Chapter 720

[You've achieved an incredible feat!]

[You've saved a Transcendent Warrior from the brink of death!]

[You've cut down a superior Transcendent Warrior!]

[All attributes increase by 50 points.]

[The <Blade of Death> trait has been created.]

Raon was first surprised by the 50 points, then his jaw dropped at the trait message that appeared below.

‘Blade of Death?’

Seeing the word “death,” it was clearly a trait obtained from Derus Robert. <Blade of Death>. It allows for easier severing of auras imbued with death. After confirming the new trait’s ability, Raon stroked his chin.

‘As expected.’

If <Flame Overcoming Death> was a trait for defending against the aura of death, <Blade of Requiem> was a trait for attacking. Since the death aura unleashed by Derus could even affect Glenn’s Soul Weapon, a trait that lessens its impact would be a great asset.

“Ugh!”

Wrath groaned, clutching his hair that floated like cotton candy.

“Oh, oh! Increasing by fifty points at once is too much! Have you forgotten moderation?”

He frowned, shouting about how much more they were going to keep giving. But the system, seemingly ignoring Wrath, immediately displayed new messages.

[The rank of the <Evil Eye of Wrath> trait has increased.]

[The rank of the <Stabbing> trait has increased.]

[The rank of the <Iron Will> trait has increased.]

[The rank of the <Flame Overcoming Death> trait has increased.]

This time, it was a message about trait rank increases. Naturally, the achievements of the traits that had influenced this battle increased.

“Yes, four of them! Show some moderation! They aren’t all the King’s power!”

Wrath yelled that traits and abilities were formed from his own essence.

“Phew, finally qui—”

[A new title <Destiny Changer> has been created.]

The system, as if it had been waiting, interrupted Wrath’s words and displayed a new message.

“Aaaaargh!”

Wrath finally couldn’t hold back and started flailing while yelling.

‘Hm?’

Raon covered his ears and examined the message closely.

‘Destiny Changer?’

The title’s name was too weighty to let pass, so he checked its contents. <Destiny Changer>. But only the name was visible, and the title’s ability wasn’t displayed anywhere.

‘Wrath. This...’

Raon turned his gaze to ask Wrath.

“Ahem…!”

Wrath cleared his throat while patting his body with his short arms.

“It seems they’ve taken all my ribs out with this reward. It’s like my mother robbed me of my wallet full of money!”

He blew his nose, muttering that all his strength was leaving his body.

“I don’t know what crime I committed to be this bone-tired!”

Wrath was now even crying while waving his arms.

‘Sigh.’

Raon sighed and gestured towards Wrath.

‘I’ll let you eat whatever you want when we get back. Just keep quiet for now.’

“Hmph!”

Wrath wiped away his tears as if he’d never cried and clamped his mouth shut. The more Raon saw him, the more tired he felt, rather than endeared.

“Raon.”

As Raon was about to ask Wrath about the title, Runaan approached from behind. She held out a familiar-looking ice cream box.

“Oh! It’s mint chocolate!”

Wrath shouted that it was mint chocolate, as if he could see inside the box.

“You brought this here?”

“I thought you wouldn’t die.”

Runaan said she’d prepared it as a snack and lowered her head slightly.

“…Thanks.”

He was more grateful that she believed he wouldn’t die than for having prepared the snack. The ice cream box was cold, but his hands and chest felt as warm as if he were standing in front of a fireplace.

“Indeed, only the ice cream girl understands this King!”

Wrath drooled while patting Runaan’s head.

“What are you doing? Hurry and open the lid and eat the ice cream!”

‘Wait a bit.’

Pushing aside Wrath who was tugging at his sleeve and shaking him, Raon opened the ice cream box. Under the white mist, four pearl-shaped ice creams revealed their elegant form.

‘Hmm…’

Raon put a mint chocolate ice cream in his mouth while receiving Runaan’s expectant gaze. He’d gotten used to the taste a bit, but he still didn’t understand why people ate this.

