-Why only this guy...
Wrath twitched like a carp caught on a fishing hook.
-How can he be this lucky! Everywhere he goes, fortune gushes out like a fountain!
The Demon King of Wrath clutched his head, lamenting that the world seemed to revolve around Raon.
'While it's true I'm lucky, that's not all there is to it.'
Raon calmly shook his head.
'I've consistently made plans, put in the effort to follow through, and achieved results.'
He gestured with his fingertip, telling him to think about it carefully.
-Ugh...
Wrath chewed his lips, seemingly at a loss for words.
'Shall we see how much we gained today?'
Just as Raon was smiling and about to check the reward message.
"Wrath's vessel..."
Sloth turned his gaze towards him.
"Come... here..."
He gestured slowly, indicating he needed something.
"Not Wrath's vessel, it's Raon!"
Evelyn grabbed Sloth's collar more firmly and shook him.
"And hurry up and give me a bracelet! I want the same one!"
She ground her teeth, declaring she wouldn't let go until she got the same bracelet as Raon.
"P-please stop! I'll give you a bracelet!"
Dorian shouted to let go of the Demon King while reaching into his pouch.
"You have bracelets?"
Evelyn turned around, her eyes widening.
"Yes! I carry them around as essential items!"
Dorian nodded and pulled out dozens of bracelets from his pouch. They were all black.
"Wow!"
Evelyn tossed Sloth aside and immediately began examining the bracelets.
"Phew..."
Dorian sighed in relief, muttering that they'd survived.
-Why, why does that kid carry around so many bracelets? And only black ones at that?
Wrath let out an exasperated sigh, saying he couldn't understand no matter how he looked at it.
'He probably has just as many bracelets in other colors too.'
Given Dorian's personality, he surely carried around just as many bracelets in other colors, not just black ones.
"There's none... None of these flower bracelets are the same as Raon's!"
Evelyn furrowed her brows, saying they were all slightly different despite looking similar.
"Well, those aren't considered essential items..."
"That's what's really essential! If you don't have one, make one for me!"
She now grabbed and shook Dorian's collar instead of Sloth's.
"I-I'll have one custom made. If you could just wait a bit..."
"Bring it right now!"
"Ugh!"
Despite being harassed by Evelyn, Dorian wore a faint smile, seemingly pleased that he'd prevented the Demon King's rampage.
'Well done.'
Raon gave Dorian a thumbs up to acknowledge his effort, then approached Sloth.
"Why did you call me? To teach Runaan well?"
"No..."
Sloth slowly shook his head.
"That child... fundamentally... has the concept of sloth... in their soul... Like how living beings... naturally breathe... they'll be able to... handle sloth... without difficulty... Probably even better... than you...?"
He blinked, suggesting that Runaan had a talent for handling sloth.
"They'll handle sloth better than me?"
"Actually, you're... the strange one... Despite not having... any feelings of sloth... you freely control it... It wouldn't be strange... to call it a miracle..."
Sloth let out a heavy breath, saying that Raon was originally a human who shouldn't be able to possess sloth.
"See for yourself..."
He pointed at Runaan, telling Raon to look.
"That's what a human... who can obtain sloth... looks like..."
Despite the important situation, Runaan was half-closing their eyes as if falling asleep again, drooling.
"Y-you're right."
Raon swallowed dryly as he watched the blinking Runaan.
"However... it would be better... if you stay... by their side..."
Sloth lowered his hand lightly.
"Why?"
"Your sloth is... much greater than... that child's..., so the closer they are... the better influence... they'll receive..."
He nodded, saying that Runaan's sloth would grow stronger the more time they spent together.
"It might be difficult to do it constantly, but I'll try to stay close as much as possible."
Raon nodded while looking at Runaan.
"Is that all then?"
"No..."
Sloth slowly raised his finger.
"The reason I called you... is because of the war... with the Archangels..."
"What do you mean?"
Raon narrowed his eyes.
"When the war... with the Archangels begins... I'll tell you how... to summon me... But before that..."
Sloth paused for a moment, slowly closing and opening his eyes.
"I want to hear... what you truly... desire..."
He lowered his chin solemnly, as if he needed to properly understand.
"What I truly desire?"
"That child will be... the medium connecting... you and me..., but still... the sloth will be... insufficient..."
"I suppose so."
"Do you want to... summon my true form... that exceeds full power... even if it consumes... your authority...? Or do you want to... keep your power and... summon me only with... the sloth connected through that child...?"
Sloth looked at Raon, saying he would ask again now that they had Runaan as a medium.
"That's a simple question."
Raon nodded with a slight smile.
"I..."
***
"I'm telling you, he's the real Demon King!"
Gold Dragon Paratheus waved both hands frantically.
"It's certain! You can't deceive the eyes of us Dragons who are tasked with protecting the middle realm!"
He shouted that Sloth was the Demon King of Sloth.
"Then what about that child?"
