"Hah..."
Raon let out a hollow laugh as he looked at the floor of gold bars covering the entire lair.
'No wonder there was no empty space to be felt.'
With the entire underground filled with gold bars, it was only natural that even his aura perception couldn't detect any hidden treasures.
'Making a floor of gold bars to sleep on, how absurd...'
Dragons are on a different level. Though he had amassed wealth beyond what he could spend in a lifetime, it paled in comparison to the golden land Matirus had laid out. He was truly a firefly under the moonlight.
"Insane..."
Martha gasped as she saw the gold bars.
"This entire floor was gold? Just how much did he hoard!"
She frowned, saying she had never dreamed of such a thing.
"To think we'd see the mountain of gold bars we've only heard about. It's beyond calculation..."
Burren exhaled sharply as he picked up a gold bar as thick as his forearm. Even he, who usually regarded wealth as mere stones, seemed amazed.
"How many ice creams would this buy?"
Runaan only thought about ice cream, seemingly uninterested in the gold itself. Having gone without for a few days, she must have been missing it greatly.
"Ah, it's not just a few ice creams, you could buy out every ice cream shop on the entire continent and still have plenty left over!"
Krein's jaw dropped at the unimaginable sum.
-Grr, this king hates to say it, but...
Wrath shook his head as he watched Runaan salivating.
-Isn't that ice cream girl a bit strange?
'...'
Raon chuckled, finding it amusing that Wrath had only just realized this.
"Hehehehehe!"
Dorian burst into an eerie laugh as he looked at the floor of gold bars he had discovered.
"Supplies! A supply of money! We can fill anything!"
He began juggling three gold bars with his eyes half-rolled back.
"Why, why is everyone going crazy!"
Krein muttered that there were no sane people in the Light Wind division as he pressed himself against the wall.
"Now then..."
Raon picked up a gold bar larger than his head like a club and approached Bobor, the goblin who claimed to be Matirus's guardian.
"Shall we have an explanation?"
He smiled ominously, implying that if Bobor spoke nonsense, the gold bar wouldn't remain idle.
"W-well..."
Bobor rolled his eyes left and right before dropping to his knees.
"I'm sorry!"
He immediately admitted his fault and bowed his head. Raon had been ready to crack his skull if he didn't confess, but the goblin was quick-witted.
"Where exactly are the gold bars laid?"
"Th-they're laid throughout this entire space where Master Matirus sleeps."
Bobor, already terrified, blurted out the answer immediately.
"This entire space..."
Raon whistled as he looked at the floor that was still intact. If Bobor's words were true, it meant there were gold bars even at the entrance. A smile involuntarily formed on his lips at the harvest beyond imagination.
"Anything else?"
He nodded slightly while tossing and catching the gold bar in the air.
"Uh..."
Bobor swallowed hard as he met Raon's eyes.
'C-can I deceive him?'
Of course, gold bars weren't the only things piled up in this lair. There were also hidden gems and treasures, but he didn't want to hand over those riches to the human who had killed Matirus.
"I-I..."
As Bobor was rubbing his hands together with the most pitiful expression he could muster...
"I smell it! This gold isn't everything!"
The green-haired human began sniffing around, flaring his nostrils.
'Th-that guy!'
That chubby green-haired human was the monster who had discovered the gold bars in the floor that even this terrifying blonde human couldn't find. Seeing his twisted eyes, Bobor's heart began to race as if it would be torn out.
"It's not the floor..."
The green-haired human, after searching the ground, began to press against the wall, sniffing like a dog. His nostrils were getting closer to Matirus's secret space.
"It's definitely this way..."
"Eek!"
As Dorian's eyes began to sparkle as if they would ignite, a chilling shiver ran down Bobor's spine.
"I-it's over there!"
Bobor moved his short legs as fast as he could, pointing to Matirus's storage before Dorian could.
"This is that lizard's storage!"
The goblin's actions to save his life were quicker than anyone else's.
"Young master! This is the place, right?"
Dorian nodded vigorously as he looked at the wall Bobor was pointing to. He even changed his way of addressing Raon and his speech pattern as he licked his lips.
