"The Room of Self..."
Glenn narrowed his eyes as he looked at Raon.
"I haven't checked, but since no one has entered after Karoon, it should be accessible now."
He nodded, saying that enough time had passed for the Room of Self to have regained its power.
"But why so suddenly?"
"Through this recent war, I realized how much I still lack."
Raon let out a short sigh as he gazed at the moon's reflection rippling on the lake's surface.
"My current martial prowess is probably on par with the upper ranks of the Five Divine Orders, like the Thespian Emperor or the Demon Slaying Spear. Considering my age, it's almost unbelievable even to myself, but..."
He bit his lip thinly as he looked up at the clear moon not reflected in the lake.
"The enemies that the Light Wind Palace and I will face in the future are beyond that. The White Blood Religion, Eden, Derus Robert. None of them are easy opponents."
The Leader of the White Blood Religion, The Fallen, the Heavenly Demon, and Derus Robert along with the Angels. The enemies he had to face possessed such overwhelming power that he couldn't reach them without the help of other Transcendents. To inflict even one more wound on them, he couldn't be satisfied with his current martial prowess. He had to move forward.
-R-Room of Self?
Wrath's eyes darted around as his lips trembled.
-So that's why you told me to get used to Nadine bread! You bastard!
He seemed to have just realized the meaning behind Raon's words and gritted his teeth.
-You bedbug! We've only had one proper meal since coming home! Why are you so desperate to starve?
Wrath shook his head, telling Raon to stop tormenting him.
'It's not starving. We'll just be eating Nadine bread.'
-That's even worse!
'Yes. We have to eat it.'
Raon shook his head, pushing away the charging Wrath.
"There's no problem with letting you enter the Room of Self. However..."
Glenn slightly lowered his eyebrows as if worried.
"Are you sure you'll be alright?"
"Pardon...?"
Raon tilted his head, not understanding Glenn's words.
"What do you mean by that?"
He had received permission to enter the Room of Self long ago. He didn't understand what Glenn meant by asking if he'd be alright.
"The Room of Self is where swordsmen enter to break through their walls. Many martial artists have broken through walls that had blocked them for years or even decades and moved on to the next stage."
Glenn raised his finger and drew a small door in the air.
"On the other hand, swordsmen who haven't encountered walls returned from the Room of Self without gaining anything special. As you probably know better, there's no wall in front of you right now."
He furrowed his brow as if he knew all about Raon's level and condition.
"The Room of Self can only be entered once. I'm asking if you're sure you want to enter now."
"Hmm..."
Raon stroked his chin and let out a low breath.
'So that's the reason.'
He hadn't known that the Room of Self wouldn't have much effect if the swordsman wasn't facing a wall. Now he understood why Glenn had said such things.
"Originally, I had planned to send you to the Room of Self to help you reach Transcendence. But..."
Glenn slowly turned his gaze.
"You came to know sorrow and reached Transcendence through your own power. In a way, you created your own opportunity, so perhaps you won't lose much by entering now."
He nodded with deep sorrow in his eyes as he looked at Raon.
"Hmm..."
Raon gestured with his chin towards Wrath.
'What do you think?'
-Absolutely don't go in! I don't want to eat any more of that Nadine bread!
Wrath frowned, saying he could still taste rubber in his mouth.
-However, this king has seen many who die hoarding such opportunities without using them. It becomes useless if you save it for too long.
He licked his lips, saying it's best to eat delicious food before it spoils.
'Thanks for the sincere advice.'
Raon smiled faintly at Wrath, who had puffed up his cheeks.
'It's similar to what I was thinking.'
The reason he had saved his opportunity to enter the Room of Self was to overcome the wall of Transcendence. Since there was no guarantee he would reach the next level after Transcendence before dying, it was better to use it now and become even a little stronger.
"The Room of Self was created by the First Patriarch, right?"
Raon looked at Glenn with his hand on the scabbard of the Heavenly Drive.
"That's right."
Glenn nodded slowly.
"I've heard that the Room of Self was created even before the first building of Zieghart was erected. I obviously haven't seen it myself, so I'm not sure if it's true."
