Chapter 938
“H-Head of House…?”
Raon let out a breath as he looked at Glenn’s wrinkled eyes.
“What happened?”
Glenn Zieghart was the most composed and rational person he knew. Even if he was worried because communication with Montiro was cut off, Raon had never imagined he’d show such emotion.
He was so stunned his dizzy mind cleared for a brief moment.
“Just seeing you tells me how dangerous this battle must have been.”
Glenn bit his lip slightly and tightened his arms around Raon.
“Thank you for holding on until the end, Raon.”
He thanked him again and patted Raon’s back with trembling hands.
“Grandfather…”
The word slipped out unconsciously. Glenn’s words of gratitude struck deeply in his chest.
-“H-has the old man finally gone senile?”
Wrath drew in a sharp breath, baffled.
‘Not senile… he’s overwhelmed with emotion.’
Raon knew Glenn cared for him more than anyone else, but the Head of House always maintained a cold and stoic front before others. To suddenly show such warmth in front of everyone—it was unexpected.
‘It’s not just emotion. He looks exhausted.’
Since Glenn’s arrival, he had been out of breath, his eyes heavy with fatigue as though he hadn’t slept in days.
A transcendent shouldn’t be tired just from traveling here—he must have fought an immense battle.
‘It’s strange… he looks hazy somehow.’
‘Am I just tired?’
Even though the aura Glenn radiated now was greater than when he sat upon Zieghart’s throne, his presence also felt faint, like morning mist dissolving before the sun—two conflicting sensations at once.
-No, you’re seeing correctly.
Wrath narrowed his glowing eyes.
‘What do you mean…’
Before Raon could ask, the sound of crumbling earth drew a crowd around the fountain.
“L-Lord?”
“How is the Head of House here?”
“Huh…?”
Burren, Martha, and Runaan widened their eyes as they saw Glenn holding Raon.
“Come here, all of you.”
Glenn lifted his chin slightly, beckoning Burren, Martha, and Runaan.
“Eh? Ah…”
“U-us too?”
“Yes.”
Burren and Martha froze in disbelief, but Runaan kicked off the ground and approached without hesitation, standing beside Raon.
“You’ve done well.”
Glenn gently pulled Runaan into his embrace, just as he had Raon.
“I’m fine…”
Runaan whispered, patting his back in return.
“Huh!”
“Wha…?”
The instant Burren and Martha saw Glenn hugging Runaan, they slammed their feet down and rushed toward him.
“Thank you all for enduring such a harsh battle.”
Glenn wrapped his arms around the three of them at once and nodded slowly. (T/N: Please….dont let this be a Death Flag….)
“Mmh…”
Raon let out a faint sound as he watched Glenn’s trembling voice.
‘What happened to him?’
For him to express his feelings like this toward everyone—it was as if he were a different person.
“Raon. Can you tell me what happened here?”
“Yes. You must already know about the operation, so I’ll start from what followed.”
Raon briefly reported the battle against the Black Tower while Glenn comforted the three captains.
“F-Father?”
When he was almost finished, Karoon—freshly treated—emerged from the infirmary.
He froze at the sight of Glenn embracing the others, blurting out “Father” instead of “Lord.”
“…What is going on?”
“Ah, hmm…”
Realizing he had forgotten his surroundings, Glenn released the children and stood upright.
“How did you get here, and why are you hugging the children…?”
Karoon’s pupils trembled like a sail caught in a storm. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
“You’ve done well. Your role was crucial.”
Glenn approached him calmly, pausing for a moment before lightly embracing him too.
“F-Father?”
Karoon trembled all over, unable to even move his eyes. He was more shocked than when the Black Tower Lord had burst through the ceiling.
‘My father… hugged me? And praised me?’
He had lived as Glenn Zieghart’s son for years, accomplishing countless achievements, but this was the first time he had ever been embraced and praised.
The mixture of shock and disbelief left him dazed.
“Lord.”
Raon rubbed his temples, speaking up.
“All communication across the Five Kings is down. It must be the work of the Five Demons—we should move quickly—”
“It’s fine.”
Glenn turned and shook his head calmly.
“Owen was attacked, but the other regions are safe.”
“Mmh…”
Raon narrowed his eyes toward Prince Greer in the distance. Just as he expected, while they attacked the Black Tower, the Five Demons had struck Owen.
“The one who attacked Owen was…”
“Yes. Derus Robert.”
