Chapter 775

Raon swallowed hard as he stared at the dragon whose head had been torn off—and at the Dragon Lord, coughing blood as he plummeted.

Has he… become even stronger?

Killing two ancient dragons with a single, casual blow—and landing a fatal strike on the Dragon Lord—that went far beyond human martial arts.

–That wasn’t casual.

Wrath shook his head, his gaze fixed on Glenn.

–That old man… he’s dead serious right now.

His frown deepened.

–His emotions are burning with rage.

He must have seen everything on his way here… Urgh!

Raon clenched his chest as a wave of dizziness hit him.

Raon collapsed as he turned his gaze toward House Arianne.

“Kuhak!!”

He coughed violently.

Glenn’s appearance had made him forget the pain for a moment—but Wrath’s descent still wasn’t over.

Uncontrollable rage flooded his mind. His body twisted from within, and thick, blackened blood poured from his mouth.

“Raon!”

Glenn was moments away from unleashing a second sword strike at the Dragon Lord, but he halted—

And ran straight to Raon.

“Head of House. Everything I’m going to say… is the truth.”

Raon, knowing he had no time to spare, grabbed Glenn’s hand, stopping him before he could speak.

He needed to be heard—before it was too late.

“Don’t talk! Your condition—"

“I must say this.”

He shook his head firmly.

He had to speak now—before Wrath lost control, before Glenn made a fatal mistake.

If he didn’t explain, Glenn might kill Edgar and Sia, thinking they were leaders of Eden.

“The man in the Death Knight armor… that’s my father, Edgar. The one we thought was dead.”

His voice trembled as he forced his stiff tongue to continue.

“And the woman in the black orc helmet… is my sister, Sia.”

Raon forced the words out, his breath ragged, his body barely holding together—but the truth had to be said.

“W-What are you…”

Glenn’s eyes widened, his voice faltering.

He had clearly never even considered the possibility that his son-in-law and granddaughter could still be alive.

His gaze shifted immediately—sharply—to where Edgar and Sia lay. His lips quivered as he stared at them, emotion surging behind his stern expression.

“And Sir Re–Rector is my grandfather. He became the leader of the Holy Sword Alliance… to help me and my mother… Kuhak!”

Raon staggered, coughing up another mouthful of thick, black blood. His gaze shifted to Rector—whose breathing had all but faded.

“Pl–Please… save Rector… and my mother…”

Even if it was beyond Glenn’s power, Raon cried out, pouring the last of his strength into that desperate plea.

There was no one else he could ask.

“And…”

He looked up at Glenn, biting his lip so hard it turned white.

“Very soon… another being will enter my body.”

Raon forced the words out, even as his heart pounded violently—threatening to burst from his chest.

“The Demon King, I suppose.”

Glenn’s eyes narrowed as he looked at the black horns sprouting from Raon’s forehead.

“The Demon King… and the first friend I told you about before.”

“Mmm…”

Glenn let out a low groan, the memory surfacing—when Raon had once introduced Wrath as his “first friend” after the war.

His expression flickered.

Back then, he must’ve thought Raon was speaking metaphorically… That Wrath was just some unique being bonded through a shared journey.

He never imagined that “friend” was the actual Demon King.

“He’s saved me countless times… and he saved everyone today. Please… don’t kill him. Just stop his rampage.”

–Who are you worried about?! I am the lord of Devildom! I will never die, so worry about your own survival!

Wrath shook his head, sweat beading on his brow as he struggled to suppress the rising fury within him.

–Don’t worry about me…

He was trying to hold back the storm—for Raon’s sake.

“Gr–Grandfather… I beg you… Please…”

Raon bowed his head.

It was an impossible request. One no one should ever have to make. But he still asked.

And then—

Flick.

The final feather of the Fire Ring drifted down.

The moment it touched the ground, Raon’s mind went completely black—like someone had shut off every light inside him.

–You’re asking the wrong person…

Wrath gritted his teeth, grabbing hold of the ice flower bracelet as tightly as he could, trying to keep himself from being pulled into Raon’s collapsing body.

–This king will never surrender!

* * *

Kraaaaaaah!

Raon, engulfed in a storm of blue frost, let out a monstrous, demonic roar toward the sky.

The black horns jutting from his forehead pulsed with even darker energy, and the tips of his once-bright golden hair began to shift—turning a chilling blue.

