Chapter 728

The leaders of the Six Kings concluded their interim meeting, committing to reveal the true identity of Derus Robert at the Six Kings Conference to be held in a week.

[Well, it should go smoothly, right?]

The eyes of the Master of the Magic Tower moved back and forth, seemingly worried.

[If not, we'll make it work! Don't you understand the spirit of a magician?]

Chamber looked at the Master of the Magic Tower with disdain, frowning.

[Ah, my head hurts from suddenly shouting.]

Chamber, claiming she was low on sugar, pulled out a new lollipop and popped it into her mouth.

[With the conference at the Union, I have a lot to do.]

Ogram, although feeling pressured, rolled his shoulders, ready to exert his influence.

[I will also do my best to cooperate.]

King Lecross nodded, stepping away from his throne.

[Do I have to go too...?]

The Master of the Magic Tower slowly lifted her gaze, looking like a turtle.

[If you don't show up this time, I will burn your laboratory. No, your entire Magic Tower.]

Chamber twisted her lips upward, as if to imply she was serious.

"Eek..."

The Master of the Magic Tower murmured that she would come, trembling.

"Then we will see each other at the conference."

Glenn waved his hand, as if to conclude the meeting.

"Right!"

The Master of the Magic Tower moved her hand faster than anyone else and cut off the magical projection.

[She’s a recluse. She disappears incredibly quickly. If she doesn't show up this time, I will really go destroy that Magic Tower.]

Chamber snorted and disappeared from the screen.

[I will be waiting for you.]

[We will see each other soon.]

Ogram and King Lecross also ended their projections after brief goodbyes. Raon bowed to the departing leaders of the Six Kings before turning around.

"..."

Glenn stood before the throne, his eyes serene despite the meeting having concluded.

"Head of House."

Raon approached Glenn and knelt before him.

"I am truly grateful that you trust me. But..."

He bit his lip as he looked up.

"How could you bet your life? Why would you do something like that?"

For the first time, Raon raised his voice toward Glenn. Having fabricated some lies to trap Derus, hearing that Glenn had bet his life made his heart sink. He couldn't contain himself, unable to understand the current situation.

"It’s the same as you."

Glenn nodded with a serene expression, as if that was all that needed to be said.

"Um..."

Raon swallowed hard as he looked into Glenn's calm eyes.

'What does he mean, it's the same as me?'

— Every time I hear it, that old man has a talent for speaking in riddles!

Wrath also frowned, as if he didn't understand.

— Let’s just finish this and go eat!

'Sorry, but today there's Nadine's bread.'

Raon shook his head without looking at Wrath.

— Nadine's bread? Are you crazy? There’s so much delicious food in the world, why would you eat Nadine's bread?

'The Head of House bet his life. We're extremely short on time.'

Now that Glenn had placed his trust in him, he had to repay that trust. There wasn't even time to eat or sleep.

— Ugh, that old man really!

Wrath shook his round fist as if he were frustrated.

"Raon."

As Raon was about to stand up to leave the audience hall, Glenn raised his hand.

"It's late; eat before you go."

Glenn stepped down from the platform, as if suggesting they eat together.

"Ah..."

Raon blinked. He wanted to return immediately to training, but he couldn't refuse Glenn's words.

"I'll prepare it right away."

Roenn also rushed out of the audience hall before he could make a refusal, as if he would not accept a rejection.

— Hooray!

Naturally, Wrath was the one who enjoyed this situation the most.

— Grandpa is the best!

The creature elevated Glenn from old man to grandpa, as Nadine's dry bread had turned into high-quality food. Truly suitable for the whimsical Demon King.

'I'm really tired of this...'

* * *

The dinner between grandfather and grandson was silent beyond comparison. If it weren't for the occasional sound of cutlery clinking, it wouldn't have been strange to think they were eating in a library.

'Ugh...'

Raon let out an inaudible sigh as he cut the meat from the main dish.

'I feel like I'm going to choke.'

The atmosphere was so heavy that he couldn't tell if he was chewing meat or rubber.

— It’s melting in my mouth!

Only Wrath smiled, hands on his cheeks as if in bliss.

— As expected, a rich grandpa is the best!

The creature kept calling Glenn grandpa, saying it was too delicious.

'I'm tired of this.'

He felt even more exhausted because of Wrath. He swallowed the meat in one gulp to finish the meal quickly.

— Y-you insipid fool!

'Yes, I’m uncultured.'

Ignoring Wrath's complaints, he was waiting for dessert when Glenn dropped his knife and fork and looked up.

"Raon."

"Yes, Head of House."

Raon straightened his back and looked at Glenn.

"Unanswered worries are poison that consumes the heart of a martial artist. From now on, if something bothers you, don't hesitate to tell me."

Glenn nodded, as if saying it didn't matter what it was. His voice caressed Raon's ears, unlike when they were in the audience hall.

"Ah, yes..."

Raon swallowed hard as he looked into Glenn's dull eyes.

'Could it be that he bet his life because he felt bad for not being able to pronounce Derus's name and was suffering alone?'

If it weren't for that reason, it didn't seem like there would be a motive for Glenn to say those words now.

"The time of you, me, and Sylvia flowed very separate despite being close."

