Chapter 6
For the first time since Raon was born, Sylvia made her way to the place where the head of House Zieghart resided.
The way there was wide open, as the Saint had passed by earlier.
"M-Madam Sylvia!"
"The head of house is currently with…"
"Move aside!"
She forcefully pushed past the attendants and maids blocking her way and knocked on the door of the audience chamber.
Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!
The enormous door started to open after five punch-like knocks.
"What is it?"
Glenn, who was sitting opposite Patrick and having tea, frowned.
"I beg you."
Sylvia clenched her teeth hard and knelt.
"Please save Raon!"
Though there were attendants behind her, she lowered her head to the ground as if she were a slave submitting to her master.
"..."
Glenn watched Sylvia bow her head without batting an eye.
"You must have heard, yes? That it will be difficult for him to live as a soldier, even if his constitution were to be treated."
Glenn knew of Raon's condition, as if he had already heard of it.
"It will be fine if we do not raise him as a soldier!"
"For one with the name of Zieghart to not become a soldier? Why should I give help to a child without any value?"
"Because he is your grandson."
"That grandson is the child you brought back after leaving the family, after saying that you were going to cut all ties with us."
"That…"
Sylvia's trembling eyes were fixed to the floor.
"The only thing I can do for the child is give him the name of Zieghart. Once is enough for any act of foolishness."
Glenn's face was cold, as if covered by a sheet of ice.
"Zieghart is a place where only the strongest survive. It is better to not have such a weak grandson. And won't you be able to obtain the elixir yourself?"
"The elixir in the family repository would be much more effective than obtaining it from outside…"
"Those are for the ones that improve the family name. There is nothing for a child who does nothing, even if he is my grandson. Get out, now."
"Father! Please!"
Sylvia dug her fingers into her palm as if to draw blood, and hit her head against the floor again.
'I cannot back down!'
If she were alone, she would have returned. She would have left without turning back before, due to her pride.
But she now had a child she had to protect. She had to hang on until the end, for Raon.
"Drag her out."
Soldiers in black stepped out from behind the pillar at Glenn's stern orders. They grabbed onto both of Sylvia's arms and dragged her to the door.
"P-Please! Raon!"
Sylvia screamed Raon's name until the end, but Glenn turned his head away as if he wasn't interested.
"Phew…"
Patrick, who was observing everything, let out a sigh.
"Your acting is good, considering you were the one who called for me to check on your grandson's condition. Is it that hard to treat her honestly?"
"You're being unnecessarily noisy. Just speak of his state, in detail."
"As I have said, the ice is blocking the mana circuit in nine places. Although it is fine now, it will become more dangerous as he grows older."
Patrick sipped his tea and continued.
"But I do not think there will be a major issue, thanks to you pushing away the ice with your aura."
Glenn and Patrick did not know that Raon was practicing the Ring of Fire, even though they had personally checked his body.
The Ring of Fire was a method from a thousand years ago, and did not make use of the lower abdomen. It was difficult to identify the Ring of Fire, even if one could be said to have absolute abilities.
"Young girls with the symptoms of the Curse of Frost make use of ice of the highest purity and can become excellent sorcerers or swordswomen, but it is different for young boys with warmer energies. As I said, it is close to impossible for your youngest grandson to become a soldier."
"It does not matter if he does not become a soldier. As long as he lives."
"You browbeat Sylvia, and now you say it does not matter? Even the Destructive King of the North must love his grandson."
Patrick chuckled heartily.
"..."
Glenn ignored Patrick and drew his finger in the air.
Buzz…
As the space cracked open in a cross(十) shape, a golden dimension opened up. Three wooden boxes popped out of the fiery space.
"I assume you know how to do it?"
He spoke as he passed the boxes over to Patrick.
"Ah… This is why I do not bother with things like Houses."
Patrick sighed and accepted the wooden boxes.
"Take care of him."
Glenn's sharp voice rang low, to a strange extent.
"Don't get me wrong, but why did you name the child Raon? There are much better names out there, and out of everything it is 'shadow'…"
"'Shadow' is not the only meaning of the name 'Raon'."
He shook his head and watched the golden sun, floating high up in the sky.
"A thousand years ago, it meant something entirely opposite."