Chapter 724

Raon's mind raced as fast as his eyes darted back and forth.

‘This is dangerous…’

Though Wrath and Rimmer often told him he lacked tact, he clearly understood that the current situation was perilous. Making the wrong decision here would undoubtedly lead to grueling consequences later.

— This is interesting!

Wrath stroked his thick chin with intrigue.

— Your destiny could change depending on who you call first!

He wagged his tail, seemingly amused by the predicament.

— If you can’t decide, you can call me master! They’ll understand if it’s me!

‘Please, just shut up.’

Raon slapped Wrath’s chin and turned his gaze towards Sylvia.

“Raon! Mom!”

Sylvia uttered the word “mom” as if she were teaching him to speak, just like she had done 20 years ago.

‘Why is she acting like this?’

Shaking his head, he looked to his right.

“No! Aunt comes first! That was decided a year ago!”

Alice shouted that she wouldn’t concede, placing her hand on the hilt of her sword. She looked ready to behead anyone who interfered.

‘Would they really fight…?’

Raon swallowed dryly and shifted his gaze to the left in front of him.

“Doesn’t ‘uncle’ sound like the best? It’s perfect for loosening your tongue when saying it for the first time.”

Balder moved his thick arms like a bear while looking his way.

“Ugh…”

Raon's urgent expression twisted.

‘Why is that bear butting in?’

He used to be desperate to eat me, then gradually became kinder, and now he wants me to call him uncle. Even Denier, who was somewhat considerate, remained silent. I'm not sure if he's insensitive or just stupid.

‘He's so simple it’s hard to understand.’

Ignoring that side, Raon erased Balder’s wide grin from his mind and turned his gaze back to the platform. Glenn was looking down at him from above with colder eyes than ever. The chilling aura emanating from him felt like an ice sword piercing his heart.

‘If I call him grandpa, it seems like he’ll kill me…?’

In a normal situation, it would be natural to call grandpa first, but Glenn’s eyes were so icily frozen that Raon’s lips dared not open.

“Raon! It’s okay!”

“Forget everything else, just call him grandpa!”

“Grandpa should absolutely be first.”

Sheryl, Rimmer, and Roenn yelled for him to call grandpa first, but Glenn’s expression darkened even further. Just the act of meeting his gaze sent chills down Raon’s spine.

“What’s going on here?”

“I-I don’t know either…”

“Well, it’s the first time a branch family member has been elevated to the direct line.”

“Who will Raon… no, Lord Raon call first?”

“Of course, he’ll call Lady Sylvia ‘mom.’ Parents come first, after all.”

“No, Lady Alice said she’s been waiting for a long time, so aunt should be the priority.”

“Normally, grandpa would be the top priority, but I-I don’t think he could call him that…”

The people attending the banquet held their breath, anticipating who Raon would call first. Raon examined the four people once more.

‘First, ignore the bear.’

He erased Balder from his sight as if he didn’t exist.

‘Alice is out too.’

Alice is the most open-minded person among those close to me. She’s definitely not the type to be bothered if I don’t call her first, especially since she’s already heard me call her aunt a few times.

‘So it’s between mom and grandpa…’

In truth, he was afraid to even mention the title “grandpa,” but seeing Rimmer, Sheryl, and Roenn’s reactions, he couldn’t ignore it. It would be better to use those two. Excluding Alice and Balder, he saw a way to escape.

“Ugh.”

Raon made his decision and calmed his rapidly beating heart.

“Mom.”

He called mom first, holding Sylvia’s hand firmly by his side.

“Raon!”

“Ah…”

“Ugh!”

At that moment, Sylvia shone as if she could fly to heaven, while Glenn’s expression became as fierce as if he were facing the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance or Derus.

“Oh no!”

“We’re… doomed…”

“Heh heh heh…”

Sheryl, Rimmer, and Roenn stepped back, slapping their foreheads. Fear began to tremble in their eyes. But Raon wasn’t finished speaking.

“Mom, shouldn’t you greet ‘grandpa’ first?”

Raon lifted Sylvia’s hand, pointing towards Glenn.

