"Lord Raon!"
"Raon!"
When Raon barely managed to stop Wrath's seizure, Holy King Hoppen and Saintess Olga came running.
"I, thank you so much."
Hoppen bowed his head openly in front of everyone, seemingly forgetting his position as the Holy King of Suphren.
"Thanks to you, we survived."
He cried out his sincere gratitude with a choked-up voice.
"Please don't do this."
Raon said it was nothing as he helped Hoppen to his feet. Since his actions had been half-sincere and half-performance, he didn't want to receive such formal gratitude.
"Are you alright?"
Saintess Olga narrowed her eyes in concern, seemingly more worried about his physical condition than anything else.
"Tell me if anything hurts. No matter how exhausted I am, I can still heal you."
She clenched her jaw with determination, as if ready to heal him even if it cost her life.
"I'm fine."
Raon smiled and waved his hand dismissively.
"I have a few injuries, but my body and mind are both intact."
Having reached a state of enlightenment earlier, his body and mind were actually clearer than before the fight.
'I never expected to gain such a serendipitous encounter here.'
He had only sparred with Lust to test his skills, but never expected that both of them would enter a state of enlightenment and awaken.
'I've definitely grown stronger.'
Not just in the sword techniques Lust primarily used like Precision Sword, Strong Sword, and Quick Sword, but his Ten Thousand Swords achievement had improved overall. He could clearly feel his swordsmanship had strengthened.
'And also...'
He had learned the proper way to use emotions too. Unlike when he explosively used the demon kings' authority, focusing it into his sword produced power far beyond his expectations. The only drawback was that since he was using someone else's emotions rather than his own, it greatly fatigued both body and mind. (E/N: How many times had he learnt it by now?)
'In the end, I need to develop myself.'
His willpower to remain unwavering, built up since childhood. If he could perfectly infuse his sword with that emotion, it seemed he could complete a swordsmanship that would lose to no one.
'Now I know what to do before the war.'
Before fighting Derus, he would need to further strengthen his willpower and practice infusing his emotions into his sword.
'Of course, growth in martial prowess is a given.'
Even if he perfected that practice, if his martial prowess itself didn't strengthen, it would be impossible to stand on the battlefield against absolute beings. Reinforcing his martial prowess itself had to be the priority.
-Grrrr...
As he finished organizing his thoughts, he heard the sound of Wrath grinding his teeth.
-You wicked bastard! Hogging everything for yourself!
He raged that even Greed wasn't this greedy.
'Ate? What did I eat?'
Raon blinked as he looked at Wrath.
-Didn't you devour Lust's swordsmanship, the goodwill of these humans, and suck the marrow from this king's spine!
Wrath frowned, saying that it would take combining Greed and Gluttony to satisfy Raon's desires.
'Ah, I guess it does look that way if you put it like that.'
Raon chuckled and nodded.
'I didn't expect such good results either.'
As Wrath said, thanks to Lust he had improved his swordsmanship, gained much greater goodwill from the Suphren Holy Kingdom than before, and even received a reward from the system. He couldn't help but smile at achievements that exceeded his expectations.
'I wish it could always be like this.'
-You filthy bastard!
'When we get back, I'll buy you all the bead ice cream you want.'
Raon gently patted Wrath's back, thanking him for the help.
-Nngh...
As if unwilling to miss out on the bead ice cream, Wrath stopped being angry and only let out a pained groan.
'I'll really keep my promise this time.'
As Raon was looking at Wrath's distorted face with a faint smile, that was when—
"Haaaa..."
Holy King Hoppen's smiling face fell as he let out a long sigh.
"What's wrong?"
Raon asked as he turned his gaze to Hoppen.
"Thanks to you, Lord Raon, there were fortunately no casualties, but I'm at a loss for how to restore this devastation."
Hoppen looked at the ruins of land and buildings destroyed by his duel with Lust, then squeezed his eyes shut.
"There goes your worrisome personality again."
Saintess Olga frowned and slapped Hoppen's back with her palm.
"Like you said, everyone survived! Land and buildings can be rebuilt!"
She hit Hoppen's back again, telling him to cheer up since they hadn't lost what was most important. Looking at them like this, it was hard to tell who was actually the king.
"S-sorry. You're right, now that I think about it."
Hoppen nodded, saying he would focus on the positives rather than the negatives.
'Hmm...'
Raon followed Hoppen's gaze, surveying the destroyed northern center.
'It's definitely been badly damaged.'
He hadn't noticed while in his state of enlightenment, but now he could see that a whole section of the city had been reduced to ruins, to the point where it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say a pillar of the city had collapsed.
'When you think about it, this is all my and Wrath's fault.'
Lust had come here because traces of Wrath remained, and since they had destroyed everything around them during their sword dance, it seemed right to take responsibility.
"When I think about it, something seems odd."
Olga narrowed her eyes as she looked at the place where Lust had disappeared.
