The door quietly opened into the old room that was being used as a warehouse above the interrogation room where Raon was torturing the Sickle of the Bloody Cloud and the White Wolf Saber.
Glenn entered through a small gap in the door, his hair neatly pulled to the back.
âWelcome.â
Roenn was leaning his back against the wall and bowed at him with a faint smile on his face.
âHow is it going?â
Glenn buried his back on the sofa placed in front of Roenn and pointed at the ground with his finger.
âHmmâŠâ
Roenn lowered his gaze while wiping the cold sweat from his forehead.
âIt looks like we were gravely mistaken, my lord.â
He observed Raonâs presence on the lower floor with trembling eyebrows.
âMistaken?â
âYes. We thought that the young master Raon wouldnât be able to interrogate them that well.â
âIndeed.â
Glenn nodded while stroking his chin.
âBecause itâs not easy to interrogate others.â
Having powerful might and willpower wasnât enough for the interrogation.
It was necessary to have a ruthless heart that didnât care about the targetâs lifelong resentment and curse.
Raon was still too young. Since heâd never experienced anything that would make him so ruthless, he thought that he wouldnât be successful at interrogating.
âThat was our mistake.â
Roenn looked at Glenn with a sour face.
âThe young master Raon already has a ruthless heart, on top of his might and willpower. To be honest, I donât think I wouldâve done better than him even if I was interrogating them instead.â
âReally? What did he even doâŠ?â
Glenn widened his eyes, his back parting from the sofa.
âHe didnât do anything.â
âWhatâŠ?â
âThe most important thing to do for an interrogator is to show that they have the absolute advantage. The situation can go to the enemyâs favor if they show that they are desperate for information.â
âYes, I know.â
âAnd the young master Raon completely prevented that from happening. He showed his absolute advantage from the beginning. Since yesterdayâŠâ
Roenn told Glenn what Raon had been doing.
âSo are you telling me that torture is all heâs done, and heâs left them alone until now?â
âYes. I honestly donât think I could use the same method as him.â
He was confident he could make the Sickle of the Bloody Cloud and the White Wolf Saber speak, but he didnât think he could be as composed as Raon in the process.
Torturing without even asking any questions went against common sense. It was a terrifying method of torture, one that was bound to work because he didnât pay attention to the prisoners at all.
âHuhâŠâ
Glenn gasped in surprise and closed his eyes. He seemed to be trying to check on Raon.
Roenn rolled down his left sleeve with his right hand while looking at Glenn.
âHe must be feeling strange.â
Glenn still believed that Raon hadnât fallen to the dark side of the world yet.
Since he shouldnât have been aware that he had such a ruthless side to him, Roenn could guess that he wasnât feeling that great about it.
âHmmâŠâ
Glenn slowly opened his eyes and looked to the right.
âIs Raon reading a book right now?â
âIndeed. Moreover, the book he is reading is that book of martial arts that you gave him previously, my lord.â
âHe is insane.â
A cool smile appeared on his face. It was such a rare occurrence.
âMy lord?â
âIt looks like that lazybones had a better understanding of Raon than me.â
Glenn nodded with a smile. He seemed to be even more entertained after witnessing Raonâs ruthless side despite Roennâs expectations.
âWhat do you meanâŠ?â
âHe asked for a duel for the sake of the swordsmen that were being used by Ayad in the lordâs manor, and now he is torturing men with a method that even a demon would be terrified of.â
Glenn stroked his beard while mentioning that Raonâs behavior was completely different in the audience chamber and the interrogation room.
âThe head of houseâs job is to become an impenetrable yet warm armor for their allies, and a cold blade to pierce the heart of their enemies. I didnât manage to achieve that, but I have a feeling he will be able to.â
He smiled in excitement, saying that Raon would become a great head of house.
âHuhuhu.â
Roenn sighed quietly while watching Glennâs smile.
âHe must be really serious about it now.â
It was the first time Glenn considered Raon as the head of house. He mustâve been perfectly blinded by love.
âNo, this isnât just a blind love. I agree with him.â
Since he also had the feeling that Zieghart could ascend even higher if Raon became the head of house, he didnât think that it was a blind love.
âHmm.â
Glenn narrowed his eyes while looking at the floor.
âHe must be getting started now.â
âYes. This is the perfect time to stop.â
The White Wolf Saber and the Sickle of the Bloody Cloud wouldâve become crippled and died if he kept going any longer, and they wouldnât have been dispirited enough if heâd stopped earlier.
He knew the perfect timing. It almost felt like heâd done it many times before.
âAmazing.â
âYes, indeedâŠâ
Glenn and Roenn nodded in amazement after they watched how Raon managed to extract the information.
They were leisurely enjoying Raonâs interrogation but suddenly came to a halt upon hearing the information coming out of the White Wolf Saberâs mouth.