Warlord Yuber sighed deeply while looking at Paratheus.
"Didn't they sleep for five days straight, just like the human you claim is the Demon King?"
He shook his head, telling him to think about what was said five days ago.
"W-well, I can't explain that either..."
Paratheus averted his gaze, admitting he didn't understand that part either.
"Anyway, it's certain! Just trust me!"
He clasped his hands together, begging them to believe his words.
"Hey. Stop talking nonsense and restore the forest you destroyed."
Blade Queen Siera approached Paratheus.
"You've been lounging around for five days trying to figure out if he's a Demon King or whatever. Get to work!"
She kicked Paratheus's rear while yelling at him to move.
"Aaagh!"
Paratheus screamed as he fell to the ground.
"This body is fragile! It could break! Control your strength! You gorilla!"
He ground his teeth while looking at the Blade Queen.
"Oh?"
"Mmph..."
When the Blade Queen narrowed her eyes, Paratheus quickly shut his mouth.
"But I'm telling you, he's really the Demon King..."
However, just a few seconds later, he was moving his lips again, insisting that Sloth was the Demon King.
"Let's say, as you claim, that the human sleeping at the mountain peak is the Demon King."
The Warlord stood before Paratheus, closing and opening his eyes.
"What wrong has he done?"
He gestured with his chin, telling him to speak.
"What...?"
Paratheus furrowed his brows as if not understanding.
"I asked what wrong he has done if he is, as you say, the Demon King of Sloth. From what I saw, he only slept peacefully."
The Warlord's voice deepened.
"Rather, it was you and I who destroyed nature and frightened the monsters into attacking people."
He pointed to the devastated foothills of Mount Sterin.
"Between the Demon King of Sloth who only sleeps, and you and me who, though unintentionally, destroyed the mountain and caused people's deaths - which side seems more like a Demon King?"
The Warlord fixed him with a sharp gaze, telling him to answer.
"T-that's..."
Paratheus pressed his lips tight, unable to answer the Warlord's words.
"To be honest, I don't think that human is an ordinary being either. As you say, he might really be a Demon King. But even if he is a Demon King, I don't understand what wrong he's done that warrants death."
The Warlord lowered his eyebrows while looking at Paratheus.
"Isn't it strange when you think about it? Why must we kill a Demon King who has done nothing wrong, while leaving alone the Archangels who follow the evil Derus?"
He wrinkled his nose, saying he couldn't understand the Dragons' thinking.
"Hmm, now that you mention it..."
Paratheus cleared his throat and straightened his back.
"I don't understand why I was so determined to kill the Demon King?"
He shook his head, saying that as soon as he saw Sloth, he was filled with an unusually strong murderous intent.
"Even though I no longer need to follow the Dragons' rules..."
Paratheus scratched his cheek, as if he couldn't understand his own emotions.
"Then perhaps the Angels have implanted preconceptions in the Dragons and the continent."
Raon's voice came from behind while the Warlord and Paratheus were pondering.
"Preconceptions?"
Paratheus raised his eyebrows.
"Angels are good and righteous, while Demons are evil and sinister. This is the continent's basic concept and common sense. However, the Demons I've seen weren't purely evil beings. Similarly, the Angels weren't necessarily good and righteous beings either."
Raon twisted his lips and nodded.
"It seems the Archangels and Angels have planted concepts in this world that are advantageous to them."
Hearing Paratheus's words, he became certain. It was clear that the Archangels were the ones who planted these preconceptions about Angels and Demons in the continent, and who controlled the Dragons.
"I want to say that's nonsense, but..."
Paratheus let out a low groan while looking at Raon.
"It doesn't seem entirely impossible."
He nodded, admitting that his words made sense.
"T-then was that sleepyhead really the Demon King?"
The Blade Queen gaped while looking up at Mount Sturin.
"Yes. That's right."
Raon nodded with a faint smile.
"As Paratheus said, he's the Demon King of Sloth."
Since the Warlord seemed to have already noticed, Raon spoke honestly to gain more of his trust.
"Oh my! I'm sorry!"
The Blade Queen quickly dusted off Paratheus's rear which she had kicked earlier.
"Hick..."
Paratheus sniffled as if overcome with sadness.
"We should reexamine the continent's history. It seems certain that someone has been manipulating things."
Raon looked up at the sky with cold eyes.
"T-then are you returning to the family?"
Dorian panted as if eager to return to Zieghart.
"Yes. Everyone, please prepare to head to Zieghart."
Raon raised his hand toward the Blade Queen, the Warlord, and Paratheus.
"We are ready to follow our lord at any time."
The Warlord bowed, saying they could leave right away.
"I've already packed everything!"
The Blade Queen grinned, suggesting they depart immediately.
"I-I'm a bit scared. The Destructive King of the North is known for killing our kind..."
Paratheus swallowed dryly, saying Glenn might take his head off as soon as they meet.
"It's alright. Nothing like that will happen if you go with me."
