"Our next destination?"
Martha narrowed her eyes as she looked at the black envelope.
"What's written in there that made you decide on our destination?"
She approached while flexing her fingers, curiosity evident in her expression.
"Where is it?"
Evelyn traced her lips with her finger as she gave a faint smile.
"Never mind. No need to tell me. I'll follow wherever it leads."
She waved her hand dismissively, indicating that the location didn't matter as long as Raon was going there.
"It-it's not somewhere dangerous, is it?"
Dorian nervously swallowed as he eyed the black letter with concern.
"It's just information, right?"
He clasped his hands together as if pleading for confirmation.
"See for yourself."
Raon handed the letter from the Black Market to Dorian and Martha.
"Are we allowed to look?"
"Is-isn't it secret?"
Martha and Dorian asked worriedly, but their eyes were already fixed intently on the letter.
"Hmm."
Evelyn simply filed her nails, not even glancing at the letter as if completely uninterested.
-That's what's frightening. That...
Wrath's lips trembled as if just looking at Evelyn filled him with fear.
'Why, when she's just standing there?'
Raon tilted his head as he looked at Evelyn's slight smile.
-She's acting so casual because she can follow you anywhere!
Wrath pulled down his eyelid, certain that Evelyn must have placed a tracking spell on Raon's body.
"Hehe."
Evelyn wore an enigmatic smile as if she could read Raon and Wrath's thoughts.
"Hmm..."
As Raon searched for any tracking magic Evelyn might have placed on him, Dorian and Martha lifted their heads simultaneously.
"What is this?"
Martha tilted her head in confusion.
"'White-haired child spotted near House Arianne, buying out all bead ice cream with high-quality gold coins. Currently tracking.' Why does this determine our next destination?"
Dorian's eyes widened as he continued reading the letter, unable to make sense of it.
"You don't need to understand. Just remember that our next destination is House Arianne."
Raon patted Dorian's shoulder, saying that was all they needed to know.
"Huh? Couldn't you just tell us..."
Dorian's fingertips trembled, seeming more afraid of what lay ahead than curious.
"At least tell us why so that I can prepare supplies!"
He patted his pouch, insisting they needed to prepare necessary items.
"It's fine. We won't need to use your pouch much."
Raon shrugged as he took back the letter.
"That's true. Would knowing change anything?"
Martha grinned, suggesting this was nothing new.
-A white-haired child buying all the bead ice cream...?
Wrath turned his eyes toward Raon as if finally understanding.
-That's Gluttony!
He furrowed his brow, wondering how long he had been tracking Gluttony.
'I asked the Black Market before we went to find Sloth.'
Raon waved his hand as if it should have been obvious.
'Gluttony is one of the few demon kings who will definitely participate in the war.'
The demon kings who held goodwill toward him were Sloth, Lust, and Gluttony. Since those three were likely to participate in the war if asked politely, he had requested information about their whereabouts from the Black Market and Shadow Agents from the start.
-You, you cheapskate...
Wrath's shoulders trembled with irritation.
-Trying to use premium demon king labor for free! How wicked!
He ground his teeth, calling Raon the biggest miser in all dimensions.
'It's not free. You know that.'
Through his meeting with Sloth, he learned that even demon kings who held goodwill toward him couldn't participate in the war without compensation. He would need to meet Gluttony and grant her sincere request before she would participate in the war against the Archangel.
-What could that one possibly ask for! Obviously just more money to buy ice cream!
Wrath ground his teeth, saying it was obvious.
'That's true.'
Raon lowered his head with a slight smile.
'It's the easiest case.'
True to her title as the Monarch of Gluttony, she was completely obsessed with bead ice cream. If he gave her more money than before or set up a bead ice cream shop for her, she would likely participate in the war even if it meant twisting causality itself.
'Lust is similar.'
-Lust? That stalker would be difficult, wouldn't she?
Wrath deeply furrowed his brow, suggesting they couldn't predict what she would ask for.
'No, it won't be difficult at all.'
Raon calmly waved his hand.
'I just need to hand you over to her.'
All Lust wanted was Wrath. If he offered her promises that Wrath would keep in the future, she would obviously participate in the war even at the risk of her life. Honestly, it was the easiest case.
-Uh...
Wrath raised his dazed eyes.
-You crazy bastard! Trying to sell me off again! Didn't you say we were friends!
'Because we're friends. That's why I'm asking for help. I couldn't say this to others.'
-Ugh! Ughh...
He beat his chest as if he had many things to say but couldn't get the words out.
'Don't worry. I won't do anything too extreme.'
As Raon patted the retching Wrath's back, it happened.
"How was the succession ceremony?"
Sterin approached after finishing his greetings with the other elves.
"It was magnificent. It felt far more splendid than any other kingdom or house's ceremony."
The ceremony, held in the forest under natural light, should have been far from extravagant. However, when the World Tree's blessing descended, today's succession ceremony radiated light more brilliant and magnificent than any other event.
"Even if I become the head of House Zieghart, it wouldn't compare to this."
