The Bet
Raon narrowed his eyes, watching Wrath puff out cold air like an angry kitten.
-It's a very simple bet.
Wrath didn't answer right away. He looked up at the sky again before continuing.
-That sharp-eared guy made a test here, and you have to survive here for a year?
‘Yeah. There's only half a month left now.’
Although several incidents had happened, making the time feel short, it had already been seven months since I arrived. There were only five months left until the test ended.
-That's it. This King will bet that you won't fill the remaining time and leave.
‘What?’
Raon looked down at Wrath with a dumbfounded expression.
‘Is that serious?’
-Of course. The Demon King doesn't speak with two mouths.
‘I’ve seen plenty of people speaking with two mouths.’
- S-shut up! I will keep the bet!
‘Hmm…’
Is this guy really a fool?
Only five months remained. The Wave had ended, Eden had been dealt with, and it was just training before returning. Why make such a bet?
No, he wasn't a fool, but he wasn't smart either.
Clearly, he had some information that Raon didn't know and was making a bet.
-Will you accept?
‘First, show me.’
-Understood.
As soon as Wrath came out of the bracelet, a message appeared in front of Raon's eyes.
[<Wrath> is proposing a bet.]
Conditions: Do not leave Habun Castle during the remaining test period.
Success: All stats +5, title.
Failure: Generate 15 points of Wrath's emotion.
Although the Wrath points increased on failure, the reward was also good.
‘Seeing him make such a bet, it seems Eden's bunch is coming too?’
-Who knows.
Wrath didn't answer. Since he didn't lie, he wouldn't mention the disadvantageous parts.
"Hmm…."
Raon clicked his tongue while looking at the bet message.
‘There's not much chance that Eden will come back.’
After the information that Eden's ghost was targeting Habun Castle was revealed, two combat units from the Six Kings had come nearby.
If there was common sense among the Eden bastards, they wouldn't have touched Habun Castle for a while.
No, no. They didn't have that kind of common sense.
Raon shook his head. The ghosts of Eden were the ones who had gone crazy on the continent. No matter who protected it, they came to hunt the orc lord's gemstone in him.
‘Well, it's fine.’
Trials and hardships were the fertilizer for quick growth. If Eden came again, he would just cut them down with his grown power.
‘Good. I'll accept the bet.’
-It's an excellent choice for you.
When Raon accepted the bet, the bet establishment message appeared.
[The bet with <Wrath> has been established.]
Wrath looked at the disappearing message and raised his chin.
-Since the bet is made, This King will give you a piece of advice.
‘Advice?’
-Yes. Since there's some taste between you and me, it's advice.
‘Taste…"
It was really a trivial taste.
‘What advice?’
-It's better to leave this place right away. Not only you, but also the humans you cherish.
Wrath's blue eyes sank with a cool light.
-The castle itself will disappear soon.
***
"Damn it!"
Wrath slammed the floor with his hand made of cold air. Contrary to his boast, nothing happened for a month.
Occasionally, he would sigh deeply while saying 'What the hell!', 'Why are you sleeping again!', 'How is this possible!', and it seemed like his plan had completely failed.
‘Why did I make a bet.’
Raon clicked his tongue. Probably, this guy really had a fool's luck. He was about to get the reward without doing anything.
-I didn't know that lazy bastard would sleep again. He's really a tank!
‘Tank?’
-Don't mention that guy when I'm angry!
Wrath turned his head away in annoyance. From his reaction, it seemed there was something around him.
‘Now it's fine.’
Seeing Wrath's expression, it seemed Raon could relax now.
Raon lightly stretched his body and drew his sword.
Touching the orc lord's gemstone embedded in the Baekhon Armor, he closed his eyes. Although the illusion didn't appear again, he wasn't disappointed. The trajectory of the swordsmanship shown by the blonde swordsman was still lingering in his mind.
"Hoo."
Raon drew the swordsmanship of that swordsman in his mind and opened his eyes. He calmly breathed and placed the sword at the center.
Hwaaa!
The flame arrow shot out like a fired arrow. The flame-laden blade pierced the cold morning air.
‘Slow.’
Raon bit his lip. It was similar to the sword, but slower and less accurate than the blonde swordsman's.
‘Let me try again.’
He pulled the sword back and thrust it out in the same trajectory. It seemed a bit faster, but it was still far from the man's sword.
‘Again.’
Raon continued to repeat the thrusts until there was some improvement.
"Hoo."