“Keuuuu!”

Wrath threw his head back, shaking his clenched fist.

“This is what I live for! If it weren’t for the mint chocolate, this King would have died long ago!”

He praised the mint chocolate with tears in his eyes. It was a shame he couldn’t show that grotesque reaction to Runaan.

“Heh…”

Runaan also slowly opened her mouth as if she wanted to eat the ice cream.

“You eat too.”

Raon smiled and gave some ice cream to Runaan.

“Thank you.”

Runaan thanked him for the ice cream he’d given her and put it in her mouth. Her cheeks flushed as if it was the flavor she’d been waiting for.

“Flumen. You try it too.”

Raon passed the mint chocolate to Flumen, who had poked his face above the river.

“Okay!”

Flumen put the pearl ice cream in his mouth without hesitation, but immediately spat it out.

“Poison! It’s poison! It stings my mouth!”

He jumped onto the river’s surface, rubbing his tongue with the palm of his hand.

“What a waste!”

Wrath waved his hands, telling him to pick it up and eat it immediately.

“You know flavors.”

Raon ignored Wrath and smiled at Flumen.

“You really are my friend.”

“Tasteless fools!”

* * *

“…That’s how I was able to stop the one trying to ambush the Head of House.”

Raon told everyone everything that had happened as they left the Lable River and returned to Zieghart.

“I see. So that’s what happened.”

Glenn nodded calmly as if he now understood everything.

“In the end, it’s no exaggeration to say that that boy Blue Lugh saved both your life and mine.”

He said he didn’t regret at all leaving the South-North Union headquarters as he lowered his fingertips.

“Yes. I received far more than I gave Flumen.”

Raon agreed with Glenn’s words and brought his hands forward.

“Flumen probably doesn’t think so?”

Rimmer moved his hand.

“It’s true. That boy seemed willing to risk his life for you.”

Sheryl also smiled, saying they were the eyes of someone looking at a benefactor, not a friend.

“But why doesn’t Flumen’s face change? Why doesn’t his body grow, even though quite some time has passed?”

Rimmer tilted his head as if he found it strange that Flumen still had such a cute appearance.

“Did he learn some magic that stops the aging of body and soul?”

“I don’t know either.”

Raon shook his head. He didn’t actually consider it important and hadn’t asked, so he really didn’t know anything.

“Raon.”

Sylvia smiled as she approached Raon’s side.

“Yes?”

“I just called you because I’m happy.”

She linked her arm with Raon’s, smiling brightly.

“I’m happy about everything: that you’ve returned, that you’ve made a good friend, that you saved the Head of House.”

Sylvia said it had been a long time since she’d felt this happy as she gently closed her eyes. Raon smiled slightly looking at Sylvia smiling without a trace of worry.

‘Now only happier things await you.’

Having won the life-or-death battle against the Axe King Roman, Sylvia would now ascend to the direct line. She had also regained her Martial Power, so now no one in this family would look down on her. Raon held her hand tightly, hoping Sylvia would live happily with the maids in the annex building.

“Raon.”

Sylvia slowly opened her eyes and turned around.

“Did you thank your companions?”

She gestured towards the Light Wind Division swordsmen who followed behind.

“All those children fought risking their lives for you. I also received help many times.”

Sylvia smiled faintly, saying they really were a great help.

“No! Rather, we received help!”

Burren firmly shook his head, watching Karoon’s reaction.

“Yes. They helped a lot.”

Runaan bowed her head, calling Sylvia a super pretty mom.

“I-I also received help from Madam!”

Dorian also said she blocked his sword twice as he suddenly pulled out a chocolate snack from his bag.

“No! Just having you there made me feel safe.”

Sylvia smiled as she broke the snack Dorian handed her in half and offered it to Raon.

“Hey!”

Wrath licked his lips and wiggled his finger.

“What are you doing not taking it quickly? Our mom’s arm will get tired!”

