Chapter 788
“Runaan.”
As they walked along the main road leading to the Sullion household, Raon glanced at her.
“Why do you want to spar in front of your parents?”
It wasn’t a difficult request, so he had agreed. However, he didn’t understand why it had to take place at her home, in the Sullion household.
“There’s something I want to show them.”
Runaan lowered her left hand and gripped the hilt of her Snowflower sword at her waist.
“What do you want to show them?”
“That I’ve changed.”
She spoke as if that was all there was to it, her gaze steady and resolute.
Wooooooom.
Runaan’s aura flared with sharp yet noble energy, as if she were preparing for a life-or-death duel.
“Hmm…”
Sensing the gravity of her stance, Raon narrowed his eyes.
‘Is this about what happened with Sylvia?’
Runaan wasn’t one to talk much. To understand her intentions, he would first need to go through with the spar.
– “What are you doing?!”
As Raon suppressed his curiosity and continued following Runaan, Wrath suddenly leaped up.
– “Since you’re not fighting yet, eat the bead ice cream first!”
Wrath impatiently demanded that he take out the ice cream.
‘If I eat it now, it might distract Runaan.’
Raon pointed toward Runaan, who was already summoning her focus as if the duel had begun.
– “Huh?”
‘You’re really okay with this? Won’t it disturb the Ice Cream Girl? Are you sure?’
Raon nudged Wrath with his shoulder, grinning.
– “Ugh…”
Wrath groaned as he looked at Runaan.
– “Ugh… I have no choice then. Eat it right after the duel!”
Declaring that he would make a noble sacrifice for the Ice Cream Girl, Wrath turned away.
‘Is that so?’
Raon chuckled as he saw Wrath’s face redden.
‘He really is soft-hearted.’
If it were anyone else, Wrath would have thrown a fit and insisted on eating immediately. But because it was Runaan, he held his tongue.
It was still unbelievable that this cotton-ball-like creature was supposed to be a Demon King.
‘I do want to see the Demon Realm you spoke of someday.’
Raon ran his fingers through Wrath’s soft fur with a smile.
– “A-Are you serious?”
Wrath lifted his head, eyes wide.
‘Yeah. I’m curious about what kind of place the Demon Realm you ruled over is like.’
He wanted to see the subordinates Wrath cherished and the world he had once dominated.
– “That’s an excellent idea! Those Demon Realm scoundrels need to experience being bitten by a crazy mutt like you!”
Wrath’s mischievous grin spread wide.
– “If you do as this king says, you can reach the Demon Realm. Of course, it will take a lot of effort and preparation, but you can definitely do it.”
‘Not now.’
Raon pushed away Wrath, who was panting like an excited dog.
‘I’ll go after everything is settled—if I survive.’
The darkness looming over the continent remained, and his revenge against Derus was unfinished.
He didn’t even know if he would still be alive once his grudges and hatred were resolved.
– “Stop spouting nonsense! You’re like a leech—you’ll definitely outlive this king!”
‘I can’t tell if that’s an insult or a compliment, but thanks, I guess.’
Raon chuckled and patted Wrath’s head just as Runaan stopped in her tracks.
“We’re here.”
Lifting his head at her words, Raon saw the grand Sullion household.
It was his first time returning since the incident with Sylvia, but there didn’t seem to be any significant changes.
“Young lady, you’ve returned quickly.”
A middle-aged swordsman guarding the front gate bowed to Runaan.
“Yes.”
She nodded, and the swordsman smiled before opening the gates.
“Sir Raon, you’ve come as well.”
The swordsman turned to Raon and bowed respectfully.
“Apologies for the sudden visit.”
“No need to apologize. Sir Raon is always welcome here.”
He smiled warmly, as if Raon was always welcome.
“Thank you.”
Raon returned the greeting and stepped into the Sullion household.
“This way.”
Instead of heading toward the central mansion, Runaan veered left toward the garden.
Following her curiously, Raon soon spotted her parents, Lorkan and Clara, seated at a garden table, engaged in conversation.
“Runaan! You’re so late! I was dying to see you… Oh?”
