Chapter 869

“Master still hasn’t come out?”

The first thing Raon heard after waking from unconsciousness was that Rimmer’s soul was still lingering inside the Soul Requiem Sword.

“Yes. Lady Siyan tried to draw him out, but he refused to leave the Soul Requiem Sword until the end.”

Errian shook his head as if he couldn’t believe it.

“I think she got frustrated, because she ended up throwing the Soul Requiem Sword.”

He lowered his voice, saying Siyan had thrown the sword onto the ground.

“S-sorry. I was just so frustrated…”

Siyan, hiding her face under a thick blanket, glanced nervously.

“Ah, I think my brother just really likes that sword…”

She sighed, saying it seemed like Rimmer wouldn’t come out unless he wanted to.

“Hah, he’s changed so much since being here that I really can’t figure out what he’s trying to do,” Stehrin muttered, adjusting the bandages wrapped all over his body. It was like he couldn’t understand his own grandson, whom he’d raised with his own hands.

“Ha…”

Raon let out a wry laugh as he looked at the Soul Requiem Sword lying on the table.

‘He must have something in mind.’

Rimmer was never as simple as he appeared. For him to cling to the Soul Requiem Sword like that, there was definitely some other reason.

“Thanks to the World Tree, some of the negative energy that was clinging to the Soul Requiem Sword has faded. For now, it’s best to just let him be.”

Raon nodded calmly.

“I’m not going to worry either. There’s too much pain just thinking about a grandson I never saw for years and then died on me.”

Stehrin snorted as he glanced at the Soul Requiem Sword.

“S-Sir Raon, are you all right?”

Siyan peeked out from the blanket with worried eyes.

“I still have some internal injuries, but nothing that’ll leave any lasting damage.”

Raon rotated his shoulder slowly and smiled. Thanks to all his traits, his recovery was probably the fastest among humans. He figured he’d be fully healed after a few more days.

“Th-thank goodness…”

Siyan let out a sigh of relief, saying she’d been really worried.

“It’s thanks to you, Lady Siyan.”

Raon bowed his head to her. He’d heard she’d helped with his recovery using a water spirit and wanted to thank her.

“And you worked hard too.”

“Huh? I-I didn’t do anything…”

“When I was fighting the dragon, you encouraged the elves and helped protect the World Tree. Lady Siyan, you’ve changed a lot. If Master saw you, he’d be really happy.”

Siyan had thrown off her blanket, stepped forward, and protected the World Tree, rallying the elves who’d given up on life. It was worthy of the next Guardian, and had been a big inspiration for him as well.

“I saw it too. You did great.”

Stehrin patted Siyan on the shoulder, saying he was proud.

“Aaah…”

Siyan, not expecting the praise, collapsed to the floor with a silly grin.

“Ah, it’s really nothing. Ehehehe…”

A weird giggle came from inside her blanket. She’d changed, but in some ways, she hadn’t changed at all.

“Oh, and there’s something else I need to say.”

Raon let out a small sigh as he looked at the three.

“It’s about Master…”

He told them that Rimmer hadn’t just become lazy after coming to Zieghart, but had helped many people and even supported orphanages regularly.

“Mmm, that boy…”

Stehrin smiled softly, apparently pleased to learn his grandson’s true heart.

“He always thought of himself as a true elf when he was in Seiphia, but to me, he was as nosy as a human. Nothing’s changed.”

Errian gave a small laugh, saying that was just like Rimmer.

“Ah!”

Siyan suddenly seemed inspired, pulling out a notebook from under her blanket and jotting something down.

‘Is she writing about Master?’

Thinking she might be recording something about Rimmer, Raon glanced at her notebook—but all he saw was “Handsome Raon” written over and over, so he quickly looked away.

“Ahem, I suppose you should get some rest now.”

Stehrin, embarrassed by the “Handsome Raon” scribbles, gently wrapped an arm around Siyan’s waist and nodded.

“You’ve worked hard. Please rest.”

Errian bowed his head as he left the room with the other two.

“Haa…”

As soon as he was alone, Raon flopped back onto the bed and stretched out his arms.

‘I’m alive.’

Now that things were quiet, he actually felt the relief of survival, and let out a small laugh.

– That was really dangerous this time.

Wrath peeked up from the bracelet.

– If that lizard had fought properly, you’d have been the one buried in the ground.

‘Yeah…’

Raon nodded.

‘I know.’

Just as Wrath said, Martirus’s full power was far beyond his own. If he hadn’t exploited the dragon’s carelessness, he’d have died.

– Why didn’t you use my power?

Wrath narrowed his eyes as if still puzzled.

– Did you get cocky just because you became a Transcendent…?

‘I just didn’t want to see you coughing again.’

Raon gave a faint smile and shook his head.

– W-what?

‘You only just recovered enough to stop coughing. I didn’t want to make you start hacking again.’

Wrath had consumed his own soul to help Raon and the Light Wind Division. He didn’t want to keep forcing his friend to make sacrifices, so he wanted to handle it himself.

– Uhh…

Wrath blinked in surprise at the unexpected answer.