Glenn nodded. “He’s grown much stronger. There are few among the Five Demons and Kings who could stand against him now.”
His eyes hardened.
‘So that’s why he looked so worn out.’
Now Raon understood. Glenn had fought Derus in Owen, then rushed all the way here, draining his strength.
‘But stronger? How?’
Had he gained the power of the Angels?
Derus hadn’t been gone that long, yet he had grown enough for Glenn to acknowledge it—it didn’t make sense.
“M-my father then…”
Prince Greer ran forward, unable to hold back.
“He’s wounded, but alive. He’s strong—he’ll recover soon enough.”
Glenn nodded reassuringly.
“Haah…”
The prince dropped to his knees in relief.
‘Thank goodness.’
Raon sighed softly, seeing him.
‘We can’t afford to lose anyone else.’
To win the war against the Five Demons, no more strength could be lost. Hearing that Lecross survived and the other members of the Five Kings were safe eased his heart.
“Still… it’s strange. Derus attacked only Owen and left the others untouched…”
Raon frowned, recalling Derus Robert’s repulsive face.
“If he reacted to our assault, he could have also attacked the Tower, Balkan, or the Beast Alliance.”
Even with precautions, if the White Blood Cult and Eden had joined the assault, the whole continent would’ve been engulfed in war—why hadn’t he done it?
“Perhaps we should investigate further—”
“It’s impossible to read his intent without information. For now…”
Glenn shook his head slowly and pulled Raon back into his arms.
“Rest.”
“Wha—? But…”
As Glenn’s hand brushed his back, all the exhaustion he had been holding back crashed over him like a wave.
Hwaaa—
The warmth of that gentle touch reminded him of when he used to fall asleep while training the Ring of Fire as a child.
‘Not yet…’
Before he could resist, Raon drifted into sleep, like back when he’d nod off beside Sylvia.
—
Creak.
Glenn opened the cracked door of the infirmary and stepped inside. A girl with a sweet face sat on the bed, sucking a piece of candy.
“Good. You’re awake.”
“Someone caused such a commotion outside that I couldn’t keep sleeping.”
Chamber bit the candy and narrowed her eyes.
“The cold, emotionless man who never smiled even at his family—what breeze blew through you? Hugging the kids in front of everyone?”
She shook her head, unable to comprehend it.
“How’s your body?”
“Thanks to the Saint of Supere, all my physical wounds have healed.”
Chamber nodded. “Saint Olga’s quite something. She took great care of me.”
“But my upper dantian isn’t in good shape.”
She tapped her forehead. “That was close.”
“Your upper dantian…”
Glenn let out a low murmur, running his hand above her head. Even without deep inspection, he could tell the impact on her mind had been severe.
“I’ll handle that wound myself. It’ll take some time.”
Chamber sighed.
“Sounds like it’s going to be boring.”
“But don’t worry. I’ll recover completely.”
She waved her candy-holding hand. “I’ll join the next battle for sure.”
“I trust you.”
Glenn nodded quietly.
“What’s this? You’re unusually kind today.”
Chamber rubbed her goosebumped arms.
“You asked what made me hug them earlier, didn’t you?”
Glenn met her gaze.
“I met Derus Robert before coming here.”
“What…?”
Chamber’s eyes widened. “He finally appeared? Where?”
“Owen. King Lecross was attacked.”
“H-he’s not dead, is he?”
She threw off her blanket, alarmed.
“He’s better off than you. The wounds are serious, but his core’s intact.”
Glenn pushed her gently back down onto the bed.
“Haah…”
She exhaled in relief.
“Wait! Then Lecross lost to Derus? That fool!”
“He was strong.”
Glenn shook his head.
“Even if you and Lecross fought together, it wouldn’t have been easy.”
“…That strong?”
“Yes.”
He nodded firmly.
“Then—you used the heart-sword again, didn’t you?”
Chamber frowned, now noticing the change in him.
“Yes.”
Glenn looked out the window and sighed.
“When contact with Montiro was lost, Derus told me Raon and Karoon were dead.”
“Mmh…”
Chamber clenched her teeth, seeing the heaviness in his eyes.
“You know the heart-sword surpasses transcendence itself. I could’ve killed both Derus and the angel beside him. But after hearing that… I couldn’t swing it to the end.”
Glenn’s wrinkled hand trembled faintly.
“But because of that, I realized just how precious Raon, Karoon, and the others are to me. Funny, isn’t it? It took an enemy’s lie to make me see it.”
