The Annex's Warmth and Training Choices
Raon stepped out of the Lord's Palace and immediately headed toward the Annex. Yua's hand trembled slightly, as if she had been nervous.
"It's fine. Rimer-nim is a good person."
"Ah, yes."
Rimer was one of the few people who treated him and Sylvia with respect without discrimination. Glenn had given his word, so he would not teach her assassination techniques.
Still, I have to watch just in case.
I decided that when Yua first received Rimer's training, I would go along to see what she learned.
-You speak words that suit you, little guy.
What?
-The pineapple girl is this king's precious maid, so take good care of her.
Wrath stroked Yua's head with his hand made of ice. Of course, Yua felt nothing.
Still doesn't get the point.
I clicked my tongue at Wrath. Despite being captivated by Yua's cooking skills, he didn't understand who was whose maid. The gluttonous Demon King still hadn't realized his position.
"But why did you follow?"
I turned to Dorian, who was trailing after me while eating snacks.
"Why are you doing this, young master? I'm really tired today."
Dorian crumpled the snack bag and let out a deep sigh.
"Everyone pretends not to know me, doesn't know I'm there, and only joins the test as a substitute. Where on earth did my presence go!"
"Then, shall I take the test now? If I tell Instructor Rimer..."
Rimer's annoyance was quite severe, but he truly cared for the trainees. He wouldn't refuse if I said I'd take the test.
"Ei! That's not it!"
Dorian shook his head rapidly, very quickly.
"It's already over, why bother again? It's just a bit regretful."
He grinned with a hehehe and scratched his head.
"Then go and rest."
"Wow, that's harsh. We've been traveling together for over a year, you're too cold, aren't you?"
"Cold? What cold."
I did feel a bit sorry, but it was obvious that going to the Annex with this guy would make me tired. It was more comfortable to send him back quickly.
"And even if I want to go, I can't."
"What?"
"When we were at the Great Training Ground, your mother told me to come with you."
"Ah..."
"So, let's go together! It's been a while since we've had delicious food at the Annex! Yua! Let's go!"
Dorian grabbed Yua's hand and ran happily toward the Annex.
-Food! The Annex food is good too! Move faster.
Wrath's mouth, arms crossed, let out streams of cold air.
"Haa."
Seeing Wrath drooling and Dorian and Yua running, a sigh escaped me.
There are three of them...
***
Raon arrived at the Annex with the two bothersome people and Yua. Because they suddenly returned, noisy sounds came from inside one after another.
Hearing the familiar sounds after a long time, I opened the Annex door. Sylvia, Helen, and the maids were busy in the lobby and kitchen, and they all rushed over at once.
"Raon!"
"Young Master!"
"You're late!"
"You don't have any injuries, do you?"
They checked all over my body, whether there were any injuries or problems. Seeing Sylvia and the maids fussing, I felt the reality of returning home.
"I've returned."
I smiled faintly while looking into the eyes of my family filled with worry and joy.
"Welcome back."
Sylvia shook her hands clasped in front of her chest and smiled with warmth.
Has mother grown too?
If it were before, she would have rushed over and cried tears. It seemed Sylvia had grown mentally like me.
Good thing... Hah!
"Raon!"
Just as I was smiling lightly, thinking it was good, Sylvia suddenly rushed over.
"You've grown so well! How pretty you are! Whose son are you!"
She started rubbing my face with the same tone as before.
"Eh, mom. Please..."
I bit my lip and sent a help signal to Helen, but it backfired.
"Young Master!"
"Raon Young Master!"
"You've come so well!"
"You've become so handsome... Hic!"
"Kuek..."
Helen and the other maids burst into tears and rushed over, pinning me down so I couldn't move. The only one sitting quietly in the lobby was Judiel, Dorian, and Yua.
"Huu."
"Huhuhung..."
"Wow..."
Judiel let out a faint sigh and went to the kitchen, Dorian covered his mouth with a hehehe at the sight, Yua fidgeted with her fingers, unable to adapt.
And Wrath...
-Where is the food?
Same as usual.
***
Raon sat at the table and looked around. Not only Sylvia, Dorian, Yua, but all the maids were sitting there.
The maids had refused continuously, but due to Sylvia's instruction to eat together after a long time, they had no choice but to sit.
-The sweet and salty aroma is pressing down on this king. Draw your weapons. Raon Zieghart.
