"I'll need to recover well if I want to put holes in those Eden bastards' heads."
Sterin lifted his bow energetically, as if welcoming the war.
"It's going to be busy for a while."
He smiled broadly, saying he would need to eat and sleep in the training ground until his body was in peak condition.
"I'll strengthen my spirit energy too."
Siyana smiled gently as spirits gathered around her, perching on her hands and shoulders.
"Now that I know I need to grow for the spirits to become stronger."
She nodded solemnly, saying it was time to get out of bed and train.
"Thank you."
Raon bowed his head to Siyana and Sterin as he expressed his gratitude.
"Please continue to help us."
He offered sincere thanks, knowing those two would be risking their lives in battle because of him and Zieghart.
"You should probably leave now."
Sterin clicked his tongue regretfully.
"Yes. I think I need to visit other places to gain more supporters."
Having gained Sepia's support, it was time to seek out other powers. Even moving quickly, it would take considerable time to visit the Five Divine Orders, Holy Kingdom, House Arianne, coastal villages, and House Robert's territory.
"I'm sorry to hold up a busy person, but could you spare a few more days?"
Sterin lowered his drawn bow and approached him.
"Of course I can. But why..."
Raon tilted his head as he looked at Sterin. Everything was finished, so he didn't understand why he was being asked to stay.
"I want to hold a proper succession ceremony for this child."
Sterin gently pushed Siyana forward.
"Since I wasn't in good condition before, it was done rather poorly. This time I want to hold a proper succession ceremony."
He lowered his hand, asking Raon to participate in the ceremony as Zieghart's representative.
"G-Grandfather!"
Siyana's eyes widened in surprise as she looked at Sterin, clearly not having expected this.
"If that's the case, I absolutely must stay."
Raon nodded, telling them not to worry.
"When do you plan to hold the succession ceremony?"
"It will take about a week to prepare."
"Then I'll help with both of your training until the ceremony."
He decided to help with their training, knowing that the alliance would become stronger as Sterin and Siyana grew stronger.
"R-Really?"
Sterin leaned forward eagerly.
"Yes. I have time to spare, and it will be beneficial for all of us."
Raon nodded with a smile.
-Well, of course you have time! Plenty of it!
Wrath snorted as he looked at Raon.
-How could you be busy when the system, the pointy-ears, and that old Nadine bread geezer take care of everything for you!
He ground his teeth, seemingly angry at the mere thought.
'You know me well.'
Raon smiled, calmly accepting Wrath's criticism.
'If you're jealous, why don't you try being handsome too.'
-Urrrgh!
Wrath's fists trembled with genuine anger.
-You weasel-faced bastard...
"Thank you."
Just as Wrath was about to charge forward with a shriek, Sterin approached and took Raon's hand.
"I can't tell you how reassuring it is to have you here."
He kept expressing his gratitude, saying he had received more help than he could ever repay.
"Master's grandfather is like my own grandfather. Please feel comfortable with me."
Raon shook his head solemnly. Thanks to Rimmer, he had learned what it meant to live as a human. This much wasn't nearly enough to repay his debt.
"I see."
Sterin slightly bowed his head and squeezed Raon's hand tighter. A faint moisture seemed to glisten in his wise eyes.
"Lord Raon..."
Siyana also approached, moved, and joined her hands with Sterin's and Raon's.
"If you ever need me, just call... eep!"
Raon was nodding with a smile when his jaw suddenly trembled. A pale white hand had joined atop Siyana and Sterin's hands.
"Me too..."
Evelyn's secretive voice brushed past his ear. She held his hand with a cold smile, almost pinching it.
"I can join too, right?"
Her eyes flashed coldly, suggesting she would stay regardless of his answer.
-Aaaaargh!
'Aaaaargh!'
Raon and Wrath, who had been arguing internally, collapsed simultaneously with screams.
-Keep her away! She's seriously going to give me a heart attack!
'There's no...'
Raon shook his head briefly.
'There's no way!'
-...
Wrath swallowed, seemingly realizing he had nothing to say.
