Rimmer was wearing a completely worn out uniform and cracked leather boots, with disheveled hair that looked like the stem of seaweed.
âIâm sure he was the definition of a nouveau riche before we leftâŠâ
Heâd earned a tremendous amount of money by betting on the Light Wind winning every single match against the Golden Crest, since he was the only one who had bet on that one. He even used to wear rings on his fingers and toes in order to show off his money, so Raon couldnât understand how he became so poor while they were gone.
âThat shouldâve been too much money to waste on gambling.â
There was an upper limit to the amount of money wagered on bets. He couldnât believe that he wouldâve wasted all of that money gambling. However, that was the only explanation, considering the fact that he couldnât even keep his clothes.
âRaon! You really became a Master!â
A quick look at bit.ly/3iBfjkV will leave you more fulfilled.
A natural smile appeared on Rimmerâs face as he felt that Raonâs pressure had become even more natural, like flowing water.
âI believed in you! I knew you would make it!â
âThank you, squad leader.â
Raon bowed at Rimmer. Even though he looked like a beggar, Raon was thankful that Rimmer was so happy about it.
âOne of my students became the youngest Master in the continent! And at eighteen years old, at that! Iâm so overjoyed right now!â
Rimmer smiled in satisfaction and turned around.
âYou guys also did great. I heard you saved many lives, and I was so proud of you even though I was far away.â
He examined the conditions of everyone in Light Wind before sticking next to Raon once again, grabbing his shoulder.
âThe fact that you defeated three demons of Eden was pretty much the only thing I heard. Letâs have a drink together so you can explain to me in more detailâŠâ
âFuck off!â
Sheryl kicked Rimmerâs waist, as he was about to take Raon away with him.
âKuh!â
Rimmerâs chin was trembling as he grasped his waist.
âWh-WhyâŠ?â
âWhy would you be drinking when we havenât even reported the mission yet? Stop bothering us when youâve been doing nothing but gambling here.â
Sheryl shook her hand, shooing him away. She was also certain that Rimmer had lost all his money from gambling.
âSquad leader, did you really gamble again?â
âYou are seriously pathetic.â
Burren sighed while looking down on Rimmer, and Martha narrowed her eyes coldly.
Runaan was just staring blankly at Rimmer, either because she didnât realize the difference or simply didnât care.
âN-No! I swear, I was almost there this time! I was so close to completing the âPromise of Threeâ, but I ended up losing everything with a tiny difference! If you give me one more chance, IâŠâ
âPromise of Three?â
Raon tilted his head. He had heard about it before, but he couldnât remember exactly what it was.
âSnap out of it already, you idiot!â
Sheryl kicked Rimmer one more time before bobbing her hand in front of her. She was gesturing for them to stop minding the idiot and to follow her.
âLetâs go.â
âYes!â
Once Raon followed Sheryl, the Heavenly Blade members obviously followed her and even the Light Wind swordsmen ignored Rimmer and entered through the main gate.
âG-Guys?â
No one turned to look at Rimmer even though he desperately reached out his hand.
âHey! You bastards! How could you do this after everything Iâve done for you? I didnât even ask to lend me money yet!â
Everyone shook their heads, because he was babbling and saying what they were expecting him to say.
âThatâs how a gambling addict ends up.â
Dorian was looking at Yulius to teach him that he should never become like him.
âHeâs really strong, but I donât want to acknowledge him for some reason.â
Yulius reluctantly shook his head.
Heâs always so pathetic. Heâs actually amazing in a way.
Wrath also clicked his tongue, calling him pathetic.
âI know, right?â
Raon nodded, following Sheryl through the main avenue. Every swordsman around them stopped in their tracks to watch them, as if they were the heroes returning from a victorious battle.
âHeâs a MasterâŠâ
âIt wasnât nonsense. His pressure is on a different level from before.â
âHe really became a master at eighteen years of age. Did God bless him or something?â
âHe was cursed by God, not blessed. Heâs standing there right now because he overcame that.â
âThatâs true. Even the Saint was unable to treat his condition.â
The swordsmen whispered to each other, not even hiding the surprise in their eyes as they watched Raon.
