Raon licked his lips while observing Dorian's embarrassment.
'This finally solves the mystery of his belly pocket.'
The Sephia company dealt with all sorts of items, rather than focusing on just one.
The reason Dorian's belly pocket contained all kinds of surprises was that he was the young master of the Sephia company.
Th-the King of Essence knew it!
Wrath was standing in a daze but suddenly nodded.
He wouldn't have accepted just anyone as his subordinate! He took him in as a subordinate because he noticed the noble air around him!
He conceitedly praised his own insight.
'He really loves to brag…'
Apparently, the way he was bragging didn't count as a lie because he had no problem saying it.
Raon shook his head and looked at Dorian.
"You've been calling me young master, but I was the one who should've been doing it."
Dorian has been calling him young master from the first time they met, but it was actually Raon who should've been calling him young master instead.
"N-no! Definitely not!"
Dorian shook his head violently.
"Of course I should have. Your background is far better than mine."
Since he was considered at the lowest rank of the collaterals, it wasn't an exaggeration to say that Dorian's rank was higher because he was a son of the Sephia company.
"Why did you hide your identity despite being a young master from the company?"
Raon's eyes turned serious. He didn't think Dorian was trying to deceive him, considering his personality, but he wanted to know the reason behind it.
"Haa…"
Dorian sighed and raised his head.
"I'm really not a young master. I'm a child of a concubine."
He hung his head while rubbing his belly pocket.
"Moreover, I'm the youngest son. That's why I was abused until I left the house."
"Abused?"
"Yes. The president mostly pretended I didn't exist, and my brothers and sisters bullied me every day."
Dorian's voice was apathetic, and that made it even sadder. He sounded like he didn't have any attachment to the Sephia company at all.
'Has he been kind to me because his life was similar to mine…?'
The reason Dorian acted favorably towards him and spoke to him from the first encounter must've been because Raon reminded him of the days he spent at the company.
"I was pretty much an invisible person in the Sephia company. There's nothing to gain from knowing my identity, and that's why I didn't tell you about it. I'm sorry…"
Dorian closed his mouth tightly and lowered his head.
"It's fine. You don't have an obligation to tell me all of your personal matters."
Raon shook his head. Everyone had things they wanted to hide. Even though Dorian was his subordinate and a close friend, he didn't have to tell Raon everything about himself.
"But Sephia is located in the southwest. How did you even come to Zieghart?"
"The president gave us a trial."
"The president is your father, right?"
"Ah, yes."
"Hmm…"
The way he called him the president instead of 'father' proved that he really was mistreated in his home. That aspect was also similar to Raon.
"What kind of trial was it?"
"He said that the person who brought something from the company and managed to turn it into the biggest treasure would become the successor. Naturally, all of his descendants participated in it."
Dorian sighed deeply while thinking about that moment.
"The choice was given by the order of birth, and my brothers and sisters took all of the president's connections, trading rights, gold, and human resources from the company. That's why I had no choice but to take this."
He laughed bitterly while stroking his belly pocket.
"That pocket looks pretty good though."
Dorian's belly pocket was different from an ordinary subspace pocket.
The way it stored objects was rather special, and it didn't even have any limits on how many it could hold. It must've been a priceless treasure.
"No one knew what it was because the president didn't explain anything."
"Ah…"
That was understandable. Choosing connections, trading rights, or merchandise with clear benefits were obviously better options than an unknown pocket.
"Once I realized that this was a subspace pocket, I put everything in the company's warehouse into the pocket and ran away. I was planning on never returning after that since I have no intention of inheriting the company."
Dorian's eyes turned brighter. Raon could tell from his expression how much he'd suffered from the company.
"I was heading North, and I happened to meet a Zieghart swordsman who noticed my talent and recommended me to the training ground. That's how I got to join everyone."
"What about your mother?"
"I heard she died while giving birth to me. I'm not even sad about it because I don't know her face."
Dorian raised his hand with an apathetic expression.
"That's all. It wasn't a fun story, was it?"
