Chapter 821

“Lady Aris?”

Raon took a deep breath.

‘Could something have happened to her?’

The continent was still unstable. Though not as chaotic as before, large and small wars were still erupting, and the anxiety that something bad might have happened to Aris slowly crept in.

‘That bastard Derus is capable of anything.’

The entire Five Demons were dangerous, except for the Holy Sword Alliance, but it was Derus Robert’s silence that bothered him most.

Now that he could no longer predict that man’s actions, a chill ran down his spine.

“Shouldn’t we try to find Lady Aris right away…?”

Raon swallowed dryly and looked up at Glenn.

“There’s no need to worry that much.”

Glenn shook his head calmly.

“That girl not replying isn’t anything new.”

He lowered his hand, as if it were a familiar occurrence.

“If anything, you should be suspicious when she replies immediately. Unless it concerns you, she doesn’t even bother to respond.”

Glenn clicked his tongue, reminding Raon of Aris’s personality.

“But even so, Lady Aris should understand the gravity of the situation…”

“What I ask her was only about the soul stone. Writing down the other matters would’ve been too heavy.”

He gestured with his fingers, saying he only included a request for her return and information about the soul stone.

“I see…”

“And it’s not like we got no reply at all.”

Glenn’s eyebrows lowered slightly as he bit his lip.

“Aris and those… pirate punks.”

He faltered slightly, seemingly embarrassed that the leader of those pirates was his own daughter.

“Aris left only a few people on the ship and moved to the Zebin Port. That’s why we haven’t received a proper reply yet.”

Glenn shook his head, saying that only new recruits were left on the pirate ship Azure Wind, so the reply wasn’t what they’d hoped for.

“Besides, she’s grown since meeting you.”

Unlike when speaking of Aris, Glenn looked at Raon with soft eyes.

“She won’t fall to some nobodies, so don’t worry.”

He assured Raon that if something had happened to Aris, the entire continent would’ve already been in chaos, so he need not worry.

“That’s true.”

Raon nodded calmly.

‘If Lady Aris had been captured or killed, rumors would’ve spread by now.’

Though Aris was the Pirate King among the Five Divine Order, she still belonged to Zieghart.

If someone had killed or captured her, it would’ve been used not only to pressure Zieghart but the entire Five Divine Order, and the news would’ve spread through many channels already.

“Right now, you should be thinking about Sia, not that lunatic.”

Glenn let out a long sigh. He was the first person Raon had seen call his daughter a lunatic, yet it didn’t sound strange.

“She wouldn’t even recognize it if she saw it anyway.”

“…Yes.”

There was nothing to refute. Aris was the kind of person who’d look at a soul stone and just say, “That’s interesting.”

‘It wasn’t in the Holy Sword Alliance either, so where is it?’

There were two reasons he had gone to the Holy Sword Alliance.

The first was, of course, training. The second was to search for the soul stone.

He had sparred with every swordsman there and asked about the soul stone, but every answer he got was the same: they didn’t know.

“We contacted the entire Five Divine Order, the Black Market, the vassal families, and even neutral factions friendly to us. But no one’s seen it. Aside from Chamber and the Tower Master, no one even knows of its existence.”

Glenn furrowed his brow deeply, clearly frustrated even as he spoke.

“Federick says there’s still time, but just waiting like this makes me anxious.”

Unusually, he shared his inner feelings and pressed his forehead. He looked like someone bearing a heavy burden.

“I haven’t done anything for you, and to that child… I’m just a useless old man. Not being able to do anything…”

Glenn bit his lip deeply. He looked worn out by the powerlessness of being unable to awaken Sia.

-….

Wrath remained quiet. Raon expected him to lash out, calling Glenn weak and pathetic, but surprisingly, the demon king furrowed his nose with what seemed like empathy.

“What do you mean you haven’t done anything? You showed me the sword of Zieghart and instilled me with conviction. Those two things are the biggest pillars of who I am now.”

Raon shook his head firmly.

