Chapter 819

Fwoooosh!

Raon swallowed dryly as he looked at the golden flames swirling around him.

‘Is it not going to take me into the memory of the First Head?’

Normally, encountering golden flames meant being transported to a thousand years ago, to the era of the First Head. But now, they were merely blocking his path.

It didn’t seem like the flames led to the past like they had during the Holy Sword Alliance training.

‘It’s not hot.’

He placed his hand over the wavering flame before him, but didn’t feel even a hint of heat. It was only as warm as an autumn afternoon sun.

‘It doesn’t seem like it’s trying to stop me.’

There was no sense of hostility or vigilance in the flame. Instead, it felt oddly familiar.

‘Then why is it blocking my way?’

As he narrowed his eyes in suspicion, the golden flames began to ripple gently like the morning mist, then slowly began to sink.

‘It’s fading away now.’

He thought it was a strange occurrence and was about to move forward again—

Boom!

The golden flame burst upward like a drop of water hitting the ground, scattering in all directions.

Whoooosh!

The scattered flames took on humanoid shapes and began acting as though they were handling documents or reading books—just like the officials working in this place.

‘What is this…?’

Raon let out a breathless gasp. Seeing the memories of the First Head was already surreal, but these flames moving like people made it feel like he was dreaming.

-What are you doing, you fool?

Wrath furrowed one brow, asking why he was zoning out.

-Stop wasting time and finish this already!

He waved his hand dismissively, saying they should grab a meal instead.

“Light Wind Division Leader, is something the matter?”

Chad tilted his head, seemingly unaware of anything unusual.

It appeared neither of them could see the flame figures.

‘Am I the only one who can see them?’

Raon’s fingers trembled as he watched a flame figure pass right through Chad.

‘Now that I think about it…’

Though the flame beings acted like they were working, they never actually touched the books or shelves.

Like ghosts, they had no physical interaction with their surroundings and seemed visible only to him.

“Shadow Agents Leader Chad, is this place normally like this?”

Raon shook his head lightly while watching the flame figure emerge from Chad’s shoulder.

“Hm, now that you mention it, it does feel warmer than usual today.”

Chad rolled up his sleeves with a slight frown.

“This archive is usually kept cool to preserve important books and documents, but the temperature does seem a bit higher today.”

He said he should check the temperature control device and walked over to the right wall.

“……”

Raon didn’t look at Chad but instead narrowed his eyes at the flame beings walking back and forth beside him.

‘What are they doing?’

The flame people wandered all around the archive, recording and reading things, just like real employees.

“It’s strange. The device seems fine.”

Chad smacked his lips, saying they might need to call a mage later.

“For now, let me continue the tour. Please follow me this way.”

“…Alright.”

Raon nodded and followed behind Chad.

The flame beings ignored Chad and even himself, focusing only on their own tasks.

-What’s going on with you?

Wrath tilted his head after scrutinizing Raon’s expression. They had been together long enough that he could tell just by his face.

‘The flame people have emerged and are organizing the archive.’

-You’re really outdoing yourself with this nonsense.

Wrath waved his hand again, saying he could leave if he was just going to keep talking rubbish.

‘…That’s how it would sound.’

Raon gave a faint smile as he followed Chad deeper into the archive.

Since their purpose was unknown and they didn’t affect him or anyone else, he decided to ignore them for now.

“From here onward are records of events from 700 years ago.”

Chad pulled out an old book. Despite being from 700 years ago, it had been well-preserved and didn’t look too worn.

“If you read this part, it says, ‘The First Head closed the skies of hell and opened the world of man.’”

He turned the book around to show him.

“I see.”

Raon nodded as he read the passage written in grand cursive, detailing the legend of the First Head.

“Of course, you’ll find this kind of content in many families and kingdoms.”

Chad smiled, saying such legends were piled high in esteemed kingdoms and noble households.

“But what’s a bit peculiar…”

He pulled out an even older book, eyes gleaming with scholarly curiosity.

“…is that every single one mentions the closing of the sky.”

In the book Chad showed him, there was a line saying their ancestor had closed the pitch-black sky.

“The sky?”

“Yes. Isn’t that odd? Normally, you’d expect tales like slaying a monstrous beast, defeating a Demon King, or subduing a famous Dragon. But our records frequently talk about closing different types of skies.”

He clicked his tongue, calling it strange.

