'Let's ignore it.'
Despite the gasps of shock and screams around him, Raon kept his eyes closed.
'I'm just going to sleep like this.'
The background of his growth since coming to this training ground was clearly different from before. It wasn't about grueling cultivation or deep contemplation of swordsmanship, but about growing stronger by living a human life, so trying to sleep during training time like Runaan was certainly a challenge worth attempting.
-Hey! You!
Wrath pounded his head repeatedly like a drum.
-Are you really crazy? Did your head get a hole drilled in it or something?
He yelled, abandoning even the kingly tone he usually used.
-Has someone possessed you? Don't tell me it's Sloth? Should this king drive him out?
Wrath swung his fist violently, unable to understand Raon's behavior.
"Raon!"
"Y-y-you've really gone mad!"
"Ah, I'm fully awake now..."
Burren called out "Raon" instead of "Palace Master," Martha stuttered twice, and Runaan grabbed her head, saying she was now wide awake.
"Wow, the sun must be rising from the west tomorrow! That guy is actually being lazy?"
"B-but that's definitely Master Raon, right? I'm certain!"
"Hueeeh..."
Krein sighed repeatedly in disbelief, Dorian used his Mind's Eye so intensely his eyes became bloodshot, and Mark Goetun couldn't speak at all.
'Ah, so noisy...'
Raon bit his lip slightly.
'It's too noisy around me to fall asleep.'
He thought they would quiet down on their own if he didn't react, but people gathered around, making it even noisier, as if him taking a nap was too shocking.
"R-Raon? Are you sick?"
"Wow! This is my first time seeing Raon sleep!"
Even Sylvia and Sia had come over to watch him sleep.
'This isn't going to work.'
Raon inwardly sighed.
'I need to block out the external noise.'
Since he couldn't even sleep, let alone learn about life through sleep, he used his aura to completely block external sounds. People still surrounded him, but he could no longer hear their voices.
'Now to sleep...'
-Answer me!
Wrath shrieked at the top of his lungs. Due to their soul connection, Raon could still hear his voice continuously despite blocking external sounds.
-Realize this! You must have contracted some strange disease!
Wrath gritted his teeth, certain that Raon wasn't in his right mind.
'Haaa...'
Raon tensed his fingertips.
'It's not bad that he's worried about me, but such nonsensical...'
Though he felt good that Wrath was worried about him, which was rare, he was also frustrated by his constant nonsensical chatter.
'I'm perfectly fine. Please be quiet.'
Raon finally couldn't bear Wrath's mumbling and spoke to him.
-Then tell me!
Wrath raised his voice even more.
-Why are you suddenly making a fuss about taking a nap!
'I told you. Right now, living as a human is more important to me than swordsmanship or martial arts.'
Raon shook his head, saying he wanted to live as a person rather than a martial artist for a while.
-Huh...
Wrath tilted his head, seemingly unable to believe the explanation.
'I'll make sure you have a hearty dinner. Now shut up.'
-Looking at how you're threatening me with food as usual, you're not possessed after all...
He let out a series of hollow breaths like a chain, finding the situation strangely fascinating.
'No food if you keep talking, seriously?'
-Heuup!
As soon as Raon mentioned no food, Wrath closed his mouth tight. However, his suspicious gaze remained fixed on Raon's forehead.
'He's not the only problem.'
Raon felt the increased gazes around him and pressed his lips down slightly.
'There are more people now.'
Though he couldn't hear the sounds, more people had gathered around him, chattering like a marketplace, fascinated by the mere fact that he was trying to sleep.
'Let's kill the senses.'
He sank all his senses deep into his mind, completing his preparations to sleep.
'Now I finally feel comfortable.'
He no longer felt the gazes or heard any sounds. Now it seemed he could sleep comfortably.
'Let's sleep.'
Satisfied with the quiet state, Raon relaxed his body to take a nap.
'...'
However, even after a while, sleep wouldn't come.
'What's this?'
Why couldn't he fall asleep? He had eliminated all sensations, and Wrath had shut his mouth, so it was the optimal environment for sleeping, yet sleep wouldn't come at all. No, instead his mind only became more alert.
'Come to think of it...'
Raon nervously swallowed.
'I don't think I've ever taken a nap since I was born?'
