Chapter 812
“My Authority….”
Lust swallowed dryly as she looked at Raon’s wrist.
“Are you really going to accept my Authority?”
She asked again, her dazed eyes filled with disbelief.
“This king does not speak twice with the same mouth.”
Raon remained vigilant until the end and spoke as Wrath would.
“As proof of our promise, I shall accept your Authority.”
“My Authority… the one even I despise….”
Lust’s blue eyes welled up with emotion. At this point, it seemed she was completely convinced that he was Wrath.
“Thank you….”
With a soft smile, Lust’s face, which resembled Wrath, brightened with genuine happiness.
“There is no need for thanks.”
Raon calmly shook his head.
‘To think this would actually work….’
Receiving a Demon King’s Authority and acting as if he was doing a favor—this was absurd, even to himself.
– Ughhh…
Wrath groaned like a starving puppy.
– Wh-Why is this happening! This is driving me crazy!
Wrath screamed, still unable to comprehend the situation.
– Why do all these Demon Kings turn into pushovers the moment they meet this guy?!
He flailed his arms, looking as if he would explode from frustration.
‘You’re the biggest pushover of them all.’
Raon smirked and gestured toward Wrath.
– Y-Youuu!
Wrath could no longer refute and only chewed his lips.
‘But why are you getting mad?’
Raon tilted his head as he watched Wrath, who was turning into a strawberry-flavored cotton candy.
‘I did exactly what you wanted—I freed you from Lust.’
– W-What I wanted? When did I ever ask for this?!
Wrath’s eyes widened in disbelief.
– You pretended to be me and made that promise! And now you ask why I’m mad?! Have you completely lost your mind, you sword-wielding sociopath?!
His jaw quivered as he ranted.
– Ugh! You deal with it! Whether it’s Lust or another Demon King, it’s all on you now!
Wrath shook his head, declaring that he would never take responsibility.
‘I know.’
Raon nodded matter-of-factly.
– Huh?!
Wrath’s eyes went round in surprise.
‘I do feel a bit guilty. But keeping you here was more important.’
– W-Was I that precious to you?
‘Of course. Love and hate grow over time, and it’s been over ten years now.’
Raon looked at Wrath with a warm smile.
– T-This king also has some affection for yo—Hah!
Wrath smacked his own cheek mid-sentence.
– That was close! If I had let my guard down even a little, I would’ve fallen for that snake tongue of yours!
He rubbed his reddened cheek and took deep breaths, scolding himself.
– It’s not me you need—it’s my power!
Wrath narrowed his eyes, claiming he knew the truth.
‘That would be a lie, but more than that… I think I’d get really bored without you.’
Raon gave a slight shake of his head.
He had gained a lot from Wrath and would gain even more in the future. But more than any benefits, losing this cotton candy demon would feel like a real loss.
– T-This king does not trust your forked tongue! How can I trust a man who bends dimensions with his words?!
Wrath plugged his ears and shook his head, vowing never to be deceived.
‘Do as you please.’
Raon shrugged and turned his gaze back to Lust.
“Then, I’ll begin.”
Lust clasped her hands together and looked at him.
“Begin?”
“I can’t transfer my Authority in this state.”
She shook her head, explaining that she needed to reveal some of her power.
“Go ahead.”
Raon nodded and clasped his hands behind his back.
‘I must not be enchanted.’
If Lust revealed her true form and used the Authority of Lust, even his vast soul might fall prey to temptation.
To avoid being ensnared, he rotated the [Ring of Fire] at its peak intensity.
Fwoooosh!
As Lust lowered the hands she had clasped in front of her chest, her sea-blue hair began to turn a soft pink.
Her height increased, matching his own, and the loose robe that once hid her figure revealed her voluptuous curves.
Finally, the blue eyes that once resembled Wrath flickered into a soft crimson, and a delicate pink aura spread outward.
‘This is….’
Raon swallowed dryly as he gazed into Lust’s light crimson eyes.
‘The true Monarch of Lust, Lust.’
The moment their eyes met, it felt as if his soul was being drawn in.
His mind became hazy, and an overwhelming desire to embrace her surged through his chest.
‘Incredible.’
Runaan, Martha, Merlin, Denning Rose, and Siyan were all breathtaking beauties in their own right, but Lust’s allure was unparalleled.
No—it felt as if she was manipulating his perception.
It was as though she was reflecting his deepest desires back at him like a mirror.
‘Her appearance is mesmerizing, but….’
Her scent is even stranger.
A complex aroma radiated from Lust.
Not just the sweet fragrance of fresh fruit, the soothing scent of wood, or the sharpness of exotic spices, but even the warmth of summer and the chill of winter intertwined.
Strangely, rather than clashing, all these scents blended perfectly, erasing rational thought and stirring only raw, primal instincts.
Crack.
Just before he was completely lost in her scent, Raon bit the inside of his lip to snap himself back to reality.
Had he not been operating the [Ring of Fire] at its peak, he would have lost himself in an instant, stepped toward Lust, and embraced her.
– Stay focused!
Wrath shook his head.
– If you give in to temptation now, you could actually die!