-E-even the wallet is scary today! His eyes are spinning!
Wrath shuddered, seemingly afraid of Dorian for the first time.
'Me too...'
Raon swallowed dryly as he closed his eyes and opened them again.
"The word 'lizard' saved your life."
"Ah, yes!"
He walked past Bobor and looked at the wall he had pointed to.
'This side is also packed.'
The space behind the wall said to be storage was also fully filled, so nothing particularly strange could be felt.
"How did you find this place?"
Incredulous, he gestured to Dorian.
"I can smell it. The smell of supplies!"
Dorian muttered incomprehensibly about smelling supplies. It seemed his Mind's Eye had awakened an incorrect sense.
"Hmm..."
Raon shook his head and then raised his fist to strike the wall. With a thunderous crash, the entire wall of the lair crumbled despite him not using much strength, thanks to his overgrown physical abilities.
Behind the falling debris of the wall, a cascade of multicolored gems poured out. The gems falling onto the gold bars emitted an even more brilliant light.
"The wall was completely filled with jewels too?"
"It's unbelievable. He was a dragon full of greed."
Martha and Burren let out hollow laughs, saying they hadn't expected this much.
"There are swords and weapons too?"
Runaan's eyes sparkled at the sight of weapons scattered among the jewels and gold bars, showing no interest in the treasures themselves.
"He acted all high and mighty, but in the end, he was just a lizard no different from a crow."
Krein muttered how extreme it was while kicking a gold bar.
"Oh! Is this the Balax gem that was said to have disappeared? And this emerald is no ordinary emerald! It's a dwarven work!"
Dorian explained about the gems that no one had asked about, breathing heavily.
"At this rate..."
Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked at the gold bars covering the floor and the wave of gems pouring over them.
'We won't have to worry about war supplies, will we?'
While continental artisans and dwarves were not the type to be moved by money due to their high pride, with this much wealth, it seemed possible to buy even that pride.
'We might be able to give swords made of dragon bones not just to the Light Wind division, but to all of Zieghart's swordsmen.'
With the corpses of three dragons and the funds in this lair, it seemed entirely possible.
"Y-Young m-master..."
Dorian looked at Raon while drooling profusely. He looked like an addict going through withdrawal symptoms.
"...Take it."
"Yes!"
As soon as Raon flicked his hand, Dorian began pouring gold bars and gems into his belly pouch with eyes full of joy.
"Hehehehehe!"
The sight of Dorian pushing in gems while letting out a strange laugh was the very image of a madman.
"Is it okay to leave him like that?"
"He's definitely gone mad..."
"It's creepy!"
Even Martha stepped back at Dorian's madness.
"Now then..."
Raon approached Bobor again and smiled brightly.
"Where are the other storerooms?"
"Th-there are none. This is really all there is!"
Bobor immediately knelt down, shouting that he was certain.
"Really?"
Raon twirled his finger as if about to call Dorian.
"I-it's true! You don't need to call him!"
Bobor's eyes trembled, seeming more afraid of Dorian than of Raon himself.
"Hmm..."
Raon licked his lips as he looked into Bobor's eyes. His reaction was different from before. It really seemed like that wall was the end.
'Well, it would be strange to have more than this anyway.'
Even for a dragon, it wouldn't be easy to hoard more wealth than this. The goblin's words seemed to be true.
"Then I'll ask something else."
Raon nodded as he met Bobor's eyes.
"Yes? What..."
"You know the dragons that attacked Sepia with Matirus this time, right?"
"Ah, yes. It's Lord Zera Piret and Lord Kaberabon."
Bobor revealed the names of the Black Dragon and Red Dragon as if he had been waiting for this question. As expected, they seemed to be dragons associated with Matirus.
"I heard that guardians of friendly dragons also visit each other. Is that true?"
"Yes, it is. We send or exchange unnecessary treasures and such."
He blinked as if wondering how Raon knew this.
"Then you must know where the lairs of those two are located?"
Raon slightly tilted his chin.
"Of course I... Ah!"