Raon bowed to Sterin, thanking him for letting him witness such a spectacle.
"That's not true."
Sterin shook his head in disagreement.
"At your succession ceremony, instead of the World Tree, countless people will gather."
He smiled broadly, saying as many people would gather as there were leaves on the World Tree.
"That's not wrong."
Martha clapped her hands lightly in agreement.
"That's right. Even now, we have many places to visit, and many people to recruit"
Dorian nodded in agreement.
"I really want to lock him up somewhere..."
Evelyn smiled coldly as she casually made a comment that sent chills down everyone's spine.
"Then will you attend my inauguration ceremony as well, Lord Sterin?"
Raon forcefully ignored Evelyn's comment and looked at Sterin.
"Of course! If you invite me, I'll definitely come!"
Sterin nodded, affirming that he would certainly attend his inauguration ceremony.
"I-I'll come too!"
Siyana also raised her hand, declaring she would definitely attend. Raon couldn't help but smile as she seemed to have returned to her normal self, different from her formal Guardian demeanor.
"I'll have to become the successor to have the honor of hosting you both. Thank you."
Raon bowed to Siyana and Sterin, promising to work hard.
"No. We're the ones who should really be thankful."
Siyana stood before Raon and grasped her right shoulder with her left arm. It was a greeting unique to the bow-wielding elves.
"The Guardian shows her respect!"
Sterin let out a roar that shook the entire forest as he struck his right shoulder with his left arm. With a thunderous sound, the elves standing beneath the World Tree also showed their respect to Raon in the same manner as Siyana and Sterin.
"Hmm..."
Raon drew the Heavenly Drive to respond to Siyana's first formal greeting as Guardian.
"The Light Wind Palace Master of Zieghart pays his respects to the Guardian of Sepia."
He held out his sword reversed. It was the sword greeting of Zieghart. This moment marked the blooming of an even deeper and stronger friendship between elf and human, between Sepia and Zieghart.
***
At noon, when the sun reached its highest point in the sky, the Zieghart Main House began to shake as if it had been waiting for this moment. The tremors were no ordinary earthquake - they were so violent that the swordsmen couldn't keep their balance, crashing into walls or falling to the ground.
"A-again?"
"Why does this chaos happen every time it hits noon!"
"This is driving me crazy! These earthquakes are only happening in Zieghart!"
"Doesn't it seem to be getting worse?"
"Just endure it for three hours. It'll stop soon."
The swordsmen, now seemingly accustomed to the earthquakes, didn't react much as they stood up against the tremors and began their tasks.
"Hehehe."
Roenn quietly observed the scene before carefully opening the door to the audience chamber and entering. With a rumbling sound, the culprit sat on the golden platform. Glenn Zieghart. The head of the house was causing earthquakes throughout not just the main building, but all of Zieghart, simply by shaking his legs.
"Three weeks... No contact from Raon for three weeks!"
Glenn started biting his nails, lamenting that there had been no contact from Raon for three whole weeks. It was a new habit he'd developed since Raon's departure.
"Surely nothing's gone wrong?"
"They say no news is good news. He'll return soon."
Sheryl waved her hand dismissively as she gave her usual response to Glenn's daily parrot-like worried comments.
"Right?"
She looked at Roenn as if asking him to do something about the situation.
"Hehehe, Lady Sheryl is right. There shouldn't be any particular danger in Sepia."
Roenn nodded, pointing out that Siyana and Sterin were with him.
"No! Didn't they say the sky there was shaking as if it would collapse! And with malicious winds and fog at that!"
Glenn bit his lip, insisting this was no ordinary matter.
"Surely not Derus and Eden..."
His hand trembled on the throne as if he might rush to Raon at any moment.
"Raon must be given a chance to grow, and for now, I think you should wait...."
As Roenn waved his hand to stop Glenn, there was a sharp crack as space split open before Glenn's throne and a black letter fell out.
"From the Black Market?"
Glenn opened the letter while furrowing his brows.
"Oh!"
Glenn's previously crumpled expression began to brighten as he read the letter. His legs, which had been causing earthquakes beyond Zieghart and throughout the continent, slowly came to a stop.
"What is it?"
Sheryl approached Glenn curiously.
"It says Raon restored youth to Sterin, the former Guardian, and helped the new Guardian Siyana grow! They say the cursed fog and wind have been erased too!"
Glenn exclaimed that Raon had solved all of Sepia's problems.
"See! I told you Raon would handle it!"
Sheryl nodded, suggesting their patience had been rewarded.
"Hehehe."
Roenn also let out an appreciative chuckle. With a whoosh, Glenn nodded with satisfaction and incinerated the black letter with lightning.
"Huh?"
"Why did you burn it?"
Sheryl and Roenn's eyes widened in surprise.
"Because when Raon returns, I want to hear it from his own mouth."
Glenn raised his chin as if this was only natural.
"Wow!"
"Hehehe..."
Sheryl and Roenn let out awkward laughs, once again amazed by Glenn's devotion to his grandson.