He frowned, pretending to worry about Sylvia when he just wanted to eat the snack.

‘Your excuses are so varied.’

As Raon was about to put the snack he’d received from Sylvia in his mouth, he saw someone trudging at the end.

‘Martha.’

Unlike the other swordsmen, Martha walked looking only at the ground, without saying a word.

‘It must be because of the Leader of the Blood Religion.’

The Leader of the White Blood Religion they saw in the Lable River today didn’t fall behind even when facing King Lecross and Ogram. Having seen such a powerful enemy up close, it was natural for her to be in such despair.

“This King wants to take care of that.”

Wrath frowned, stopping his explanation about the taste of the chocolate snack. He sighed deeply as if he really wanted to help.

“Martha.”

Raon shook his hands and approached Martha.

“This time…”

“Damn it!”

Martha abruptly raised her head as if she’d been waiting.

“It’s not my style to be depressed like this!”

She nodded towards Raon, turning to face him.

“If there’s someone who can die and come back to life, I shouldn’t give up.”

Martha clenched her fist, saying she would never give up on saving her mother.

“You said you’d help, right?”

“Yes. Call me anytime.”

Raon nodded, reaffirming his previous promise.

“Good. That White Blood bitch. I’ll completely crush her!”

Martha strengthened her resolve while cursing the Leader of the White Blood Religion.

“Martha.”

Sylvia approached Martha with a gentle smile.

“Why do you only send meat when I tell you to come to the annex building? I wanted to eat together.”

She lowered her eyebrows, saying she wanted to have a meal together.

“Ah, that, that…”

“Make sure to come next time. I’ll prepare the dishes you like.”

“…Okay.”

Martha only nodded with slumped shoulders as if she’d never cursed. As Raon smiled beside Sylvia, watching Martha blush, a huge wall appeared before the group. It was the wall of Zieghart Castle.

The wall, which looked like it would stand forever, had a huge hole blown in its middle as if it had been crushed by an enormous force.

Raon gritted his teeth as he looked at the collapsed gate and wall. In the past, he wouldn’t have cared what happened to Zieghart, but now, just seeing the collapsed wall made anger bubble inside him. It seemed he had truly become a person of Zieghart.

“Looking at this again, it’s certain.”

Glenn nodded calmly while examining the wall that had been deliberately left unrepaired.

“It’s a Dragon’s Breath.”

“Pardon?”

Raon looked at Glenn with wide eyes.

“What broke this wall was a Dragon’s Breath.”

Glenn said he could be sure because he had seen ancient dragons’ Breaths in this war.

“Ah, these bastards, really!”

Alice frowned as she swept her red hair back.

“Is it okay if I go look for those lizards and kill them all?”

She said she should go dragon hunting soon as she put her hand on her sword hilt.

“…”

Glenn looked at the collapsed wall for a moment before turning around.

“Everyone did well.”

He slowly opened his lips as he looked at each of the Zieghart swordsmen one by one.

“Thanks to your courage and fighting spirit, we were able to defeat the South-North Union and the Five Demons.”

Glenn smiled faintly, attributing even his own achievements to the swordsmen.

“Ah, no!”

“The Head of House did everything!”

“Yes. It’s no different from a war ended by Raon and the Head of House.”

The Zieghart swordsmen blushed as if they felt ashamed of being praised by the greatest Martial Artist on the continent.

“After three days of mourning for those who died, we will hold a small banquet, so everyone can attend.”

Glenn lowered his gaze slightly as he mentioned holding a funeral and banquet.

“Understood!”

The Zieghart swordsmen bowed their heads, burning with even more respect for Glenn.

“Now rest.”

Glenn looked at Raon for a moment before heading towards the main building. Rimmer, Sheryl, Roenn, and the other swordsmen saluted and followed him. Raon bowed his head to Glenn along with Sylvia before heading to the annex building. It was night, but the garden lights were on, so it wasn’t too dark.

“Food! Food! Food! Food! Food!”