"Shouldn't you smile?"
Evelyn lowered her eyebrows slightly, as if asking why they had suddenly frozen.
"Ahaha."
-Hehehe!
Raon and Wrath laughed awkwardly.
'Why are you laughing?'
-Because she's scary!
***
'Shall we check it now?'
Raon returned to his quarters and called up the reward message he had seen at the training ground.
-This is going to drive me crazy!
Wrath rushed forward and blocked the reward message with his body.
-Damn this system! If it were in front of me, I would have turned it into an ice block along with him!
He ground his teeth, frustrated at his inability to do so.
-I know you're listening! Come out right now! Using my power as you please, how dare... gah!
'Stop that and move aside.'
Raon grabbed Wrath's cheek and pushed him aside, checking the message he had been covering.
[You have achieved a great feat.]
[You have saved the leaders of the elves.]
[You have harmonized the souls of your past and present lives.]
[All ability scores increase by 100 points.]
Wrath sprang up like a jack-in-the-box and let out a scream.
-W-What! Why is it giving 100 points all at once!
He grabbed and shook the message in disbelief. Raon had never known it could actually move like that.
-How can helping some inexperienced elves be worth 100 points!
Wrath shook his head violently, saying it made no sense.
-He didn't even help the elves himself, he just put the fork and knife on the table that the pointy-ears had already set!
He jumped up and down, demanding the situation to be judged fairly.
-And... huh?
Wrath stopped mid-rage and his eyes went wide.
-Harmonized the souls of past and present lives? What nonsense is this!
He frowned, saying he couldn't understand what it meant.
-They're really making up nonsense to give you rewards! I absolutely refuse to accept this!
Wrath shook his head violently, refusing to accept the result.
'You don't know.'
In truth, he had been worried that Wrath might catch on when the phrase about past and present lives appeared. But as always, Wrath just thought the system was making up excuses.
-I absolutely won't give it!
Wrath flailed his arms, refusing to hand over the ability points.
'Sorry, but I've already received them.'
Despite his resistance, the system's rewards were already seeping into his body and mind. His muscles gained an elastic strength, and pure mana permeated his bones and skin. His senses heightened until he could hear the sounds of the entire world.
Raon clenched his fist, feeling the elation of growth.
-Urrrgh!
Wrath ground his teeth audibly, seeming angry again.
-A curse! I'll put a curse on you!
He waved his fingers as if sprinkling seasoning, wishing for all his plans to fail.
'...'
Raon let out a short sigh as he watched Wrath's tantrum. Not today. If he spoke about the past life now, the message would give everything away to Wrath. He wanted to reveal all the truth to Wrath at a moment of his own choosing.
Besides, seeing Wrath's reaction, it seemed like he might already know but was pretending not to.
It would be better to tell him at the time he had in mind, not today.
'After this...'
Raon pretended not to notice and pulled up the next message.
[New trait
[New trait
Whether it was from being with the spirits, or because Garunua and Diamond Earth Technique had grown, new affinities had been created.
-No, why now of all times!
Wrath chewed his lips, clearly unhappy about the new traits as well.
[Trait
[Trait
[Trait
[Trait
[Trait
[Trait
[Trait
[Trait
[Trait
[Trait
Perhaps because his soul had grown while breathing with the World Tree, many trait ranks had increased at once.
-Ughh...
Wrath foamed at the mouth, seemingly at a loss for words. His anger level could be felt rising steadily. But it wasn't over yet.
[Title
Finally, the title of Savior that he previously held had become Savior of All Races. It was the evolution of a title.
-What's this! Simply 'Savior' covers a broader range, doesn't it!
Wrath shook his head vigorously in disbelief.
-Why does the power increase when the scope has narrowed!
He screamed for them to be reasonable.
-Why won't anyone listen to what I'm saying!
Wrath messed up his hair frantically, saying he was going crazy.
'There's only one way to make the system listen to you.'
Raon pointed at himself with his finger.
'Fix your face. Like mine.'