In his past life, after being kidnapped by Derus and raised as an assassin, he never had the opportunity to nap, and in his current life, he had operated the Ring of Fire by dividing his sleep time since infancy, and after growing up, he naturally never took naps due to cultivation.
'No, more than that...'
Raon grabbed his head, realizing he had forgotten the most important thing.
'How do I actually sleep again?'
After becoming a top-tier Transcendent, he didn't need sleep to avoid fatigue, so he barely slept. Since sleep was one of the values furthest from his life, a chill suddenly ran down his spine.
'This...'
Raon forcibly kept his eyes closed as they tried to open and took a deep breath.
'This seems harder than fighting an Archangel?'
***
"What's the big deal about someone taking a nap that they've all gathered like that?"
Balder frowned, muttering that he didn't understand.
"Don't you agree?"
He tilted his chin toward Karoon beside him, seeking agreement.
"I don't agree."
Karoon shook his head briefly.
"Huh? What do you..."
Balder turned to Karoon with wide eyes.
"As far as I know, the Light Wind Palace Master has never once taken a nap."
Karoon nodded, saying it was natural for them to make a fuss since Raon had never taken a nap before.
"H-he's never taken a nap before?"
Balder's jaw dropped.
"Really? What kind of monster is he!" (E/N: I mean...I never take naps either...You people have time to take naps? Wow.)
He stuttered, looking more surprised than when Raon had reached Transcendence.
"That's right. He's probably never slept except when unconscious." (E/N: I still feel like something is wrong with this whole scene. Raon has slept many times in the past)
Karoon nodded with certainty.
"That's insane. Then it makes sense why people are gathering like that."
Balder let out a hollow breath, saying he finally understood.
"Our nephew certainly doesn't need sleep."
Alice smiled as she inserted herself between Karoon and Balder.
"But how did you know that? Even I didn't know Raon never took naps at all."
Her eyes gleamed coldly as if interrogating him.
"Because I investigated."
Karoon calmly lowered his gaze.
"To research how to bring down and kill the Light Wind Palace Master."
He calmly nodded, saying he had investigated everything about Raon to bring him down.
"Eh? Eeek!"
Balder's mouth gaped open.
"I-I never actually thought about killing my nephew!"
He trembled his large hands, saying he never went as far as wishing for Raon's death even when his own son's arm was severed.
"Ugh..."
Balder subtly stepped back, anxiously watching to see what Alice, who cared deeply for Raon, would do in response to Karoon's words.
"..."
Karoon just lowered his eyes without saying anything.
"Hmm."
Alice curled her lips as she looked at the calm Karoon.
"Seeing how you openly admit such shameful acts, it seems you've truly repented."
Slap! Instead of erupting in anger, she forcefully slapped Karoon's back with her palm.
"I'll let it slide with this."
Alice smiled slightly as she waved the hand that had struck Karoon's back.
"Now I can think of you as a younger brother."
She waved her hand, telling him not to do such things anymore, and walked toward Raon.
"Wow..."
Balder stared at Karoon again with his mouth open.
"You really have changed, brother. For sister to say something like that."
He tilted his head, wondering how a person could change so much.
"I didn't change because I wanted to."
Karoon let out a small laugh as he watched Raon's shoulders slightly rising, seemingly unable to fall asleep.
"There's someone who made me change."
He wore a soft smile, as if he had completely let go of past attachments and regrets.
"That foolish guy."
***
'Ah, this isn't working...'
Raon gritted his teeth and shook his head.
'I can't sleep!'
Despite his efforts to fall asleep, sleep wouldn't come even after more than three hours.
Having been active during daytime all his life, it seemed his body was rejecting sleep even though his mind wanted it.
'This is just a waste of time.'
Raon sighed and slowly opened his eyes.
'Everyone's gone now.'
Since he kept his eyes closed and didn't respond at all, the others seemed to have lost interest and returned to their places to continue training.
'I should ask Runaan about how to... Ugh!'
As he turned his gaze to the right to ask Runaan about sleeping methods, someone he hadn't expected at all was clinging to his arm.
"Are you awake?"
Evelyn. She who should have been resting at the annex building was smiling slightly and hugging his arm tighter. He hadn't noticed at all because he had killed his senses to sleep.
