"Ah, what a waste..."
Dorian sighed briefly as he touched his blackened, bruised eye.
"If I had managed to grab all the items I put in my pouch, we wouldn't have to worry about supplies for a while!"
He shook the spoon in his hand, seemingly regretting not being able to steal everything from the Sephia Company.
"To think of stealing all that, you're truly out of your mind..."
Martha shook her head at Dorian.
"I never knew your father could get so angry."
She let out a hollow laugh, expressing her disbelief.
"Yeah. Uncle's face turned red..."
Runaan rubbed her chin, seemingly recalling Adis's flushed face.
"Of course it did. The stuff that came out of this guy's pouch was bigger than the Sephia Company building!"
Martha said she had never seen anything like it as she set down the bowl of stew she was holding.
"Can't you all eat quietly? You're being rude to the other customers!"
Burren frowned as he wiped the dining table with a handkerchief.
"Instead of nagging us, why don't you lecture that thief over there?"
Martha waved her hand, suggesting Burren should preach to Dorian instead.
"I'm planning to re-educate that thief as soon as we get back."
Burren gritted his teeth, saying it was a disgrace to the family.
"Hey, taking family items isn't stealing! They're ours anyway."
Dorian rolled his eyes, suggesting they could just use what he brought.
"You didn't take family items, you took merchandise!"
Sheryl hit the back of Dorian's head while grinding her molars.
"Ugh!"
"You used to be quiet, but now you seem the most unhinged. How did that guy raise these kids..."
She clicked her tongue, looking at Dorian with his face planted on the table.
"Hmm..."
Raon, ignoring the noisy table, stacked his empty plates to one side.
'This place isn't bad, is it?'
They had planned to have lunch with Nadine bread, but wanting to give the injured people more nutritious food, they entered a small town restaurant. Surprisingly, the taste was quite good.
-Hmm! Though the chef's skills are a bit lacking, I could feel the sincerity in the cooking.
Wrath muttered that it was decent enough as he patted his full belly.
-However, this king is strict when it comes to dessert. It must be well-made.
He waved his plump hand, saying he was looking forward to the chef's dessert.
'This is just a countryside restaurant. There's no chef or dessert...'
Raon sighed. Being such a small town restaurant, the cook was the owner himself, and dessert didn't even exist.
-Is that so?
Wrath smiled as if unbothered by the criticism.
-Then I'll have to eat twice as much dessert when we get home!
He licked his lips at length, as if it didn't matter at all.
-To be able to eat everything I want for ten days! I'm looking forward to it! It's going to be quite enjoyable!
Wrath chuckled, saying he'd visit not only the annex's dining but all the famous restaurants in Zieghart.
'...'
Raon said nothing and just stared intently at Wrath, who was humming.
-W-what?
Wrath furrowed his brow, looking at the silent Raon.
-You're not thinking of breaking your promise now, are you?
His blue eyes trembled, seemingly feeling uneasy.
'No, of course I'll keep my promise.'
Raon shook his head with a smile. From the beginning, he had set it for ten days, throwing out seven days first, so he naturally intended to keep his promise.
-Then why does your face look like that?
Wrath frowned, seemingly displeased.
'My face? What about my face?'
-Like a dog's face contemplating whether to eat Nadine bread or not!
He snorted, saying it irritated him just to look at it.
'Looks like you're feeling better now.'
Raon smirked, seeing Wrath's expressions become more varied.
-Well, the food at that guy's house was decent, and we've been eating delicious things continuously on our way here.
Wrath nodded, saying he felt a bit better.
'Well, we were treated quite well.'
Adis had always given the best treatment, except for the moment when he caught and beat up Dorian at the end. Wrath's improved mood was also due to the high-class meals he had provided.
'Then I guess it's okay to look at it now?'
-Huh? Look at what?
'The reward.'
Raon summoned the reward he hadn't been able to check before with a flick of his finger.
[You have perfectly fooled the King of Balrogs.]
[You have achieved a great feat.]
[All abilities increase by 40 points.]
