Chapter 763

The Two-Headed Demon rubbed his hands while watching the Green King, who seemed to dominate the souls of the monsters with her emerald aura.

That is real indeed.

The previous Green King had solely focused on controlling monsters, always staying in the background. But this young girl was different.

Her talent is truly exceptional.

Both her ability to control monsters and her martial prowess were unparalleled. It was said that Raon Zieghart possessed the greatest talent of all time, but this girl didn’t seem to lag behind.

No wonder she caught his attention.

Originally, the Green King was meant to be a puppet of the Fallen, but after witnessing her talent, the Heavenly Demon personally took her in and taught her martial arts. That alone was enough proof of the undeniable potential of the girl.

"And besides that..."

The Two-Headed Demon licked his lips as he looked at the Lion Sword and the crescent-shaped earrings worn by the Green King.

"With those artifacts, she’s practically grown wings."

Just moments ago, the Green King, himself, and the Severing Sword had conquered the dungeon of the Grand Master of the Sword who had transcended 500 years ago.

After enduring a series of traps and battles, and obtaining treasures, everyone’s martial skills had grown significantly. He felt that with these four, they could even face a Transcendent Warrior.

"How do you feel? Proud?"

The Two-Headed Demon twisted his lips as he looked at the Severing Sword behind him.

"Although I suppose you don’t care now."

"..."

The Severing Sword did not respond or react, only gazing at the Green King. The blinking look within her helmet seemed to express joy, sadness, or perhaps despair.

"..."

She moved forward as if to protect the Green King, not even looking at the Two-Headed Demon.

"I didn’t cut off her tongue, so I don’t know why she doesn’t speak."

The Two-Headed Demon clicked his tongue while watching the Severing Sword walk slowly.

"What did that bastard Fallen do to her?"

He knew that Fallen had implanted "something special" in the bodies of the Severing Sword and the Green King, but lately, it seemed he had also manipulated their minds.

"He's such an unpleasant person to deal with."

The Two-Headed Demon shook his head as he looked at the sheath of the Severing Sword.

"..."

After strengthening her control over the monsters, the Green King turned to look at the Two-Headed Demon. Her calm eyes seemed to ask what he was planning to do next.

"Hmm..."

The Two-Headed Demon examined the army of monsters, which was too vast for even his Aura Perception to fully grasp, before shifting his gaze to the center.

"It would be a waste to simply abandon an army this size."

He curved his lips as he looked at the small lights visible in the distance.

"We might as well crush that before we leave."

"..."

When the Green King raised her hand, the army of monsters began to advance, rumbling across the land. Toward the Arianne House, which had once conquered death. The ground trembled with their approach.

* * *

Raon smiled faintly as he watched the campfire burning gently.

–Seeing you smile at the fire, I guess you’re thinking the same thing as this king!

Wrath nodded vigorously, as if he had been expecting this.

What were you thinking?

–I was thinking that if we roast some freshly caught fish over those flames, it would be absolute paradise! Isn’t that right?

He waved his hands enthusiastically, asking if Raon could almost taste the smoky flavor.

We ate less than two hours ago...

–This king has already digested that meal!

Wrath raised his chin, warning Raon not to underestimate the appetite of a demon king.

You’re not the Demon King of Gluttony...

Raon chuckled. Despite being on a camping trip, they had eaten heartily, but it seemed insufficient for the unemployed demon king.

If it wasn’t hunger making you smile, what were you thinking?

–I was thinking about how to use the fire to make you stronger.

Fire?

–Yes.

Having vowed to ascend to transcendence without missing a single detail, he wanted to maximize both his Fire Ring and his Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation.

–You’re greedier than this king’s appetite.

Wrath waved his hand, suggesting that Raon should befriend Greed.

I don’t like that guy.

Unlike the pleasant demon kings like Sloth or Gluttony, Raon didn’t want to associate with Greed.

–You have good taste. The only true demon king is this king! Though I must admit Pride is somewhat... hmm.

Wrath clicked his tongue briefly, seeming to both dislike and acknowledge Pride's arrogance.

I see.

