Chapter 552

Sylvia stared blankly at Raon. It looked like it still felt unreal for her.

“Raon, my energy center…”

“Yes, it succeeded.”

Raon nodded while looking into Sylvia’s eyes, which were shaking like a leaf in the wind.

“Can you feel it?”

“Yes.”

Sylvia nodded, eyes full of tears.

“I can feel the energy center, mana circuits, and mana.”

She rubbed the lower part of her abdomen with her trembling hand and raised her gaze.

“Yes, the world was always filled with mana like this.”

“......”

Raon held Sylvia’s trembling hand gently.

“I never thought I would feel this way again.”

Sylvia smiled awkwardly. A single tear rolled down from her flushed cheek.

“Thank you. That’s all I can say.”

She repeatedly thanked him with trembling lips.

Don’t be so grateful!

Wrath sniffled with his reddened nose and got stuck on Sylvia’s cheek.

The hard times are over! Only the flowery path shall await you from now on, Mom!

He shook his head, telling her that he would make her even happier in the future.

‘Get away, please.’

Raon pushed Wrath away and wiped the tears from Sylvia’s eyes.

“This is nothing compared to what you’ve done to me, Mother.”

Raon Zieghart never would’ve grown up while forming various bonds with people if he hadn't been born as Sylvia's son.

He would’ve probably given up on human emotions just like in his previous life, instead aiming to become nothing more than a vengeful spirit ready to sacrifice himself and others to kill Derus.

It was because Sylvia was by his side all along that he could learn the warmth of a home with a family and the preciousness of companions. It was all thanks to her that a mere vengeful spirit managed to become a human.

“Do you remember?”

Sylvia smiled innocently while grabbing his hand and wiping her tears.

“You wiped my tears before, back when you weren’t even a year old.”

“......”

Raon briefly nodded without saying anything.

‘There’s no way I would forget.’

Sylvia cried sadly after Glenn visited him for the first time to name him Raon, and Raon unconsciously wiped her tears.

“I resolved myself to protect you no matter what back then, but I don’t think I managed to live up to it. You actually helped me more than I did you.”

Sylvia brought Raon’s hand to her chest and bit her lip tightly.

“I felt pain in my heart every time I saw you. I wanted you to grow up like the child you were, but you matured far too quickly because of our family’s circumstances. I felt truly sorry because I felt like it was my fault.”

She started to talk about herself for the first time.

“And I still think the same way. A twenty-one-year-old born in a house like this would usually cause trouble, act recklessly, and make a fuss with alcohol. However, you’ve always only looked at the future from the beginning. I was proud of you, but I also felt sorry at the same time.”

Sylvia raised her finger and lifted Raon’s cheek by slightly pinching it.

“Only good things are waiting for you in the future, so please smile like a youngster your age from now on. That’s all I want from you.”

Mom, you don’t know him well! He smiles a lot!

Wrath flew in front of Sylvia and shook his head.

But that rascal only smiles when he bullies others and makes fun of them! He’s the definition of the evil fiend—Ack!

‘Shut up.’

Raon chopped Wrath with the back of his hand and smiled brightly at Sylvia.

“I’ll try.”

“I knew it! I really gave birth to a handsome son. What was the term again? Ah! Damn handsome!”

Sylvia gave a big nod while caressing Raon’s cheeks.

“Mom…”

Raon sighed with a face that looked more tired.

“Stop looking at my face. Check it out. We need to see if your energy center’s mana moves as it should.”

“Honestly, it still feels unreal to me.”

Sylvia gulped, saying that she still couldn’t believe that she had a new energy center.

“I’ll try.”

She slowly exhaled and raised her hand. Navy-colored mana surged from her outstretched palm.

Its movement was as fluent as a swimming dolphin. Sylvia Zieghart’s skills still remained after over twenty years of a break.

“This is my aura…”

Sylvia’s red eyes wavered upon seeing the beautiful high-purity mana.

“My mana was originally yellow, but it’s blue now.”

“Do you dislike it?”

“No, I like it even better because you gave it to me. It’s pretty.”

