Aries looked above the platform, her shoulders hanging down in depression.
"Can't you just let me go? I'll never get another opportunity to visit Seipia."
She put her hands together, saying that she wanted to leave on another journey.
"I told you already. You aren't allowed to set a single foot outside the house until you finish the work that you've been postponing."
Glenn shook his head firmly, offering no chance at negotiation.
"I'm not asking this because I want to play around."
Aries furrowed her brow, pointing at the door where Raon and Rimmer had just left with her thumb.
"What are you going to do if someone kidnaps our Raon, the genius of the century? It will be too late when that happens!"
She confidently pounded her chest, declaring that she was going to guard him.
"I don't want to make even Seipia into our enemy because of you."
Glenn shook his hand, saying that it would be annoying to increase their enemies.
"Why would they become our enemy? I'm just going there to spectate! I'll be as quiet as a doll!"
"Yeah, you are definitely going to be quiet in that exclusive society."
He snorted, saying that he'd rather trust Rimmer.
"Moreover, Rimmer is just visiting his homeland. He's not going to Seipia as Zieghart's envoy. Their journey won't even be known to the outside world, so there's no need to worry about it."
"But there might be another spy!"
Aries frowned, stomping on the ground to the point where the entire audience chamber trembled.
"The case with Syria Sullion was better because he was the only one who went insane, but when it came to Lakion, the entire house was rebelling against us. There might be more people like them inside the house!"
She exhaled fiercely, showing that she was really worried about Raon.
"Father, you should be well aware of why there are so many squeaking rats inside Zieghart. It's all because of you. You should've kept pressuring them since you made them submit with your power, but you gave them the chance to raise their heads."
Aries glared at him with a critical gaze.
"You should've regulated the inside of the house, not just the Five Demons!"
"You are right for once."
Glenn calmly nodded even though he heard all the harsh criticism.
"The scars engraved during the time I was walking the path of conqueror have finally opened up. It's indeed my fault, just like you said."
"Father?"
Aries's eyes widened, surprised by Glenn's peaceful reaction.
"However, we started searching for the spies a while ago. We've already finished investigating the interior, and we've started checking out the vassal houses, so the results should be out soon."
Glenn continued while looking at Aries with serious eyes.
"Don't worry about Raon. I'll be taking all the malice directed at Zieghart with me."
"Hmm…"
Aries's lips parted, but she couldn't say anything.
"Why are you so surprised after telling the truth?"
Glenn supported his chin with his fist, letting out a hollow laugh.
'Yes, she is right.'
When he was consumed by the darkness, he'd developed all the rules and order with sheer power.
Those who defied were beheaded, and those who refused were annihilated. Since he'd lived as a demon dominated by power, it was only natural that his wrongdoings were returning as a blade.
However, that malice only needed to be directed at him. He didn't want to cause any more harm to Raon and the other youngsters.
"You feel…"
Aries stared at Glenn with a softened expression.
"Different."
"Am I different?"
"Yes. It feels like you've returned to the time before Sylvia was born."
She smiled faintly, saying that he reminded her of the past that she couldn't even remember too well because it was such a long time ago.
"It's just an impression."
Glenn shook his hand, saying that it wasn't true.
"No, I'm right."
Aries briskly raised her head.
"My father in the past would've shouted at me to leave after hearing what I said instead of acknowledging it."
"..."
Glenn buried his back into the throne instead of answering her.
'Indeed, I would've done that.'
When he was engulfed in darkness, he'd never listened to the other people's advice and simply advanced while looking forward. He'd gained a lot in the process, but he'd also lost a lot.
Creak.
As the father and the daughter were meeting each other's eyes, the audience chamber's door opened and Roenn made his entrance.
"I've delivered it to him."
Roenn bowed at Glenn, then stood next to Aries.
"Did you give it to Raon?" Glenn asked the most important part first.
"Yes, I gave it to Sir Raon."
Roenn smiled, saying that he gave it to Raon.
"Ahem! Good job."
Glenn curled his lips into a satisfied smile and nodded slightly.
"Hmm, I can tell who brought about this change in you, Father."