“Now that you’ve returned to the direct line, calling ‘father’ ‘grandpa’ should be your first priority, right?”

He called Glenn grandpa with the same naturalness as if he hadn’t been racking his brains until now.

“Ah! That’s right! I became part of the direct line first!”

Sylvia clapped her hands and nodded.

“Father. It’s been a long time since I greeted you.”

She bowed carefully, holding the hem of her dress.

“Grandpa. I’ll greet you again too. I’m Raon Zieghart.”

Raon bowed, placing his hand on his chest.

‘This should work, right?’

This way, Sylvia would be satisfied, Glenn wouldn’t have much to complain about, and Alice would understand. It might seem like someone was left out, but there was no need to worry about that.

— What is this!

Wrath burst out with a frown.

— Using your mother to escape a crisis, you little sly fox!

He moved his round fist, seemingly angry that the outcome he wanted didn’t happen.

‘It seems like it went well.’

Seeing Wrath call him sly, it seemed like it had been effective.

“¡Guhuk!”

Just as Raon was about to raise his head with a satisfied smile, a choking sound erupted from the platform.

“The old man’s eyes are rolling back!”

“Head of House! Breathe! Breathe!”

“You can’t ascend now! You have to see the children get married! Don’t go!”

Looking up, he saw Rimmer, Chad, and Sheryl clinging to Glenn, pounding his chest and massaging his limbs.

“Eh…?”

Raon’s mouth gaped open as he saw Glenn’s head tilt back like a cut-string puppet.

‘What’s going on?’

Perhaps due to fatigue, Glenn began to look blurry, like when he used his Soul Sword against the Five Demon Leaders. It seemed like he might disappear soon.

“Heh heh heh.”

Roenn let out an empty laugh as if he didn’t know how to take the situation either.

‘What is this?’

Raon blinked blankly at the increasingly pale Glenn.

‘Did I make a mistake…?’

* * *

Not long after, Glenn’s breathing returned. Stating that the internal wounds from the war hadn’t fully healed, he returned to the audience chamber with Rimmer, Sheryl, and Roenn. The strange look Glenn gave before leaving the banquet hall was worrisome, but thankfully, it didn’t seem like his condition had worsened significantly.

— Mmm…

Wrath let out deep sighs of satisfaction as he enjoyed the banquet food, seemingly unconcerned about Glenn’s condition.

— This roast duck is the main dish of the day! The skin is crispy as if it were freshly fried, and the meat is so tender it melts in your mouth the moment you touch it.

He raised his finger, declaring the roast duck the best among the numerous dishes.

‘I really can’t eat anymore…’

Raon sighed, leaning his back against the wall. Thanks to Wrath, his stomach was not only full, but about to burst. He wanted to rest a bit.

— Hmm, I’ve filled my stomach enough, so I’ll stop here for today. For dessert, I’ll have the ice cream balls…

‘Runaan ate all the ice cream, didn’t she?’

He pointed at the line of empty trays Runaan had cleaned out before leaving. There wasn’t even a trace of ice cream left.

— Noooo!

Wrath screamed, grabbing his head.

— Ice cream girl!

He shouted Runaan’s name as if he were in mourning.

“Raon! You little brat!”

While Raon enjoyed Wrath’s screams, Alice approached him.

“Didn’t you call me first?”

“I’m sorry, Aunt.”

Raon lowered his head to Alice.

“I thought you’d be the only one who would understand me in that situation.”

“It’s too late for flattery, you rascal!”

Contrary to her words, Alice smiled as she pinched Raon’s cheek.

“Anyway, I don’t know who you take after, but your mind works exceptionally well.”

“Excuse me?”

“Calling Sylvia first and then connecting it with father was the best choice.”

She patted his head, saying he had really done well.

“Aunt, it’s thanks to you. Thank you.”

“Hearing you call me aunt with such confidence… I love it!”

Alice exclaimed that she couldn’t hold back any longer and hugged him. Her unique and refreshing ocean scent tickled his nose.

“Looking at you reminds me of my son. I don’t know why, since you don’t resemble him, except for the eyes.”

She smiled faintly, meeting his gaze.

