Raon bit his lip as he watched the playful Rimmer.
'This is driving me crazy....'
If I were alone, I wouldn't mind risking my life to confront Roman, but now there were many people I had to protect.
Roman was willing to leave on his own, so I couldn't understand why he was suddenly picking a fight.
-And that...
Wrath grinned, clutching his reddened face.
-He became a ball, didn't he? If he went from a king to a ball, should we consider that a promotion?
'Promotion my ass!'
It's the worst nickname ever!
The fact that he was nicknamed "Ball" was so shocking that it would definitely affect Roman's reputation. He wouldn't just let it slide.
"..."
Roman revealed a chilling gaze as if he was about to snap Rimmer's neck right then and there.
"You'll die because of that mouth of yours someday."
"Oh. Yeah. I'll die, and you'll be a ball... huh!"
Raon stepped forward using the Supreme Harmony Steps and covered Rimmer's mouth.
"Please shut your mouth. I beg you."
He pinned Rimmer's waist with his knee so that he couldn't even struggle.
"Urgh!"
Rimmer staggered and sat down due to the impact on his waist.
"The flow has been interrupted by that fool, so let me speak again."
Roman looked at Rimmer for a moment before turning his gaze back to Raon.
"When we discussed the life-and-death battle two years ago, I never thought you'd grow this much. It's an absurd level of progress. However..."
He lowered his gaze while twirling his axe with his fingertips.
"Two years have given me an opportunity as well. It's still not enough. If you want to survive, climb higher."
"If I survive, wouldn't you die?"
"What is a life-and-death battle? It's a fight where someone dies and someone lives. It's a blessing for a martial artist to die at the hands of a stronger one."
Roman drew a refreshing smile, saying it was fortunate if a martial artist could die in a fight where they gave their all.
Raon frowned as he saw the smile that bloomed on Roman's lips.
'Is this Axe King Roman's true personality?'
I thought he was a lunatic for breaking his promises every time we met, but now that I think about it, he hasn't killed anyone, neither before nor now.
He didn't touch the weak, but rather set goals for them to move forward.
Even if he had ulterior motives of wanting to fight a stronger version of me, it was clear that it came across as consideration.
He wasn't a good person, but I couldn't definitively label him as simply evil either.
'People really do have many faces.'
Raon nodded, gaining a life insight different from martial arts.
"I'll see you on January 1st next year. Axe King Roman."
Although aware of Roman's intentions, Raon showed proper respect, having received his own form of consideration.
"It's amazing that such a monster came from under you."
Roman sighed while looking at Rimmer, then turned his back.
"Don't run away."
He boarded the Black Cloud as if he had no lingering attachments, turned the bow, and left just like that.
'It won't be easy.'
Roman is strong now, but he might be standing in an even higher position next year. To defeat him head-on would require something beyond mere effort.
'Can I do it?'
No, thinking about how to do it would be more appropriate.
The life-and-death battle had already reached a point of no return. The only thing to think about now was how to defeat Axe King Roman.
Raon watched the departing Black Cloud and released his grip on Rimmer.
"Hey! You ball bastard! You're going to die! By Raon's hand!"
As soon as he was freed, he shouted at Roman, calling him a ball bastard.
-Open up that skull of his. This king thinks there's thick pasta instead of a brain in there.
'That might really be the case.'
Raon sighed and stood in front of Rimmer.
"What were you thinking? Why did you provoke someone who was going to leave on his own!"
"It pisses me off when promises are broken."
Rimmer frowned as he looked in the direction Roman had left.
"Plus, he gave up his nickname on his own. I just made a new one for him. He should be thanking me instead!"
He shrugged, claiming he had done nothing wrong.
'This is exhausting.'
He sighed and turned his head. Rather than arguing with the unreasonable Rimmer, it seemed better to remove the iron chain collar from the elves' necks while he still had the energy.
Raon crossed over on the ferry and saw a young elf wearing an iron chain collar. It was the child Leylan had called Heylin.
"Ugh..."
As he brought his hand to her neck, the child's shoulders trembled. She seemed to be afraid of humans.
"Don't worry."
Leylan grabbed Heylin's shoulders and drew a gentle smile.