Aries smiled faintly while looking up at Glenn with an entertained gaze.
"Father, I believe that it's never too late. Let's just do it and regret it later."
She clenched her fist as she spoke a line that perfectly reflected her personality.
"I don't understand what you mean."
"I know you do!"
Aries narrowed her eyes as if she were reading Glenn's thoughts.
"Contemplation should be short! We must take action quickly, you know?"
"..."
"I'm taking my leave now."
"Aries."
She shook her hand, and just as she was about to leave the audience chamber, Glenn squinted.
"If you run away from the house to follow Raon, you will be done playing pirate."
"Ugh!"
Aries smiled awkwardly while turning her trembling head around.
"You became even faster at noticing it…"
* * *
"So neat."
Rimmer whistled while entering the restaurant.
"Indeed. The food smells nice as well."
Dorian smiled while sniffing.
"It's because they use high-quality butter. They must've mixed something into the milk…"
Yua quickly blinked, interested in the restaurant's food.
"Let's sit down for now."
Raon sighed after making them take a seat since they kept saying whatever they wanted.
Since each of them had strong personalities, they would talk endlessly if he didn't do anything to interrupt them.
"Haa, sleeping outside really isn't ideal."
Rimmer clicked his tongue while massaging his right shoulder with his left hand.
"Let's find lodgings in this village for tonight."
"Why are you exaggerating so much? It's only been two days."
Raon shook his head, sitting on the opposite side of Rimmer.
"Dorian's tent and sleeping bag don't lose to even a high-quality inn."
"Right?"
Dorian widened his eyes and smiled brightly at being complimented.
"Yes, it was thanks to you that I once again slept soundly yesterday."
Dorian had taken out an already completed tent from his belly pocket, one that didn't even need to be set up, and even made a fireplace for cooking.
To be honest, it was even more comfortable and nicer than most of the high-quality inns.
"Well, they are necessities."
Dorian shook his hand, saying that it wasn't a big deal. It was true that tent and fire were necessities during a journey, but just taking out a completed tent and a fireplace was still a mystery.
"Then let's think about our lodgings later and order the food for now. What should we get? Since we have a lot of money, shall we order everything?"
Rimmer licked his lips, spreading out the menu that the waiter had brought them. He was already acting like the money Glenn had given them was meant for him.
"I'd like this meat pie and pizza."
Yua ordered common dishes, saying that they allowed her to tell the cook's skills.
"I already have enough in my pocket though…"
Dorian took out the forks and knives used for eating outdoors and placed them on the table. It looked like the earlier compliment had made him happy.
"..."
The waiter started to stare at him as if he were seeing a madman.
"Haa…"
Raon rubbed his temple while looking at the three people who started to say whatever they wanted again.
'This is exhausting…'
He sighed while thinking that things were so hectic just as a blue cotton candy jolted up from the ice flower bracelet.
What are you waiting for?! Order food right now!
'There's nothing special that I want to eat.'
Your mouth doesn't even matter! The King of Essence is the one who wants the food! Order everything on the menu!
Wrath extended his round hand, telling him to order all the dishes.
'We can't even eat them all.'
You should be aware by now! The King of Essence will only be satisfied after eating everything he wants!
'Be quiet before I eat Nadine bread inside a restaurant.'
Haap!
As soon as the Nadine bread was mentioned, Wrath closed his mouth tightly.
Argh, he needs to die. He will be killed no matter what!
Cursing leaked from Wrath's tightly closed lips. He must've been talking about the creator of Nadine bread who supposedly lives in Seipia.
"Division leader."
Raon called out to Rimmer, who had already finished ordering.
"Is the Nadine bread's creator really an elf?"
"It's difficult to believe, isn't it?"
Rimmer nodded while handing over the menu to Dorian.
"It's already surprising enough that elven food spread to the human world, but the fact that it's Nadine bread feels the most surprising."
"There's actually a story behind it."
"A story?"
"The one who made Nadine bread had to do it in order to survive."
He smiled, saying that he was an interesting guy.
"What do you mean…?"
Just as Raon was about to ask about it once again, he heard his name mentioned by the people at the table next to them.