“Haven’t you found Brother Sif yet?”

She now called Sif “brother” since he had become part of the direct line.

“He asked us not to look for him for a while, but he’s not the type to hide his whereabouts so thoroughly…”

Alice frowned, saying it was strange.

“Did I push him too hard?”

“Push him?”

“I taught him a bit harshly, so he wouldn’t get beaten up in other places.”

She scratched the back of her head and stuck her tongue out a bit. It seemed clear that he had been thoroughly beaten.

“But he’s not the type to die somewhere, so I should be able to find him soon.”

Alice said she would search the entire continent if necessary the next time she went out, and then she left.

“Raon!”

As soon as she left, Balder approached and grabbed his shoulder.

“Why didn’t you call me uncle?!”

Balder wrinkled the bridge of his nose, seeming genuinely disappointed. He was the most incomprehensible person in this family.

“If I had called you uncle first, Lady Alice would have drawn her sword. Besides…”

Raon calmly explained the situation at that moment to Balder.

“So in the end, you were looking out for me!”

“Yes. No, that’s not…”

Not at all. Balder was interpreting the situation only in a way that favored him.

“I liked you from the start! You’re the most straightforward person in our family after me!”

Balder said he really liked Raon’s personality and nodded his head with emphasis.

“Then I should give my nephew some pocket money!”

He took out a bag of gold coins and offered it to him. It felt quite heavy.

“Eat well and grow. You’re still small!”

Balder told him to grow to 2 m tall and walked toward where the bottles of alcohol were stacked.

“2 m is impossible…”

Raon sighed and shook his head.

— What the hell is that guy?

Wrath exhaled forcefully, watching Balder stuff an entire bottle of alcohol into his mouth.

— Even this king doesn’t know where the line is between stupidity and sincerity when it comes to that guy…

He blinked his round eyes, saying he was confused too.

‘Yes, that’s true.’

Raon chuckled and stepped away from the wall. As he was about to approach Sylvia, who was surrounded by people, his eyes met Karoon’s, who was trying to exit through the hall.

“Being in the Zieghart direct line means…”

Karoon turned his body toward Raon.

“You must be a role model for all swordsmen. Be more careful with your words and actions from now on.”

He cast a dry glance, offering words that could be advice or reprimand.

“So I just need to avoid being like the Central Martial Palace Master, right?”

Raon moved his lips, meeting Karoon’s sunken eyes.

‘Let’s see how he reacts.’

This wasn’t picking a fight, but bait to understand Karoon’s true nature. As he waited for his reaction, Raon formulated several plans in his mind.

“Yes. That will do.”

But Karoon nodded calmly and exited the banquet hall.

“Mm…”

Raon pressed his lips tightly, watching Karoon’s retreating back.

‘What’s with that guy?’

He expected one of three reactions: to get furiously angry, to respond sarcastically, or to ignore him completely. He hadn’t even considered the possibility that Karoon would simply acknowledge him and leave. It was an unexpected response.

“Father seems to have changed a bit.”

Burren approached from the left, smiling faintly.

“Changed?”

“Yes. I can’t express it clearly, but…”

He nodded, saying that Karoon even teaches him swordsmanship these days.

“Swordsmanship…?”

Raon licked his lips. Karoon had constantly ignored and pushed Burren away. The fact that he was now teaching him swordsmanship clearly indicated a significant change in his mindset.

“Congratulations, Raon.”

Burren leaned against the wall and patted Raon on the shoulder.

“You’ve now reached the only area where I was ahead.”

He smiled without a trace of resentment, contrary to his words about being overtaken.

“Remember? When I was abandoned by my father and locked up in the annex, you came to find me.”

Burren moved his finger, looking toward the chandelier on the ceiling.

“Yes. I can’t forget that stupid face of yours.”

Raon nodded with a chuckle. He couldn’t forget having broken down the annex and dragged Burren outside at Tias’ request.

“Then, do you also remember what you said while destroying the annex?”

“…”

Though he remembered it, Raon remained silent.

“You asked which goal was harder to achieve: yours of elevating Aunt Sylvia to the direct line, or mine.”

