Chapter 428

“Haaah.”

Raon sighed and lowered his gaze. Wrath was smiling happily while patting his swollen stomach.

He’s so full!

‘Is that how much you love pineapple pizza?’

Wrath kept complaining after eating the three pineapple pizzas that he hadn’t had his fill, so Raon had been made to eat ten pineapple cookies on top of the pizzas. He almost looked like the starving demon from hell that was rumored to be hungry no matter how much it ate.

‘I’m even sleepy because of how much I ate.’

His eyelids felt heavy from drowsiness. It was probably the increased sloth’s effect.

That’s because your mind is too weak. You have to eat as much as possible while you can since such delicacies are a rarity in the world.

Wrath murmured that he had to eat that much in order to live on, as eating was the only joy and reason for his life.

He sounded like a demon king of gluttony rather than wrath no matter how Raon thought about it.

‘But you ate nothing but pineapple pizzas after we came here. I’ve been eating two per day because of you.’

That wasn’t an exaggeration. Wrath had been asking him to eat the pizza every single day, and he’d been eating at least one pizza per day ever since he came to Habun Castle. Raon wasn’t exactly picky with food, but he was getting tired of it.

“Wow, vice squad leader. You really finished that!”

Dorian, who’d ordered the scout’s set menu, whistled while looking at the empty pizza plate.

“I guess you would be exhausted after beating up a person to that point.”

Dorian nodded, saying that his hunger was understandable considering he’d beaten Mustan up until his mindset was completely changed.

“I know, right? That was really amazing.”

Burren agreed with Dorian while putting down his beer glass.

“Seriously, how did you fix that stubborn and jealous green-eyed monster?”

“Is that even a question? Enough of a beating solves all problems.”

Martha raised her clenched fist.

“They are bound to crawl below you once they are beaten to the point of death, no matter how annoying they are.”

She clicked her tongue, saying that she wanted to see how he’d beaten him up.

“Martha can’t do that because her mind is even weaker than her body.”

Runaan shook her head while crunching the pineapple cookie.

“What? Did you finally lose your myind?”

Martha bit her tongue as she frowned at Runaan.

“Myind? Mya mya.”

Runaan curved her hand like a cat and waved it at Martha.

“Argh! Come here right now!”

“Don’t wannya.”

Even though they were having some snacks, they stood up inside the pub and started to play catch the tail.

Raon chuckled while watching Martha and Runaan fight like sisters, and Wrath floated into the air and shoved his face onto him.

You bastard, you better be aware that you got lucky this time.

‘I know.’

Raon heavily nodded.

‘The Monarch of Envy was a lot more evil than I thought.’

Envy’s personality was that of a complete loser, but the contract she forced upon Mustan was a leash full of spikes.

If she’d discovered that he was bluffing, he could’ve ended up crawling on the ground as her slave for the rest of his life just like Mustan.

Since he just got lucky thanks to the various circumstances around it, he didn’t get conceited at all.

Indeed. She is evil but is also an unsightly loser. You could’ve made her run away with the King of Essence’s name alone without even needing Sloth if you were more careful. However…

Wrath’s gaze became frighteningly serious. However, Raon couldn’t take him seriously because of his swollen belly.

His name won’t work against some of the others.

‘Your name won’t work?’

Raon narrowed his eyes while tapping on the table.

Indeed. Pride and Gluttony.

Wrath’s heavy voice sounded like it was coming from the darkness.

They will gladly start a fight if you mention the King of Essence or Sloth’s name. Don’t try to talk your way out against them. It would be better to keep quiet.

‘So they must be somewhat annoying doormats.’

Raon licked his lips while thinking about Pride and Gluttony.

Demon kings aren’t doormats! Sloth and Envy are the only stupid ones!

‘They aren’t the only ones though…’

Raon stared at Wrath with a serious expression on his face.

‘Does he not realize that he’s the best doormat out of them all?’

Wrath kept murmuring that the other demon kings were doormats even though he was the king of doormats himself.

And Lust…

‘Lust?’

Run away the moment you see her. Don’t try to talk to her, don’t even look at her!

He shouted that he should never try to deal with Lust, and that he should run away immediately if confronted by her. He must’ve been trying to say that all along, and only mentioned the other demon kings in the process.

‘So I should run away from Lust. What about Gluttony?’

As for Gluttony…

‘Oh, right. You are Gluttony. It must be hard to have two jobs at once.’

Raon nodded and patted Wrath’s plump belly.

‘So, when are you giving me the authority of gluttony? Do you get stronger the more you eat?’

No! Stop taking me for that useless glutton rabbit!

‘A useless glutton rabbit?

Raon became curious about how much he ate if Wrath was calling him a useless glutton despite being a pig himself.

‘None of the demon kings is normal…’

* * *

The Sword Demon smoothed down his beard while looking at Mustan’s eyes. The younger man was kneeling on the ground in his medical room.

‘What’s wrong with him?’

His disciple’s eyes were ridiculously clear. It looked like the malice and envy brimming from his eyes were completely gone, and the eyes he was looking at were as transparent as a baby’s.