"Did you hear the rumor that Raon Zieghart became a Grandmaster?"
"Huh? I heard that he was called 'Dragon Slayer' after killing the mad dragon Kaibar. Is he a Grandmaster now?"
Raon furtively turned his head. Two middle-aged men in mercenary outfits were having a conversation while drinking beer.
"Tsk tsk, you are so late with the news. That happened a long time ago!"
The balding mercenary clicked his tongue and shook his head.
"You know about House Lakion, right?"
"It's Zieghart's vassal house, famous for their longsword skills."
The goateed mercenary put down his beer glass and blinked.
"Yes. That prestigious house allied with the Holy Sword Alliance and prepared to attack Zieghart…"
It was unknown how he'd learned about it, but the balding mercenary knew everything that had happened in House Lakion.
However, the Sword Demon wasn't mentioned, probably because the story about him hadn't spread yet.
"Did you just say that he really managed to break through the wall and become a Grandmaster? It's already surprising enough that he was bold enough to enter a trance on the battlefield! I honestly can't believe it…"
The goateed mercenary gasped, his hand trembling on the beer glass.
"Whether you believe it or not, it's true that Raon Zieghart became a Grandmaster. The rumor has already spread all over!"
"How old is Raon Zieghart now?"
"Twenty-one, I think."
"It would be the youngest in history if he became a Master at twenty-one years old, but Grandmaster? I can't even see him as a human being like us at this point…"
"He has the most unprecedented talent in history. Moreover, he even has a righteous personality. I heard there are even some books that track his actions. I can't even be jealous at this point."
"I heard he has an outrageous appearance. What was he called again? Damn handsome?"
"The world is so damn unfair. Let's just drink!"
The mercenaries raised their beer glasses, saying that they should just drink.
"Hmm…"
Raon licked his lips while shifting his gaze away from the mercenaries.
'What a strange feeling.'
It was refreshing to hear random people talking about him when he wasn't even in Zieghart's domain.
He didn't really feel anything when other people told him he was famous, but the conversation between the mercenaries made him realize just how famous he'd gotten.
"It's fun, isn't it?"
Rimmer grinned while drinking the beer that came out before the dishes.
"Becoming stronger means becoming famous at the same time. Your name has now spread all around the continent, not just Zieghart. People are going to pay attention to you regardless of what you are doing. That's how fame works."
He shook his finger, saying that it would be like that for the rest of his life. In fact, his name was being mentioned at other tables as well.
"Your reputation is better than anyone else's in Zieghart. You should be proud of it since it's a good thing."
Rimmer smiled, saying that he should enjoy the moment.
"I'm jealous…"
Dorian scratched his belly pocket with his lips parted.
"No one knows my name even though I also want to be famous!"
He sighed, saying that he needed to quickly reach Master.
"You can do it!"
Yua smiled cheerfully and encouraged him with an energetic voice like always.
Ugh…
Wrath furrowed his brow while going around the tables.
You damned humans! Worship the King of Essence instead of a greenhorn like this!
He shouted, angered by the fact that his name wasn't being mentioned anywhere.
It can't stay like this! The King of Essence needs to advent once again and strike fear into every human on the continent—
"The food is ready."
Time to eat!
Wrath was frowning, but he smiled brightly and wagged his tail as soon as the waiter brought out the food.
'What fear…?'
* * *
Raon raised his gaze in front of the world of greenery. Everything in front of him was glowing green.
The trees seemed to be shaking their hands towards the sky, with bushes and grass filling the space between them. Raon could understand why it was called the Great Forest.
"Wow," Yua exclaimed while looking around the Great Forest. "Is this Seipia?"
"This is the great forest, and Seipia is inside it."
Rimmer patted Yua's head with a faint smile on his face.
Raon spread his aura perception towards the inside of the forest, but it was difficult to control his aura because the density of mana was too high in the forest.
'There's an issue with the aura, but I just don't really feel anything.'
Raon was expecting some kind of hidden formation or barrier inside the Great Forest, but it seemed to be no different from an ordinary forest.
"Is there nothing like a barrier?"
"There is."
Rimmer shook his head.
