Chapter 557

“St-strange? What do you mean by that?”

Gelf’s eyes widened, unsure of what he meant.

“......”

Raon didn’t answer his question, instead looking back. He finished looking at all the other corpses and nodded.

‘I knew it. It’s the same with all of them.’

The necks and wrists were ripped out violently, as if they were trying to show that they were killed by the blood demons from the White Blood Religion. Raon thought that he would’ve believed it was the White Blood Religion’s doing if he’d examined them carelessly.

However, a careful examination allowed him to tell that the perpetrator had made a mistake.

‘The wounds were made at different times.’

The wounds on the warriors’ wrists and necks, caused by bloodsucking, were inflicted after the fatal wounds—their hearts being pulled out or the slashes made to their waists.

‘That doesn’t make any sense. Most of the White Blood Religion’s blood demons suck the blood and devour the flesh of living people.’

The bloody festival of the White Blood Religion was a ceremony where they sacrificed living people to the blood god. That was why drinking fresh blood was mandatory.

This meant that they had to drink the blood and devour the flesh of a living person instead of a corpse, but most of the corpse around him had been gnawed after they had perished.

‘Someone plotted this.’

He could ascertain it once he checked the other corpses after the young woman.

‘Moreover, the biggest reason is…’

Raon used his left hand to stroke the Blade of Requiem equipped behind him 

‘The Blade of Requiem didn’t cry.’

The Blade of Requiem was capable of sensing even the faintest bloody energy that even he couldn’t notice. However, it was only showing its sadness for the deceased—not anger towards the White Blood Religion.

The branch’s personnel weren’t killed by the White Blood Religion, but some unknown perpetrators who had disguised themselves as the White Blood Religion.

“He’s right.”

Martha nodded after she examined a middle-aged warrior’s corpse.

“Those people weren’t killed by the White Blood Religion.”

“Wh-what do you mean…?”

Dorian stepped back in surprise.

“When the White Blood Religion bastards devour flesh while using their bloody cultivation technique, the veins widen towards the outside so that more blood can gush from them.”

Martha continued, while pointing at the neck of a corpse, “But all those corpses have their veins shrunken inwards. They might have been bitten off by teeth, but it wasn’t the White Blood Religion’s doing. It was faked.”

She shook her head in certainty.

Raon smiled faintly while watching Martha confidently declare that it wasn’t the White Blood Religion’s doing.

‘Has she been investigating all along?’

He could guess that Martha had been continuously investigating the White Blood Religion in order to save her mother. That must’ve been why she noticed at a glance that it wasn’t the White Blood Religion’s doing.

“She is right.”

Raon agreed with Martha and looked at Gelf and Beltz.

“The blood vessels aren’t the only proof. You can also see that the injuries on their wrists and necks were made after their deaths. The White Blood Religion wouldn’t do that since they suck the blood of the living. This wasn’t done by the White Blood Religion but someone who pretended to be the White Blood Religion.”

Raon showed everyone that the color inside the wounds on the corpses’ necks and wrists were slightly different.

“How did you figure that out?”

Martha tilted her head, finding it strange that Raon knew about it.

“Of course I would know that.”

Since the White Blood Religion was pretty much their main enemy, a continuous investigation about them was mandatory.

“Hmm…”

As soon as Martha heard his response, she frowned like she heard something strange and quickly gained distance.

“What are you even doing?”

Raon laughed bitterly, and Beltz approached the corpses. Raon could feel a cold and heavy atmosphere around him, as if he were in a bad mood.

“......”

Beltz slowly examined the corpses without saying anything before he stood up.

“You seem to be right.”

He prudently nodded his chin after looking at Raon and Martha one after the other.

“I don’t know about their blood vessels because I’ve never encountered the White Blood Religion, but the wounds were clearly made at different times. Someone must’ve tried to pretend that it was the White Blood Religion’s doing.”

Beltz sighed after he willingly admitted that he was wrong.

“It’s understandable that you don’t know if you never faced them.”

Martha shook her hand, saying that it was fine. She was giving an unusually gentle reaction because Beltz went ahead and acknowledged his mistake.

“......”

Raon narrowed his eyes while watching Beltz making a polite posture towards Martha.

‘Did he really not notice?’

Beltz’s title was the Sword of Great Wisdom. He had a calm and collected personality, and he was the next head of House Lakion. Raon couldn’t understand how he was deceived by that small trick.

‘I shouldn’t suspect him unconditionally, but I should be careful… Hmm?’

As he was thinking that he should be careful about him, an inexplicable stench wafted from Beltz.

