TRAIGS - Chapter 769

‘Hwaaah!’

The darkness conjured by the Green King could not withstand the blazing flames of the divine sword, melting away slowly like morning mist touched by sunlight.

Raon narrowed his eyes as he observed the vanishing Sword Field of the Green King.

‘Sword Field Creation…’

Sword Field Creation was a type of barrier that materialized the will and intent accumulated by a swordsman into reality.

As expected of such a unique ability, it came with a strict condition: only swordsmen of the Zieghart bloodline could utilize it.

Although Rimmer and Wrath had displayed Sword Fields in the past, strictly speaking, their techniques overloaded the body and mind, substituting the power of bloodline with a slightly different method.

‘But this Sword Field is genuine.’

In truth, the darkness created by the Green King was crude, unworthy of being called a proper Sword Field. It was far inferior to the incomplete Sword Field Raon himself had wielded as a Master. However, the woman wielded it naturally, following the flow of the Zieghart Sword Field with precision.

This meant that the woman wearing the black orc’s helm inherited the Zieghart bloodline.

“That’s an actual Sword Field…”

Rimmer’s jaw dropped in disbelief as he looked at the Green King’s Sword Field.

“That’s correct.”

Raon nodded heavily. As certainty about the Green King being a Zieghart settled in his mind, countless buried doubts and inconsistencies surged forward.

A youthful body appearing to be in her twenties, an unparalleled talent seemingly born with the [Ring of Fire], her affiliation with Eden, Wrath’s cryptic advice before the battle, the mocking remarks of the Dual-Headed Ogre, and finally, the Sword Field.

‘I still can’t believe it, but…’

The Green King seemed to be his older sister, Sia, who was believed to be dead. (T/N: Called ITTTTT!!!!!)

If this hypothesis was true, it explained why her eyes felt familiar, why Wrath said she had a similar temperament, and even the taunts of the Dual-Headed Ogre.

However, there was one final thing he needed to confirm.

‘Gulp.’

Raon swallowed dryly and turned to Sylvia. She was glaring with wide eyes, clearly unable to comprehend the situation.

‘I have to ask.’

To confirm if the Green King was Sia, he needed Sylvia’s testimony.

‘But…’

The thought of how much pain this revelation might cause Sylvia made him hesitate.

‘Mother came here because of this…’

Before embarking on this mission, Sylvia had trained herself to the point of collapse, declaring that she would protect her family—including Raon—with all her strength.

‘Mother has been carrying unhealed wounds all along…’

The reason for her determination was her failure to protect her husband and young daughter. To never feel such anguish again, she had been tormenting herself.

‘That’s why she’s here.’

When her son, who had returned from death, asked for assistance, Sylvia couldn’t remain idle at the annex. The thought of her pleading with the Shadow Agents Leader and kneeling before Glenn for permission made Raon’s fingers tremble unknowingly.

Even so, knowing her resolve, Raon couldn’t stop here.

Even if it deepened her suffering, the truth had to be revealed.

“I’m sorry to ask this under such circumstances, but…”

Raon clenched his fists tightly and turned to Sylvia.

“What color were my sister’s hair and eyes?”

For the first time, he asked about Sia’s hair and eye color, a question he had avoided due to Sylvia’s grief.

“Brown and red. But why?”

Sylvia, still puzzled, blinked her eyes.

‘Hoo…’

Raon exhaled as he looked at the Green King. Her hair was brown, and her eyes were the same crimson as his.

“And lastly, you didn’t actually see Father and Sister die, did you?”

“No… I saw them collapse, but I fainted and was dragged away…”

She shook her head, explaining that the Zieghart guards had blocked her.

“Raon, why are you suddenly asking this… Oh?”

Sylvia finally seemed to understand Raon’s questions and turned her gaze toward the Green King.

Her eyes scanned the Green King from head to toe, and the sword in her hand fell to the ground.

“No… no way…”

“It seems so.”

“No…”

Sylvia sank to the ground, unable to pick up her dropped sword.

“No, it can’t be…”

She shook her head violently, unable to accept the truth.

-“Why is your mother acting like that?”

Wrath blinked, looking confused as he watched Sylvia suddenly fall to her knees.

‘Because the woman in that helm seems to have come from the same bloodline as me.’

-“Huh? That was just an example; is it actually true?”

Wrath’s mouth hung open, clearly stunned.

‘Yes.’

Thanks to Sylvia’s testimony, Raon was now certain—the Green King was indeed his sister, Sia.

“Heh heh…”

The mocking laughter of the Dual-Headed Ogre solidified his belief.

“That… that’s your sister?”

Rimmer’s lips quivered as he finally realized the truth about the Green King.

“It’s certain.”

Raon bit his lip and nodded firmly.

“No… no… it can’t be. That would be too cruel…”

Sylvia’s face turned pale as her eyes reddened, bloodshot from shock.

“No, it’s not…”

The Dual-Headed Ogre, standing next to the Green King, chuckled slyly.

“She’s the daughter you abandoned and ran away from.”

With a malicious grin, he nodded.

“Aaaaaah!”