Thinking this was typical of Wrath, Raon turned his gaze back to the campfire when he felt a small presence behind him—

"Staring at the fire?"

Rimmer sat down in front of Raon with a slight smile.

"Why did you get up so early? There’s still time."

Raon squinted as he looked at the still-dark night sky. It was Rimmer’s turn for the next watch, but it wasn’t time yet.

"I couldn’t sleep, so I came out early," he said.

Rimmer waved his hand, saying that sleep becomes scarce as one ages.

"Well, I guess you’ve rested enough."

Raon clicked his tongue while looking at Rimmer. As expected, he had arrived late for the mission departure time. A truly impressive person. No, an impressive elf.

"Hey! People make mistakes, sleep too much, and sometimes take breaks! That is something someone who is waiting would say, not someone who arrived late."

"Oh, now that I think about it, you’re right."

Rimmer immediately admitted it and chuckled. Raon and Rimmer exchanged a few more jokes before falling silent, both looking at the campfire.

"Raon."

When one of the logs finished burning and settled, Rimmer called out to Raon.

"Yes?"

"Why aren’t you interested in becoming the Head of House?"

"What do you mean by that all of a sudden?"

"You’re a direct descendant who reached the highest level of Grand Master at twenty years old. You may not be as good as Karoon or Denier, but you’re not inferior to Balder. With that position and martial skill, it’s natural to desire the position of Head of House."

Rimmer interlocked his index fingers like swords as he continued speaking.

"The highest throne of Zieghart, considered the strongest among the Five Kings. Many want to wear that noble and majestic crown, yet you show no interest. I find it curious."

He shrugged as if asking for a response.

"I’m satisfied with my current life."

Raon gently shook his head. Having possessed and left nothing in his past life before dying, he was happy with the worth he had gained in this life. He had little desire for the position of Head of House, which he wasn’t sure he could handle well.

"Even if the position of Head of House is high and impressive, it means nothing if it doesn’t suit me."

"Hmm, I can’t argue with that."

Rimmer lowered his finger in acknowledgment.

"And the reason the throne of Zieghart is grand is that the current Head of House is sitting on it."

If Glenn were to disappear and someone else became the Head of House, Zieghart could maintain its position among the Five Kings, but it would have to relinquish its title as the most powerful force on the continent. The name Glenn Zieghart carried overwhelming weight.

"It’s true that Zieghart is what it is now because of the Head of House."

Rimmer nodded in agreement.

"But I believe you could make Zieghart grow even more than the current Head of House."

"That’s not at all..."

"–You may not know, but even the Head of House trembled when he first sat on the throne."

He chuckled as he looked up.

"Really?"

Raon blinked. It was hard to believe that Glenn had trembled.

"He couldn’t even give orders properly and stammered. Sheryl, Roenn, and I had to write scripts for him, iron his clothes. It was quite a struggle."

Rimmer waved his hand, uttering words that would surely provoke Glenn’s anger if he heard them.

"If that’s true, I’d like to see it."

Raon smiled softly. Whether true or not, imagining Glenn’s awkward behavior naturally brought a smile to his face.

–Then this king has won!

Wrath raised his hand triumphantly.

–Unlike that grumpy old man Nadine, this king excelled at everything from the start!

He held his nose high, claiming to be the perfect monarch.

Whack! Raon moved his finger, hitting Wrath’s nose.

–Whack! Why did you hit me?

Pushing aside the rowdy Wrath, Raon turned his attention back to Rimmer.

"Thank you."

"Why?"

"You were trying to cheer me up, weren’t you?"

"I’m just being honest."

Rimmer revealed a serious look within his smiling expression.

"I think if you become the Head of House, Zieghart could prosper even more."

He smiled while lightly tapping his sheath.

"Seeing that as my new goal."

"I’ll think seriously about it for now."

With Rimmer speaking so seriously, Raon felt he should consider the goal of becoming the Head of House of Zieghart.

"Alright. That’s enough."

"But what if I still have no interest in the position and leave the family?"

"Well then I’d have to follow you."

Rimmer laughed as he cradled the back of his head with his intertwined fingers.

"Where would you follow me? You should stay with Zieghart!"

