Chapter 783

A silver frost enveloped Wrath, transforming into a fierce blizzard that swept through the basement.

"Hmm?"

"What's happening suddenly…"

Glenn and the Rector, sensing the sudden chill, moved to protect Edgar and Sylvia.

"Come over here!"

"Raon!"

Edgar approached Raon, while Sylvia, holding the still-unconscious Sia, urgently gestured for him to hurry. Worry clouded both their eyes.

"It's alright."

Raon calmly shook his head at the four anxious pairs of eyes.

"I don't think it's anything bad."

He reassured them as he watched Wrath enveloped in frost. No malevolent energy emanated from the silver frost. It seemed like a cold, pure, and majestic energy, similar to a force of nature.

Wrath's cold energy is amplifying.

Wrath's aura, which had been weakening for some time, was steadily growing stronger. The frost seemed to be transferring power to him.

"What exactly is happening?"

Glenn narrowed his eyes and silently demanded an explanation.

"It seems my friend has gained something."

Raon looked up with a slight smile.

"Please wait a moment."

After gesturing for silence, he surrounded Wrath with an aura barrier to prevent any disturbance.

But…

Raon pursed his lips as he watched the intensifying cold energy.

Why is it getting stronger?

He couldn't understand why Wrath was growing without experiencing intense rage. Moreover, the growth resembled that of a martial artist achieving enlightenment, which made even less sense.

This might take a while.

Raon nodded, indicating to Glenn and the Rector to take Sia and go upstairs first. But both men firmly shook their heads, indicating they would wait. Sylvia and Edgar also remained motionless in front of the bed, protecting Sia.

Thank you.

Understanding their intentions, Raon bowed again and sat down. As he silently observed Wrath, some of the silver frost enveloping him shifted towards Raon. The moment the frost touched his skin, Glacier naturally activated and began absorbing the cold energy.

What is this…

It was an even purer and more powerful energy than Wrath's cold energy. Not only did it instantly replenish his depleted energy, but it also began expanding the scale of Glacier. The Ring of Fire and the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation resonated, generating intense heat to protect his body from the suddenly strengthening cold energy.

Just as when he first learned Glacier, heat and cold clashed within his energy center.

Perhaps it's a little risky, but…

Raon licked his lips, feeling the competing flames and cold energy.

I need to make all this energy mine.

Although his soul had recovered from its wounds, his physical wounds still remained.

He resolved to seize the moment, letting the sudden surge of cold and heat flow through him—restoring his drained strength and mending the wounds etched into his body.

The Ring of Fire roared to its zenith. Eight mighty rings blazed into prominence, each one thick with power, lifting his soul realm higher and higher. They tamed the rampaging flames and quelled the biting frost, forcing both to bend to his will.

He guided the now-settling currents along precise paths, channeling each to where it was needed most. Torn flesh knit together, the once gaping wounds—red and raw like a troll’s—closing without a trace. Deep within, his energy center and mana circuits, stretched wide by his soul’s recent growth, steadily brimmed with pure, refined aura.

"Whew…"

Raon opened his eyes with a faint, satisfied smile. Murkada had helped him expand his soul realm; now Wrath had erased his wounds and restored his aura. One after another, it was a series of fortunate encounters.

You really are the generous tree.

Wrath had not only strengthened himself but had also shared that strength, nurturing Raon in turn. For a Demon King, he gave without end. Raon nodded his head in silent thanks.

As if answering, the frigid storm around them began to fade, its swirling silver frost collapsing inward. The last remnants were drawn into Wrath’s form—then flared outward in a blinding, icy light.

After the bright light faded, what remained floating in the air was…

A… giant cotton candy?

Wrath, who seemed to have gained weight, was waving his arms. He looked like a dog—or perhaps a cat—that hadn’t seen a groomer in years.

– Ehehehe!
With a bright, almost giddy laugh, Wrath tilted his head back toward the ceiling.
– At last, enlightenment has graced this King!

He nodded with the solemnity of a sage announcing a profound truth.

Enlightenment? Did you actually…?
Raon blinked, uncertain if Wrath was being serious—until he realized the Demon King genuinely meant it.

– Indeed. Can you not behold these magnificent arms?

Wrath lifted his chubby arms, insisting Raon look at his spiritual body.

One…

Raon pursed his lips as he looked at Wrath, who had transformed to resemble a fluffy cat.

Well, your energy hasn't grown as much as that ice storm. But your presence, or should I say, your soul realm, seems to have increased.

– Well observed! Through enlightenment, this King's soul has reached an even higher realm. It's a growth greater than mere power. If I had ascended a little more, I might even have gotten rid of this spiritual body!

