Chapter 323: The Princess's Anger
As the door to the training ground opened, Princess Jayna of Valkar stepped inside. Her expression was that of an irate cat, bristling with annoyance, as she marched straight toward Raon.
“Why did you call me?”
“Why did you call me? Your education is still lacking. Or is your head not working?”
Raon let out a cold smile and reached out his hand to Dorian.
“Dorian.”
“Here!”
Dorian pulled out a single sheet of white paper from his belly pouch as if he had been waiting for it. It was truly convenient that there was no need to speak.
“Thank you.”
Raon unfolded the paper he received from Dorian. It was the Special Contract. The leash that had been placed around Jayna's neck after saving her in Forvan City.
“Ugh...”
Princess Jayna trembled as she looked at the Special Contract. It wasn't that she had forgotten; it was just that anger filled her expression. I hadn't forgotten. It had been infuriating.
The moment Jayna arrived, Raon using informal speech wasn't because he forgot the contract, but because he couldn't hold back the resentment in his heart while knowing it.
Jayna, who had lived without caring about anyone's eyes as the princess of Valkar, couldn't understand that emotion. But not in front of me. If it were anyone else, they might understand Jayna's appearance or background, but not Raon.
Her appearance was just human skin, and there were no good feelings or memories toward Jayna, so there was no reason to like her.
-Tsk tsk.
Wrath frowned as he looked down on Jayna.
-You couldn't hold back your emotions and just showed them as is. What a stupid human. ......Are you going to say something? Raon almost said that but held it back.
“I told you before? You have to speak in formal speech in front of me.”
Raon shook the Special Contract lightly and smiled. Jayna's eyes followed the contract, swirling around.
“...”
“Why did you call me?”
“I don't like it much.”
“Ugh, why did you call me?”
Jayna, feeling her pride hurt, lowered her head with fists clenched.
“To give you good information.”
“Information?”
“Yes. Information about Martha Zieghart, who you will be fighting tomorrow.”
“What does that mean...”
Jayna's eyes widened in shock. She looked like she had no idea what Raon was thinking.
“Before that, let me ask you a few things.”
Raon slightly lifted his chin and snapped his fingers. Jayna frowned and stepped forward.
“I heard that meetings between the Robert family and Valkar have been frequent lately. What was said?”
This information was in the Biyeon Assembly chief and Denning Rose's reports. Since Zieghart was balancing both sides, the question wasn't strange.
“Th...”
“Speak.”
“Ab, about the mine.”
“Mine? In Robert?”
“A request to develop a magic to carefully sell the land and minerals under the sea so that the underwater mine near Robert's coast doesn't collapse.”
Jayna explained the mine story as if it wasn't a secret. An underwater mine... There shouldn't be any.
During assassin training, Raon had wandered around the sea near Robert. There was no mine in that sea he had circled endlessly. What is he thinking... Ah! Could it be that the dungeon opened?
There was an unknown dungeon below the sea near the Robert family that wouldn't open no matter what. From the situation, it seemed the dungeon's door had opened.
“Didn’t you ask to send a mage?”
“We suggested that, but they said they would develop the magic themselves.”
Jayna's expression was a bit annoyed as she said that. To keep the secret. Robert and Valkar had a good relationship. If it was really about mining, they would have requested experts.
It was clear that they asked for magic instead of a mage to not reveal the dungeon's secret.
“When did you receive that magic?”
“This meeting.”
Jayna said that in this meeting, Chamber's assistant gave the magic scroll to Derus's aide.
“I see.”
Raon clenched his fist and smiled. So there's still a chance... It seemed like another opportunity to eat Derus. I don't care if I can't eat him. I'll make sure he can't either. No info on the dungeon interior, but it didn't matter. If he couldn't take the dungeon's treasure, he could destroy it so Derus couldn't either. A win-win opportunity.
“Anything else?”
“There was also a request for another magic, and to make the alliance stronger...”
Jayna said a few more things, but there wasn't much substance.
“Then now it's my turn to tell you.”
“Eh...”
“Martha's attribute is earth. But it's different from other earth attribute swordsmen. She pours out sharp yet unrefined attacks like fire or wind. Especially among strength and speed focused sword techniques, the heavy sword...”
Raon explained Martha's current realm and sword flow to Jayna. It wasn't perfect, but it was enough to affect the outcome.
“You...”
After hearing all the info about Martha, Jayna bit her lip tightly.
“What are you thinking...
Jo?”
“What?”
“I knew you would say to give up when I called you...
Yo. Instead of giving me Martha's information, what are you thinking...
Yo.”
“Don't drag out the words.”
“Ugh...”
“Answer?”
“I understand.”
She lowered her gaze because her pride was hurt.
“Why did I give you Martha's information...”
Raon's eyes, bathed in moonlight, glowed red.
“People become strong by enduring trials.”
“So you made a trial by force?”
Jayna trembled. She looked like she couldn't understand.
“In this tournament where the pride of the six factions is at stake?”
“Yes.”