Lorkan rushed toward her but froze upon noticing Raon.
“R-Raon Zieghart? How are you here…?”
His jaw trembled as he stared in shock.
“You’re being rude to our benefactor.”
Clara smacked Lorkan’s back before stepping forward.
“It’s been a while. Welcome.”
She gracefully lifted the hem of her dress and greeted him with proper etiquette.
“It’s been a while since I last saw you both.”
Raon placed his hand on his chest and bowed politely.
“Ahem. Good to see you. I was just… startled, that’s all.”
Lorkan scratched the back of his head, looking embarrassed. Judging by his cautious demeanor, he was still a doting father, ever watchful over his daughter.
“We met at the ice cream shop.”
Runaan nodded, explaining that she had brought Raon from there.
“Oh, you were just having a snack together? That’s nice.”
Clara clapped her hands lightly, pleased.
“No.”
Runaan shook her head firmly while gripping the hilt of Snowflower.
“I brought him to spar.”
She pursed her lips, emphasizing that this had nothing to do with snacks—it was about a duel.
“What? A spar?”
“W-Why all of a sudden?”
Both Lorkan and Clara widened their eyes in surprise.
“Just watch.”
Runaan let out a slow breath and stood in front of Raon.
“You don’t have to go all out, but don’t hold back like we’re in a training ground.”
“…Got it.”
Her usually vacant eyes now gleamed with sharp determination. Seeing that she was serious, Raon adjusted his aura level to match the early stages of Grandmaster.
– “Control your strength properly. Your early Grandmaster level is already stronger than most people’s high-level Grandmasters.”
‘I know.’
Raon nodded and raised Heavenly Drive into a middle stance.
Schling.
Runaan, steeling her resolve, smoothly drew Snowflower without hesitation.
Clang!
The two swords met just like in their training duels, and they each took two steps back.
Chiiing!
Runaan kicked off the ground aggressively and thrust Snowflower forward. A blade of frost blossomed from her silver sword, rushing toward his chest.
Clang!
Raon deflected her strike with Glacier Fang, his eyes narrowing.
‘She’s grown.’
Her sword no longer carried the same hesitations from before.
She had shed her past weaknesses, turning her battlefield experiences into strength.
Schwip!
Despite her first attack failing, Runaan didn’t retreat. She launched her second offensive, her frost scattering into shards of ice that rained down like a blizzard.
Kwaaaang!
Raon countered with Snowstorm Swordplay, his blade dancing with the essence of the Absolute Sword.
The frigid winds howled, shredding the descending frost into nothingness.
Thud!
As soon as the frost storm died down, Raon stepped forward using Supreme Harmony Steps.
Chiiing!
He slipped into her left side and thrust Heavenly Drive at her waist.
“Hmm.”
Runaan, instead of avoiding it outright, dove into her own space using Light Wind. Her movement wasn’t just evasive—it was an attack as well.
“Good movement, but… it’s still lacking!”
Raon stepped back and slashed downward with Crimson Strike in the direction she was dashing.
Whoooosh!
Determined to fight until the end, Runaan blocked the strike with her frost-coated blade.
Claaang!
But the difference in their aura was too great—Runaan was sent flying, rolling across the ground.
“Ugh…”
Even as pain wracked her arm, she got up and charged again.
Clang!
Raon, his expression icy, directed a Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation burst at her opening.
Fwoooosh!
The crimson flames consumed her frost, slamming into her chest.
Thud!
A shockwave erupted as Runaan crashed into the ground once more. Her disheveled hair scattered around her face, and blood dripped from her forehead.
“R-Runaan…?”
“What is this…?”
Clara and Lorkan trembled, unable to believe how intense the duel had become.
“Not yet.”
Ignoring the pain, Runaan rose again.
Shhhhaaa!
Despite her injuries, her sword grew sharper, reaching the extreme peak of precision.
Claaang!
Raon, honoring her request, didn’t suppress his aura. He shattered her attack completely.
Booom!
Runaan was flung across the garden, her impact overturning the grass.
“Runaan!”