The foul odor was similar to the one creeping up from a pit of accumulated trash. It stimulated his sense of smell and even his soul for a very brief moment before it faded away.

‘What was that?’

Raon’s eyes widened and he looked at the others.

Burren, Martha, and Dorian were peacefully talking with him without noticing anything despite being right next to him.

‘Am I the only one who noticed that stench?’

The King of Essence noticed it as well.

Wrath clicked his tongue with irritated eyes.

That was the scent of corrupted demonic energy.

‘Corrupted demonic energy?’

It’s the foul stench of pure demonic energy, stained and tainted with filth. It’s impossible to distinguish whose energy it was because it’s become too distorted.

He rubbed his own nose, saying that it was a filthy stench.

‘Demonic energy…’

The Black Tower and the Demon Reception Society were the only groups who used demonic energy.

However, it could be someone else, as they could’ve used something like an artifact covered in demonic energy.

‘Regardless of the case, we will have to stay alert.’

He examined the corpses once again just in case, but he couldn’t find even the slightest amount of demonic energy. He figured he would have to slowly determine what kind of secret Beltz was hiding.

“Sir Gelf.” Raon looked at Gelf and asked, “What happened to the southern hideout?”

“Ah, we got a message earlier, and they apparently ran away after they completely destroyed the hideout.”

Gelf responded with dumbfounded eyes. He looked like he still couldn’t believe that the White Blood Religion wasn’t the perpetrator.

“We’ll need to start by investigating them.”

Burren briefly clicked his tongue.

He agreed that it was necessary to investigate the hideout, but he had a feeling that they wouldn’t find anything even if they went there.

“Let’s return these people to the house first.”

Raon covered the corpses with the tarp and closed his eyes to pray for their repose.

“Yes, we should. That’s the right thing to do.”

Dorian nodded, agreeing with him.

“How about coming to our house after that? There shouldn’t be anywhere to sleep around here.”

Beltz walked up to Rimmer and invited them to House Lakion in the east.

“Hmm…”

Rimmer seemed to be thinking about something as he licked his lips and raised his gaze.

“Raon, what do you think?”

“Let’s go.”

Since he was suspicious, watching him more closely was the correct course of action.

Raon bit down his lip tightly while looking at the swordsmen from the house who had perished without even closing their eyes.

‘Regardless of who our opponent is, we’ll make sure to avenge you.’

* * *

Raon and the Light Wind division departed from the Sinigan branch after they asked a company that traded with Zieghart to bring the deceased to the house.

Since they had examined all of the corpses one by one, they only managed to enter House Lakion when the moon was crawling to the center of the sky.

The darkness was engulfing the world like a veil because of the late hour, but the inside of House Lakion was as bright as the day thanks to the numerous light sources.

“Welcome to Lakion.”

Beltz nodded politely but not excessively, and the main gate—which was bathed in red light—opened.

‘This house is also tremendous.’

House Lakion was on a whole different scale from the other houses.

It almost looked like a royal palace instead of a house. It was smaller than Zieghart, but the buildings and facilities couldn’t be compared to an ordinary house.

He followed Beltz and walked down the main avenue, where the swordsmen around them bowed in a disciplined manner.

As expected of a house famous for their longsword technique, all of the warriors were emanating sharp and noble pressures.

“This is the lord’s manor, where our head of house dwells.”

Beltz stopped walking in front of a majestic building as tall as a spire, located at the innermost area of the estate. Its shape resembled a longsword piercing the sky.

‘So it’s this place…’

Raon rubbed his fingers while listening to him. He could feel an energy as powerful as a sharpened blade from inside.

“Ahem.”

Beltz briefly cleared his throat and knocked on the door adorned with a drawing of a red lion.

“My lord, I’ve brought the guests from Zieghart.”

“Enter.”

The voice that immediately responded sounded so heavy that it felt like a weight was attached to it. It sounded like he was talking from right behind the door, but also from the end of a long cave at the same time.

“Yes.”

Beltz nodded, opened the door, and entered the room.

Raon glanced at the Light Wind division before he followed Beltz into the lord’s manor.

The entire lord’s manor seemed to function as an audience chamber, unlike Zieghart, because no other room could be seen. There was only a broad path leading to the platform at the center.

Luxurious. The place felt like the definition of that word. Every single thread of the red carpet felt alive, giving the impression that he was stepping on living grass, and the works of art lined up on the sides seemed priceless at a glance.

“Welcome.”

A red haired old man stood up from the platform, which seemed to be made of gold instead of stone.

