"Holy war?"
Raon asked as he observed the trembling eyes of Chad, the Shadow Agents' Leader.
"Did you just say holy war?"
A holy war refers to a conflict led by a Holy Kingdom, not an ordinary kingdom. However, the term isn't applied to just any conflict.
It was a term used only when an event threatened the foundations of a Holy Kingdom or when a primary enemy opposed to Holy Power appeared. Raon unconsciously clenched his fingers.
"Yes. Although it hasn't been announced publicly yet, information is circulating within Suphren that they are preparing for a holy war."
Chad said it was reliable information obtained from within Suphren as he pulled out a letter from his chest.
"Hmm..."
Raon unfolded the letter handed to him by Chad and quickly read through it.
'It's a report from an informant who infiltrated Suphren.'
The letter stated that the Suphren Holy Kingdom was gathering war supplies and summoning high-ranking Holy Knights. However, even the informant didn't know exactly why a holy war was about to break out.
"So the reason for the war is still unknown?"
Raon returned the letter to Chad after finishing it, clicking his tongue.
"Yes. It seems only the highest echelons of the Suphren Holy Kingdom know the purpose of the war."
Chad bowed his head apologetically.
"I thought you might know something since you're acquainted with the Saintess, but I see you didn't."
He slightly tilted his chin, indicating he thought Raon might have known some information about Suphren.
"Olga isn't one to talk much about herself or Suphren."
Raon chuckled, recalling Saintess Olga's sullen expression. Despite being freed from the curse, she remained curt and irritable.
"If you give me some time, I'll look into it personally."
Chad lowered his chin, saying that if Raon waited a little, he would find out why they were starting a war and who they planned to fight.
"No."
Raon calmly shook his head.
"I was planning to visit the Suphren Holy Kingdom anyway, so I'll find out myself."
He had been planning to gain recognition from the Suphren Holy Kingdom before the second successor test ended, so it seemed better to go there directly rather than waiting here.
"Ah, that would be better."
Chad nodded in understanding.
"Thank you for sharing this valuable information."
Raon thanked Chad and bowed at the waist.
"Not at all! We're on the same path, aren't we?"
Chad waved both hands as if to show his trust, letting out a hearty laugh.
"I'll send you more information if I come across anything useful!"
He said he had a lot of work to do and needed to return, then used his footwork technique to rush back to the Shadow Agents.
'To think I suspected someone like him of being Karoon's spy...'
Raon shook his head as he watched Chad's back quickly disappear into the distance.
'I was really simple-minded and foolish.'
-Your lack of awareness isn't your only problem!
Wrath frowned at him.
-No matter how much I try to tell you, it's like your ears are completely plugged! That's what makes it even more frustrating!
He pounded his chest, claiming to feel as stuffy as if he had indigestion.
'Well, at least I know now.'
Raon smiled faintly and shook his head.
'I just need to make up for it going forward.'
Vowing to repay Chad's help many times over, he reopened the report from Suphren.
'A holy war...'
Against whom is Suphren waging this holy war? Despite its sacred name, the Suphren Holy Kingdom no longer worshipped Archangels or Angels due to his influence.
However, even though they no longer followed the Angels, they weren't exactly friendly toward Demons either, which led him to think they might be fighting against beings from the Devildom.
'Right. If a Holy Kingdom is starting a holy war, their enemies can only be Demons.'
Since Derus Robert had declared war and gone into seclusion, the Archangels and Angels wouldn't move either. Suphren's only opponents now were the monsters from the Devildom.
'Wrath.'
Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked at Wrath.
'Do you know of any Demons who've crossed over from the Devildom to Suphren recently?'
-How would I know?
Wrath blinked his eyes as if wondering why Raon would ask him such a thing.
'You're a demon king. Shouldn't you know at least that much?'
Raon tilted his head in the same way as Wrath.
-You damned fool...
Wrath stood there blankly for a moment before raising his eyes in apparent anger.
-I'm bound to your soul and can't leave this damned space! How am I supposed to know that?!
He ground his teeth, telling Raon to say something that made sense.
-If I could move freely, I would have gone down to the Devildom right now and smashed the system first!
