Chapter 829

Kyauuuung!

Sensing danger, the sea otter quickly turned and dove into the sea.

Paaang!

Raon stepped on the [Supreme Harmony Steps] within the waves. He summoned the wind of [Radiant Light Style] and reached out toward the pentagonal stone tightly held by the sea otter.

Kyau!

The sea otter tried to flee by suddenly changing direction, but Raon had already predicted its movement by observing its gestures.

‘I just need to check the stone.’

Raon blocked the sea otter’s escape path and reached toward the stone it was holding.

‘Hm?’

What’s this?

Even though his hand touched the pentagonal stone, nothing happened. Even with his [Soul] open, he couldn’t feel anything.

‘Wasn’t I supposed to know just by touching it?’

Merlin had said that someone at his level should be able to dive into the stone’s spiritual imagery just by touching it, but this stone emitted no energy, no reaction at all. It was an ordinary rock in every sense.

–Hmm.

Wrath is speaking while frowning as he looked at the pentagonal stone in Raon’s hand.

–I’m not in great condition, so I can’t be certain, but just as you said, it feels like a normal stone.

‘So, it’s not the one?’

–Indeed. That sea otter isn’t the madwoman either, but merely a resident of this sea.

He let out a sigh of relief.

‘I knew that.’

If the sea otter had been Merlin, she wouldn’t have run away. He already knew it was just a real animal.

The shape and color of the stone the sea otter carried were so identical to Rabawin’s description that he touched it just to be sure—but as expected, it was just a normal stone.

‘Sorry about that.’

Raon returned the stone to the sea otter and gave it a small nod.

Kkuu.

The sea otter gave a nod in return as if to say it was fine, then swam away.

‘Sea otters comfort people these days, huh.’

Raon chuckled faintly and surfaced again.

“What happened? Did you find it?”

Rimmer approached and tilted his head.

“No.”

Raon shook his head.

“I chased it because the stone the sea otter had was pentagonal, but it turned out to be an ordinary rock.”

“Sea otter? Ah! The one that uses rocks to crack clams?”

Rimmer mimicked a sea otter by pounding his own stomach with his fist.

“Exactly.”

Raon nodded.

“The shape was similar, and the color was emerald-like, but it wasn’t the one.”

“It would’ve been funny if that had been it.”

Rimmer laughed, saying it would’ve been hilarious.

“Just like you said earlier, it’s likely the edges got worn down from being on the shore all this time. We might have to just search everything.”

He smacked his lips, implying they’d need to check every stone rather than look for one matching the description.

“It’s not difficult, but it’ll be a grueling task.”

Raon sighed lightly as he looked at the stones submerged in the clear sea.

‘Especially for the others.’

For him, it was a matter involving his family, so he had no choice but to do it. But the [Light Wind Division] and Azure Wind’s crew weren’t the same.

He felt apologetic knowing he’d have to put them through long hours of tedious work by the shore.

“It’s tough, but it has to be done.”

Rimmer smiled softly, telling him not to worry too much.

“Uh…”

Raon blinked as he looked at Rimmer.

“What?”

“I’m just surprised that someone who I thought didn’t even know the word ‘comfort’ is actually comforting me….”

The Rimmer he knew would have gotten tired and wandered off after a half-hearted search, yet today, he was more passionate than even Aris about finding the [Soul Stone].

It was such a drastic change that Raon almost laughed out loud.

“Are you saying you think I’m insane?”

Rimmer frowned in disbelief.

“I’ve done some crazy things, sure. Maybe a lot. But I’m not the kind of selfish bastard who’d leave behind something precious to the division leader just to take a break.”

He smiled gently, saying he understood how important family was to Raon.

“So let’s keep going and try even harder.”

Rimmer, seeming embarrassed by his own words, quickly turned his back and continued searching for the [Soul Stone].

“…Thank you.”

Raon bowed his head toward Rimmer’s back.

‘I appreciate the comfort. But still… I can’t help but feel sorry.’

The only ones who could identify the [Soul Stone] were himself, Aris, Rimmer, and Rabawin. That meant the [Light Wind Division] and the crew could only sift through rocks—literally.

They were using highly skilled personnel for monotonous tasks. That made him feel even more guilty.

“Haaah…”

Raon let out a brief sigh and dove back into the sea to continue searching for the [Soul Stone].

* * *

–Nngghhh…

As the moon set and the sun began to rise again, Wrath clutched his head and groaned.

–Ah! This is so frustrating, I can’t take it!

‘What is?’

Raon blinked, brushing back his wet hair.

–At this rate, when are we going to find it! That island was small and empty too! We’ll never see ice cream again at this pace!

Wrath screamed, frustrated that the search for the [Soul Stone] was taking too long.

‘Can’t be helped. Just hold on a little longer.’

–You do it!

Wrath is speaking while grabbing Raon’s shoulder with his round hand.

‘Me? Do what?’

Raon tilted his head in confusion.

–The thing this king was about to do! Open your [Soul] and detect the [Soul Stone] around here!