Bobor's jaw trembled as if he had just realized Raon's intention.
'He wants to eat more from here?
This human is greedier than dragons!
* * *
After extracting the locations of the two dragon lairs from Bobor, Raon returned to Sepia.
"Was the harvest fruitful?"
Sterin smiled faintly, as if asking if he had brought back enough.
"Yes. It was more than I expected."
Raon said it was a struggle to collect it all as he took out his subspace pouch.
"So I wanted to share some with Sepia..."
"That's enough."
Sterin shook his head firmly.
"We don't know the value of gold and jewels. It would be better for you to take it and use it."
He shrugged, saying it would be wasted on them anyway.
"I suppose you're right."
Raon smiled faintly and lowered his chin.
"Then I'll send weapons and armor made from dragon bones and scales. That should be fine, right?"
"Yes. We'll gratefully accept such gifts."
Sterin nodded, saying he would gladly accept that kind of present.
"Ah, I sent a letter to that dwarf, so word should reach Zieghart. Though it might be a bit delayed since he's the type to focus solely on his work."
He clicked his tongue, saying Borgos never read letters well to begin with.
"Yes. Thank you. And..."
Raon took out a sphere emitting seven-colored radiance from his subspace pouch. It was the Dragon Heart obtained this time.
"Why are you..."
Sterin's eyes widened round, as if asking why Raon had taken out the Dragon Heart.
"I want to give this to you, Guardian."
Raon held out the Dragon Heart to Sterin without a moment's hesitation.
"Hmm, I can't accept this. You caught them all, didn't you?"
Sterin bit his lip, saying it was too heavy a gift for him to accept.
"I couldn't have won if you hadn't drained Matirus's stamina. Moreover..."
Raon smiled gently as he looked at Sterin.
"You said you wanted to protect Sepia a little longer, didn't you? The mana imbued in this Dragon Heart is no different from natural energy, so it will be of great help to you, Guardian."
If Sterin obtained the Dragon Heart, it could slow down the rate at which his power was draining. Since he had said he wanted to stay in this world a little longer, Raon wanted to help him.
"Hmm..."
Sterin let out a low groan as he looked at the Dragon Heart, seemingly conflicted.
"One more thing."
Raon raised a finger.
"I'd like to solidify the alliance between Zieghart and Sepia. Please help us in our war."
He bowed politely as he made his request.
"Raon..."
Sterin's aged eyes trembled as he looked at Raon bowing respectfully.
'Not "fight together," but "help us"...'
This child is truly different. With Matirus dying in Sepia, the entire elven race was now involved in the situation across the continent. He had been planning to ask them to join forces first, but Raon didn't even say "fight together," he said "help us."
Hearing words that considered the other party even in this situation, his heart settled warmly.
"Alright..."
Having made his decision, Sterin accepted the Dragon Heart from Raon's hand.
"Let's fight together. I'll survive until the end and protect Sepia and you."
He nodded heavily, saying he would do what his grandson couldn't finish.
"Thank you."
Raon smiled softly as he touched the Blade of Requiem tied to his waist.
-Are you really giving the Dragon Heart to that old pointy ear? Such a precious thing?
'It's not just for emotional reasons. It will be beneficial for us too.'
Sterin is one of the most powerful among the Transcendents. Being above even the leaders of neutral factions, his presence in the mortal world will greatly help maintain the balance of power.
"And I'll return this sword to you."
Raon knelt on one knee and handed Rimmer's sword to Sterin.
"No, you keep that."
Sterin calmly shook his head.
"What?"
"That sword looks better in your hands. The alliance needs proof, so that would be good."
He smiled, saying let's consider the alliance ended when Rimmer's sword returns to Sepia.
"Then I'll have to pass it down for generations."
Raon laughed as he put the sword back at his waist.
"For generations? Have you finally decided to stay with me?"
A hamster under a tree suddenly raised its paw high.
-Eeeeek!
Wrath screamed in fright and retreated into the bracelet.
"M-Merlin..."
Raon exhaled roughly as he pressed his rapidly beating heart.
"Where did you disappear to, popping up suddenly again..."
