"Envy? Jealousy?"
Raon frowned slightly as he looked at Evelyn.
"Evelyn has never been jealous before?"
Even when he went out to eat bead ice cream with Runaan, or spent all day training and sparring with Martha, Evelyn never said anything and instead told him to have a good time. Sometimes he even thought it was good that her interest in him seemed to have decreased, but he never imagined the word jealousy would suddenly come up.
"..."
Evelyn didn't say anything, just glared at Lust with eyes full of irritation.
"Didn't you see wrong?"
Raon nodded his chin toward Lust, asking her to look again.
"No, I saw correctly."
Lust smiled slyly, saying that Evelyn's trait wouldn't change even if she looked again.
"She's been holding it in the whole time."
"Why?"
Raon narrowed his eyes with an expression of incomprehension.
"As expected, our Wrath doesn't understand these things."
Lust grinned and raised a finger.
"Why else? She's held it in because she doesn't want to look bad in front of you."
She curled her lips as if asking why he would question something so obvious.
"Could you shut your mouth?"
Evelyn, unusually scowling, fiercely glared at Lust.
"I only conveyed the truth."
Lust shrugged, saying she only answered because Raon had asked.
-Sh-she even had jealousy?
Wrath gaped as if he was about to lose his mind.
-And she hides it? I thought Lust was the ultimate stalker, but no! This madwoman is both the strongest and the worst!
He sighed in relief, thankful that Evelyn wasn't stalking him.
"Hmm..."
Raon realized that Lust's words were true as he observed Evelyn's distorted expression.
'Was she being considerate in her own way?'
If Lust was saying Evelyn's jealousy was strong enough to be comparable to obsession, it must be beyond imagination. The fact that she had hidden such deep emotions until now without showing any sign meant she truly cared for him, which made him feel grateful to her.
"It wouldn't be bad to receive
Lust smiled, saying that Evelyn could grow stronger with either of the two.
"I said shut up!"
Evelyn reached out her hand toward Lust, telling her to stop.
"I'll shut up now. I've said everything I needed to."
Lust transformed into a pink current of air, avoiding Evelyn's hand before sticking out her tongue.
"This is really..."
Just as Evelyn was about to use her mana in frustration.
"Thank you."
Raon nodded slightly as he looked at Evelyn.
"W-what?"
Evelyn blinked blankly.
"What did you just..."
She shook her chin as if thinking she had misheard.
"I said thank you for holding it in so well until now."
He wanted to thank Evelyn for not getting swept away by her emotions and for following his words.
"Huh? Oh, yeah."
When Evelyn heard the words of gratitude right in front of her, she lowered her head slightly as if embarrassed. It was a side of her that could never be seen normally.
"W-what! Say it to me too!"
Lust thrust her face through the pink smoke, asking him to thank her too.
-Arrrrghhh!
Wrath, startled by that sight, immediately fled backward.
"Thank you too."
Raon nodded, thanking Lust as well.
"Stop playing now and transfer the Authority to Evelyn."
"You're giving up on Envy?"
"Someone else will receive that. And..."
He curled his lips slightly as he looked at Evelyn.
"Evelyn might be able to accept two Authorities."
Since Evelyn's soul had endured hundreds of years, it might be possible for her to obtain more than one Authorities like himself, so it was right to have her receive
"Well, fine. It's not particularly difficult for me."
Lust nodded and approached Evelyn.
"Let me use my power to deepen your desire for love."
She murmured that she would look forward to it and gently stroked Evelyn's wrist. Whoosh! A pink rose-shaped flower bracelet, slightly different from her own, sprouted on Evelyn's wrist.
"Finally, we have a couple item!"
Evelyn smiled slyly as she looked at the pink flower bracelet on Raon's wrist.
"I have one too! No, mine is the real one, and yours is fake!"
Lust bared her teeth as she pointed at the flower bracelet on her own wrist.
"For me to become stronger..."
Evelyn ignored Lust's words and focused her gaze on the flower bracelet.
"I just need to obsess over Raon like I do now, right?"
She coldly smacked her lips as if pleased that she could now obsess 'legally'.
"That's right."
