'I knew it from the beginning.'
Raon roughly swept back the golden hair flowing down his forehead.
'That the Dragon Lord borrowed power from another being.'
The absolute magic that the Dragon Lord had been secretly preparing contained enough power to kill most humans on the continent. Since it was impossible magic even for the king of dragons, it was natural to expect that he had drawn power from another being.
'Of course, I was certain when he used dragon language on me.'
When he was about to unleash his final swordsmanship by exploding the demon kings' authority, the Dragon Lord suddenly made his eyes glow green and pronounced a death sentence with dragon language. It felt like someone else's power, not the Dragon Lord's, but after the magic, he was dragged into the mental image of death and couldn't precisely identify whose aura it was at the time.
'Since I couldn't sense it properly, I naturally thought it was an Archangel...'
Raon let out a hollow laugh as he saw the beautiful green-haired girl who had emerged from the torn dimension.
'To think it would be the Demon King of Envy.'
The beautiful woman standing before him now was not human, but Envy, the demon king who rules over envy and jealousy and a monarch of Devildom. He was honestly surprised, as he hadn't even considered the possibility of her appearing here.
'No, perhaps this is better?'
Looking at Envy's confused eyes, it was clear she recognized him. Even now, he could probably intimidate her using the name value of Wrath.
'Actually, I might not even need to borrow Wrath's name.'
Previously, he had introduced himself to Envy as Wrath's vessel. Now his martial prowess had transcended humanity and approached that of a demon king, so there seemed no need for many words.
-I thought so!
Wrath slightly furrowed his brow as if he had sensed something all along.
-There was an ambiguous stench from the moment that lizard pronounced death upon you with dragon language!
He let out a hollow laugh, saying that the power of envy had been hidden ridiculously well.
'What do you mean by "ambiguous stench"?'
-It's not as filthy as the Archangels, but it's not clean either.
Wrath shook his head, saying that while Envy was trash, she wasn't quite as bad as an Archangel.
-Anyway, that one sticks her nose everywhere.
He let out a sigh.
-However, I don't understand how she managed to cook a lizard that hates demon kings, and the Dragon Lord at that. (E/N: I don't think cook is the best translation but that's what came up first and that fits Wrath perfectly)
Wrath narrowed his eyes, saying that was what puzzled him the most.
'I'm curious about that too.'
Dragons are born as mediators who protect this continent, so they instinctively hate beings from other dimensions. Archangels aside, he couldn't understand how the Dragon Lord had ended up borrowing Envy's power.
'I need to solve this new mystery first.'
Raon licked his lips as he looked at the Demon King of Envy who was furrowing her brow.
'She's definitely different from before.'
When he first met Envy, he had to use all his strength just to part his lips in the face of her overwhelming presence. She felt like a god, making it difficult to keep his senses. But now was different from then.
'I can take her on.'
If he fought Envy with full power, he would definitely lose, but he had reached a level where a proper battle could take place. No, after growing once more through fighting the Dragon Lord, he might even be able to fight evenly with her, albeit briefly.
He felt that he had grown enough to stand face to face with the Monarch of Envy without borrowing Wrath's name.
-Hmph!
Wrath snorted softly.
-Appearances aside, she is still a monarch of Devildom. If you take her lightly, you'll regret it!
He licked his lips, saying that even he had struggled a bit when he decisively overpowered Envy.
'That makes it more interesting.'
Raon stood before Envy, feeling a hot surge of excitement.
"It's been a while."
Raon arrogantly lifted his chin, displaying confidence that Envy would certainly recognize him.
"Monarch of Envy."
He lowered his voice, putting on a pretense that wasn't merely a bluff.
"You..."
Envy's red lips trembled slightly.
"What have you done, how could you use that much force...."
She gulped dryly, realizing that he was still just Wrath's vessel, not Wrath himself.
"He is always watching. Including now, of course."
Raon glanced at Wrath floating above his head and nodded slightly. Since it wasn't a lie, he proudly straightened his back.
"Even with Wrath's help, it's impossible for a mere vessel to possess this level of martial prowess!"
Envy shook her hand vigorously as if it made no sense.
"It doesn't make sense even if other demon kings including myself had granted you authority!"
She exhaled harshly, saying she had never seen someone grow so rapidly in the history of dimensions.
"And in just ten years!"