"This is the person who saved you. Trust your sister and endure it."
It was the warmest expression she had shown so far.
Raon nodded to Leylan and then grasped Heylin's collar.
Following the method Lector had told him, he pushed aura from the inside, and the collar snapped and fell off.
"Ah!"
Heylin touched her freed neck, her lips trembling. She bowed her head with tears in her eyes.
"Th-thank you."
"It's nothing."
Raon patted Heylin's head and then approached the next elf wearing a collar.
-That young-looking elf from earlier is probably older than you, you know?
'Please don't mention things like that....'
* * *
Siyana sighed in relief as she watched Raon remove the elves' collars.
'Thank goodness.'
She had been very worried about those collars even after rescuing her kin, but Raon effortlessly removed the iron chain collars as if there was nothing to worry about.
'If Lord Raon hadn't been here today, I wouldn't have been able to do anything.'
Thanks to Raon, she learned about this auction, and because he drew attention, they were able to safely extract everyone.
Even after coming out, he alone stood in front of the strong ones and protected everyone. If it weren't for him, it wouldn't have been strange if they had been completely wiped out.
Siyana blinked as she watched Raon remove the last collar from her kin.
'Ah! Come to think of it...'
So many things happened at once that she had lost focus, but now she realized there were many things to organize.
'There were a series of great lines.'
Today, every time Raon opened his mouth, he uttered sayings that wouldn't be out of place as family heirlooms. She recalled his exclamations that remained in her memory.
'First of all, "Where I stand is Zieghart." That's the best one.'
When Raon said those words, even though her head was full of worry for her kin, it sent chills down her spine.
His conviction about Zieghart was so palpable that it made even her tremble.
'There were many others too.'
To ensure she never forgot Raon's sayings, Siyana immediately took out her notebook and started writing down all of his actions and quotes from today.
'Because I have to write the next biography.'
She couldn't let anyone else write the Sepia chapter of Raon Zieghart's biography. She wrote down every detail.
"Wherever I am is Zieghart, if the axe isn't heavy I'll chop off your head... hehehe."
Siyana continued writing her records about Raon with a giddy smile.
"Lady Siyana?"
Raon approached her after hearing Siyana's slightly eerie laughter.
'Is something wrong with her?'
Worried about her strange expression, he looked closer and saw her grinning while writing down everything he had said and done in her notebook.
"You ball bastard!"
On the other side, Rimmer was still shouting at Roman, calling him a ball bastard.
Raon looked at Siyana and Rimmer in turn, then massaged his temples.
'Is that family just weird?'
* * *
Kuguuuuugu.
A heavy vibration spread from deep within the Zieghart Main House.
"It's starting again."
"It was quiet for a while, but now it's gotten worse."
"I heard it's because a large monster appeared on North Grave Mountain."
"I heard a spirit beast was born."
"It's just an earthquake."
The swordsmen, now used to the earthquakes, looked up at the shaking ceiling and chatted.
"Well, it'll probably stop soon."
"But it's been going on since morning..."
"Don't worry. Nothing will happen... Huh?"
"W-what's this!"
The vibration suddenly intensified, mocking the swordsmen who took the earthquake lightly. Gray dust fell from the ceiling, and decorations dropped as if they had lost their way.
"I-it's too strong!"
"Isn't it going to collapse for real at this rate?"
"I-it's hard to even stand!"
The swordsmen sat down, swallowing dryly, frightened by the fierce shaking.
"It won't collapse."
Chad approached calmly, shaking his head as the swordsmen's faces turned pale.
"As swordsmen of Zieghart, you shouldn't be afraid of a mere earthquake like this."
"Ah..."
"We-we're sorry!"
The swordsmen bowed their heads, looking at Chad's calm eyes amidst the violent shaking.
"If you endure a little longer, it will calm down."
Chad greeted the swordsmen and opened the door to the audience chamber.
As soon as he entered, the first thing he saw was Glenn's shaking legs. He was trembling so violently that the platform seemed about to crumble.
'It's starting again.'
There was only one reason why the Northern Conqueror, known for his coldness bordering on cruelty, would be shaking his legs like that. Raon Zieghart. Because he hadn't arrived at the appointed time.
