Chapter 1100
“I’m for Seiphia!”
Krein raised his hand vigorously.
“It’s Master’s hometown, and we were the ones who saved Seiphia from the dragons and Eden, so the Guardian will surely support it too!”
He waved his hand, insisting that Seiphia was the right place to visit first.
“The Black Market is neutral toward everyone, but it’ll be different for you.”
Martha gave a faint smile, as if she could see right through the situation.
“Denning Rose. If you just speak to that woman, she might give you her support immediately.”
She shrugged, suggesting he give it a try.
“There is also the Yonan Family.”
Burren nodded slightly.
“Since Lady Encia Yonan is still here at Zieghart, you could receive her support immediately if you speak to her well.”
He looked toward the Annex, suggesting Raon visit Encia first.
“We shouldn’t forget the Dwarves the Palace Lord saved, either.”
Trevin spoke of the Dwarves, tapping the ground with his foot.
“I heard the Dwarves dug tunnels and created a new village in Mirthan Village, where the blacksmiths live. It would be a good idea to go there and get a declaration of support.”
He wore a confident smile, certain that Mirthan Village and the Dwarves would all support Raon.
“U-um, there’s also my house….”
Dorian rubbed his belly pouch, his eyes darting around.
“The Seiphia Merchant Guild is quite established in the merchant world.”
He smacked his lips, noting that the Seiphia Merchant Guild, where he served as the successor, would also follow Raon.
“We are always on our Lord’s side.”
“We may not have subordinates, but we’re each worth a hundred men!”
The Blade Monarch and the Sword Monarch nodded, telling him to trust them.
“If it doesn’t work, I’ll just go and crush the forces supporting the other side!”
The Sword Monarch grinned, saying something a secluded Transcendent should never say.
“Even as a joke, please don’t say things like that….”
The Blade Monarch let out a long sigh, looking embarrassed.
“How about starting from within Zieghart?”
Mark Gorton spoke, resting his hand on his military blade.
“The Shadow Agents Division Leader takes great care of the Palace Lord, and as Lady Martha mentioned, there is also the Black Tortoise Palace.”
He bowed his head, suggesting they settle things within Zieghart before heading elsewhere.
“You knew the Shadow Agents Division Leader takes care of me?”
Raon blinked, looking at Mark Gorton with wide eyes.
‘How did he know that?’
Mark Gorton was usually as dense as a brick wall compared to him, so it was surprising that he had noticed.
“Eh? It’s not just me; everyone knows….”
Mark Gorton blinked, noting that the Shadow Agents Division Leader, Chad, had been far too obvious about it.
“Who wouldn’t know that?”
Martha chuckled, saying only a fool wouldn’t notice.
“Not just the Light Wind Palace, but other factions probably know as well.”
Burren scratched his forehead, adding that it was that easy to tell.
“Yeah. It was all so obvious….”
Even Runaan blinked, confirming she knew.
“Hup….”
Raon’s jaw trembled as he looked at Runaan.
‘I’m less perceptive than that sleepyhead?’
》”Did you only just realize that? You’d be better off without eyeballs entirely!”
Wrath gnashed his teeth, recalling how many times he had felt like he was dying of frustration.
》”Just rip them out like a sword-crazy lunatic!”
He snorted, claiming Raon had no reason to have eyes, much like Darkhan.
‘T-this is nonsense.’
Realizing he had been outdone by Runaan in terms of perceptiveness made his head ache, and his body shivered as if he had caught a cold.
‘Damn it!’
Raon looked at Runaan, feeling an intense sense of defeat.
“Is the Council of Elders difficult…?”
Runaan, ignoring Raon’s glare, approached the Gambling Monster, who stood with his arms crossed.
“The Council is openly neutral. There’s nothing more unsightly than a bunch of old fogies supporting a single successor!”
The Gambling Monster shook his head, stating that the Council would likely not move.
“You lack ability….”
Runaan nodded calmly, as if she understood.
“I-I don’t lack ability! I’m saying the Council is usually neutral! Besides, I have nothing to do with them!”
The Gambling Monster shouted for her to wake up.
“Haaam….”
Runaan ignored the shouting and rubbed her eyes with a yawn.
‘Is that the power of Sloth?’
Raon narrowed his eyes as he watched Runaan nod off.
‘Her growth rate has become noticeably faster.’
Perhaps because her nature was similar to the Authority of [Sloth], her growth speed had become incomparably faster than before.
As her previously immature physical body and mind grew, her potential seemed to be exploding, allowing her to exert martial power on a different level than others.