“Stop this already!”
Clara and Lorkan rushed forward to stop her.
“…No.”
Runaan rejected their hands and stood up on her own.
“I can still fight.”
She gripped Snowflower tightly, her determination unwavering.
– “Isn’t this too much?”
Wrath furrowed his brow, urging restraint.
‘Look at her eyes.’
Raon pointed at Runaan’s gaze with Heavenly Drive.
Her usually vacant eyes burned with unwavering resolve.
“Haaah!”
She let out a fierce cry and dashed forward.
Her limbs weren’t moving properly, yet her steps held a mystical grace, like a divine dance.
Claaang!
Raon, unwilling to hold back, met her strike with full force.
Chiiiiing!
This time, she didn’t tumble—she only dropped to one knee as she was pushed back.
‘Hmm?’
Just as Raon sensed something odd, Runaan, still hunched, slipped into his left side.
‘That won’t work.’
Even though it was an unexpected movement, it wasn’t beyond his perception. To end this, he slashed diagonally with Heavenly Drive.
That moment—
Flash!
Runaan’s eyes gleamed.
As if she had been waiting for this, she twisted Snowflower’s blade at an angle.
Chiiiing!
Using the frozen edge of her sword, she redirected Heavenly Drive, seamlessly shifting into an offensive stance.
Swoosh!
Before he knew it, her frosted blade was at his throat.
A completely unpredictable swordplay.
“Hah.”
Raon twisted his wrist, forcibly repositioning Heavenly Drive to deflect her attack.
Claaang!
Snowflower was sent flying into the air, and Runaan, completely drained, collapsed. Blood trickled from her lips.
“Runaan!”
Lorkan rushed over and caught her.
“Enough!”
Clara embraced her tightly, begging her to stop.
“I saw Raon save his family…”
Runaan slowly lifted herself. She looked at Lorkan and Clara, biting her lip.
“But my brother never came back.”
“…Runaan.”
Lorkan’s eyes widened—he hadn’t expected her to say that.
“That’s why I have to finish it. I have to stay in the Light Wind Division to make it happen.”
She lowered her head, pleading for them not to ask her to leave.
“…Mmm.”
“…Runaan.”
Lorkan and Clara both bit their lips as they saw the growth in their daughter.
‘Now I understand.’
Raon watched as Runaan’s family silently held hands, nodding slightly.
‘They must have asked her to leave the Light Wind Division.’
Lorkan, sensing the growing turmoil on the continent, had likely urged Runaan to leave and become a Sullion swordswoman instead.
‘Runaan used this duel to reject their proposal.’
She had challenged him today to prove her determination to survive in Light Wind Division and stop Syria.
‘Yeah. She’s changed.’
The girl who loved bead ice cream and struggled with expressing emotions was no longer here.
The swordswoman standing before him was a true warrior, armed with the resolve to become stronger for her family.
Raon quietly placed the ice cream box he had bought earlier on the table.
Not wanting to disturb Runaan, Lorkan, and Clara’s moment, he silently exited the Sullion estate.
– “You finally have some sense.”
Wrath nodded approvingly.
‘Thanks to you.’
– “Hmph! I don’t need flattery!”
Despite his words, Wrath beamed with satisfaction.
– “To think the Ice Cream Girl has grown this much… I’m deeply moved!”
Wrath nodded as if watching a child grow was a wonderful thing.
– “Since I’m in a good mood, let’s eat ice cream too!”
He waved his small, round hands, urging Raon to take out the mint chocolate.
‘Mint chocolate? I already left it back there.’
– “Huh…? D-Didn’t you buy two?”
‘I didn’t have time to.’
Raon shrugged.
– “Go back and get it right now!”
Wrath shook his head violently, demanding he retrieve it.
‘How am I supposed to go back? They’re probably deep in conversation by now, drowning in tears.’
– “Can’t you see the tears flowing from this king’s eyes?!”
Wrath clutched his head, wailing.
– “You fool with no sense!”
—
Pressed by Wrath’s relentless whining, Raon ended up buying another mint chocolate ice cream before returning to the annex.