His body wasn’t that big, but his powerful pressure made it feel like a mountain was rising, and his pupils were full of life despite the wrinkles on his face.

“I’m the head of Lakion, Huan.”

Huan Lakion gestured arrogantly with his chin while looking down on the Light Wind division as a whole.

“Greetings, head of House Lakion.”

Raon greeted, and the Light Wind division lowered their heads at Huan after him.

“What a joyful occasion, to see such tall and heroic figures.”

“It’s been a long time, War Phantom division leader.”

“Ah…”

Rimmer furrowed his brow as soon as he heard the name of the War Phantom division

“I’m the Light Wind division leader now. Can you call me by the correct title?”

“Ah, my bad. I’ve gotten too old.”

Huan Lakion laughed loudly and shook his hand.

“Which means… are you the Dragon Slayer?”

His dark gaze parted from Rimmer and reached Raon.

“You are indeed on a different level. To have such power at twenty-one years old, I wouldn’t have believed it if I didn’t see you myself.”

Huan’s throat was wavering, showing that he was surprised from the bottom of his heart.

“Since the Dragon Slayer and the Sword of Light are visiting us, we shall hold a banquet.”

He murmured that he was going to prepare some drinks since he couldn’t miss such a joyous occasion.

“I’m sorry.”

Raon stepped forward and shook his head.

“Since we’ve lost our family’s members, we aren’t in a situation to have a drink. Please understand.”

Raon carefully showed his refusal.

“Hmm, that’s true. I almost made a mistake.”

Huan laughed while slapping his own forehead.

“I’m sorry, old men at this age often end up rambling. I hope you understand.”

He apologized for his mistake and called for Beltz.

“Beltz.”

“Yes.”

Beltz went onto the platform upon hearing Huan’s call.

“How did it go? Was it the White Blood Religion who attacked the Sinigan branch?”

“No, it wasn’t.”

“It wasn’t?”

“Yes. We found this out thanks to the swordsman Raon and the swordswoman Martha…”

He reported everything that happened in Sinigan to Huan.

“You fool!”

Huan violently ground his teeth and slapped Beltz’s cheek. With the sound of a bursting drum, blood splattered from Beltz’s mouth and seeped into the red carpet.

“You couldn’t even figure that out! How could you humiliate us in front of our guests?!”

Beltz turned his head and Huan slapped his cheek a few more times while shouting.

“Hmm…”

Raon narrowed his eyes while watching Huan and Beltz.

‘The general opinion about him is that he is powerful but has a violent and thoughtless personality. It was also noted that, interestingly enough, he is well aware of his own limitations.’

The man called Huan was exactly how the report from the Black Market and the Shadow Agents’ information described.

However, Raon still hadn’t expected him to humiliate his successor, Beltz, by using violence in front of the Light Wind division, who were outsiders. He was even more thoughtless than expected.

“I’m sorry for the unnecessary trouble caused by him.”

“It’s fine.”

Beltz was hanging his head, and Raon shook his head while looking at his back.

“I must’ve kept you here for too long when you must be tired. Rest well for today.”

Huan unfurrowed his brow and shook his hand towards the butler behind him.

“Please come this way.”

The butler quietly bowed before he opened the lord’s manor’s door to guide the Light Wind division outside.

“Ah, yes…”

The Light Wind division couldn’t say anything because of the awkward atmosphere and followed the butler, leaving the audience chamber.

Raon furtively turned his head before he left. Huan and Beltz were standing front to back, not facing each other or saying anything.

‘The relationship between those two…’

* * *

“Wow.”

Rimmer stretched while burying his back into the sofa inside the auxiliary building's lobby.

“It’s been a long time since the last time I was here.”

“Have you been here before?”

Krein curiously went next to Rimmer.

“Yes. I came here once when we subjugated them.”

“Subjugate? Does that mean that you fought against Lakion?”

“Yes. It was in the days where our head of house didn’t have any wrinkles on his face.”

Rimmer chuckled and nodded his head.

“Lakion had started their rise back then. They were brimming with confidence, and they were located in the same area as us. That’s why we often had to clash against each other. A frontal war broke out in the end, and we won it, taking them as our vassal house.”

Even though it was his experience, he explained as casually as if he were reading it from a history book.

“It’s remarkable that they were kept alive.”

Martha tilted her head, showing that she’d never heard about it before.

“It was because Lakion was powerful, and they didn’t use any weird tricks. Our head of house must’ve liked the fact that they always fought head-on.”