“And please don’t worry too much about my sister. She’ll definitely wake up.”

He placed his right hand over his heart and raised his gaze.

“I’ll search every corner of the continent to find it.”

He clenched his fist, vowing to find it not only through the connections he had built but also by borrowing the Demon King’s power if he had to.

“Ah…”

Glenn blinked in surprise at Raon’s declaration, then slowly nodded.

“Alright. I believe in you.”

He gave a soft smile, as if sensing the growth of his grandson, whom he still thought of as young.

“Then, I’ll take my leave.”

Raon bowed deeply and left the audience chamber.

“Heh heh heh.”

Roenn stepped beside the platform, letting out a quiet laugh.

“The young master has grown.”

He looked fondly at the spot where Raon had stood.

“Indeed. I never thought he’d be the one to comfort me.”

Glenn leaned back deeply into the throne and nodded.

“He’s no longer a child.”

After Raon left for the Holy Sword Alliance, he had unconsciously shaken his leg—not just because he missed Raon.

He had no way to save Sia anywhere, and the time given to that child was slowly running out, so the tremble was more from anxiety.

Just now, too, he nearly trembled without realizing it, but upon seeing Raon’s reliable eyes, the urgency in his heart gently settled.

It truly felt like everything would be resolved, just as Raon had said.

“As expected, that child’s real talent isn’t his strength—it’s that unwavering mental fortitude.”

No matter how dire the situation, Raon never despaired—he always found a path forward.

He had faced many hardships since childhood, so the way to endure and overcome had become etched into his body and soul.

“Still, we can’t leave everything to Raon. Send word to everyone again.”

Glenn lifted his chin, saying he should do what he could.

“Yes!”

Roenn bowed deeply, seemingly heartened by Glenn regaining his energy.

“I’ll contact Aris myself. I’ll make sure to send something that lunatic can’t ignore.”

Glenn picked up a pen, saying it was time to leash that lunatic.

* * *

After leaving the audience hall, Raon headed for Federick’s mansion.

‘Sorry, but you’ll have to wait a little longer for dinner.’

Raon clasped his hands together toward Wrath, who was clutching his belly.

– F-Fool! This king is no glutton!

Wrath shook his head, seemingly understanding Raon’s situation and not rushing him.

– I can wait as long as needed, so don’t worry!

He snorted, telling Raon not to look down on the Demon King.

‘…Thanks.’

Raon gently patted Wrath’s head and entered Federick’s mansion.

“You came every day during training, and even now that it’s over.”

Federick nodded as if pleased to see him.

“Do you like me that much?”

“Yes. If I don’t see you for a day, I feel like thorns grow in my mouth.”

“Haha, you’ve gotten cheeky.”

He chuckled in amusement and gestured for him to come in with a nod.

“Go ahead. Your mother and father are here too.”

Federick told him not to make too much noise and entered the clinic.

“Thank you.”

Raon bowed his head to Federick’s back and entered Sia’s room.

Sia was still lying in bed, breathing faintly, while Sylvia and Edgar had their hands clasped like in prayer, watching over her.

“Raon?”

Sylvia turned around, sensing his presence, and rose to her feet.

“I heard you were in training. Are you back?”

She held his hand and asked if he had eaten.

“Yes. I’ve been eating well.”

Raon gave a faint smile and nodded.

– Eating well, my foot!

Wrath puffed out his belly like a well-baked loaf of bread.

– You haven’t eaten anything today but water!

He ground his teeth, saying lying about food was intolerable.

“Your face is so gaunt.”

Sylvia held his cheek with a short sigh.

It pained him that she, who had been so worried about Sia, was now worried about him.

Just like Glenn, Sylvia seemed to live her life carrying worry—as a parent.

“I really did eat. Did you two eat?”

“Of course we did. We had a full feast earlier today. Without you here, we didn’t have to eat any weird food. That pineapple pizza or whatever? I just don’t get it. I kept eating it because you liked it, but I couldn’t stop thinking, ‘Why are we eating this?’ The taste is just… unrefined.”