He smiled bitterly.
“Ascension is every warrior’s dream. I longed for it all my life, but now… I don’t want to go. I want to stay and watch Raon and the others grow.”
He lowered his head heavily. “Even if I become weaker, I want to remain in this world.”
“So that’s why you hugged them at the plaza. Makes sense now.”
Chamber smiled faintly.
“You really have grown old. You used to ignore blood ties and bathe in blood, and now you’re just a sentimental grandfather.”
“Well… I have nothing to say to that.”
Glenn lowered his brows, regret flickering in his eyes.
“I think you’ll live long enough to see Raon’s children.”
Chamber waved her hand lightly.
“What do you mean?”
“To ascend, you have to abandon every human emotion. You have to become something beyond human. But you’ve gained more humanity instead—so maybe you won’t ascend so easily.”
She grinned. “Think about it.”
“Mmh…”
“And don’t stop after today. Keep treating them with that warmth.”
She smiled sweetly. “Kids need steady praise, not just orders.”
—
“Mmh…”
Raon slowly opened his eyes. Through the window, he saw the sea—it seemed he was still in Montiro.
‘That’s probably for the best.’
Saint Olga’s healing ability rivaled even the ragged Saint Federick. It was better to stay here under her care.
-So you finally wake up.
Wrath snorted.
‘How long was I out?’
-Two days.
He frowned, pointing at the dark window.
-Two days of sleep after reaching that realm! Do you know how many meals I missed? Twelve!
‘…Why twelve?’
Raon blinked.
-Three meals, plus three snacks per day! That’s six a day, obviously!
‘……’
It used to be four a day. Now six. Raon was starting to wonder if this guy was a Demon King or a glutton.
‘Still… I’m glad.’
He smiled faintly.
-Glad? What are you talking about?
‘Every time we fought dangerous wars, you manifested or used your power and nearly shattered your soul. But this time, you didn’t.’
Each time they faced transcendents or Demon Kings, Wrath had taken control to help, damaging his own spirit.
But this time, Raon and Chamber had defeated the Black Tower Lord together, and with Lust and Gluttony’s help, they even drove back Greed.
Seeing Wrath unharmed after such a massive battle—it felt good.
-W-well…
Wrath grumbled softly, surprised.
-I-I am the Monarch of Wrath! You don’t need to worry about me!
He turned his head sharply, face flushed. Though he sounded irritated, he was clearly flustered.
‘Sure, sure.’
Raon chuckled and lightly patted him on the head.
‘Where are Lust and Gluttony?’
-Lust…
Wrath trembled and glanced up.
-He’s still floating around you in mist form, watching you! It’s terrifying!
He sniffled.
‘Ah, right…’
Raon glanced at the faint pink glow drifting through the air. He could sense Lust watching him even now.
-Gluttony, on the other hand, is wandering the village eating everything in sight! If you don’t get up soon, there’ll be no food left!
‘So she did have money after all.’
She had claimed to be broke, but clearly came just to help.
He couldn’t help thinking again that the Angels and Demon Kings of this world were far different from those of myth.
-You were worried about Derus before passing out. Still worried?
‘Of course.’
It still bothered him—why Derus had attacked only Owen, and why the other Demon Kings hadn’t moved. There had to be a reason.
But whether he knew it or not, all he could do now was recover and grow stronger.
‘I have to get stronger.’
Clenching his fist, Raon vowed to climb even higher. Just then, the door opened, and Olga entered with bandages and medicine.
“Awake already? Your body’s not made of steel, you know.”
She shook her head, half amused, half scolding.
“It’s not that bad.”
Raon glanced at his bandaged body.
“Your body isn’t—but your mind took a hit. Your upper dantian was on the verge of collapsing, not as bad as Chamber’s, but close.”
She frowned. “What on earth did you do?”
“I just fought hard. How’s the situation outside?”
Raon changed the subject with a tilt of his chin.
“It’s mostly under control. Owen’s knights have already departed, and the rest are preparing to return. Now that you’re awake, Zieghart will be leaving too.”
Olga nodded.
“And you?”
Raon’s gaze lingered on the deepened black tattoos on her arms.
“We’ll return too. A king can’t stay away from her kingdom for long.”
She waved. “We’ll head back soon.”
“Then send the king home—and you’re coming with me.”
“What? What are you—”
“Your condition.”
Raon nodded toward the black markings covering her limbs.
“I can fix it now.”