Raon packed up his baggage in the tent before going out to the entrance of Werthers Village. The destroyed iron gate and walls were perfectly repaired under Henderson’s command.
‘I can return now without worrying about them.’
He could leave the village without any problems since there were no enemies or monsters around the village, the villagers had somewhat regained their peace, and Henderson was still going to stay with them for a while.
Monsters could appear in the future because the drake was gone, but that wasn’t going to happen for a good while, so he was planning to request the Sephia company to dispatch warriors to the village once he arrived.
He should’ve…
Raon was waiting for Dorian in front of the gate when he heard Wrath’s sigh going even deeper than the bottom of the earth.
H-he should’ve said regional products instead of berry pies and braised chestnuts. He should’ve done that…
‘How long are you planning on staying like that?’
Wrath had been repeating that over and over ever since the village chief’s granddaughter, Lucy, gave him the berry macarons and sugar-glazed chestnuts.
He wasn’t even sulking at that point. He seemed to be going insane.
He should’ve said regional products instead of berry pies and braised chestnuts…
‘Hey…’
Why did they have to come up with a new recipe now? This entire world must hate the King of Essence… Sniff!
He murmured that the unreasonable world made him lose the bet that he believed he was going to win for sure, his eyes filled with tears.
‘I feel bad for him.’
He looked slightly pitiful because he had even stopped asking for food.
‘I can’t exactly give him the macarons… I should buy him some mint chocolates as soon as we return.’
He couldn’t eat the macarons since he’d promised Denning Rose that he would return with specialty food from the village.
He decided that he would buy whatever Wrath wanted once he returned to the Sephia company.
“Vice squad leader!”
He was patting Wrath’s head as he sniffled when Dorian came out of his tent.
“I’m ready.”
Dorian smiled while rubbing his belly pocket.
Raon still couldn’t believe that a thirty-five-meter-long drake was inside the small pocket on top of the eight-horse carriage.
“Let’s go.”
Raon chuckled and pointed at the gate with his chin.
“Are we leaving without even saying goodbye?”
Dorian tilted his head while looking back at the village.
“Do you want to boast about saving them?”
“No, I’m not boasting, but we should say goodbye…”
“They’ve already thanked us enough. It’s better to leave quietly and avoid putting pressure on injured people.”
“Sure…”
Dorian’s stretched response showed his displeasure.
Raon tapped on Dorian’s shoulder. When he was about to jump over the wall, multiple people’s presence moved at once from behind them.
“Our benefactor!”
“I knew it!”
“You really are going to leave.”
A bunch of villagers covered in bandages came running out towards Raon and Dorian at the same time.
“You really are leaving like the wind after you appeared like the wind. Thank you, that’s all we can say right now.”
The villager chief tightened his lips and leaned forward.
“Thank you!”
The villagers also bowed at them after the chief. Their trembling voices conveyed how much they appreciated him.
Raon bowed back at them with a smile.
“Please stay well.”
“Hmm…”
“Benefactor…”
It wasn’t a word of modesty since he simply voiced what he wanted from them, yet the villagers were even more impressed and bit their lips.
“You look perfectly normal right now, but why do you become insane from time to tim—? Uhah!”
Dorian’s mumbling could be heard from behind him. Raon glared at him, which made him flinch and back away.
“Benefactor!”
Raon raised his eyes upon hearing a childish voice. The village chief’s granddaughter, Lucy, was running towards him with two baskets in her hands. She was the one who gave him the berry macarons earlier.
“P-please take those with you.”
A sweet and refreshing scent was coming out from the baskets.
“They are the berry pies.”
“Pies? Why are you giving them to me?”
“I made them because you looked so happy when I gave you the macarons earlier.”
Lucy timidly lowered her head.
‘I looked happy, she says…’
He was covering his mouth because he was laughing at Wrath, but he must’ve looked like he was happy about the macaron.
Arrrrrgh!
Wrath started to scream while shoving his face into the basket.
Why are you giving it to him now?! You should’ve given them up earlier! She must be a god’s apostle! She’s making fun of the King of Essence!
He twisted his fluffy body while saying that a god’s apostle had to be exterminated.
“Thank you.”
Raon kicked Wrath away because he kept rampaging around, accepting the baskets containing the berry pies.
“It’s nothing. I-I just want you to enjoy the food.”
Lucy shook her head with a smile.
“We will be back later.”
Raon turned around after meeting the gratitude in the villagers’ eyes one after the other.
“Please take care! We will make sure to visit!”
Dorian energetically said goodbye and followed Raon.
“We really are coming back, right?”
“Yes.”