"That demon king-like witch looked so cheerful before disappearing. She seemed like someone who wouldn't even consider death, but then suddenly her face turned gloomy, she apologized, and vanished. I don't understand what happened."
She shook her head, saying that no matter how much she thought about it, Lust's behavior made no sense.
"Ah..."
Raon swallowed dryly as he saw Olga's serious gaze.
'I need to stop this line of questioning.'
It hadn't been a pre-arranged show, and since Olga had heard his conversation with Lust right in front of her, she seemed to feel something was off. He needed to divert her thoughts elsewhere. With a loud thud!
Raon took out pouches of gold coins and gold bars from his subspace pouch and placed them in front of Olga and Hoppen. There was so much money that the ground shook slightly under its weight.
"W-what is this?"
Hoppen's jaw trembled as he stared at the mountain of gold coins and bars.
"Why are you suddenly showing off your wealth...?"
Olga also opened her mouth in a circle, as if unable to understand.
"Use this to provide relief funds to the residents here and to restore the area."
Raon nodded to Olga and Hoppen, saying that the gold was meant for that purpose.
"What? Why are you giving this to us!"
"That's right! Lord Raon, you saved us. We absolutely cannot accept this!"
Olga and Hoppen waved both hands, saying they couldn't accept the money.
"I destroyed more than half of it. Besides, we're not just casual acquaintances. I should help where I can."
Raon shook his head, asking them to accept the gold.
"If you consider me a benefactor, please accept it. And..."
He slightly turned his body and gestured to Dorian, who was standing behind him.
"Yes!"
Dorian immediately stepped forward, as if he had been expecting to be called.
"If you have materials to restore this place, please take them out."
"Of course I do! It's essential!"
Dorian shouted his usual word "essential" as he began taking out materials needed to fill the destroyed land and build structures from his belly pouch. The quantity, however, was beyond imagination. Before they knew it, a mountain of construction materials had piled up before everyone's eyes.
"T-this much?"
Olga stared at Dorian with wide eyes, as if dumbfounded.
"Even a subspace pouch should have its limits, but that's just..."
Hoppen also blinked, saying he never expected Dorian's belly pouch to hold so much.
"With this much, we really could restore everything...?"
Raon let out a surprised breath as he looked at the mountain of construction materials from Dorian.
"When did you collect all this?"
He had thought he was used to Dorian by now, but it seemed that wasn't the case. Honestly, he hadn't expected Dorian to have enough materials to build an entire small village from the foundation up.
"Because it's essential!"
Dorian nodded with a silly grin, seeming pleased to have his habits acknowledged after a long time.
"Well, please accept it all anyway. As an allied force, I think I can do at least this much."
Raon said with a faint smile that they could repay him when circumstances improved. Though he told them to repay it, he naturally had no intention of taking it back.
"Wooow..."
"To think he would hand over such a fortune."
"This is Sword Emperor Raon Zieghart..."
"Never mind the money, giving all those construction materials alone is incredible! They're all top-quality materials!"
"To think the Zieghart family was this magnanimous..."
The Holy Knights and Priests let out sincere exclamations, amazed once again by Raon's generosity.
"I truly thank you."
Hoppen pressed his lips down tightly as if swallowing tears and bowed.
"I will definitely repay this kindness. No!"
He bit his lip and grasped Raon's hand.
"I swear on my life and the life of this country to repay you!"
Hoppen gave an answer so definitive that there was no need to ask further.
"Don't just say it with words, take out a token at least!"
Olga kicked the sniffling Hoppen's backside. Seeing him constantly getting hit, it was hard to tell whether he was a king or a younger brother.
"That guy probably came all this way for the Zieghart successor's support."
She brought up the word "successor" as if she knew his circumstances.
"This is the token of the Suphren Holy Kingdom bestowed upon me."
Hoppen took out a token with the image of a praying person from inside his armor and held it out to Raon.
"No matter what situation or crisis Lord Raon faces, Suphren will risk everything to come to your aid!"
He nodded firmly, as if asking Raon to count on him.
"We will absolutely come as well!"
"Please be sure to call on us!"
"We support you as the Zieghart successor. No, as the head of house!"
"If Lord Raon says the sun rises in the west, we'll believe it!"
The Holy Knights and Priests also seemed to share Hoppen's feelings, clasping their hands together and looking at him with eyes full of conviction.
'Second stroke of luck.'
Raon met the earnest eyes of the Holy Knights and Priests with a subtle smile.
'The Holy Kingdom's support. And much stronger than expected.' (E/N: Isn't that a formality...? They already swore to help him in whatever already before.)
Having driven away Lust and provided financial support and materials, the favorability toward him in the Suphren Kingdom was skyrocketing. Their already solid support had grown stronger, to the point where if he asked them to join the war against Derus now, it seemed the entire population of the Suphren Holy Kingdom would rush to do so.