Glenn slightly bit his lip as he looked at Raon.

"It may be difficult to reconstruct the time that has passed, but I would like us to walk together from now on, even if it's just a little."

He didn't know how much time he had left. As Sheryl and Roenn had said, it was time to gather courage.

'However...'

As he tried to say such words to his grandson, whom he had never embraced, an intense heat rose in his face due to embarrassment. His mouth wouldn't move.

"Ahem!"

Glenn quickly averted his gaze, unable to look directly at Raon.

"..."

Raon trembled in the tips of his fingers as he looked at Glenn, whose ears had turned as red as autumn leaves. Seeing that reaction, it seemed Glenn was now speaking sincerely.

"...I will keep that in mind."

It seemed he also wanted to get closer to Sylvia. Nodding, Raon made a mental note to organize a meeting after this matter was resolved.

"Then you may leave now."

Glenn gestured with his hand as if to say it was time to get up.

"Rest well."

Raon bowed to Glenn once more before leaving the dining room.

— Hah, you dense fool!

Wrath clicked his tongue as if he found Raon pathetic.

'What now?'

— You should have called him grandpa on a day like this! How can you leave like a sardine?

The creature frowned, saying that Raon truly lacked human qualities.

'...Is that so?'

Having no family other than Sylvia and the maids in both lives, it was hard to believe Wrath's words.

'Should I have done it now...?'

He wanted to do at least something small since he was so grateful to Glenn today.

— The time that has passed won't return.

Wrath stopped murmuring about the mint chocolate and turned into strawberry-flavored cotton candy.

— Ugh! I can't take this anymore!

As he walked toward the garden, Raon decided to ignore Wrath, focusing on what he had to do. He had to face the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance and prepare for the Six Kings Conference.

* * *

[…So that's how it was decided to hold the meeting at the Beast Union in a week. Will you be able to attend, right?]

"Of course."

Derus Robert showed a calm smile toward Chamber, which was reflected in the blue window.

[Then we will see each other there.]

Chamber moved the hand holding her lollipop and closed the projection.

"…"

Derus did not leave his office even after the magical communication ended. He enjoyed the fading sunlight through the window before disappearing into gray smoke. The place where Derus Robert reappeared was Lushain Mountain, which rose to the west of the Robert House. He entered a hidden hole behind a rock with familiar steps.

Descending the stairs darker than a moonless night, the guard assassins bowed their heads to him. Derus ignored the assassins as if they didn't exist and walked toward the center of the cavern. After adjusting his clothes, he headed to the center of the cave.

In the center of the strange space where the red bricks were formed from dried blood, a man wearing a blue dragon helmet sat on a rock with his torso exposed.

"I greet you, Lord Derus."

Derus approached cautiously and knelt before the man wearing the blue dragon helmet.

"The Six Kings Conference has been decided, I suppose."

He smiled faintly, as if he had anticipated the entire situation.

"Yes. The meeting will be held at the Beast Union in a week."

Bardiel lifted his head and conveyed all the information he had heard from Chamber.

"Is there any contact from your end?"

Derus gestured with his chin while receiving his shirt from Kubara.

"Not yet?"

"I see."

He smiled softly, as if he had been waiting for so long.

"Are you feeling better?"

"There was nothing wrong with my body to begin with."

Derus shook his head calmly.

"What Glenn Zieghart cut was not my flesh, but my soul."

"Hmm, then…"

"There is no need to worry. I have recovered most of it. Rather, I have gained something."

He rolled his eyes, which held a freezing light, while placing a hand on his chest.

"Then I suppose you will attend the conference in person."

Bardiel asked, unable to look Derus in the eyes and lowering his gaze.

"As I said, even if you take that appearance, you cannot escape the gaze of those old Six Kings."

Derus smiled as he stroked the back of his hand, where his own face reflected.

"It is a matter of appearance or temperament, but because your power is too weak for them not to notice."

He gestured with his hand, saying that it couldn't be helped.

"Lord Derus. You must consider the possibility that this conference is a trap."

Bardiel joined his hands, saying they should be careful.

"I know. The timeframe of a week and the fact that it is being held in the Union itself is too natural to not be suspicious."

Derus nodded, indicating that he had already considered this.

"It is obvious what those old men are looking for."

He laughed as he leaned against the wall of the cavern where the blood of the children had dried.

"The remaining week will be boring."

* * *

Raon opened his eyes to the sound of birds singing, waking up at dawn. A colorless blade burned in his grip.

— Finally, you completed it…

Wrath frowned as if he were dazed.

— It’s not bad, but the power you’ve created isn’t that strong! It won’t work on many people!

The creature waved its hands, saying it might be in vain.

'It doesn’t matter if it doesn’t work on everyone.'

Raon nodded calmly.

'It’s enough if it works on just one type.'

Raon took a deep breath and plunged the newly sharpened Blade of Death into his chest. Although it was a power that overloaded both body and soul, he could endure as long as necessary to reveal Derus's true identity.

'Derus Robert.'

Raon clenched his fist until it bled as he looked at the warm rising sun, as if announcing the beginning of the Six Kings Conference.

'Today, I will tear off your mask in front of everyone.'

***

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]