“Would the Five Divine Order, like the White Ogre and the Swordless Pavilion, help too?”
“There’s also Arian of the Divine Servant Family!”
“And there are many villages and kingdoms we saved. Even the city where the Black Tower was hidden.”
“The people of the Robert Territory, where Derus fled from, would probably support him too.”
The swordsmen smiled, listing the factions they knew one by one.
“At this rate, we could practically build a kingdom out of the forces following the Palace Lord.”
Burren let out a hollow laugh, realizing the scale of it after calculating the numbers.
“So, out of all these places, where are you going first?”
Martha nudged her chin, telling him to make a decision.
“I’ll decide that on my own. You all just get to your training for today.”
As Raon tilted his chin, the Sword Monarch and Blade Monarch stepped down from the platform and stood before the Light Wind Palace swordsmen.
“Today is Sia’s day of rest, so let’s play all day!”
The Sword Monarch smiled chillingly, promising to put them through the wringer.
“Follow me.”
The Blade Monarch gave a sharp nod, as if no words were needed, and led the swordsmen away.
“……”
Raon sat back on the now-quiet platform and smacked his lips.
‘Come to think of it, I had to check that too.’
》”That? It seems the clueless fellow forgot something else!”
Wrath smirked, having no intention of stopping his mockery.
》”I feel like my own mind is becoming dull because of your stupidity….”
[You have achieved a legendary feat.]
[You have gained the recognition of the secluded Transcendents as their Lord.]
[You have gained the recognition of <Sloth> and connected a new medium.]
[All ability stats increase by 100 points.]
Just as the demon was about to burst into laughter, a reward message he hadn’t seen before appeared.
》”Ugh!”
Wrath’s smirk froze, turning him into a statue.
》”T-this….”
‘Now that I think about it, I hadn’t checked the reward messages.’
Raon patted Wrath’s head and smiled brightly.
》”H-hundred? 100 points at once?”
Wrath’s jaw dropped in disbelief.
》”This brat didn’t even do anything! He was just incredibly lucky!”
He threw a tantrum, unable to accept it. Of course, the system did not reverse the decision.
‘Shall I see the next one?’
Ignoring the struggling Wrath, Raon called up the messages below.
[The grade of trait <Snowflower’s Veil> has increased.]
[The grade of trait <Array Analysis> has increased.]
[The grade of trait <Wrath’s Descent> has increased.]
[The grade of trait <Blood Path> has increased.]
[The grade of trait <Authority Amplification> has increased.]
[The grade of trait <Crisis Sense> has increased.]
[The grade of trait <Authority Operation> has increased.]
[The grade of trait <Soul Transference> has increased.]
Eight traits had leveled up at once. Along with the stats, it was a staggering amount.
》”No, seriously, what did he do to get eight of them raised! He did nothing but talk!”
Wrath screamed at the system, begging it to come to its senses.
However, the information regarding the traits was not yet finished.
[The value of trait <Wrath> has increased significantly.]
[The value of trait <Sloth> has increased significantly.]
This time, the messages indicated a significant increase in the values of [Wrath] and [Sloth].
》”Eh…?”
Wrath’s trembling pupils elongated like a cat’s.
》”W-why did my Wrath increase so much! I can understand Sloth because he met Sloth, but why is Wrath increasing too!”
He gaped, claiming it made no sense.
‘True.’
Raon blinked blankly.
‘Why did Wrath increase?’
As Wrath said, it was understandable for Sloth to increase due to Sloth’s influence, but it was strange that Wrath rose along with it.
‘Well, it’s a good thing. Let’s just move on.’
Raon smiled and cleared the reward messages.
》”I can’t move on….”
Wrath shook his head, his jaw trembling.
》”I absolutely cannot move on this time!”
Claiming he truly couldn’t stand it, he released his Wrath.
》”You brainless system! Come out this instant! I am far more handsome and beautiful!”
‘Does that make sense? Would the system give rewards based on looks…?’
Just as Raon shook his head in disbelief.
[Strength increases by 1 point.]
As if confirming his words were correct, the system increased his strength by one point.
》”See! It’s doing this because it saw your face!”
Wrath gnashed his teeth, believing he had finally found the answer.
“Ha….”
Raon blinked blankly, staring into the air.
‘Was it really looking at my face?’
===
Wooooong!
With a heavy gesture from Glenn, a golden shimmering dimension opened in the center of the Audience Chamber.
“You may take eight treasures from within Zieghart’s Treasury.”
He nodded, explaining that since Raon was given eight opportunities, he could take eight treasures.