– For a brat to worry about me! You’ve still got a long way to go!

Wrath yelled loudly, but his eyes were watery and his cheeks were flushed pink. He looked extremely pleased.

– Well, well, it’s not a bad way of thinking. It’s right to protect what’s yours yourself! Of course!

‘Yeah.’

Raon chuckled at Wrath’s embarrassment.

– Ahem, I guess I’ll have to start recognizing you now. I suppose it’s about time.

‘If even you admit it, the sun must be rising in the west.’

Raon lightly patted Wrath’s head, which was wagging its tail.

‘So, I guess I should get started?’

– What are you starting? Oh! Is it time for roast dragon? I’ve been waiting so long, my neck almost stretched out!

Wrath licked his lips in anticipation.

‘No, not that.’

Raon shook his head hard and called up the messages he’d left unread until now.

So many messages appeared at once that his entire field of vision turned blue.

– Whaaaat!

Wrath’s jaw dropped as he saw the flood of messages.

– Wh-why are there so many!

‘Wouldn’t you expect it?’

He hadn’t checked them until now, but he’d reached Transcendence and defeated both a Transcendent and two ancient dragons. It wasn’t strange for there to be enough rewards to cover his vision.

‘Let’s see…’

First, he checked the rewards for reaching Transcendence.

[You have reached the Realm of Transcendence!]

[<Ring of Fire> has reached 9-Star.]

[<Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation> has reached 9-Star.]

[<Glacier> has reached 9-Star.]

[All stats increase by 70 points.]

[The rank of trait <Water Resistance> increases.]

[The rank of trait <Fire Resistance> increases.]

[The rank of trait <Water Affinity> increases.]

[The rank of trait <Fire Affinity> increases.]

[The rank of trait <Divinity Bloomed in Darkness> increases.]

[The rank of trait <Demonic Energy Adaptation> increases.]

[The rank of trait <Wrath Unleashed> increases.]

There were so many lines that just checking the rewards for reaching Transcendence made his eyes hurt.

‘Wait, seventy points?’

He’d received fifty points from a reward before, but never seventy at once. The sheer increase was so ridiculous that he felt his body tingling pleasantly.

‘And seven traits rose, too.’

Not only the traits connected to Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and Glacier, but also those used in the dungeon. The wave of joy was dizzying.

– Huh?

Wrath’s jaw dropped as he looked at the messages.

– Are my eyes playing tricks on me? Is it really seventy?

He rubbed his eyes as if he thought he was seeing things.

– This is insane! Seventy at once—is that even possible!

‘If you’re shocked now, you’re in trouble.’

Ignoring Wrath’s flailing, he checked the rewards for defeating Beorn and Bardiel.

[You have slain two Transcendents.]

[You have killed a Celestial for the first time in a thousand years.]

[You have accomplished an impossible feat.]

[All stats increase by 50 points.]

[A new trait <Heaven Slayer> is created.]

[A new title <Transcendent> is created.]

Perhaps because he’d taken down two Transcendents at once, his stats rose by 50 points. With a total of 120 gained, even he was stunned by the numbers.

‘So, Heaven Slayer…’

He set the stat increase aside and checked the new trait.

<Heaven Slayer>

Decreases the aura resistance of Celestials, allowing you to inflict even greater impact.

‘Not bad.’

It reduced the aura resistance of Celestials. Since he’d surely face them again, it would be useful.

‘And then…’

Finally, he checked the details of his new title.

<Transcendent>

A noble title granted to those born human who ascend to the heavens.

Ability: Enhances the mastery of all fully learned martial arts.

Raon’s eyes widened as he read the title’s ability.

‘Is this real?’

A title that increased the mastery of every martial art he’d learned. For someone like him, who’d mastered countless sword arts, this was more important than any stat or trait. He could hardly believe it.

– Kk, kk, kk…

Wrath drooled as if he’d stuffed himself on roast dragon. Any more and his eyes would probably roll back.

‘Just hang in there! This is the last batch.’

Raon patted Wrath’s back and checked the rewards from his latest feats.

[You have accomplished an impossible feat.]

[All stats increase by 40 points.]

[A new trait <Authority Amplification> is created.]

[The rank of trait <Snowflower Armor> increases.]

[The rank of trait <Ambush> increases.]

[The rank of trait <Snowflower Absorption> increases.]

[The rank of trait <Snowflower Spear Thrust> increases.]

The reward for slaying the dragon was also enormous—an increase of 40 points in all stats and a new trait.

‘Authority Amplification?’

Just from the name, he could guess the gist of it.

<Authority Amplification>

Allows the Authorities wielded only by Demon Kings to be fully manifested in a human body.

Just as he expected.

It was a trait that narrowed the gap between Wrath’s authority and his own. He must have gotten it by harmonizing the Demon Kings’ Authorities in his final sword technique.

– Kyaaaaaaa!

Wrath’s scream rang out after a long time.

– This is too much for one day! It’s like my whole spine was pulled out!

He gagged, saying his head was spinning from losing so much.

– That’s 160 points in total, two new traits, one title, and eleven trait upgrades! This is insane!