“Ah, of course, I mean it’s unusual, not ridiculous.”

Chad waved his hands, worried he might’ve offended him.

“No, I think the same.”

Raon nodded calmly.

‘His journey truly was unusual.’

From the Zieghart training cave, the underwater dungeon, the World Tree, the Sword Demon’s tomb, to the land of the Holy Sword Alliance’s predecessor—he had sowed seeds across a vast and deep field.

Only an enemy like hell or the sky would make that kind of cost worthwhile.

“Ohh! You’re the first person to agree with me!”

Chad beamed and stepped forward with enthusiasm.

“For now, I’ll pull out the books I still remember. Of course, I haven’t read every document here, so I won’t be able to find them all.”

Within minutes, Chad pulled out dozens of books and laid them before him.

To think he could remember the contents of all these volumes—he truly was no ordinary man.

“Unfortunately, I’ll have to excuse myself now. I have a morning meeting.”

Chad carefully bowed after stacking the mountain of books in front of Raon.

“Thank you for making time for me despite the early hour.”

Raon placed down the book he had been reading and bowed deeply.

“Not at all! If it weren’t for the meeting, I would’ve spent the whole day helping you search. That’s what I regret the most.”

Chad clicked his tongue with genuine disappointment.

“It’s alright. I’ll look through them myself from here.”

Raon gave a faint smile and bowed his head.

“Understood. If you need anything, feel free to call on me anytime.”

Chad gave a respectful nod and headed for the exit, glancing back several times as if he truly regretted having to leave.

“……”

Raon narrowed his eyes as he watched Chad’s back.

‘Is he still following Karoon?’

Chad was someone who had helped and acknowledged him even when everyone else dismissed him.

Raon had once thought Chad might’ve been sent by Karoon or another direct bloodline member like Judiel, so he had hesitated to fully trust him. But lately, his feelings were beginning to change.

‘For now, I should focus on my own task.’

Whoever Chad followed, one thing was clear—his love for Zieghart was genuine.

There was no need to concern himself with the Shadow Agents Division if he wasn’t competing for Head of House. So Raon settled into position and opened a book.

-Why waste time on a man from a thousand years ago? Shouldn’t you be paying attention to a supreme being who has lived for millennia?

Wrath wiggled his pudgy hand, telling him not to waste his efforts.

‘A supreme being who’s lived for millennia…’

Raon raised an eyebrow and looked at Wrath.

‘You mean you?’

-Of course! There is no one in this world nobler or more knowledgeable than this monarch!

Wrath elegantly raised a hand, oblivious to the fact that he resembled a ball of cotton candy.

‘…Then have you heard of Anima?’

-Is that a new kind of ice cream? Sounds delicious!

The guy smacked his lips. He had apparently forgotten what they’d heard together from the Sword Demon.

‘I figured.’

Raon let out a sigh and returned his gaze to the book.

-Nngh! W-Well then, hurry up and finish already. This monarch still has much to eat…

‘Quiet before I eat Nadine Bread.’

-Gulp!

Wrath clamped his mouth shut without another word.

‘Guess he really hates Nadine Bread.’

-Of course! I hate that stuff as much as I hate those crazy stalkers!

He shook his head furiously.

‘But she seems to love you. Should I help set you up—’

-Shut it!

* * *

“Damn it!”

A swallow perched on a tree branch frowned as it looked down at the Shadow Agents Division building.

“Where did he go?”

Raon had followed that shady-looking guy, and then his presence suddenly vanished.

Even though she’d been watching through the window, she couldn’t figure out where he had gone, which made her feel anxious.

“There’s no way I can get inside like this…”

The building, befitting Zieghart’s intelligence unit, was heavily guarded—tight enough to keep out even a rat.

Even for someone like her, who could possess the bodies of various animals, it was a fortress.

“Hmph.”

A scoffing sound echoed in the air. When she looked up, a faint pink mist shimmered like melted azaleas.

It was that stalker again. After fighting all day on the cliffside and ending in a draw, they had reached a small agreement and entered Zieghart at the same time.

“That’s the best you can do?”

Lust looked down on Merlin with a snort.

“Well, I suppose that’s the limit of human-level stalking. Still, I’ll give you credit for trying.”

She let out a small, mocking laugh as though the match was already decided.

“Grrrr…”

Merlin trembled, her wings quivering as she glared up at Lust, whose spiritual body melted into the atmosphere.

