"I vote for Sepia!"
Krein raised his hand vigorously.
"It's Master's homeland, and since we helped save Sepia from Dragon and Eden, I'm sure the Guardian will support us!"
He waved his hand, insisting that going to Sepia first was the right choice.
"The Black Market is neutral to everyone, but they'll be different with you."
Martha smiled softly, as if she could see everything clearly.
"Denning Rose. She might support us right away if you just talk to her."
She shrugged her shoulders, suggesting he should try calling her.
"There's also House Yonaan."
Burren nodded slightly.
"Since Lady Encia Yonaan is still in Zieghart, we could get her support right away if we approach her properly."
He looked toward the annex building, suggesting they should visit Ensia first.
"We shouldn't forget about the dwarves the Palace Master saved."
Trevin tapped his foot on the ground as he spoke about the dwarves.
"I heard the dwarves have dug tunnels and built a new village in Mirtan where the blacksmiths live. We could go there and get their declaration of support."
He smiled confidently, certain that both Mirtan Village and the dwarves would support Raon.
"Well, there's also my family..."
Dorian rolled his eyes while nervously rubbing his belly pouch.
"The Sephia Company is quite influential in merchant circles."
He licked his lips, saying that the Sephia Company, where he was the successor, would also follow Raon.
"We are always on our Lord's side."
"We may not have subordinates, but each of us is worth a hundred men!"
The Warlord and Blade Queen nodded, telling him to trust in them.
"If things don't work out, I'll crush the forces supporting the other side!"
The Blade Queen grinned while saying something a retired Transcendent shouldn't say.
"Even as a joke, that's a bit..."
The Warlord let out a long sigh, as if embarrassed.
"How about we start within Zieghart first?"
Mark Goetun spoke up while placing his hand on his sword.
"The Shadow Agents' Leader deeply cares for the Palace Master, and as Martha said, we also have the Wise Martial Palace."
He bowed his head, suggesting they should sort out Zieghart's internal affairs before going elsewhere.
"You knew that the Shadow Agents' Leader was looking after me?"
Raon opened his eyes wide as he looked at Mark Goetun.
'How did he know that?'
It was surprising that Mark Goetun, who was usually as dense as a brick wall, knew about this.
"What? Not just me, but everyone knows about it..."
Mark Goetun blinked, saying that Shadow Agents' Leader Chad had been too obvious about it.
"Who doesn't know about that?"
Martha snickered, suggesting only a fool wouldn't know.
"Not just the Light Wind Palace, but other factions probably know too."
Burren scratched his forehead, saying it was that obvious.
"Yes. It was just too obvious..."
Even Runaan blinked, indicating she knew everything.
"Huh..."
Raon's jaw trembled as he looked at Runaan.
'I'm less perceptive than that sleepyhead?'
-You just realized that now? You'd be better off without eyes!
Wrath ground his teeth, saying he had often felt like dying from frustration.
-Just rip them out like that sword-crazed maniac!
He snorted, saying there was no reason for his eyes to exist, just like Darkan's.
'N-no way.'
When he realized he was less perceptive than Runaan, his head started aching and his body began trembling as if he had caught the flu.
'Damn it!'
Raon looked at Runaan with an overwhelming sense of defeat.
"Is the Council of Elders difficult...?"
Runaan approached the Gambling Monster, who had his arms crossed, completely ignoring Raon's glare.
"The Council of Elders is openly neutral. Nothing would be more unsightly than those old folks supporting a single successor!"
The Gambling Monster shook his head, saying the Council of Elders wouldn't budge easily.
"So you lack the ability..."
Runaan nodded gently in understanding.
"I-it's not that I lack ability, the Council is strictly neutral! Besides, I have nothing to do with them!"
The Gambling Monster shouted at her to come to her senses.
"Yawn..."
Runaan rubbed her eyes while yawning, paying no attention to the Gambling Monster's shouting beside her.
'Is that the power of Sloth?'
Raon narrowed his eyes as he watched Runaan nodding off drowsily.
'Her growth rate has clearly accelerated.'