“Do not be greedy; take only what is absolutely necessary.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
Raon bowed to Glenn and entered the golden dimension.
Whoosh!
Along with the sensation of floating, a chilly cold drenched his skin.
As he slowly opened his eyes, the vista of the Treasury unfolded endlessly, as if representing the entire continent.
Top-grade elixirs, famous swords that had not lost their luster despite hundreds of years passing, dazzling artifacts, and ancient martial arts manuals each emitted their own fragrance as if welcoming him.
》”Why bother taking things? You could just ask the system.”
Wrath wrinkled his nose, telling him not to waste energy and just talk to the system. He seemed thoroughly sulky.
‘Are you still angry? What kind of Demon King stays grumpy for so long?’
》”Shut up! You don’t know because you haven’t experienced it!”
Wrath gnashed his teeth, claiming Raon would only understand this filth once he experienced it himself.
‘Sorry, but I don’t think that’ll happen.’
Raon pushed the sulking Wrath aside with his foot and first entered the area where the elixirs were kept.
‘Surprisingly, there’s a lot left. Or was it refilled?’
He had thought the good items would be gone because so many martial artists had entered the Treasury after the war with the White Blood Cult, but it seemed Glenn had refilled it, as elixirs were abundant.
‘As expected of Grandfather.’
Thinking of Glenn’s face, Raon took four top-grade elixirs that could help not only with Aura enhancement but also with recovery.
‘Next….’
Since the gloves and boots he had been using were torn during the last war, he examined the equipment.
‘These will do.’
He took a pair of tough and sturdy gloves and boots that could withstand an Astral Ring, even if they had no special abilities.
》”Now he’ll go look at the martial arts manuals.”
Wrath snorted, as if it were obvious.
‘You know me well.’
Raon smiled and headed toward a circular bookshelf where countless books were piled.
‘I wonder if there’s a manual I need?’
He placed his hand in the center of the bookshelf, just as he had when he obtained the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation. However, this time, nothing happened.
‘Does this mean there is nothing lacking in my current martial study?’
Or perhaps it meant he should find it himself.
The latter was more likely than the former. Since he had grown and aged, it seemed he was now expected to handle things on his own.
‘Alright.’
Raon smiled faintly and scanned the bookshelves.
‘They aren’t bad, but nothing is drawing me in.’
He looked through the top-grade manuals, but nothing felt right.
In truth, he had already mastered so many martial arts that he didn’t need other sword manuals; it was better not to learn a mediocre technique.
‘I’ll just take two artifacts… hm?’
As he smacked his lips and turned to leave, he saw a book titled <Heart Writing>.
‘What is this?’
Feeling a strange resonance, he opened the book titled <Heart Writing>.
‘It’s similar to the Heart Sword manual I received from Grandfather.’
The handwriting and descriptive style were similar to the booklet Glenn had given him, saying it would help with the Heart Sword.
However, the content was the opposite of that book.
‘This looks interesting.’
He decided to take this.
Although it felt like a waste of an opportunity, he trusted the trembling in his chest and took the manual.
‘Finally, what artifact should I choose?’
He smacked his lips while looking at the glass windows where artifacts were lined up like a jewelry store.
‘There must still be something good left….’
Since artifacts each have different functions, something that is trash to one person can exert absolute power for another.
If he searched carefully, he could find an item that would be a great help in future battles.
‘Don’t need this, this one isn’t great, this is… ah! If I have this….’
Raon’s eyes lit up with a gaze as hot as fire.
‘It would be right to go there first.’
“Four top-grade elixirs, Villaten’s Gloves and Boots Set. And <Heart Writing> and an artifact.”
Glenn nodded after identifying the items Raon had brought out of the Treasury.
“I have confirmed all eight.”
He returned the treasures, telling Raon to take them back.
“It is surprising that you took eight at once, but it is also surprising that you chose that particular item.”
Glenn lowered his eyebrows, looking at Raon’s hand as if wondering what he was thinking.
“It is preparation to properly undergo the second successor candidate test.”
Raon smiled, explaining that he took all eight for the sake of the test.
“I know. That is why you came to receive your reward.”
Glenn nodded, as if it were obvious.
“So, where will you go?”
“Actually, before entering the Treasury today, I hadn’t decided where to go first.”
He lifted the leaf-shaped ocarina.
“However, this artifact decided the path for me. I….”
Raon smiled faintly and lightly tapped the ocarina and the Wooden Wheel Sword.
“I intend to visit Seiphia first.”