As he was about to eat one in the garden, Merlin exited the annex and approached him.
– “Ack….”
Wrath, who had been dancing in anticipation of ice cream, immediately ducked behind Raon’s back at the sight of Merlin.
– “D-Don’t talk to her! Just let her pass!”
He clung to Raon’s clothes, pleading for him to ignore her.
‘How could I do that?’
Raon shook his head and walked up to Merlin.
“Where are you going?”
“The Patriarch called for me.”
Merlin smiled brightly, as if she had already gained his approval.
“W-What approval?”
“Our relationship, of course.”
She twirled her fingers together like a thread, as if he already understood.
“Uh…”
Hearing such nonsense made Raon briefly regret not listening to Wrath’s advice.
“Your mother and father are there too. Come with me.”
Merlin grabbed his wrist, leading him along.
The direction they were heading in… was Federick’s estate.
‘Huh? Why there…?’
The only patient left at Federick’s estate was Sia.
Realizing that Merlin had been called to where Sia was, an ominous chill ran down his spine.
“We’re here!”
Merlin confidently pushed open the door and waved.
“Come this way.”
Glenn nodded with a heavy gaze.
“……”
Sensing the grave atmosphere, Raon followed Glenn into the patient room without a word.
Sia lay on the bed, surrounded by the others.
“What’s going on?”
Raon swallowed dryly and looked at Glenn.
“We examined Sia in multiple ways, suspecting something unusual about her inability to wake up…”
Federick stroked Sia’s hair, sighing deeply.
“It seems… she’s in a state where she can’t wake up.”
“What do you mean…?”
“The gap between her grown body and her young soul has widened too much. Her soul isn’t connecting with her body.”
He bit his lip, admitting he had never encountered such a case before.
“Especially concerning is how little energy remains in her highly developed upper dantian. At this rate, she may never wake up.”
Federick massaged his temples, admitting his helplessness.
“…No way.”
Raon turned to look at Sylvia and Edgar. Having already been told, their shoulders trembled.
“Is there a way to treat her?”
“I don’t know. We need to figure it out.”
Federick shook his head, saying he had no answers yet.
“Looks like it’s my turn.”
Merlin stepped forward, placing her hands on her hips.
“I’ll take a look.”
She reassured them with a light smile before placing her hand on Sia’s forehead.
Fwoooosh!
A sacred yet mysterious blue light enveloped both Merlin and Sia.
For a moment, it felt as if only the two of them existed in the room.
As the long silence stretched, feeling like an eternity, Merlin finally opened her eyes.
“…It’s as I thought.”
She turned around, narrowing her gaze.
“The Green King helped her soul grow, but because she didn’t awaken on her own, the connection remains unstable.”
She explained that Sia wouldn’t be able to wake up on her own.
– “This is exactly what I suspected.”
Wrath let out a quiet sigh.
– “Just like how I would lose control if I entered your body, she’s facing a similar issue—her soul and body are out of sync, preventing her from waking up.”
He clicked his tongue, saying this wouldn’t be easily resolved.
“Is there a way to wake her up?”
Glenn’s voice was desperate as he looked at Merlin.
“It’s difficult.”
Merlin lowered her gaze, folding her hands together.
“Urgh…”
Edgar bit his lip so hard it bled, clearly blaming himself again.
“Sia!”
Sylvia knelt beside the bed, holding Sia’s hand. She looked utterly devastated at the thought of losing her daughter again.
“Damn it…”
Rektor clenched his fists so tightly that blood dripped from his palms, unable to even touch Sia.
“……”
Raon gritted his teeth.
His family had finally reunited, yet another problem arose. The suffocating frustration made him feel nauseous.
“Merlin. Is there really no way?”
Raon stepped closer to Merlin, who was deep in thought, biting her lip.
“There is one.”
“…What?”
Raon’s eyes widened.
Rektor and Sylvia also stood up in shock.
“I said it was difficult. I never said it was impossible.”
Merlin gazed at Sia with a look of pity before parting her lips.
“…There is definitely a way.”
