"Is this a marriage proposal? Are you asking me to marry you?"
Merlin jumped up and down with joy, still in the form of a baby sea otter.
"Alright. I'll be with you forever."
Lust also seemed to interpret the trust as a proposal, opening a pink aura and revealing a beauty that seemed to erase the gloom of the night.
"Huh...?"
Raon stepped back and swallowed hard. He didn't understand why they thought he was proposing marriage when he had only said he trusted them.
-You fool! Saying you trust them is the number one thing you should never say to such crazy women!
Wrath shook his head, crying out that he had sown the seeds of destruction.
'Even so, it's weird for a proposal to suddenly pop up!'
-From their perspective, it's natural to take it as a proposal when you say you trust them while entrusting them with your most important possession! Don't think of those crazy women as normal people!
He pounded his own chest in frustration.
'So, it's my fault? Even though I'm the one who was stalked?'
-That's right! It's all your fault!
'Ugh....'
He couldn't help but laugh bitterly at being told it was his fault for forgiving and trusting those who had stalked him. However, looking at Merlin and Lust's eyes, he clearly felt that he had made a mistake.
"Where should we have the wedding? I'm fine with a small place. I don't have any friends to invite."
Merlin smiled brightly as she mentioned having no friends.
"I want to have it in a grand place. We'll need to turn the entire house into a venue to invite all of your and my subordinates."
Lust's pink eyes sparkled as if she was planning to turn all of Zieghart into a wedding venue.
"Ah, I do have animal friends! You know them too!"
Merlin smiled softly, saying she could invite her animal friends.
"Ah...."
Raon pressed his lips tightly as he looked at Merlin and Lust's dreamy expressions.
'They're not listening.'
The two were lost in their own imaginations and weren't hearing anything from the outside. A chill ran down his spine.
"C-calm down. That's not what I meant."
Raon raised both hands to block Merlin and Lust's view.
"Not what you meant? Then what did you mean?"
Merlin spoke in a dry voice as if a drought had come, looking at the Soul Crystal in her hand.
"...Tell us."
Lust also hardened her once warm pink eyes and turned her chin.
"Um...."
Raon let out a long internal sigh as he received Merlin and Lust's gazes.
He felt that if he said the wrong thing here, this ship might sink. The tension was even greater than when he fought the Second Apostle.
'Alright. Let's go in reverse.'
After running through a mock conversation in his head, he slowly opened his mouth.
"As you know, this Soul Crystal is more precious to me than my life. It's the only answer to save my people."
Raon lowered his voice and held out the Soul Crystal to Merlin and Lust.
"And right now, you two are the only ones I can entrust this Soul Crystal to."
He slightly twisted his lips as he looked at Merlin and Lust in turn.
"I was going to entrust the Soul Crystal to you because I trust you, but your response is truly disappointing. Seeing you talk about other things instead of discussing how to transport it safely, it seems I misjudged you two."
He shook his head slightly, saying he was genuinely disappointed.
"No! I'm sorry!"
Merlin immediately bowed her head and apologized.
"I'm sorry. I didn't think that should come first...."
Lust also lowered her eyebrows, saying she had made a mistake.
"Really?"
Raon gave Merlin and Lust a cold look, imitating Wrath's tone.
"Yes! We'll work together to deliver it to Grandfather no matter what!"
Merlin clasped her hands together, saying she would deliver it to Glenn by any means necessary.
"Trust us."
Lust also pressed her lips, saying she would protect the Soul Crystal no matter who came.
"...Alright. I'll trust you one more time."
Raon nodded briefly and took out the Soul Crystal again.
-W-what just happened...?
Wrath opened his eyes wide as if he couldn't understand.
-They were clearly crazy about marriage, but suddenly why...?
'I thought they'd react like this if I threatened to take away my trust since they loved receiving it so much.'
Merlin and Lust had only been following him one-sidedly before, but for the first time, they received his clear trust. And it was in a situation where he was entrusting them with his most important possession. He predicted they would panic and apologize like this if they risked losing that value.
'But who should I give it to?'
There was only one Soul Crystal, so he had to give it to one of them. Merlin was more trustworthy, but Lust was superior in terms of power, so it was a dilemma. Moreover, giving it to one might disappoint the other, which made his head hurt even more.
'How should I resolve this....'
As he was biting his lip and pondering, Merlin put down the stone she was using to crack open clams and reached out her hand.
"Give it to me. She's directionally challenged, so it's better if she follows me."
Merlin nodded, saying she would take it.
"Um...."
Lust let out a groan, unable to refute being called directionally challenged.
'Directionally challenged?'
-I told you before! She can't find her way, so she's never around when it's important!
'Ah, right.'
Come to think of it, Wrath had mentioned Lust being directionally challenged when he first talked about her.
"She's terrible at finding her way. Even when she just needs to go straight, she suddenly goes backward!"
Merlin shook her head, saying Lust wouldn't have made it this far if it weren't for her.
"I-it's not that bad...."
Lust only rolled her eyes while making a weak rebuttal.