Edgar shook his head, saying he didn’t understand it.

He was always talkative, but it seemed he was talking even faster now to lighten the heavy atmosphere.

– This fool knows nothing! The sweet-salty combo of pineapple pizza is unrivaled!

Wrath, simple as ever, exploded in fury at Edgar’s comment.

“You clearly have no taste.”

Raon borrowed Wrath’s anger to retort to Edgar.

“How’s Sia?”

“She’s okay.”

Sylvia nodded while stroking Sia’s hair.

“She’s no different than if she were just sleeping. That makes it even sadder somehow.”

She bit her lip as if grieving over how Sia had lost both her teenage years and her twenties.

“Then we just have to make her even happier than that when she wakes up.”

Raon looked at the sniffling Sylvia and the silent Edgar before holding Sia’s hand. He nodded, transferring the warmth of his mana circuit to her.

‘I’ll definitely wake you up.’

Sia had been kidnapped as a child and spent her entire life as Eden’s pawn, and now she was in a state with no guarantee of waking.

It was a bleaker fate than his own past life, where he couldn’t do anything by his own will—and that’s exactly why he wanted to save her no matter what.

“I’ll be going now.”

Raon gave Sia’s hand a firm squeeze and stepped outside the mansion.

– Where are we going?

‘The annex. Gotta eat and train right away.’

The stronger he became, the more he could do. He wanted to reach Transcendence as soon as possible and open the path to save Sia.

– Hmph, just for today…

Wrath smacked his lips as he perched on Raon’s shoulder.

– I’ll allow you to eat Nadine bread just for today.

‘Huh?’

Raon widened his eyes at Wrath.

‘Really?’

– Hurry and eat before this king changes his mind!

Wrath shook his head, saying he’d make an exception just this once.

‘Wrath…’

Raon smiled gently at Wrath, whose nose was scrunched up. The demon’s consideration warmed his heart.

‘Alright. When my sister wakes up, I’ll throw a festival.’

– Of course! It must be a big one! This king is magnanimous, after all!

‘How big exactly?’

– First, we need ten tubs of bead ice cream! And three pizzas with pineapple!

‘…That’s your idea of big?’

– Uh… then eleven tubs and f-four pizzas?

‘Your “magnanimity” is kinda small…’

Chatting idly with Wrath, Raon returned to the Fifth Training Ground.

* * *

“I’ve achieved enlightenment!”

Krein spread his arms wide and looked up at the sky.

“What kind of enlightenment?”

Dorian tilted his head as he looked at Krein.

“Danger Sense!”

Krein answered immediately, as if he’d been waiting for the question.

“I can’t read people’s thoughts like your Mind’s Eye, but when it comes to dodging—I’m number one!”

“You already gained that?”

Dorian exhaled in disbelief.

“Remember during the concentration training, when the division leader suddenly used Sword Control at me? That thing had killing intent. I fought back out of pure desperation, and after that—it felt like my soul shed its shell.”

Krein grinned, saying the sense he gained when his life was on the line had definitely awakened.

“Let’s see…”

Dorian licked his lips, then drew his sword and thrust it at Krein’s chest. Even though Krein had been on guard, the strike wasn’t easy to block.

“Uwah!”

Krein’s eyes widened in shock, but he bent his waist backward like a branch riding the wind and narrowly avoided Dorian’s thrust.

“W-What, were you trying to kill me?!”

He grabbed Dorian by the collar, grinding his teeth.

“Oh, it’s real.”

Even as Krein held him, Dorian clapped, impressed.

“I didn’t expect you to actually dodge it.”

“So you really were trying to kill me! Are you becoming like Raon Zieghart now?!”

Krein pressed his forehead against Dorian’s, gritting his teeth.

“That’s not something you say to a person!”

Dorian frowned, demanding an apology.

“Ah, sorry. That was harsh.”

Krein also put his hands together in apology.