"How could I stay away from my division leader?"

He raised his hand, saying he would follow him even in death.

"Sigh, do as you please."

Raon exhaled softly as he turned his head. It was embarrassing, but he felt grateful for Rimmer’s promise to follow him to the end.

–The pointy-eared guy may not know much more, but he seems to have loyalty.

Even Wrath nodded in acknowledgment.

"But..."

Rimmer gestured money by pressing his thumb and index finger together.

"You’ll pay me, right? You’re rich after all."

He clicked his tongue, saying that his salary should increase since the benefits would decrease.

"...."

Raon’s previously soft expression turned sour.

* * *

Raon bit his lip as he looked at the castle of the Arianne House in the distance. Numerous corpses burned around the castle walls. The crackling flames were similar to that of a campfire, but the unique stench of the monsters seemed to spread to where they were.

"Urgh!"

Dorian shouted when he saw the pile of monster corpses behind the Arianne House.

"Are, are all those corpses of monsters? There are so many!"

His jaw trembled as he saw far more monster corpses than he had mentally prepared for.

"I heard the battle hasn’t started yet, so when did this happen...?"

Burren bit his lip while examining the monster corpses piled like stone towers, still burning.

"There are not only many, but each monster is incredibly large."

Martha toyed with her fingertips as she looked at the orc corpses—far bigger than typical specimens.

"That means they’re not ordinary."

"A lot of people died too..."

Runaan sighed deeply as she saw the corpses of swordsmen and soldiers who appeared to have died alongside the monsters.

"Look over there."

Rimmer, standing at the edge of the cliff, called Raon and the Light Wind Division. As they approached, they saw a green forest of monsters about to engulf the castle.

The numbers are astonishing. Whether it’s the King or Eden, they’re not ordinary opponents.

He bit his lip, as if warning them to prepare for an exhausting battle. Raon inspected the castle and the walls of the Arianne House. He could almost hear the labored breathing of the swordsmen and scouts, the distorted screams of the monsters, and the continuous clash of weapons. An intense battle was still underway.

"We're running out of time."

Not only were the numbers overwhelming, but each monster was strong. At this rate, the Arianne House would fall in less than half a day.

"There’s no time for a detour. We’ll go down the cliff directly and support the Arianne House."

To save even a single life, they had no choice but to go straight through, so he ordered them to cross the cliff.

"Yes!"

The eyes of the Light Wind Division shone fiercely, as if the steep cliff did not instill fear in them. The energy of the Gale Wind Style began to rise beneath their feet.

"Light Wind Division. Charge!"

At Raon’s low shout, the strongest wind of Zieghart pierced through the darkness.

* * *

Small cracks appeared in the walls of the Arianne House, which had remained intact even after the Death Marsh disappeared. The weight of the countless monsters gathering was beginning to damage the walls.

However, the walls weren’t the only problem. Giant orcs and monsters began to climb, stepping on each other’s shoulders and digging their claws into the stone.

Elite swordsmen personally trained by the Head of the Arianne House blocked their advance, and battle-hardened rangers fired arrows and crossbows—but the wave of monsters did not stop.

"Three trolls to the right!"

"The orcs have climbed too! Concentrate the arrows on the right!"

"The left side is the same! The orc warriors have jumped!"

The swordsmen ran as if they had two bodies, cutting down the monsters climbing the walls, but they fell one by one, unable to overcome the overwhelming numbers.

"T-Troll... Ugh!"

A young swordsman who rushed to support the left side was caught by a troll’s hand. He died before he could even feel pain, crushed into pulp. Just as the troll was about to leap into the castle for its next prey, a brilliant flash from a sword split its head.

"Do not retreat!"

It was Wendy Arianne, the Head of the Arianne House. She magnificently extended her Astral Energy, cutting down all the monsters that had climbed the walls.

"This is our home, our land! Protect it with your lives!"

Wendy raised her sword, which emitted an even brighter light, uplifting the morale of the swordsmen and soldiers.

"Follow the Head of House!"

"Defend the walls!"

"This is our last line of defense!"

"Pour oil and set it on fire!"