"Alright. Then Merlin will take it, and Lust, you guard her from the side."
Raon smiled faintly and handed the Soul Crystal to Merlin.
"And you don't need to consume your souls to transport the Soul Crystal. It's okay if you're slow, just move it safely."
"Okay!"
"Alright...."
Merlin and Lust's beautiful eyes sparkled as if touched by his concern.
"Then I'm counting on you."
Raon nodded to Merlin and Lust with his hands clasped in front of him.
"Trust us. And...."
Merlin, who had been smiling sweetly, revealed a chilling gaze.
"The words you stopped midway, we can continue them after this is all over, right?"
She smiled with madness seeping into her expression, as if she had no intention of backing down.
"After delivering the Soul Crystal, I'll listen in detail. Very, very carefully."
Lust's eyes flashed coldly as if she would kidnap him if he didn't listen, repeating the word "carefully.
"..."
The two looked at each other for a moment before disappearing into the night-soaked sea. Splash! Raon swallowed dryly as he watched the waves that had splashed up to his eyes.
'I-I thought they had forgotten?'
-Puhehehehe!
Wrath cackled, saying he knew this would happen.
-Acting so smug! You just postponed it!
He waved his hand mockingly, telling Raon to resolve it well.
'Why are you laughing?'
-Because it's funny...
'This isn't just my problem, you know? Especially Lust, she's after you, not me.'
-Uh....
Wrath seemed to realize that he was also involved in this situation, freezing with his laughing expression intact.
-W-what are you going to do! You damned fool!
He grabbed his own collar and shook it, asking why Raon kept causing trouble.
'Won't the future Raon and Wrath resolve it?'
Raon laughed dryly, saying they should think about future matters later.
-That doesn't make sense!
Wrath threw punches, telling him to think of a solution right now.
'It'll work out somehow. And there's something we need to do first.'
Raon turned around while taking Wrath's punches.
"Why didn't you stop them?"
He called out to the person hiding in the darkness while looking at the quiet deck.
"Vice Leader?"
As soon as he said "Vice Leader," Rimmer walked out from the shadow cast by the moonlit sail. He had watched the entire situation from the beginning without saying a word. Personally, it was quite unexpected, as Raon thought he would intervene.
"How can a vice leader stop the leader?"
Rimmer shrugged with his characteristic relaxed smile.
"Only ill-mannered brats like you can disobey."
He laughed, saying he was just a powerless old man.
"Even so, I didn't expect you to just watch as Merlin was entrusted with the Soul Crystal."
Raon lowered his gaze slightly. Although Rimmer often showed lazy and relaxed behavior, he was quicker to judge than Raon in important matters. It was certainly unexpected that he had seen everything but said nothing.
"I trust you, just like you told those two."
Rimmer simply smiled, saying that was all.
"Hmm...."
Raon bit his lip slightly as he looked at Rimmer.
'It's different.'
Rimmer used to say he trusted the Light Wind division so often it was tiresome, but lately, his voice carried sincerity unlike when Raon was younger.
"I think I've asked this before, but be honest. You're terminally ill, aren't you?"
"I told you I'm not!"
Rimmer pounded his chest strongly, insisting he was fine.
-It's true.
Wrath frowned as he looked at Rimmer.
-As much as I dislike it, that pointy-eared bastard is disgustingly healthy.
He snorted as if annoyed that Rimmer was healthy.
"Then are you thinking of returning to Sepia?"
"Why would I go to that boring place! I've dedicated my body and soul to Zieghart!"
Rimmer waved his hands vigorously, telling Raon not to talk nonsense.
"Then why have you changed so much?"
"I haven't changed, I've always been like this."
Rimmer shook his head calmly.
"I've been in this state since I came to Zieghart following your grandfather."
"But the Vice Leader I saw was...."
"Yes. The light went out for a while in between. Partly because of me, partly because of Zieghart. But I found new firewood to rekindle the flame."
He smiled warmly as he looked at Raon.
"Seeing a new light and hope, and walking with that light, I should return to my original stance."
Rimmer nodded slightly and turned his back, heading down to the crew quarters.
-Light? What light?
Wrath tilted his head as if he didn't understand.
'You're so dense.'
Raon looked at Wrath with a pitiful expression.
'Don't ever tell me I lack awareness again.'
-D-don't tell me he was talking about you?
Wrath opened his eyes wide as if he couldn't believe it.
'Who else could it be?'
-What kind of light and hope is this bastard! He's darkness and despair!
He shouted that Raon could be called the Demon King of Deception and Despair, and that was putting it nicely.
-Why can't they see! This bastard's insides are blacker than a demon's! Pitch black!
* * *
Azure Wind ran day and night to reach the port town where Sif was last seen.
"Lawaine will stay on Azure Wind, and only I, the Light Wind division, and Paras will go."
Alice divided the personnel as soon as they got off the ship, as if she had thought about it beforehand.
"Understood."
Lawaine nodded, seeming to think it was right for him to guard the ship as this was their second docking.
"Let's go."
Alice bit her nails while looking at the back of the village, seemingly feeling impatient.
