Chapter 491

Raon rolled his lips into a smile while watching the Demonblade, whose hands were shivering intensely.

'There's no reason for me to do that.'

He would've gladly accepted the lesson if it was from a proper warrior, but the Demonblade's mind was completely dark. The lesson was definitely a poisoned apple.

'He might try to assassinate me or plant something evil in my mind.'

The world of martial arts was intricate. There's no reason to have a match with him when he could use some demonic trick just like his name implied.

Moreover, he could clearly see why the Demonblade was using that petty trick.

"Wooow!"

"White Sword Dragon! White Sword Dragon! White Sword Dragon!"

"Demonblade! Demonblade! Demonblade!"

It felt like the ground was shaking from the cheers of the spectators around him, and that must've been why the Demonblade believed that Raon wouldn't be able to refuse his nonsense.

'It's not a bad move, but… I don't care about people's gazes.'

Zieghart and the Light Wind division's reputation was about to pierce through the sky from defeating all four disciples of the Five Divine Orders.

Since he'd gained more than enough fame, he didn't really care even if it decreased a little.

"Why did the White Sword dragon refuse the Demonblade's offer?"

"I know, right? Wasn't it an extremely advantageous deal?"

"I wonder if there was a problem between them."

"There's no way the White Sword Dragon refused it for no reason. He's such an extraordinary person, after all."

"That's true. The Demonblade must've been the issue."

Because of the might, confidence, and previous righteousness he'd displayed, not many spectators doubted him even though he refused the Demonblade's offer.

'This is how you make a mess.'

The real mess involved causing extreme irritation to the target while looking perfectly normal to others.

Raon could proudly say that the mess he'd made was flawless.

"I-if you are worried about what happened before, I was just overreacting. Don't be like that. Won't you reconsider? It must be a great opportunity for you!"

The Demonblade briefly shook his head and extended his hand.

"I don't need that great opportunity."

"Ugh, but the spectators are looking forward to it!"

He pointed at the spectators, who were still cheering, and mumbled that Raon shouldn't ignore them. His impatience could be seen on his face.

Raon raised his right hand and clenched it into a fist, and it made the spectators fall silent.

"When you said what happened before, were you talking about the way you looked down on Zieghart?"

"Wh-when did I ever look do—?"

"I don't mind it. I've already forgotten about it."

Raon cut the Demonblade off before he could finish his sentence, turning it into an undeniable truth.

"Wh-what?"

"Did the Demonblade look down on Zieghart?"

"Ah, that's why he refused the offer."

The spectators accepted it as a truth and leered at the Demonblade.

"Argh, you are talking nonsense once aga—"

"However, that's not the reason I refused the lesson."

Raon cut the Demonblade off once again and shook his head.

"I'd like to reach the realm of Grandmaster with my own strength—without being helped by someone else. A warrior should destroy the wall in front of him by himself."

As soon as his voice faded, a deep exclamation thundered across the training ground.

"Wow…"

"Is the White Sword Dragon really twenty-one years old?"

"His way of thinking is even more surprising than his might."

"I was wondering how he reached the highest-level Master at his age, and it was because he has that kind of conviction."

"A real rising star has appeared in Zieghart."

The spectators nodded, impressed by Raon's conviction. Everyone murmured that his way of thinking was how warriors should think.

"And…"

Raon took another step towards the Demonblade. He created an aura barrier to stop the sound from going out and smiled at him.

"You aren't even good at teaching. Did you already forget that your disciple couldn't even last three moves?"

It was four moves.

'The foot doesn't count.'

Raon pushed Wrath away and shook his hand while telling the Demonblade that he wasn't qualified to teach him. The other spectators couldn't even see the movement of his lips because of his hand.

"You punk!"

The Demonblade ground his teeth and raised his hand. Just as a tremendous amount of energy was about to burst out from it for an attack, the Thespian Emperor stood in his way.

"Thespian Emperor!"

"Please stand back."

The Thespian Emperor shook her head while pushing the Demonblade away in his irritation. She was telling him to withdraw because the flow was already lost.

Raon looked at the Thespian Emperor. Her slightly trembling eyebrows showed her irritation.

'It looks like the lesson was the Demonblade's idea.'

It was similar to the Thespian Emperor's method, but it was a lot shabbier. It was more likely that the Demonblade came up with it, considering his impatient and simple-minded personality.

"Once again, congratulations."

The Thespian Emperor forcibly maintained her composure and gave Raon the two boxes that she'd been holding.

Raon opened the first box. Lavasiri's Heart was emanating an intense heat—as if it were still alive.

'It's the real thing. And…'

He raised the lid of the second box. Extreme coldness engulfed his finger alongside a creaking sound.

The frozen energy was coming from the blue apple inside the box.

"It's the Millennial Frost Flower."

The Thespian Emperor twisted her lips while saying that it should be good enough to be taken alongside Lavasiri's Heart.

"Hmm…"

Raon bobbed his finger towards the area under the arena.

"Yes!"

Dorian was rubbing the part he'd gotten hit during his match, briskly standing up upon seeing his signal before entering the arena.

Raon created an aura barrier and quietly spoke with Dorian before he nodded.