The swordsmen and soldiers, invigorated by Wendy’s feat, roared as they held back the monsters. However, the monsters seemed unfazed by Wendy’s aura, climbing the walls while trampling their burning comrades.

"Argh!"

"The right wall has been breached! The orcs—ugh!"

"The central wall is severely cracked!"

As the resistance and aura of the swordsmen wore thin, more and more monsters climbed the walls. Although Wendy was a Master, she couldn’t protect everyone, and the swordsmen and soldiers began to crumble under the assault.

"Damn it!"

Prika, the leader of the rangers, threw aside her bow and drew her sword.

"First and second team, follow me along the walls!"

The rangers abandoned their bows and engaged in close combat with the monsters in a desperate attempt to defend the stronghold.

"Just hold on a little longer! They must have a limit..."

As Prika shouted, encouraging her subordinates, a deafening crash erupted from beneath the walls, as if the earth itself was groaning. The steel doors could not withstand the monsters and shattered. Orcs, trolls, and ogres wielded their axes and maces, widening the breach.

The orcs charged through, expanding the opening. They rushed in like wild beasts, seemingly indifferent even when their flesh was torn by the jagged steel.

"The—The bottom has been breached!"

"Second team, fall back! Stop the orcs!"

"Aah!"

The Arianne House fell into chaos. Swordsmen tried to defend the walls, soldiers rushed to protect the gate, and monsters continued to flood in. The stench of death began to seep into every corner of the battlefield.

"I will stop them!"

Prika jumped onto the back of an orc about to kill the soldiers and stabbed its neck with her sword. She didn’t let go even when struck by another orc’s punch.

"Ugh..."

Wendy’s hand trembled as she held her sword and watched the monsters converging from all directions.

"What should I do...?"

Although she had trained tirelessly to protect Arianne since becoming Head of House, she couldn’t see a way to overcome the current crisis. The door would fall in less than half a day—could she protect anyone until then?

"Even if the Light Wind Division arrives, it won’t be until dawn..."

Even if Zieghart arrived as quickly as possible, they would have to hold out for five more hours. She wasn’t sure they could last that long.

"Still, we must hold on."

Hadn’t Raon and the Light Wind Division proven time and again that nothing was impossible?

Now was not the time for despair. It was the time to cut down monsters—one after another.

"Fight! Buy time for our families to escape!"

Wendy tried to stay on the walls, relying on her subordinates, but the orcs were breaking through faster than they could be stopped.

"Damn it!"

Finally abandoning the walls, she jumped down and killed an orc that had broken through the gate. But as if they had been waiting for this exact moment, the ogres seized the opportunity and leapt up to the walls, smashing their massive fists against the swordsmen.

"Ah..."

Wendy turned back to the walls after dealing with the remaining orcs, but her legs felt unbearably heavy.

"Please! Please don’t be too late!"

She moved with all her strength, stretching out her sword—but she couldn’t reach them in time.

"Ah..."

Just as despair gripped her heart—when she realized she couldn’t protect the swordsmen who were more like disciples than subordinates—a warm but fierce wind rose behind her.

The wind swept away the stench of monsters. In the next instant, the heads of the orcs poised to strike fell silently to the earth.

It wasn’t just inside the castle.

The ogres that had climbed the walls to attack the swordsmen were also split in half, their torsos thudding as they crashed down from the walls.

"Ah..."

Wendy swallowed dryly as she saw the swordsman in a black cloak appear at the center of the wall.

The man she had been praying for during this hellish battle was finally here.

"You’ve held up well."

Raon Zieghart, the absolute swordsman—Dragon Slayer and now Kingkiller—nodded solemnly.

"I’ll make sure not a single one gets in, so please rest."

Raon raised his Heavenly Drive and pointed it toward the sea of monsters swarming below the castle.

"Light Wind Division."

At Raon’s low call, the swordsmen of the Light Wind Division stood behind him. A chilling aura rose, as if their strength had fused into one blade.

"Erase them."

As red lightning flashed in Raon’s eyes, the cold wind of Zieghart swept through the battlefield.

The ground shook beneath their feet.

***

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]