He lowered his finger, saying that the Room of Self was one of the oldest places in Zieghart.
"Then I'll enter."
Raon said he had made his decision and clasped his hands.
'If it was created by the First Patriarch, there might be other opportunities.'
The First Patriarch had planted seeds for the future in various places. If Glenn's words were true, he might gain some of the First Patriarch's provisions in the Room of Self.
"Then I'll need to make preparations."
Glenn rubbed his chin as if accepting Raon's request.
"Now then..."
"Just a moment, Grandfather."
Raon called Glenn 'Grandfather' and stopped him as he was about to leave.
"If it's alright with you, could you demonstrate the Sky-Piercing Thunder?"
Before entering the Room of Self, he wanted to see the newly woven Sky-Piercing Thunder that Glenn had created.
"Ahem!"
Glenn cleared his throat and slightly turned his shoulders.
"Since you say it's a martial art that you wove from the Azure Sky Sword and Celestial Thunder Arts, I'm so curious I won't be able to sleep. I really want to see it with Grandfather's sword."
"Well, if that's the case, I can't refuse! Very well! Follow me!"
He seemed to be in a good mood, his earlobes turning red as he headed towards the foot of North Grave Mountain across the lake.
"Thank you."
Raon smiled and followed Glenn across the lake.
-So you finally figured out how to butter up the old Nadine bread...
Wrath frowned as he watched Raon's light footsteps.
-You're too slow! You clueless idiot!
He snorted, saying Raon should have done this three years earlier.
'Three years ago, the Head of House still disliked me, though?'
Raon tilted his head.
-Forget it. It's not worth explaining...
Wrath waved his hand as if it wasn't worth talking about.
-How can you be so clueless in this way? Are you really human...?
* * *
A thunderous roar echoed as lightning rose to the sky from Raon's sword strike, turning into red lightning as it fell. That magnificent light, brighter than the rising sun, split the earth. With a deafening crash, the intense flash created a blackened crater in the ground. The depth of the hole seemed unfathomable, as if created by a power beyond human capabilities.
Raon lowered the Heavenly Drive, which still crackled with lightning, and let out a small laugh.
"It's certainly different."
Glenn had said he created the Sky-Piercing Thunder by mixing the forms of the Azure Sky Sword and Celestial Thunder Arts, but using it himself, Raon felt it was different from both.
'Should I say it combines only the advantages of the two sword techniques?'
The sword path seemed to embody both the grandeur of the Azure Sky Sword and the sharp offensive power of the Celestial Thunder Arts. The Sky-Piercing Thunder appeared to be a Supreme Martial Art that only those who had reached the highest levels of Transcendence could create.
'Of course, it has the disadvantage of a slow activation time.'
Since each had different strengths and weaknesses, it seemed all three sword techniques could be used in different situations.
'I should be able to improve my proficiency in the Blade Sword, Spear Sword, Long Sword, and Thunder Sword as well.'
Thanks to the Sky-Piercing Thunder, he felt he could supplement his lacking sword techniques. It was a martial art that could be useful in many ways.
"Hmm..."
Glenn calmly nodded as he looked at the crater Raon had created.
"To have this much power even though I blocked it with my aura, you certainly learn fast."
He briefly licked his lips as if feeling both proud and regretful.
"The flow of the forms is lacking, but you should be able to practice on your own."
Glenn sheathed his Heavenly Tremor as if there was nothing more to teach.
"It's all thanks to your excellent teaching, Grandfather."
Raon smiled faintly, saying it was thanks to Glenn.
"Ahem! It's nothing."
Glenn waved his hand as if it wasn't worth mentioning. Seeing his face turn red like an autumn apple, he seemed to be in a good mood.
"So, when will you enter the Room of Self?"
He tilted his chin as if saying he would make preparations when Raon told him.
"I'd like to enter right away."
Raon nodded as he brushed off the remaining lightning from the Heavenly Drive.
-This king doesn't want to go in right away!
Wrath shook his head vigorously, saying there were still many things he wanted to eat.
