Chapter 985
– “A new title? And it’s related to lizards?”
Wrath waddled closer, his blue eyes stretched wide.
– “Didn’t you already get something called Dragon Slayer? Why another one?”
He frowned, baffled.
‘It’s different from that.’
Raon waved a hand in front of Wrath’s nose.
‘Dragon Slayer was for killing a dragon for the first time. This one—Dragon Killer—is for taking down multiple lizard bastards.’
Killer-type titles only appeared when someone had slain a considerable number of the same race. For this one to appear meant he’d killed more dragons than anyone else alive.
‘Come to think of it… Kaibar, the three intruders at the Great Forest, and today Desius. That makes five.’
He nodded to himself. He had, objectively, earned it.
“Kkeuueueung…”
Wrath clenched his trembling fists, unable to protest.
‘Good. Then be quiet while I check the rewards.’
Raon pushed Wrath aside as if swatting away a fly.
– “I refuse! This king will use his mouth however he wants!”
Wrath puffed up stubbornly, refusing to calm down.
‘Children behave better than this…’
Raon shook his head and focused on the messages.
[You have successfully hunted an Ancient Dragon.]
[All stats +10.]
[<Authority Enhancement> rank up.]
[<Authority Manipulation> rank up.]
[New title: <Dragon Killer>.]
He must have drawn out both Glacier’s cold and Wrath’s fury to their extremes—his Authority-related traits had grown accordingly.
‘Of course, the stat points are stingy.’
At his current level, ten points barely made a dent.
– “Is this guy insane!”
Wrath shoved his face right into Raon’s.
-“All you did was split the Breath! Why are you complaining!”
‘Well… fair enough.’
Raon lightly smacked his lips.
‘I did less than usual today.’
He only intervened once. Compared to handling an entire battlefield alone, this reward made sense.
‘That system is really fair.’
– “F-fair? FAIR!?”
Wrath’s eyes shook.
“I want to rip apart that flower-garden head of yours! What’s fair about pampering you nonstop! This king’s main body is skin and bones!”
He raged about destroying the system when he returned to the Demon Realm.
Raon ignored him and focused on the last message.
<Dragon Killer>
A title granted to a warrior who has slain five or more dragons.
Creates an aura that allows the owner—and nearby allies—to more easily cut through dragon scales and Mana.
Emits a presence that instills fear in dragons.Raon’s eyes widened.
‘This is… broken.’
Not only did it strengthen him, it strengthened his entire group. With this alone, the Light Wind Palace could probably hunt most Ancient Dragons.
And the second effect—dragon fear reversed.
Dragons naturally carried Dragon Fear, a pressure that suppressed all other races. But this title imposed fear onto dragons instead.
‘A punishment for mediators who forgot their duty.’
-“Why does this title have so many abilities!”
Wrath stomped in place.
– “Don’t you dare say ‘fair’ again!”
He accused the system of blind favoritism.
– “Fine! Since the system protects you, this king will interfere—”
‘Think carefully.’
Raon nudged Wrath.
‘If I keep killing dragons, who eats the meat?’
– “I—I will…”
‘Exactly. So instead of interfering, help raise the Light Wind Palace so they can catch more.’
Wrath froze—then slowly nodded.
– “That’s right. I should help!”
His eyes shone like stars.
– “Then why are you standing around! Train those guys so each one can catch a dragon!”
‘That’s impossible…’
– “It is not! Do it!”
Wrath flared his nostrils with conviction.
Raon sighed.
‘If Derus were half as simple as this guy, the war would be over already.’
Just then—
“Lord!”
Dorian burst out from Desius’s collapsed lair.
“I gathered everything!”
“Already?”
“Yes! Thanks to everyone’s help!”
He’d collected all the treasure with the dwarves’ assistance.
“A pouch I’ve never seen before…”
“How does that much fit inside…”
“Is that ancient magic?”
The dwarves stared more at Dorian’s pouch than at the treasure.
“We can wonder later. Let’s move.”
Raon looked at the sun and nodded.
“To Zieghart.”
* * *
“Hmm…”
Outer Chief Iliyun blinked as he saw Raon’s group approach.
“Why does it feel like you bring back more people every mission…?”
He examined the rescued villagers and dwarves standing behind Raon.
“They were kidnapped by the dragon. Their village was completely destroyed, so I brought them.”
“I see. You’ve worked hard.”
Iliyun nodded, fully trusting Raon as always.
“Go in.”
He opened Zieghart’s gates after counting their numbers.
“Thank you. If anything happens, I’ll take responsibility.”
“No. Since I opened the gate, responsibility is mine.”
His calm confidence made Raon’s impression of him rise again.
“Has the Head of House returned?”
“He has. I’ve already notified him.”
Raon bowed lightly and led everyone toward the Head of House Residence.
Along the way, dwarves and rescued villagers murmured in awe.
“This is Zieghart…?”
“It feels sharper than the stories said.”
“No wonder it’s the strongest sword family.”
Other swordsmen whispered among themselves.
“Light Wind Palace is back.”
“Did they fail?”
“No—they rescued this many people. They must’ve succeeded.”
“They killed a hidden Ancient Dragon already!?”
“They’re overtaking every Palace at this rate…”
The Light Wind Palace swordsmen wriggled happily at the praise.
Raon chuckled—then noticed Latiru’s stiff face.
“Latiru-nim? Something wrong?”
Latiru stared at the looming residence, swallowing hard.
“I was thinking… about the Northern Extermination King.”
“You mean the Head of House?”
“Yes. I heard Glenn Zieghart is so cold that he wouldn’t bleed even if stabbed. I’m trying to think of how to persuade him to accept not only me but also the others…”
Raon smiled.
“You don’t need to worry that much.”
“R-really?”