Wrath frowned, saying that at his level, soul growth was more difficult than power growth.

– To think something like this would occur in the human world… Not even this King could have foreseen it.

He smiled brightly, saying it was an unexpected event.

That reminds me, there's something I want to ask.

Raon narrowed his eyes at the smiling Wrath.

Where exactly did you obtain enlightenment? You're the Monarch of Wrath, aren't you?

Although Raon often teased him as a glutton, Wrath was still the Demon King of the Demon Realm—the Monarch of Wrath. Yet Raon couldn’t fathom how he had achieved enlightenment without even feeling true anger.

– Not from anger. Ahem!
Wrath calmly shook his head.

– Those humans… the sincere gratitude of their family lifted this King’s soul to a higher realm.

Just from words of gratitude?

– The relationship between demons and humans is built on transactions. That is how you and this King began as well.

His gaze swept slowly over Glenn, the Rector, Edgar, and Sylvia.

– But your family expressed their thanks to this King without even sensing or seeing me. This… unfamiliar emotion I felt for the first time—that is what allowed this King’s soul to grow.

Wrath closed his eyes, admitting even he hadn’t expected such a change.

– It’s similar to how that old Nadine changed after learning about warm emotions.

His gaze lingered on Glenn, as if sensing a strange kinship.

Honestly, I can’t understand how a demon could grow through emotional exchange with humans.

– That’s human prejudice. Demons aren’t simply evil. Ahem.

Wrath lightly tapped his head, then told Raon to consider Archangel Uriel.

That’s true. Anyway… I’m glad.
Raon smiled faintly and gave Wrath a gentle nudge.

– Glad about what?

Wrath tilted his head, puzzled by the remark.

That you’ve gotten stronger.

– What?

You always complained that I was getting stronger. Honestly, it bothered me more than I let on.
Though said lightly, it had weighed on him—seeing Wrath weaken while his own strength grew. Knowing the Demon King had gained power thanks to him and his family brought Raon a quiet sense of relief.

Congratulations.

– Hehe! It’s not appreciated in the slightest that you’re congratulating me only now! You’ve taken far more than you’ve—Ahem!

Wrath’s chubby hands waved about before he cleared his throat with exaggerated dignity.

If you’ve grown, why are you still coughing?
Raon tilted his head in mock puzzlement.

– Just because I’ve grown doesn’t mean my soul wounds have vanished!

He shook his head, as if urging Raon to recover some common sense.

But I’ve already recovered?

Raon blinked and pointed to himself. When he had absorbed Murkada’s ashes, his soul wounds had healed; and just now, thanks to Wrath, even his physical injuries were gone.

– Eek! That’s because you’re unusual!

Wrath scowled, muttering that he never thought a Demon King would have to call a human “unusual.”

– Anyway, there’s nothing pleasant in… Hm?

His gaze shifted sideways, then shot upward.

– W–What? Why have you gotten even stronger in the meantime?

Wrath’s eyes widened as he seemed to sense it too—Raon’s sudden increase in strength.

Ah… just now…
Raon recounted what had happened while Wrath was busy attaining enlightenment.

– This damn…!

Wrath gnashed his teeth and lunged at Raon.

– Why did you steal this King’s fragments! If they had all entered me, I could have shattered even this spiritual body and escaped!

I didn’t steal them—they just fell off you and got absorbed into me.

– Then you should have returned them to this King instead of eating them!

Sigh…
Raon shook his head. For all Wrath’s claims of soul growth, his mental age hadn’t changed in the slightest. If anything, it might have regressed.

– Don’t sigh, give it back!

Wrath seized Raon by the neck and shook him, demanding he cough up the cold energy. The tantrum had nothing to do with the ice—it was clear he just wanted something else entirely.

“R–Raon, did something happen?”

Sylvia’s face showed clear worry as she watched Raon sigh.

“No, everything’s fine. Everyone’s awake—except Sia…”

Raon smiled faintly, then glanced at Wrath.
“Are we going to have a big feast today?”

At those words, Wrath immediately released his grip on Raon’s collar.

– This King agrees! Prepare a sumptuous banquet at once!

He grinned broadly, brushing the dust from his neck as if he’d merely been adjusting his posture.

– Of course, there must be pineapple pizza and mint chocolate ice cream… and don’t forget that new product the Glutton ate…

…
Raon could only shake his head. Wrath’s tone held a strange competitiveness toward Gluttony.

Did he become Wrath out of anger because Gluttony stole his gluttony…?