âDr-dragon. Donât tell me, the dragonâs maskâŠâ
Roenn was panicking for once, his chin trembling.
âThe Heavenly Demon.â
Glenn nodded heavily.
âOr it might be the person that weâve seen before. Regardless of who it isâŠâ
He furrowed his brow while putting his slightly disheveled hair up.
âThe turbulent era is really getting started.â
* * *
Raon continued to question the White Wolf Saber while glaring at him.
âWas it really a dragon? Are you sure it wasnât a drake?â
âI only saw the shape because of the shadow, b-but it really was a dragon.â
The White Wolf Saber shook his head, saying that the oppression heâd felt was incomparable to that of a drake.
âDragonâŠâ
He had a significant amount of information about Eden, but heâd never heard of a warrior wearing a dragonâs helmet.
Raon thought that they might not be from Eden.
âWhat else?â
âI never saw her meeting the other Six Kings or the Five Demons. It was just a coincidence that I saw that person wearing the dragon helmet in the middle of the night.â
âWhat was the color of the helmet? It shouldâve had a color if it really was a dragonâs helmet.â
âI-I told you already. I could only see the shape because of the shadow.â
The White Wolf Saber said that he couldnât see the color, his fingers trembling.
Tsk.
Raon briefly clicked his tongue. He couldnât exactly call it a great harvest since heâd never heard of a person wearing a dragonâs helmet.
âNext question. The other Five Divine OrdersâŠâ
He kept asking the White Wolf Saber and the Sickle of the Bloody Cloud questions until evening, but they didnât really know anything.
It looked like the Thespian Emperor was monopolizing all of the information in the White Whale.
âItâs over now.â
Raon left the interrogation room after making the White Wolf Saber and the Sickle of the Bloody Cloud faint, the two panting in exhaustion.
Are we finally returning?
Wrath looked even more exhausted than them as he raised his head.
Letâs just go, please. The bead ice cream is floating in the air!
He shouted for him to please keep his promise because he was seeing hallucinations at that point.
âDid you decide on the flavor?â
N-not yetâŠ
âHaa.â
He can decide once we are at the shop! Just go, please!
âI need to give my report first.â
They already know about it!
Wrath pointed his hand towards the shop, asking him to just go right away since Glenn and Roenn were already listening in.
âWere they around?â
Since Glenn and Roenn were both at a higher realm than himself, it wasnât strange that he didnât notice.
âBut I still need to report.â
Raon shook his head and left the underground prison. He entrusted the White Wolf Saber and the Sickle of the Bloody Cloud to the prison guards and went to the audience chamber.
Wrath mustâve been telling the truth, as Roenn quickly opened the door for him, and he was standing in front of Glenn in no time.
âGreetingsâŠâ
âYou can skip the greetings.â
Glenn shook his hand and told him to begin his report.
âIt doesnât look like the White Whale is related to the Black Tower. HoweverâŠâ
Raon reported everything heâd heard from the White Wolf Saber and the Sickle of the Bloody Cloud.
It didnât surprise Glenn nor Roenn, but the atmosphere suddenly became heavy as if a weight were attached to the space when he mentioned the dragonâs helmet.
âDo you know who the person wearing a dragonâs helmet is, by any chance?â
ââŠIâm not certain.â
Glenn slowly shook his head. However, Raon had the feeling that Glenn knew who was wearing the dragon helmet.
âYou can leave now.â
âThank you for your hard work.â
Roenn told him to go back and rest since the lordâs manor was going to take care of the rest.
âYes. Iâll take my leave.â
Raon bowed to Glenn and left the audience chamber.
Itâs finally over!
Wrath frantically pounded on Raonâs shoulder, asking him to go to the bead ice cream shop instead of the annex building.
âHmmâŠâ
Raon looked up to the sky while licking his lips. He figured that he could arrive right before the shop closed.
âOkay.â
He nodded since it was a promise heâd made.
Kyaah!
Wrath swung his plump fist into the air while making a strange sound.
Raon chuckled and left the main building. When he left the garden and was about to head towards the shop, a small shadow appeared from the dark area under the tree roots.
âHmm?â
He turned his head around and saw that a weasel with snow-white fur was waving its hand towards him while standing on two feet.
M-madwoman!
Wrath pointed at the weasel with his violently trembling finger.
No! Please no! Just not today!
* * *
* * *
âYaaawn!â
Rimmer stretched and woke up from the pile of blankets and laundry scattered around a large room.
âIs it morning already?â
He started spouting some bullshit about it being morning even though moonlight was entering through the window.
âI heard Raon messed Ayad up. I should go there and checkâŠâ
âYou should say itâs dinnertime instead of morning.â
Rimmer turned his head upon hearing Burrenâs voice coming from outside the door.