"Heh heh heh."
Roenn looked at Glenn with a quiet laugh.
"Head of House. Please calm down."
"Calm down...?"
Glenn frowned as he looked at Roenn.
"How can you tell me to calm down when the one who should have arrived long ago still hasn't come?"
He started shaking his legs even more violently, saying he couldn't calm down.
Kuguuuuugu!
Small dust particles scattered from the impeccably clean ceiling and window frames of the audience chamber that Roenn cleaned daily.
"He should have arrived long ago, but there's no contact at all. Something must have happened!"
Glenn grasped the right armrest with his large hand. The armrest, which had been repaired over twenty times, became scrap metal once again.
"I shouldn't have sent him with that lazy bum!"
He sighed as if regretting sending him with Rimmer.
"Um, Head of House..."
Chad approached Glenn and bowed his head.
"I've been informed that they're on their way now."
"What?"
"The Light Wind Division Leader and vice leader are returning now. They'll probably arrive within an hour."
"Why are you telling me this only now!"
Glenn shouted at Chad. The mana inside the audience chamber fluctuated as if a fierce storm was blowing.
"For the leader of the Shadow Agents to bring such information only now! What have you been doing all this time!
"Th-they suddenly appeared, perhaps being cautious because they're coming with elves."
Chad shrank his shoulders and lowered his head like a child caught by a bully.
"Tsk."
Glenn stopped shaking his legs and stood up. The vibrations that had enveloped the Lord's Manor all day finally ceased.
"Roenn. Bring the things we prepared."
"Yes."
Roenn entered the room on the right, maintaining a gentle smile.
"Shadow Agents' Leader."
"Ah, yes!"
"Summon the executives."
Glenn flicked his finger, ordering all the executives currently in the family to be called.
"Understood!"
"Wait."
As Chad was about to rush out, Glenn shook his head.
"Don't call Alice. Just leave her be."
"That..."
Chad swallowed hard as he turned his back.
"Lady Alice has already l-left."
"Left?"
"She r-ran out saying she was going to meet Lord Raon..."
Kuuung!
Glenn smashed the armrest of the left armrest, which was still intact, with his left fist. That side had already been repaired over thirty times.
"Why did that brat find out first!"
"She w-was staying at the Shadow Agents. As soon as news of the Light Wind Division Leader came, she rushed out, and I couldn't stop her..."
"Grr."
Glenn bit his lip in annoyance.
"Enough. Just quickly summon the executives."
"Y-yes..."
Chad bowed his head and left the audience chamber.
"Haaa..."
A sigh naturally escaped from deep in his lungs.
'I really can't deal with this.'
Stuck between Alice and Glenn, getting hit from both sides, he felt like his insides were burning every day.
Both sides moved as if having a seizure as soon as Raon was mentioned, and it was too much to handle.
'Should I quit?'
He sighed automatically, as he had never heard that the previous Shadow Agents' Leader had such troubles.
'I'm exhausted...'
As he walked weakly through the Main House corridor, the swordsmen he had met earlier approached with shining eyes.
"Sh-Shadow Agents' Leader!"
"How did you know the earthquake would stop?"
"Could it be that you can read heaven's flow..."
"You're the Shadow Agents' Leader after all! They say nothing can escape your eyes in the North!"
"You're amazing!"
The swordsmen believed what he had said before entering the audience chamber and thought he had performed some kind of magic.
"Hmm..."
Chad just smiled faintly without saying anything. He nodded slightly and walked down the corridor.
"Such a humble attitude..."
"As expected of the Shadow Agents' Leader."
The swordsmen were impressed, finding even that admirable.
Chad held back his laughter as he headed towards the hall.
'Should I endure a little longer?'
* * *
Raon let out a short sigh as he looked at the majestic walls of Zieghart.
'Now I can finally get some rest.'
Until now, he had deliberately taken rough paths and concealed his presence to prepare for any possible attacks.
He hadn't been able to sleep or eat properly, but seeing those massive walls finally allowed him to relax.
"Let's go. We can have a good rest now."
He gave a gentle smile to the elves and approached the gate, when suddenly something sprang out from atop the wall.
Thud!