"Lady Ariel, I'm sorry to say this…"

Raon walked up to the Thespian Emperor and lowered his voice like a whisper.

"It doesn't seem to be the right reward."

"What do you mean by that?"

The Thespian Emperor furrowed her brow.

"I definitely heard that the reward was going to be an elixir of coldness at a similar rank as Lavasiri's Heart, but he says that this isn't that good."

"Ehh…"

Raon pointed at Dorian as he spoke. Dorian widened his eyes like a surprised herbivore.

"Hmm."

The Thespian Emperor's eyes rapidly rolled towards Dorian.

"Who is he…?"

"He is the quartermaster of the Light Wind division, and the successor of the Sephia Company."

Raon smiled faintly while revealing Dorian's identity.

"Sephia…"

The Thespian Emperor swallowed nervously as soon as she heard about Dorian's identity.

"Sephia's successor says that fire elixirs are rather expensive nowadays, and this Millennial Frost Flower isn't as worthy. What do you think about that?"

Raon lowered Lavasiri's Heart in one hand and raised the Millennial Frost Flower on the other hand as if his hands were a scale.

"I heard that the Sephia Company has recently spread their wings…"

"Yes, I also heard that they are one of the top three companies nowadays."

"It must be true if their successor said that."

Dorian's status had worked on the spectators, and they started to think that the Millennial Frost Flower wasn't enough.

"Ugh…"

Three lines were drawn on the Thespian Emperor's forehead. Her neck trembled violently before she opened her subspace once again and handed over a blue bead.

"It's an elixir called the Radiant Purity Pill. This should be enough, as its coldness doesn't lose to the Millennial Frost Flower."

Every single word she spoke sounded like she was growling while grinding her teeth as she gave away the Radiant Purity Pill.

"Thank you. That's so generous of you."

Raon smiled cheerfully and nodded. He opened the lids of the three boxes and lifted them towards the spectators.

"Whoaaa!"

"Raon! Raon! Raon! Raon!"

"Light Wind division! Light Wind division! Light Wind division!"

"This is the Six Kings! The Five Divine Orders aren't a big deal!"

The spectators completely forgot about the Demonblade trying to call him a coward and kept shouting Raon and the Light Wind division's names.

Raon gave the elixir boxes to Dorian and bowed to the Thespian Emperor.

"Thank you for inviting us and giving me so many gifts."

"…You're welcome. You've earned them, after all."

"I had a fun time."

The Thespian Emperor's face turned visibly pale as Raon declared that he had fun. The anger she'd been suppressing seemed to be erupting.

'Well, that's normal.'

Her uncontrollable rage was unavoidable since he'd snatched the fame and the elixirs that they'd prepared for their disciples through the fighting contest.

"Hey! It was an excellent match!"

Raon could hear the Demon Slaying Spear shouting from above the platform. He wasn't right in the head either, considering how much he was cheering even though his disciple was thoroughly beaten up.

The Queen of Swords next to him was still looking down with an incomprehensible expression on her face.

Raon looked at the Demonblade. He was biting his lip with a pale face.

"Thank you for your work, Demonblade."

Raon raised his chin towards the Demonblade and sneered.

"Grr…"

The Demonblade's hand slowly approached his waist. However, it came to a halt before it reached his sword and didn't move anymore.

'He's not attacking. How unfortunate.'

Raon was thinking that the Demonblade might start attacking because he was mentally unstable despite his excellent might, but he was unfortunately not stupid enough for that.

Raon nodded at the Thespian Emperor and the Demonblade before leaving the arena.

"Ugh…"

Dorian was left behind, drenched in cold sweat as he shoved the elixir boxes into his belly pocket.

"I only told him that I don't know those elixirs, but why…?"

The Thespian Emperor's face turned completely red as she heard Dorian's murmur. She violently ground her teeth while looking at Raon, who was already under the arena.

'Seriously, that bastard!'

Are you really human?

Wrath gasped while glancing behind him.

Don't you have one of those scammers from heaven as your ancestor? How did you come up with that scam in that situation?!

His thick chin was trembling as he asked how Raon even thought about using Dorian's name in that situation.

'I was just lucky.'

Raon smiled faintly. He'd decided to try it out because he remembered Dorian's status when he was calling on him to store the elixir, and it just happened to work. He didn't have anything else to say because he'd just gotten lucky.

Thinking about the Thespian Emperor's reddening face brought a smile to his face.

Raon went towards the temporary medical ward while feeling refreshed in his heart.

Runaan and Martha were still lying unconscious. Raon examined them through his aura perception and could tell that their serious injuries had already healed.

Ice Cream Girl and Beef Girl are both okay.

Wrath nodded after he examined Martha and Runaan. Raon felt relieved since he was trustworthy when it came to that kind of thing.

However, it shall take some time until Beef Girl wakes up.

'Why?'

She's suddenly surpassed her realm. She needs some time to put it together for herself.

'I guess I was the same.'

Raon nodded. After all, he'd also experienced the same thing.

'I never expected to see this thug become a Master.'

Raon smiled faintly while looking at Martha. She'd picked a fight like a punk at the very first encounter, yet she'd learned to cherish her companions and had become a Master. That fact felt curious and overwhelmed him with joy at the same time.

