Chapter 579

               

“Wow!” Rimmer exclaimed with a broad smile as he looked at Sterin. “Being called Satan by my grandfather makes me feel like I’m really home.”

He grinned widely, feeling nostalgic.

“Satan?” Raon murmured, repeating the unfamiliar word. He understood it had a negative connotation but couldn’t pinpoint its exact meaning.

“You don’t know Satan?”

“No.”

Turning around, he saw that Dorian and Yua were also shaking their heads in ignorance.

“Well, it’s a name forgotten by humans long ago,” Rimmer explained, waving his hand dismissively.

“Satan is one of the monarchs of the Demon Realm. He’s responsible for wrath among the Seven Deadly Sins.”

“W-Wrath?”

“Right. He was called Satan because he was an adversary of gods and the heavens. He hasn’t appeared in a long time, but he was so terrifying that his name is still used to scare children. ‘Satan will take you away,’ that kind of thing.”

He chuckled, mentioning how Sterin often used the term.

“I see….”

Raon bit his trembling lip and glanced at Wrath.

‘Were you called Satan too?’

Humans used to call me that. Wrath muttered, nodding with a slight smirk.

‘An adversary of gods and the heavens….’

Wrath often cursed the heavens and gods, challenging them to fight. His mad demeanor made the title of adversary quite fitting.

But terrifying? I was always calm, rational, and beautiful! Wrath ranted, clenching his fists.

‘Of all the demon monarchs, you had to be Satan….’

Raon swallowed hard and looked at Sterin, the guardian elf. It seemed possible that he had sensed Wrath’s presence and called him Satan. The tension in Raon’s chest began to rise again.

“Remarkable,” Sterin said, surprising Raon with a compliment.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen a human with purer mana than our elves.”

Sterin’s eyes gleamed with genuine admiration.

“What’s even more astonishing is the level of your soul. There’s a lofty quality that your current state cannot achieve. It feels as if another’s essence is intertwined with yours—quite peculiar.”

Sterin gazed into Raon’s eyes, lost in thought.

“…”

Raon clenched his fist, processing Sterin’s words.

‘Can high elves sense Wrath’s presence?’

Neither the Blood Cult leader, the Holy Sword Alliance leader, nor even Glenn had noticed Wrath’s existence. It seemed that only a high elf, connected deeply with nature, could sense Wrath’s presence.

“I told you!” Erian exclaimed, waving his fist. “That human is definitely chosen by a Spirit King!”

“A Spirit King. Either Fire or Water?”

“Yes. As the guardian, you should be able to sense the pure fire and water energy dormant in his core.”

Erian shouted, convinced of his theory. Raon wished he would stay quiet.

“Hmm….”

Sterin stroked his chin and nodded.

“Spirit King or not, it’s proper to introduce ourselves first. I’m Sterin, the guardian of Sephia.”

“I apologize for not introducing myself first,” Raon said, placing a hand on his chest and bowing politely. “I’m Raon Zieghart, leader of the Light Wind Division of Zieghart.”

“Hmm?”

Sterin’s eyes widened.

“Did you say Raon Zieghart?”

“Yes.”

“Dragon Slayer Raon Zieghart. That power and stature are befitting such a name.”

He nodded in understanding, his admiration evident.

“Isn’t he impressive? I raised him myself!” Rimmer put an arm around Raon’s shoulders and grinned.

“…Impressive?”

Sterin frowned, finding Rimmer’s tone jarring.

“Are you really Rimmer?”

“Oh, come on, Grandpa! You raised me yourself!” Rimmer placed his hands on his hips, ready to drop his trousers.

“That’s enough.”

Sterin glanced at Rimmer’s flapping right sleeve and shook his head.

“You’ve changed too much. It’s hard to adapt.”

He sighed and turned back to Raon.

“Apologies if there were any disturbances on your way here. We’re all on edge due to an important matter.”

Sterin lowered his eyes, apologizing for any rudeness shown to their guest.

“No one was harmed, so it’s fine. But this important matter….”

Raon trailed off, recalling that both Erian and Reyran had mentioned a sensitive time. There were no humans in Sephia, hinting at something significant.

“We are preparing for the purification ceremony.”

“The purification ceremony?”

“Just as trees purify the air by absorbing impurities, the World Tree absorbs and purifies the world’s negative energies.”

“Ah….”

Raon remembered hearing about this from Rimmer. He had thought it was an exaggeration, but it seemed true.

“However, even the World Tree cannot purify the entire continent’s malice alone. Every twenty years, high elves resonate with the World Tree to remove accumulated impurities. This is the elves’ purification ceremony.”

Sterin briefly explained the purification ceremony, a gesture of consideration towards Rimmer’s disciple.

“Ah! That’s right!”

Rimmer exclaimed, raising his left fist.

“It’s time for the purification ceremony! Now I understand!”

He nodded, realizing why the guardians had blocked their path.

“…”

Sterin glared at Rimmer with piercing eyes.

“Who are you?”

“Huh?”

Rimmer blinked, confused by the question.

