Chapter 1147 (E/N: I think I have been dropping a bit on translation quality lately. I can only say work has been hectic lately - and probably for the next few months -, but I'll try to do better)
"God?"
Saintess Olga tilted her head as she looked at Bartius.
"I don't worship any god."
She snorted dismissively, saying what frozen-to-death god was he talking about. (E/N: *confused*)
"Uh..."
"Huh?"
"W-what did you just say...?"
The Dragons blinked in surprise, looking even more bewildered than when they were being one-sidedly beaten by Raon.
"I said I don't serve any god."
Olga shook her head with a cold gaze that didn't match her title of Saintess.
"Bullshit!"
The Red Dragon Balasiour blinked blankly in disbelief.
"How can you possess such enormous holy power and claim you don't worship a god? Does that make any sense?"
He shook his head as if telling her not to lie.
"Even I've never seen a case like this. How fascinating."
The Blue Dragon Sirtiren, who was always smiling, opened his mouth in a perfect circle.
"She's not lying."
Raon let out a brief sigh as he looked at Olga.
"That one, she's been through something in the past, so she probably doesn't even pray anymore."
Because of what had happened in the Suphren Holy Kingdom in the past, Olga now fought alone, expecting nothing from the gods.
"Originally, I served the Lord God. The god of Suphren is also the Lord God of this continent. But…" (E/N: I don't remember if there was any other translation for the god of Suphren. Literal translation is something like 'Main Deity')
Olga clicked her tongue as she glared at the bright sky.
"I don't need them anymore. I only believe in myself and the people I've chosen."
She said she no longer followed any god while briefly glancing at Raon.
"How strange."
Bartius frowned as if finding it difficult to accept Olga's words.
"What's strange about it?"
Olga extended her hand, demanding he explain what he meant.
"A Priest's holy power differs in nature depending on which god they follow. But the holy power I sense from you..."
Bartius stared intently at Olga with lowered eyebrows.
"It's something I've never seen before. It's completely different from the Lord God's holy power."
He nodded his chin toward Olga.
"If you were a saintess who served the Lord God, you'd know better than anyone, wouldn't you?"
"...A Dragon knows quite a lot."
Olga smirked as she looked into Bartius's eyes.
"You're right. The holy power within me now isn't from the Lord God. And I don't know whose it is either."
She nodded, acknowledging that Bartius's words were accurate.
"You don't know which god granted you this holy power?"
Bartius let out a hollow laugh in disbelief.
"Holy Power is more dangerous than it appears. Your very existence could be erased."
He lowered his eyebrows as if to say she should be careful.
"I don't care."
Olga brushed off her hands with indifferent eyes.
"If it weren't for a meddlesome fool, I would have died long ago."
She said she could sacrifice her life right now if it meant repaying that annoying meddling.
"Olga."
Raon frowned as he called Olga's name.
"Instead of saying it's fine to die, properly investigate which god gave you that holy power. It might not end with just death."
He would rather trust a demon king than a god. Though he didn't fully understand the concept of holy power, no one would give Olga such immense power without wanting something in return. The being who bestowed this divine power upon her clearly had ulterior motives.
"What's it to you?"
Olga waved her hand dismissively.
"Because I am the meddlesome fool who saved you."
Raon shrugged his shoulders.
"Besides, your King is still a fool, and Suphren still needs you. You also need to keep your promise to me."
"Hmm..."
Olga briefly smacked her lips and turned her head away.
"Fine."
Though reluctant, she jutted out her lips as if agreeing to follow his words.
"If you have any difficulties..."
"That's enough."
As Raon was about to add something more, Evelyn approached from the side and grabbed his arm.
[That's right. Don't say anything more!]
Lust's voice turned chilly, seemingly sharing Evelyn's thoughts.
"Uh, right..."
Raon nodded with a disgruntled expression.
"Hehe."
Bartius slightly curled up the corners of his lips as he looked at Raon.
"Why are you smiling?"
Raon tilted his chin sideways as he looked at Bartius.
"This is also part of why we chose you."
Bartius looked at the people standing around Raon and drew a gentle smile.
"The strongest humans of the Continent gather around you. The power to draw people in without threats or commands—it's the greatest talent I've seen in my long life."
He nodded, saying that one reason for their choice was how many people gathered around Raon.
"People, huh..."
Raon followed Bartius's gaze. Olga, Evelyn, Dorian, and even the hidden Lust. The people here alone were powerful enough to overthrow a nation, and he had even more forces beyond them.
'Come to think of it, it's quite amusing.'
He couldn't help but laugh hollowly at the thought that he, who died friendless in his past life, now had the power to gather people. He felt that in this life, so much had changed, and he had gained so much.
-Hmph!
Wrath snorted as he looked at Bartius.
-I am not a human, I am a Demon King! Look properly!
