Chapter 555

Raon’s jaw dropped as he looked at Sylvia. On top of shouting she was free, she even raised her arms towards the sky and shouted like a slave that had regained their freedom.

‘H-how is this happening?’

Raon had never imagined that Sylvia would shout that she was free because she’d been following his training so nicely. He felt like he was having a nightmare.

Nightmare? What the heck?!

Wrath approached him while glaring at him.

You were the nightmare for Mom!

He shook his head, telling him that he was so bad at reading the mood. Raon had never expected that the cotton candy would tell him that he was bad at reading the mood. He was so shocked that he couldn’t even think straight.

“M-mom.”

Raon raised his trembling finger and called out to Sylvia.

“Haa…”

Sylvia sighed deeply and looked at Raon.

“It was seriously too hard. Training is fine, but do it in moderation!”

She glared at him sideways, telling him that it was so painful to endure his training.

“But you like it too, Mom. You even smiled because your skills were improving quickly…”

Raon even called her ‘mom’ like during his childhood instead of ‘mother’ because of how shocked he was.

“I wasn’t smiling because I was happy. I was laughing bitterly because it was too painful! You can’t read the mood at all, my son!”

Sylvia furrowed her brow and stomped the ground.

“Ah…”

Raon’s chin trembled as he observed Sylvia’s frown.

“But Mom, you said you wanted to train hard…”

“I didn’t know it would be this hard! I get criticized here all day long, then return to the annex building just to be scolded during the night training! What I want to do is train hard, not to die!”

She shook her head violently, saying that she would’ve given up a long time ago if Raon weren’t her son.

“Wh-what? Were you training even more after that?”

Burren’s jaw dropped in surprise.

“You kept going with another round of training of the same intensity in the annex building? He’s seriously insane…”

Martha also frowned, saying that she never thought he was that bad.

“Raon is a demon…”

Runaan’s shoulders trembled, saying that she was afraid of him.

“Uhh, I think he’ll shed poison instead of blood if we stab him.”

Dorian also stepped back in fear.

“Ugh…”

Raon bit his lip tightly, unable to argue against the team leaders and Dorian.

“M-mom, but your skills have definitely improved. You can’t find anyone who has improved so quickly even among the Six Kings!”

“I gained those skills by spending my lifespan! I would’ve seriously died if it continued a bit longer!”

Raon really had no more excuses because Sylvia said that even her lifespan was decreased.

Wahahaha!

Wrath started to laugh while covering his belly.

The day finally came when your mouth stays shut! It’s even sweeter than mint chocolate!

He patted Sylvia’s back and blabbered at her to continue.

“Raon, I’ve stayed in the annex building for over twenty years. I’ve done housework and tended the garden with the maids, but I stopped all activities as a swordswoman.”

Sylvia raised her unfocused eyes.

“After what happened, there’s no way I can follow your training just because I’ve gained an energy center. Improving my skills isn’t the issue here. I’m lucky to have survived at all!”

She frantically shook her head. Her blonde hair fluttered in the air, messy from the sand.

“Wait, you should’ve said something…”

“You didn’t listen even when I said so!”

“Wh-when…?”

“I asked if we could take a little break, if we could try a different type of training! But you said that the basics are important and forced me to endlessly repeat the basic techniques!”

Sylvia rapidly twitched her lips as if she’d gained a great chance to vent her frustration.

“Moreover, you kept criticizing me without complimenting me even once. Do you think you could endure it in my place?”

“I like it better though…”

“What?”

“Nothing.”

Raon scratched his cheek and lowered his voice. His previous life went without saying, and he’d been learning from Glenn or Rimmer, which meant he was almost never complimented.

He just did what he’d always been doing, yet he was being scolded for it. Raon didn’t know what to do.

“Anyway, I’m seriously tired now.”

Sylvia lay flat on the ground. She closed her eyes, saying that she was going to rest for a while.

The King of Essence has been telling you this whole time. No one is as crazy as you for training, even in Devildom.

Wrath shook his hand, a smile hanging on his lips.

Mom! Don’t worry. The King of Essence will take care of you from now on since he is humane.

‘Ugh…’

Raon was extremely frustrated by the fact that he couldn’t refute the demon king calling himself humane while patting Sylvia’s shoulder.

“I knew it.”

Rimmer came up next to him and chuckled.

“You should’ve given her some freedom just like your great teacher did.”