“No elf of Sephia would forget the purification ceremony.”

Sterin’s sharp intent suggested he believed Rimmer was possessed and ready to strike if given the wrong answer.

“The first swordsmanship you taught me was Meteor Sword. I still remember the incantation under the World Tree,” Rimmer recounted their memories.

“Then you are….”

Sterin’s lips trembled. Seeing a high elf, one who had reached transcendence, so flustered was a rare sight.

“My grandson… has changed. No, he’s… ruined.”

Rimmer scratched his head and laughed.

“Ruined a lot.”

“…”

Sterin’s throat bobbed visibly.

‘Oh dear….’

Truly a madman…. Raon and Wrath shook their heads in unison.

Sterin cleared his throat and shook his head.

“Sorry. He’s changed so much, it’s a bit….”

“I understand,” Raon said, shaking his head. Anyone would be shocked to see their once-polite grandson return in such a state. It was entirely understandable.

“So, you came here to escort Rimmer?”

“Yes. I wasn’t aware there was such an important event like the purification ceremony.”

“It’s fine. He forgot about it, after all.”

“Grandpa! Calling your grandson an idiot is too much!”

“Be quiet!”

Sterin adapted quickly and began treating Rimmer as Glenn did.

“Ah! By the way!”

Rimmer walked briskly towards Sterin.

“Why am I labeled a thief?”

He frowned, raising the sword strapped to his waist towards Sterin.

“That sword….”

Sterin squinted at the weapon in Rimmer’s hand.

“I gave it to you, hoping you’d become the leader of the guardians. You left Sephia shortly after receiving it, so you naturally became a thief.”

“Ugh….”

“I expected you to return quickly, but you spent years living like a human, and came back ruined. I think I’ll have to visit the head of Zieghart.”

Sterin said he might need to visit Zieghart after the purification ceremony, caressing a red bow on the wall.

“That sounds interesting.”

Rimmer licked his lips as if he wasn’t the cause of the problem. His behavior was as frustrating as ever.

“Guardian.”

Raon interjected, bowing his head.

“The captain came to return the sword.”

“Yes.”

Rimmer nodded calmly, holding out the sword to Sterin.

“Return it?”

“Yes. I don’t think I’m worthy of using our tribe’s sacred relic with this arm.”

He glanced at his empty right shoulder and smiled faintly.

“How did you lose that arm?”

“…”

Rimmer didn’t answer immediately. He glanced back at Raon, Dorian, and Yua, his eyes revealing a gentle blue light.

“I entrusted it to the future.”

“Do you regret that choice?”

“No.”

“Is that so….”

Sterin nodded, seeming to understand.

“It seems you’ve regained some of your former self.”

He relaxed his stern expression and called Erian.

“Erian.”

“Yes.”

“Cancel Rimmer’s warrant.”

“Understood.”

Erian looked at Rimmer briefly before nodding. He seemed to have something to say but complied with the guardian’s order.

“Guardian, what about this human? He’s definitely going to be chosen by a Spirit King.”

Erian still insisted that Raon was destined to be a Spirit King’s contractor.

“I’ve never heard of an unborn Spirit King choosing a contractor.”

“Nor have I seen Fire and Water Spirit Kings disappear for such a long time.”

“Hmm….”

Sterin stroked his chin and stared at Raon.

“Have you ever heard a voice or felt a strong natural presence?”

“Hmm….”

Raon met Sterin’s calm eyes and licked his lips.

‘Yes, every day.’

He couldn’t tell them about the cotton candy demon, so he shook his head.

“No.”

“I thought so.”

“See? There’s no way a human can be a Spirit King’s contractor.”

Reyran shook her head firmly.

“I think the same. But it wouldn’t hurt to test.”

“Guardian?”

Her eyes widened in surprise.

“I can’t summon a Spirit King….”

Sterin raised his hand, and a small red cat appeared above his palm, its ears and tail flickering with scarlet flames.

‘This cat….’

Though small, its presence was stronger than the high-level spirit Erian had summoned. It seemed to be a high-level fire spirit.

Meow… hiss!

The cat yawned, then, upon meeting Raon’s eyes, leapt back, trembling. It tried to maintain a defensive stance but ended up rolling over, exposing its belly in submission.

“Huh?”

Reyran gasped at the sight of the fire spirit showing its white belly. Her previously steadfast eyes began to waver.

“See? It wouldn’t react like that for nothing! He’s definitely a Spirit King’s contractor!”

Erian thumped his chest, asserting his point.

“A presence too high to look at….”

Sterin nodded as he re-summoned the terrified cat spirit.

“Whether you’re a Spirit King’s contractor or not, it’s clear you’re special.”

He nodded, half-believing it.

-This is infuriating! I’m not a Spirit King, but a demon monarch! These foolish elves!

Wrath shook his head furiously, annoyed at the comparison.

“If you are truly chosen by a Spirit King, it’s deeply related to our tribe. Can we meet again after the purification ceremony?”

“Yes, I don’t mind.”

“Treat them as the tribe’s most honored guests.”

