Chapter 784
Rumble!
The silver frost that had wrapped around Wrath turned into a powerful storm, raging through the underground chamber.
“Hmm?”
“What’s going on all of a sudden…?”
Glenn and Rector sensed the sudden surge of freezing energy and instinctively stepped forward to shield Edgar and Sylvia.
“Come here!”
“Raon!”
Edgar stretched out his hand toward Raon, while Sylvia, holding the still-unconscious Sia, gestured for him to come quickly. Their eyes were filled with worry.
“It’s fine.”
Raon shook his head calmly, meeting the anxious gazes of the four people.
“I don’t think this is anything bad.”
Assuring them, he turned to look at Wrath, still enveloped by the silver frost.
There was no malice in the frost. It was vast and pure, as if it were a force of nature itself.
‘Wrath’s energy is amplifying.’
His presence, which had been somewhat diminished for a while, was gradually growing stronger. It seemed like this frost was transferring power to him.
“What exactly is happening?”
Glenn narrowed his eyes, signaling Raon to explain.
“It seems my friend has obtained something.”
Raon let out a small chuckle and lifted his gaze.
“Please wait a little longer.”
He placed a finger on his lips, gesturing for silence, then created a barrier around Wrath to ensure he wouldn’t be disturbed.
‘But…’
Raon smacked his lips as he observed the intensifying cold.
‘Why is he growing stronger?’
Wrath hadn’t experienced intense rage recently, so it didn’t make sense for his strength to increase.
Moreover, his growth felt similar to the enlightenment of a martial artist, which made it even harder to understand.
‘This might take a while.’
Raon turned to Glenn and Rector, suggesting with a nod that they should take Sia upstairs first.
However, both of them shook their heads firmly, indicating they would wait. Sylvia and Edgar also stayed by Sia’s bedside, unmoving, to protect her.
‘Thank you.’
Understanding their thoughts, Raon bowed slightly before sitting down.
As he quietly observed Wrath, a portion of the silver frost drifted toward him.
Wooooong!
The moment the frost touched his skin, Glacier activated naturally, absorbing the chilling energy.
‘What is this…?’
The energy was even purer and stronger than Wrath’s usual ice. Not only did it instantly replenish his depleted energy, but it also started expanding the scale of Glacier.
Fwooooosh!
To protect himself from the sudden surge of cold, his Ring of Fire and Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation resonated, generating a thick heat.
Rumble!
Just like when he first learned Glacier, the fire and ice clashed violently within his core.
‘It’s a little dangerous, but…’
Feeling the battle between flame and frost within him, Raon smirked.
‘I need to make this energy my own.’
His soul had healed, but his body was still wounded.
By absorbing both the frost and the heat, he could restore his depleted energy and heal his injuries.
Wooooong!
He activated his Ring of Fire to its peak. The eight thickened rings elevated his soul’s realm while pressing down on the rampaging flames and frost.
Slowly, he guided the energies into different channels, maximizing his body’s healing.
The scars on his body, as if healed by troll’s blood, began closing on their own, and his expanded dantian and mana circuits were filled with pure energy.
“Hoo…”
Raon opened his eyes with a satisfied smile. If Murka had helped him grow his soul, then Wrath had helped heal his body and restore his aura. It was a series of fortunate encounters.
‘He really is like a giving tree.’
Even as he grew stronger, Wrath continued to look out for him. This Demon King was endlessly generous.
Just as Raon nodded toward Wrath in gratitude, the storm of frost around him began to subside.
Fwoooosh!
The now smaller frost storm condensed and was instantly absorbed into Wrath’s body, bursting into a brilliant radiance.
Whoosh!
Once the light settled, floating in midair was…
‘A giant ball of cotton candy?’
Wrath’s body had puffed up, looking swollen as he flapped his arms. He resembled an overgrown, untrimmed puppy or cat.
– “Uhehehehe!”
Wrath tilted his head back and let out a refreshing laugh.
– “At last, enlightenment has found this King!”
Declaring himself a great being, he nodded proudly.
‘Enlightenment? He actually reached enlightenment?’
Raon blinked at Wrath in disbelief. He had thought it was possible, but seeing it actually happen was astonishing.
– “Indeed! Just look at these magnificent arms!”
Wrath lifted his thickened limbs, urging Raon to behold his grand form.
‘Uh…’
Raon licked his lips as he examined Wrath, who now looked like a fluffy feline.
‘Your energy hasn’t grown as much as that frost storm, but… your presence has definitely changed. Your soul seems to have reached a higher level.’
– “You’ve observed well! Through enlightenment, my soul has ascended to a greater height! This is a far more profound growth than mere power. If I had climbed just a little higher, I might have even shed this form!”