Envy's eyes seemed to mix confusion and shock at the incomprehensible situation.
'This might be easier than I thought?'
Raon curled his lips as he assessed Envy's state.
-No, that one! Why is she like that!
Wrath opened his mouth wide in disbelief.
-Pull yourself together! This guy is just bluffing again!
He raised both hands, urging Envy to gather her strength.
'Shut up.'
Raon pushed away Wrath, whom he had called "the one", with the back of his hand as if he were a pet.
"Wrath. What on earth has this madman created..."
Envy bit her lip until it bled. Her eyes, reflecting fear of Wrath, trembled slightly.
'Looking at her, it's definitely because of you.'
Raon smirked.
'Thanks to how much you tormented Envy, she still seems somewhat suppressed by your name?'
Envy seemed to be accepting that his growth was thanks to Wrath as originally intended, and she appeared to be feeling slight fear.
-Be-because of me?
Wrath opened his mouth wide, realizing that Envy's uncharacteristic intimidation was due to him.
-No! Don't fall for this damned guy's intentions anymore, and move! He doesn't even have the strength to move now!
He shouted for Envy to gather her strength, but of course, she couldn't hear his voice.
'I told you to stay still.'
Raon outwardly showed respect for Wrath while inwardly pushing down his head like an annoying presence.
-Nnngh.
Wrath tried to endure somehow, but he was eventually pushed and fell to the ground.
"Wrath, Sloth, Envy, Gluttony, Lust, and Greed. You've grown all authorities to such a level. Especially Wrath, to the point where it seems like Wrath himself appeared..."
Envy breathed heavily as if she still couldn't understand.
"Envy. I have something to ask too."
Raon turned his chin sideways as he looked at Envy.
"How did you cook this lizard?
He stepped on the crumpled Dragon Lord on the ground and pointed his finger down.
"Hmm..."
Envy bit her lip as if more annoyed while looking at the Dragon Lord.
"Speak."
Raon placed his hand on the Heavenly Drive while meeting Envy's eyes.
"He is curious."
He lowered his gaze arrogantly, using Wrath as an excuse.
-Stop selling me out!
Wrath gritted his teeth and jumped up.
-Aren't you strong enough now!
'I'm completely drained. And this is easier.'
He might get answers if he fought Envy and earned her respect. But right now, he had spent all his strength, and selling Wrath's name was much easier.
"Haah..."
Envy sighed as if she had no choice.
"It began with..."
[Demon King of Envy!]
The Dragon Lord gritted his teeth.
[I-I didn't know it was your voice!]
His jaw trembled as if he had never thought that Envy had lent him power. He seemed to have been so distracted by something else that he hadn't realized it at all.
"Shut up."
Raon put strength into his leg and stomped down on the Dragon Lord's nose bridge. Even without deeply infusing mana, his physical strength was so great that the Dragon Lord's nose collapsed under the pressure.
[Grooooah!]
The Dragon Lord wailed in pain and shattered pride, dropping tears.
"Speak."
Raon looked at Envy, telling her to start again.
"It began with curiosity."
Envy briefly licked her lips as she looked at the Dragon Lord.
"The dragon, mediator of the continent. I thought it would be very interesting if the Lord himself fell for a demon king's seduction."
She smirked wickedly, as if reminiscing about that time.
"In fact, this lizard did have a bit of envy in him."
"Envy?"
Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked at Envy.
"Yes. Unlike a typical dragon, he had envy. Of course, it was so weak that it was difficult for me to use my power."
Envy shook her head, saying she couldn't do much with that level of envy.
"I observed him consistently for a long time, but there was no special change. When I was about to give up since it was just curiosity for me..."
She licked her red lips with her tongue.
"Change occurred. The very faint envy began to boil like erupting lava."
Envy brushed the Dragon Lord's eyes with her white hand.
"This mighty dragon king toward one human..."
[S-stop! Shut up!]
The Dragon Lord's entire body trembled as he spat out dragon language. He seemed desperate to keep that secret, struggling and trying to resist despite the Soul Sword piercing his soul.
"I told you to shut up."
Raon moved his Soul Sword once more to stop the Dragon Lord's movements.
[Kuuuuuugh!]
The Dragon Lord stopped moving at the renewed pain and screamed.
"What an unusual power."