Sylvia screamed, clutching her head. Bloody tears streamed down her face.

“You bastard!”

Raon launched forward, but the Dual-Headed Ogre laughed and hid behind the Green King.

“I’m not done talking yet.”

He raised a finger behind her, motioning for Raon to listen.

“Shut your mouth and prepare to die—”

“You’ll want to hear this. You’ll regret it if you don’t.”

“What?”

“There’s one more secret left.”

The Dual-Headed Ogre rested his chin on the Green King’s shoulder, shaking his head.

“What if the sister you thought was dead is alive? Then wouldn’t it make sense that your father is alive too?”

He raised a finger and pointed to the Soul-Severing Sword, standing silently behind Rimmer.

“Who do you think that guy is?” (T/N: HOOOLLLLYYYY SHIIIITTTTTTT)

The corners of the Dual-Headed Ogre’s mouth, visible beneath his Eden Helm, curled upward in a sinister grin.

“A…”

Raon let out a faint groan, turning to look behind him. The Soul-Severing Sword stood motionless, just as it had been at the Eden branch.

“That’s right. It’s your father. His aura is weaker than a third-rate swordsman, but his swordsmanship was strangely exceptional, so we decided to take him. It was a jackpot! The Fallen One hasn’t laughed that hard in ages.”

The Dual-Headed Ogre licked his lips as if reminiscing about the generous reward he’d received.

“Lies!”

Sylvia shook her head furiously, staring at the Soul-Severing Sword in disbelief.

But despite her cries of denial, her gaze remained fixed on the Soul-Severing Sword, its figure reminding her of Edgar.

“They’re all lies!”

Her emotional collapse was palpable.

“Hmm…”

Raon swallowed hard as he looked at the Soul-Severing Sword.

‘Now that I think about it…’

The Soul-Severing Sword had refrained from using its full strength when ambushing him earlier. There had been no killing intent, and the strikes left small openings, almost as if intentionally allowing him to evade.

It was the same when they met at Eden’s branch. The Soul-Severing Sword’s focus had been unnervingly fixed on Raon but made no direct attempt to harm him.

If the Soul-Severing Sword truly was his father, all these oddities made sense.

‘However…’

As Raon furrowed his brow, pondering the differences between the Soul-Severing Sword and Eden’s other high-ranking operatives, the Dual-Headed Ogre gestured with his chin.

“Want me to show you his face? You might faint.”

He chuckled, playing with his mask.

“Shut your mouth.”

Raon steadied his grip on the Heavenly Drive and Soul Requiem Sword, stepping forward with the [Supreme Harmony Steps].

As he moved to decapitate the Dual-Headed Ogre, sharp strikes came at him from both sides.

‘Clang!’

It was the Green King and the Soul-Severing Sword. The two blocked Raon’s path, as if determined to protect the Dual-Headed Ogre.

“Krr…”

“Do you know why I told you all of this?”

The Dual-Headed Ogre’s eyes curved into crescent moons.

“I wanted to see a family destroy itself.”

His laughter was more wicked than that of a demon, making Raon feel as though he was facing pure, unadulterated evil.

-“Give me control! This filthy helmeted bastard will pay for this!” (T/N: Yes, please!! Go Wrathh!!!)

Wrath, brimming with fury, enveloped himself in an icy chill.

‘I’ll kill him myself.’

Raon bit his lips until they bled and forced his trembling Heavenly Drive and Soul Requiem Sword steady, channeling his aura into them.

“If you want my head, you’ll have to kill your sister and father first.”

The Dual-Headed Ogre couldn’t hide his grin, as if this moment was his ultimate goal. It now seemed clear that he was a monster fully embodying the traits of an Eden.

“Grr…”

Sylvia collapsed onto her knees, retching, all will to fight drained from her.

“That damn brat.”

Rimmer moved closer, his brow furrowed in anger.

“He’s really starting to piss me off.”

Even his green eyes glimmered with a faint crimson, showing his fury.

‘Hoo…’

Raon exhaled, releasing his inner turbulence through his [Ring of Fire]. Slowly, his anger subsided.

‘Something’s strange.’

From the Maniacal Blood Ghoul to the Soul-Eating Specter, all the high-ranking Eden operatives he’d faced so far acted with their own will. Yet the Green King and Soul-Severing Sword, both prominent figures, seemed to follow the Dual-Headed Ogre’s commands blindly.

‘Could it be… their souls haven’t been completely erased?’

Recalling the Sword Field Creation used by the Green King and the hesitation in the Soul-Severing Sword’s strikes, Raon sensed a faint possibility of saving them.

“I think I can save my father and sister.”

Raon turned to Sylvia and nodded.

“What…?”

The despair in Sylvia’s eyes wavered, replaced by a glimmer of hope.

“What nonsense is that? Once someone wears the helmet, they never come back! You know that better than anyone!”

Rimmer shook his head, as if urging Raon to abandon such hope.

“Tsk, tsk.”

The Dual-Headed Ogre clicked his tongue at Raon.

“You’re far too late. Their souls didn’t just dissolve—they were digested long ago.”

He chuckled, letting out a small burp for emphasis.