She shook her hand, saying that she liked it even more than before.

“How are you planning to use that aura in the future?”

The amount of mana in Sylvia’s energy center was above a Grandmaster’s level.

If she recovered her body and stamina and increased her realm after that, she could reach the Grandmaster’s realm before long. That was why it was extremely important for her to decide what she wanted to do.

“I’ve already decided.”

The navy-colored mana wavering on her hand spread widely into the shape of a shield.

“I’m going to protect this annex building.”

She smiled while looking out the window, where the sunset was casting a golden glow.

“I’ll be protecting your precious things while you are away.”

Sylvia wasn’t saying that she was going to stay because she was afraid of fighting. Her determination to protect their precious things was dwelling in her eyes.

“Yes, please do that.”

Raon nodded because he could understand her feelings.

“Before then, I have lots of people to thank. I’ll start with Encia…”

Despite the situation, Sylvia started to count the people that she needed to thank.

“Ah!”

Raon remembered Glenn as she mentioned thanking people.

“What’s the matter?”

“Actually, I didn’t connect your mana circuits to your energy center on my own.”

“I know that, of course. There’s Encia, and people protected us from the outside…”

“That’s not what I meant. The head of house visited me a month ago.”

“The head of house did?”

“Yes. He visited at night and…”

Raon told Sylvia about what Glenn had taught him, and what he’d realized earlier.

“I see.”

Sylvia kept her head low for a long time, as if she couldn’t believe such a thing had happened.

“I think I should get that wine called Perriton Blanc and bring it to him for now…”

“No.”

She firmly shook her head and stood up.

“Get that wine and invite him to dinner tomorrow.”

“What?”

Raon’s eyes widened as he looked at Sylvia.

“Will he come?”

Judging from Glenn’s personality, Raon thought that he would refuse the invitation, satisfied with restoring Sylvia’s energy center.

“Yes, he will come,” Sylvia asserted and walked towards the door.

“Ah, Mom! Wait…”

Raon tried to stop her, but Sylvia had already opened the door.

“Huff! Madam!”

Helen was crouching on the floor, but she ran up to Sylvia upon seeing her.

“Madam!”

“Are you okay?”

“I’m glad you are safe!”

The maids also trotted up to her with teary eyes.

“It’s all thanks to my son.”

Sylvia nodded and unleashed her aura above her hand. Her mana looked like a fish leisurely swimming in the air.

“It was successful…”

Encia exhaled deeply, her hands put together. Despite her confident appearance, she must’ve been nervous inside.

“Thank you, everyone.”

Slyvia smiled brightly while hugging the maids and Encia.

“Hmm…”

“B-but…”

“It stinks like the sewers for some reason…”

Encia, Helen, and the maids quickly stepped away from Sylvia while pinching their noses. Some of the maids with weak stomachs were even retching.

“Huh?”

Sylvia widened her eyes, unable to understand what was happening.

“Erm…”

Raon scratched the back of his head and pointed at the black smudges covering the carpet.

“Those are the impurities that came out of your body. It must stink a lot…”

“You should’ve told me about it before I opened the door!”

Sylvia ran up to Raon with a flushed face and smacked his chest.

Whack!

Raon was unable to keep his legs on the ground because of the sudden impact and was sent flying outside while destroying the wall. It was because Sylvia couldn’t control her strength in her embarrassment.

“R-Raon!”

“Young master!”

“Kyaaah!”

Sylvia and the maids followed Raon outside while screaming.

......

Wrath stroked his chin while watching that scene.

Did he inherit his violence from his family?

* * *

Sheryl clenched his fist while watching the ruckus in the annex building.

“They must’ve succeeded!”

“Yes.”

Glenn slowly nodded behind her with his arms crossed.

“He properly connected her mana circuits to the energy center.”

Glenn smiled gently as he watched Sylvia check on Raon, who had collapsed.

‘I never expected to see her control mana once again.’

Sylvia had been smiling brightly as she raised Raon, but there was always a shadow of darkness lingering in the corners of her eyes.