Wrath vigorously waved both hands, telling him not to talk nonsense.
-Think with that stupid head of yours! Do you think I would sit still after being beaten twice yesterday by a youngster like you?!
He touched his eyelid, which was still bruised from yesterday's beating.
'Hmm, that's true.'
Raon clicked his tongue briefly as he looked at Wrath's blackened eye.
'So I'll have to go there to find out.'
Since the information wasn't available from the Shadow Agents and Wrath claimed not to know either, it seemed best to go directly to the Suphren Holy Kingdom to find out what was happening.
-Where do you think you're going?
Wrath frowned and raised his arm, from which frost was emanating.
-Since that fake Saintess isn't saying anything, it means they want to handle it themselves. Just stay here, eat your food, and do your own work.
He waved his hand, telling Raon to eat in the annex building and focus on his cultivation.
'Both the current Holy King and Olga...'
Raon shook his head as he recalled the faces of the Holy King and the Saintess, the two pillars of the Suphren Holy Kingdom.
'Neither of them is the type to ask for help, even if they're in danger.'
The Holy King and Saintess of Suphren felt they already owed him too much, so there was a high possibility they wouldn't ask Zieghart for help even if their country was in danger.
During the war with the White Blood Religion, many people survived thanks to the Suphren Holy Kingdom and Saintess Olga, so they should have considered it a mutual exchange of help, but it was obvious they still thought they had received one-sided assistance.
'It's better if I go myself. And...'
He smiled faintly as he looked at the distant main building.
'Since I've been told to pass the second successor test no matter what, it would be good to secure Suphren's support to make it definite.'
Having already gained the support of many people, if he could also obtain the backing of the Suphren Holy Kingdom, he would definitely be able to pass the second successor test.
-So are you going alone this time?
Wrath slightly jerked his chin as if asking who Raon planned to take along this time.
'When going out, one must bring their wallet. And ah...'
Raon snapped his fingers with a thin smile.
'I've got a good idea.'
He turned and ran not toward the fifth training ground but to the annex building. He stood in front of Evelyn's room, where she was staying in the maids' quarters.
"Evelyn."
Raon carefully knocked and called her name.
"Is that you, Raon? Just a moment."
Evelyn, who seemed to have been resting in her room, asked him to wait a moment in her usual gentle voice.
-W-why are you calling that madwoman!
Wrath tapped Raon's shoulder, questioning why he was calling Evelyn.
'With Evelyn, we can move quickly and she's helpful in many ways. Plus, I can fulfill a promise I made.'
As Raon was smiling slightly, the door opened and Evelyn came out. The room visible behind her was more immaculately organized than any other place in the annex building.
"What is it?"
Evelyn looked at him with a soft smile.
"I promised you a date, right?"
Raon smiled as he stepped closer to Evelyn.
"Let's go. There's a place I want to visit with you."
He extended his hand, saying he would keep his overdue promise.
"A date? Really? Right now... hmm?"
Evelyn's bright smile suddenly froze like a doll's.
"Raon. Don't tell me the place you want to go with me is..."
Her lips twisted upward.
"Not the Suphren Holy Kingdom, right?"
Evelyn immediately mentioned the Suphren Holy Kingdom, suggesting she had overheard his conversation with Chad.
"Huh? Oh, you knew about it?"
Raon's jaw trembled slightly as he looked at Evelyn.
-Aah...
Wrath seemed too exasperated to even curse, covering his eyes with both hands and letting out a deep sigh.
"Huhu..."
Evelyn let out an eerie laugh as she concentrated a terrifying amount of mana in both hands.
"It seems our Raon needs a little education. He has no idea what a date actually means."
She said she couldn't take it anymore and unleashed the concentrated mana at Raon without hesitation.
"W-wait a moment!"
Raon absorbed Evelyn's surging mana with the Dance of the Golden Flame and fled outside the annex building. With a thunderous rumble, Evelyn followed him like a shadow, chanting massive spells as if she had no intention of holding back this time.
'Why, why is she acting like that!'
Raon fled toward North Grave Mountain in terror.
