Raon swallowed hard as he looked at Lawrence's white, wet lips.
'The white blood of a White Blood Religion member...'
As the blood demons of the White Blood Religion cultivate their blood techniques, their blood turns white.
At that level, he must be an apostle rank. He clearly seemed to possess blood energy rivaling that of the 10th Apostle.
However, it wasn't just the color of his blood that made Raon associate Lawrence with the leader of the White Blood Religion.
'Temperament.'
The temperament and soul aura that a person should possess as a human. Everything Raon sensed from Lawrence now resembled the leader of the White Blood Religion.
'He was definitely an ordinary person before...'
How could he have changed like this? Raon knew because he sparred with Lawrence every day. He was someone with a gentle personality, just overly sleepy and lazy. But now the aura emanating from him was cold and gloomy.
Intense killing intent flickered in his golden eyes that had always held a solemn look.
"Why did you suddenly bring up the name of the White Blood Religion leader? Have you met her?"
Lawrence threw a question back at Raon. His shoulders trembled slightly as if he was having trouble controlling his overflowing blood energy.
"Yes. I've met her several times."
Raon answered while placing his hand on the Heavenly Drive. He debated whether he should open his sword domain to subdue Lawrence if he wasn't in his right mind.
"How strange that someone as talented as you could encounter that woman and still be alive."
Listening to Lawrence speak, it really seemed he was related to the White Blood Religion leader. Raon became even more curious about his true identity.
"Huff..."
Despite his growing blood energy, Lawrence leaned against the cave wall as if he had no intention to fight.
"The current White Blood Religion leader must be in the form of a black-haired, black-eyed woman, right?"
"That's correct."
Raon nodded without letting his guard down.
"Then there might still be some time left."
"What do you mean?"
"Shedding."
Lawrence smiled crookedly while looking at the cave floor.
"The time when that damned monster sheds its body and changes into another one."
"Hmm..."
Raon furrowed his brow as he looked at Lawrence.
"How do you know about that, Lawrence?"
If he knew even about the body changing, he truly must not be an outsider to the White Blood Religion. Raon tightened his grip on his sword hilt, ready to draw at any moment.
"Don't be so tense. I'm not a member of the White Blood Religion."
Lawrence shook his head lightly as if telling Raon to relax.
"I've never belonged to that wretched place, nor have I learned their blood techniques. It might be hard to believe me in this state, but..."
He let out a hollow laugh as if he found it unbelievable himself.
"...If you say so, I understand."
Raon nodded and lowered his hand from the sword hilt.
"What...?"
Lawrence widened his eyes as if he hadn't expected Raon to believe him.
"Y-you're saying you believe me? In this situation?"
"Yes."
Raon nodded once more as he looked into Lawrence's wavering eyes.
"You said you met the White Blood Religion leader! How can you believe me after seeing this white blood and energy!"
He demanded an explanation as if he couldn't understand.
"The short time we've spent together was enough for me to know what kind of person you are."
Despite Lawrence's laziness, he had never used assassination techniques or attacked harshly enough to leave aftereffects. That grasshopper-like man didn't have the personality to harm others recklessly.
"Besides, the Alliance leader said he trusts you."
Rector had told Raon that Lawrence was a lonely person and to keep visiting him. He must have known about Lawrence's current state.
"You truly are a peculiar one."
Lawrence looked up at Raon and smirked.
"I thought you'd draw your sword and charge at me without hesitation, given your reckless personality..."
"I don't have that kind of personality. There are few people calmer than me..."
Raon shook his head calmly.
-What?
"Huh?"
Wrath and Lawrence widened their eyes at the same time. Both of them seemed dumbfounded, their jaws dropping.
-What nonsense are you spouting! You're the craziest person this king has ever seen among humans and demons!
Wrath turned his head sharply, telling Raon not to talk nonsense.
"So you're also someone who lacks self-awareness."
Lawrence furrowed his brows deeply.
"I only helped with your training because I thought I was repaying a debt to your grandfather. Of course, your obsession played a part too..."
He laughed as if he still found it unbelievable.
"So you did know."
Raon grasped his right wrist with his left hand. As he had expected, Lawrence seemed to know that Rector was his grandfather.