[Trait
[The grade of the trait
[The grade of the trait
All abilities increased by 40 points,
As befitting the message of a great achievement, the level of reward was extremely high.
-W-what! Why are they giving so much for just playing around with Askara a bit!
Wrath frowned, unable to understand.
'It's obvious.'
Raon shook his head at Wrath.
'It's because you acknowledged Askara as Demon King level. That's why they're giving so much.'
Wrath had confirmed with his own words that Askara was a dangerous being who had kicked away the seat of the Demon King. It was natural to receive a large reward since it had been certified by him.
-When did I ever... Ah!
Wrath shut his mouth tightly, seemingly remembering what he had said.
-E-even if this king said such things, isn't this too much!
His head turned red with anger. Whether to call this purity or foolishness, it's hard to say when his skin color changes according to his emotions.
-Damn it!
'Please be quiet now.'
Raon ignored the tantrum-throwing Wrath and called up the description of
'Huh...'
Raon let out a hollow breath as he looked at the contents of
'It's not at the level of a Demon King's authority, but it's no joke.'
Askara's Fighting Spirit was basically similar to aura, but it also had the special ability of pain resistance. As experienced this time, even Transcendents can get injured, so it seemed like it would be a great help in future battles.
-Grr!
Wrath grabbed his floating head in frustration.
-That Askara! When this king returns to the Devildom, I'll freeze him solid and bury him in a tunnel!
He gritted his teeth, saying he wouldn't let him off easily.
'So you're going to fight for me instead? As expected, there's no one but you, Wrath.'
Raon patted Wrath's shoulder, saying thank you.
-Huh? Oh, is that how it works...
Wrath blinked and then punched the air.
-Damn it! Nothing ever goes right!
He shook his head up and down, saying there was nothing he could do.
'It's really fun to watch.'
"Excuse me, Division Leader."
While Raon was smiling at the struggling Wrath, Dorian approached him.
"Could you ask the Demon King to let us tour the Demon King's castle? I really want to see it..."
Despite saying he just wanted to look around, Dorian was drooling.
'What do you think about that?'
-Why is everyone around you, including you, crazy!
Wrath screamed that everyone around Raon was just like Raon.
-Why is this place harder than the heavenly realm!
* * *
In the tunnel where dried lava and melted frost were still competing. Over the hellish ground where the ceiling had collapsed and the walls had been scraped away by Askara's Fighting Spirit, a shadow darker than darkness itself rippled. It seemed to have entered from outside, as the black waves continued between the cracks of the rocks.
A woman with pale blue hair rose from within the black shadow. Even in a space so narrow that small animals would struggle to stand, she crawled through the tunnel as naturally as a mollusk.
"..."
The blue-haired woman, who had been scanning the entire tunnel, stopped at the place where the white-haired man had died, crushed by Askara's flames. She lowered her cold gaze as she held the black ashes and soil that seemed to have been burned with blood in both hands.
"To think a Demon King-level Balrog would just retreat..."
The blue-haired woman nodded slightly as she looked at the end of the tunnel where Askara had disappeared.
"It seems Raon Zieghart has an even bigger secret."
After putting the soil burned with the white-haired man's blood in her bosom, she disappeared into the cracks of the collapsed space.
* * *
"We have many guests today."
External Commander Illiune slightly raised his eyebrows as he looked at Borgos and the craftsmen.
"These are the masters from the Gray Hammer Guild. They've come to help us with our work."
Raon didn't mention what had happened in the underground village, only saying that they had come to help with the work.
"I've heard of the continental master Borgos's reputation. It's a pleasure to have you."
Illiune said he welcomed them despite knowing the circumstances and personally opened the gates of the outer castle.
"Thank you for your hospitality."
Borgos seemed to like Illiune's straightforwardness and returned the greeting as he entered the outer castle.
"The road is wide. No wonder it's the pinnacle of the Six... no, the Five Kings."
He let out a hollow breath as he looked at the wide road leading from the outer castle to the inner castle.