"Indeed…"
Raon nodded. He thought Dorian was a young master, but that wasn't the case at all. He was born into a rough environment similar to his own, or even worse than his.
'However…'
There were a few questionable parts.
The fact that Dorian ended up getting the belly pocket because its ability wasn't explained, and the fact that a small child managed to steal the company's items while no one stopped him, suggested that there could be hidden circumstances around it.
Ahem.
Wrath wiped his tears away with the back of his hand and sniffled.
Poor little thing…
'Seriously, this demon…'
Regardless of his wrath, the title of demon king didn't match him at all. Raon was curious about how he even ended up as a demon king.
"Why are they asking you to return now?"
"It's probably an interim check."
"Interim check?"
"Yes, because the trial originally had a time limit of ten years, and it's been almost eight years now. They must be trying to check on what we've achieved."
Dorian sighed, saying that his siblings must've already visited the house.
"In that case, we should go."
"What?"
"We can't miss this opportunity, since you could become the Sephia company's president."
"B-but I'm just a son of a concubine…"
He shook his head violently, saying that it was impossible.
"A Light Wind swordsman shouldn't give up before even trying."
"Ah…"
Raon's gentle yet powerful words broadened Dorian's eyes like a full moon.
"You can become the president if you succeed, and you can keep on living as a Light Wind member if you fail. There's nothing to lose for you. Moreover…"
Raon raised his hand and clenched his fist.
"It's the perfect opportunity to beat up—I mean, get revenge on your siblings who bullied you."
"Th-that's true. There's no reason to be scared, even though I am…"
Even though Dorian nodded, his chin was still trembling, as he was a coward.
"You should get ready to depart since we can leave at any moment. I'll be going with you."
"Y-you, too?"
"I should greet them since it was my fault that you got kidnapped. Moreover, I'd feel uneasy leaving you on your own because you wouldn't be able to say anything like a wimp."
"Ah, okay!"
The way his face turned brighter looked like the sun was shining upon him. He nodded brightly and ran into his room.
You…
Wrath narrowed his eyes and glared at him.
You aren't trying to help him, but take advantage of him by turning him into the president, aren't you?
'You are finally gaining some insight.'
Y-you are even worse than a devil! Your heart must be scorched black!
'I was kidding.'
Raon smiled while watching Dorian's back.
'Since he's been so considerate to me, I shall return the favor.'
It would be nice if he took over the company, but it was fine even if he didn't. Raon just wanted to help Dorian once he returned to his home, where he'd been abused so hard that he didn't even want to return.
'I should also get going now… hmm?'
He could feel someone's gaze from the garden behind the lodgings. He placed his hand on Heavenly Drive and turned around.
'Is that… an owl?'
A young owl was looking at him from above a tree.
'I must've been imagining things.'
He felt like a person was watching him instead of an animal, but it must've been a mistake.
"Haa."
He sighed, and when he was about to visit Glenn's room, the owl stretched its wings and flew down towards him from the tree.
"Peep."
The owl gave a cute smile with its eyes and smoothly landed on Raon's shoulder.
"Don't tell me…"
"You guessed it right."
Merlin's voice was coming from the owl's beak.
"Ugh…"
Raon created an aura barrier to block the sound and smacked his forehead.
'You crazy stalker…'
He frowned and moved to a corner that wasn't frequented.
Hieeh!
Wrath's chin was trembling when he saw the owl.
This is getting so scary! Why the hell is she even following you?!
'…I don't know either.'
It was a squirrel, then a crow-tit, and she even managed to coax an owl to talk to him. The funny part was the fact that all three of them had cute appearances.
"You managed to win in the end. You were really cool."
"Did you actually watch?"
"I would never miss your great moments. I properly watched the way you made Garona kneel in front of you, and the way you cut off Cadis's arm."
"Our head of house and the other heads of the Six Kings were in the arena though."
"They aren't enough to stop me."
Merlin raised her wing and smiled. The owl's eyes curved into a crescent shape as if it were a human.
