Chapter 949
“The Chamber of Self was here all along?”
Raon widened his eyes as he followed Glenn’s finger downward.
‘Come to think of it, I gathered so much information about the Chamber of Self, but I never once thought to ask where it actually was.’
He had heard from Aris and others about its nature and purpose, but never about its precise location.
‘That was foolish of me.’
He sighed at how he had been too excited about entering the Chamber to even consider something so basic.
“Yes. The Chamber of Self lies within the main audience chamber of the Head’s Hall.”
Glenn nodded, saying it was located inside this very room.
“That’s also why one can only enter it with my permission.”
He smiled faintly, explaining that because the chamber was inside the audience hall itself, entry conditions were necessarily strict.
“I see.”
Raon turned his gaze to the left and nodded.
‘Now that I think about it, Karoon came from the Head’s Hall too.’
He remembered waiting outside the hall to see whether Karoon had truly reached transcendence.
“Let’s go.”
Glenn nodded softly and descended from the platform.
“I’ll guide you.”
Roenn, who had been standing before a pillar, walked toward a door on the right.
‘The right-side door.’
There was a gray door to the right of the dais, almost blending into the wall. He had often seen the left door open and close—but never this one.
‘Click.’
Roenn pulled a yellow key from his inner pocket and unlocked it.
“Please, go ahead.”
As he stepped aside, Glenn strode heavily through the doorway.
“Come, Lord of the Light Wind.”
“Yes.”
Raon bowed slightly to Roenn and followed Glenn through.
‘A corridor?’
What lay beyond the door was a long, windowless corridor. It smelled faintly of age, yet was spotless—no dust, no cobwebs, no neglect.
– Are you sure this is the right place?
Wrath frowned skeptically.
– They say it’s a mysterious space that distorts time and space. Yet it looks like this? Such lax maintenance?
‘It’s not lax.’
Raon shook his head firmly.
‘Anyone who wants to force their way in would first have to defeat the continent’s strongest man.’
Only those acknowledged by Glenn could enter. There were likely only a handful in the entire world who could overcome that barrier.
– Hmph, I suppose that’s true.
Wrath nodded, acknowledging Glenn’s strength.
At the end of the corridor stood an old door. Though well maintained, it bore the marks of time.
“This is it.”
After confirming Raon was behind him, Glenn opened the door. The hinges turned smoothly, revealing the inside.
‘This is the Chamber of Self?’
It was large enough that one could swing a sword freely without touching the walls.
Lanterns that never seemed to burn out hung from a ceiling of rough-hewn stone. Cracks like spiderwebs marred the floor and walls.
On the black wall opposite stood a full-length mirror—aged and worn, as if it might shatter at any moment.
Aside from its age, it looked like any ordinary room, which made him doubt whether this was truly the Chamber of Self.
“Head of House, is this…?”
“Yes. This is the Chamber of Self.”
Glenn’s calm tone left no room for doubt.
“Hm…”
Raon swept his eyes across the room, humming quietly.
“You don’t seem convinced.”
Glenn smiled thinly, as though he expected that response.
“It’s just… not quite what I imagined.”
Raon scratched his forehead as he looked around again.
“I don’t know what stories you’ve heard, but this is indeed the Chamber of Self that has existed for a thousand years.”
Glenn nodded slightly, assuring him they were in the right place.
‘I don’t feel anything, though.’
He had heard the chamber connected to a different flow of time and space, so he expected strong magical interference—but it was just an empty room.
‘Wrath. You sense anything?’
He nudged the demon with his elbow.
– Hmmm…
Wrath glanced around the chamber and clicked his tongue.
– Nothing. You sure this is the place?
He frowned, unimpressed.
“I see you understand now.”
Glenn nodded as though reading his thoughts.
“You may doubt, but this is the only Chamber of Self I know.”
He gestured to the exit where Roenn waited. “You don’t have to enter.”
“No, I will.”