It was a natural outcome since she lost her energy center, which was a punishment even worse than death for warriors.

However, the darkness was completely gone after the new energy center settled in her body.

He felt like the Sylvia from her youth had returned even though he didn’t even look at her back then because he was consumed by darkness.

“Haa.”

Roenn also sighed in relief and brushed a hand down his chest.

“It was worth teaching him the Perriton Physical Combat Arts. The young master Raon really did great.”

“Yes. He seems even more knowledgeable than me now.”

Glenn’s lips faintly curved into a smile as he watched Raon stand up.

‘Good job.’

Even though he was the one who taught him the Perriton Physical Combat Arts, carrying it out perfectly was Raon’s achievement.

He was proud of Raon for treating Sylvia with an accomplishment that had surpassed his expectations.

“I think they are holding a party to celebrate the recovery of Sylvia’s energy center.”

Sheryl turned around with a smile. She must’ve heard what they were saying in the annex building.

“You should join them, my lord.”

She pointed at the annex building, asking him to join them together.

“......”

Glenn quietly looked down at the annex building without responding to her.

“It’d be better to let them share the joy with people they are comfortable with.”

He shook his head and turned around.

“My lord…”

“Let’s take our leave.”

Glenn left the North Grave Mountain without hesitation after he witnessed the bright smiles on Sylvia and Raon’s faces.

“Well…”

Roenn laughed gently while looking at Raon instead of Glenn.

“The young master might be thinking differently.”

* * *

Raon rubbed his chest while heading to the annex building’s garden.

‘It hurts…’

Even though he was completely unprepared, he felt like he was smacked by an iron hammer. He could guess that Sylvia’s might had completely revived.

However, he wasn’t too sure if he should be happy about it because it hurt too much.

“The annex building is always noisy.”

The Gambling Monster, who’d been guarding the main entrance, laughed bitterly.

“How is Sylvia’s condition?”

“It went even better than I expected. The mana loss was minimal, and she can surpass the wall at any moment as long as she masters her realm.”

Raon smiled while massaging his chest.

“Good job.”

The Gambling Monster walked up to him and patted his shoulder.

“You’ve already saved two people.”

Rimmer stood up from the ground and raised his index and middle fingers.

“Me and your mom. You must be talented in saving people.”

He smiled, telling him that he did a good job as well.

“No, I was just lucky…”

“Let’s settle the payment first before being modest. I’ve been rather tight on funds recently. Hehe.”

Rimmer created a circle with his raised fingers and asked for money.

He maintained his playful attitude while asking for money, unlike usual. It seemed to be his way of congratulating him.

“Thank you for helping, both of you.”

Raon bowed at them.

“No, stop changing the topic and give me the money!”

However, Rimmer was apparently serious about it.

“You are insane.”

The Gambling Monster shook his head at his ridiculous behavior.

Raon ignored Rimmer and went towards the garden.

Flutter!

Along with the sound of chickens spreading their wings, Dorian, Burren, Martha, and Runaan suddenly came out.

“Why are you even here?”

Raon had deliberately kept it from them to avoid disrupting their training, but they still managed to learn about it somehow and came all the way there.

“W-we were worried,” Dorian responded, looking around furtively.

“Can you ask for help at times like this?” Burren asked as he furrowed his brow in disappointment.

“Do you only use your mouth for eating? You need to blabber sometimes!” Martha also ground her teeth in irritation.

“Not handsome? Ugly looking? Damn ugly!” Runaan briskly turned her head, calling him ugly for once.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t want to disturb your training.”

“What you did disturbed us even more!”

Martha smacked his chest with her fist. Fortunately, it hurt less than Sylvia’s strike.

“So it ended up being okay, right?” Burren asked after a small break.

“Yes, it ended well.”

“It’s fine, then.”

He nodded, saying that everything was fine since it ended up nicely.

“Sniff, I’m so glad…”

Dorian pouted with teary eyes. Even though he’d become less of a coward, his tendency to cry easily didn’t change.

“Haa…”

Runaan also exhaled deeply and sank to the ground.