"I'm similar. I trust you a bit more because my grandfather trusts you."
"I see. Ugh..."
Lawrence nodded but then clutched his chest again. The blood energy emanating from his entire body began to grow stronger.
"Are you alright?"
"I should have prepared better, but it's not easy..."
Lawrence shook his head, indicating he wasn't in a good state.
"J-just go. I appreciate your concern, but this isn't a trivial matter I can discuss with an outsider."
He lowered his hand with difficulty, telling Raon to quickly leave the mountain.
"I..."
"It's fine to tell Raon."
As Raon was about to say that wasn't the issue, a familiar voice came from behind him. When he turned around, Rector was standing in front of the cave with a gentle smile.
"Grandfather?"
"I came because I saw it was a full moon today, and as expected..."
Rector nodded lightly and approached Lawrence.
"Ugh, Alliance leader..."
He placed his hand on Lawrence's back, who was biting his lip, and released a powerful aura. As a magnificent light flashed from Rector's hand, the blood energy tormenting Lawrence slowly began to subside.
After a while, the blood energy calmed down to a level Lawrence could control, and the white light in his eyes melted away.
"You got a bit stronger and started acting cocky, but look at you now."
Rector clicked his tongue as he removed his hand from Lawrence's back, which had regained its color.
"T-this is all because of your grandson! That brat ruined all my routines and plans!"
Lawrence shook his chin with a reddened face.
"Well done."
Rector ignored Lawrence's words and patted Raon's shoulder.
"That guy needed to wake up a bit."
"Well done, you say! Your grandson is a demon incarnate! He shouldn't be let loose in society!"
Lawrence shouted that Raon should be locked up in prison.
-A demon, you say!
Wrath yelled at Lawrence, offended.
-There are no such crazy bastards even in the Devildom! Don't try to pass him off to us!
He shook his head, saying the humans should keep him.
"It seems you've regained some strength."
Rector leaned against the opposite wall with his arms crossed.
"I'm fine now, thanks to you. But..."
Lawrence narrowed his eyes as he looked at Rector.
"What do you mean it's okay to tell Raon?"
"It means he's not an outsider."
Rector nodded slightly as he looked at Raon.
"Raon. You explain your situation first."
He smiled gently as if to say it was alright.
"...Understood."
Raon stepped forward and stood in front of Rector and Lawrence.
"First, let me introduce myself again. I am Raon Zieghart, grandson of the current head of House Zieghart."
"Raon. Right. Zieghar... Zieghart?"
Lawrence sat up in shock.
"The head of House Zieghart... you mean the Lightning God? Glenn Zieghart?"
"That's right."
"But didn't you say he was your grandson? What's going on..."
He looked at Rector with trembling lips.
"Both are correct."
Rector nodded briefly.
"He's both the grandson of the Zieghart family head and the grandson of the Holy Sword Alliance leader."
He let out a hollow laugh as if he found it unbelievable himself.
"What kind of crazy talk is this..."
Lawrence blinked his eyes as if he still couldn't understand.
"Let me continue. The first time I met the leader of the White Blood Religion was during my training days at Zieghart..." (E/N: I don't think that's quite true...But anyway...)
Raon recounted everything from his first encounter with the White Blood Religion alongside the third prince, to nearly being kidnapped by the 10th Apostle, and even the recent war involving the White Blood Religion.
"Come to think of it, it's quite a lot. Well, I did rush into the White Blood Religion's headquarters to save Ogram."
"Now that I hear it, I remember. The old men said there was a young monster at Zieghart..."
Lawrence nodded blankly as if he just recalled the information about Raon.
"I thought he was just another genius that always pops up, but to think he was such a madman..."
He swallowed dryly, expressing both admiration and shock.
"Hearing all this, I guess you're not unrelated either. That woman must still be after you."
Lawrence clicked his tongue, saying it was obvious.
"That's not all."
Raon shook his head heavily.
"What do you mean it's not all?"
"Before I say this, there's something I need to hear first..."
He narrowed his eyes as he looked at Lawrence.
"Lawrence. You are related to the White Blood Religion leader, aren't you?"
"...Yes."
Lawrence hesitated for a moment before nodding.
"It's deeper than you think."
"Then I'll tell you. The current body of the White Blood Religion leader..."