After about two hours of only practicing the thrusts of the Cultivation of Ten Thousand Flames, Raon straightened his waist after breathing.
‘I’m getting a bit better.’
Thanks to the repeated training, he got a little closer to the man's sword. The speed of the sword increased, and he could contain a bit more precise aura inside it.
-It's slow. Very slow. This King would have learned that sword long ago.
Wrath pouted in displeasure.
‘Don't waste your anger.’
-Kuu….
‘If it's over anyway, give up the bet now.’
-Shut up! This King doesn't know how to give up. I never shout surrender.
‘Truly indecisive Demon King.’
-U-uh, indecisive? Did you call This King indecisive?
Wrath came out on the bracelet and his cold hand trembled.
‘That was the case.’
-One of the epithets I had when I was in the Demon Realm was the firm Demon King. Once I make a decision, I have absolute judgment that doesn't look back, and the demonic beasts respected me for it….
‘I need to train more.’
-Come in!
When Raon adjusted his sword, Wrath shouted loudly and rushed in.
Goooo!
Spitting out terrifying cold air, it enveloped his whole body.
It seemed Wrath's anger had reached the top of his head because he was about to give a free reward.
‘It would be better not to pounce, Mr. Self-proclaimed firm Demon King.’
-Shut up! Bet or whatever, I will take your body this time!
Wrath was angry because the bet he made first didn't work out, so he spat out cold air and anger while grinding his teeth.
Uuuung.
Raon used Glacia to erect a wall of frost in the mana circuits so that Wrath's cold air and anger couldn't penetrate.
-Do you think This King will repeat the same thing forever!
The cold air that Wrath's mana circuits were trying to seep through twisted. It was like a blade, thin and sharp, and it started to pierce the wall made of Glacia.
Zzzzt!
The wall made of Glacia began to crack with the cold air spear that had thin but powerful aura.
-Did you see! I have recovered enough power to perfectly complete the change in the form of cold air. Now you too….
‘Ah, so this is how it is.’
Raon smiled faintly and used Glacia to create the same spear as Wrath.
Kyaang!
The cold air spear and the spear collided, and the two spears disappeared simultaneously.
Raon pulled the disappeared cold air into his dantian and increased the cold air of the Hell Worm.
-T-this guy!
‘Thank you. I learned something new again.’
-Kuuuuk! Not yet! This King hasn't given up!
Wrath made an even thinner and sharper spear and attacked the mana circuit, but every time it was blocked by Raon's spear and disappeared.
‘This is also training.’
To block Wrath's spear, he needed to make the spear faster and more accurate. Concentrating, he sustained the defense, and a message popped up in front of his eyes.
[<Wrath> endured the interference.]
[Life force stat increased.]
[Sense stat increased.]
Thanks to the practice of blocking with spears, the stats rose much faster than usual.
-Damn it!
Wrath looked up at the sky and cursed.
It was fortunate that the one who was weighing down returned to the tree without giving anything.
That appearance suited him best.
***
"Raon-nim."
When the thin moon like eyebrows rose in the sky, Dorian opened the training ground door and entered.
"I have finished the mission! Let's go eat!"
"Already?"
"Already! I worked all day!"
Dorian frowned and waved his hands wildly. He seemed about to throw a chair from his pocket.
"Sorry. I didn't know the time had passed like this."
Raon looked up at the sky and clicked his tongue. He had been training so absorbedly that he hadn't noticed night had fallen.
"Let's go to the Frost Branch today. There's a good apple coming in for the first time in a long time, and they say the apple meat pie is amazing."
-A-apple meat pie?
Before Raon could answer, Wrath popped up like a worm on the ground.
-R-Raon Zieghart. Let's go! It's a chance to eat apple meat pie!
For 4 months, Wrath had been licking his lips without eating apple meat pie, and cold saliva was dripping from his mouth.
"Isn't it time the business is over? Today is a weekday."
"I made a reservation with Yua in advance!"
"This is fast."
"As soon as I heard that apples were coming, I immediately made a reservation!"
Dorian took out a chair from his belly pouch and laughed with a grin.
"Hmm…."
Wrath opened his mouth wide and looked at Raon. Today, he got stats, and soon the bet reward would come, so it might be good to treat him.
"Let's go."
"Yes!"
-Oh! Excellent choice!
Raon walked with a light step, taking the human and the Demon King to the Frost Branch.
"Welcome!"
Yua, who was cleaning the table, waved her hand and smiled brightly. Since business was over, there were no customers inside the store.