His expression darkened, warning that the danger was far from over.
‘Sorry.’
Raon steadied his breath and lowered his gaze.
‘You’re right. This isn’t the time to let my guard down.’
Lust had taken the bait, but the danger had not yet passed.
Raon had to maintain a flawless act until the end. Any hint of hesitation could reignite suspicion.
“…….”
He nodded calmly, as if Lust’s transformation was nothing unusual, and extended his wrist once more.
“I dislike my own power, but I hope it holds some meaning for you.”
Lust smiled softly, her long, slender fingers reaching out.
As she traced a circle with her pale fingers, a pink flower, shaped like a blooming rose, sprouted and wrapped around his wrist.
‘It’s beautiful.’
Wrath’s ice flower, Sloth’s dark bloom—other Demon Kings had gifted him floral bracelets as well, but Lust’s was by far the most visually stunning.
[The Authority of <Lust> seeps into your soul and body.]
[The ability will activate after the adaptation period.]
Raon’s eyes narrowed as he read the message.
‘This wording is different.’
When he received Envy’s power, the system had specified that it was only a portion. However, this time, it simply stated “Authority” without any qualifiers.
It seemed that unlike the Demon Kings who had given him power under duress, Lust had willingly handed over a substantial portion of her Authority.
“You seem to like it.”
Lust smiled deeply as she watched Raon examine the bracelet.
“You remember this flower, don’t you? It was the first flower I came to like—because of you.”
He nodded, as if it was obvious.
“…….”
Raon kept his expression calm, steadying his rapidly beating heart.
‘What?’
What kind of flower was this?
Thanks to Sylvia, he was familiar with many flowers, but he had never seen this one before. It must have been something that only existed in the Demon Realm.
‘Wrath!’
– Hmph….
Wrath lowered his gaze with a sharp glare, refusing to answer.
– Why would this king tell you anything?
‘Huh?’
Raon blinked in confusion at Wrath.
‘If I mess up here, we all go down together! You know that!’
It was baffling—Wrath had been warning him about danger just moments ago, and now he was acting like this.
– I know. It’s dangerous. Extremely dangerous. But….
Wrath lifted his chin, flames flickering in his eyes.
– I’m too pissed off! The more I think about it, the angrier I get! I can’t take it anymore!
‘What…?’
– Your tongue, always twisting everything to your advantage, infuriates me so much that I’d rather die with you!
Wrath turned his head away dramatically, his pupils swirling in fury.
‘He’s lost it.’
Raon’s fingers trembled slightly. Of all times for Wrath to throw a tantrum…
“Did you forget? Or….”
Lust’s eyelids quivered. Whether it was doubt or disappointment, the Authority of Lust suddenly felt as though it was wrapping around his throat, suffocating him.
‘Stay calm.’
There was always a way out.
Recalling what Lust and Wrath had said before, Raon naturally shifted his gaze to the pink floral bracelet.
“Forget?”
He chuckled lightly and shook his head.
“Do you really think so?”
“Th-Then….”
Lust’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.
“From the day you broke through the Ice Castle until now, I have forgotten nothing.”
Raon lifted his head slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips.
“This king does not forget anything about you.”
“Ah….”
The moment she heard the word “you,” Lust trembled, her lips parting in awe.
“It was the flower we shared when I gave you my advice, was it not?”
Raon confidently ran his fingers over the floral bracelet she had created.
‘This has to be it.’
Wrath had mentioned giving Lust advice, and she had said that his words had brought her great comfort.
She also mentioned that she had come to like flowers because of him, so this must have been the moment.
“Hmm….”
Lust’s gaze grew hazy. It meant his guess was correct. Now, it was time to finish things.
“This king loves flowers. I believe all flowers suit me best, but this one… it looks far better on you.”
Raon smiled as he drove a blade sharper than any sword into Lust’s heart.
“Th-Thank you….”
Lust touched her cheek, her expression melting into something beyond satisfaction—as if she was about to ascend to another plane of existence.
Her face flushed a deep red, like a ripe apple.
– W-What the…?
Wrath blinked in dumbfounded shock.
– How… How did you know about breaking down the walls and offering the flower?! Were you there?!
His jaw quivered as he stared at Raon in disbelief.
‘Thanks to you.’
– Huh…?
‘You mentioned that Lust broke through the castle walls yourself.’
Raon casually lowered his hand.
‘I just made an educated guess. If it was your castle, there must have been gardens. Lots of flowers.’
Wrath loved flowers as much as Sylvia did. That must have been the beginning of their connection.
– Hey. Hey. Hey!
Wrath suddenly shouted like an angry thug from a back alley.
– Why do you even bother training with the sword?!
‘…Huh?’
Raon blinked.
‘What are you talking about?’
– With that cursed tongue of yours, you could devour not just this world, but the Heavens and the Demon Realm too! Why are you wasting time swinging a sword?!
Wrath howled, demanding that Raon abandon the sword and conquer the world with his words.
‘As if that would work.’
– It would! No doubt about it!
Wrath shook his head furiously.