âI heard he slew the Blood Raving Demon before becoming a Master and killed the Red Wolf Demon and the Black Winged Demon after becoming one.â
âFrom what I heard, they were all exhausted after fighting against the Saint.â
âThatâs what I heard, too. They couldnât even use astral energy from exhaustion.â
âSo, do you guys have the courage to enter a forest full of Masters without hesitation as an Expert? Saying that when he returned safely after killing three Masters only shows how disgusting you are.â
âThey said the Red Wolf Demon and the Black Winged Demon attacked him together. If they cooperated with each other, exhaustion meant nothing.â
âSince he even achieved a draw against the Evil Goat Demon at the end, heâs pretty much proved his skills.â
Raon narrowed his eyes. Unlike the other times, he could hear people defending him against those who were trying to discredit him in jealousy. Some of the swordsmen were even arguing against each other.
âIt looks like things have changed a little.â
In the past, no one tried correcting people who were trying to deride his achievements, or even those who resented or insulted him. People in the house were apparently seeing him in a slightly different light now that he had become a Master and made a great achievement.
âVice-squad leader Raon.â
âCongratulations on becoming a Master.â
âI heard you held out to the last in an extremely fierce battle. I was deeply impressed.â
âIâm Jekal from the Blue Battle Squad. Would you mind if I requested a duel later?â
On top of those watching from afar, some people even came to speak with him. Their excited eyes revealed the favorable impression they had for Raon.
âThank you.â
Raon awkwardly nodded. Since he felt a bit awkward, he went right next to Sheryl, who no one dared approach.
âYou must be embarrassed over the fact that they are approaching you so casually.â
âItâs not like thatâŠâ
âItâs because youâve gained power.â
Sheryl tapped her scabbard and smiled cheerfully.
âPower turns disinterest into interest and turns interest into favor. AndâŠâ
She snickered while looking at the swordsmen looking at him with cold eyes.
âPower also turns jealousy and envy into malice. It will be a lot more annoying in the future.â
âIâm ready to face them.â
Raon nodded. He was honestly more used to the dirty side of human beings than people being kind to him. That much malice was completely fine with him.
âOne more thing.â
Sheryl turned around, examining the people who sneered at him with cold eyes.
âKuah!â
âGasp!â
âHieee!â
They freaked out and fell on their backs from just meeting her eyes.
âIf you have absolute power, you can even crush other peopleâs malice. You should strive to advance further and higher, rather than being satisfied with your current position.â
She tapped his shoulder and smiled kindly at him.
Clumsy hands is right.
âClumsy hands?â
She is so freaking bad at cooking.
Wrath frowned heavily.
âAh, you are right about that.â
Anyway, just like Clumsy hands said, no one is going to defy you as long as you are powerful enough. Back in Devildom, countless demons combined their forces to attack the King of Essence, but he simply froze them all with a single wave of coldness, and no one has dared to attack him since. Ah, the wave of coldness is one of the King of Essenceâs skills, whichâŠ
Wrath started bragging about Devildom, which he hadnât done for a while. While Raon was halfheartedly listening to him, he briskly turned his head.
âŠThatâs why you should give your body to the King of Essence. Iâll turn you into the supreme being that no one would be able to defy.
âSo, thatâs the conclusion, like always.â
Raon snickered and easily pushed Wrath away as he tried to jump at him. While he was listening to his long chatter, they had already arrived in front of the main building.
âHaaâŠâ
Raon calmly exhaled while looking at the lordâs manor at the center of the main building.
âEverywhere is a war.â
He needed to get the rewards he deserved, but he also needed to use that opportunity to determine Glennâs true intentions.
* * *
[Translator â Kyangi]
[Proofreader â Harley]
* * *
Raon looked around to the sides while kneeling at the center of the audience chamber. Every single squad leader and division leader in the house were gathered in the room. Glenn mustâve summoned them.