He shrugged his shoulders, saying that education nowadays required a mixture of freedom and pressure.

“Haa…”

Raon sighed. He felt suffocated by the fact that he was being laughed at by his master, who just let his students do whatever they wanted.

“You are way too strict. People need to be soft sometimes…”

“Please tell us about the mission.”

“How impatient. It’s not a big mission.”

Rimmer licked his lips and unfolded the paper with the mission on it.

“We’ve got a message from the Sinigan branch. Something that seems to be the South-North Union’s hideout was made in the South, and cases of disappearances have increased. That’s why they want us to investigate it.”

“South-North Union…”

Unlike the Axe King, it’d been a while since the last time he’d heard about the South-North Union itself. Since they’d been quiet so far, it wouldn’t be strange if they were trying to increase the number of hideouts they had.

“But the missions our division leader brought us have always been difficult, despite their simple appearance…”

“Yeah, they always became difficult for some reason.”

“Jinxed.”

Burren, Martha, and Runaan furrowed their brows, suspicious of Rimmer’s ability to choose a mission.

“It can’t be helped! The upper echelon always takes all the nice and easy missions!”

Rimmer shook his hand, telling them to make him a palace master if they wanted a good mission.

“Anyway, we’ll depart in three days. It’s not an urgent mission, but make sure to prepare thoroughly. And you should learn some moderation.”

He patted Raon’s shoulder and left casually.

“Haa…”

Raon sighed while looking at Sylvia, who didn’t even get back up until Rimmer left. She really seemed to be planning to rest like that.

“Our demonic vice division leader is going to be quieter from now on.”

Krein grinned while looking around at the Light Wind swordsmen.

“Doesn’t it make you happy to just think about how depressed he is going to be for a while?”

He shook his head, saying that their training had been too difficult, just like Sylvia’s.

“Where’s Lady Encia? I want to keep his shocked face as a photo… Hmm?”

Krein stopped speaking and tilted his head. The swordsmen were simply standing there without saying anything.

“Why aren’t you saying anything? We won’t have another chance to make fun of him!”

“L-look behind…”

“Behind? What’s behind… Gasp!”

He started to turn his head around and suddenly stopped. Raon was breathing fiercely, his red eyes glowing even more intensely than the sun.

“S-Sir Raon! I-I was just…”

Krein tried to run away, but Raon grasped his head and forced him to turn his head around.

“I have no intention of becoming quiet. I do, however, want to make you quiet instead. How about it?”

He looked around at the Light Wind swordsmen with a frightening smile on his face.

“I just need to teach you just like I taught my mother now, right?”

“Ah, th-that’s physically impossible…”

Krein smiled awkwardly and shook his head.

“We aren’t as talented as Lady Sylvia, and we have to prepare for the mission…”

“You only need one hour to prepare.”

“What?”

“We will proceed with practical combat training until we leave for the mission. Of course, you will be facing me, and the first participant will be…”

Raon let his eyes roam over the group, trying to pick his first opponent.

“Ugh!”

“Hieeh!”

The Light Wind swordsmen stepped back and created an arena around Raon and Krein as if it were a natural thing to do.

“Krein, I choose you.”

Raon bobbed his finger, gesturing for him to attack.

“Why is it me again?!”

* * *

“Yaaawn.”

A woman with narrow eyes yawned widely enough for her mouth to tear while looking at the window, where the dawn breeze was blowing.

“Licia, is it that boring?”

The branch manager with a kind face smiled lightly, sitting at a desk inside.

“Being on duty is always boring, but the Sinigan region itself is too uninteresting. The hideout created in the south is way too small, and there’s House Lakion at the east, making everything run fine without me doing anything.”

The woman called Licia yawned once again and put her chin on the desk.

“So that’s why you requested to return at the end of the year.”

The branch manager put down the book he was reading and shook his head.

“The main house is a coldhearted place, unlike this branch. They won’t even look at you if you fall behind even in the slightest. Stay there for a single week, and you will already miss this boring place.”

“I came from the main house too. You are looking down on me too much!”

Licia pouted while looking at the branch manager.

“And the fact that this place is boring wasn’t the only reason I requested to return.”

“Then what?”

“The duel to death between the Light Wind vice division leader and the Axe King is going to take place on the first of the year.”

She put her hands together while throwing her gaze outside the window.

“I’ve seen many handsome men so far in my life, but I’ve never seen anyone like Sir Raon. Imagining him defeating the Axe King with that handsome face makes me just so…”

Licia stared at the moon with a dreamy look in her eyes, as if she were dreaming of Raon cutting off the Axe King’s head.

