The place where his past self had obtained the Ring of Fire was a cave completely unrelated to Zieghart. It was a place that had no trace of his ancestors, so he thought someone might have leaked it.
'Yes. That's highly likely.'
It didn't make sense that the Ring of Fire didn't exist in Zieghart, even if the Sword Control in the Holy Sword Alliance could be explained away. It seemed like something really had happened in between.
[What exactly are you seeing?]
The magician raised her eyebrows as she looked at the First Patriarch.
[Not much different from you. I'm just making various preparations.]
The First Patriarch shrugged as if it was no big deal.
[Then let's depart.]
[Are you really going to leave like this?]
The magician tilted her head as she fiddled with her staff.
[Without saying goodbye to everyone?]
[We've already laid the groundwork. It's better for farewells to be dry.]
The First Patriarch wiggled his finger, saying it was time to leave.
[I can't tell if you're being cold or considerate.]
The magician sighed as she tapped the ground with her staff.
[So where are we going?]
[To the south for now. That's the direction where 'he' last appeared. There are also things we need to plant.]
[You really live a busy life.]
As she clicked her tongue briefly, blue light surged and enveloped the ancestors. Whoosh! Amidst the rippling blue mana, the First Patriarch turned around. His red eyes calmly met Raon's. He gave a deep smile as if to say Raon was doing well, or perhaps to encourage him to work harder. Bang!
With an intense light, the First Patriarch and the magician disappeared, and the room went dark. When Raon closed his eyes and opened them again, he saw a ceiling made of red bricks.
'Huh? This ceiling is...'
-Hey!
As Raon was blankly staring at the ceiling, Wrath popped up in front of his eyes.
-Why are you lying still after falling down!
Wrath waved his arms with an urgent look in his eyes.
'Fallen down?'
Raon blinked and looked around. He was lying on the floor, and when he turned around, he saw the flaming door still burning.
'I see.'
It seemed he had rolled on the floor while being sucked into the First Patriarch's memory. His body was so sturdy that he didn't seem to be hurt anywhere.
'Thanks for worrying about me.'
-Wo-worry my foot!
Wrath widened his eyes like a startled rabbit.
-If you break down, this king won't be able to eat food and ice cream! That's the only reason!
He gritted his teeth, saying not to talk nonsense.
'Is that so.'
Raon chuckled. If he died or fainted, Wrath could just eat his body, but seeing him worry like this, he really didn't seem to have the personality of a demon king.
-But...
Wrath narrowed his eyes.
-Where did you go?
'What do you mean, where did I go?'
-For a very brief moment, your soul disappeared from your body.
He nodded, saying that's why he was surprised.
-Come to think of it, I think something similar happened before.
'It did.'
Raon nodded calmly. Even before, when he had entered his ancestor's memory, Wrath had said something similar. Of course, even then, the demon king hadn't laid a hand on his body, unlike what a true demon king would do.
'I saw the memory of the Zieghart ancestor.'
-An-ancestor's memory? You mean that dream?
'Yes.'
Raon nodded. Since Wrath trusted him, he in turn trusted Wrath and told him the truth.
-That shouldn't be possible without an artifact or special item, should it?
Wrath swallowed dryly, as if he couldn't believe it.
'It's not like there's no medium at all.'
The medium connecting him and his ancestor was the Ring of Fire and the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation. Those two martial arts were calling him into his ancestor's memories.
-Even so, it's impossible! If it were possible with just martial arts, anyone could learn from their ancestors!
Wrath shook his head, saying such a thing was impossible even for a genius.
-Are you sure your ancestor was really human?
'What else would they be, a demon?'
-Hmm! Well, judging by your personality, there's definitely no demon blood mixed in.
He clicked his tongue, saying there was absolutely no connection to the Devildom.
'To think I'd hear such words from a demon king.'
Raon chuckled and looked at the bookshelf in front of him. The book he had seen in his ancestor's memory still boasted its stiff cover, as if less than an hour had passed since that moment.
'Why did they put this book here?'
Unlike the magician, he had no prior knowledge, so he didn't know what this book was for. In the end, he had no choice but to open it himself.
"Whew."
Raon calmed his rapidly beating heart and opened the book. At that moment, the Ring of Fire and the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation simultaneously activated, and the book began to burn with a golden light.
'This isn't a book...'
It's memory and energy. As the book burned, it was engraving its contents into his mind. It was the same method as the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation. Whoosh! The clear fiery energy dwelling in the book began to swirl around his entire body, connecting the energies of the Ring of Fire and the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation.