Raon looked at Runaan, who was sleeping soundly.

'The same goes for her.'

Just like Martha, Runaan couldn't get along with people.

She used to fear blood because of Syria's brainwashing, yet she had grown up so much, and she even learned techniques aimed at protecting her companions. Raon felt proud of her.

You are the same.

'Me?'

You also used to be a misfit, unable to get along with humans.

'That's true.'

Raon nodded peacefully while looking at Wrath.

'I've got to learn a bit more about what it is to be a human.'

Because he'd been a brainwashed assassin in his previous life, he didn't know why family, friends, and companions were precious. He'd believed that it was just a meaningless illusion.

However, his opinion had changed during his new life.

Sylvia and the annex building's maids had taught him what it meant to be a family, and the Light Wind division had taught him how precious friends and companions were.

Raon wanted to be even nicer to them in the future because all of them were precious people to him.

Raon smiled gently and left the medical ward.

"Whoaaa!"

"Raon! Good job!"

"Vice division leader, you were literally the sword god!"

"Raon, damn handsome! Raon, damn handsome!"

The Light Wind swordsmen applauded him while shouting that he was amazing.

"You know that, right?"

Raon raised his chin while looking at the Light Wind division.

"You aren't the ones who won. I'm the one who won."

The Light Wind division's faces turned pale upon hearing that.

"Your pathetic behavior left me no choice but to act."

"B-but all of them were Masters. What could we even do…?"

"Focus enhancement training is waiting for all of you as soon as we return."

Raon shook his hand and pointed at the Light Wind division.

"Hey! I didn't even get to fight!"

Burren's eyes widened.

"Did anyone tell you to not fight?"

"You did!"

"Anyway, prepare to return."

Raon ignored his claim and turned around.

What…?

Wrath's jaw dropped as he watched the Light Wind division's desperate state.

You just said that you would be nicer to them! Why are you breaking your resolve in less than ten seconds?! You crazy bastard!

* * *

After Raon ordered the Light Wind division to return to the lodgings and wait there, he looked to his right.

A red-haired elf sitting on a temporary table was counting the gold coins piled up on the ground while drooling from his mouth.

Raon quietly sighed and walked up to Rimmer.

"Did you win a lot?"

"Huh? Oh! Welcome, god of fortune."

Rimmer grinned while carrying the sack full of gold on his shoulder. His radiant face revealed his pleasure from becoming a nouveau riche again after a while.

"Seeing you fills me up more than any meal could!"

He patted Raon's shoulder while praising him.

"It was getting more and more difficult to make a profit as you got famous, but I'm glad you came up with that idea of a three-on-one match!"

Rimmer grinned while saying that he'd earned more than eight times the original sum.

"Can you give the godly tablet back?"

Raon pointed at Zieghart's emblem on Rimmer's chest.

"Oh, yes."

He grinned and took off the godly tablet, which was proof of who the representative was, and returned it to him. Raon checked it out just in case, and it wasn't a fake.

"I wouldn't lie to you about it since I made so much money."

Rimmer shook his hand, telling him to not worry about it.

Raon's hand was still extended even though he'd already gotten the tablet.

"Hmm? What's up?"

"You also need to pay your tribute."

"Tr-tribute?"

"Since you took advantage of my name, you should pay the price for my name."

He bobbed his finger at the gold sack on Rimmer's shoulder.

"You are going to lose it all anyway."

"Wow, you are so ruthless. I've seen all kinds of people before, but I've never seen anyone like you!"

"Same goes for me. I've never seen an elf like you before, division leader."

"Haa!"

Rimmer sighed and took out the money from the gold sack.

Raon narrowed his eyes while accepting Rimmer's gold coins.

'This is still strange.'

Rimmer normally didn't give away money so easily.

His behavior was awkward because he was immediately giving it away when he should've been pleading for it.

'Most importantly… I can still feel his wrath.'

Rimmer's mind was still unstable even though he'd won so much money. Raon could feel a sticky wrath in his heart.

'Wrath.'

You are right. He is still burning with wrath.

Wrath nodded and confirmed his suspicion.

"Division leader."

Raon walked up to Rimmer and briefly licked his lips.

"Hey, let me have some, too. If you take any more than this…"

"Have you ever heard of the saying, sharing happiness doubles it while sharing sadness halves it?"

"Well, I did…"

He widened his eyes in surprise at the sudden statement.

"I felt even better when the Light Wind division congratulated me than when I won the match. I realized that the saying was true when that happened."

Raon smiled faintly and looked at Rimmer.

"I know I'm still not trustworthy enough, but sharing the sadness should halve it. Please tell me if you have anything to discuss with me—any time at all."

Raon bowed at him and left the spectator seats.

Did you really grill those poor people when you were in a good mood? You must seriously have a problem with your head. Get yourself checked…

'Shut up.'

Raon pushed Wrath away as he shouted about how a human being could be scolded for his personality by a demon king and left the training ground.

[You seriously got lucky with your disciple.]

Rimmer nodded peacefully while listening to Sheryl's aura message.

"…Yes. He is too good for me."