“But I’ve been thinking.”

He dusted off his hands and lowered his voice.

“We have something our division leader doesn’t.”

“Something he doesn’t?”

Dorian tilted his head in confusion.

“Our division leader is already at the peak of Grandmaster. Going beyond that could take years—maybe even a decade.”

Krein shook his head as he looked at Raon, who sat on the platform with his eyes closed.

“In the meantime, we can keep rising. Of course, catching up to him is impossible, but the feeling of growing stronger—it’s worth it.”

He shook his head, saying they should take comfort in feeling like they were growing faster than Raon.

“Hmm, I guess that makes sense?”

“Of course it does! Even in this concentration training, the division leader hasn’t changed, but we all got stronger! You felt it too—my danger sense!”

Krein was smiling proudly at Dorian when—

Fwoooosh!

The Heavenly Drive lying next to Raon suddenly drew itself and floated into the air.

KWAHHHH!

A faint golden flame erupted from the blade, rising skyward like a dragon ascending to the heavens.

“Are we really growing faster than him?”

Dorian rolled his eyes.

“It was all just a pipe dream…”

Krein lowered his head, speechless for a long moment.

* * *

Thud.

Raon caught the Heavenly Drive as it returned to his hand like it had sliced the sky, wearing a satisfied smile.

‘Incredible.’

By channeling the mana circuit’s firepower through the Ring of Fire, the power of his swordsmanship had clearly grown stronger. He hadn’t expected such a profound technique to be hidden within.

‘And on top of that…’

His mastery of the Sword Control had increased as well.

It seemed the Ring of Fire not only empowered his mana circuit but also enhanced his swordsmanship.

Though his aura hadn’t significantly increased, nor had his martial realm advanced, he could tell—without a doubt—that he was now much stronger.

‘What’s even more surprising…’

This wasn’t the end.

It had barely been three days since he acquired the opportunity from the underground archive.

The Ring of Fire’s boost hadn’t even fully manifested yet, and the result was already this powerful. He was curious to see the final outcome once he fully mastered it.

– Your luck is ridiculous, truly!

Wrath scowled as he looked at the lingering flames on the Heavenly Drive.

– Of course, some effort was made to gain that luck… just a little…

It seemed he felt guilty calling it all luck and clicked his tongue in reluctant acknowledgment.

‘Thanks for saying that at least.’

Raon smiled faintly as he slid the Heavenly Drive back into its sheath.

‘Wrath. Can I ask you something?’

– Speak.

‘If I fought a low-level Transcendent right now… what would happen?’

– Among Transcendents, there aren’t sub-ranks like low or mid.

Wrath shook his head, saying the realm of Transcendence was fundamentally different.

– But if I were to answer… you could stand against someone who just entered Transcendence.

He wasn’t joking or exaggerating—his voice carried genuine conviction.

– You would definitely die. But there’s a high chance your opponent would die with you.

Wrath nodded, saying Raon had reached a level where mutual destruction was possible.

‘That’s pretty close to what I was thinking.’

Raon clenched his fist.

‘I think I could really fight a Transcendent now.’

There were many Masters on the continent, and only a few Grandmasters—but Transcendents were only found among the leaders of the most powerful factions.

To think he had reached the level where he could fight such monsters made his heart pound.

‘Then, with this power…’

– What will you do?

Wrath swallowed dryly, curious about Raon’s next move.

‘I’ll beat them up.’

Raon grinned and looked toward the Light Wind Division swordsmen still in training.

“Hm?”

“W-Why is it suddenly cold?”

“Yeah, winter’s still far off…”

The swordsmen shivered as if sensing his intent.

– This guy’s insane…

Wrath let out a breath and shook his head.

– And you shouldn’t be the one saying that!

‘There’s no point in growing strong alone.’

As Raon grinned, preparing a new round of hellish training, a snow-white hawk descended before him.

‘That mark…’

Raon narrowed his eyes at the folded paper tied to the hawk’s leg.

“A white hawk?”