He shook his head vigorously, demanding not to be treated as human.
'That's true.'
Raon smiled faintly and nodded.
'You are a true demon king.'
It warmed his heart that Wrath only took issue with the "human" part of Bartius's statement, which meant he didn't deny being one of Raon's people.
"I've said all I needed to say, so I'll be going now. We can't let the old ones find out about this."
Bartius stood up, dusting off his clothes. Behind him, a pillar of light engraved with teleportation magic rose up.
"Next time we meet, I'll suppress your speed with my power!"
The Red Dragon Valasiur ignited flames above his pupils.
"I don't think that's possible. He's strong too."
The Blue Dragon Sirtiren patted Valasiur 's shoulder, suggesting he should know when to give up.
"Only the dead cease to grow. I'll show you a different side of me in war."
The White Dragon Bursiarabi raised his chin as if telling them to look forward to it.
"I'll create a magic that will intoxicate you just by being near me, so let's clash again."
The Black Dragon Dariauran grinned, saying next time he'd be the one to strike from behind.
"All right. Let's meet again next time."
Raon smiled and waved to the five Dragons.
"Lastly, you should definitely find out about that god."
Bartius motioned toward Olga.
"Gods are neither omnipotent nor benevolent, but capricious."
With those final words, he turned into light and disappeared along with the other Dragons.
"I said I got it!"
Olga kicked the ground as if telling them to stop talking about it.
-Ah, no!
Wrath stretched his hand toward the disappearing Dragons.
-My prey!
He shouted that he just wanted one bite, but the Dragons had already vanished.
[What? Do you want dragon roast? Should I catch one for you?] (E/N: How?)
Lust licked his lips as if reading Wrath's mind. Looking at them like this, they truly made a well-matched pair.
'Wrath.'
Raon gestured to Wrath while looking at Olga with furrowed eyebrows.
'Do you sense anything from Olga?'
-Hmm...
Wrath looked Olga up and down with his arms crossed.
-I don't see anything particularly strange. She doesn't seem to be cursed or possessed.
He shook his head, saying it didn't seem like a god had directly intervened yet.
-However, as that shiny lizard said, it would be wise to be cautious. Gods aren't the omnipotent beings you think they are, but fools swayed by emotions. (E/N: Unfortunately, it is not clear if "God" is singular or plural here. I am assuming it is plural)
'Hmm...'
Raon exhaled heavily as he watched Olga who seemed to be checking her own holy power.
'I hope nothing bad happens.'
***
"It's been peaceful lately."
Sheryl smiled brightly as she walked down the tranquil corridor of the Lord's Manor.
"It's comfortable now that the Head of House isn't having fits like before."
She rotated her wrist, saying it was strange that Glenn remained calm even though Raon had gone outside.
"It means he trusts Lord Raon that much."
Roenn smiled gently as he listened to Sheryl.
"There are few people who could actually threaten Lord Raon anyway."
He nodded, saying Glenn wouldn't have reason to shake his leg anxiously anymore.
"That's a relief. Now the staff of the Lord's Manor can actually work properly..."
As Sheryl was brushing back her hair while watching the busy Swordsmen of the Lord's Manor, a massive rumbling erupted from the audience chamber, sending violent tremors throughout the entire manor.
"Huh...?"
Sheryl widened her eyes as she saw the corridors of the Lord's Manor shaking.
"It, it seems to have started right away?"
She turned to Roenn, asking what was happening.
"Hehehe..."
Roenn let out a strained laugh and subtly averted his gaze.
"It seems the Head of House's patience has only extended by exactly one week."
He shrugged his shoulders, suggesting it was still an improvement.
"It's not good at all! We're so busy lately, and now everyone has to stand still for three hours again!"
Sheryl sighed, pointing to the Swordsmen of the Lord's Manor on her right.
"Nnnggh!"
"I-it's been so long since the last earthquake that I can't adjust. I feel dizzy..."
"The problem isn't that it's been a while, but that the vibrations are stronger!"
The Swordsmen couldn't gather their wits amid the violent tremors and barely managed to hold on by clinging to the walls.
"Hehehe. But if you just endure a little longer..."
"No way!"
Sheryl shook her head vigorously.
"Today I'm going to tell him straight! Stop shaking your leg! I'm tired of fixing the platform!"
Just as she was about to rush to the audience chamber to speak directly to Glenn.
"There's an earthquake today as well, I see."
A relaxed voice came from behind Sheryl and Roenn.
"Huh?"
"Oh!"
Sheryl and Roenn turned around with wide eyes.
"Raon!"
"Lord Raon?"
Behind the two stood Raon, looking exactly the same as when he had left for the Suphren Holy Kingdom.
"I've returned."
Raon smiled and bowed his head to Sheryl and Roenn.
"Uh..."
Sheryl gulped dryly as she looked at Raon.