Raon chuckled and nodded at Dorian.
Sniff! He should’ve said regional products instead of berry pies and braised chestnuts…
‘He’s getting started again.’
Wrath kept rambling even though they’d already left the village. Judging from his state, Raon had the feeling that he would continue for a few days at least.
“Vice squad leader.”
When he was about to mount his horse after leaving the village, Dorian walked up to him.
“Since we have two pies in total, what about eating one of them while it’s still hot?”
H-he should’ve said regional products instead of—
As soon as Dorian asked to eat the pie, Wrath’s cry of despair suddenly came to a halt. He used to stare blankly at the sky, but he was instead giving a secret glance.
‘It can’t be…Does he seriously want to eat the pie now, even though it was the very reason why he fell into despair?’
Raon laughed bitterly and opened one of the baskets. The berry pie inside was cut into five pieces, and he gave one to Dorian before taking one for himself.
Gulp!
The gulping sound from Wrath echoed like a thunderstorm.
‘Is this demon king serious right now…?’
Raon shook his head and put the berry pie in his mouth.
The warm and crispy crust was pleasant to eat, and the sweetness of the mountain berries and their juice engulfed the tongue. Moreover, the nutty flavor of the baked almonds was a perfect grand finale to the taste.
Raon couldn’t suppress his smile. He could understand why the specialty food’s reputation was spread far away into the continent.
Hehe…
Raon heard the happy laughter and turned to look at Wrath.
The focus had returned to his blank eyes, and the corners of his mouth were soaring to reach the sky.
It’s so delicious!
Raon was dumbfounded as Wrath grinned while covering his cheeks with his hands.
‘What the hell is this guy? Is he really the demon king of wrath?’
* * *
Rimmer was standing in front of the annex building like a loafer.
Knock knock.
He lightly knocked on the door and the head maid, Helen, opened the door and came outside.
“The Light Wind squad leader?”
“Hello.”
Rimmer smiled cheerfully and waved his hand.
“Long time no see. What brought you to the annex building?”
“Is Lady Sylvia inside?”
“Ah, please wait a moment.”
Helen bowed at him and walked into the corridor.
“It’s been a while since the last time I came in here.”
Rimmer smiled while looking around the annex building.
‘It’s such a mystery that Raon has such a cold personality despite being from a happy family like this.’
He could feel as soon as he entered the annex building that the atmosphere around him was the warmest in Zieghart.
He couldn’t believe that monster Raon was born in such a cozy household.
“Huh? Swordsman Rimmer!”
“Mister Elf is here!”
Yulius and Yua were passing by in the corridor and stopped upon finding Rimmer.
They’d gotten rather close because they kept meeting each other whenever Rimmer skipped the training and visited Roenn to play around.
“What brought you here?”
The two children tilted their heads while looking up to Rimmer.
“I’m—”
“Sir Rimmer.”
Sylvia was walking out from the end of the corridor when Rimmer was about to respond.
“Are you here because of Raon?”
“No, that’s not the case.”
Rimmer simply shook his head.
“I see.”
Sylvia bowed. Her eyes were showing a mixed emotion between relief and disappointment.
“I expected you to be more nervous.”
Rimmer smiled faintly while looking at Sylvia’s composed eyes.
“I thought you would be trembling from your worry about him.”
“I’m worried. It’s only natural that I’m worried about him because he was kidnapped recently.”
Sylvia quietly sighed.
“But it doesn’t change anything even if I keep worrying about him, and I can’t hog him for myself forever. I just have to believe in Raon so that he won’t be worried about me. That’s all I can do.”
She quietly closed her eyes before opening them again. The distant light sparkling from her eyes looked like polished rubies.
Rimmer smiled while meeting her eyes.
‘She’s changed.’
She used to beg Rimmer to take care of Raon when he used to be a trainee, yet she had gained a clear trust towards him although she was still worried about him.
Sylvia’s heart had grown up, just like Raon’s height.
‘They are the exact same in this aspect.’
She looked frail, but her eyes were similar to Glenn and Raon. No matter what people said about her, she was clearly a part of their family.
“Don’t worry about him too much.”
Rimmer smiled at Sylvia.
“He’s not the type that is easily defeated. You must’ve heard that he even managed to beat up Garona and Cadis. We even took measures against kidnapping, so you can stay relieved.”
“I do feel relieved after hearing that.”
Sylvia nodded with a gentle smile.
“What brought you to the annex building if it wasn’t because of Raon.”
“Ah, it’s because of those children.”
Rimmer lowered his finger to point at Yua and Yulius, who were staring blankly at them.
“I’d like to scout them into the Light Wind squad.”