Raon nodded without hesitation.
“If you lose...”
“It still has meaning. The difference between those who know defeat and those who don't is huge.”
Burren and Runaan grew more because they fought using all their abilities. Martha was given this trial hoping she would grow through the tournament like the two of them.
By defeating the weak Jayna and winning against the third prince, Martha could reach even higher.
“I really can't understand...”
“You don't need to understand.”
Raon waved his hand lightly, shaking the Special Contract.
“Since I gave you the information, fight properly. If you fight half-heartedly and lose, this contract won't stay still.”
“Ugh...”
“What should I ask for. Should I make you bring a Valkar national treasure?”
“Damn...”
Jayna pouted and trembled with fists. It was the first time she was treated this way unilaterally, and she seemed at a loss. Since she saw Raon acting superior from the beginning, it felt refreshing.
“Huu...”
She sighed as if the ground had disappeared and lifted her head. Still, her emotional recovery was fast because she was a direct descendant of the Six Kings.
“Then this means two commands are erased, right?”
“Two commands?”
“I told you about the transaction between Robert family and Valkar, and the command about tomorrow's fight with Martha Zieghart, so it's two favors, right?”
“You're misunderstanding something.”
“Eh...?”
“I never said favor or command, did I?”
Raon laughed lightly and unfolded the Special Contract. It still said three commands inside.
“Why...”
Jayna's eyes crumpled like the paper she was holding.
“F, I clearly told you to tell me...”
“The content of the contract is a command. I made a request to you, not a command.”
That's right. He showed the contract and said to do it. He never said 'command'.
“Iiiik!”
She revealed her teeth as if she was about to pounce, raising mana.
“You demon! You said you were a chivalrous man, bullshit! You're a demon who came from the Demon Realm!
-This kind of guy doesn't exist in the Demon Realm either...
Wrath shook his head while receiving Jayna's words.
“Demon from the Demon Realm? That's an insult.”
Wrath and the Light Wind Squad also call him Demon King these days, so he doesn't care about demon or demon lord.
“The story ends here.”
Raon handed the Special Contract back to Dorian.
“Uwaa...”
Dorian shuddered as if scared and put the contract in his belly pouch.
“Then I'll ask for your help tomorrow.”
Raon patted Jayna's shoulder as she gritted her teeth and left the training ground.
“Siii...”
When returning to the dorm, Jayna's curse exploded like a storm inside the training ground.
“Wh, what? Is that allowed?”
Dorian looked back at the training ground where screams were still echoing and swallowed dryly.
“It's not killing, so what. And the other side started it first.”
Jayna started the fight twice despite being given the chance. Since she didn't show remorse today, it would be good education.
“Ah, that's what I mean, but Lady Marta...”
“It's fine. She has a lot of pride, so she has to win at least that much.”
After stopping, Raon looked up at the dark sky and smiled.
“If I can't do that, I should fire the Light Wind Squad leader.”
* * *
Derus Robert sat in front of Matio's bed, tapping his chin.
“Matio.”
Matio's eyes opened as if dead when called. There was a flash of anger in his sunken eyes, but it disappeared quickly.
“...”
“Yes.”
Matio answered while enduring the pain that seemed like tearing his body apart. His voice was cracked, but his mind was steady.
“What do you think of Raon?”
“I, I couldn't see until the end, but until then, the movements of the assassin were not visible.”
“Is it accurate?”
Derus narrowed his eyes as he looked down at Matio.
“Yes. It was the typical swordsman's movement and temperament with Zieghart's scent all over.”
Matio answered while his jaw trembled from pain.
“He took a posture similar to an assassin, but since it was all actions and postures that swordsmen could do, it was meaningless to distinguish. No assassin-like tendencies were seen from him.”
“Then how do you think of the action that attacked you?”
“Huu...”
Matio closed his eyes for a moment and opened them. It was an action to calm his mind to erase emotions as an assassin and make an objective judgment.
“According to his words, the safest place in that location was the sparring ground. He was severely cut by Borini Kitten's waist, and because he had no leeway to erase Tatcheon's magic, it wasn't strange at all to think that slashing his sword in front of me, the closest, was odd.”
He said that unlike the anger toward Raon, he didn't think that action was strange. Rather, he continued to say it was very wise.
“From what I've seen so far, Raon Zieghart and Raon are unrelated.”
“Is that your judgment that raised Raon?”
“Yes. It is an objective judgment excluding emotions.”
Matio nodded while enduring the pain that seemed to tear his whole body.
“I understand. Rest.”
“Ah, no...”
When Derus nodded and waved his hand, Matio turned his head with eyes half-closed.
“Hmm...”
Derus took off the glove he was wearing. The wound on the back of his hand had settled cleanly.
“Have Matio rest and return.”
“Lord.”
When Derus tried to stand up, his chief butler Rezel opened his mouth.
“Shouldn't we cancel the instructions given to the young master?”
Rezel continued while bowing his head apologetically.