'I didn't sense him at all.'
Raon probably hadn't even tried to conceal his presence, yet she hadn't detected him approaching from behind. It seemed he had improved his skills even further during his time in Suphren.
"Hehehe."
Roenn nodded with a pleased laugh.
"You've returned even stronger. It seems I can't even catch your shadow anymore."
He clapped his hands in congratulation.
"It was just a bit of luck."
Raon smiled awkwardly and waved his hand in dismissal.
"If luck follows you every time, that's not luck—it's skill!"
Sheryl slapped Raon's back, telling him to stop being so modest.
"And stop your grandfather! He must know you're here, but he's making an even bigger fuss."
She heaved a deep sigh, feeling that the tremors in the Lord's Manor had intensified with Raon's arrival.
"I understand."
After greeting Sheryl and Roenn, Raon walked toward the Lord's Manor.
"Ah..."
Sheryl let out a hollow laugh as she watched Raon's back.
"He was just a kid when I was looking after him, but when did he grow up like this? Now I really can't match up to him at all."
She smacked her lips, feeling both pride and regret toward Raon.
"Actually, when Lord Raon was a child, he couldn't even come near this area."
Roenn laughed softly and lowered his hand.
"To overcome the pressure from the direct lineage with his own strength, and now to become the man closest to being the successor..."
He shook his head in disbelief, saying that even after witnessing Raon's life firsthand, it was hard to believe.
"It seems you support Raon as the successor, Roenn."
Sheryl curled her lips into a smile and nudged Roenn with her elbow.
"Anyone who has seen Lord Raon would think the same. Isn't that true for the Heavenly Blade Division Leader as well?"
Roenn shrugged his shoulders toward Sheryl.
"That's true."
Sheryl watched Raon entering the audience chamber with a gentle smile.
"I can only hope that he does well and lives happily."
She clasped her hands together, wishing for Raon's happiness more than her own.
"You pray too."
Sheryl narrowed her eyes elegantly, thinking of the lazy Elf who might be watching from somewhere.
"For your disciple's happiness."
***
Glenn stopped shaking his leg vigorously when he sensed Raon arriving at the door of the audience chamber.
'He came back sooner than I thought.'
He had thought it would take a month as before when Raon said he was going to the Suphren Holy Kingdom to help with the holy war, but his return was much quicker than expected.
'I was shaking my leg without realizing it.'
This time he had tried not to shake his leg even in Raon's absence, but as soon as he sensed his grandson's presence, his leg moved unconsciously. It seemed he needed to strengthen his resolve a bit more.
"Ahem!"
Glenn cleared his throat and straightened his clothes.
'I can't help shaking my leg, but I shouldn't show surprise at Raon's achievements.'
Recently, he had only shown surprised and flustered reactions to Raon's achievements, but now he resolved to control his extreme reactions, wanting to show the dignity of a head of house rather than just a grandfather.
"It's the Light Wind Palace Master. May I enter?"
Raon's voice was heard from outside the audience chamber door.
"Enter."
Glenn nodded briefly as he told Raon to come in. With a creaking sound, Raon personally opened the iron door and entered the audience chamber.
'My grandson is still handsome... No, that's not it.'
He's gotten stronger again. Glenn could feel that Raon had visibly improved. He wondered what had happened during the week to cause such a change.
'Still, I shouldn't show surprise.'
He calmed his rapidly beating heart, determined not to show surprise no matter what.
"I come before the Head of House!"
Raon walked to the center of the audience chamber, knelt down, and bowed his head.
"That's enough."
Glenn waved his hand, telling him to rise.
"So, did you help resolve the holy war in Suphren?"
"Yes. A demon king had established a position there, so I helped drive her out."
Raon nodded, saying it wasn't a particularly difficult task.
"...A demon king."
Glenn swallowed dryly as he repeated the words "demon king."
'I almost showed surprise again.'
Fortunately, he already knew that Raon had various relationships with demon kings; otherwise, he might have exclaimed in surprise at the mention.
"Good. That's fortunate."
Glenn forced a calm smile and nodded.
"As for the details..."
"And..."
Raon looked up at Glenn and spoke again.
"I've gained the support of a few mature dragons close to being Ancient Dragons. They said they would inform me of the Dragon Lord's location by any means."
He revealed a serious gaze as he mentioned forging connections with the Dragons.
"D-Dragons?"
Glenn couldn't contain himself and his mouth fell open.
"Is that true!"
At the news that they could receive information and cooperation from Dragons, whom they had only regarded as enemies, he unconsciously rose from his throne.
"Roenn! Sheryl!"
He immediately called for Roenn and Sheryl with a clear voice.
"Summon the executives! Right now!"
Glenn clapped his hands enthusiastically, completely abandoning his resolve to hide his emotions.
'That's my grandson!'
Everyone needs to hear this! Absolutely!