"However, the heat rising from the ground is low. As expected of northern land."
Borgos frowned, seemingly displeased with the weak geothermal energy.
"The geothermal energy where Zieghart's craftsmen are is no less than Bright Abundance Mountain. You'll like it when you see it."
Raon smiled, saying he would introduce them soon.
"Is it Vulcan's workshop? That's something to look forward to."
Borgos nodded, seemingly excited about meeting Vulcan.
"It's not that big. But you'll be satisfied with the geothermal energy."
As he explained about Vulcan's workshop and the interior of Zieghart, they had already arrived in front of the Lord's Manor.
"This is the Lord's Manor. Let's go in."
"Huh, I don't know who made it, but they're no ordinary person."
Borgos muttered that the aura emanating from the building itself was astonishing as he went inside. As if the news of bringing guests had been conveyed, the doors of the audience chamber were wide open, and the remaining executives of the family were filling the seats in front of the pillars.
Glenn was sitting on the throne with an even greater aura than usual, perhaps because it was his first time meeting Borgos.
Just looking at his deeply sunken red eyes sent chills down one's spine.
"Whew."
Raon let out a short breath and stepped into the audience chamber. After confirming that Borgos and the other craftsmen had followed him in, he knelt down in the center of the audience chamber.
"We are in the presence of the Head of House."
"We are in the presence of the Head of House!"
Burren, Martha, Runaan, and Dorian followed him with a return greeting that seemed like it would blow away the Lord's Manor.
"...Borgos of the Gray Hammer greets the King of the North!"
Borgos, seemingly overwhelmed by Glenn's presence, bowed first with a stiff expression.
"W-we greet the King of the North."
The other dwarves and craftsmen also conveyed their greetings with difficulty, pressed by Glenn's presence.
"Welcome to Zieghart."
Glenn gently nodded his head as if he had never displayed such an intense aura.
"I regret what happened at Bright Abundance Mountain. We should have moved faster."
He clicked his tongue briefly, saying it was unfortunate.
"Please don't say that. We're grateful that you sent the Light Wind Division Leader and the Heavenly Blade Division Leader."
Borgos shook his head, saying that thanks to them, at least those who remain now are alive.
"...I heard you want to start work right away. Are you sure?"
Glenn narrowed his eyes slightly, as if asking if it would be alright.
"Staying idle will only complicate my thoughts, so I want to work."
Borgos shook his head, saying he wanted to repay the kindness he had received.
"Hmm, I've heard the general news, but tell me the exact details."
Glenn lowered his chin, asking why Borgos and the craftsmen had come all the way here.
"Yes. First..."
Raon stepped forward and explained what had happened. Of course, he didn't mention the part about acting as Wrath to send Askara away.
"Hmm..."
Glenn looked at Borgos with sunken eyes, as if asking if he was really alright.
"The work is fine. But there's something I'd like to ask."
Borgos let out a short sigh as he looked at Glenn.
"Could you allow us to stay here for a while?"
"Even after you finish your work?"
"Yes."
He nodded, saying he wanted to stay in Zieghart.
"I have no problem allowing it, but how can you trust us and decide to stay here?"
Glenn slightly tilted his chin, as if he didn't understand.
"To be honest, I don't trust Zieghart."
Borgos slowly turned his gaze to look at Raon.
"What I... no, what we trust is the Light Wind Division and Raon."
He nodded calmly, saying he trusted Raon, not Zieghart.
"Ah..."
Raon hastily shook his head.
'This isn't good.'
Since he said he trusted him more than Zieghart in front of Glenn, who reveres the family as sacred, it's hard to predict what kind of response will come back. He turned his gaze to the platform, feeling tense. But Glenn's reaction was very different from what he expected.
"Hmm..."
Instead of getting angry, Glenn's curled-up lips trembled as if he was happy and delighted. He even started covering his mouth with his shaking hand, as if he couldn't control his emotions.
'Huh?'
-Sigh, the old man's at it again...
Wrath shook his head, saying it was sickening.