“From what I saw today, Glenn Zieghart clearly cares for the Light Wind Squad. There might be a problem if young master Cadis cuts Raon Zieghart's arm.”
“Well observed. Among the Light Wind Squad, he seemed to care especially for Raon.”
“Then...”
“So you should let it be.”
Derus Robert laughed lightly and waved his hand.
“You can't miss the few opportunities to know Glenn Zieghart's insides. You have to watch whether he really cares for Raon or what happens if his arm is cut.”
He let out a cold smile even though his son's life was at stake.
Derus and Rezel had confidence that Cadis would win in the end after watching Raon's battle.
“It would be better to stimulate him more than to stop him. He was already very angry anyway.”
Derus looked out the dark window and smiled coldly. Because the audience kept calling Raon's name, Cadis Robert was at the peak of irritation even though he won an overwhelming victory without much cheers.
“Stimulate Cadis a bit more.”
“Understood.”
Rezel, who was worried about Cadis, nodded with emotions erased by the master's command. Although divided into yin and yang, both Matio and Rezel were just puppets who unconditionally followed Derus's words.
“Did you check the magic given from Valkar?”
“Yes. It was as requested.”
Rezel straightened his posture and nodded.
“No matter how long it takes, whether a few hundred die, it doesn't matter.”
A bloodthirsty desire appeared in Derus's eyes.
“Bring only the ancient treasure buried below.”
* * *
Zzzing.
Raon, sitting on the floor of the dorm, opened his eyes with a clear chirping sound. He looked up with tension, and it was the bird's chirping announcing the start of the day with morning sunlight. It wasn't Merlin. Is it going to be like this, living in constant tension for the rest of my life.
He laughed out loud because it was unbelievable that Merlin could appear anywhere at any time.
-Cowardly guy.
Wrath laughed coldly and shook his head.
-Being tense because you're scared, your guts are smaller than a bean. You were the most scared, weren't you. I don't know what he's saying while hiding because he hates obsession.
-B, because of obsession trauma.... Trauma? If he gave trauma to Wrath, he must not be a normal demon. If you're scared, you're really strong. -It wasn't that I was scared! Are you running away because you're afraid of poop? Don't run away because it's dirty! That's right. Raon laughed lightly. In the Demon Realm, it's not about confronting crazy guys, but avoiding them. It seems like he's pretty strong? -It's just annoying, I'm not the opponent's of the king! When I was in the Demon Realm, there was no invincible one who could follow the Demon King with the strongest martial power...
Wrath suddenly started boasting about himself after trembling at obsession. His emotional ups and downs are really Demon King level.
“Sigh.”
Raon listened to Wrath's boasting with one ear and let it out with the other while checking his body condition. The wound on his waist and the swollen mana circuit weren't perfectly recovered, but there was no big problem in fighting. There was merit in using the Ring of Fire and Cultivation of Ten Thousand Flames without sleeping.
-There are many demons who miss the king even now. Why do you think they miss me? Yes. This great martial power! Buried in the power like the sea...
It doesn't end. Ignoring Wrath's ongoing boasting, when changing into his uniform, a message popped up in front of his eyes.
You have severed the <Yin Yang> magic.
You defeated a high-level strong against a high-level opponent while injured.
The grade of the Requiem Sword's characteristic <Magic Demonic Point> has increased by 2 levels.
The Requiem Sword's mana has increased.
The grade of the characteristic <Formation Deciphering> has increased.
All stats have increased by 8 points.
Uuuuuuung!
The Requiem Sword, which liked it, rang with a clear sword sound.
-W, what is this!
Wrath, who had been boasting about himself, opened his mouth wide.
-If you give such rewards for just cutting that, what is the king supposed to do! Scraping the bottom and giving it all... You said you're strong even in the Demon Realm. -Eh.... If giving this much reward is burdensome, aren't you weak? -T, that's not it...
“A reward of this level to the merciful Wrath Demon King is like getting a rip-off from the sea. Right?”
-That's right! That's how it is!
Wrath nodded while holding back tears because he had just been boasting. He was the tree that gave without reserve even in this point.
Raon turned his head from the awkward Wrath and looked at the last part of the message. The increase in traits is welcome, but the stats are a bit ambiguous. It's not that it's bad.
Soon there would be a battle where he had to fight with full power, and it was a bit regrettable that an error would occur in the perfectly honed body. No. The first opponent is the True Dragon Water.
If he had to fight the True Dragon Water before stepping on Cadis, it was the perfect opponent to adapt the strengthened body. Good at power struggle. It would be fun to have a power struggle with the warrior of the Beast Alliance who has the strongest body among the Six Kings.
Raon put on his outer clothes and looked out the window. Grasping the Heavenly Sky Sword while looking at the gently setting sun. Today is the day the Zieghart name is placed at the highest among the Six Kings...
-But first, let's eat. I couldn't sleep properly, and my stomach is empty because I had my stats taken by you.
Wrath opened his eyes wide and rubbed his belly.
Please understand the atmosphere... Raon sighed and shook his head.