Chapter 468 |
The purple sky at daybreak was wavering like a curtain above the fifth training ground.
Raon unsheathed Heavenly Drive at the center of the training ground. The silver blade quietly made its appearance and soared to pierce the sky.
A downward slash followed. Even though there was no strength in the strike, a thick line formed on the training ground floor alongside a powerful shockwave.
He tightened his lips and slashed once again. The trace of the second strike was shallower than the first one.
Raon didn’t seem satisfied with it either and kept repeating vertical slashes over and over again.
The trace, as thick as a knuckle at first, became thinner and thinner and eventually became a line as thin as a hair.
Raon continued to slash after that, but no other trace ever appeared.
The reason was simple.
The vertical slashes were falling at exactly the same power and speed, causing it to never exceed the last trace it made.
‘It’s finally getting decent.’
He couldn’t control his strength at first because of the increased stats and aura, but he finally managed to get used to his improved body and aura after practicing his basic swing over a hundred times.
He had tried various methods, but the basic techniques were the best when it came to getting used to the changes in his body.
Tsk tsk.
Wrath clicked his tongue at his pathetic demeanor.
You try so hard every time you gain stats. Don’t you get tired of it?
He murmured that humans were truly a shabby race.
‘I told you before.’
Raon sighed briefly while lowering Heavenly Drive.
‘This small difference decides life and death during a real battle.’
Raon pointed at the thick trace that he’d created at first and the last trace, which was as thin as a thread.
‘It’s always useful to practice control of body and aura.’
Having a stronger body and aura wasn’t always advantageous.
If he didn’t have perfect control of it, the improvement could become his downfall instead.
Once you become a demon king, you will get used to it right away without a trivial practice like that.
‘Demon king?’
Indeed. Whenever you get stronger, the body gets used to it by itself without needing to practice.
Wrath opened and closed his mouth like a goldfish, asking Raon if he wanted to try becoming a demon king.
‘Keep it to yourself.’
Raon shook his head firmly.
Ugh…
‘What do you even want me to do? You sometimes tell me that I’m going to burn up the entirety of Devildom, but you want me to become a demon king other times.’
About that…
Wrath rolled his round eyes.
Devildom will be ruined once you get there, but he wants the others to experience his pain…
Wrath murmured that he didn’t want Devildom to be ruined, but he wanted Raon to scam all of the other arrogant demon kings and demons.
‘So you don’t want to be the only one to suffer? Seriously…’
It was difficult to believe he was the monarch of wrath because of how petty he was.
That’s not what he means! The King of Essence just wants to set an example for Devildom’s fledglings…
‘Whatever.’
Raon slapped Wrath away as he kept complaining and practiced the Fangs of Insanity, the Blizzard Sword Art, and the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation’s techniques one after the other before he raised his gaze.
The night sky with its shining stars had subsided, and the sun had already risen.
‘Then, to finish…’
He raised Heavenly Drive above his head. He pointed his blade to the sky and mustered the power of his soul.
Whir!
The pillar connecting his body to his soul started to furiously vibrate. The aura dwelling in Heavenly Drive spread around the training ground and created a huge flow.
‘I’ll sever the sky.’
The will incorporated on the reddened blade was even more vivid than his aura as he slashed down with his sword.
The recoil rushing through his wrist felt like he was cutting through flowing water with a club, but Raon didn’t stop his swing.
Wham!
The entire training ground was engulfed in a majestic and heavy pressure as the power of his soul on the blade and his will to slash combined into one.
It only lasted for a moment, but the Azure Sky Sword’s first technique, the Great Bind of the Heavy Sky, had managed to dominate the space itself.
“Haa…”
Raon sighed while wiping the sweat flowing from his forehead.
‘There’s too much of a difference.’
He didn’t sweat at all when he’d used all of his techniques up to the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation, but his entire body was growing exhausted from a single swing of the Azure Sword Sky.
That must’ve been the difference between a technique that incorporated the will versus one that did not.
‘It’s powerful enough to make up for it, though.’
The power wasn’t the only advantage of the Azure Sky Sword.
It was an extremely advanced technique that suppressed the enemy by dominating the sky. The drastic consumption of stamina and willpower was a natural price to pay.
‘Can the Grandmasters use a technique like this as easily as a basic technique?’
He felt like he could understand why Grandmasters were treated as natural disasters.