“The one best suited to follow him… is me.”

Believing herself to be the victor of their stalking contest, Lust calmly floated toward the Shadow Agents Division building.

Her movements were as slow as a caterpillar, but aside from the sluggishness, she likely wouldn’t be noticed by anyone.

“Ugh…”

Merlin bit down on her beak until it bled. She considered risking her spiritual body to bring her true form, then spotted a small spider clinging to the window frame.

“That’s it!”

She flew over and stood before the spider.

“!”

The spider, caught in the gaze of a predator, froze in place and trembled in fear.

“It’s okay. It’s okay.”

Merlin spoke to it through a spiritual connection. The success rate was very low with insects, but that didn’t matter now. She had to succeed through sheer willpower.

Vmmmmm…

Thankfully, the spider accepted her request. Of course, Raon would have to pay the price later, but for now, all that mattered was winning.

“Ha!”

Merlin sent the swallow away and sank into the spider’s body, raising her head sharply.

“How long are you going to crawl like that? At this rate, you’ll die of old age before you even get in!”

She waved mockingly at Lust, who was still slowly floating along.

“That damn…”

Lust forced herself forward and leapt onto the window frame, blocking the spot Merlin was about to slip into.

“Move!”

“You’re not getting in!”

And thus, the 241st duel between spider-Merlin and cloud-Lust began.

—

“Haa…”

Raon let out a short sigh as he set down a history book from 900 years ago.

‘Nothing here either.’

Every book Chad had prepared contained records about the First Head of Zieghart.

But none of them described what he had actually done or who he had fought.

All that remained were unbelievable achievements—like closing the sky or destroying hell—and the claim that he later founded Zieghart.

‘There has to be something more…’

What he wanted to see wasn’t just these legends. He was looking for the battles the First Head fought against Anima and the preparations he made.

He needed to look further back in time.

‘Next book…’

He reached to the right, but nothing met his hand. At some point, he had apparently finished reading everything Chad had stacked.

‘Wait, already?’

-Already? Aaaaalreeeaaaady?

Wrath scrunched his brows and shoved his round face closer.

-It’s only dark because we’re underground, but it’s already nighttime outside! What the hell are you doing skipping meals like this?!

Grabbing his own collar, he shook himself furiously, lamenting the fact that he had to starve even at home.

“Hmm…”

Raon glanced up at the ceiling and smacked his lips.

‘It really does feel like evening now.’

Now that he felt the pangs of hunger, it was clear a lot of time had passed—just as Wrath said.

‘Then maybe some Nadine Bread…’

-Grrrrrr!

As Raon reached for his subspace pouch to pull out a Nadine Bread, Wrath clenched his teeth like a furious beast.

-If you pull that bread out, we both die, you and me!

His tiny fist trembled with rage. He looked like a fluffy puppy, which was adorable, but considering how patiently he’d waited all this time, Raon couldn’t bring himself to bring out the bread.

‘Alright. Let’s go back for today.’

-You should’ve done that ages ago!

‘I just need to clean up first.’

Raon began returning the books he had read to the shelves.

The flame beings were still roaming throughout the archive, but by now, he’d seen them so often that they no longer felt strange.

As he returned the final book and turned around, he noticed something odd about a few of the flame beings.

‘What are they doing?’

Unlike the other flame figures who moved as if reading, retrieving, or organizing books—though not truly interacting with them—two flame beings stood completely still at the far wall.

‘That posture…’

Were they guards?

Their motionless stance, eyes fixed ahead, made it look like they were protecting something.

“Hm.”

Raon swallowed dryly and approached the wall where the two flame figures stood.

-What are you trying to do now!

‘Just a second.’

He shut Wrath’s mouth before he could throw a tantrum and stood in front of the wall. The flame beings didn’t react to him, as though unaware of his presence.

Tap.

Raon exhaled softly and placed his hand on the wall. As expected, nothing happened.

‘So it’s not that?’

He let out a dry chuckle and began to pull his hand away—but then, from the two flame beings, he felt that same gentle warmth he’d experienced when he first entered this place.

‘Could it be…’

Pressing his lips together, Raon activated both the [Ring of Fire] and [Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation] at the same time.

Fwoooosh!

In that instant, not only the two flame figures beside him but every flame being in the room gathered toward his fingertips—and a door of fire opened in the wall before him.