“I can’t trust a word you say.”

“False hope… It’s humanity’s greatest downfall.”

The Dual-Headed Ogre smirked, likening Raon’s effort to a losing gamble.

“Do as you please. Not that it’ll mean anything.”

He shrugged, mocking Raon further.

“….”

“That’s nonsense.”

As Raon bit his lip, a familiar woman’s voice echoed from the void.

‘Wooooong!’

A long dimension split open, and from it emerged Merlin, wearing her aged mask.

“Merlin?” (T/N: This chapter keeps on getting better and better!! Go Merlin! Say hi to your in-laws!)

The Dual-Headed Ogre’s eyes widened at the sudden appearance.

“A liar pretending to be a ruler of the underworld? Your lies have improved, but not much else.”

Merlin looked down at him with a sneer.

“Those two were directly tampered with by The Fallen One. Based on their current state, their souls might still be intact.”

She nodded confidently, explaining that The Fallen One’s frequent experiments made it a plausible outcome.

“Madam.”

Merlin approached Sylvia instead of Raon, lifting the hem of her robe.

“It’s not time to give up just yet.”

She addressed Sylvia as “Madam” and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

“Madam…?”

Sylvia’s jaw trembled as she looked at Merlin’s aged mask, stunned by the unexpected formality from a mage affiliated with Eden.

“I wanted to say it early.”

Merlin lifted her mask slightly, revealing her face to reassure Sylvia. Though she disliked removing her mask, it seemed to be a deliberate gesture of sincerity.

“A cross…”

Sylvia’s lips quivered as she noticed the faint cross shining in Merlin’s eyes.

“Just wait a little longer.”

Merlin gripped Sylvia’s hand tightly and moved to stand to Raon’s left.

“Controlling those two alone shows you’re mentally unstable. It’s all likely part of The Fallen One’s plans, though.”

She snorted as if she could see through the Dual-Headed Ogre’s lies entirely.

“You treacherous wench…”

The Dual-Headed Ogre’s mouth twisted into a grimace. For the first time, it wasn’t a mocking smirk but a look of genuine anger.

“Betrayal?”

Merlin scoffed and shook her head.

“I’ve been on Raon’s side since my previous life. It’s not betrayal—it’s just a return to love.”

She waved her pale hand dismissively, mocking the idea entirely.

“Ha, fine. That makes it easier.”

The Dual-Headed Ogre raised his wooden club, pointing it at both Raon and Merlin simultaneously.

“I just have to kill all of you here.”

With a nod of his chin, the Green King and the Soul-Severing Sword moved forward.

“Never thought I’d be fighting alongside Merlin.”

Rimmer let out a dry chuckle, stepping to Raon’s right.

“I appreciated your help back then.”

He gave Merlin a small nod of acknowledgment.

“Who are you?”

Merlin blinked, her disinterest in anyone other than Raon plain on her face.

“Uh…?”

“Let’s save the introductions for later.”

Raon raised both the Heavenly Drive, emanating flames, and the Soul Requiem Sword, radiating frost.

“Let’s finish this fight first. Our target is the Dual-Headed Ogre.”

“Don’t worry. I’d rather die myself than let Edgar and Sia get hurt.”

Merlin smiled, her resolve to protect them at any cost clear.

“Quite the task ahead.”

Rimmer sighed but nodded, signaling his agreement.

“Then I’ll leave it to you.”

Raon’s [Ring of Fire] flared to life as he stepped forward with the Supreme Harmony Steps, gripping the Heavenly Drive and Soul Requiem Sword tighter as he advanced toward the Dual-Headed Ogre.

Before he could even swing, the Green King and the Soul-Severing Sword blocked his path.

The Dual-Headed Ogre smirked as he backed away, signaling for them to do their work.

‘Chiing!’

Raon didn’t stop. Trusting the two behind him completely, he moved forward without hesitation.

‘Kugugugugu!’

As the Green King’s strikes and the Soul-Severing Sword’s ominous aura clashed with Raon, a surge of mana and wind erupted behind him.

‘Woooooo!’

Merlin conjured dozens of magic circles, forcing back the Green King as she attempted to stab. Meanwhile, Rimmer countered the Soul-Severing Sword with a blade charged with wind and lightning.

‘Chiing!’

The path ahead widened as Raon aimed his Heavenly Drive and Soul Requiem Sword straight at the relaxed Dual-Headed Ogre.

“You’re underestimating me.”

The Dual-Headed Ogre sneered, lifting his wooden club diagonally to intercept.

‘Kuwaaaaang!’

Raon pressed down with the force of the swords, the flames and frost pouring out as if this was his final strike.

Though the flames began to subside, the intense intent behind Raon’s attacks grew stronger, carving deep cracks into the wooden club.

“What the…?”

The Dual-Headed Ogre’s eyes widened as he watched his weapon tremble, on the verge of breaking.

“Keep laughing.”

Raon met his gaze with crimson eyes, a cold smile spreading across his face.

“Because today will be the last day you can.”

(T/N: I’m looking forward for when Merlin visits Sylvia and they talk about Raon or something. haha)