'What is wrong with her obsession…?'
Watching the preliminaries was understandable, but the heads of the Six Kings were present in the arena starting from the semifinals. Raon couldn't believe the fact that Merlin from Eden managed to spectate without being noticed.
"I'm looking forward to your future even more now. I'm so impatient to find out what kind of man you will become."
Merlin rubbed his chin with her wing. She must've been trying to be seductive, but she simply looked cute because she had a young owl's appearance.
"Eden and the White Blood Religion are both going to be unable to act for a while, so you can rampage to your heart's content."
"Even the White Blood Religion?"
Raon had already heard that Eden wouldn't take any action for a while, but he didn't expect the White Blood Religion to remain silent as well.
"They also took a lot of damage thanks to your monstrous grandfather."
Merlin smiled cheerfully and flapped her wings.
"Are you heading to that meek boy's house next?"
"..."
Raon stared at the owl instead of responding.
"I told you already, but our paths are different. I can't do anything for you even if you give me all that information."
Even if Merlin saw him as Raon instead of Loctar, it didn't change the fact that their paths differed. He was thankful for the information, but he didn't want to deceive her while earning her favor.
"I also already answered your concern. It doesn't matter."
Merlin giggled and spread her wings.
"And our paths are bound to come together eventually. I might be joining you, or you might be joining me."
"That's never going to happen."
Raon shook his head firmly.
"You won't know what awaits you at the end of the path until you reach it. We will be together eventually."
Merlin's eyes curved gently.
"I'll keep watching you in the future."
She groomed the feathers around the stomach with her beak and shook her wings.
"Give some worms to this one."
"Again? I keep telling you to stop asking me to keep your promi—"
"Grr."
Raon wanted to tell her to keep her promise herself, but the owl growled.
"Grrr."
It tapped Raon's shoulder with its feet to urge him to give it food.
Huhuhu.
Wrath raised his chin while watching him.
That stalker is so creepy, but it's so fun to watch you get flustered.
He giggled while Raon frowned with the owl urging him to give the food already.
"How am I even supposed to get worms here?"
"Vice squad leader!"
Raon was frowning at the owl, and Dorian came back out from the lodgings.
"We aren't leaving tomorrow, are we?"
"No we aren't. But…"
Raon pointed at the young owl on his shoulder and sighed briefly.
"Do you have some worms, by any chance?"
"..."
Dorian stared blankly at the owl for a while before he opened his mouth.
"A-are you trying to open a zoo?"
After the banquet ended, Glenn returned to his room alongside Roenn and Sheryl to have a simple after-party.
"Our Zieghart faction benefited the most from this conference of the Six Kings."
Sheryl smiled while having a drink.
"Yes. Zieghart's reputation has reached even higher thanks to Sir Raon and the Light Wind squad's swordsmen."
Roenn nodded in agreement.
"The Light Wind squad is rather amazing, but Raon's growth is phenomenal. He was at the highest rank of Expert when we were on a mission together, but he's already an intermediate Master. I've been watching his growth, but it's still difficult to believe."
Sheryl shook her head and murmured that it was ridiculous.
"The more surprising part about him is the burst he shows. Every single one of Raon's opponents during this tournament was stronger than him. Matisse, Borini Kitten, Garona, and even Cadis. I don't even understand how he always manages to defeat opponents stronger than himself."
"He also surprises me every single time. There's normally a huge difference in power between the different stages of Master, yet he somehow manages to overcome it."
Roenn also exclaimed, saying that he'd never seen a warrior like Raon before.
They complimented Raon for a while before looking at Glenn at the same time.
"Ahem!"
Glenn's face had turned red. He was supporting his chin with his left hand while doing his best to stop the corners of his lips from soaring into the sky.
"Well, he is indeed peculiar in a way. He didn't get stronger through sheer luck. It was his efforts that allowed him to reach his current position. That's why his martial art is so solid. A warrior weaker than him can never dream of defeating him, and his continuous training gave him such a high proficiency that it allows him to attack the opening of a warrior even stronger than him. Moreover…"
He couldn't suppress his lips anymore and his mouth was curving into a smile.