“I might sound like a party pooper, but the Axe King is powerful. He was famous as a powerful axe wielder even before the Light Wind vice division leader was born. I honestly think that it will be difficult for him to win. Getting a draw would be the best outcome.”

“Sir Raon defeated the mad dragon Kaibar. He won’t lose to a human being.”

“The Axe King is also capable of slaying a dragon if he had the opportunity.”

“Whose side are you on, branch manager?”

“Of course I want the Light Wind vice division leader to win. I’m just trying to tell you that you shouldn’t underestimate the enemy.”

The branch manager shook his hand, and the warrior who’d been keeping watch outside entered the room.

“Branch manager? We need you to come out.”

The warrior carefully lowered his head.

“What’s the matter?”

The branch manager and Licia stood up and went outside.

“A child?”

A little girl with characteristic red hair was standing behind the warrior with her shoulders hunched.

She seemed to be in so much of a hurry that one of her shoes was missing, and her expensive looking clothes had become ragged.

“W-wait, you’re…”

The branch manager’s eyes widened upon checking the girl’s face.

“Siollen!”

The little girl was the youngest daughter of House Lakion, Zieghart’s vassal house. He couldn’t be mistaken because he’d greeted her during the head of House Lakion’s birthday in the previous year.

“What happened?! Were you attacked or something?”

The branch manager gasped, unable to understand why House Lakion’s cherished youngest daughter looked like a beggar.

“Let’s calm her down for now and ask her.”

Licia went to the break room, saying that she would bring some warm water.

“Yes, we should.”

“Pl-please deliver my message to Zieghart!”

The branch manager sighed while nodding his head, and Siollen grabbed his sleeve.

“Hmm, come and sit over here.”

Because Siollen’s legs were trembling, the branch manager made her sit on the sofa at the center of the branch.

“I’ll listen to you, so tell me slowly.”

“Haa…”

Siollen clutched her chest and caught her breath. She seemed to have made up her mind as she raised her gaze to meet the branch manager’s eyes.

“W-we’ve been getting many cases of disappearance in our house recently. Even the people who’ve been close to me suddenly left the house without even saying goodbye.”

“Hmm…”

The branch manager groaned. Sudden disappearance of house members wasn’t a good sign, especially when there were many of them.

“On the other hand, unknown guests keep entering the house to replace the people who’ve left. I looked into it while hiding because I had a bad feeling about it, and they…”

Stollen was about to continue with her trembling voice when…

Rumble!

The main entrance of the branch was opened violently, and a red-haired middle-aged man entered as if he were walking into his home.

He had a golden eyepatch over his left eye, and his remaining eye on the right side was blazing with an overwhelming aura.

“S-swordsman Beltz?”

The man who entered the branch was Beltz Lakion, the head of House Lakion’s first son, who was already nominated as the successor.

“Excuse me for my little sister’s intrusion.”

Beltz politely lowered his head at the branch manager.

“She’s been throwing a tantrum recently because she finds her training to be too hard. Please understand her, even if she said something strange.”

His lips were curved into a gentle smile, unlike the overwhelming aura around his eyes.

“Uhh…”

Siollen’s hands trembled violently as if she were terrified even though she was looking at her blood-related brother.

“Hmm…”

The branch manager held Siollen’s trembling hand and hid her behind his back.

“I understand, of course. However, I’m currently having a personal talk with Lady Siollen. Could you wait for a moment?”

“......”

Beltz didn’t respond, and his cheerful looking smile turned dark.

“You must’ve heard it.”

“Swordsman Beltz?”

“It can’t be helped.”

His lips rolled into a smile and he unsheathed the longsword from his back.

“Wh-what do you think you are doing?! You are at Zieghart’s branch…”

“So what?”

Beltz ignored the branch manager and slashed down with his longsword like lightning.

“Kuh!”

The branch manager pushed Siollen back to prevent her from getting hit by the sword attack, raising the side of his hand. Even though he was taken by surprise, his aura wasn’t wavering.

Slash!

However, Beltz’s longsword cut through the branch manager’s aura like a piece of paper and even severed his neck.

“Ah…”

“Br-branch manager!”

The warriors’ lips trembled upon seeing the branch manager’s head rolling on the ground. Their expressions were filled with disbelief at the situation.

“Kyaaah!”