At the same time, the mantra etched in his head acted as a bridge, connecting the two energies more naturally.
Although the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and the Ring of Fire were both martial arts of the First Patriarch, their nature was different. The Ring of Fire, which grew the body and soul to suit a martial artist and maximized the realm of the soul and senses, and the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation, which was a flame cultivation method and contained various sword techniques, drew a deep and intense circle of flames as if they had been one from the beginning.
Whoosh! Raon nodded as he grasped the ashes of the book remaining in his hand.
'So this is what it was.'
The content of the book left by his ancestor was simple. The synergy between the Ring of Fire and the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation. It wasn't about creating a crude harmony like before, but about using the Ring of Fire to maximize the power of the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation.
It was an incomprehensible text that would have no effect on others, but for him, it was miraculous.
'I've gotten stronger again.'
No, I will get stronger. Thanks to the First Patriarch's arrangement, he was confident that he could become even stronger on his own, beyond the realm of transcendence.
-Wh-what is this?
Wrath furrowed his brow as he looked at Raon.
-Suddenly, the two types of flames dwelling in your body are connecting so naturally.
He shook his head, seemingly having grasped Raon's change in an instant.
'It's still subtle, but I've connected the flames of the Ring and the flames of the energy center.'
-That Ring isn't just the flame of martial arts, is it?
'That's right. The amplification effect of the aura has increased even more.'
Raon smiled as he felt the movement of the ring swirling in his heart.
-Ugh...
Wrath bit his lip tightly.
-Why do you keep devouring lucky encounters like this! Others might encounter one in their entire lifetime, but you're gulping them down like air!
He shouted that the world was discriminating.
'I don't think it's all good.'
-What?
'The enemy is likely to be strong too.'
-Enemy? You mean that bastard who summoned the angels?
'He's my enemy, but I am talking of another one.'
Raon shook his head with lowered eyebrows.
'The ones called Anima who fought with my ancestor.'
I'm sure they're still alive.
* * *
After leaving the Shadow Agents, Raon headed to the Lord's Manor instead of the annex building. He needed to report to Glenn first about the new place he had found in the underground archive. Knock knock knock! As he opened the large door of the audience chamber and entered, he knelt before Glenn, who was looking at the moon outside the window.
"I have come to see the Head of House."
"Rise."
Like the First Patriarch in the memory, Glenn waved his hand, saying unnecessary greetings were done. Now that he looked, their gazes seemed quite similar.
"Hmm, I heard you went to the Shadow Agents, but have you already found something?"
He trembled his eyes slightly, seemingly sensing Raon's change.
"Yes. I found something unexpected."
"Something unexpected?"
"Actually..."
Raon told him about seeing the flame beings through the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation, observing those beings, and entering the new space created in the underground archive.
"Huh, to think such a thing existed..."
Glenn let out a sigh, seemingly unaware of that space as well.
"There was only one book inside. And when I grasped that book, it turned to ashes and scattered like the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation you gave me, Head of House."
"Then did that also seep into your head?"
"Yes, it did."
Raon nodded heavily.
"What were the contents?"
"It was a method to make the flames of the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation hotter and stronger. There was also a way to improve swordsmanship, which was similar to what I had been thinking."
The book left by his ancestor not only contained ways to strengthen the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation but also more refined swordsmanship techniques, and those improvements were almost identical to what he had been considering.
"It means your path hasn't strayed from the ancestor's intentions. That's remarkable."
Glenn nodded with a gentle smile.
"People in the world just sit and wait for lucky encounters, but originally, serendipitous encounters follow those who make an effort. Well done."
He smiled, saying it seemed Raon's efforts had produced that result. However, his expression didn't look very good.
"Grandfather."
Raon bowed his head, addressing Glenn not as the Head of House, but as his grandfather.
"You don't look well. Is it because of my sister?"
Even during his training, he made time to visit Sia every day, but she still hadn't woken up. It seemed Glenn was feeling frustrated that his granddaughter wasn't waking up and there was no information about the Soul Crystal.
"Yes. It's so difficult to find that I'm starting to wonder if the Soul Crystal really exists."
Glenn sighed, saying he didn't know the position of Zieghart's Head of House could be this powerless.
"Have all the contacts returned?"
"Most of them didn't even know of its existence, and although they said they would look for it, there's been no news since then. Ah..."
He lowered his chin slightly as he was speaking.
"There was no contact at all from one place."
Glenn deeply furrowed his brow, seemingly annoyed.
"Who is it?"
"Alice. That fool, as always, doesn't respond at all."