“Scout?”
“Light Wind squad?”
Yua tilted her head, and Yulius’s eyes sparkled as he said the Light Wind squad.
“Yes. Do you want to join the Light Wind squad where Raon, the one who saved you, belongs? What do you think? Do you like it?”
“Wow! I’m coming!”
“Please let me join!”
Yua energetically put her hand up, and Yulius grabbed Rimmer’s sleeve and started shaking it.
“Huhuhu! That’s great. Let’s stamp a seal right away.”
Rimmer grabbed Yua and Yulius’s hands tightly with an expression that made him look like a scammer in every aspect.
“P-please wait!”
Sylvia hurriedly interfered and separated Rimmer from the children.
‘He looks too suspicious.’
She was standing in his way before she knew it because Rimmer’s face looked like a gambling addict for a moment.
“Wh-what are you planning to do with the children?”
“I’d like to ask for their help.”
Rimmer shrugged his shoulders while looking at Yua and Yulius.
“The Ragged Saint is going to bring some children here soon.”
“The saint will?”
“Yes. I’d like Yua and Yulius to help them because they have some serious scars in their hearts.”
His expression was bitter as he looked at Yulius and Yua.
“I see, but why are you asking them to join the Light Wind squad…?”
“Ah, I wasn’t lying about that.”
Rimmer caressed Yua and Yulius’s hair with a grin on his face.
“Because the Light Wind squad will be promoted into the Light Wind division as soon as Raon returns.”
* * *
* * *
Rumble!
A frightening bang could be heard inside the underground cavern where Robert's shadows were raised.
It was Derus Robert. He was stomping the ground with a red face. All he did was push the land with his foot, yet it had created a huge hole with no end in sight.
“Haa…”
It looked like it wasn’t enough to quell his anger, since he clenched his fist. The red blood flowed from the back of his hand and dropped from his grasp into the hole.
“My lord.”
When Derus was about to stomp once again, Regel appeared from the darkness and knelt.
“Did you finish the investigation?”
“Yes.”
Regel nodded and raised his gaze. The red atmosphere swaying around Derus’s eyes revealed his murderous urge.
‘He could kill me with his eyes alone.’
It wasn’t strange for Derus to be so angry, as Loktan and the poison crew had disappeared along with the informants they’d sent—and then there was the large number of recent damages they had taken.
In fact, he still managed to suppress his anger to a certain degree because he was Derus. Anyone else would’ve already gone mad from anger.
“The Black Tower’s members were at the mountain range instead of Raon.”
“The Black Tower?”
“Yes. They must’ve been trying to get the drake. The traces and corpse of the Black Commander have been confirmed.”
“Huh…”
Derus laughed bitterly and dropped his gaze.
“So are you telling me that they went on a war against the Black Tower instead of killing Raon Zieghart?”
“That seems to be the case.”
Regel’s lips trembled as he nodded. He’d been serving Derus for a long time, but he hadn’t experienced such an intense bloodlust in a long time.
“What about Raon Zieghart?”
“He arrived late at the scene and finished off the exhausted Black Commander and Loktan. He saved the villagers and even took the drake’s corpse with him…”
“Haaaaaa…”
Derus sighed deeply while looking up to the dark ceiling.
“Kuhahahahaha!”
He started laughing like a madman while sweeping his hair up from his forehead with a bloody hand.
“I can’t even tell if he’s just lucky or if he’s managed to play with the whole world. I still can’t tell for sure when it comes to him.”
Derus Robert lowered his head. His eyes used to be brimming with anger and bloodlust, but they quickly turned icy cold.
“My lord?”
“Don’t clash against Raon Zieghart for a while. Instead, you will gather information about him. Use the northern network to find out everything about him—from the moment of his birth until today.”
“Understood.”
Regel swallowed nervously and nodded.
“I won’t underestimate you anymore.”
Derus smiled faintly and shook the blood flowing from the scar on his hand into the hole.
“I’ll find out everything about you before I put an end to your life.”
* * *
Before returning to the Sephia company, Raon first went to the Rokan branch of the Black Market. He followed the same path as the one he was previously introduced to, and Denning Rose was waiting for him inside a small room.
“Thank you for your trouble, and…”
Denning Rose stood up from the seat and leaned forward. It was a polite bow that still retained her dignity.
“Thank you for avenging Ferenz’s life.”
Raon had never heard that name before, but he could understand who she was talking about. It must’ve been the agent he’d met in the village, who managed to deliver the information about the Black Tower while the mana of darkness was killing him.
“He should be able to rest in peace now.”