As Licia brought the tea into the room, she dropped the tray and screamed.

“Br-branch manager… Kuh!”

Licia rapidly came back to her senses and ran inside in order to send an emergency signal to the main house.

Beltz seemed to have noticed her intention. He raised his longsword and launched it like a spear.

Rumble!

The longsword destroyed the wall and cut Licia’s body behind it in half. Rubble stained with blood crumbled pitifully.

“My sister.”

Beltz looked down on Siollen with his completely emotionless eyes as her pale lips trembled intensely.

“It’s all your fault that the people in this branch are dying.”

With that as the last word, no more voices could be heard from the Sinigan branch. All they had left were screams of despair.

* * *

Raon left his room at dawn, before sunrise.

Just like every other time he went on a mission, Sylvia and the maids were standing in front of the entrance.

“Young master, please be careful and return safely.”

“Don’t overexert yourself like you did during the last mission.”

“We’ve dried some beef jerky. Please eat it when you get hungry.”

Helen and the maids gave him the beef jerky and snacks that they’d prepared, lowering their heads while telling him to have a safe trip.

Those parts were the same as every other mission. However, there was one difference.

“Raon, come back safely.”

Even though Sylvia used to be unable to hide her worry whenever he went on a mission, her lips were trembling faintly.

“Mother…”

Raon knit his brows upon seeing Sylvia’s lips.

“Are you that happy that I’m leaving on a mission?”

“H-happy? What are you talking about?!”

Sylvia shook her head violently.

“My face is just stiff because I woke up recently.”

She lifted the corners of her lips with her finger before lowering them again and smiled awkwardly.

“I already heard you being happy about it in your room.”

Raon narrowed his eyes while looking at Sylvia.

‘I heard her very clearly.’

He’d heard Sylvia’s cheer at dawn. If he was cultivating his aura, his mana circuits would’ve been messed up and caused him an internal injury.

“Ah…”

Sylvia rubbed the back of her head, unable to give any excuses.

“I guess it’s not soundproof even after the renovation. Maybe we need to call the builder again.”

She looked around awkwardly.

“Haa…”

Raon sighed while watching Sylvia avert her gaze.

He’d previously thought her nagging was annoying, but he felt slightly regretful that she was so happy about his departure.

This is so fun.

Wrath approached him and patted his shoulder.

He never thought that your misery would be so entertaining to watch!

‘Shut up.’

Raon pushed Wrath away and briefly clicked his tongue.

“Raon.”

Sylvia stepped forward and held his hand. Her lips were curved into a faint smile.

“Training with you was really painful, but there were some good parts.”

“Of course, because your skills rapidly…”

“That’s not it.”

She shook her head firmly.

“I could learn how hard you’ve been training and how powerful you’ve become. That’s why I can send you on a mission without any worry.”

Sylvia caressed Raon’s head, saying that she was just joking.

“Come back safely.”

“Okay.”

Raon smiled faintly and answered Sylvia’s goodbye.

“I’m going to check how much you’ve improved after I return.”

“Alright.”

Sylvia confidently clenched her fist.

Raon’s mood finally improved, and he met the eyes of Sylvia and the maids one after the other.

“I’ll be back.”

That was the last thing he said before he left the annex building.

He looked at the tip of his fingers, where Sylvia’s warmth still lingered, as he passed by the garden where the greenery of spring had started to sprout.

‘Forget about the rest. I’m just glad that my mother became healthy.’

Sylvia had always been gloomy when her energy center and mana circuits were broken, and she often collapsed because she exhausted herself quickly.

Watching her being healthy made acquiring the energy center worthwhile.

‘I’m satisfied with th—’

“I’m really free now! Everyone, shout!”

“Whoaaaa!”

Sylvia’s loud shout could be heard from inside the annex building just before Raon left the garden.

As if her kind words were nothing but a lie, her loud voice was filled with happiness.

“M-mom…”

Raon looked back with trembling lips.

Are you really satisfied now?

Wrath patted his shoulder with a broad grin on his face. The deep sneer on his face made it look like he wanted to pay back all the grudges he’d been holding so far.

It looks like Mom likes the King of Essence more than you, after all!

“Kuh…”

Raon didn’t respond and went to the fifth training ground. His footsteps were as violent as a storm.

‘I’ll destroy whatever enemy I encounter.’

Who are you going to destroy when it’s just an investigation mission?

‘Shut up!’

***

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]