Raon closed his eyes and opened them again before continuing.
"It's the mother of my companion."
"Huh...?"
Lawrence stood up as if he had heard something unbelievable.
"R-really?"
"Yes. Doesn't she resemble the black-haired, black-eyed child who came with me?"
"I... haven't seen the current body of the White Blood Religion leader. I escaped long before that."
He bit his lip as he spoke, implying he had fled from the White Blood Religion.
"Just who are you..."
Raon furrowed his brow as he looked at Lawrence. The more he heard, the harder it became to predict his identity.
"Now that you told me that much, I can't keep my mouth shut either."
Lawrence nodded weakly.
"I..."
* * *
I was different from others from birth.
My height and weight were twice that of others, and I could think rationally from the moment I first opened my eyes to the world.
Some might call it grotesque, others might call it special, but my mother was disappointed in me.
[Is this all you're capable of?]
The eyes of the woman, more beautiful than moonlight, were clouded with disdain.
[There's no progress in this direction either. I'll have to end the experiment here.]
My mother left the room without even giving me a name, as if she had no interest. The young man following her gazed at me with an inscrutable, calm look before vanishing.
After that, a young nanny came to take care of me. I was satisfied that my mother hadn't abandoned me, even though she was disappointed in me.
The nanny brought various books, saying I needed to become an excellent person to gain my mother's approval. My mother was like a one-of-a-kind jewel to me.
To gain her approval, I read all the books the nanny brought and even finished all the numerous books left in the house. For content too difficult to understand, I memorized it all.
At night I read books, and during the day I watched the martial artists training in the courtyard visible from the window. Perhaps due to my innate eyes, I naturally understood the movements of the martial artists and the flow of their blood energy. Even though I had no name and couldn't leave this house, I was simply happy thinking that someday I would please my mother.
While I was spending time reading books, observing others' martial arts, and thinking alone, my heart suddenly started beating as if it would burst, and my blood energy awakened. The blood energy that everyone else had except for me finally appeared within me. And not through training, but as an innate power.
Something others had but I didn't. Realizing this blood energy was what had disappointed my mother, I ignored the nanny's warnings and went straight to find her. I wanted her approval.
I wanted to show the most beautiful mother in the world that I was a necessary person and be loved by her. I was confident. I thought she had kept me alive until now for this day. But. It was all my delusion.
[You're still alive?]
The woman I thought was my mother sneered at my innate blood energy, calling it crude, and shook her head.
[It's filthy. Get rid of it.]
At her cold command, devoid of any emotion, I was thrown into a dark prison without even getting to say the word "mother." Only then did I realize. The reason I had survived wasn't because of my mother, but due to the consideration of the apostle who had watched me at the end, and the nanny was also someone he had sent.
I despaired. I cursed everything and screamed until my throat was raw.
When I was rotting away in the underground prison where no one visited, the nanny came. She hugged me with a smile, despite being covered in wounds.
[I'm glad you're safe.]
Seeing her worry about me first when she herself wasn't safe, I couldn't open my mouth. The nanny fought against the apostle after helping me escape through a path she had prepared in advance. Even as she died at the hands of the apostle, she didn't lose her smile.
[Lawrence. That's your name. Live kindly and gently.]
My mother wasn't the distant, shining moon, but had been right beside me all along.
* * *
"After that, I was discovered by the Alliance leader who was traveling. You probably understand why I'm here, given your grandfather's personality."
Lawrence shook his head calmly, saying that was all.
"I see..."
Raon bit his lip as he looked at Lawrence.
'This is worse than...'
Born as the child of the White Blood Religion leader but having his very existence ignored - it was a life worse than the worst scenario Raon could imagine. It reminded him of his hellish past life.
"There's no need for such a grim expression."
Lawrence waved his hand lightly, smiling calmly.
"It's an old story now. I've forgotten about it."
Contrary to his words, sadness still flowed in his eyes.
"The atmosphere has become too heavy. Shall we change the subject?"
Lawrence stretched out his hand as if to get to the main point.
"What you're curious about is how to extract the White Blood Religion leader's soul, right?"
"...That's right."
"The method is..."
He paused for a moment and let out a long sigh.
"There isn't one."