He smiled, saying that was the fastest way. At that moment, a vein seemed to pop in Wrath's forehead.
-Fine! Let's both die together, it's been a while!
He charged at him with genuine rage. However, Raon's soul, now unifying past and present lives, formed an impenetrable wall that completely blocked Wrath's invasion.
-Gack!
Wrath let out a puppy-like yelp as he collapsed to the ground.
-R-Really. Really...
He wailed as he pounded the ground with his fist.
-I have a face that's second to none anywhere!
'That's what you were angry about?'
***
The dimension hiding the World Tree opened, connecting with Sepia in a single space. The massive tree, like an embodiment of the word 'verdant,' filled the Great Forest with pure fragrance and vitality. The World Tree's thick roots stretched out like a fence, with Sepia's elves lined up around them.
The elves waited for today's protagonist while holding dried leaves in their hands. Sterin too, instead of his usual modest martial attire, wore the traditional High Elf ceremonial robes as smooth as silk, with a crown made of golden leaves, standing with his hands behind his back.
As Sepia's elves gazed at the World Tree with bright smiles, a peculiar footstep sound reached their ears.
Step. It was Siyana. She stepped onto the World Tree's path with a goddess-like grace, wearing a blue dress that softly swept the ground. She paused for a moment to gaze at the brilliantly shining World Tree and the elves waiting for her beneath it.
The elves no longer pitied or ignored Siyana, but showed respect and reverence for her as the next Guardian.
After scanning the elves' gazes, Siyana's eyes met with Raon's, who stood on the right. She who always had shyness in her eyes bowed politely to Raon in gratitude before continuing her walk toward the World Tree.
The waiting elves scattered faded, dried flowers and leaves over Siyana's head.
The withered flowers and leaves falling onto Siyana's head and shoulders seemed to return to their most beautiful and vibrant state, scattering rich fragrance and vitality. She appeared like a goddess of nature, giving new life to dying things.
Siyana moved forward, both blessed and bestowing blessings, approaching Sterin who stood beneath the World Tree. While all elves are born with exceptional beauty, Siyana now stood out even among them. Even the elves themselves were struck speechless, their mouths agape at her appearance.
"You'll do much better than I ever could. I entrust Sepia to you."
Even during the succession ceremony, Sterin nodded to Siyana with his usual calm gaze.
"I'll do my best not to dishonor grandfather's name."
Siyana smiled, her tension easing as she showed her trust in Sterin before her.
"From today. No, from the day you threw off your blanket and stood up, you have been this land's Guardian."
Sterin told her to continue as she was while placing his leaf crown on Siyana's head. At that moment, the World Tree burst forth with magnificent light and vitality, as if blessing the elves' succession ceremony. The Great Forest - no, the entire world rippled with green radiance, drawing wave-like patterns in the air.
Even the usually stoic elves broke into wide smiles and cheered. Following their emotions, the spirits too laughed like children and released waves of natural energy.
Under the all-embracing mother tree, elves and nature merged together, while Siyana and Sterin stood straight as if vowing to protect this land, creating a scene like a beautiful painting.
"Not bad."
Raon nodded with satisfaction after watching it all.
'Master would be satisfied too, right?'
He slowly closed and opened his eyes, thinking of Rimmer whom he might never see again.
"The work here is done too."
Dorian chuckled, saying this time had been good in many ways.
"Well, we didn't really have anything to do."
Martha yawned widely, saying she had been bored.
"Where are we going next?"
Evelyn touched her red lips with her finger as she asked about their destination.
"Well..."
Raon crossed his arms as he gazed at the greatly stirring World Tree.
'Where should we go?'
It would be better to start with the larger places, so either the Holy Kingdom or the Five Divine Orders would be good choices. As Raon was pondering with furrowed brows, the air split thinly and a black envelope fell down.
"Hmm?"
Raon caught the envelope before it hit the ground and opened it.
"A letter from the Black Market!"
Dorian gasped at the sight of the black envelope.
"It seems..."
Raon smiled as he folded the letter after reading it.
"Our next destination has been decided?"