Even though she was speaking nonchalantly, Raon could feel her deep sorrow. The agent called Ferenz must’ve been her cherished subordinate.
“I’ve only met him once and our encounter was short, but I have a deep respect for him.”
Raon closed his eyes and opened his mouth. He wasn’t simply saying it for courtesy. Using the Carbon Cultivation Technique to extend his life while the mana of darkness was creeping into him was such a painful task, that Raon wasn’t even sure whether he himself would be able to do it.
“I’m sorry about it, as it happened because of us.”
“I-I’m sorry.”
Raon and Dorian lowered their heads.
“No, he was simply doing his job according to the request. He should be satisfied since the villagers were saved as a result.”
Denning Rose smiled faintly, saying that he shouldn’t feel sorry about it. She was regaining her composure in no time, as expected of the successor of the Black Market’s master.
“Please sit for now.”
Raon followed her gesture and sat on the chair on her opposite side.
“We are planning to protect Werthers Village for a while. Monsters are probably going to take the opportunity to attack the village since the drake that used to be the king of the mountain range is gone.”
“I see.”
Denning Rose seemed to have determined the same thing that Raon had.
‘I’m so relieved to hear that.’
The Black Market was an organization of the lower class made to protect the people at the bottom of society. That must’ve been why she cared about the people before anything else.
Of course, they might obtain the right to circulate the mountain berries and chestnuts in return, but it was beneficial for both parties.
“Dorian.”
Raon nodded while calling Dorian’s name.
“Yes.”
Dorian understood his meaning and put his hand inside his belly pocket before taking out a basket and a box and placing them on the table.
“What are those…?”
“They are the products that I promised to bring. And…”
Raon smiled faintly and opened the lids of the basket and the box. The berry macarons and the berry pies that he’d received in Werthers Village could be seen.
“We’ve managed to protect them thanks to you and your agents.”
“I see.”
Denning Rose smiled and brought a piece of the pie in her mouth. Her eyes widened like a moon. Her face told him that she never knew it could be so delicious.
“I-it’s delicious. The crust is still crispy, and it’s brimming with the sweetness of the juice!”
“Try out the macarons now. They said they are new products that haven’t been revealed yet.”
“New products…”
Her eyes sparkled as she looked at the macarons because she was satisfied with the pie. She quickly moved her hand to take a bite of a macaron.
“Th-this is also delicious. No, this is actually even more to my taste. Macarons are too sweet nowadays, but this has a perfect harmony between the refreshing taste of the fruit juice and the softness of the crust, which is so much better than the extreme sweetness we usually find. It’s even better than the ones made by patisseries from large cities like Cameloon and Rokan… Ugh!”
Denning Rose blushed upon noticing that Raon and Dorian were staring blankly at her.
“You must love desserts.”
Raon smiled while looking at the trembling macaron in her hand.
‘She isn’t completely unapproachable.’
Raon had previously thought she was like an iron maiden because of how impeccable she was, but the way she described the dessert with a flushed expression made her look like a girl of her age.
The King of Essence also likes it. Let him taste one…
‘You stay out of this.’
Raon easily pushed Wrath away since he was clinging onto him to ask for some macarons.
“I-I like it a little.”
Denning Rose lowered her head and responded. Her earlobes had turned completely red.
“Th-the other successors from the Sephia company are also returning with their own results!”
She was clearly trying to change the subject, so Raon simply chuckled and moved on.
“Do you know what they brought?”
“Yes, of course.”
Denning Rose nodded and placed the half-eaten macaron to the side. Her trembling eyes showed that she was suppressing her urge to finish eating it.
Th-there are some macarons left. The King of Essence also wants…
Raon figured that Wrath, who kept whining from the side, and Denning Rose, who couldn’t take her eyes off of the macaron, would make a perfect couple.
“The third daughter, Palen Sephia, managed to acquire highest-grade claws, teeth, and a horn. The second son, Dialon Sephia, is apparently bringing an entire stuffed drake. Lastly, the first son, Jeser Sephia…”
Denning Rose looked at Dorian. She swallowed nervously and continued.
“Is bringing a drake, and a special one at that.”
“A special drake? Just like the one we killed?”
“Yes. I heard the drake has a wind attribute. I didn’t hear exactly how big the drake from the Jamari mountain range was, but it’s such a big drake that I’m not sure whether we can win or not…”
“What size is it?”
“I heard it’s over twenty-five meters long. It’s really rare to have such a huge drake.”
Raon and Dorian looked at each other, their lips curving into a smile upon hearing that.
“Is it twenty-five meters long?”
“Twenty-five meters, I see…”
‘Is that it?’