“Mmm…”

Glenn’s hand, still gripping Heavenly Tremor, trembled slightly as he watched.

Raon was radiating an impossibly intense demonic force.

Did he really capture The Fallen with that power…?

He could no longer feel The Fallen’s presence. It had vanished just before he arrived—proof that Raon and the Demon King had defeated him together.

But the power still burning inside Raon…

It wasn’t fading.

If anything, it was surging.

This wasn’t the aura of a mere Demon King.

This… felt like something far beyond.

“It won’t be an easy request.”

If that Demon King lost control inside Raon’s body, even Glenn might not be able to subdue him without delivering a fatal blow.

However…

He had been called “grandfather.”

By that child.

No matter the cost—he had to honor that plea.

“Mmm?”

As Glenn raised Heavenly Tremor, bracing himself to confront Raon, whose body was now brimming with demonic energy…

…he paused.

The demonic energy continued to surge outward—but Raon’s soul… was missing.

It felt completely hollow.

What is this...?

Maximizing his Aura Perception, Glenn sharpened his senses—and felt something massive writhing near Raon’s wrist.

Could it be…

He narrowed his eyes.

Was he resisting from the outside?

It seemed so.

Just as Raon had considered the Demon King a friend…

The Demon King… also considered Raon a friend.

And now—he was resisting from the outside, refusing to descend fully, struggling to keep himself from going berserk.

Then there’s a way.

If the Demon King had already possessed Raon and gone mad, separating them would’ve been nearly impossible.

But if he was still holding on from the outside—

Then it was possible to pull him away.

“Be patient for a moment.”

Glenn slowly lowered Heavenly Tremor and closed his eyes.

Shiiing.

With a sharp, resonant sound, he opened his mind’s eye.

And there—he saw it.

Something like a blue cloud, swirling gently… being pulled into Raon’s upper dantian.

That was it.

The Demon King’s soul.

Though it appeared small, its scale… its presence… was even greater than Glenn’s own.

So that no one dies…

He could sever that soul now. He could end it here and destroy the Demon King forever.

But—

Raon had asked him.

He had begged him to save his friend.

He couldn’t ignore that wish.

Hummmm…

With a deep, vibrating hum, Glenn raised the sword of his mind.

Reflected on its transparent blade—

Were the regrets of the past…

And a desperate, unshakable resolve—

Not to repeat them.

A sword advanced without hesitation.

The Soul Blade, forged from both kindness and unyielding resolve, pierced through the ring of rage swirling within the bodies of the blue Demon King and Raon.

Slaaaash—

With a sharp, tearing sound—like threads of fury being severed—Raon, who had been radiating frost like a being on the verge of madness, collapsed to his knees.

Like a puppet with its strings cut.

Hiss…

The blue Demon King followed, falling gently onto Raon’s head—as if all the tension holding him aloft had vanished in an instant.

“Urgh…”

Glenn wiped the cold sweat from his brow and exhaled a long, heavy sigh.

That brief moment…

Had drained more of his spirit than any clash he’d ever had with the Five Demons.

Because this time—his grandson’s life had been the one on the line.

“Thank you… for befriending my grandson.”

Glenn offered a faint smile to the blue Demon King, who was still writhing atop Raon’s head.

–!!!

The blue Demon King puffed up indignantly, as if to protest the sentiment—

But then, with a flicker of frost and light, he vanished.

His presence faded completely.

The rage that had once dominated Raon’s body was gone.

Glenn gently lifted his unconscious grandson onto his back and began walking toward House Arianne.

As he approached, he noticed movement.

Perhaps due to the wave of ice Raon had unleashed earlier… Edgar—still clad in Death Knight armor—was now awake.

“I greet you, Father-in-law.”

Edgar, now awake, immediately bowed his head in acknowledgment.

“So you are Edgar…”

Glenn’s voice was low. His fingertips trembled slightly as he looked at the man before him.

To meet his son-in-law for the first time… here, on a battlefield drenched in blood and frost…

It only deepened the weight of his past mistakes.

“I apologize for greeting you so late. I would ask for your forgiveness—but there’s no time now.”

Edgar bit down on his lip and pointed toward Sylvia and Rector, who lay unconscious nearby.

“Mmm…”

Glenn followed his gaze, his expression tightening.

Glenn’s jaw trembled as he examined Sylvia and Rector’s condition.

He had been so focused on Raon… that he hadn’t realized—

They were on the brink of death.