Sterin waved his hand, signaling for everyone to receive the best treatment.

“Understood!”

“…Yes.”

Erian nodded eagerly, while Reyran reluctantly complied.

“Don’t worry about us. He has much to learn from you, Grandpa.”

Rimmer approached Sterin, gesturing with his chin.

“Learn?”

“Yes. I’d like you to show Raon your spirit summoning.”

“Hmm….”

Sterin stroked his chin, considering.

“Since you’re his disciple, there’s no reason not to. But not now. The purification ceremony comes first.”

“Hmm? Isn’t Siyen handling the ceremony?”

Rimmer asked, tilting his head.

“She’s not ready yet.”

“What? She’s old enough….”

“She still can’t resonate properly.”

Sterin shook his head, looking tired.

“If she weren’t trying, it’d be different. Despite daily practice, she continues to fail. I can’t push her anymore.”

He sighed with regret.

“So….”

“Yes. She’s shut herself in her room.”

“Oh!”

Rimmer showed concern for the first time, rubbing his forehead.

“Who is Siyen?”

Raon asked, prompting Rimmer to frown and turn to him.

“She’s my sister. She also makes the Nadine bread you like.”

“What do you mean she’s not coming out?”

“She created the Nadine bread to avoid leaving her room.”

-So it was her! Go and kill her now!

Wrath swung his tiny fist like a hammer, screaming.

“She made the bread to avoid leaving her room….”

Raon pushed Wrath aside and opened his mouth.

“Yeah.”

Rimmer sighed, shaking his head.

“She’s a shut-in.”

---

“When is volume 2 coming out? I hope it covers the dragon slaying part.”

Siyan finished reading the last page of a book titled “Raon Zieghart: A Chronicle,” sighing in anticipation.

“He’s amazing. How can he be good at everything?”

She blushed, hiding her face behind the book.

‘It must be talent. The best among humans.’

Her eyes grew a bit somber as she set the book aside.

“And it’s a talent I don’t have….”

She pouted and climbed down from her bed.

“Phew….”

Taking a deep breath, Siyan closed her eyes. Clear mana, untouched like a serene lake, began to flow from her breath.

Bzzzz!

The blue mana surged like a strong current, heading towards her upper dantian, but it abruptly halted as if blocked by a dam.

“Ugh….”

Siyan bit her lip and opened her eyes.

‘Another failure….’

High elves possess abilities beyond ordinary elves. The most crucial is resonating with nature.

True high elves achieve resonance, enabling them to purify the World Tree, a feat she still couldn’t accomplish.

‘Why can’t I do it?’

Other high elves, including her grandfather, had naturally resonated with nature since birth. Yet, she couldn’t, even as an adult.

Despite endless training mimicking her grandfather’s breath, she couldn’t find the way.

The growing scorn from other elves had kept her locked in her room for decades.

“Why only me!”

She raised her hands and shouted.

“I want to be praised and noticed like others, but why am I like this!”

She revealed her un-elf-like worldly desires, pounding the floor.

“Did Raon Zieghart ever feel this way? Probably not.”

Siyan stared at her golden hair, flowing like sand, and bit her lip.

“I didn’t choose to be a high elf….”

“Siyan! Are you in there?”

As she sank deeper into her inferiority, a refreshing voice came from outside her door.

“B-Brother?”

It was undoubtedly Rimmer’s voice, though the tone had changed.

“Of course you’re here. I’m coming in!”

“W-Wait! Don’t come in!”

“Why be so harsh? I’m coming in!”

“Ahh!”

Siyan scrambled back under her blanket.

Crack!

Rimmer broke the latch on the door and entered.

“I told you not to come in! Get out!”

Siyan peeked out from under the blanket, shouting.

“It’s been so long. Don’t be like that.”

Rimmer licked his lips, pretending to be hurt.

“I-I’m sorry. It was just sudden….”

Siyan glanced up, her blue eyes peeking out.

“Okay? Then it’s fine if I come in, right?”

“That’s… Oh?”

Next to Rimmer, a blonde human with wide eyes stood.

Siyan buried herself deeper in the blanket, trembling.

“Who is that human?”

“He’s my disciple. He was interested in the bread you made, so I brought him.”

“B-Bread?”

“Nadine bread.”

Rimmer smiled, amused by the situation.

Raon stepped forward and bowed.

“I’m Raon Zieghart.”

“Gasp!”

Siyan froze, her breath catching.

“Ra-Raon Zieghart? Really?”

She peeked out, her golden hair flowing like a stream.

“The handsome one?”

“Yes. The handsome… huh?”

Raon blinked, confused.

‘What is she talking about?’

Handsome? He couldn’t wrap his head around being called that by an elf. He noticed a thick book on the floor with his name on it.

‘This….’

He opened it to find “Raon Zieghart: A Chronicle, Volume 1” on the title page, along with the author’s name.

‘Encia Yonan….’

Encia had boldly put her name as the author, even using the mark she mentioned before to signify it was an authorized work.

‘This woman….’

Raon clenched the book, closing his eyes in frustration.

‘How far is she going to go!’