"Hmm, I can't feel anything though…"
"It's a natural labyrinth."
"Natural labyrinth?"
"Yes. Because elves are capable of communicating with nature a little."
He smiled, saying that the forest itself was the rampart and the eyes of the elves.
"Can you do it too, division leader?"
Dorian tilted his head while looking at Rimmer.
"Of course I can!"
"But how come I've never seen you do that before?"
"Huh? Hmm. I forgot."
Rimmer laughed awkwardly, saying that he'd been forgetting that he was an elf.
"Seriously…"
Raon sighed while watching Rimmer scratch the back of his head.
Are you sure you can count on Shitty Ears and enter this place?
Wrath furrowed his brow, saying that even he was getting worried.
'I'm not sure either at this point…'
However, there was no other choice since he'd already arrived. He had to follow that scatterbrained elf.
"Anyway, let's enter."
Rimmer chuckled and extended his hand, dividing the bushes to create a path.
"Wow! You are really an elf, division leader!" Yua jumped, admiring the sight. "I thought you were a human with long ears!"
"I told you that I really am an elf. Have you seen a human this handsome?"
"Sir Raon."
"Kuh…"
Rimmer couldn't refute her and went inside the forest.
Whap!
Even children couldn't pass through the dense trees and bushes, but they were pulled apart at Rimmer's hand gesture, creating space for people to pass. Rimmer looked like an elf for the first time.
Raon narrowed his eyes while watching the swaying bushes and trees.
'It's not done with mana.'
It wasn't because the forest recognized Rimmer's mana. It had noticed the elven blood in Rimmer and opened the path for him.
They walked for a long time while observing the new and mysterious sight, and a small presence could be felt from the front.
The sound was similar to a small animal passing by or the wind brushing past the bushes, but Raon could sense a lot more mana than that. The presence was from an elf, similar to Rimmer.
"They finally appeared."
Rimmer seemed to have noticed the elven presence. He stopped walking and looked at the thick bramble that wasn't opening up.
"Don't approach any further."
A woman's voice, devoid of any emotion, could be heard from the other side of the bramble.
"Outsiders aren't currently allowed to enter. Please go back."
She showed her intention to attack if they approached any further, her voice as cold as the wind on the northern sea.
Why are all the shitty ears so insolent?!
Wrath violently ground his teeth while glaring at the other side of the bramble.
How dare they stand on the King of Essence's path?! Kill them all right now!
'Do you think I would do that?'
Then do all that shit with fire that you love to do!
He shouted at Raon to burn the forest up. He must've developed a hatred towards elves because of Rimmer.
"Do you not know me?"
Rimmer casually shook his hand and approached the bramble.
"I…"
Just as he was trying to walk even closer, an arrow was fired from the bramble and got stuck on the ground.
Psssh!
The arrow embedded on the ground was vibrating intensely, showing that it was fired with tremendous strength.
"Ugh…"
Rimmer swallowed nervously while looking at the arrow on the ground.
"I-I guess you don't know me."
He smiled awkwardly while wiping the sweat flowing from his forehead.
"Please don't approach. You seem to be an elf born from the outside. If you weren't an elf, that arrow would've pierced your neck instead."
The voice flowing out from the other side of the bramble sounded even colder than before.
"Well, I guess they would've changed the guardians since a long time has passed. I'm not an outsider. I was born in Seipia."
Rimmer shook his head and took another step forward.
"Stop lying. There's no way an elf born from Seipia wouldn't know that we are in a crucial moment…"
"You recognize this sword even though you don't recognize me, right?"
He cut her off and tapped on the sword hanging around his waist.
"..."
The bramble remained silent for a while. Then—
Pssh!
The arrow brushed past Rimmer's earlobe, even faster and more dangerous than before.
"He is the one who plundered the holy relic! Everyone, attack!"
Along with the female elf's frightening voice, dozens of arrows emerged from the bramble at the same time.
"Aaaah!"
Rimmer stepped back while freaking out.
"I knew this was going to happen."
Raon violently ground his teeth while standing in front of Rimmer to defend him.
"What have you even been doing with your life?!"