He had asked her to give a signal before appearing, but she never listened.
"Yeah. I had something to do!"
"Something to do?"
"I'm still investigating, so I'll tell you later."
Merlin shook her head, saying she'd explain later.
"Then why did you come out?"
"The conversation about our future was flowing, so of course I had to come out... Ah, sorry! I'll be going!"
Merlin smiled brightly, suggesting Sterin as the officiant, before leaving the hamster's body.
"Wh-what an unusual child."
Sterin let out a hollow laugh, seemingly unable to adapt.
"I feel the same."
Raon nodded and then shook his head.
"Handsome Raon bestowed a Dragon Heart upon the Guardian of the Elves and made him his subordinate..."
As soon as the tension eased, Siyana's voice was heard from behind. Hearing such nonsense about making her grandfather a subordinate made his heart race even more than seeing Merlin.
"Is, is it okay to leave her like that?"
"I-I can't control her anymore either..."
Sterin shook his head, saying it's becoming increasingly difficult to deal with his granddaughter.
"Let's leave that child alone and sort this out. First, as you said, we've divided the dragon carcasses, but how do you plan to take them?"
Sterin furrowed his brows, saying it wouldn't be easy to move them since the dragons were so large.
"It would take dozens of magicians."
"I'm not sure yet either, but..."
Raon tilted his head and called for Dorian.
"Can you really do it?"
"Of course!"
Dorian nodded and approached the dragon carcasses behind Sterin. Before long, all the bones, teeth, and scales of the three dragons had entered his belly pouch.
"Th-they really all went in. Where exactly does that pouch end?"
-That's not a wallet, it's just a warehouse! An infinite warehouse at that!
"My..."
"Good. I feel completely full!"
Amidst the astonishment of the three Transcendents, Dorian stroked his belly pouch with a smile of utter contentment. Of course, this scene was also engraved in the biography of Raon Zieghart.
"Handsome Raon commands the God of Supplies..."
* * *
Raon and the Light Wind division left Sepia and returned directly to Zieghart. They had no time to spare with all the items they possessed and the reports they had to make.
"You've returned."
External Commander Illiune nodded slightly.
"I heard you killed three dragons. Is that true?"
"Yes. Somehow it turned out that way."
Raon smiled and nodded.
"You keep setting new records every time you go out. No one will be able to keep up with you."
Illiune let out a hollow laugh, muttering that it was overwhelming.
"Go in quickly. The Head of House is waiting."
He opened the gates of the outer fortress, telling them to go straight to the Lord's Manor.
"Thank you."
Raon gave a proper greeting to Illiune and the swordsmen of the outer fortress before stepping onto the main road leading to the main building.
"Is it possible to kill three dragons at once?"
"And they say two of them were ancient dragons?"
"How has he reached this level when he's only been Transcendent for such a short time?"
"He's done unbelievable things before, but this is truly astonishing. It's hard to believe."
The swordsmen lining the main road couldn't stop talking, seemingly in awe of the incredible feat.
"There used to be a lot of insults, but now I can't hear any."
Krein smiled, seemingly satisfied with the expectant gazes of the swordsmen.
"Of course there aren't any. Who would dare to provoke a Transcendent?"
Martha snorted, saying it was only natural.
"There's no need to pay attention to others' gazes and words. The Light Wind is the Light Wind, then and now."
Raon told the pleased Light Wind division to raise their self-esteem as he entered the Lord's Manor. The doors of the audience chamber were wide open, likely because word had been sent ahead, and the executives were standing in front of the white pillars.
"Whew."
Raon calmly exhaled and stepped onto the red carpet, entering the audience chamber. After confirming that all of the Light Wind division had followed him in, he knelt before the throne where Glenn was seated and bowed his head.
"I have come to see the Head of House."
"We have come to see the Head of House!"
"Rise."
When they finished greeting together with the Light Wind division, Glenn's voice was heard from the dais. His voice seemed to tremble slightly, as if nervous.
"Ah, yes..."
Thinking it strange, he raised his head to see Glenn's lips quivering for the first time in a long while.