Envy furrowed her brows as she sensed the Soul Sword embedded in the Dragon Lord's soul.
"Well, anyway, this massive dragon felt envy toward a tiny human. Toward the swordsman named Glenn Zieghart."
She unexpectedly mentioned Glenn's name.
"Glenn Zieghart?"
"Yes. You must know him well too."
Envy nodded slightly as if he would naturally know him.
"The Dragon Lord believed he was the strongest on this continent. If he used his full power, no—if he summoned all dragons, he thought he could destroy anyone, any force. But when Glenn Zieghart rose to the absolute rank, that thinking changed."
She caressed the Dragon Lord's trembling scales as if pitying him.
"A being that couldn't be killed even if all dragons were summoned. The Dragon Lord experienced cognitive dissonance at the emergence of an absolute among humans, whom he had considered insects. That unsettled feeling eventually became envy. At first, he simply envied the overwhelming martial prowess, but later came to envy everything about his existence. So..."
Envy smiled coldly and pulled out one of the Dragon Lord's scales.
"I targeted that gap. No one would expect the Dragon Lord to be seduced by a demon king. Even the Lord himself didn't know, which made it all too easy."
She twirled her finger, saying that the Dragon Lord's envy was so immense and no one suspected, making the seduction effortless.
"Ha..."
Raon let out a hollow laugh as he looked down at the Dragon Lord.
"You tried to kill all humans for that reason alone?"
He was so dumbfounded that he couldn't think of what to say. He wondered how such a piece of trash became the king of dragons.
"Envy?"
Gold Dragon Bartius trembled his jaw in disbelief.
"After causing all this trouble, that's supposed to make sense..."
He glared at the Dragon Lord with demon-like eyes as if he would have been better off not hearing the secret.
[Envy, is it.]
Blue Dragon Sirtiren let out a short sigh.
[The Lord who hated humans was more human than anyone.]
She calmly lowered her gaze as if pitying the Dragon Lord.
[What an idiot!]
Red Dragon Valasiur ground his teeth with an audible noise.
[Just become stronger! Why envy a human!]
He clenched his fist, saying he couldn't understand the Dragon Lord's thinking at all.
[That...]
Black Dragon Dariauran let out a hollow laugh.
[Is that the Lord I looked up to?]
He tore his hair as if embarrassed of the time he had respected the Lord.
[I knew it would be a trivial reason. But...]
White Dragon Bursiarabi pressed his lips tightly.
[I never thought it would be a small emotion like envy. I still have a long way to go.]
Even he, who was always calm, squeezed his eyes shut as if finding it difficult to accept reality.
[I-impossible...]
[The Lord envied a human?]
[It's a lie! Definitely a lie!]
[B-but what we sense from the Lord is that demon king's aura.]
[It's hard for me to believe too, but there's a high possibility it's true...]
[N-no! It's definitely not!]
Even the dragons who had been rushing in, willing to sacrifice their lives to save the Dragon Lord, stopped moving at Envy's words and began to argue.
"The flower had already bloomed, and I only needed to wait for the fruit to ripen, but I never expected things to go to hell like this."
Envy licked her lips as if regretting that her desired outcome had not been achieved.
"I even gave up surveillance to completely hide my existence from the Dragon Lord, but it's all over now. Anyway, you, Wrath, are never helpful!" (E/N: I don't really understand this sentence)
Envy deeply furrowed her brow as if annoyed while speaking.
"I see."
Raon calmly looked at the Dragon Lord, knowing Envy's words were true.
'Should I pity him.'
Though Envy had pulled the trigger, looking at the Lord's state, he likely would have caused trouble on his own. The pathetic sight of a dragon who destroyed everything he had built over a long period due to his envy of humans made Raon think about many things.
"I'll be going now."
Envy sighed and opened a green dimensional gate again.
"I'm too annoyed..."
"Wait."
Raon shook his head as he sliced through the dimensional gate Envy had opened with his sword.
"Where do you think you're going after causing all this trouble."
He waved his hand, preventing her from leaving. He curled his lips as he took in Burren and Martha standing behind him.
"He wants you to take responsibility."
-Tch, responsibility? You couldn't possibly be...
Wrath, who had suddenly become "the one," blinked his eyes blankly.
-Are you selling me out again!
Even a loan shark doesn't sell their name as often as you do!