Wrath started dancing in the air while chanting about food.

‘We’ll eat Nadine’s bread today.’

Raon shook his head. It was late, so he didn’t want to make the maids work.

“Damn bastard! This King was very eager for a home-cooked meal.”

‘You can eat it tomorrow.’

As he was about to shake his head at Wrath, Helen, who was standing on the stairs of the annex building, greeted them.

“Madam! Young Master! Children!”

As soon as Helen saw that Raon, Sylvia, Yua, and Julius had returned alive, she pounded on the annex building’s door.

“Eh?”

“Madam!”

“Young Master!”

The lights inside the annex building immediately turned on, and the maids rushed out.

“So you really were alive after all!”

“Young Master…”

“We’ve been waiting!”

The maids surrounded Raon and Sylvia, shedding tears. Even Judiel, who normally didn’t show her emotions, was blowing her nose with a red face.

“Waaah…”

Young Yua whimpered in Helen’s arms, as if affected by the maids’ emotions.

“I’m sorry to have worried you.”

Raon lowered his head, feeling the warmth from the maids.

“A lot happened…”

“We can talk while we eat.”

Helen blew her nose and pointed to the annex building’s dining room.

“We kept preparing, thinking you would definitely return.”

She smiled, saying they had made all the foods they usually liked.

“Thank you.”

“That’s great, I was hungry.”

Raon smiled as he met Sylvia’s eyes. However, the happiest person in the annex building was someone else.

“Yippee!”

* * *

As soon as Glenn entered the audience chamber, he collapsed onto the throne.

‘It’s exhausting.’

Suppressing the soul trying to surpass his current level was more tiring than all the fighting he’d done so far. He had barely stabilized, but he was too tired to do anything.

“Father.”

Alice approached the throne with furrowed eyebrows.

“Are you really alright?”

“I’m just a little tired.”

Glenn slowly shook his head.

“It’s not just tiredness! The sword you wielded at the end clearly exceeded human limits!”

Alice bit her lip, seeming uneasy.

“Don’t worry.”

Glenn gently lowered his hand.

“As long as I don’t unsheathe the Soul Weapon again, nothing you need to worry about will happen.”

He shook his head, saying he could perfectly endure in his current state.

“Head of House.”

Sheryl approached Glenn and knelt before him.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t support you from behind.”

“I have no excuse.”

Roenn also bowed, seeming to have the same thought.

“What are you apologizing for? How could we catch that man who escaped on his own!”

Rimmer frowned, saying this was beyond their capabilities.

“Anyway, don’t overextend yourself! My money source can’t disappear!”

He was shouting that he still had many debts to pay when a red lightning bolt appeared in the air.

Boom!
The lightning that writhed like a living creature enveloped Rimmer’s entire body.

“Ugh…”

Rimmer collapsed, exhaling black smoke with a lightning bolt stuck in his head.

“S-see? Perfectly fine…”

He muttered that he was lucky before seeming to faint with his eyes closed.

“See? There’s no problem at all.”

Glenn said to relax as he brushed away the smoke rising into the air.

“Roenn.”

“Yes, Head of House.”

Roenn slowly raised his head.

“We’ll hold the direct line inauguration ceremony for Raon and Sylvia at the banquet, so prepare for it.”

“Understood!”

Roenn nodded with a bright smile.

“Direct line inauguration ceremony? So Raon and Sylvia are really becoming part of the direct line now?”

Alice clapped her hands with a bright smile.

“Yes. It was what I promised.”

Glenn nodded, saying it was natural.

“Finally, I’ll officially hear Raon call me aunt. I’ve waited so long…”

“Grandpa is first!”

Glenn threw a chilling glance at Alice. A killing intent more intense than when he fought the Five Demons rose over his shoulders.

“I’ve waited much longer! How dare you!”

***

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

Thank you for reading!

[Author – Writing Ant, 글개미]

[Translator – MurimTang]

[Proofreader – Mayank]