"Is the business over?"
"Yes, it's okay because I made a reservation! I prepared in advance. Please wait a moment."
Yua nodded her head greatly and went into the kitchen. Today, since the manager wasn't there, only Yua's presence was felt in the kitchen.
-Kuu, how much I have been waiting for this fragrance!
Cold air flowing from Wrath's mouth spread across the entire counter floor.
"Wow, it's cold today. Yua, give me some apple chicken stew with apples!"
Dorian added orders, shaking his shoulders and arms as if feeling something strange.
-A-apple chicken stew! Apple meat pie and apple chicken stew!
Cold air breath like things came out from Wrath's mouth.
‘Sorry. It's because of the food-crazy Demon King.’
Raon forcibly closed Wrath's mouth and sighed. If he had known it would be like this, he should have eaten it earlier.
-Kuu….
"Meal is ready!"
When Wrath's cold air tried to break through his mouth, Yua brought a large tray with pie and stew. The sweet apple scent seemed to relieve the fatigue of the day.
"Is the manager not here?"
"He went out to talk to the apple merchant uncle who brought the apples today, and he hasn't come back yet. He always does that."
Yua raised her hand to her waist and muttered that she always did everything.
"Anyway, please eat before the meal. Actually, I cook better than my grandfather."
As if revealing a secret, she shook her twin tails and whispered.
-Hoo, apple meat pie, apple stew? Is this the Demon Realm? Did I return to the Demon Realm?
Wrath jumped in the air like a child who received the toy he wanted.
-Eat quickly! I'm dying of hunger!
‘Got it.’
After taking out the pie and stew into the plates, he first ate the stew.
"Oh!"
The taste made him involuntarily moan.
The sweetness of the apple and the salty flavor of the chicken harmonized to stimulate the tongue roughly. The broth was thick and flavorful, and eating one mouthful filled the entire mouth with satisfaction.
-T-tasty! The sweet and salty flavors harmonize like wind and fire, making This King's tongue dance! It's the taste of the Demon Realm!
"Wow! Delicious! Really delicious!"
Wrath, who was a gourmet, had a very monotonous way of expressing taste. He just kept saying "delicious" like Dorian.
"Then…."
Raon took a large piece of apple meat pie and put it in his mouth. Unlike the hard appearance, the pie spread softly like a carpet as soon as it entered the mouth. The juice of the sliced apples and the juicy meat harmonized to wrap the tongue.
It was a taste that reminded him of warm and refreshing spring. It had the fun of eating with the different textures of the crisp apple and the slimy meat.
"This is amazing."
Raon nodded his head greatly. He had eaten a lot of food here, but this pie was the best. It was a taste that didn't feel sorry even if he poured money. He understood why it sold out so fast.
"Amazing! The apples today are really crazy!"
Dorian, who had tasted the apple meat pie, also clicked his tongue. He said today's was much better than before and raised his finger.
-Aah, this is it! The reason I stuck to you was for this moment! It's the true taste of hell!
Wrath's whole body trembled as he was impressed by the apple meat pie, and he kept spraying cold air. He seemed about to ascend.
"Is that all?"
"Yes. Really delicious."
"Hehe, thank you!"
Feeling good, Yua smiled brightly and went into the kitchen. She brought out various foods saying to eat more, and all of them were delicious.
-Kuu, This King has no regrets in going now. I feel like I've tasted the world.
Wrath nodded his head greatly. He had a satisfied expression.
Probably, that girl's talent wasn't only in singing but also in cooking. Although the speed was slow, it tasted better than the manager's food.
"Thank you for eating."
Raon ate all the food close to 10 servings and put the food bill on the table. It was 4 times the price listed on the menu.
"Eh? This is more than the food price?"
"I gave it because you were satisfied. And we were late today. The rest is tip."
Raon smiled faintly and waved his hand.
-That's right. You have to pay for the value of a satisfying meal.
"Among the things eaten here, this was the best."
Raon and Dorian nodded their heads at the same time.
"Thank you!"
"See you again."
Waving to Yua bowing her head, they left the Frost Branch.
-The pineapple girl has talent not only in voice but also in hands. This King's third maid.
‘Third?’
-The first is the ice cream girl, the second is the beef girl, and then the pineapple girl.
Ice cream was Runaan, beef was Marta, pineapple was Yua. Truly, the Demon King lives as he pleases.
‘Pathetic…’
When Raon clicked his tongue at Wrath and was about to go to the accommodation, an old man with a strong impression approached. He was the Frost Branch manager and Yua's grandfather.