Wrath twisted his head, explaining that in his realm, spiritual growth was far more difficult than strengthening his power.
– “To think that something like this would happen in the human world… even this King did not foresee it.”
He smiled brightly, delighted by the unexpected development.
‘That reminds me, I need to ask you something.’
Raon narrowed his eyes, watching Wrath grin.
‘Where exactly did you gain enlightenment? You’re the Monarch of Wrath.’
Even though Raon often teased him about being a glutton, Wrath was still a Demon King—the Monarch of Wrath.
Yet he had felt no anger during this process, so where had his enlightenment come from?
– “It was not from rage. Keluk!”
Wrath shook his head calmly.
– “Those humans. Your family’s heartfelt gratitude lifted my soul to greater heights.”
‘Just from their gratitude?’
– “The relationship between demons and humans is built on transactions. That was how our deal began as well.”
Wrath’s gaze slowly swept over Glenn, Rector, Edgar, and Sylvia.
– “But your family… they couldn’t even sense or see me, yet they still expressed their gratitude. That unfamiliar emotion is what helped my soul grow.”
Wrath lowered his eyes, admitting he hadn’t expected such a transformation.
– “It’s probably similar to how that old man Nadine changed when he experienced warmth.”
He cast a long, meaningful glance at Glenn, as if he felt some kind of kinship.
‘Honestly, I don’t get it. A demon growing through emotional exchange with humans?’
– “That’s just a human’s preconception. Demons aren’t simply evil. Keluk!”
Wrath tapped his forehead, reminding Raon to think of Uriel the Archangel.
‘Well, that’s true. Either way, I’m glad.’
Raon let out a soft chuckle and nudged Wrath with his elbow.
– “Glad? What do you mean?”
Wrath tilted his head.
‘That you got stronger.’
– “What?”
‘You always complained about how only I was getting stronger. It actually bothered me.’
Even though he had often teased Wrath about it, deep down, it had weighed on him that Wrath’s power seemed to weaken as his own grew.
Hearing that Wrath had grown thanks to him and his family made Raon feel a small sense of relief.
‘Congratulations.’
– “Heh! What’s the point of congratulating me now? You’ve already stolen way more fr— Keluk!”
Wrath waved his hand dismissively, then coughed dryly.
‘Wait, if you’ve grown, why do you keep coughing?’
Raon tilted his head, looking at Wrath curiously.
– “Just because I’ve grown doesn’t mean my soul’s wounds have disappeared!”
Wrath shook his head as if Raon was being dense.
‘I healed, though.’
Raon pointed to himself and blinked. His soul had been restored when he absorbed Murka’s ashes, and just now, Wrath’s energy had helped him heal his physical wounds.
– “Ugh! That’s because you’re weird!”
Wrath groaned, muttering that it was strange for a Demon King to call a human odd.
– “You’re annoying in every way… Hm?”
Just as Wrath was grumbling, he suddenly stiffened and lifted his head.
– “W-wait. Why did you get stronger again?!”
His eyes widened as he sensed Raon’s growth.
‘Ah, just a moment ago…’
Raon briefly explained what had happened while Wrath was experiencing enlightenment.
– “That damned thief!”
Wrath ground his teeth and lunged at Raon.
– “Why did you steal a piece of this King’s power?! If all of that had returned to me, I could have shattered this vessel and ascended!”
‘I didn’t steal it. The part that separated from you just happened to be absorbed into me.’
– “Then you should have spat it out and given it back to me!”
‘Haa…’
Raon let out a long sigh and shook his head. Wrath claimed his soul had matured, yet his mentality remained unchanged—or perhaps it had gotten worse.
– “Stop sighing and hand it over!”
Wrath grabbed Raon’s collar and shook him vigorously. Clearly, it wasn’t just about the lost frost—he wanted something else.
“R-Raon, is something wrong?”
Sylvia asked worriedly, noticing Raon’s exasperated expression.
“No, everything’s fine. Well… except for my sister still being unconscious.”
Raon glanced up at Wrath and smiled.
“How about we have a feast today?”
The moment he said that, Wrath let go of his collar.
– “This King agrees! Prepare a grand banquet immediately!”
Wrath dusted off Raon’s shirt and grinned widely.
– “Pineapple pizza and mint chocolate ice cream are a must! And bring that new product that the gluttonous fool ate!”
“…….”
Raon sighed as he watched Wrath insist on competing with Gluttony.
‘Did he become the Monarch of Wrath because someone stole his food…?’
—
In the abandoned Arian Family estate, where neither humans nor monsters remained—
A lone figure, clad in a black robe, walked along a path littered with corpses.