‘I didn’t get it all at once—these are three different sets of rewards…’

– Shut up!

Wrath smacked Raon’s head.

– You said you wouldn’t rely on me, but now you’re sucking me dry!

‘I-it’s not me, it’s the system…’

Raon rubbed the back of his head.

– Then at least tell it to stop!

Wrath furrowed his brow, saying maybe it would listen if Raon told it to.

‘Is there any reason to refuse…?’

Raon tilted his head. Since it gave rewards on its own, he didn’t see the point in rejecting them.

– You damn brat!

Wrath shouted.

– I take back everything I said! I’ll call you a brat forever…!

“Cute!”

Just then, a small hamster slipped through the treehouse window, beaming with a smile.

“Why are you grinning to yourself?”

– Kyaaak!

Wrath shrieked and toppled over in shock at Merlin’s sudden appearance, coughing so hard his eyes rolled back.

“M-Merlin?”

Raon let out a rough breath as he looked at Merlin in hamster form.

“I was watching you to see when you’d wake up, and you kept nodding and smiling to yourself. It was so cute, I couldn’t help but come in.”

Merlin giggled, saying she’d been watching and found him adorable.

“Wait, your real body is here, so why come as a hamster?”

“My real body is too shy.”

She clasped her hands and swayed her shoulders bashfully.

“S-shy?”

Raon blinked in a daze.

‘You? How? Why?’

—

Thankfully, Wrath’s mood recovered the next day.

– Ahh! So sweet and nice!

Thanks to Stehrin, who held a small feast to celebrate overcoming Seiphia’s crisis, Wrath was able to indulge in all the sweet fruit dishes he wanted.

‘Are their fruits really that different from ours?’

Raon wondered as he bit into a juicy apple pie. Zieghart’s baking might have been better, but there was no way they could match the flavor of these fruits.

– The elves’ energy makes the fruit sweeter and tastier.

Wrath nodded as if this was obvious.

– Now, let’s go for the main course! It should be ready soon!

He grabbed Raon’s shoulder, eager to go eat meat.

‘All right.’

Raon smiled lightly and headed to the outskirts of Seiphia. In a huge stone oven, a slab of meat as thick as a rock was roasting.

“D-Division Leader, is it really okay to eat this?”

Dorian, who’d built the oven with Merlin, trembled as he looked at the dragon meat.

“I’m fine with Gold and Red, but I think I’ll skip the Black…”

Krein shook his head, saying he didn’t want to get poisoned.

“I don’t get it—why eat this when there’s so much other food…”

Burren frowned, not understanding.

“Rich kids these days talk too much! When you hunt a beast, you eat the meat first!”

Martha smacked Krein and Dorian on the back of the head, telling them not to complain.

“Yeah. I’m looking forward to it.”

Runaan, cheeks flushed pink from fruit wine, waved her fork and knife.

– As expected, you’re my ice cream girl and beef girl!

Wrath nodded in satisfaction at their attitude.

– I’m excited. Even I’ve never eaten three kinds of dragon meat at once!

He flared his nostrils, laughing at the ever-improving aroma.

“So, we’re really eating it…”

Stehrin came over, letting out a hollow laugh.

“Ah, sorry. Elves must be sensitive about this…”

“No, not at all. Survival of the fittest is also nature’s law. We don’t mind.”

He shook his head, saying it was no problem.

“It’s just that eating dragon is a rare experience.”

Stehrin laughed, saying he’d never thought about it that way.

“Ah…”

“We had so many spoils, we didn’t know what to do. Three dragon hearts, countless valuable teeth and bones… It worked out well.”

He said it would take ages just to sort out all the loot.

“I plan to make swords and armor from the teeth and bones. It’ll take a lot of time.”

“Want me to introduce you to someone?”

Stehrin gestured as if making an offer.

“Introduce?”

“Yeah. A dwarf named Borgos. He’s pretty famous as a craftsman.”

“Ah, I know him.”

Raon nodded right away.

“He made my swords.”

He’d already met Borgos, master of the Gray Hammer Guild, when he visited Dorian’s home.

“Then that’s great. I’ll contact him for you.”

“But aren’t elves and dwarves supposed to be on bad terms…?”

“That depends on the individual.”

Stehrin shook his head, saying he was close with Borgos.

“Thank you.”

Raon bowed to Stehrin.

“I should be the one thanking you. Seiphia survived thanks to all of you.”

Stehrin waved it off, saying there was no need for thanks.

“Honestly, I always thought Martirus was just a quiet neighbor. I never imagined things would turn out like this.”

He sighed deeply, looking at the roasting Martirus meat.

“Martirus lived around here?”

“Yeah. His lair was less than two days away.”

Stehrin pointed north, saying no elf could not know it.

“I see…”

Raon licked his lips.

– Hmm?

Wrath narrowed his eyes at Raon.

– That’s the look you get when your desire is overflowing.

He shivered, saying it was the same face Raon made when absorbing his stats.

“Well…”

Raon flexed his long fingers, staring north.

“Looks like I’ll be getting a lot more loot soon.”