As you get higher, you won’t be able to survive if you can’t incorporate your will into your ability. You will only get crushed if you can’t achieve it.
Wrath nodded, saying that it was simply obvious.
Moreover, incorporating the will isn’t the only difficulty of the technique you are learning. Since it consists of devouring the space, it should help you acquire the boundary of the sword.
Wrath licked his lips while telling him that the Azure Sky Sword would carve him the path towards becoming a Grandmaster, and even influence his Sword Field Creation.
‘Now that I think about it…’
Wrath wasn’t the first one to mention it. Glenn had also said it before.
‘Sword Field Creation, huh?’
Since the seeds in his mental world had begun to sprout, it was about time for him to start thinking about the Sword Field Creation.
‘Which attribute should I focus on?’
What he had was swordsmanship, fire, coldness, and the shadow that he’d inherited from the previous life.
It was impossible to incorporate all four of them into a single sword field. The vessel was bound to break.
‘Only one, or maybe two…’
He was pondering about the sword field he would create in the future when the training ground’s door opened and Dorian made his entrance.
“Vice division leader! Let’s go!”
He waved his hand, urging him to come.
“Where?”
“What? You said you had something important to do today! You asked me to come early in the morning!”
Dorian yelled because Raon was feigning ignorance when he was the one who’d called him.
“Oh, right.”
Your personality is so bad…
Wrath shook his head.
‘It’s your fault.’
Raon went to Dorian and apologized.
“By the way, what’s that important matter that requires me?”
“You like children, right?”
“I do!”
Dorian replied brightly.
“That’s good. Follow me.”
“Ehh?”
Raon left the training ground with Dorian, who was making a dumb face.
Please, please! Gods of heaven and earth!
Raon headed to the ice cream shop with the demon king, who was praying to the gods of heaven and earth instead of the demon god.
Hell yeaaaah!
Wrath roared while covering his head.
He’s finally here! Gods of heaven and earth! He’ll definitely repay this favor!
He gathered his hands and prayed while murmuring that he was going to serve a different god now. He was truly a faithless believer.
“Ice cream? Are you sure we came to the right place?”
Dorian asked with round eyes.
“Yes.”
“But why would you need me he—?”
“I really need you. Let’s enter for now.”
Raon pushed Dorian’s back and entered the ice cream shop.
“Welco—Gasp!”
The manager’s jaw dropped. His mustache was as noticeable as always.
“Sir Raon? Sir Raon! Welcome!”
He jumped out from behind the counter and extended his trembling hands.
“Why didn’t you visit us for such a long time?!”
The manager lowered his eyebrows while saying that he was so sad because Raon didn’t come to the shop.
You bastard!
Wrath leaped at the speed of light and grabbed the manager by his collar.
It’s your fault for missing every single time! Stop getting involved in society and stay in the shop!
Wrath yelled at him to stop saying bullshit when it was his fault for drinking and going to hurl insults, blaming his lack of motivation to work.
“Actually, I’ve been getting news on Sir Raon all along. I was at the arena during the sword duel against the White Lotus division leader, and I even hurled insults at the Thespian Emperor’s back!”
The manager nodded, saying that his everyday life was refreshing thanks to Raon.
“That’s why! As a special privilege! I’m going to grant Sir Raon a special right to use our shop for free! Please choose anything you want!”
He spread his arms and shouted to pick whichever ice cream he wanted.
“Are you serious?”
Raon licked his lips while looking at the ice cream behind the manager.
“Of course! I’m not a man who goes back on his word! I promise on this mustache!”
He tapped on his neatly trimmed mustache.
“Just tell me what you want.”
“Well, in that case…”
Raon raised his head with a smile.
“I want them all.”
“Sorry?”
“I want all the ice cream in this shop.”
“So, erm…”
The manager quickly blinked while doubting his ears.
“You heard me right. I want you to package all the ice cream in the shop for me.”
Raon wasn’t bullying him. He’d brought Dorian to the shop with the intention of buying all of the ice cream in the shop to begin with.
Wahahaha!
Wrath laughed happily while watching the manager, who even stopped breathing from the panic.
Serves you right! That’s why you shouldn’t have left the shop empty! Stop getting involved in society!
He even started to dance on the manager’s head.
“Er-erm, actually… ehh…”
Raon smiled at the manager, who couldn’t finish his sentence.