The vultures and hyenas tearing at the rotten flesh seemed entirely unaware of the robed figure’s presence.
Step.
Standing at the center of the battlefield, the figure lifted their head.
From within the deep hood, a pair of gleaming blue eyes flickered as if they were reliving the war that had taken place here.
“…….”
Moving slowly, the robed individual made their way to the exact spot where Raon had defeated The Fallen One.
“Haa…”
They stood there for a long time, unmoving, before finally exhaling through parted lips.
“I wasn’t mistaken.”
Their voice, which could have belonged to either a man or a woman, was filled with certainty.
“Without a doubt…”
Reaching out a pale hand from within the robe, they touched the ground where Wrath’s frost had once covered.
A slow, eerie smile spread across their lips.
“Wrath.”
—
– “Indeed, this King is far beyond any ordinary demon! No one can rival my noble soul—hmm?”
As Wrath was praising himself, he suddenly darted his eyes around and trembled.
‘What’s wrong?’
Raon tilted his head, noticing Wrath’s sudden silence.
– “I-I don’t feel right. It’s like a sudden chill just hit me… Keluk!”
Wrath furrowed his brows as if disturbed by an ominous presence.
‘Can a Demon King catch a cold?’
– “It’s not an illness! It feels as if… as if my very secrets have been exposed!”
Wrath exhaled sharply, a sense of unease creeping into his voice.
‘Then that means I’m about to get another reward.’
Raon chuckled. Every time Wrath got anxious, it always resulted in him receiving something beneficial. He had a feeling it would happen again.
– “S-shut up! That won’t happen this time!”
Wrath spun around, as if refusing to accept his fate.
‘That’s not something you can decide.’
– “Grrr…!”
Wrath trembled, unable to argue further.
‘Ah, since we’re talking about it, I might as well check my reward.’
Raon smiled faintly and was about to summon the system messages he hadn’t reviewed yet when—
Knock, knock.
A gentle knock was followed by the door opening.
“Raon, come eat.”
Sylvia waved her hand, motioning him to join for dinner.
– “Food! It’s food… Keluk!”
Wrath, who had been sulking over missing his reward, leaped up like a frog.
– “Hurry and follow Mother! This King is starving!”
Unable to wait any longer, Wrath scratched his back like a restless puppy or kitten.
‘Alright, alright. Just stop scratching.’
Raon pushed Wrath away and followed Sylvia outside.
“Let’s go quickly before it gets cold.”
Sylvia smiled brightly and led the way to the dining hall.
Seeing that, Raon couldn’t help but smile as well.
‘It’s a relief.’
The thought that he could have lost this moment still made his heart sink. The only thing on his mind was the need to grow even stronger.
As he steadied his breath and approached the dining hall, he noticed that all the maids were gathered in the lobby instead of setting the table. Normally, they dined together, so this was unusual.
“Helen, why are you all here?”
“I thought it would be nice for you to have a private meal with your family and talk about everything you haven’t had the chance to.”
Helen bowed her head, saying she and the other maids would wait outside.
“…Thank you.”
Raon smiled softly at Helen and the maids. Their thoughtfulness warmed his heart, and all he could say was a simple word of gratitude.
“Young Master.”
As he met the maids’ eyes and was about to step into the dining hall, Judiel stepped forward.
“…Make sure you choose wisely.”
She bowed her head slightly, hinting at something.
“Choose? What choice…?”
– “Hey!”
As Raon blinked in confusion, Wrath flopped around like a freshly caught fish.
– “Hurry up and go inside! The food is getting cold!”
Salivating uncontrollably, Wrath’s drool dripped onto Raon’s head.
“You’ll see for yourself when you go in.”
Judiel bowed again, signaling him to check the situation firsthand.
“…Alright.”
Nodding to Judiel, Raon stepped into the dining hall.
– “Kyaaaah!”
Wrath let out an excited cry as he took in the feast laid out before him.
– “All of this King’s favorite foods are here! There isn’t a single thing missing!”
Rubbing his cheeks, he let out an ecstatic giggle.
“Uh…”
However, Raon wasn’t looking at the food. He was looking at the people seated at the table.
As expected, Sylvia and Edgar sat together in the center like a proper couple. Glenn and Rector, on the other hand, had taken seats on opposite sides of the table—leaving the chairs next to them empty.
“Raon, come sit here.”
“Raon, this seat is open.”
Both Glenn and Rector gestured to the empty seats beside them, calling his name at the same time.
“…….”
Raon closed his eyes tightly as he saw the two men glaring daggers at each other.
‘Ah… This is the choice?’
(T/N: Uh-oh, the Grampa Tsun-Tsuns are at it again. lol)