"He also has the best fighting spirit and righteousness among the children I've seen so far. No one else in the world would be stupid enough to jump into the sky in the middle of a match in order to save people!"
He was calling him an idiot, but his eyes were filled with pride for Raon.
"I totally agree with you."
"Definitely."
Roenn and Sheryl grinned while listening to Glenn's excited speech.
"The entire continent must've learned about Raon's nature thanks to this tournament."
Sheryl tapped the table and smiled.
"People even started calling him the White Sword Dragon. He can't be considered a mere future prospect anymore."
Having the word dragon in an alias signified that he was the best among the future prospects. It was proof that people had acknowledged Raon as an equal to the high ranks of the Twelve Stars of the Continent.
"Since he's over halfway to the next realm, he should be able to attain advanced Master next year."
"A twenty-year-old advanced Master. He really is history in the making."
Sheryl and Roenn kept praising Raon while enjoying Glenn's reaction as he tried his best to suppress his emotions.
"Ahem, I guess he would, because he never stops his efforts on top of being talented. He changes so much every day that I keep looking forward to what he'll become the next day."
Glenn nodded and covered his mouth completely. However, he couldn't completely hide his smile because of his smiling eyes.
Knock, knock.
While the three of them were having a fun time, someone knocked on the door. Since they were all aware of who would be visiting them, they weren't really surprised.
"I'm going to greet him."
Roenn stood up and opened the door. Raon placed his hand on his chest and lowered his head.
"I'm sorry for visiting so late."
"What brought you here?"
Glenn changed his face in an instant and raised his chin while looking at him with a cold gaze.
"I'd like to have a word with you."
"I'm listening."
Raon closed the door and came into the room to stand in front of Glenn.
"Someone came to find Dorian earlier, the quartermaster of the Light Wind squad. He…"
Raon told Glenn about Dorian's circumstances. The three of them listened to him without showing any reaction.
'Were they aware of this all along?'
Even though Raon mentioned that Dorian's family name was Sephia, they didn't really show any reaction. Raon could assume that they were already aware of that fact.
"So, are you planning to go with him?"
"Dorian was kidnapped because of me. I'd like to visit them to explain the situation and apologize in order to return a portion of the favor that I've received from him."
Raon told him his feelings honestly, without any lies involved.
"The favor?"
"Dorian treated me as a friend when the people in the house were all avoiding me. It might be inadequate, but I'd like to help him as much as possible."
"I see."
Glenn used the hand that was supporting his chin to cover his mouth and nodded slightly.
"Did you consider the possibility that you might get kidnapped again?"
"You've personally shown what happens to those who dared to kidnap a Zieghart, my lord. No one would be crazy enough to do that again."
Eden's branch had been destroyed, and countless apostles and fanatics from the White Blood Religion had perished. People were bound to avoid targeting a Zieghart swordsman for a while.
"However…"
Raon touched his uniform and lowered his head slightly.
"I'm planning to leave in the middle of our return, just in case. Of course, I'm also going to travel in disguise."
"Hmm…"
"Please allow me to go."
Raon lowered his head.
"Hmm…"
Glenn stroked his beard and looked at Raon's hand.
"Do you have the ring that Chamber gave to you?"
"Ah, I left it in my room."
"You should have it equipped at all times."
"Is it capable of locating me?"
"…It has a similar function."
Glenn repeated that Raon should never take it off and narrowed his eyes.
"You can leave at Sylphin village in three days."
"Thank you."
"Since you are going under Zieghart's name, you should make sure to resolve the issue."
"Understood."
Raon bowed politely and left the room.
"Huhu."
"I would've liked to return with him… Hmm?"
Roenn and Sheryl were worried that Glenn might be sad to part with Raon as they looked at him. However, Glenn was covering his eyes, contrary to their expectations.