-I've heard about it before. It's a place with a different axis of space-time! If you go in without preparation, both you and I will suffer!
He shouted that it would be hard to endure and to think carefully.
'I've already prepared.'
Raon pushed away the gritting Wrath and waited for Glenn's answer.
"Right away..."
Glenn stroked his chin and shook his head slightly.
"I understand your feelings, but the Room of Self is completely different from the training room you're thinking of. Time and space are different, so it's better to prepare thoroughly before departing."
He shook his head, telling Raon not to move too hastily.
"You must still be fatigued from the battle, so enter in a week."
"I'll do as you say, Grandfather."
Raon immediately bowed his head without the slightest objection.
-Huh?
Wrath widened his eyes in disbelief.
-This king said the same thing! You ignore me when I say it, but you listen to that old geezer!
He raised his fist, saying this was discrimination.
"Thank you for understanding. Then, I'll see you in a week."
Glenn told Raon to come to the main building and left the clearing at the foot of North Grave Mountain.
-Hey! Don't ignore me!
Wrath hit his own shoulder with his plump fist, telling Raon to look at him.
-This king is a king in Devildom! I'm higher ranked than that old geezer!
He repeatedly threw punches, demanding to be treated like a demon king.
'Alright, calm down.'
-How can this king calm down! Right in front of my eyes, such discrimination...
'We have a week now, so I can eat everything you want.'
-That's fine then!
Wrath nodded as if he had never been angry.
'...You're amazing.'
Raon had planned to eat Wrath's favorite foods anyway, but he didn't expect his anger to subside so quickly. Truly an amazing demon king. Raon patted Wrath's head, which had become cheerful again, and returned to the annex building.
As the sun had risen quite a while ago, smoke was rising from the chimney, and delicious smells were wafting from the kitchen.
-Perfect timing! We can have breakfast and then go eat bead ice cream right away!
Wrath grinned, seeming to be in a good mood from the food smells.
'That doesn't sound bad.'
Raon nodded and opened the door of the annex building. Olga, who seemed to have just washed her face as it was still damp, stopped in her tracks when she saw him.
'Now that I see her awake, it feels even more certain.'
She's completely different. Originally, Olga's skin was covered in black lines like tattoos due to her holy power, making her look as if her entire body was tattooed. But after experiencing Complete Body Reformation, she now had milk-white skin like a newborn baby.
It felt as if she had transformed from a villainess exuding a desolate atmosphere to a saintess emanating a bright and warm energy.
"Now you look like a proper Saintess. It suits you well."
"Umm..."
Olga blinked her eyes as if dazed and took a step back.
"You've been training again! You just can't stay still for a moment!"
Sylvia, who came out from behind Olga, shook her head as if exasperated. She slightly turned her gaze and gave Olga a meaningful look. As if telling her to do something.
"Ah!"
Olga seemed to come to her senses and straightened her posture before bowing her head to Raon.
"Thank you. Honestly, I didn't believe it much, but I never thought you'd change me this much. I'm truly grateful."
She bowed even deeper, saying thank you twice.
"Just with words?"
Raon nodded, looking at the top of Sylvia's head.
"Uh, huh?"
Olga's lips trembled as if flustered.
"I used quite a lot to treat you. For starters, two of the highest grade elixirs were used."
"But, the Head of House gave those..."
"He didn't just give them to me. I got them because I spoke well."
Raon shook his head vigorously, saying it definitely wasn't free.
"I also used up all my aura and haven't recovered yet, and I poured out all my mental energy so I still have a headache. It feels like I've fought another war with the Black Tower."
"Umm..."
As Raon spoke, Olga seemed to shrink, narrowing her shoulders to the size of her palms. She looked at Sylvia with trembling eyes.
"Gulp."
Sylvia's chin quivered as if she hadn't expected Raon to say such things. She quickly turned her back to avoid Olga's gaze.
"Then, what should I do..."
Olga let out a deep sigh as if realizing she couldn't repay the debt no matter what she did.
"What should you do? First, learn to dance and sing. I like music. Whenever I'm bored, you can perform and sing for me. Oh, how about cooking? If you can't, learn. You'll have a lot to make later."