No—it wouldn’t be surprising if they died right now.

He quickly injected his aura into both of them, but—

It was no use.

Their internal and external wounds were too severe. And the demonic energy had already seeped deep into every injury, nullifying his healing.

Federick…

Glenn’s heart pounded as he gently picked up Sylvia and Rector, their complexions now dark and lifeless.

There was only one person left he could trust.

The Ragged Saint—Federick.

It might already be too late…

But they had no choice but to try.

“It will be too late if we leave.”

Edgar shook his head firmly, refusing to let go of Sylvia’s hand.

“Are you saying we should let them die here?”

Glenn’s voice sharpened, his teeth clenched as he glared at Edgar.

“I can save them.”

Edgar nodded, a faint smile touching his lips.

“What…?”

“I possess the power of a Death Knight.”

He looked Glenn straight in the eyes.

“A special demonic energy—one that brings death to the living and absorbs vitality. But…”

He placed his hand gently over Sylvia’s.

“In other words, I can also transfer that vitality… to others.”

Edgar nodded heavily, his eyes moving between Sylvia and Rector.

“They both have less than a minute left.”

He slowly lowered his hands, then looked up at Glenn.

“Please… lay them down.”

“…”

Glenn bit his lip hard.

He didn’t need words—he could see it in Edgar’s eyes.

The resolve.

The farewell.

In the end, Glenn didn’t argue. He gently laid Sylvia and Rector back on the ground.

Edgar knelt between them, placing one hand on each of their chests.

And then—

He began to speak.

Words not meant for the living.

The language of the dead.

As the strange, unearthly language—incomprehensible to any human—echoed through the air…

Color began to return to Sylvia and Rector’s faces.

Their once blackened complexions, drained by death, slowly flushed with life again.

But at the same time—

Dark, dead veins crawled across Edgar’s pale skin.

His vitality was draining.

“Wait! Don’t tell me that’s—”

Glenn’s eyes widened in shock, realization dawning all at once.

“I’ve already died once,” Edgar said softly, still chanting.

“No… it’s not even right to call me a person anymore.”

Edgar turned his gaze to the unconscious Raon and smiled faintly.

“It’s enough… just seeing my son one last time… and saving my daughter.”

He gave a small nod, his voice calm.

“I’m satisfied.”

Glenn’s expression twisted with anguish. He lowered his brows, struggling to contain the weight in his chest.

“Your soul… will continue to suffer.”

His voice trembled slightly.

“You’ll feel the pain of being shattered… again and again…”

“I know.”

“Father-in-law… my life has been nothing but pain.”

Edgar smiled gently, his voice growing fainter.

“But now… I’m glad I got to see my wife, my son… and my daughter like this.”

He reached out and softly stroked Sylvia’s cheek, now warm with color once more.

“You would’ve made the same decision… if you were in my place, Father-in-law.”

“…”

Glenn opened his mouth to speak—once, twice—but no words came out.

In the end… he remained silent.

A man who had been held captive by Eden for decades…

A man who had only just begun to taste freedom…

To give up his life now, for his loved ones—

It was not a decision anyone could take lightly.

And yet… Edgar had made it without hesitation.

That's why he regretted his past even more. If he had accepted Sylvia at that time, this tragedy wouldn't have happened.

Glenn gritted his teeth as he looked at Edgar and placed his hand on Raon's forehead.

"Are you planning to wake Raon?"

"Shouldn't a son see his father's last moments?"

"Ah, then a moment..."

Edgar put on the Death Knight helmet he had discarded. He smiled awkwardly and touched his chin.

"It's embarrassing."

* * *

“What the—!”

Raon jolted awake with a harsh groan.

It wasn’t a natural awakening—
It felt like someone had forcefully pulled him back into consciousness.

His head was still pounding.

What happened...?

He had no idea how much time had passed—or what had occurred.

Instinctively, he looked up.

Glenn was standing right in front of him.

“Gr–Grandfather… the situation…”

“It’s over.”

Glenn gave a short nod, his tone calm—but his eyes filled with weight.

“How are you feeling?”

“Eh? Oh… I think I’m okay.”

Raon blinked, still disoriented—his voice trailing off as confusion settled in.

All the rage that had once consumed his mind and spirit—

Was gone.

He didn’t know how it had ended, but it was clear.

The rampage had stopped…
before Wrath could fully descend.