"H-he's such a…"
He covered his mouth and looked at the door where Raon left.
"Laudable boy! Look at how much he cares about his companions! How is he so kind…?"
Instead of being saddened, Glenn's hands were trembling in happiness from his grandson's kindness.
"..."
Sheryl and Roenn shook their heads while watching him. His condition was so serious that they couldn't even make fun of him.
'His love for his grandson is a serious disease at this point…'
* * *
Two days later.
House Zieghart was the second group to leave the Owen Kingdom, after House Robert.
"Woaaah!"
"White Sword Dragon! White Sword Dragon!"
"Zieghart! Zieghart!"
"I won't forget that match for the rest of my life!"
"Thank you for saving us!"
"I'll be looking forward to hearing news about you!"
The Owen Kingdom's citizens cheered while calling Raon and Zieghart's names as well as Glenn's name. It was the complete opposite from when they first arrived in the kingdom.
"Wow!"
"We are so popular!"
"I feel like we already returned to Zieghart even though we are still in Owen."
"That's wrong. People don't cheer for us so hard even at the house."
The Light Wind squad waved their hands to respond to the people's cheers.
"They said the Blade of Tempest! They are calling my name!"
"Stop calling me Miss Rakshasa!"
Burren grinned upon hearing his nickname, and Martha gave a deadly glare to the person who called her Miss Rakshasa.
"Haa…"
Dorian let out a depressed sigh. He seemed to be worried because he had to return to his house.
"..."
Runaan was staring blankly at the sky, and she was the only one with her usual behavior.
Raon furrowed his brow while listening to the Light Wind squad's laughter.
'They've already gotten dull.'
Raon could tell from their reaction that they wouldn't be able to focus on training after they returned to the house—they'd start being lazy.
'I need to put some pressure on them.'
It would've been fine if he returned with them, but he was going to be away for a while. That was why he decided to pull them together before he left.
Whir.
Raon created an aura barrier around just the Light Wind squad and turned around.
"You know I'm going to leave tomorrow with Dorian, don't you?"
"Uuh…"
"O-of course we do."
"We do, but why are you talking about that now…?"
Their lips trembled upon hearing Raon's low voice.
"Anyone whose growth I deem unsatisfactory once I come back…"
"Argh!"
"Uuh…"
Raon examined the Light Wind members with a cold gaze, and they swallowed nervously in terror.
"Shall do focus enhancement training for a month."
"A-a month?"
"What the hell…?"
"Th-that's going to kill us!"
"A human being can't possibly survive that training!"
The Light Wind members violently shook their hands and called him insane.
"You won't have to do it if you do your best while I'm gone."
"What's the standard that makes you satisfied? You have to tell us how much we have to grow at least!"
Burren raised his hand and pointed out the problem.
"I'll see when I'm back."
Raon smiled and swirled his finger. He was telling them to keep training since he would be judging them on his own accord.
"Damn it!"
"We are screwed!"
"We won't be able to rest even after we return…"
"Mom…"
The Light Wind squad hugged their horses with teary eyes.
"He's a real demon!"
"He's not a demon. He's a fucking demon king! He's the demon king of mockery!"
Burren and Martha were also grinding their teeth while looking at Raon.
Ooh! Shitty Eyes and Beef Girl understand! This monster's malice is as bad as a demon king! Even the King of Essence is falling victim to it every day!
Wrath flew in front of Burren and Martha and nodded violently.
Raon snickered and turned around.
'This solves the issue with their training.'
The Light Wind squad was strong. It was obvious that drawing a line would be pointless since they would easily break through and start resting. That was why he created a reason for them to keep training until he returned.
"Vice squad leader, are we heading to my house right away?"
"I want to do that, but let's do a good deed before we go."
"A good deed?"
"Yes."
Raon nodded and looked up to the sky.
'I can't be defeated again.'
He couldn't afford to lose again, whether it was against Eden or Derus. He wanted to make sure that Derus would stay away from his house in order to prevent his interference.
'I'll start by taking away your time.'