Raon chuckled as he listed things that Olga would likely never do.
"Ugh..."
Olga inhaled sharply as if envisioning a hellish future ahead of her.
"Fine! Yeah! Go ahead! I'll do it all! Singing, dancing, whatever! I'll do it all for you, you bastard!"
She shouted that she'd do it properly since she had to, stomping her foot. It seemed she had returned to her original temperament.
"That's it."
Raon chuckled and lightly tapped Olga's head with his finger.
"It was boring when the person who curses and criticizes as naturally as breathing was quiet. Let's go back to how we were."
He lowered his hand, saying that would do.
"Is that all?"
"Yes."
From the beginning, he had no intention of asking Olga for anything in return. He only wished for her, who had dedicated her life for others, to live a little happier. Moreover, even if he didn't want it, Olga would surely step up when Zieghart, no, the continent faced danger, so there was no need for other requests.
"If you understand, let's go eat."
Raon said this and entered the dining room.
"I told you! Our son doesn't ask for anything in return for things like this."
Sylvia placed her hand on Olga's shoulder, laughing with an "Ehehe."
"You didn't seem to believe it earlier, though?"
Olga looked at Sylvia with sharp eyes.
"W-What are you talking about!"
Sylvia jumped as if caught stealing.
"You avoided my eyes."
"No, I didn't? You must be imagining things?"
"But..."
"Oh? Helen? You need my help too?"
She ran to the dining room, calling for Helen who hadn't even been mentioned.
"Haa..."
Olga walked towards the dining room where Sylvia and Raon had entered, with a bright smile on her face.
"Like mother, like son."
How enviable.
* * *
After finishing breakfast, Raon stood in front of the entrance.
-Hurry up and leave! We must eat bead ice cream before this pleasant fullness fades!
Wrath patted his own back, saying the start of the day should be perfect.
'Alright, stop nagging.'
Raon pushed away the clinging Wrath and turned around.
"Sister."
He gestured to Sia, who was wearing a white hat.
"If you're ready, let's go."
He had promised to take Sia along to the bead ice cream shop, partly to keep his promise to spend time with her.
"Okay!"
Sia nodded with a bright face, as if excited about going out with her brother.
"Let's go!"
Sia pressed her hat down with her hands and stuck close to Raon's side.
"You look pretty today."
Raon lightly patted Sia's head and then walked out into the annex's garden. As he was about to walk towards the bustling area, he saw two people approaching from the direction of the main building. The man on the right was Karoon, the Central Martial Palace Master, and the man on the left was Balder, the True Martial Palace Master.
'Why are those two coming together?'
Though he found it strange, Raon approached Karoon and Balder and bowed his head.
"Greetings, Palace Masters."
"Hello!"
Sia also bowed her head to the two men, following Raon's lead.
"Don't bother with such formalities! Not between us!"
Balder shook his head emphatically, saying that's not how family should act.
"Sorry for the early hour."
Karoon waved his hand as if apologizing for the intrusion, even as he accepted their greeting.
"It's no problem. But what brings you here?"
Raon tilted his head, looking at Karoon and Balder. He was curious about their intentions, as there was no reason for them to come here.
"Well..."
"Ahem!"
Karoon and Balder remained silent, as if checking each other's reactions.
"Raon! Let's go quickly!"
Seeing that Karoon and Balder weren't speaking, Sia tugged on Raon's sleeve, apparently thinking it had nothing to do with them.
-Your sister is right! They don't seem to have anything to say, so ignore them!
Wrath also added strength to Sia's hand, telling Raon to leave them be.
"Just a moment, Sister. It seems the two of them have something to say."
Raon pushed away Wrath and Sia, looking at Karoon and Balder.
"Then! Let's go together!"
Sia wiggled her finger, suggesting they talk while eating bead ice cream.
"Hmm, I wonder if that would work?"
After briefly licking his lips, Raon looked at Karoon and Balder.
"We're going to eat bead ice cream..."
Raon slightly extended his hand towards the awkward-looking Karoon and Balder.
"Would you like to join us?"