Wrath looked at the delicious food filling the table and let out streams of cold air like drool from his mouth.
"Before eating, it would be good to introduce yourself first."
Sylvia stood up. Seeing Yua shrinking her shoulders in fear, she smiled faintly.
"As you saw earlier, I am Raon's mother. I'm Sylvia."
She introduced herself first so Yua wouldn't feel burdened.
"Ah, I'm Yua. I came from Habun Castle."
Yua stood up abruptly and bowed to Sylvia and the other maids in turn.
"Yeah, Yua."
Sylvia smiled without stopping, looking at Yua as if she would die from cuteness.
"Raon. You're not her daughter, are you?"
"What nonsense!"
"Huhu, joke."
"Ugh..."
Raon's face turned red as he closed his eyes. He could be bold in front of Glenn, but always flustered in front of Sylvia.
"Since the food is getting cold. Shall we start eating?"
"What are you starting?"
"Of course, listening to how you and Dorian spent the year. Did you think I'd just let it go?"
"Later, I'll tell you separately..."
"That's what I'll say today while playing and eating!"
Dorian gulped down the pie in front of him and pushed his chair back.
"Dorian..."
"First, we didn't go straight north. To cross the huge mountain called Habun Castle, we first went to Camelun for supplies..."
I gestured to stop, but Dorian, who didn't do anything today, started telling his journey with overflowing energy.
Sylvia and the maids cheered every time they said they did well, and when they heard about jumping from the city walls twice to save soldiers, they teared up.
Sylvia looked at herself with eager eyes, and when the story came about saving Yua and the Frost Branch Manager from Eden's grasp, she bit her lip and hugged Yua.
"You must have suffered."
Her voice was full of sincerity. It seemed she empathized with Yua's situation, who had to come here after losing the most precious person to Eden.
"Ah, no."
Yua, who had been holding back until now, started teary-eyed at that heart.
"Huu..."
"Ma'am..."
"Yua."
The maids, knowing Sylvia's story, shed tears one by one, and soon the table became a sea of tears.
They'll be fine.
I smiled faintly while looking at Yua, Sylvia, and the maids. As expected, my family would take good care of Yua.
"Raon. You really did well. And thank you."
Sylvia, holding Yua, smiled at me. It seemed like she was grateful for living like a Zieghart as promised.
"Hueup!"
Dorian, not knowing the situation, shed tears together. I wonder if it's because he's kind-hearted or simple.
Wrath was the same.
-Are you not eating?
He couldn't take his eyes off the food spread out, waving his small hand.
-The food is getting cold!
One thing the Demon King couldn't understand was not reading the mood.
***
After a light meal, Raon returned to his room. Yua was taken by Sylvia to sleep together, and a guest room was given to Dorian, who didn't do anything today.
-Bilgeum!
Wrath, who missed the delicious food in front of him, spewed out cold air.
-The Annex food after a long time! Eating it after it's all cold! Sin! Sin!
Even if cold, it was delicious. That's enough.
-If it wasn't cold, it would have been even more delicious! You and I are really not compatible.
That's what I agree with.
Unlike Wrath, who must eat everything at the highest taste, I, who lived as an assassin, wasn't greatly affected by food's taste. Just filling the stomach was enough.
Thinking how annoying this guy is, I sensed someone standing in front of the door. Three knocks. It was Judiel.
"Come in."
Judiel opened the door silently and knelt on the floor.
"I greet my master."
Because she swore to follow me before leaving for Habun Castle, she called me master.
"Was there any contact from the Heavy Martial Hall?"
"When we were at the Great Training Ground, a signal was sent."
Judiel slowly nodded her head.
"I was told to find out what my master has been doing, what he has gained, and how much stronger he has become."
"As expected."
I laughed faintly. Today, Karun Zieghart stepped up and was humiliated, so I expected him to move like that.
"What should I do?"
"Convey the events that Dorian mentioned today as is."
Even though the story was embellished in various ways, it wouldn't be a problem if told to others.
"Other than that, was there any problem at the Annex?"
"Yes. Because of the Raden Zieghart incident, no other forces were restraining us. The Heavy Martial Hall also didn't show interest for a while."
"I see."
I smiled satisfied. Thanks to beating Raden one-sidedly as planned, the Annex has eyes on it, and my attention has only increased.