Raon smiled faintly while watching the team leaders and Dorian, who were relieved as they recovered their smiles.

‘It was all thanks to my mother that I’ve gained this relationship with them.’

If Sylvia hadn’t taught him about the relationships between human beings, he would’ve simply considered them competitors.

He thought once again that she did a lot more for him than he did for her.

“But why are you looking so serious?”

Dorian tilted his head, asking what he was thinking about on such a joyful occasion.

“There is something I need to buy and something I need to do, but it’s a bit difficult.”

“What do you need to buy?”

“It’s a wine called Perriton Blanc…”

“Ah, I have that one!”

He put his hand in his belly pocket, saying that he had the Perriton Blanc.

“Hmm?”

However, Dorian waited instead of taking out the wine right away like always.

‘Does he not have it? I guess it would be strange if he had everything in there.’

Raon was thinking that it was a shame but it couldn’t be helped when Dorian continued, “Which vintage are you looking for?”

“Huh…?”

“I’m asking about the vintage since I have lots of Perriton Blancs. I have everything from last year down to 30’s.”

“D-do you really have all of these?”

“They are necessities.”

Raon gasped while watching Dorian take out the Perriton Blancs of each year.

‘What doesn’t count as a necessity for you?’

* * *

Glenn buried his back into the throne and closed his faintly shaking eyelids.

Sylvia’s bright expression that he’d seen in the annexed building was clearly visible, like a painting.

‘Yes, I’m happy with that.’

There were so many things he didn’t do for his youngest daughter, Sylvia. It was more accurate to say that he did too many things he shouldn’t have done to her.

Even though malice and desire were dominating his mind, treating her daughter as even worse than a pebble on the roadside was a sin that could never be forgiven.

He realized it as soon as he saw Sylvia’s smile. He was asking too much from them even though he didn’t deserve to be a father or a grandfather.

‘I’ll just protect them from the shadows, just like I’ve been doing.’

He didn’t deserve to join them. He had to be satisfied with being a wall protecting Raon and Sylvia, as if nothing had happened. That was the right thing to do.

Whir.

By the time Glenn opened his eyes once again, he returned to being the lifeless supreme being, just like before he’d met Raon. His icy cold gaze looked upon the world in boredom.

“Haa…”

Sherly sighed quietly. She could understand Glenn’s behavior, but she was also frustrated at the same time.

“......”

Roenn was quietly standing next to him with his eyes closed.

As the suffocating silence continued, a blunt knock could be heard from the audience chamber’s door.

“I’ll go out.”

Glenn shook his hand when Roenn was about to move.

“Enter.”

Glenn allowed their entry. He seemed to be aware of who was outside the room.

Rumble!

The audience chamber’s door opened, and Raon made his entrance. He calmly walked up to him and went on his knees.

“Greetings, my lord.”

“Get to the point already.”

Glenn shook his hand, telling him to state his business because it was annoying.

“Yes.”

Raon stood up and took out five bottles of Perriton Blanc from his subspace pocket.

“I’ve acquired the aforementioned wines.”

“…I see.”

Glenn twisted his lips while looking at the wine bottles that Raon was holding.

‘This must be the right thing to do.’

He wanted to drink them with Raon, but it would be an excessive reward for him.

He had to be satisfied with the fact that his precious grandson gave him the liquor.

“I’ll make sure to enjoy the drink.”

Glenn gestured with his chin, and Roenn, understanding the signal, walked up to Raon to accept the liquor.

“My lord.”

However, Raon looked at Glenn once again without handing over the liquor.

“The Perriton Physical Combat Arts were extremely helpful for restoring my mother’s energy center today. That’s why…”

Raon pulled the bottles back and raised his gaze.

“If it’s okay for you, could we have dinner together tomorrow in the annex building?”

He bowed at him, clearly inviting him to come to the annex building.

Gulp.

Glenn swallowed nervously before he knew it. His back twitched from where it was buried in the throne.

His dry lips parted as he strained his entire body in order to avoid revealing his feelings.

***

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]