"Then may I ask for one favor in advance?"
Raon took one step closer to Hoppen and Olga.
"Anything at all."
Hoppen nodded as if to say "just name it."
"..."
Olga crossed her arms and slightly narrowed her eyes as if telling him to go ahead.
"As you may know, in one year and one month, a war will break out against Derus Robert and Eden.
"Can you fight alongside us in that war?"
Raon extended his hand, asking them to fight shoulder to shoulder on the frontlines, not the rear. With a thud! Hoppen grasped Raon's hand without a moment's hesitation.
"Of course! As I said, Suphren will risk everything to fight alongside you, Lord Raon!"
He pounded his chest with his fist as if asking Raon to trust him.
"Hmph. Why even ask such a thing?"
Olga snorted as if to say "why are you even asking about something so obvious?"
"Thank you."
-Nnnghhh.
Raon smiled and bowed his head, while Wrath let out a groan as if his heart was aching.
-This country is doomed! Devoured by this greedy monster!
Contrary to Wrath's wailing, smiles bloomed on everyone's faces.
***
Raon entered the palace guest room that Hoppen had personally guided him to and collapsed onto the bed.
"Oh my..."
After washing and lying down on the bed, he felt fatigue washing over him. His body felt heavy and his head foggy, making him want to fall asleep just like this.
-What's with the "oh my" from a young guy like you!
Wrath wrinkled his nose in disapproval.
'Hmm, seems like you're in a better mood now.'
Raon chuckled as he observed Wrath's slightly raised eyes. Thanks to the delicious dinner at the palace, he seemed to be in a better mood than before.
-Nonsense! This king's foul mood won't be lifted until I freeze you solid!
Wrath growled that he might turn Raon into an ice block during the night, so Raon shouldn't let his guard down.
'Really? If you're in a bad mood anyway, I might as well look at it now?'
Raon smiled faintly and raised his hand.
-What do you mean?
'You know, that thing we didn't check earlier.'
-Th-the system reward!
Wrath gasped as if just now remembering that the system had given a reward.
'That's right. We should take a proper look.'
Just as he reached out his hand to check the reward message he hadn't been able to properly view because of Wrath's commotion and Olga and Hoppen's arrival
"Wrath!"
Suddenly, pink smoke billowed from thin air, and Lust's face abruptly emerged. It seemed she had been watching and following them, and finally couldn't hold back anymore.
-Keeeeeeeeek!
The moment Wrath saw Lust, he screamed and backed away to the wall.
"It's been brief, but I missed you!"
Just as Lust formed her body from the pink smoke and rushed toward him... A barrier of blue light rose up and blocked Lust's path. From within the blue dimension, Evelyn with her flowing purple hair walked out and frowned.
"How dare you."
She shook her head vigorously as if telling Lust not to come any closer.
-Nnnggghhh...
Wrath's mouth fell open and he began to melt onto the floor as if his heart had burst from Evelyn's appearance following Lust's.
"You again?"
Lust clicked her tongue, saying she hadn't expected to see Evelyn here again.
"I don't like you either!"
Evelyn wrinkled her nose, irritated at seeing Lust again. Raon carefully lowered the hand that had been about to summon the message and pursed his lips.
"I was thinking of introducing you two anyway, so this works out."
He nodded to Evelyn and Lust, saying they had come at just the right time.
"So you did miss me too!"
Lust smiled brightly, saying she had known it.
"He didn't want to see you, he wanted to see me!"
Evelyn shook her head, telling Lust not to talk nonsense.
"It's me!"
"It's me!"
"Wrath doesn't look at you!"
"Not Wrath, Raon!"
The two Transcendents pressed their foreheads together and engaged in a childish argument, refusing to back down in a manner unbefitting their status.
"Enough."
When Raon raised his hand, Evelyn and Lust simultaneously backed away as if they had never been fighting.
"Lust."
Lust, whose name was called first, brightened visibly.
"Yes! Wrath!"
"You said you could do anything for this king, right?"
"Of course!"
Lust nodded as if to say "just tell me what to do."
"Then can you transfer your authority to Evelyn?"
Raon pointed at Evelyn with his finger.
"If you convert your lust into obsession, it shouldn't be difficult to transfer your authority."
It was clear that Evelyn and Lust would be compatible, as Evelyn's obsession was second to none.
"Hmm..."
Lust examined Evelyn with a serious gaze, licking her lips.
"I really don't like that woman, but I'll do it as a favor to you. However..."
She looked Evelyn up and down and shook her head.
"There's something else in her that's just as strong as her obsession?"
"An emotion as strong as her obsession?"
Raon looked at Lust and Evelyn in turn with round eyes. He had naturally thought obsession was her strongest trait, but hadn't expected her to have something of similar intensity.
"Envy."
Lust glanced at Evelyn with a cold smile.
"That woman is also extremely jealous."