– Your talent in martial arts is at Dorian’s level, but your ability to manipulate people with words is on par with your grandpa!
He compared Raon’s gap in skill between swordsmanship and speech to the difference between Dorian and Glenn.
– I wanted to drag you into the Demon Realm, but I take it back!
Wrath trembled violently.
– You wouldn’t just enter the Demon Realm—you’d devour it whole! Get lost and go conquer the Heavens instead!
He declared that he would officially ban Raon from ever stepping foot in the Demon Realm.
“I think I can trust Wrath now.”
Lust’s gaze was unusually bright, an expression unfitting for the Monarch of Lust, as she said she would trust in the promise and wait.
“This king shall take this flower that I planted for you that day.”
Raon nodded calmly as he gestured toward the ancestor’s flower.
“I will wait for you.”
Lust clasped her hands together, her voice filled with unwavering patience.
“But those humans over there… are they your subordinates as well?”
She furrowed her brows as she glanced past Raon, toward the figures watching them from between the trees—Rektor and the others who had been hesitating to approach.
“They are.”
“Hmm….”
Lust narrowed her eyes, not just at Runaan and Martha, but at everyone in the group.
‘…As expected of Lust.’
At first, he thought she was only wary of Runaan and Martha because of their beauty. But no—her scrutiny was indiscriminate, unconcerned with gender or age. Truly, it was behavior befitting the Monarch of Lust.
“Wrath.”
Lust beamed with a pure, childlike smile.
“I’ll be waiting. And…”
She gazed at Raon, her cheeks slightly flushed.
“I don’t mind what form you take, but… I like this face the best.”
With those final words, Lust dissolved into a pink mist and vanished.
– Gasp…
‘Uh…’
Raon swallowed dryly as he turned to Wrath, who had just sucked in a sharp breath.
‘Are you alrigh—’
– Hey. Bring me a sword.
‘Huh? A s-sword? What for?’
– I’m done. I’ll just die here. I lost my power, I’m stuck with responsibilities, and I’m ugly on top of that. What’s the point of living?!
Wrath wailed, declaring that if Raon didn’t bring him a sword, he’d just bite off his own tongue and end it all.
– Just die! Let everything die! The Demon Realm, the Heavens—let it all burn!
—
While Raon was busy talking Wrath out of self-destruction, Rektor, Burren, Runaan, Martha, and Dorian stepped forward.
Jarek and Lawrence had also come, as if worried about him.
‘They all came here for me.’
They had been with Darkhan down below, yet seeing Lust approach Raon, they had rushed here out of concern for him.
Feeling their sincerity, Raon was genuinely grateful.
– Then express it!
Wrath ground his teeth.
– Don’t just use that silver tongue of yours to trick people—use it to actually talk to them once in a while!
He flailed his arms, opening his mouth wide in frustration.
‘He’s right.’
Realizing that he should make an effort to communicate outside of dangerous situations, Raon turned to face them.
“Thank you.”
He bowed his head, his words carrying genuine gratitude.
“What are you thanking us for?”
Rektor shook his head calmly.
“You handled everything yourself.”
He sighed, as if feeling both sorry and grateful at the same time.
“I still have no idea what just happened.”
“Who was that woman? She didn’t seem human…”
Jarek and Lawrence frowned, still trying to make sense of the situation.
“Are you alright?”
Burren looked him up and down with concern.
“You seem oddly satisfied, though?”
Dorian’s eyes widened as he pointed out that Raon looked like someone who lacked for nothing.
“Hmm….”
Runaan furrowed her brows as she examined the new bracelet on his wrist.
“You have five now, don’t you? Since when did you start liking accessories?”
Martha tilted her head, baffled.
“I’m fine.”
Raon shook his head, assuring them that he was unharmed.
They weren’t pressing him for answers—simply waiting for the day he would choose to explain. He was thankful for that.
“And the bracelets… I didn’t exactly ask for them….”
He turned his gaze toward Wrath.
– Why are you looking at me?!
‘Because you started this. You called it your taste, and now every other Demon King has copied you!’
Though their colors and shapes differed, he now had five floral bracelets. He looked ridiculous, even to himself.
– If you had just kept your mouth shut, this wouldn’t have happened!
Wrath yelled, shaking his head furiously.
“Raon. Is it over now?”
Rektor narrowed his eyes slightly, still on edge.
“No.”
Raon lowered his gaze to the ground, clicking his tongue as he looked at Darkhan, who was sprawled out in the dirt.
“There’s still one thing left.”
—
After Raon and the others returned to the Holy Sword Alliance’s village, Lust reappeared before the flower that Zieghart’s ancestor had planted.
With dreamy, unfocused eyes, she gazed at the crimson petals.
The flower, which breathed life into the land, seemed to fill her with warmth and vitality as well.
“Wrath….”
Lust bit her lip and reached toward the flower—
Thump!
A tiny thud echoed through the air as a squirrel suddenly leaped in front of the flower, clutching an acorn.
“What are you?”
Lust’s soft pink eyes met the squirrel’s violet gaze, and an electric tension crackled between them.
(T/N: Uh-Oh! Stalker vs Stalker. )