"You must have worried in various ways. Thank you."
"Ah, no. It's all thanks to my master."
Judiel swallowed dryly and shook her head.
She's truly amazing.
He predicted the current situation before leaving a year ago and told me how to move forward, and it happened exactly as reality. I just followed the instructions.
The strategy based on the completed martial power and the already honed coldness at a young age. The person named Raon is a monster that can be counted on fingers in Zieghart.
"Master. Do you know about the training?"
"Training?"
"As expected, you don't know."
She started explaining as if she knew.
"Now that you've become a swordsman, you shouldn't enter the family's martial corps, right?"
"Yeah."
"Before that, there's a system where you choose one group and receive training for a month."
"Ah..."
Thinking about it, some trainees mentioned training when the graduation ceremony at the Great Training Ground ended.
"Does training mean I can go anywhere I want?"
"Yes. Unlike the Selection Ceremony, training allows the new swordsman to choose freely."
Judiel took out documents from her pocket, perhaps prepared in advance.
"It would be good to read this and decide."
I unfolded the documents she handed over and read them. Information on all groups belonging to Zieghart, from direct-line to collateral, external personnel, and the swords of the vassal families, was written.
A lot of information like main missions, personnel, martial level, position in the family, so from this alone, I could roughly know how the family operates.
"You have worked hard organizing this. Thank you."
After scanning the contents of the documents, I nodded.
"No. It was only natural."
Judiel closed her eyes as if it was nothing.
"Hmm."
I scanned the documents and placed them at the bedside.
"Have you decided?"
"Yeah."
I focused on the top of the documents and smiled coolly.
"There was a really good place."
***
Next morning.
Before the sun rose, Raon headed to the 5th Training Ground. Inhaling the cold air of the empty training ground, my mood rose. Habun Castle wasn't bad, but it was here that my heart felt at ease.
After deep breathing, I executed the Yeonseong Sword Art, which I had swung the most in this training ground. The waves of the sword art, which created a majestic flow, shook the training ground greatly.
"If I say that's the basic sword art, no one would believe it."
After completing the Yeonseong Sword Art once, a voice of admiration flowed from behind.
Since I knew someone was watching, I turned my head with a calm expression.
"Just in case I came, and there you are. You haven't changed even after a year."
Burren smiled with a slightly softened expression.
"The sword skill has become a different dimension."
In his green eyes, there was surprise at the sword skill.
-Your eyes seem different.
Yeah.
It wasn't just the atmosphere. The felt power had become more solid. The explosive momentum of reaching Expert. He seemed to have grown stronger by overcoming many trials too.
"You have many debts to me... Uek!"
"Raon!"
When Burren was about to approach, the training ground door opened roughly and Runaan rushed in. In her charge, Burren was bounced to the side.
"Raon. Long time no see."
Runaan nodded with the same blunt eyes as a year ago. Unlike the eyes, her appearance had matured more. If seen for the first time, her face would be too cold to talk to.
The martial power had also advanced a layer more than before. The momentum of sharpness and gentleness coexisting bloomed like a flower bud on her shoulders.
"Hey!"
Runaan extended the box she was holding tightly. It was a bead ice cream box.
Laughter comes out. Seeing that box, I felt the reality of returning to the family again.
-Ooh! As expected, the ice cream girl who is this king's first maid. What are you doing! Eat quickly!
Wrath, rubbing his sleepy eyes, stood up and licked his tongue.
"I brought something too."
I took the box I left in the break room and handed it to Runaan. It was a more refined ice cream box than hers.
"What is this?"
"Ice cream product brought from the city."
"My... thing?"
"Yeah."
Since I ate a lot, it was time to pay back once, so I bought it when I went to the city.
"Ah..."
Runaan couldn't close her mouth while receiving the box. It seemed she thought only of receiving, not of receiving.
"T-thank you."
Runaan's mouth curved slightly. It was almost the first smile I've seen.
"You guys are still... Uek!"
"Playing with dolls?"
When Burren, pushed away, came with an embarrassed expression, Marta stepped on him from over the wall and he fell to the floor.
"How old are you and playing like this. Eh?"
Marta swept her jet-black hair and sneered. The atmosphere full of nobility like royalty, but the vulgar tone remained.
This guy has grown too.
Marta's martial power had grown more than Burren or Runaan. Seeing only the overwhelming momentum without gentleness, it seemed her personality remained the same.