“Don’t worry. You don’t need to give them to me for free.”
He placed the gold coins on the counter as he spoke. Of course, there was enough to pay for all of the ice cream.
“O-oh my! You didn’t need to pay!”
The manager smiled awkwardly and hurriedly took the gold coins. His movement was even faster than a powerful swordsman.
“I’ll… I’ll package them right away.”
He told Raon to wait for a moment and started to take out the ice cream and the containers.
“Dorian.”
“I understand now why I was called.”
Dorian sighed and stepped forward.
“I’m just a carrier… Was this the important matter you mentioned?”
“This is an important job. You are the only person who can transport all of the ice cream to the annex building without letting it melt.”
“To the annex building? But isn’t this still too mu—?”
“There are children there.”
Dorian’s eyes sparkled upon hearing about the children.
Since he was with Raon when he saved the children at the orphanage founded by Derus, Dorian immediately realized which children he was talking about.
“Don’t you want to see the children’s happy faces? They are all going to praise you.”
“Oh! Indeed! This is important!”
Dorian nodded and started to take the ice cream and containers himself.
You really have a demonic tongue.
Wrath exclaimed at the frightening sight.
The King of Essence will never be deceived by you!
He was already being deceived, but Raon just let him believe whatever he wanted.
“Haa…”
The manager wiped his cold sweat from his forehead after he took out the ice cream, containers, and even the giveaways.
“Thank you! I’ll be rooting for you for the rest of my life!”
He bowed, saying that he would serve Raon as his VIP in the future.
“It’s fine, but…”
Raon pointed at the manager’s mustache with a smile on his face.
“You are going to shave that, right?”
“Sorry?”
“You said earlier that you promised on that mustache.”
“Oh…”
The manager’s mustache anxiously trembled.
“I’ll be looking forward to seeing a clean area below your nose the next time I come here.”
Raon waved his hand and left the shop.
“Wow, your personality…”
Is literally that of a fiend…
Dorian and Wrath murmured at the same time that he had the worst personality.
“Well, that’s what he promised.”
Raon shrugged his shoulders and was about to return to the annex building when he noticed a familiar face on the opposite side.
“Runaan?”
Runaan walked towards him. Her eyes were clearer than usual.
“What brought you here at this hour?”
Runaan usually never got out of bed on her days off. That was why it felt like a mystery that she was there so early in the morning.
“I came to buy ice cream.”
Runaan raised her round sloth wallet. Her sparkling eyes revealed her anticipation.
‘I thought it might be the case, but it was true.’
Ice cream and training were the only reasons for Runaan to wake up early in the morning. As he had guessed, she was there to buy some ice cream.
“Wanna come with me? I’ll pay for you.”
She shook her wallet, saying that she had lots of money on her.
“Hmm, no thanks.”
Raon slowly shook his head.
“Okay.”
Runaan nodded and ran towards the ice cream shop.
And…
“Kyaaaah!”
Raon heard Runaan’s scream for the first time.
* * *
* * *
Thirty-three bead ice cream boxes were lined up in the annex building’s garden.
Raon spread frost on the ground to prevent the ice cream from melting, and the children entered the garden.
“Wow!”
“Ice cream!”
“There are so many flavors!”
The children, including Pine, smiled brightly and ran towards the ice cream boxes.
Raon smiled faintly while watching the children, who bowed politely before going towards the ice cream.
‘They are a lot brighter than before.’
Since they had been trained as assassins for a long time, they barely showed any emotions when they first arrived in the annex building.
However, thanks to Federick’s treatment and the affection from the annex building residents they had become as cheerful as other children their age.
Whoaaa!
Wrath shouted while wagging his tail. He seemed even happier than the children.
Hurry up! Scoop it for the King of Essence first! Quick!
‘You are at the same mental age as the children.’
Raon laughed bitterly because Wrath was rampaging in happiness.
“Dorian!”
“Mr. Dorian!”
“Hi there! Get in a line!”
Since Dorian had been frequently meeting the children, he scooped the ice cream into their cups with a friendly smile.
“Line up.”
Runaan had followed after hearing the story and was distributing the ice cream to the children. However, she seemed to be eating more for herself than what she was giving away.
‘I wish she would distribute first before starting to eat.’
Raon laughed at the ridiculous sight, and Wrath started to slam his shoulder like a drum.