"I'll guide you."
Paras took the lead, saying he would guide them.
"Why are you stating the obvious! Just hurry up and go!"
Alice slapped Paras's back. Although it seemed like her usual joking, her complexion was dark. She was clearly holding back her burning emotions.
"Yes. I'll go as fast as possible."
Paras nodded, biting his lip as if he could feel Alice's emotions.
"You don't have to do that."
Alice shook her head.
"Judging by how they created a space I couldn't find, they're not ordinary people. Safety comes first, so let's move calmly."
Despite worrying about her son, she advised everyone to prioritize their own lives first.
"Then let's proceed calmly."
"Yes."
Raon nodded and entered the port town. As befitting a town that lived off fishing, it wasn't very large, but the faces of the residents were full of vitality and smiles. There was some wariness towards outsiders, but it wasn't particularly severe as it was a port city. It was literally an ordinary town.
"Are you sure Sif passed through here?"
"Yes."
Paras turned back and nodded.
"Quite a few people saw someone matching Sif's description. He's so handsome, after all. Though of course, not as much as you, Raon."
He threw in a light joke to lighten the heavy atmosphere.
"You know well. Our nephew is the best!"
Alice nodded, patting Paras's shoulder. Her face looked the same as usual, but her voice was trembling slightly.
"It'll be alright."
Raon shook his head as he looked at Alice forcing a smile.
"There's no guarantee that the person who screamed was Sif, but even if it was him, they probably won't suddenly kill someone they've kept captive for so long. There will surely be a chance to save him."
"...Thank you. But this aunt is still too strong to receive your comfort."
Alice stroked his head, saying she was grateful for his concern.
"Right. It'll be fine either way."
She moved her lips as if reassuring herself.
'There's really nothing special about this town.'
Being a small port town, there were hardly any martial artists visible. It felt like looking at a small mountain village within Zieghart's territory.
'That's why it might be good for hiding something.'
It seemed like an optimal place to hide a treasure or plot something, as it was a location rarely visited by outsiders.
"I-I just heard."
Paras approached Alice and lowered his voice slightly.
"They say no one has gone towards or come from the forest."
He shook his head, saying there was a high possibility that the shamans were still in that dungeon.
"Of course, there's a chance they left by another route...."
"It doesn't matter either way."
Alice shook her head, clenching her fist.
"We'll just crush them all."
She bit her lip, saying that shamans who keep people captive couldn't be good guys.
"Let's go straight to the dungeon."
Alice said there was no need to stay in the village any longer and immediately headed out of town.
"I'll increase the speed from now on. Please follow me well."
As soon as they left the village, Paras turned into a black light and advanced into the forest. It was a speed that the Light Wind division could barely keep up with. The surprising thing was that this wasn't even his full speed. He didn't seem to be an ordinary thief.
"There won't be any breaks in between. Pace yourselves appropriately."
Alice chased after Paras, wrapped in a chillier aura than ever before.
"As she said, don't fall behind. Alice doesn't have the leisure to look after us."
"Yes!"
The Light Wind division nodded and followed behind Alice and Paras with all their might. Raon sent the Light Wind division ahead first and moved at the very back to prepare for any unexpected situations. Only after running for more than half a day using footwork techniques did Paras's steps finally stop.
The path had been extremely rough, and they had encountered many monsters during the journey, so ordinary people probably couldn't have come here even if they wanted to.
"This is the place."
Paras pointed to a spot where a huge tree and a completely dried-up tree overlapped. A bizarre space leading underground was open within the shadows of the trees.
"How did you find a place like this?"
Burren opened his eyes wide as if he couldn't understand.
"Didn't you make it yourself?"
Martha also let out a sigh, saying it was amazing that he had discovered it.
"Finding hidden places was my main job."
Paras shook his head, saying that as a professional, he didn't just rob ordinary houses.
"And Sif is my heart's motivation. We spent years of hardship together in front of the demon. I wanted to find him no matter what."
He nodded lightly, saying that was all.
"Comrade...."
Runaan nodded as if she understood.
"Let's go in."
Alice let out a short sigh and entered the dungeon first, as if she had no room for jokes.
"...Yes."
Raon nodded heavily. If it were his usual personality, he would have subdued the shamans coming out and extracted information, but seeing Alice's dark expression, he couldn't voice his opinion. He shook his head slightly and entered the shadowy corridor of the dungeon.
It didn't seem to be a dungeon made by his ancestor, as he couldn't see any of the ancestor's memories.
'It might show up later, though.'
He focused on his senses as he slowly descended, remembering that he had entered his ancestor's memories after seeing traces of him before. The dungeon interior seemed to have a luminous effect, as it was clearly visible despite the lack of light.
-This is a place where mana is distorted. Who made such a thing?
Wrath turned his gaze left and right, saying it was strange.
'You're right.'
As he said, the mana flow inside was different from the outside. It felt like the mana was solidified.
"Right below...."
As he was slowly spreading his aura perception while following behind the group, Alice stopped walking and put a finger to her lips.
"Someone's there."