Raon shook his head firmly. He didn’t doubt Glenn—he was simply too curious about the truth behind this place.
“Haa.”
He exhaled softly and stepped inside the so-called Chamber of Self. Even after entering, nothing changed. It remained just an ordinary room.
‘First things first, I should unpack.’
He pulled out a bundle from his subspace pocket—Nadine Bread wrapped in cloth.
‘This should be enough.’
He didn’t know how long he would be here, so he had packed enough to last months.
Wrath grimaced, but in a place like this, Nadine Bread was ideal.
– Uuurgh…
The demon gagged as soon as he saw the bundle.
– Remove that vile abomination from my sight! I’ll vomit just looking at it!
He trembled as if suffocating from the smell.
‘There’s no smell, though?’
Raon tilted his head, sniffing the bundle.
– Your nose is as dull as your brain! How can you not smell that!?
Wrath ground his teeth audibly, struggling to hold back curses.
“Nadine Bread?”
Glenn immediately recognized it from the shape of the bundle.
“Yes. I brought plenty, in case I end up staying long.”
“You won’t need that much.”
He shook his head. “Two or three should suffice.”
“…Excuse me?”
Raon blinked in confusion. The chamber was supposed to distort time—he expected to stay long enough to need supplies.
“You’ll understand soon enough. No need for explanations.”
Glenn smiled faintly, as though Raon would figure it out on his own.
“Hm. I’ve kept you long enough.”
He looked up at the ceiling lantern, then turned to leave.
“May you find the path you seek.”
Leaving those words behind, he exited. The fading sound of his steps suggested he had already returned to the audience hall.
“Hm…”
Raon narrowed his eyes at the flickering lantern.
‘Still can’t believe this is really the Chamber of Self.’
He had imagined a hidden cave in Northgaze Mountain, or a mysterious underground hall—not this small, plain room. It was honestly disappointing.
‘More than that…’
What exactly am I supposed to -do- here?
Neither Glenn, Aris, nor Rimmer had explained what to do inside the Chamber of Self.
How was he supposed to grow stronger in such a small space?
‘Maybe…’
He tried circulating [Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation] and the [Ring of Fire]—but nothing changed.
– If you’re that clueless, just take a nap! You didn’t sleep properly last night anyway!
Wrath waved his hand lazily.
‘That’s not a bad idea, but…’
Raon sat down and shook his head.
‘Meditation might be better.’
After reaching transcendence, mental discipline mattered more than physical training.
He had planned to extend his meditation sessions anyway. This seemed like the perfect opportunity.
– When you meditate, your brain hums so loud it’s annoying!
Wrath complained, insisting they should sleep instead.
‘Then how about I make it more entertaining for you?’
Raon smiled faintly.
– You? Entertain me? Impossible! You couldn’t amuse the great Monarch of Wrath if you tried!
Wrath crossed his arms proudly.
‘Then let’s make sure you don’t get bored, my friend…’
Raon reached for the bundle on the floor and pulled out another Nadine Bread.
– W-wait! On second thought, this is perfect! Not bored at all!
‘Too late.’
Ignoring Wrath’s frantic protests, Raon bit into the bread. The dense, rubbery texture spread through his mouth like a storm.
– Uuugh…
Wrath, who had just complained about boredom, rolled on the floor foaming at the mouth.
– How can you endure that!? It’s torture!
He trembled, teary-eyed. At least now he didn’t seem bored.
‘I told you before—it’s not that bad.’
It wasn’t delicious, but Nadine Bread had its own charm. It was edible.
– You wretched Nadine Bread of a man…
Wrath muttered weakly before collapsing.
‘Finally, some peace.’
Raon tossed the limp demon aside and slipped into meditation.
—
“……”
Glenn remained in the corridor outside, watching the closed door quietly.
“There’s no need to worry.”
Roenn chuckled behind him.
“Sir Raon will surely return having gained much.”
He spoke with conviction born of faith.
“It doesn’t matter whether he gains anything or not.”