âThatâs crazyâŠâ
âI-It was true.â
âAn eighteen-year-old MasterâŠâ
âI thought it was obviously bullshit.â
The division leadersâ eyes were trembling violently, like reeds under the wind, as they noticed Raonâs prowess.
âHmm.â
âKuh!â
Karoon and Balder bit their lips in order to pretend composure, but they couldnât hide their trembling lips.
However, one person was different from the rest.
Glenn was sitting on the golden throne on the platform with a void and cold-hearted expression on his faceâlike he was bored.
Raon frowned while looking up to meet Glennâs gaze.
âDid he really give me the elixirs?â
He started doubting what Federick had told him because of how emotionless Glennâs eyes were.
âRaon Zieghart.â
âYes.â
Glenn called his name, and Raon lowered his head while sitting on his knees.
âI heard you were the center of this mission this time. Tell me what happened with your own mouth.â
âUnderstood.â
Raon closed his eyes before opening them again as he stood up.
âOnce we arrived at House Yonaan and finished the preparations to move to Retran, Temas came to visitâŠâ
Since many people were listening to his story, adding exaggeration could come back to bite at him. He told him exactly what happened during the mission without including anything extra.
ââŠThatâs how we finished treating Lady Encia and returned to the house.â
âEverything he said is true.â
Sheryl nodded in agreement, and the division leaders and the squad leaders had their eyes even wider than their mouths.
âHuh, three Masters from Eden? Iâm honestly not confident I could have defeated them myselfâŠâ
âIâm astonished that he managed to win against the Black Winged Demon and the Red Wolf Demon when they were cooperating with each other.â
âA real monster has been born from our house.â
âI can feel that heâs already past the beginnerâs level. Heâs pretty much already at the novice level. How did he erase the stagnation period?â
âHis spirit is astonishing, and his aura blade is powerful enough to make shivers run down the spine. It wonât take long until his name echoed throughout the continent.â
Challenging and admiring gazes were directed at him from the division leaders, who were surprised by his prowess.
âHe managed to discover Temasâs weakness and prepared for the surprise attack. His mind is also extraordinary.â
âHeâs different from the muscleheads who only follow their instincts. He has the composure to perfectly grasp a situation before making his move.â
âNot just prowess, but his mind is also surprising for an eighteen-year-old. I shouldâve brought him to my side.â
While some swordsmen were admiring his ability to discern, plan, and prepareâŠ
âDamn it.â
âWhy is there someone like him nowâŠâ
âShit.â
âThe collaterals are going to rampage around in happiness now.â
Others were silently swearing, glaring fiercely at him.
âGood job, everyone.â
Glenn examined all the swordsmen whoâd returned from the mission one after the other, before nodding.
Although he said, âgood jobâ, his expression was still extremely cold. Except for the fact that the corners of his mouth were unnoticeably twitching, he almost looked like he was at a funeral.
âI acknowledge your accomplishment of completing the mission despite multiple unexpected disturbances during the mission, and I shall reward you accordingly.â
The direct lines glared fiercely at him as Glenn declared he would reward him while somewhat complimenting him. However, no one tried to confront him.
âThose gazes can be called cute.â
Raon easily took on their gazes and smiled. Such gazes had no effect on him anymore.
âIn that case.â
Sheryl glanced back and stepped aside.
âHeavenly Blade division leader?â
âThis mission has been my job all along. I canât accept a reward for having done my job.â
She pointed ahead while murmuring, âitâs your turnâ.
âMe, either.â
Ekan followed Sheryl to the left.
âRaon Zieghart, come up.â
âYes.â
Raon followed Glennâs dignified voice and went onto the platform. Glenn looked bigger each time he went up a stair. He used to be as big as a boulder, but he eventually looked like a great mountain at the end of the sky.
âI still canât see itâŠ.â
Even though heâd become a Master, he was still incapable of even estimating Glennâs prowess. His power mustâve been literally beyond the sky.