What are you waiting for? Start eating already you bastard!
‘There is enough ice cream anyway. We will still have plenty to eat after.’
What are you talking about?! Babies are pretty much Gluttony when it comes to ice cream!
He shook his finger while saying that nothing would be left if he was too slow.
‘Okay, okay. You want the mint chocolate, right?’
You finally understand the good stuff!
‘There’s no way I wouldn’t, since you’ve been yelling about it for the entire month.’
Raon scooped two cups of ice cream and gave one of them to Saint Federick.
“Dear saint, would you like to have some?”
“Thank you.”
Federick was kindly watching the children and gently nodded, accepting the offer.
“You had a nice idea.”
He smiled and praised Raon for coming up with the event.
“It’s nice to have something like this once in a while.”
Raon smiled faintly and put the mint chocolate in his mouth.
The minty flavor that he still couldn’t get used to and the slight sweetness stimulated his tongue at the same time.
Mmmm!
Wrath covered his head like a madman and went limp on Raon’s shoulder.
Yes! This is real mint chocolate and real ice cream! Screw Nadine bread!
He murmured that he could die peacefully with teary eyes.
‘But no one seems to like it except for you.’
The children were gathered around the simple flavors—like chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla. The only person eating the mint chocolate was Runaan.
Hmph! They don’t understand delicacies because they are too young!
Wrath wrinkled his nose, saying that the children had poor taste because they were still too young.
‘I see.’
‘You are even younger than them in mental age, though.’
Raon suppressed the urge to voice that thought and poured the remaining mint chocolate ice cream into his mouth.
‘What’s next?’
Mint chocolate.
‘But you already had it though.’
Mint chocolate is limitless!
‘I should’ve kept the same cup.’
Raon licked his lips and scooped mint chocolate into a new cup.
He returned to his seat and was about to eat when two huge white horses came from the direction of the main building, pulling a golden carriage behind them.
Roenn was sitting in the driver’s seat, and he waved his hand with a gentle smile.
The children were still eating the ice cream without noticing him, but Sylvia and the maids straightened their backs with trembling hands.
The carriage stopped in front of the garden, and the elegant door opened up along with a heavy sound.
Whir!
Glenn Zieghart left the carriage. His presence alone seemed to freeze the air around them.
“Gr-greetings, my lord!”
Starting with Sylvia, every single maid from the annex building went to their knees and lowered their heads.
“Err…”
The children holding the ice cream were the only ones who were still standing, blank expressions on their faces.
“You don’t need to kneel.”
Glenn watched the children and shook his hand.
“Stand up, everyone.”
“Yes!”
Sylvia and the maids stood up while straightening their dresses.
“I must be disturbing a fun time.”
“N-not at all.”
Sylvia firmly shook her head.
“I’m just dropping by because I have something to give you. Don’t be so nervous.”
Glenn snapped his fingers, and a golden dimension opened up in the sky above the garden.
Golden ingots, gems, elixirs, and equipment emerged in great quantities from the diamond-shaped gap.
It seemed to be the Thespian Emperor’s assets that he’d promised to send the day before, but the quantity was more than expected. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that it was overflowing.
“This is the promised reward.”
“Gasp!”
“Ah…”
“Wow…”
Sylvia and the maids dropped their jaws while looking at Raon and the shiny gold treasures.
Their eyes were filled with surprise and pride.
‘Hmm…’
Raon was planning to hide the fact that he got the reward precisely because what was happening was embarrassing for him, but it wasn’t a bad feeling to see their cheeks flushed with happiness.
“It was an interesting amusement that I haven’t seen for a while. These are the rewards for that, so feel free to take them.”
Glenn took his hand off, as if he were telling Raon that he wasn’t allowed to refuse. His heart throbbed because he had never been complimented like that before.
“Thank you.”
“I’m off now.”
Glenn turned around after telling him to enjoy the rest of the event.
He seemed to be planning to leave just like that, but his eyes seemed melancholic at the last moment for some reason.
“Hmm…”
Raon found Yua as he rolled his eyes, wondering what he should do. Her smile reminded him of what happened before, and he immediately extended his hand holding the ice cream.
“My lord, would you like some ice crea—Ah!”
Raon looked at the bead ice cream’s color with trembling eyes because he realized it too late.
It was mint chocolate, of all flavors.