Lust nodded.
"But no matter how much you obsess, you won't be able to catch up to me."
She curled her lips, saying she was a being born from obsession.
"We'll see who's better when we compare."
Evelyn snorted as if declaring she would never lose.
"You dare?"
Lust raised her chin, indicating she had no intention of losing either.
"Stop fighting."
Raon sighed as he stepped between Evelyn and Lust.
"Evelyn. From now on, focus on feeling the aura from that bracelet."
"Yes!"
Evelyn nodded obediently as if she would follow whatever he said and stepped aside.
"Lust."
Raon took a breath before approaching Lust.
"I have one more request."
"What is it?"
Lust nodded as if telling him to just ask.
"Soon, the Archangels will descend and start a war to destroy this world. Can you fight alongside me in that war?"
Raon stared at Lust with an impassive gaze, just like Wrath.
"With that look, I'd have to do it even if I didn't want to!"
Lust exhaled excitedly, saying those were eyes she couldn't refuse.
"I've given my Authority to that jealous one, and since you also have some 'Lust', it should be enough to summon my full power!"
She smiled, saying it was entirely possible since she had also obtained the conditions to match causality.
"Thank you."
Raon nodded to Lust.
"It's nothing between us."
Lust chuckled with her shoulder pressed against his, as if they were already lovers.
-W-what do you mean 'between us'!
Wrath trembled his chin as if terrified.
-What is there between me and you!
He ground his teeth, demanding she explain herself.
"Uhuhu."
Lust just kept laughing endlessly as if enjoying the situation.
"Do that somewhere I can't see. No, just don't do it at all!"
Evelyn sat on the opposite side with her brows furrowed, as if displeased.
-I-I haven't done anything, why does this keep progressing!
Wrath screamed, begging to be left alone.
-Where is this relationship going!
***
Raon lay back down on the bed after sending Lust and Evelyn away.
-Arrrgh...
Wrath was barely breathing, his skin cracked like a drought-stricken field. The consecutive appearances of Evelyn and Lust seemed to have drained his physical and mental strength completely.
'Are you okay?'
Raon let out a hollow laugh as he looked at the half-dead Wrath.
-T-This must be some kind of mistake, or a prank from the Demon God. (E/N: I took a lot of liberty with this line)
Wrath heaved a sigh so heavy it could have sunk the ground.
-To think that two such ridiculous beings exist. No, the biggest problem is that someone like you exists!
He shook his head, lamenting that the world was doomed.
'Even you find it hard to endure?'
-Hmph! I am the Monarch of Devildom! This level of hardship is nothing but child's play!
Wrath, who had just complained about how difficult it was, arrogantly turned up his thinned chin, telling Raon not to underestimate him.
'That's good then.'
Raon smiled slyly as he reached his hand forward.
-Hmm? What's good about it?
'I was going to check later, but since you're fine, I might as well look now.'
He flicked his finger to bring up the reward message he hadn't checked yet.
[You fought against
[You have enlightened and awakened
[You have achieved a great feat.]
[All abilities increase by 100 points.]
Just from the achievement related to Lust alone, 100 points were added. It meant that awakening with her was that significant an accomplishment.
-Ei-eighty? (E/N: Did Wrath finally go crazy?)
Unlike when he said he was fine, Wrath's face turned dark as if bruised.
-These bastards really...
He trembled his fist in anger, not just at Raon but at the system as well.
'I thought you said you were fine.'
-This is not fine!
Wrath raised his head and screamed.
-I'm not this kind of...!
'Just eat this.'
Raon took out the last bead ice cream remaining in his subspace pouch and pushed it into Wrath's mouth.
-Mmmmm...
Wrath chewed with a languid expression, his anger seeming to melt away like the ice cream in his mouth.
'You're so simple-minded.'
Raon smiled and checked the next message.
[The rank of trait
[The rank of trait
[The rank of trait
[The rank of trait
[The rank of trait
This time it was a message about trait improvements. Perhaps because he had learned how to infuse emotions into his swordsmanship, there were especially many aspects related to Authority.
-Mmph mmph!