-To think you'd make me agree with that madwoman...
Wrath exhaled a long breath, saying he hadn't expected things to turn out this way.
-Just die already! Your death would be a service to the world!
'Could someone explain...'
-If you don't know, then die! Just die!
***
After surviving the life-threatening game of tag with Evelyn, Raon headed to the audience chamber.
"You're in quite a state."
Glenn frowned as he examined Raon's body, which was covered with traces of mana.
"Yes. There was a slight misunderstanding..."
Raon apologized and bowed his head.
-Misunderstanding? If that's a misunderstanding, then just die already!
Wrath, unusually taking Evelyn's side, clutched at his own neck.
"So, you're going to Suphren?"
Glenn lightly tapped the armrest of his throne as if asking if Raon would be all right.
"Yes. Since we still have a month to spare, I want to check on the issue in Suphren and return after gaining their support as well."
Raon bowed his head to Glenn, asking for permission.
"I said the test will officially begin in a month, so you're free to do as you please until then."
Glenn nodded, indicating Raon could do as he wished.
"However, even when time is of the essence, focusing on too many things can make you lose sight of what's essential. Think about what you truly need to do and concentrate on that."
He wasn't simply giving permission but offering advice about what was most important at this moment.
"I'll keep that in mind."
Raon closed his eyes, engraving Glenn's words in his heart.
"Have you decided on those who have potential?"
Glenn lowered his calm gaze, as if asking how Raon viewed the candidates.
"So far, I've only confirmed Karoon and Alice. I haven't decided on anyone else. After returning from Suphren, I plan to check their growth process and efforts before bringing them in."
Raon asked Glenn to wait a little longer as he bowed his head.
"Karoon and Alice. I see..."
Glenn smiled gently, as if he had expected Karoon to be chosen.
"Very well. Let's finalize that in a month."
He nodded, suggesting they should take their time to learn more before proceeding.
"Thank you. I'll be going then."
Raon gave Glenn a final bow before turning around.
"Hmm..."
Glenn smiled gently as he looked at Raon's back, which seemed to have broadened not just in height or width, but as a person.
'Do whatever you want to do.'
He lowered his chin with a benevolent smile that seemed to transcend everything in the world.
'I'll open the path for you, even if it means giving everything I have.'
***
In the cathedral of the Suphren Holy Kingdom, Holy King Hoppen knelt in the prayer room of the Holy Spirit, where only he could pray, with his eyes closed. He remained motionless for hours, focused on prayer as if he would turn into a stone statue. A deep rumbling sound filled the air.
As if taking pity on Hoppen, who prayed without even a flutter of his eyelashes, a soft starlight descended from the sky and wrapped around his shoulders.
A sacred and beautifully blooming radiance began to pour out from the prayer room.
"Ohhhhh!"
"As expected of the Holy King!"
"To summon such light and holy power!"
The priests and Holy Knights remaining in the cathedral clasped their hands together, their eyes reddening with emotion at the light Hoppen had summoned.
"This is a good omen!"
"This is what we expect from one who ascended to kingship by his own merit!"
"With him, we'll surely be victorious in the coming holy war..."
Just as the priests were smiling brightly and envisioning the future, heavy footsteps shook the sacred cathedral as a golden-haired girl in a black nun's habit strode forward and kicked open the door to the Holy King's prayer room.
"Urgh!"
"W-wait a moment!"
"His prayer isn't finished yet!"
The priests and Holy Knights tried to stop the girl, but they were all thrown back by her rough handling. With a thunderous crash, the girl in the black habit broke down the prayer room door and met the wide-eyed gaze of Holy King Hoppen.
"N-no, please knock before entering!"
Hoppen shook his head, begging her to control her temper.
"I did knock."
Saintess Olga snorted as she brushed off her black habit.
"What kind of knock is that! That was you smashing the door with your fist!"
Hoppen yelled at her to maintain her dignity as a Saintess.
"Stop wasting time with useless prayers and come out."
Olga snorted again and beckoned to Hoppen with her finger. With confident eyes, she pointed to the thin dagger at her waist.
"Because the weapon to kill that damned witch is finally complete."