"Why are you so late! Yua is really angry!"
Dorian muttered that something big happened and made a fuss.
"Hoho, that's right. Meeting a friend after a long time made the conversation long."
The manager smiled gently despite the sharp eyes and nodded.
"Thank you for coming. I have to go scold my granddaughter."
He bowed and entered the Frost Branch. Inside, Yua's voice shouting why she was late so much was heard.
"As expected, getting scolded."
Dorian touched his belly pouch and laughed.
"Isn't it different from his impression? At first it was scary, but I didn't know he was so kind and gentle."
"Did you not feel anything strange just now?"
"Strange?"
He tilted his head as if he didn't know anything.
Raon looked at the Frost Branch where the manager had entered without answering and narrowed his eyes.
‘Strange.’
***
Hoo hoong.
Yua was wiping the table where Raon and Dorian had eaten and humming a tune.
Kiiik!
The sound of the door opening hinge was strangely loud unlike usual. Startled, she turned around and it was her grandfather.
"Grandpa! Why are you so late!"
Yua clenched the dishcloth tightly and snorted.
"I was talking to that guy, so I didn't notice the time passing."
The grandfather smiled kindly and locked the door of the counter and drew the curtain.
"You always do that!"
"Busy?"
"With the rumor that good apples were coming, my body was enough even if I had two!"
"Hoho, sorry. Then, go play outside tomorrow. I'll do the work alone."
The manager scratched his cheek embarrassedly and came to pat Yua's head.
"Aigoo, it's okay. And today's sales are huge…."
Yua, who was taking out gold and silver coins as if boasting, stopped abruptly. She looked up at the grandfather.
The warm, large hand, the wrinkles full of eyes, the slightly bent waist. It was exactly the appearance of a kind grandfather, but it felt like it wasn't him.
‘Huk!’
At the moment their eyes met, she realized. In his kind eyes, a dark darkness was hidden.
"W-who are you!"
Yua trembled and backed away. The sense of having lived together her whole life told her. That man was not the grandfather, but something that was trying to imitate him.
"Yua. Why are you doing that."
"Who are you!"
"Thinking it's a joke, he shrugged his shoulders and approached.
"Where did our grandpa go!"
"Yua. What are you saying."
He spoke with the grandfather's face and voice. The manner and actions were the same, but that existence was not the grandfather.
"You are not my grandfather! Where did our grandpa go!"
Yua wiped the tears flowing down her cheeks and backed away. The feeling of a cold wall touching her back made her shiver. There was no more place to go, and the monster wearing the grandfather's skin was already in front of her.
"Yua. Why are you doing this. It's too much of a joke."
"H, what happened to grandpa. Please!"
"……."
When he shouted a scream-like voice, he stopped like a statue. The dry eyes that were clearly different from a moment ago curved and flowed down.
"How did you know?"
The kind voice of the grandfather, full of time, changed into a rusty sound that scratched the insides.
"A…"
Yua sat down and her whole body trembled. Her small eyes without any emotion made her hair stand on end.
"H, grandpa! Give back our grandpa!"
Even in the moment of fear, Yua was looking for the missing grandfather more than herself. But the monster had no intention of giving the answer.
"How did you know? How did you know? How did you know? How did you know? How did you know? How did you know? How did you know? How did you know?"
His neck turned in a direction that a human couldn't return. The dry tone made the breathing quicken with fear.
"Aah…"
The monster's head, which was the same as the grandfather, swelled like a balloon and then shrank. The grotesque appearance of several different colored clays clumped together made one go crazy.
"How did you know?"
The monster spread its hand. The huge palm opened, and a black hole like a beast's mouth appeared. From the hole, gray mud-like things were dripping.
"Yua."
Inside the black hole, the shape of the grandfather appeared. Smiling gently, he waved his hand to himself.
"H, grandpa!"
As the grandfather got closer, the black hole also approached. Yua closed her eyes tightly.
"How did you know?"
The hole of the monster's hand, which was smirking, was about to swallow Yua, and the wall she was leaning on burst.
Kwaaang!
The monster's hand melted in the terrifying heat wave that burst through the wall.
Yua raised her head trembling with the soft hand that grabbed her shoulder and pulled her.
In the flying gray dust, there was a blonde swordsman who was releasing a sharp aura.
Chiiing!
A red lightning flashed in the eyes of the swordsman who drew his sword.
"Who are you."