Burren narrowed his eyes as if recalling that moment.

“Back then, I thought it was an impossible goal, but you’ve finally achieved that impossible goal. Congratulations once more.”

He smiled brightly as if he genuinely meant it.

“Thank you. But…”

“Don’t worry.”

Burren shook his head with a calm expression.

“How could I give up after seeing your life and efforts up close?”

He clenched his right hand into a fist.

“I’ll make my father recognize me, even if I have to defeat him by force. To obtain the Central Martial Palace and become your strength.”

Burren pounded his chest as if to say “trust me” and exited the banquet hall. Raon smiled faintly as he watched Burren walk away with confident steps.

— What’s with those eyes?! He’s changed too much too!

‘That might be the real Burren.’

The apprentice Burren Zieghart, trapped by inferiority and stubbornness, was no more. The man who had just sworn to do so is Burren Zieghart, a Light Wind Division swordsman whose spirit won’t be broken by any adversity.

‘I can’t be satisfied here either.’

Though it was incredibly joyful that Sylvia had regained her status and transformed her accumulated resentment into laughter, he couldn’t stop here. Even at this moment, Derus must be plotting another plan under the guise of being the head of the Robert family.

‘I need to reveal his true identity as quickly as possible so he can’t operate behind the scenes.’

Using the current situation and the power I possess, I should definitely be able to unmask Derus’ true identity.

‘Once the preparations are complete, I’ll tell the Head of House…’

— Hey! Something really important just came up!

While he was strengthening his resolve, Wrath approached from the side.

‘Something important?’

Thinking he might have missed something, Raon swallowed dryly as he looked at Wrath.

— My mouth feels so dry I could die! Go get some mint chocolate!

He waved his hand, demanding that Raon bring him mint chocolate immediately.

“…”

Raon closed his eyes tightly.

‘Will that thing ever go back to sleep?’

* * *

“Son. I love you…”

Raon laid Sylvia, who was drunk and repeating that she loved him, on the bed and let out a long sigh.

“Ugh, I’m exhausted.”

Sweat was dripping down his back from having to carry Sylvia and the maids, all drunk, to the annex by himself. It might have been easier to fight a powerful opponent. But he wasn’t upset. He knew better than anyone how happy Sylvia and the maids had been today.

Raon covered Sylvia with a blanket and went out to the lake outside the annex.

— Please! Just let us sleep!

Wrath rubbed his round eyes, saying he was dying of fatigue.

— We can train later…

‘This isn’t training.’

Raon shook his head and stepped onto the lake.

— It’s not training?

‘That’s right. This is an experiment.’

An experiment to see if he could reveal Derus’ true identity. This needs to succeed so he can use his wish on Glenn. Raon simultaneously employed the Ring of Fire and Wrath. The two energies had been constantly fighting like oil and water, but connecting them wasn’t too difficult, since they had often combined forces.

‘And here…’

Just as he was about to infuse a new characteristic between the Ring of Fire and Wrath, he heard a frog croaking from the side of the lake.

‘Are there frogs here?’

While he thought how strange it was and was about to continue with his experiment, a strange thought hit him.

‘It’s winter now.’

Though the inside of Zieghart is temperature-controlled by magic, winter is colder than anywhere else. It was an environment where frogs couldn’t exist.

“Ugh!”

As Raon opened his eyes and stepped back, the frog followed him, hopping on all fours.

“Raon!”

The frog’s mouth opened wide, and Merlin’s voice came out.

— Aaaaaah!

Wrath shrieked in fear and hid inside the bracelet.

“Me-Merlin?”

Raon exhaled forcefully and took another step back.

“It’s been so long. I’ve read all the love letters you left. I’ve engraved every word in my head and body.”

The frog’s eyes began to turn a deep purple. It felt like all the hairs on his body were standing on end.

“I love you, —”

“Please.”

As Raon stepped back with his jaw trembling, Flumen’s voice came out of the frog’s mouth instead of Merlin’s.

“Flumen?”

As Raon blinked and called out to Flumen, the frog opened its mouth once more.

“Raon. I found it!”

***

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]