–And your friend?

“Yes.”

Raon nodded softly.

Wrath’s figure wasn’t visible… but he could still feel him.

A faint presence lingered—tucked within the ice flower bracelet.

He must have passed out from sheer exhaustion.

“It was a very difficult request…”
Raon looked up at Glenn and bowed his head faintly.

“But… thank you for granting it.”

“We’ll leave the thanks for later…”

Glenn let out a long sigh and pointed off to the right.

Raon turned his head—

And saw Edgar, his hands resting gently on Sylvia and Rector’s chests.

“Ah!”

Still too weak to walk properly, Raon grabbed the Heavenly Drive lying nearby and used it as a cane to push himself upright.

He staggered toward Edgar.

“Are Mom… and Sir Rector okay?”

He couldn’t use Aura Perception—his aura was drained, and his upper dantian felt like it had been torn apart—

But even so, he could sense it.

Their breathing…

It had stabilized.

“Yes.”

Edgar smiled softly beneath the helmet.

“Now you can rest easy.”

Edgar nodded with a gentle smile, as if to say, Don’t worry. I’ve got this.

“I didn’t know you could heal, too.”

Raon tilted his head slightly. He couldn’t sense aura, but whatever Edgar was doing—
It was definitely working.

“This father’s better at odd jobs than swordsmanship,” Edgar said with a chuckle. “Medicine, civil engineering, welding, construction, animal farming, piloting…”

He paused, flashing a grin behind the helmet.

“There’s nothing I can’t do. But the best tool I’ve got—”
He tapped his chin.
“—is this mouth. Your mother fell for me because I talk so damn well.”

He laughed—casually, like a father teasing his child on a peaceful afternoon.

“—But I see you still call her Mom.”

“Ah, when I’m nervous, I… unconsciously…”

Raon blinked, flustered. His face turned red.

“That’s good,” Edgar said, nodding with a laugh.
“It means you’re close.”

He chuckled softly, the warmth in his voice unmistakable.

“From now on, don’t call Rector sir. Call him Grandpa. He’ll love that.”

He smiled as he gently stroked Rector’s forehead, brushing back his hair like a father would his sleeping child.

“I know… but it still doesn’t come out easily.”

Raon looked down, voice soft.

“It took me a long time to call Head of House Grandpa, too.”

“I see,” Edgar chuckled. “Then why don’t you try it with me first?”

He leaned in slightly.

“Say it—Dad!”

“Mmm…”

Raon’s lips trembled.

The word wouldn’t come out immediately.

He was about to say I can’t—but then he saw Edgar’s eyes through the helmet.

There was a desperate sincerity in them. A quiet plea.

So Raon nodded.

“F–Father.”

Thud.

Edgar staggered back a step, clutching his chest like he'd been shot with an arrow.

“That…”

He let out a dramatic exhale.

“How cute! That’s exactly how I feel!”

Then he laughed, though his voice was a little shaky.

“Although I wanted to hear Dad first… I guess I’ll have to live with Father. Bit disappointing.”

He clicked his lips and said that he wanted to hear the word "Dad" when he was a child.

"Do you want to try again?"

"I'll do it later. It's a bit embarrassing."

"It's disappointing, but it can't be helped."

Edgar said that he would definitely hear it, grabbing Raon's shoulder.

"The treatment will take a while, so why don't you tell me how you've been living in the meantime? There's nothing better than conversation to bring people closer."

"Mmm..."

Raon looked back. Glenn nodded firmly, as if telling him to do it.

"I stayed in the annex building of Zieghart. When my mother returned to the family, she was demoted to the family branch, so they gave me dirty looks whenever I went to the main building."

"Ah, so that's what happened."

Edgar tilted his head toward Glenn, as if he understood immediately.

"It must have been a measure to protect them from other members of the direct lineage. Thank you for your consideration."

He smiled, as though he had instantly grasped Glenn's true intentions.

"…"

Glenn silently waved his hand, gesturing for them to continue.

"Then, briefly."

Raon nodded and began to recount his life so far.

"At the age of twelve, I participated in basic training at the Fifth Training Ground. All those guys who fainted up there... they're my comrades."

"You mean the ones who defended the walls like an iron wall?"

Edgar's eyes widened slightly.

"It was completely different from when they invaded the branch before. I didn’t know they’d all reach Master level… Is it true that you raised them all?"