Rimmer rolled his eyes upwards as he thought about that time in the past.

“I see.”

“I-I didn’t know that.”

The swordsman gasped. They seemed to have thought that Lakion would’ve obviously volunteered to obey Zieghart.

“By the way, is Sir Beltz going to be okay? The head of Lakion seemed to be extremely angry…”

Dorian swallowed nervously, worried about Beltz.

“He is so unreasonable.”

Martha also furrowed her brow, showing that she didn’t expect Beltz to be slapped.

“Ugly.”

Runaan murmured that she didn’t like Huan and glared with her blank eyes.

“He was way too violent, unlike Sir Beltz.”

“I know, right? How could he hit his son while we were watching…?”

“He seemed to be the type of person who doesn't hold back their anger.”

On top of the team leaders, everyone in the Light Wind division insulted the head of Lakion and pitied Beltz.

Raon narrowed his eyes while listening to how everyone agreed that Beltz was pitiful while the head of Lakion was violent.

‘Don’t tell me, was he trying to get this reaction from us?’

It’s only temporary, but the Light Wind division was focused on Beltz and Huan instead of Zieghart’s branch.

Raon was even getting the impression that Huan slapped Beltz on purpose, to show them that he was a violent and thoughtless head of house.

Clap!

Raon lightly clapped his hands to gather the Light Wind division’s attention.

“You did well today. Since you must’ve been shocked, you can go to your rooms and rest.”

“A-are we really resting?”

“What’s wrong with him?”

“I know, right? I thought we were going to have to train again today…”

The swordsmen widened their eyes, saying that they didn’t expect Raon to tell them to rest.

“Do you want to?”

“Haap!”

“N-no!”

“We’re leaving now!”

Raon tilted his head while asking if they wanted to train, and the swordsmen rapidly shook their heads and ran into their rooms.

“Team leaders, stay with me.”

Raon made Burren, Martha, and Runaan stay on the sofa, creating an aura barrier.

“What’s the matter?”

Burren tilted his head, asking why he only made them stay.

“House Lakion is a bit suspicious.”

Raon told the team leaders everything he’d been thinking so far.

“Truthfully, the Sinigan branch should’ve been originally constructed in order to watch out for House Lakion—even if it became pointless as time passed because House Lakion became quiet.”

“You’re right.”

Rimmer nodded with a look of surprise in his eyes.

“As soon as we subjugated House Lakion, we built the branch to watch out for them. It’s been forgotten now because House Lakion hasn’t done anything in the dozens of years after that. How did you even figure that out?”

“Because it’s only natural.”

Raon lowered his hand, saying that it wasn’t anything special.

“Doesn’t that mean that House Lakion would be the first one to be suspected if the branch was attacked?”

Burren squinted while looking at Raon.

“It’s precisely because that’s the normal conclusion that many people think that House Lakion isn’t the perpetrator. You all are the best example of that. None of you suspected House Lakion.”

Raon calmly shook his head.

“Most importantly, I’m concerned about the fact that Beltz Lakion failed to recognize that the wounds weren’t from the White Blood Religion.”

Even though he didn’t know much about the White Blood Religion, Raon couldn’t understand how he missed the fact that the wounds were made at drastically different times.

The demonic energy was of course the biggest reason why he suspected him, but he didn’t mention it because he was the only one who noticed it.

“The head of Lakion looked like he just had a bad personality. I can’t believe that a person who slaps his son in front of the guests would plot something like that.”

Martha twisted her lips, saying that the head of Lakion looked like a simpleton.

“That might be an act, too.”

Raon looked at the three team leaders one after the other and tapped the table with his finger.

“And most importantly, the traitors don’t have much time.”

“They don’t have much time?”

“Yes. You should know that we recently filtered out the traitors in our house, right?”

“Yes.”

“Since we cleaned up inside the house, everyone knows that the vassal houses come next. They might have plotted something in their impatience, and the branch found out, which made them decide to attack it.”

It was still unknown what exactly happened, and there was no proof that Lakion was the perpetrator, but there were enough reasons to suspect them.

“Then why did we come all the way here? It might be dangerous,” Runaan asked, the question reasonable despite her blank eyes.

“It might indeed be dangerous. However…”

Raon rolled his lips into a smile as if he’s been waiting for that question.

“Some things can only be figured out after we come here.”

Food!

As soon as he made that declaration, Wrath suddenly woke up while drooling from his mouth.

Since we haven’t eaten anything all day long, let’s start by eating! That’s the most important task!

‘…Please just sleep.’

***

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]