Perhaps because Runaan's nature aligned with the Authority of
"Wouldn't the Five Divine Orders like the White Whale and the Unyielding Blade help us too?"
"There's also the Vassal Family Arianne!"
"Plus there are many villages and kingdoms we've helped save. Including the city where the Black Tower was hidden."
"The people from Robert's territory where Derus fled might support us too."
The swordsmen smiled as they listed the names of forces they knew.
"With this many forces following the Palace Master, we could even form a kingdom, couldn't we?"
Burren let out a wry laugh, saying he hadn't realized there were this many when he counted them one by one.
"So among all these places, where will you go first?"
Martha rubbed her chin, telling him to make a decision now.
"I'll make that decision myself, so you all focus on today's cultivation."
As Raon jerked his chin, the Blade Queen and Warlord descended from the platform and stood before the Light Wind Palace Swordsmen.
"Today is Sia's rest day, so let's play all day long!"
The Blade Queen smiled coldly, promising to give them a proper workout.
"Follow me."
The Warlord jerked his chin as if no words were needed and led the swordsmen away.
"..."
Raon sat down before the now-quiet platform and licked his lips.
'Come to think of it, I should check that too.'
-That? Looks like the oblivious fool forgot something else!
Wrath snickered, seemingly having no intention of stopping his mockery once he'd started.
-Your stupidity seems to be making my intelligence deteriorate as well...
[You have achieved a legendary feat.]
[You have received recognition as a lord from the retired Transcendents.]
[You have received recognition from
[All stats increase by 100 points.]
Just as he was about to burst into mockery, previously unseen reward messages appeared.
-Urgh!
Wrath froze like a statue mid-sneer.
-T-this...
'Now that I think about it, I hadn't checked the reward messages.'
Raon tapped Wrath's head while smiling brightly.
-A h-hundred? 100 points at once?
Wrath gaped in disbelief.
-This guy didn't even do anything! He just got really lucky!
He threw a tantrum, saying he couldn't accept this. Of course, the system didn't reverse its decision.
'Shall we look at the next one?'
Ignoring the flailing Wrath, Raon called up the messages below.
[The rank of trait
[The rank of trait
[The rank of trait
[The rank of trait
[The rank of trait
[The rank of trait
[The rank of trait
[The rank of trait
Eight traits increased at once. Like the stats, it was an incredible number.
-No, seriously, what did you do to deserve eight increases! All you did was run your mouth!
Wrath screamed at the system to come to its senses. However, the trait-related messages weren't finished yet.
[The value of trait
[The value of trait
This time, it was a message saying the values of
-Huh...?
Wrath's trembling pupils elongated like a cat's.
-W-why did my Wrath increase so much! I can understand Sloth increasing after meeting Sloth, but why did Wrath increase too!
He gaped his jaw wide, saying it made no sense.
'You're right.'
Raon blinked blankly.
'Why did Wrath increase?'
As Wrath said, it was understandable that Sloth increased due to Sloth's influence, but it was strange that Wrath increased as well.
'Well, it's a good thing. Let's move on.'
Raon grinned as he dismissed the reward messages.
-Can't move on...
Wrath shook his head, his jaw trembling.
-This time I absolutely can't let it go!
He released his Wrath, saying he really couldn't stand it.
-You stupid system! Come out right now! I'm better looking and prettier!
'That makes no sense. As if the system would give rewards based on looks...'
Just as Raon was shaking his head in exasperation.
[Strength increases by 1 point.]
The system increased strength by one point, as if agreeing with that statement.
-See! The system is doing this because it saw your face!
Wrath ground his teeth, claiming he'd finally found the answer.
"Huh..."
Raon blinked blankly while staring into space.
'Was it really judging based on looks?'
***
Whoosh! A golden dimension opened in the center of the audience chamber at Glenn's weighty gesture.
"You can take eight treasures from Zieghart's treasury."
He nodded, saying that since he was given eight chances, he could take eight treasures.
"Don't be greedy, only take what you truly need."
"I'll keep that in mind."