‘Is it even possible for a human being to change so much in such a short period of time?’

Mustan’s eyes were still filled with powerful envy towards Raon when he had given advice about his personality, but that emotion was gone in such a short time. He couldn’t understand how that happened.

‘It almost feels like he returned to the past.’

His heart felt warm because he felt like he was looking at the Mustan in his childhood who had called him master for the first time.

“What happened?”

“Nothing happened.”

Mustan bowed more politely than ever.

“Why did you come with Raon?”

“I was lost and the good Sir helped me.”

For some reason, the Sword Demon felt that the word ‘lost’ had two different meanings.

‘Moreover…’

Mustan called him the good Sir. He was even more confused because Mustan had always called Raon a bastard.

“Tell me honestly. What are you even thinking about right now?”

“What do you mean…?”

“Don’t tell me you are planning to attack Raon once again after pretending to turn over a new leaf.”

He wanted to trust his disciple, but he couldn’t erase his suspicions because the change was way too drastic.

“Not at all! There’s no way I would harm such a great being!”

Mustan slammed his head on the ground like a sinner.

“I can’t dare to approach him since he is heaven for me. I prefer death rather than harming him!”

His disciple almost looked like a priest as he praised Raon.

“Huh!”

‘How is this happening…?’

The Sword Demon lowered his gaze to look into his disciple’s eyes. They were as clear as a brook that no one had entered, and it didn’t look like he had any ulterior motives.

‘Did he really turn over a new leaf?’

It was the same when he said Raon’s name. There was no trace of malice from him. He had to believe his disciple because of how clear his eyes and voice were.

‘Raon… what in the world have you done to him?’

He could clearly tell that Raon didn’t beat Mustan up any further. His head was bleeding because he fell on the ground, and it wasn’t caused by a beating.

He became curious how Raon managed to bring about such a drastic change in a human being without even using violence.

“Mustan.”

“Yes, Master!”

Raon had told him to be polite towards his master before he sent him off, and it felt like Mustan was being even more polite than usual because of that.

“I’ll trust you for the last time.”

“Thank you!”

“You should rest for today and visit the people that you troubled tomorrow and apologize to them.”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t rest yet.”

Mustan shook his head and stood up.

“What?”

“Sir Raon told me to focus on nurturing my martial art instead of being engulfed by useless emotions. That’s why I have to start training right now.”

He grasped his sword with his still-bruised hand as if he were trying to prove it.

“Hah…”

The Sword Demon gasped while looking at the serious look in Mustan’s eyes.

‘He was corrected to this point… What is that boy…?’

* * * 

One week later.

Raon and the Light Wind squad went to Habun Castle’s gate after they finished the preparations for the departure.

In addition to Habun Castle’s warriors, even the residents were lined up at the central avenue in front of the gate.

“Why did everyone come here when it’s not even a big deal?”

Raon scratched his cheek while looking at the large crowd that had gathered from Habun Castle.

It was a bit embarrassing because he was just enjoying his stay, unlike the last time when he’d saved everyone.

“People’s memories don’t fade that easily.”

Milland chuckled and turned around. His gaze was directed at the castle wall that was completely repaired.

“You saved the lives of everyone in this castle. That memory became that indestructible castle wall, so you should be more proud of it.”

He smiled, saying that gratitude was called gratitude because it should not be forgotten.

“The castellan is right!”

“We haven’t forgotten what happened that day!”

“We will always be thankful!”

“Stay healthy!”

“I’ll be praying for your success in your battles!”

Habun Castle’s warriors and residents stood behind Milland and waved their hands while shouting at once.

“Same goes for me. I should actually be saying that the same goes for us.”

Raon smiled faintly and bowed to Milland and Habun Castle’s warriors.

“You saved us at House Arianne, and we won’t forget about it for the rest of our lives.”

“Thank you!”

The Light Wind squad also bowed to Habun Castle’s warriors just like Raon.

“We are benefactors for each other. This is the best kind of relationship where we are helpful to each other.”

Milland gladly nodded, saying that he liked it.

“I told you before that Habun Castle has your back. Feel free to call us again in the future.”

He raised his hand, while saying that he could call him at any moment since he didn’t have too much work to do anymore because the number of monsters had decreased.

“The same goes for us. If Habun Castle is in danger, we will come running to the rescue even in our sleep.”

Raon nodded while meeting Milland’s eyes.

“Yawwn!”

Rimmer stretched his arms while yawning.

“Why does it take so long to say goodbye when you are swordsmen? Let’s go already!”

He bobbed his hand, saying that it was annoying.

“How did he end up being so unsightly…?”

Milland sighed and shook his head.

“I know, right? He’s the most hateful person in Zieghart.”

Raon went behind Rimmer and sighed.

“We will be leaving now.”

“Please wait!”

Raon bowed for the last time and was about to leave when Yua’s grandfather came running and showed a large basket.

“I’ve packed a pizza and the cookies that you like. Please eat them on your way back, since I’ve just baked them.”

Whoaaa!