"From the beginning, I felt, but you guys are too much in the flower field..."
When Marta frowned and grumbled, I handed her a bead ice cream.
"Why this..."
"To eat."
"...Uek."
Marta fidgeted with her fingers with a worse expression than when fighting, and backed away holding one chocolate ice cream. It looked like she was giving food to a wild animal.
"How is it?"
"T-tasty... No, it's okay."
She turned her back so her expression wouldn't be seen and ate the ice cream, but she couldn't hide that her earlobes were slightly red. It felt very good.
"Yeah. Yeah."
Runaan also put the bead ice cream in her mouth with eyes full of happiness.
-Stop worrying about others and eat! Yesterday, you only ate cold food, right!
Wrath waved his arms wildly and raised cold air. If left alone, it would raise a flood of cold air here.
I get it. I get it.
I nodded my head and looked at the ice cream. When I was deciding which of the remaining four to eat, Wrath jumped and pointed to the blue ice cream.
-Mint. Choco! Absolutely mint chocolate!
......
The suspicion that this glutton is really the Demon King filled my head again.
Haa...
I sighed and put the mint chocolate in my mouth. It's not really good. It's cool, but I don't know why I eat this.
-Kue, I buy this taste...
On the other hand, Wrath's eyes twitched as if he had taken drugs and heheheed.
"Well, have you decided where to train?"
Burren stood up, dusting the dust on his clothes. Even though he was pushed and stepped on, no change in expression. His personality has become clearly more dangerous than before. Strength was not the only thing that grew.
"What are you asking. Of course, go to my father."
"Me too."
Marta and Runaan, who were eating ice cream, answered at the same time.
"I knew that. I'm going to the Heavy Martial Hall too. Then where will you go."
When Burren asked, Runaan and Marta stopped chewing the ice cream and turned their heads.
"I..."
"Raon!"
"Really there!"
"Ahahaha! You haven't changed at all."
Just as I was about to open my mouth, the training ground door opened and other swordsmen came in in a crowd. They surrounded Raon, chatting endlessly as if to release their pent-up emotions.
I didn't like the noisy, but seeing the faces after a long time and their growth and joy, it wasn't bad.
Soon, all the swordsmen of the 5th Training Ground were gathered, and they were talking around Raon.
Huuuung!
While enjoying such a pleasant time, Rimer appeared with the green wind rising over the training ground wall.
"You guys don't get tired. I told you to rest today."
"Somehow we came."
"I thought Raon would come out."
"But there really is."
The trainees shook their heads at Rimer and laughed hehehe.
"Eh? All 43 are here. Then let's end it today. It's annoying to come again tomorrow."
After counting the number of trainees, Rimer nodded cleanly.
"What are we ending?"
"Deciding which group you will train in. That's my last job."
He went to the break room and stopped, then climbed onto the stage.
"That's not something you have to submit as documents tomorrow..."
"Too sloppy..."
"Is it only a day or two that I do sloppy things? It's not the Selection Ceremony either. Just do it. Anyway, I won't make it hard for the trainees."
Rimer waved his hand to say it's noisy and dismissed the complaint. The laziest elf in the world.
"From now on, I will call the groups. If you want a place, raise your hand. First, the Light Wind Division."
He took out a crumpled paper from his back pocket and started calling the Zieghart groups one by one.
"Euh!"
"Really, you can do whatever you want."
"Well, I decided, but..."
The trainees raised their hands to the desired group while complaining.
Runaan and Marta, as they said, entered the ice sword division whose hall master was their father, and Dorian chose the wind division in charge of supplies.
The groups continued to be called, and the remaining people were only Raon and Burren.
"Next is the Heavy Martial Hall."
"Yeah!"
As soon as the Heavy Martial Hall led by Karun Zieghart was called, Burren immediately raised his hand.
"Eh? Raon, you too?"
"Hah! Why you?"
Rimer and Burren opened their eyes wide at Raon, who was proudly raising his hand.
-If it's the Heavy Martial Hall, there's someone who hates you there. Why do you want to go there.
Wrath tilted his head as if not understanding.
The pain of not being able to kill me will only make me stronger.
A deep glow appeared in Raon's two eyes.
I decided from the time I heard about training.
To go to the Heavy Martial Hall operated by Karun, the one I hate the most, and suck up their training methods.