Glenn shook his head slowly, eyes closed.
“Raon can grow without the Chamber of Self.”
After watching Raon’s duel with Karoon, Glenn was certain. Raon possessed the qualities of a warrior who could reach heights beyond anyone else—even without external help.
A realm beyond humanity, beyond causality itself—reachable only by him.
‘Though… it isn’t entirely his strength alone.’
Raon’s unique talent had always been intertwined with the presence of his “friend”—the Demon King who accompanied him.
‘Still… I’d like to meet him.’
Before his time ran out, he wanted to meet that Monarch and thank him for looking after his grandson. (T/N: Is it me, or from the beggining of this week’s chapter its been giving us too much of Glenn’s death flag?)
“Of course.”
Roenn nodded, agreeing that Raon would grow no matter what.
“Still, I can’t help but feel excited. They say the stronger one’s Zieghart blood, the more the Chamber yields.”
Glenn smiled faintly and opened the door.
‘Tap.’
The dim room, where Raon should have been meditating, was now an old library filled with the scent of aged paper—completely empty.
“Perhaps it’s just wishful thinking…”
Glenn closed the door and smiled gently.
“But I have a feeling Raon will return with something great.”
—
‘Tsk.’
Raon clicked his tongue as he opened his eyes.
‘Nothing.’
He had meditated for a long time, yet nothing had changed. Still sitting before the same mirror in the same empty room.
– I told you meditation was pointless!
Wrath snorted proudly.
‘And you told me to eat ice cream!’
He did have some for Wrath in his subspace pocket, but he wasn’t about to use it now.
‘How long has it been anyway?’
With no windows, time felt uncertain. Maybe four days? Or a week?
– What four days? It’s been two weeks!
Wrath shook his head violently.
‘Two weeks? But I only ate three Nadine Breads.’
– I thought starving was better, so I didn’t wake you up!
He insisted it had been at least two weeks.
‘Strange.’
As a transcendent, Raon should have perfect time sense even in darkness. Their perception of time diverging meant something was off.
‘So… time is already twisting.’
It seemed the Chamber’s distortion effect was beginning to manifest.
‘Then maybe I should train my swordsmanship.’
The ceiling was high enough, and the room wide enough, to practice without aura.
– Boring as always.
Wrath yawned and lay flat on the floor.
‘Then perhaps I’ll eat some Nadine Bread—’
– No! I’m watching! Very interested!
Wrath immediately sat up, eyes glowing blue.
‘Didn’t expect that to work so well.’
He decided to carry a set of Nadine Bread in the future—just for blackmailing Wrath.
‘If you notice any flaws, point them out.’
He asked for advice and lifted Heavenly Drive above his head, bringing it down in one smooth motion.
‘Whoooosh!’
He flowed through every technique he had learned—from basic sword forms to [Sky Piercing Thunder]—before lowering the sword.
‘That didn’t take long.’
He had mastered so many techniques that it once took forever, but now he could execute them all in one go.
– Don’t you get tired of repeating the same thing?
Wrath frowned.
‘It feels new every time.’
Each swing made him feel his growth. To Raon, training was always joyful.
– I should’ve stolen that damn talent of yours…
Wrath sighed.
‘One more time, then.’
Perhaps because it was dark, concentration came easily. He raised Heavenly Drive again.
But suddenly, the lantern on the ceiling flickered—and went out.
‘Hm?’
Why did the light go out?
As he looked up in confusion, his eyes met his reflection in the mirror.
‘Something’s… off.’
The figure in the mirror looked like him—golden hair, red eyes, black training uniform—but felt… different.
‘Whoosh!’
As Raon frowned, a blue shape floated up behind him.
‘Wrath…?’
Wrath, who should only be visible to him, was reflected in the mirror.
‘Impossible!’
He stumbled back in shock, but the reflection didn’t move.
‘Don’t tell me…’
As Raon bit down on his lip, the reflection of himself curved its lips into a soft, unsettling smile.