âYour judgment allowed you to predict the enemyâs movement before making your move, and your courage allowed you to confront a powerful opponent without running away. The mixture of those two aspects resulted in this overwhelming accomplishment, and you even brought fame to the house by becoming a Master at eighteen years of age. Everything was excellent.â
Once Glenn voiced the word âexcellentâ to compliment him, the gazes coming from the direct lines became as fierce as ferocious beasts in front of an enemy.
âIâll reward the Light Windâs vice-squad leader, Raon Zieghart, with a golden tablet and the right to enter the Treasure Repository.â
âTreasure Repository?â
The Treasure Repository was the head of houseâs treasure warehouse, where Zieghartâs riches were saved. The library Glenn opened for him sometimes was also from the Treasure Repository. Raon unconsciously clenched his fist, realizing that he would be able to enter that place.
âMy lord.â
Balder Zieghart raised his hand, standing right under the platform.
âI agree that the Light Windâs vice-squad leader brought excellent results, but I believe the Treasure Repository is too much of a reward. Since no one has been rewarded with a golden tablet in the past ten years, the tablet alone should be enough.â
âHmm, I also think that the access to the Treasure Depository is an excessive reward compared to his accomplishment.â
âI think you should pick one of those twoâŠâ
The direct line and collateral division leaders agreed with Balder, trying to form a public opinion.
âHis accomplishment completely deserves the access to the Treasure Depository in addition to the tablet.â
âI know, right? He has slain three demons of Eden!â
âHe even made Zieghartâs name echo throughout the continent by becoming the continentâs youngest Master.â
Some division and squad leaders tried to defend him, but their voices werenât loud enough because they were fewer in number.
âHuhu.â
Considering the fact that Karoonâs mouth was curving into a smile, the direct line mustâve been trying to create a messy situation where different opinions collided.
ââŠâŠâ
Glenn wasnât moving, resting his chin on his hands. Raon couldnât tell whether he was thinking or simply didnât care about the situation, but he felt like Glennâs eyes were telling him to convince them on his own.
âI knew it.â
He briefly clicked his tongue. He obviously knew that the direct lines would react in such a way, since stopping him from getting the rewards was worth risking Glennâs punishment for them.
That was why he didnât mention one of his biggest accomplishments on purpose.
âAh, thereâs one thing I forgot to mention.â
Raon turned around and raised a finger.
âWhat would have you gotten from House Yonaan? An artifact?â
âOne artifact wouldnât be a big dealâŠâ
âPre-exclusive contract.â
Once the division leaders heard the words âpre-exclusive contractâ, their eyes started wavering like a sailboat in a storming ocean.
âIâve acquired the pre-exclusive rights to buy the unique rank artifacts produced in House Yonaan before anyone else.â
âGasp!â
âUhh?â
âThatâs crazy, a pre-exclusive right?â
âS-Seriously?â
The leaders who were defending him, and even the direct lines who were against him, turned pale with shock.
âYes. The envoy from House Yonaan will soon arrive for trade. You should be able to confirm when that happens.â
Raon raised his chin and looked down on the direct lines. His clear red eyes were crushing their jealous gazes.
âDoes anyone still believe that those rewards are excessive?â
âUghâŠâ
âUhh!â
âDamn itâŠâ
Naturally, no one raised their hand or stepped up.
âPuhahaha! Serves you right!â
Rimmerâs laughter pierced through the heavy atmosphere from the end of the line and reached the ceiling.
âI see.â
Raon turned around and examined Glenn. His expression remained the same, probably because he already knew about the contract. The increased amount of twitching around his mouth was the only change that existed.
âItâs a bit irritating.â
Raon wanted to destroy that iron mask he was wearing at all costs.
âI have no choice.â
It was a bit embarrassing, but he decided to use the secret weapon Federick had taught him.
âRaon Zieghart, step forward.â
âYes!â
He nodded, then went in front of the throne.
âSince youâve brilliantly accomplished the mission, Iâll reward you with the golden tablet and one-time access to the Treasure Repository⊠ugh!â
The moment Glenn stepped up in order to give him the golden tablet, Raon smiled brightly, just like he did when Federick asked him to show him his smile.