Wrath had been blinking in boredom, but he suddenly stood up and roared.

Manager! You became a great man! Alright! The manager is going to be the King of Essence’s subordinate starting today!

Wrath forcibly recruited him once again.

‘Don’t tell me… Ugh.’

Raon closed his eyes after he saw what was inside the basket.

‘A pineapple pizza and pineapple cookies… I’m so screwed because of this useless glutton.’

He wanted to try out the other pizzas, but he was forced to eat pineapple pizza even on his way back because of Wrath.

He figured he would have to discipline him with Nadine bread for a while.

“Grandpa, where’s mine?”

Yua pouted and put her hands on her waist.

“You’ve gained weight because you ate too much during your stay. You should starve for a while.”

“Eeh…”

Yua’s cheeks had indeed become plump, but she looked even cuter that way.

“Thank you.”

Raon took the basket and lowered his head at the manager.

“It was nothing. Please keep taking care of her in the future.”

The manager grabbed Yua’s hands tightly with teary eyes.

“Don’t worry about her.”

‘I’ll never let her die before me.’

Raon smiled while keeping it in his mind.

“Castellan.”

Raon slowly averted his gaze and looked at Milland.

“We are going to leave now.”

“Are you sure you should be saying that? I think you said something different when you came here.”

Milland shook his hand instead of responding to his goodbye.

“I’ll be back.”

Raon smiled faintly and bowed once again. Milland and the others finally smiled upon hearing that.

“Yes, see you later.”

Raon nodded while looking at the bright sunlight that was making people’s smiles even warmer.

“I’m definitely going to return.”

* * *

Glenn furrowed his brow while tapping on the perfectly repaired throne’s armrest with his finger.

‘Why is he not returning?!’

He’d prepared a golden tablet, rewards, and a lot of compliments. He even wrote a script and thoroughly memorized it, but Raon and the Light Wind squad were showing no sign of returning.

‘He said they would visit Habun Castle on the way. Is he planning to spend the rest of his life there?’

He was even more confused because they hadn’t once contacted him after Rimmer sent him a letter to notify him that they would visit Habun Castle on their way back.

“Haa…”

He got angry once again upon remembering the ‘wow’ and ‘peace’ from Rimmer’s previous letter.

‘I’m definitely going to kill him.’

He’d hesitated a bit because of old memories, but that wasn’t an option in the end. He decided that he was going to kill him no matter what.

Tap. Tap. Crack.

He tapped the throne’s armrest in frustration, and by the time it looked like it was about to break once again, the audience chamber’s door opened and Roenn entered.

“My lord.”

Roenn bowed to Glenn and smiled.

“The Light Wind squad is returning.”

“Really?”

“Yes. They are supposed to reach our front gate in around two hours.”

“Is that so?”

Glenn’s lips rolled into a smile, and he started to stand up but suddenly stopped.

“Ahem!”

He cleared his throat and straightened his clothes and his hair before sitting back on the throne.

“I won’t overlook this matter. They are supposed to return as soon as the mission is complete, and yet they wasted so much time. What are they taking the house for?”

“Indeed.”

“However!”

Glenn faintly lowered his eyes while putting his arm on the throne.

“Since the Light Wind squad achieved a great deed this time, I shall praise them before that. Roenn.”

“Yes!”

“We are going to start the promotion ceremony right away. Gather the executives.”

“Understood.”

Roenn left the audience chamber with a faint smile on his face.

All of the executives, including the direct lines and the collaterals, gathered inside the audience chamber shortly after.

Glenn lowered his gaze while spreading an extremely cold pressure.

The moment he was about to twist the throne’s armrest to hide his nervousness, Roenn’s voice could be heard from outside the audience chamber.

“The Light Wind squad has returned after completing their mission!”

“Let them in.”

Glenn nodded with a low-pitched voice, and the audience door was opened before the Light Wind squad entered the room, covered in dust.

‘That boy…’

Glenn’s fingers trembled as he watched Raon enter the room at the head of the line.

‘Did he grow up once again in the meantime?’

He thought Raon had gained enlightenment from defeating the Specter, but Raon’s body, mind, and martial arts had all grown to a different level while he couldn’t see him.

‘I can never be careless around him.’

He was unconsciously about to remove the cold atmosphere around him when a sharp gaze could be felt from behind the Light Wind squad.

He raised his head and saw that a white-haired old man was looking at him.

‘He must be…’

Glenn dragged the corners of his lips down as they kept rolling upwards and narrowed his eyes.

‘The Sword Demon.’

His reputation as a warrior echoed throughout the continent, but what Glenn was thinking about wasn’t his achievements but the contents of Rimmer’s letter.

‘The Sword Demon is hitting it off with Raon. I almost thought that he was his real grandfather.’

Glenn crushed the throne’s armrest, which had finally been repaired, and twisted his lips.

‘He looked like a real grandfather, he says? How dare he!’

***

If you find any errors or have suggestions, please feel free to provide feedback.

Thank you for reading!

[Author – Writing Ant, 글개미]

[Translator – Kyangi]

[Proofreader – Harley]