“…On the second mission, we encountered a Blood Demon. If the Vice Leader hadn’t come, we probably would’ve all died.”

"He protected you before too," Edgar said softly. "I was really surprised to see him step to the front, risking his life to shield you. Keep trusting him—and keep following him."

"The life-or-death battle with the Axe King was tougher than I thought. But I don’t regret it. It was a fair fight. Among the Five Demons… he was the most martial artist-like person I’ve ever met."

"That guy never keeps his promises, but he fights fair, huh? An interesting one."

Edgar chuckled.

"You were his last opponent, so he must’ve been satisfied—even in death. By the way… did he name your last sword technique? You mean that last sword?"

Every time Raon spoke about his past experiences, Edgar reacted with exaggerated gestures and wide-eyed amazement.

It was strangely comforting.

Talking to him felt… fun.

Almost like watching Glenn receive mission reports in the audience chamber—but with expressions instead of silence.

However, as the conversation went on, Raon began to notice something… off.

“By the way…”

He swallowed dryly.

Just as he was about to bring up Derus’s identity, a chill ran down his spine.

“W–Why is Dad’s vitality decreasing… while Mom and Grandpa are recovering?”

As his aura gradually recovered, Raon began to sense it clearly—

Edgar’s vitality was plummeting.

His presence, once strong and stable, now flickered like a dying flame.

Even his voice had become hoarse—dry and fragile, as if the life were draining from his very breath.

“It’s part of the treatment. Don’t worry.”

Edgar shook his head casually, pretending it was nothing.

But his voice cracked—like it was barely holding on.

“C–Can I… take off your helmet?”

Raon raised a trembling hand.

Gently, he removed the Death Knight helmet.

“…Ah.”

Edgar’s face had become terrifyingly thin—gaunt, like someone who hadn’t eaten in a month.

Thick, blackened veins coiled across his skin like rope.

And in that mummified body—

There was no warmth left.

Only the chilling presence of death..

"Ah, I've been discovered."
Edgar clapped his hands softly, as if feigning disappointment.

"What is this..."

"It couldn't be helped."
He shook his head calmly.
"It was the only way."

Edgar smiled faintly, explaining that in order to save Sylvia and Rector, he had no choice but to absorb the energy of death and share his own vitality.

“B-But you have to live too! After enduring that hell all this time, why?”

Raon gritted his teeth.
Knowing what kind of life Edgar had led, his anger—once calmed—ignited once more.

"I met you."
Edgar raised his withered hand to stroke Raon's head. The faint, powerless touch made Raon's heart sink.

"I fought alongside my son, saved my daughter whom I could only watch from afar, and brought back my dying wife. What more could I possibly need?"

He smiled sincerely, as if it was all more than enough.

"And even though it wasn't my intention, I killed many people. Now, I'm receiving my punishment."

"What punishment!"

Raon shouted at Edgar.
He couldn't accept those words—because his father's past, controlled by Derus, mirrored his own too closely.

–Raon, sit down. There isn't much time left.

Edgar waved his hand calmly, as if accepting his own death without regret.

"What the..."
Raon tilted his head slightly, watching as his father's powerless hand sank back down.

"You know, I wanted to teach you and Sia my swordsmanship.
I gave up because it felt impossible... but when I saw you wield the Mystic Soul Sword, I thought—maybe our destinies really were connected."

Edgar pulled Raon into a gentle embrace, stroking his head.
“It was an honor… and I was truly happy to have my final battle alongside my son.”

"No, that's..."

"Take care of your mom, your sister… and your grandfather."

As if those were the last words he could muster, Edgar fell silent and held Raon tightly.
It was a stark contrast to the chatty man he had been just moments ago.

"Dad..."

"Now you're finally calling me that… sincerely."

Edgar smiled brightly, as if all his wishes had been fulfilled, and slowly folded his body forward.
His dried-up form began to crumble into fine black dust.

"Please!"

Raon desperately tried to transfer the aura he had only just recovered, but Edgar’s disintegration didn’t stop.

"Mmm?"

Glenn, who had been silently biting his lip as he watched Edgar, suddenly moved to Raon’s left.

Who's there?"
Glenn pointed the Heavenly Tremor toward the darkness, his expression more tense than when he faced the leader of the Five Demons.

"Me..."

A somewhat naive voice answered, and a white-haired boy with jade-colored skin stepped out of the shadows.

"I've run out of money..."

***

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]