Wrath mumbled something while pointing at the message, but judging by his expression, he didn't seem that angry. No, he was angry, but it seemed to dissipate immediately because of the bead ice cream.
'Now I can definitely feel it.'
Raon clenched his fist as he felt the demon kings' Authorities burning within his soul.
'How to use these Authorities, and how to strengthen them.'
Until now, he had only used the abilities as they were given, but from now on, he felt confident that he could properly manipulate and handle the demon kings' Authorities. However, to do so, he would need to develop his physical and mental strength even more than now.
'It's a power that will disappear someday, but before then...'
Raon curled his lips as he heavily gripped the hilt of the Heavenly Drive.
'Derus Robert. I'll pour it all into your body.'
***
After confirming that the restoration work of the Suphren Holy Kingdom was progressing, Raon packed his belongings and left the lodging.
-You're returning later than I expected.
Wrath nodded his chin with an improved expression, as if satisfied with today's breakfast as well.
'I need to check if the restoration is going properly and if there are any problems.'
Raon smacked his lips as he looked at the northern center where the ground had started to be filled.
-After you destroyed everything.
'That's why I'm checking. Because I have to take responsibility.'
He felt sorry for destroying the land and buildings to that extent, but he had given enough building materials and gold coins to rebuild and have plenty left over, so that place would be built more splendid and stronger than before.
"Are you leaving now?"
As Raon was passing through the palace garden to go to the audience chamber, Holy King Hoppen came out from behind a well-trimmed bush.
"I was going to come find you, why are you here?"
"My benefactor is leaving, of course I should see you off."
Hoppen had no formality at all, unlike what one would expect from a king of a nation. He still seemed to be living only as a devout holy knight, just as when Raon first met him.
"Thank you for saving Suphren both before and this time as well."
He bowed politely, saying he wanted to express his gratitude once more before Raon left.
"You bow every time I see you. You'll hurt your back that way."
Saintess Olga appeared behind Hoppen and clicked her tongue.
"You've thanked him enough, now just let him go."
She lowered her eyebrows, saying Raon would feel burdened by now.
"She's right. You can stop now."
Raon smiled faintly as he helped the bowing Hoppen straighten up.
"We're allies. As I said, it's only right that I help if I can."
He shook his head, saying such excessive courtesy wasn't necessary.
"I understand."
Hoppen smiled faintly as he stood up. However, judging by his expression, it was obvious he would show excessive courtesy again the next time they met.
"You're leaving now, right?"
Olga narrowed her eyes as she leaned against a white pillar.
"I must go. Thanks to Suphren Kingdom's support, I'll pass the successor test, so now I want to focus on cultivation."
Suphren, as a Holy Kingdom with a long history, had a large population and strong influence. Now there was sufficient possibility of passing the successor test without needing support from other places.
"How much stronger do you intend to become?"
Olga exhaled a short breath, saying it seemed impossible for her to catch up to him now.
"I'm still far from enough. My goal is to behead Derus Robert."
Thanks to the great growth he achieved this time, he had almost reached the level of the Five Kings' leaders, but there was still a big gap between him and Derus Robert.
He needed to risk his life to become stronger and catch up to him during the remaining 1 year and 1 month.
"Derus Robert..."
Olga looked up at the sky for a moment, then slowly nodded.
"If someone else had said that, I would have laughed, but you might be able to do it."
Unlike her usual self, she didn't speak harshly but calmly acknowledged him.
"Oh?"
Hoppen opened his eyes wide as he looked at Olga.
"What's gotten into you, Saintess? I've never seen you acknowledge and be nice to someone like that before!"
He let out a hollow laugh, saying it was as if the sun would set in the east today.
"Am I a child? To only be spiteful?"
"You are indeed childish. You're often just spiteful."
Hoppen shook his head, saying she always spoke curtly.
"Could it be that you like Raon..."
"Shut up!"
Just as Olga, forgetting that Hoppen was the king, was about to hit the back of his head. Whoosh! The garden suddenly darkened as if the sun had abruptly set. No, not just the garden, but a dark shadow had descended over the entire palace. Roar! Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked at the massive being floating and blocking the sun and sky.
"It's a Dragon."