Raon bowed to Glenn and entered the golden dimension. Whoosh! As his body floated up, cold energy soaked his skin. As he slowly opened his eyes, he saw the treasury's landscape stretching endlessly like a continent.
Supreme elixirs, noted swords that hadn't lost their luster despite hundreds of years, dazzling artifacts, and antiqued martial arts manuals each emanated their unique aura as if welcoming him.
-Why bother gathering things? Just ask the system for what you need.
Wrath wrinkled his nose, telling him to save his energy and just talk to the system. He seemed thoroughly upset.
'Still angry? What kind of demon king holds a grudge for so long?'
-Shut up! You don't know because you haven't experienced it yourself!
Wrath ground his teeth, saying Raon would have to experience it himself to understand this indignity.
'Sorry, but that's not likely to happen.'
Raon pushed aside the sulking Wrath with his foot and headed to where the elixirs were kept.
'Surprisingly many left? No, were they restocked?'
He had thought all the good items were gone since many martial artists could access the treasury after the war with the White Blood Religion, but the elixirs were fully stocked, suggesting Glenn might have replenished them.
'That's grandfather for you.'
Thinking of Glenn's face, Raon picked up four supreme elixirs that could help not only with aura enhancement but also recovery.
'Next...'
Since his original gloves and boots were torn in the last war, he examined the equipment.
'This should work.'
Though they had no special abilities, he picked up sturdy and durable gloves and boots that could withstand even Astral Rings.
-Now you'll go look at the martial arts manuals.
Wrath snorted, saying it was obvious.
'You know me well.'
Raon smiled as he headed toward the circular bookshelf filled with countless books.
'I wonder if there's a martial arts manual I need?'
He placed his hand on the center of the bookshelf like when he obtained the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation, but this time nothing happened.
'Does this mean there's nothing lacking in my current martial arts?'
Or perhaps it meant he should search for himself. More likely the latter. Having grown older and stronger, it seemed to suggest he should figure things out on his own.
'Alright.'
Raon smiled faintly as he looked around the bookshelf.
'Not bad, but nothing really draws me in.'
He examined the supreme martial arts manuals, but nothing particularly caught his interest. In truth, he had already mastered so many martial arts that he didn't need more swordsmanship manuals, and it would be better not to learn mediocre techniques.
'I'll just take two artifacts instead... Hm?'
As he was about to turn away while licking his lips, he noticed a book titled
'What's this?'
Feeling a strange resonance, he opened the book titled
'It's similar to the Soul Sword manual I received from grandfather?'
The handwriting and writing style were similar to the book Glenn had given him to help with Soul Sword, but the content was opposite to that book.
'This could be interesting.'
Let's take this. Though it might be a bit of a waste of an opportunity, he trusted the resonance in his heart and took the martial arts manual.
'Finally, which artifact should I choose?'
He licked his lips as he looked at the glass windows where artifacts were lined up like jewelry displays.
'There must still be something good left...'
Since artifacts each had different functions, what might be trash to one person could be immensely powerful to another. If he searched well, he might find something that could greatly help in future battles.
'Don't need this, this one's not great either, this... Ah! If I had this...'
Raon's eyes blazed like flames as he licked his lips.
'It would be right to start there, wouldn't it?'
***
"Four supreme elixirs, Villaten's glove and boot set, and
Glenn nodded after checking the items Raon brought from the treasury.
"I've confirmed all eight items."
He returned the submitted treasures, telling him to take them back.
"It's surprising not only that you brought out eight items at once, but also that that item was there."
Glenn lowered his eyebrows as he looked at Raon's hand, as if wondering what he was thinking.
"It's preparation to properly take the second successor candidate test."
Raon smiled, saying he took all eight items for the test.
"I know. That's why you came for the reward."
Glenn nodded, saying he naturally knew that.
"So where will you go?"
"Actually, before entering the treasury today, I couldn't decide where to go first."
He lifted up a leaf-shaped ocarina.
"But this artifact has shown me the way. I..."
Raon smiled faintly while lightly tapping the ocarina and the Wooden Ring Sword.
"I plan to go to Sepia first."