"W-why are you here!"
Raon trembled all over and stepped back.
"I came to observe! I wanted to see you, Mother, and Miss!"
Evelyn approached him as much as he backed away, her eyes forming crescent moons as she smiled.
"Ugh..."
Raon swallowed dryly as he looked at his wrist.
'Wrath! Why didn't you tell me Evelyn was here!'
-You said you wouldn't feed me if I spoke!
Wrath frowned, saying he had struggled to hold back his own screams. (E/N: So we finally know what is more important. Need for food or fear of the yandere)
'Haa...'
Raon grabbed his head, feeling a sudden wave of fatigue.
'Ah, is it now?'
His headache made him feel like he could finally fall asleep, so he closed his eyes again. But naturally, sleep merely brushed past him.
'This won't work.'
Raon opened his eyes again.
"Awake again?"
Unlike before, Evelyn was staring intently at his face from a slight distance. She didn't hide the smile blooming around her eyes, as if that alone made her happy.
"I can't sleep."
Raon shook his head with furrowed brows.
"I seem to have forgotten how to sleep altogether."
He sighed and looked to his left. Snoring loudly, Runaan was sleeping against the wall like a homeless person. From the looks of it, Evelyn had probably thrown her there.
"I need to ask Runaan."
Just as Raon approached Runaan to wake her up.
"Shall I teach you how to sleep?"
Evelyn blocked his path, thrusting her chest forward.
"You?"
Raon opened his eyes wide.
"Aren't you also the type who doesn't sleep well?"
Evelyn had also been chased by trackers all her life, so he had rarely seen her sleeping. It was surprising that she would offer to teach him how to sleep.
"No, I'm more of an expert at sleeping than she is."
Evelyn slightly raised her chin, claiming she was better than Runaan.
"Hmm..."
Raon smacked his lips as he looked at Evelyn.
'Well, there's no harm in trying.'
If Evelyn's method didn't work, he could always ask Runaan again, so there seemed to be no issue.
"Tell me."
Raon nodded at Evelyn.
"You won't regret it. First, sit down."
Evelyn sat on the floor first and lowered her hand.
"Not difficult, right?"
Raon didn't refuse and promptly sat down on the floor.
"Next, relax your entire body. Not just physically, but you also need to release mental tension for your aura to settle."
Evelyn shrugged her shoulders as she demonstrated first.
"Got it."
Following Evelyn's example, Raon slowly rotated his arms and wrists, dissipating the tension in his body and mind.
"From now on is important. You need to trust me."
Evelyn's eyes gleamed brightly as if this was the most crucial part.
"Trust you..."
Raon narrowed his eyes as he met Evelyn's gaze.
"I already trust you."
He calmly nodded, trusting that Evelyn wouldn't do anything harmful to him.
"Really?"
Evelyn's cheeks flushed hot, seemingly pleased by his words.
-S-something feels off?
Wrath trembled his shoulders, expressing concern.
"Yes. I'll believe whatever you say."
Unlike Wrath, Raon placed his hands on his knees, ready to follow the next instruction.
"Now close your eyes."
Evelyn pointed at Raon's eyes, saying they were almost there.
"Well, to sleep you need to close your eyes."
Raon rubbed his chin and closed his eyes.
"Lastly, take three deep breaths."
"Mm."
Following Evelyn's instructions, by the second breath his body felt drowsy as if sleep was truly coming, and a warm heat filled his chest.
'Third breath.'
Just as Raon took his final deep breath to feel that warmth more deeply.
"Sleeping Swordsman of the Training Ground. Sleep."
With Evelyn's magical incantation, a flow of mana that seemed to sever his nerves struck his mind. Normally he could have blocked it with his aura, but having obediently followed Evelyn's instructions, he wasn't prepared and couldn't defend against it.
'T-this isn't right.'
Raon tried to force his eyes open, but Evelyn seemed to have multiplied the power of her sleep magic several times, making it impossible to resist.
'Sleeping like this won't help me at all!'
"Ohohohoho!"
But that wasn't what he should be worried about. Evelyn's eerie laughter reached his ears as she finally achieved her goal.
'Damn it...'
***
"Ugh..."
Raon opened his eyes. The sun had already set behind North Grave Mountain, and lights illuminated the training ground.