“He’s changed a lot since those days. People call him Thunder God or Sword God now. It sounds colder, but he’s far more human than before.”
He reassured Latiru that things would be fine once he saw Glenn in person.
Burren echoed the sentiment. Martha told him confidently to prepare for work. Runaan suggested offering to become a slave. Burren told her to shut up. Dorian admitted he was still scared. Krein shoved them forward.
Raon smiled faintly.
‘He really has changed.’
The old Glenn would have rejected them outright. But the current one—a Sword God with a human heart—would accept them.
Raon stepped into the audience chamber—
And froze.
Glenn’s expression was dark, cold, thunderous.
The dwarves trembled.
Latiru whispered, “It’s exactly the face I imagined…”
“Head of House?”
Raon blinked.
“What happened?”
“Something did happen.”
Glenn glared.
“You came too late!”
The residence trembled at his voice.
Sheryl and Roenn sighed from the side.
“We barely stopped him from marching out himself.”
Raon widened his eyes.
Wrath sighed deeply.
– “That lovesick old man is at it again.”
* * *
“…And that’s how we defeated the Azure Dragon Desius and brought these people back.”
Raon finished the report. Glenn’s hardened expression melted away.
“As expected of you.”
Glenn nodded in satisfaction.
“You’ve worked hard—especially the Light Wind Palace. To face an Ancient Dragon with your own strength… truly excellent.”
Burren bowed modestly. Martha half-boasted. Runaan said it was easy.
“Did you bring Desius’s corpse?”
“Yes. The scales are damaged, but the body is large. There’s plenty to use.”
“Mirthan Village will be busy,” Glenn murmured.
Raon stepped forward.
“And… I would like you to accept these people into Zieghart.”
He bowed, indicating Latiru and the rescued villagers.
Latiru quickly knelt beside him.
“I wish to repay my benefactor by offering what I can do best. Please accept us.”
The dwarves and people followed, bowing deeply.
Glenn examined them quietly.
“Will the Lord of Light Wind Palace take responsibility for their identities?”
“Of course.”
“Then good.”
Glenn nodded.
“I accept them all into Zieghart.”
Tears and relief burst from the dwarves and villagers.
Raon smiled.
Wrath snorted.
– “That old fox. He deliberately mentioned your name so they’d feel extra grateful to you as well. When they get old, they all turn sly.”
Raon glanced up at Glenn’s faint smile.
‘…Yeah. That tracks.’
“Lord.”
As Raon was feeling grateful to Glenn, Dorian waved his hand.
“Shall we take it out?”
Dorian smacked his lips, eager to open his belly pouch.
“Take what out?”
Glenn narrowed his eyes, asking what he meant.
“There are treasures we brought from Desius’s lair. I hope you will use them as a budget for the war.”
Raon smiled faintly and gestured to Dorian.
“Then, I’ll take them out!”
Dorian grinned and opened his belly pouch, and gold bars and jewels poured out of the black hole like a wave.
Kugugugugugu!
Before they knew it, more than half of the Head of House main building was filled with gold bars and jewels, leaving almost no space to stand.
“W-What is this!”
“There’s too much!”
“You’re saying you got all of this this time?”
The executives widened their eyes in astonishment.
“Why is there so much!”
Raon was also shocked. He hadn’t checked the treasure vault because he was rescuing the hostages, but he didn’t expect this amount.
“I haven’t taken everything out yet.”
Dorian shook his head, saying there were still many gold artifacts left.
“Stop! That’s enough.”
Raon gestured for him to close the pouch once the audience chamber pillars were more than half-buried.
“Ahem….”
Even Glenn seemed flustered, letting out an awkward cough.
“Y-You’re going to use all of this for the war budget?”
He blinked at the mountain of treasure, as if dumbfounded.
“Yes. Please accept it. And the rest—”
“That’s enough. Let the Light Wind Palace use the remaining treasures.”
When Raon tried to offer more, Glenn waved his hand firmly.
“Y-Yeah, right.”
“I don’t think we need any more here.”
“Yeah. Yeah….”
The executives nodded blankly, still staring at the piles of gold.
“Okay. Let’s talk about the rest later. You must be tired, so go back for today.”
Glenn waved at Raon and the Light Wind Palace behind the mountain of treasure.
“Thank you.”
Raon smiled and bowed.
“Then I will take these people to Mirthan Village.”
He needed to take out the dragon corpse and speak with Borgos, so he planned to go himself.
“Do so.”
Glenn nodded, his eyes filled with even greater admiration.
“Then.”
Raon bowed and left the audience chamber with everyone.
“T-Thank you.”
Latiru bowed again, deeply grateful.
“It was something I had to do.”
Raon waved his hand, saying there was no need for thanks.
“I’ll guide you to Mirthan right away. But don’t start working as soon as we arrive. You should rest first.”
He emphasized that both the dwarves and the rescued people were exhausted.
“Hmm, I understand. I will follow the benefactor’s words.”
Latiru looked as if he wanted to start working immediately, but slowly nodded.
“Then let’s leave right away. If we go now, we’ll arrive before dinner—”
Just as Raon was about to leave the Head of House main building, something dropped onto his head.
Thud.
A rolled piece of paper.
‘What is this?’
He narrowed his eyes at the paper. It had fallen before he even sensed it—Teleportation magic.
‘I smell a familiar scent….’
Thinking he knew who it was, he unrolled the yellowish paper.
[Eden Headquarters. Below the crater at the summit of White Spirit Mountain.]
The location of Eden Headquarters.
But nothing else.
“What is this….”
Raon flipped the note over—and froze.
[Thank you for treating me like a person.]
From the shaky handwriting, he could feel that person’s pure yet seductive scent.
(T/N : Merlin? But why does it feels like she is saying goodbye? Nooooooo!!!)