Wrath raised his fist, insisting that would be the fastest way.

‘That’s something only you can do. I haven’t even reached [Transcendence] yet.’

Wrath had once said that the [Soul] grows depending on how one lives their life.

No matter how much hardship Raon had endured, he couldn’t compare to the soul of a Demon King.

‘Even Auntie can’t do it, so it doesn’t make sense for me to.’

–Haaahhh….

Wrath is speaking with a long, disappointed sigh.

–This king has told you time and again! Your [Soul] is far bigger than your pathetic strength would suggest!

‘You did say that….’

Raon nodded. Wrath had often said that his [Soul] was abnormally large for his age and strength.

–At the time you spun that damned ring, your [Soul] was larger than even that lunatic’s!

Wrath is speaking as he raised a finger and pointed at Aris.

–That’s why this king always says it’s a cheat!

He slammed his hand down, demanding Raon recognize his own abilities.

‘Hmm…’

Raon placed his hand over his left chest where the [Ring of Fire] spun and smacked his lips.

‘Even so, this is going to be difficult. Even if I fully open my [Soul], it would only cover this area.’

–Fool! The only thing granted to you wasn’t just the [Soul]!

Wrath is speaking as he raised his hand and pointed to the bracelet hanging from his own wrist.

‘The Demon Kings’ [Authority]…’

–That’s right. What was given to you isn’t just power or attributes, but fragments of a Demon King’s [Soul]!

He struck his own wrist to emphasize it.

‘I know that…’

Raon bit his lip, recalling the emotions of the Demon Kings lingering at the edge of his [Soul].

‘I still can’t use them all.’

His level was too low to summon all the Demon Kings’ [Authorities].

Even drawing out the most familiar one—[Wrath]—required full focus.

–This king will help you.

Wrath is speaking as he flicked his plump finger while sitting on Raon’s shoulder.

‘What?’

–This king said I’ll help you control the [Authorities] of the Demon Kings.

‘But you—’

–While it’s difficult to exert physical force right now, supporting you like this is more than possible.

He nodded calmly, as if telling Raon not to worry.

‘Still, it’ll strain you.’

Raon hesitated. Wrath had mentioned his spirit body wasn’t in great shape and couldn’t exert external power. Helping like this could put a burden on him.

–A brat like you worrying about this king is utterly laughable!

Wrath is speaking as he tilted his round chin upward with a sneer.

–Enough! We’re starting now, so be ready! If you can’t keep up, I’ll just leave you behind!

He twisted his lips, insisting Raon keep up no matter what.

‘…Thanks.’

Raon gave Wrath a sincere thank you and closed his eyes.

Uwoooong!

As the [Ring of Fire] resonated, he awakened the dormant [Authorities] of the Demon Kings buried deep within his [Soul].

Kugugugugu!

[Wrath], [Sloth], [Envy], [Gluttony], and even [Lust]. The [Authorities] erupted like a volcano, spewing lava as they burst beyond his control and spread in all directions.

–Now it begins! Focus!

With Wrath’s shout, [Wrath] surged down from his shoulder and soaked into him.

Kugugugugu!

This wasn’t Wrath trying to take over his [Soul] like before—it was a condensed force meant to help him control the other [Authorities].

–This king won’t last long! Take those emotions and spread them with your hands and feet across this shoreline!

‘Got it.’

Using Wrath’s shout as a foothold, Raon heightened his concentration to the extreme.

Fwooooosh!

As the [Authorities] of the Demon Kings merged through the emotion of [Wrath], it felt like the entire shoreline was within his grasp.

It was an omniscient sensation, as if his skin had expanded to cover the whole island of Giran.

‘I can see everything!’

He had entered a hyper-sensory world where he could perceive not only rocks and pebbles but even the shape of individual grains of sand.

Zzzzzkt!

From the empty air, Lust’s [Authority] surged forth intensely.

“What is this…?”

Raon’s lips trembled. Lust, who he thought had returned to the Devildom, was now watching him from within a pink current.

–Kyaaaaaah!

Wrath is speaking as he screamed and removed his hand from Raon’s shoulder the moment he saw Lust.

That omnipotent sensation Raon had—where he felt capable of anything—vanished instantly.

“Lust? Why are you here?”

“Ahhh…”

Lust sighed softly as she emerged from the pink currents.

“Hehehehehe!”

While Raon stood frozen at the sight of Lust, a baby sea otter surfaced and began giggling.

“I told you! You went too close!”

A sea otter speaking human language. There was no need to ask who was inhabiting it.

“Merlin, too….”

“Yup! It’s me!”

The sea otter eagerly nodded.

“Why are you two here?”

“We made a little bet.”

Merlin laughed foolishly, saying it ended in her favor thanks to all this.

“I’m sorry…”

Lust showed her face through the pink currents and lowered her head.

“I was just so happy you used my [Authority]…”

She truly looked sorry as she bowed deeply.

–Urrraaaghh!

Wrath is speaking as he sniffled and hid behind Raon’s back.