Raon nodded with a smile.
"You all should also prepare... hm?"
It was when he turned around to tell Runaan, Evelyn, and Dorian to return.
"..."
Runaan was wrapped in a blanket, staring at the peak of Mount Sturin.
"..."
Sloth too was wrapped in a blanket, looking down below.
"..."
"..."
Runaan and Sloth turned their bodies simultaneously without a word, just like when they first met. It seemed like a greeting between beings possessing true sloth that ordinary people like him couldn't understand.
-Really showing off...
***
"Young Master!"
Yua ran to Raon and hugged him tightly.
"Did you have a good time with your grandfather?"
Raon stroked Yua's head with a gentle smile.
"Yes! I didn't even realize a month had passed already!"
Yua grinned, saying she enjoyed spending the month with her grandfather.
"Thank you."
Yua's grandfather bowed to Raon.
"Thanks to you, Lord Raon, I was able to spend joyful days with my granddaughter after so long."
He bowed, thanking Raon for always taking care of and thinking about Yua.
"I should be the one thanking you. Yua is an essential talent for the Light Wind Palace."
Raon bowed while gripping Yua's shoulders firmly.
"Did you hear that! He says the Light Wind Palace can't function without me!"
Yua lifted her chin high, seemingly pleased with Raon's praise.
"Isn't that right?"
She nodded her chin at Julius.
"Ah, ugh? Uh..."
Julius, who had been staring blankly at Yua, blushed and let out a strange exclamation as if flustered. (E/N: O-Oh yes, he was here)
"Are you leaving already?"
Milland clicked his tongue as if regretful.
"Yes. I've finished what I needed to do, so I must return."
Raon nodded with a smile.
"Now that we've resolved the issue at Mount Sturin, monster attacks should decrease from now on."
He smiled, saying they would only see monsters very rarely like before.
"Ohhh!"
"As expected of Lord Raon!"
"Everything gets solved at once when the Sword Emperor arrives!"
The Rangers and Knights cheered, saying they could finally rest.
"You foolish ones!"
Milland frowned as if displeased with their reaction.
"You become stronger by fighting! You must fight!"
He kicked the nearby Knights, saying they were pathetic.
"Lord Milland."
Raon approached the angry Milland and lowered his voice.
"As you may know, a great war that will determine the continent's fate will soon break out. Will you fight alongside us then?"
He bowed, saying that since Habun Castle at the northern end couldn't avoid the war of the Five Kings and Three Demons, he wanted to ask for their participation in advance.
"Can we fight together? That's the wrong question."
Milland shook his head firmly.
"I... No, our Habun Castle will always stand with Zieghart!"
He stomped his foot roughly and let out a roar filled with aura.
"Uooooooh!"
The Knights and Rangers erupted in even fiercer shouts, releasing fighting spirit that wouldn't lose to Milland's.
"Just seeing the atmosphere here, it feels like we've already won. Thank you."
Raon smiled and bowed respectfully.
"Enough with the unnecessary courtesy, take this instead."
Milland handed Raon an emblem with a white castle wall pattern.
"This is..."
"This means that Habun Castle supports Raon Zieghart as the successor of Zieghart."
He placed the emblem on his palm, telling Raon to show it to Glenn.
"Lord Milland..."
"I still can't forget the day you came to Habun Castle as a little one. They say a tree with deep roots doesn't sway in any storm. You've really grown well."
Milland nodded with a serious look, saying he felt proud just looking at Raon.
"...Thank you."
Raon bit his lip while looking at the Habun Castle emblem in his palm.
"If you're thankful, become an even better monarch than the current Head of House."
Milland smiled as if that would be enough.
"Though I don't know if I can..."
Raon carefully wrapped his fingers around the emblem.
"I'll do my best."
***
"This is Lady Siera, descendant of the Blade Gate and known as the Blade Queen."
Raon stood beside the Blade Queen and raised his hand respectfully.
"You remember me? How nice to meet the Destructive King of the North again."
The Blade Queen smiled brightly while waving her hand.
"This is Lord Yuber, descendant of the Sword Gate and known as the Warlord."
He moved one step aside to introduce the Warlord.
"Warlord Yuber greets the Destructive King of the North."
The Warlord clasped his hands together and bowed respectfully.
"Finally, this is Lord Paratheus, an Ancient Dragon of the Gold clan."
He stepped back while pointing to Paratheus who stood at the far left.
"I am Paratheus... sir."
Paratheus was about to speak casually but added a polite ending after seeing Glenn's gaze.
"These three have expressed their desire to join me."
Raon bowed to Glenn, who sat on the throne, saying he had received these three under his command, then straightened up. Whoosh. Something white escaped from Glenn's mouth. His expression and gaze after hearing the introduction of the Blade Queen, Warlord, and Paratheus were so bizarre they defied description.
-Y-your old man is ascending to heaven!
Wrath gestured urgently toward Glenn.
-Stop him right now!