"Shall we go see how much Sia has grown today?"
Glenn hummed as he descended from the platform and headed for the audience chamber's exit.
"We'll accompany you."
"I'd like to see the young lady after such a long time as well."
Sheryl and Roenn nodded and followed Glenn out of the audience chamber.
"The earthquake ended early today?"
"Yeah. It ended about two and a half hours earlier than usual!"
"We should get some work done while we can."
"Let's get moving."
The swordsmen of the Lord's Manor began moving quickly, eager to complete their work while the earthquake had stopped.
"I hope this peace lasts a while."
Roenn wore a subtle smile, pleased with the current atmosphere in the house.
"Sorry, but that's impossible."
Sheryl shook her head firmly while looking at Glenn's back.
"The earthquakes will start again in three days."
She sighed, saying it was obvious.
"I give it two days."
Roenn raised two fingers, going even further.
"Would you like to make a bet?"
"What bet! It's not like we're possessed by gambling spirits!"
Sheryl waved her hand dismissively, telling him not to say such strange things.
"Hehehe. I apologize."
Roenn laughed awkwardly, admitting he'd said something unnecessary.
"It's fine now."
Sheryl nodded lightly and turned her gaze away.
'Even though that damned one is dead, I can't help but worry.'
He must be doing well somehow, wherever he is. She lowered her eyebrows slightly as she looked up at the blue sky where a green wind seemed to pass by.
'Because you were a damned gambler.'
***
"We welcome the Light Wind Palace Master!"
Wendy Arianne, head of House Arianne, came out personally to bow to Raon.
"We welcome the Light Wind Palace Master and the heroes of Zieghart!"
The swordsmen of House Arianne behind her also bowed deeply with formal respect.
"The Light Wind Palace Master of Zieghart greets the head of House Arianne."
Raon returned the greeting to Wendy Arianne with a slight smile.
'I really did judge her character well.'
Even when House Arianne was deeply corrupted, Wendy never abandoned her sword and rose to Master rank. Her martial prowess had reached an entirely different level than before, as she had apparently continued her sword training even after becoming head of the house.
"You're looking well."
Raon lowered the Heavenly Drive from its ceremonial position, commenting that her complexion had improved.
"It's thanks to you, Lord Raon."
Wendy bowed again, saying House Arianne had survived thanks to Raon.
"You're too kind. I didn't do much."
Raon calmly shook his head.
"You're still too modest. You changed not just House Arianne, but this entire region. See for yourself."
Wendy gestured to show the current state of House Arianne. The land that had once been filled with filth and malice was now spotlessly clean, and the entire house was brimming with new people and vitality.
"It certainly looks better."
Raon nodded with a gentle smile. Seeing people laughing and chatting as they moved about like in a major city like Cameloon, he felt proud of having risked his life fighting here.
"Looks like we're invisible."
Martha pouted.
"Not at all. She called us the heroes of Zieghart."
Dorian waved his hand at Martha, telling her to be patient.
"How petty."
Evelyn sneered, saying Martha's ugly thoughts were written all over her face.
"What?"
Martha began to growl at Evelyn.
"Waaaaaah!"
Just as she was about to throw a punch at Evelyn, the people of House Arianne came out and burst into cheers for Raon. They had not forgotten the past and still held onto their gratitude.
"Lady Wendy. The reason I came here is..."
Raon took a step closer to Wendy.
"I know. It's to receive a declaration of support for your succession."
Wendy smiled, saying she had heard the rumors.
"Don't worry. I've prepared everything."
She clasped her hands together, asking him to wait just a moment.
"Already?"
"Because you're the only one I would support, Lord Raon."
Wendy nodded, saying this decision had been prepared since the moment Raon saved House Arianne.
"...Thank you."
Raon pressed his lips together, once again feeling the preciousness of these connections.
"Ah, and there's one more thing I'd like to ask."
Raon lowered his voice slightly as he looked at Wendy.
"Do you know about a white-haired child who bought all the bead ice cream in House Arianne's territory?"
He asked directly about Gluttony, knowing that as head of the house, Wendy would be informed of everything happening in their territory.
"Ah, I do know about the white-haired child who came recently. The guards kept an eye on them because they carried a pouch of gold coins. But they're not here now. From what I know, they left..."
Wendy narrowed her eyes as she mentioned that the child had gone alone toward the Swamp of Death.
"So they ate all the ice cream here and went somewhere else."
Raon clicked his tongue briefly. It seemed Gluttony had left House Arianne after finishing all the ice cream.
"No. They didn't finish all the ice cream."
Wendy calmly raised her hand.
"What?"
"I heard they just tasted a little bit of each and then left."
She shook her head, saying that Gluttony had stopped eating partway through and left.
"That-that can't be right?"
Raon's jaw dropped as soon as he heard Wendy's words.
-That's impossible! What could make that glutton...!
Wrath also widened his eyes in disbelief.
'This time...'
Raon frowned as he looked at the bead ice cream shop where Gluttony had apparently been.
'What could have happened?'