–Why are those maniacs here! Why are those lunatics hanging out together! And at a time like this!

He wailed, saying everything was ruined.

‘No need to worry.’

Raon tapped Wrath’s head and shook his head.

“I’m curious about the bet, but let’s talk later.”

“You’re looking for the [Soul Stone]? I’ll help!”

Merlin reached out, saying she’d come in her true body.

“We already found it.”

“Huh? You found it?”

–R-Really?

Merlin and Wrath both blinked in surprise.

‘Yeah.’

Raon nodded calmly. Although Lust and Merlin had surprised him, his meditation-like focus hadn’t unraveled.

When his [Soul] had spread across the shoreline, he distinctly felt a dark, despair-filled emotion.

‘It’s here.’

Raon looked at a fist-sized pebble in the shallow waters not far from the shore.

It was completely smooth, with all its edges worn down, and glowed a deeper green than emerald.

From that stone, he felt someone’s cries, sorrow, and despair.

‘It probably doesn’t belong to a good soul.’

But he had to go anyway.

Raon let out a short breath and reached out to grab the pebble.

Fwoooosh!

It was a sensation like being lifted, as if witnessing the memories of an ancestor. His vision turned pitch black.

* * *

A girl, seven years old? Maybe even younger, came into view.

She practiced swordsmanship in the yard in front of her house and seemed to be full of talent, improving with each passing day.

Despite her young age, the girl seemed wholly devoted to the sword—but there were moments when her emotions wavered.

It happened whenever she saw children her age playing together.

She would blankly stare at them, envious of how they spent their time thinking about what games to play or what adventures to go on that day.

One of those children approached her and reached out a hand with a bright smile, asking if she wanted to join.

[Me too?]

Just as the girl was about to take the child’s hand, a stern-looking middle-aged man appeared and blocked the way.

[Get lost.]

At the sharp command of the man, the other child teared up and fled—never to approach the girl again.

[You have a duty. Don’t disappoint me.]

The middle-aged man, who appeared to be her father, coldly ordered her to focus on her training, his eyes devoid of even a trace of warmth.

From that moment, the girl swung her sword day and night.

Even as children her age laughed and played nearby, she paid them no mind, wielding her blade daily with the sole intent of meeting her father’s expectations.

Three years passed. The girl finally reached the level her father had desired.

With her heart full of excitement, she went to find him. His response was a single sentence.

[It’s time. Let’s go.]

No words of praise like “Well done” or “Good job.” He simply stood and told her to come.

The girl wasn’t disappointed. She believed that from now on, joyful days awaited and followed him into an unknown underground cavern.

There, many children of similar age were gathered.

The girl felt happy, thinking she finally had friends—but the other children didn’t seem to think the same.

All of them held the same cold gaze as her father.

Her life didn’t change much. She continued swinging her sword every day in the common training ground and slept alone in a solitary cell.

She had no time to bond with others, let alone rest.

Most of the other children adapted quickly to this hellish place, as if it were normal—but one child was different.

He seemed frightened by the cavern’s gloom and always had tears clinging to his eyes.

Moved by the boy who reminded her of herself, the girl began looking after him.

That was when she found a small sliver of happiness—building a bond with the boy named Valde.

One dawn, she wasn’t summoned to the training ground. She remained alone in her cell.

Though relieved not to be swinging a sword, she trembled with anxiety at not being able to see Valde.

Then, from afar, she heard someone scream.

The next day, and the day after that—the screams continued.

Each day brought new cries of terror in that strange place. Frightened, the girl called out for her father, but of course, there was no answer.

A week passed as she feared for the safety of her father and Valde. Then one day, the door to her cell opened, and her father entered.

[Father!]

She cried out, running toward him, asking to be saved.

But he only looked at her like a bug and kicked her away.

As she lay on the floor, curled from the blow, a boy with a cold gaze stepped into view.

Valde. The boy she had shared a small bond with, now looked at her with the same eyes as her father, holding up his sword.

[Valde. Why are you—]

As the girl cried out, telling him to lower his sword, Valde’s blade pierced through her heart.

Her chest burned. As all the [Aura] and her [Soul] gathered in her dantian were drained, Valde finally pulled the sword out.

[Dad… Valde…]

With the last of her strength, the girl reached out to her only friend and her father.

But her hand stopped mid-air, and the two left the now-dark room without even sparing her a glance.

[A half-success, I suppose…]

The girl heard her father’s icy voice as she reflected on her life.

A cold father, a sword wielded every day, children who once tried to play with her, and the final betrayal from her one and only friend.

Moments of despair from a life she never got to live like a normal child lingered in her dilated pupils as tears fell.

I just wanted… to play like the other kids…

Kuwaaaaah!

The girl’s body burst into black flames and transformed into a massive fiery monster.

Death, despair, rage, and pain—all those dark forces were embedded in the girl’s [Soul].

‘Yeah…’

Raon looked at the girl’s [Soul], now a black flame, and did not draw his sword. Instead, he extended his hand.

‘I’ll play with you.’