* * *

At the Arianne family estate—now deserted by both man and monster—a lone figure in a black robe walked a path paved with corpses. Eagles and hyenas, indifferent to the hooded stranger, tore greedily at the decaying dead.

The figure halted at the center of the battlefield and lifted their head.

From within the shadowed hood, blue eyes glimmered—a solemn light flickering as if recalling the war that had once ravaged this land.

“...”

They began moving toward the very place where Raon had struck down the Fallen.

“Hahaha…”

After standing motionless for a long while, as if their feet were rooted to the ground, the figure finally spoke.

“I wasn’t wrong.”

The peculiar voice—neither wholly male nor female—rang with absolute certainty.

“Clearly…”

A pale, almost translucent hand emerged from the black robe, brushing over the ground where Wrath’s cold energy had once seeped. The figure’s lips curved into a faint smile.

“It’s Wrath.”

* * *

– This King is truly a being beyond demons. None can match this noble soul… Hmm?

Wrath, mid–self-praise, suddenly rolled his eyes and gave an involuntary shudder.

What’s happening?
Raon tilted his head, watching as Wrath abruptly fell silent after his long, boastful streak.

– I–It doesn’t feel right. It’s as if… I feel a sudden chill… Ahem.

Wrath’s brows furrowed, his voice edged with an unease he hadn’t felt in ages.

Can Demon Kings catch colds too?

– It’s not that kind of illness! I feel as though… my weaknesses have been exposed…

Wrath let out a heavy, turbid sigh, muttering that he felt something ominous on the horizon.

Then I guess I’ll be getting a new reward, right?
Raon smiled knowingly. Whenever Wrath grew uneasy, some benefit inevitably landed in his lap—so he had a feeling this time would be no different.

– Shut up! That won’t happen again!

Wrath snapped his head away, as if sheer stubbornness could keep him from losing anything more.

That’s not something you get to decide.

– Nnngh…

His lips trembled, but no words came out.

Ah—speaking of which, let’s check the rewards.

As Raon was about to open the messages he’d left unchecked, a knock sounded at the door.

“Raon, come eat.”

Sylvia stepped inside, beckoning him toward the dining room.

– Food! It’s food… Ahem!

Wrath, who had been sulking at the thought of checking messages, suddenly sprang up like a startled frog.

– Hurry and follow your mother! This King is hungry!

He scratched at his back like an impatient puppy—or perhaps a restless kitten—clearly unable to wait another moment.

Alright, alright. Stop scratching.
Raon gave him a light shove and followed Sylvia.

– Let’s go quickly before it gets cold.

Sylvia’s smile was bright as she entered the dining room first. Raon couldn’t help but smile faintly at the sight.

What a relief.

The thought that he might never have seen that smile again still made his heart sink. All the more, his mind brimmed with the resolve to grow stronger.

Raon drew in a deep breath and stepped toward the dining room—only to notice all the maids gathered in the hallway. Odd… they usually shared the evening meal.

“Helen, why are you here?”

“Milady, we thought it best for you to have dinner alone with your family… and speak of the things you couldn’t before.”

Helen bowed politely, adding that she and the others would remain with Sia.

“…Thank you.”

Raon returned a faint smile to Helen and the maids. He understood their thoughtfulness, and for the moment, thank you was all he could say.

“Young Master.”

As Raon was about to step into the dining room after exchanging a glance with the maids, Judiel moved forward.

“…It would be good if you chose wisely.”

She bowed her head slightly, as if urging him to think carefully.

“Choose? What choice…?”

– Hey!

Wrath suddenly flailed like a fish fresh out of water.

– Hurry up and come in! The food’s getting cold!

He was practically drooling on his own head, muttering that he couldn’t wait another moment.

“You’ll understand… once you step inside.”

Judiel lowered her gaze again, suggesting he see for himself.

“…Alright.”

With a small nod to Judiel, Raon stepped into the dining room.

– Kyaha!

Wrath’s eyes lit up at the sight of the feast spread across the table.

– All of this King’s favorite dishes are here! Nothing is missing!

He pressed his chubby hands to his cheeks, grinning like the sun itself.

Oh…

But Raon’s gaze didn’t linger on the food. Instead, he looked at the people seated around the table. Sylvia and Edgar sat together at the center, side by side as a couple. To their left sat Glenn, to their right the Rector—each with an empty seat beside them.

“Raon, come here.”

“Raon, there’s an empty seat here.”

Glenn and the Rector spoke at the same time, each pointing toward the spot next to them.

“….”

Raon shut his eyes tightly as the two men locked eyes across the table, silent tension crackling between them.

Ah…
This choice?

***

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]