A woman, moving through the air as if she were a mountain goat scaling a cliff, twisted her body in mid-air and landed on the ground.
The woman jerked her head up. Sunset-colored hair and refreshing features. Alice Zieghart was right in front of him.
"Ah, Lady Alice?"
"Nephew!"
Alice embraced Raon, drawing a deep smile on her face.
"Why are you so late! I've been waiting for you every day!"
She spoke of how much she missed him, tightening her grip. A warm scent of the sea wafted from her flowing sunset-colored hair.
"I'm sorry. There were some issues along the way."
Raon shook his head with an awkward smile.
"Hey."
Alice glared at Rimmer while still holding Raon.
"Eh...?"
Rimmer, who had been standing blankly, blinked in confusion at Alice's chilling aura.
"What kind of guy are you! If you can't do anything else, you should at least report regularly!"
"Ah, well..."
"You're really incompetent. Raon always sends the reports, what are you even doing?"
"That's because..."
"Forget it. Do better from now on. If you keep this up, you're dead."
"But..."
She completely cut off Rimmer's words and approached the elves. She was like a storm incarnate.
"Ah, you must be the envoys from Sepia. Nice to meet you."
Alice smiled brightly as if she had never frowned. Given her inherent beauty, the atmosphere changed in an instant.
"Ah, hello."
Siyana bowed her head towards Alice. Though she stammered a bit, it was a world of difference compared to when they first met.
"Wow, your face is insane."
Even Alice was amazed by Siyana's appearance, her mouth hanging open.
"Pardon?"
"It's nothing. You must be tired from coming all this way, let's go in right away."
She suggested they go in immediately and led the group towards the castle gate.
"Please stop."
External Commander Illiune, standing in front of the gate, blocked their path.
"We welcome the visit of the elves. However, as this is your first visit, we need to verify your identities..."
"Hey."
Alice frowned as she looked at Illiune.
"Yes?"
Illiune flinched and stepped back.
"Are you doubting the guests Raon brought?"
"N-no, that's not it, I just need to confirm..."
"If it were guests brought by that idiot, then yes. You should check everything in detail."
Alice bit her lip as she pointed at Rimmer.
"Why me again..."
Rimmer, continuously ignored, drooped his shoulders.
"But they came to our family to express gratitude for Raon's help! And you want to inspect them? Do you want to die?"
"Ah, I understand, but my duty is..."
"So you don't trust Raon?"
"That's not it. Sigh..."
Illiune realized that reasoning with Alice was futile and shook his head.
"I understand. Please enter."
"Good work."
Alice waved her hand, urging them to hurry inside.
"...Let's go."
Raon sighed and looked at the elves. As he was about to tell them to go, Siyana took out her notebook again and started muttering.
"Lord Raon's trustworthiness is unparalleled even in Zieghart. Incomparable to someone like my older brother..."
Raon closed his eyes tightly as he heard Siyana's muttering.
'Another false rumor is going to gain momentum.'
It seemed that the already absurd biography would turn into an even more implausible fantasy.
Shaking his head, he followed Alice towards the Zieghart Main House.
"Raon."
Alice approached from the side and tapped his shoulder.
"So why are you so late?"
"There were circumstances."
"Circumstances?"
"Yes. I'll explain when we get to the Main House."
"Tell me a little bit before that."
She spread her fingers a little, indicating she wanted to hear some of it in advance.
"Hmm, alright."
Raon briefly explained what had happened. As it wasn't a short story, by the time he finished speaking, they were already standing in front of the audience chamber door.
"Let's go in."
Alice opened the door to the audience chamber with an unusually bright smile.
As if the news of their arrival had already spread, the family executives were waiting in front of the pillars inside the audience chamber.
As Raon was about to stand in front of the platform, receiving gazes filled with various emotions, Alice jumped forward and shouted.
"Head of House. Raon has achieved another great feat. So please don't scold him!"
Alice laughed cheerfully, saying that Raon had rescued the kidnapped elves.
"Sigh..."
Raon sighed, having somehow expected this reaction.
"Greetings, Head of House..."
As Raon was about to raise his gaze to greet him, he stopped. Glenn's red eyes were filled with a cold light.
'What is it this time...'