'How much time has passed?'
Evelyn was nowhere to be seen, and judging by the swordsmen finishing their training, it seemed dinner time had passed.
"Damn it!"
Raon bit his lip after observing his physical and mental state.
'As expected, there's been no improvement at all.'
There was absolutely no change since he hadn't slept by his own will but through magical means. The only benefit was feeling good from having slept well.
-Ugh...
Wrath was trembling his chin as he looked at him.
'What? What did Evelyn do?'
Raon tilted his head as he looked at Wrath.
-Y-you'd better not know.
Wrath shook his chin with his mouth tightly closed, saying it would be better not to know what Evelyn had done to him.
'Hmm...'
He was curious about what Evelyn had done, but Wrath's reaction made it a bit scary. However, there were more urgent matters now.
"Runaan."
Raon shook and woke Runaan, who was sleeping in the exact same position as before.
"Huh...?"
Runaan rubbed her eyes and got up as if asking what was happening.
"I trained today..."
She blatantly muttered the lie that she had trained, despite sleeping all day.
"That's such an obvious lie... No, never mind that."
Raon waved his hand at Runaan.
"Teach me how to sleep well."
He clasped his hands together as he asked, knowing Runaan was the most skilled person when it came to sleeping.
"Ah, right..."
Runaan curled her lips very slightly, as if to say he had come to the right person.
"Watch carefully."
After telling him to watch carefully, she closed her eyes.
And then, 3 seconds.
Snoring loudly, Runaan nodded off immediately as if she had fallen asleep right away.
"R-Runaan?"
He called for Runaan, but she showed no response, as if already in deep sleep.
"Runaan!"
Raon finally shook Runaan to wake her up.
"Huh..."
Runaan blinked as she looked at Raon.
"Did you see it...?"
She nodded as if to say he just needed to follow what she did.
"What? What did you show me?"
Raon opened his mouth wide, openly showing his confusion.
"Huh...?"
Runaan turned her chin in the opposite direction, as if she didn't understand either.
"What did you show me? You didn't show anything."
Raon let out a hollow laugh as he looked at Runaan's blank eyes.
"Well, then I'll show you again..."
Runaan waved her hand as if telling him to watch carefully again and closed her eyes.
And again, 3 seconds.
Snoring loudly, she fell asleep again.
"Ha..."
Raon smacked his forehead with his palm as he watched Runaan fall asleep in just 3 seconds.
"Is this a talent?"
-Now you know how others feel!
Wrath giggled as he wagged his tail.
-When you always say just swinging a sword is enough, the other children make exactly the same face you're making now!
He curled the corners of his mouth, saying Raon seemed to be finally becoming a real human.
"No way..."
Raon slammed his fist on the ground.
"I can never imitate Runaan."
He never thought he would feel the difference in talent in such a way. Runaan's sleeping talent easily surpassed his own talent in martial arts that he had cultivated all this time.
'Should I give up...'
Just as Raon grabbed his head and lowered it.
-Then...
Wrath approached slyly and grabbed his shoulder.
-How about learning from this king?
'From you? You're not even human, but a demon king?'
-This king always says it, but this king is more human-like than you!
He shook his head vigorously, claiming he would never lose to Raon when it came to humanity.
'Well, you do sleep well.'
Raon smacked his lips as he looked at Wrath.
-No, not that.
Wrath shook his plump fingers from side to side.
'Hm? Then...'
-The most important things for humans are clothing, food, and shelter. This king can...
He eagerly licked his drool-covered tongue as if he had been waiting for this.
-This king will teach you about the pleasures of food!
'Ah...'
Raon looked at Wrath with exasperated eyes.
-Why! It's true! You said you want to live as a human! Enjoying food is important too!
Wrath waved his hands as if wondering why Raon didn't understand.
'You just want to eat... Hm?'
Raon was waving his hand with a sigh when he raised his head.
'Maybe it's not entirely wrong?'
Rather than struggling with sleep that wouldn't come, it might be better to pursue food, which offered at least some hope.
'Alright.'
Raon nodded as he looked at Wrath.
'Tell me about your plan, at least.'
-Hehehehe!
Wrath let out a sinister laugh as he thrust out his chest.
-This king has been waiting for those words!