âBurren?â
âCan I enter?â
Burren opened the door and entered the room before Rimmer could respond.
âWait, why is everyone just entering without waiting for my answeâHuh?â
Rimmer laughed bitterly at his ridiculous behavior but suddenly fell silent.
Burren wasnât the only person entering the room. Runaan and Martha were with him.
âWhat brought you here?â
Rimmer tilted his head. It was their first visit since they came to see him when he was sick.
âDid you come to report in Raonâs stead?â
âNo, weâre didnât.â
Burren shook his head firmly.
âMake us stronger.â
Runaan walked up to Rimmer and nodded at him.
âHmm? Did you just ask that of me?â
Rimmer blinked his rounded eyes, surprised by their sudden request.
âWho else would we be asking if it wasnât you, division leader?â
Martha frowned with her arms crossed.
âI mean, youâve been doing your best in training. That should be enough, so why would you want to get even strongerâŠ?â
âI canât see Raonâs back anymore.â
Runaan pouted while crouching in front of Rimmer.
âRaon?â
Rimmer shook his head and sighed.
âI told you before. You are as fast as an eight-horse carriage, but he is a sixteen horse⊠No, I should be saying thirty-two horse carriage. Thereâs no way you can catch up to him when itâs being pulled by over thirty horses.â
He shook his head, saying that it was impossible.
âYou have your ownâŠâ
âPath.â
Martha frowned while interrupting Rimmer.
âI already know that.â
âThen why?â
âThis sleepyhead said it already. We arenât trying to catch up to him. We canât even see his back anymore.â
She pointed at Runaan, who was crouching.
âWe already gave up on catching up to him a long time ago. We just donât want to lose track of his back.â
Burren bowed and asked him for a favor.
âHmm. Itâs about the Sword Field Creation, right? Itâs not because Iâm lazy, itâs justâŠâ
Rimmer closed his eyes while leaning his back against the pile of laundry.
âYou havenât even become Masters yet. Itâs better to focus on sword and aura training and becoming a Master for now, right?â
âWe already did that.â
âWe did.â
âWe did!â
Rimmer secretly opened his eyes upon hearing their shouts. He noticed that Burren, Martha, and Runaanâs training outfits were all in tatters. They looked like theyâd been training all day long until they came to him.
âWhich means⊠are you trying to get an additional lesson about Sword Field from me after the official training?â
âYes.â
âWe are.â
âMhm.â
Burren, Martha, and Runaan nodded at the same time.
Rimmer licked his lips while scratching his bed hair.
âI donât exactly have enough time.â
He didnât have the time because he was gathering lightning energy on top of wind energy, but he couldnât refuse upon facing their serious eyes.
He was also feeling slightly nostalgic because they reminded his subordinates in the past.
âAlright.â
Rimmer smiled faintly and nodded.
âBut it will be difficult training, as well as being different from what youâve been doing. Letâs get started with the first lesson.â
Rimmer swirled his finger and stood up.
His eyes were full of dignity, like lightning despite how he looked a moment ago.
âHmmâŠâ
Burren, Runaan, and Martha swallowed nervously and looked at Rimmer.
âGo out there and buy some beer and side dishesâŠâ
âHahâŠâ
âHey! Kill him! It was my fault for trusting that guy⊠I mean, that elf!â
âYaawn.â
Martha started to step on Rimmer, and Burren tried to stop her while Runaan yawned.
âHey, I need to fill my stomach before we get started! Everythingâs better on a full stomach!â
* * *
Raon followed the weasel, which was actually Merlin, and went to a corner of the garden.
Since the sky was getting darker, it wasnât too difficult to avoid peopleâs gazes.
âItâs been a long time!â
The weasel put its hands on its sides and nodded at him. It was such a mysterious sight even though heâd seen it many times before.
âWhat have you even done?â
Raon sighed and sat in front of Merlin.
âWhat are you talking about?â
Merlin tilted her head. She was honestly kinda cute because she had the appearance of a weasel.
âWhy did you attack the White Lotus division?â
âBecause they were the first ones to offend you.â
She blinked her black eyes, wondering why he was asking such an obvious question.
âHaaâŠâ
Raon sighed and covered his forehead with his palm.
âSo it was true.â
Raon had guessed it the moment heâd heard that Merlin attacked the White Lotus division, and his guess hit the mark.
He could only laugh because the reason was far too stupid.
âThen why did you pluck the flower petals?â
âI was doing a fortune telling with the flower petals to decide whether I should kill him or leave him, and the result was two-two. I wouldâve killed them all if kill was the result. Iâm sorry.â
Merlin rubbed her whiskers with her small front paws, saddened by the fortuneâs results.
âIt still felt good, didnât it?â
âHmmâŠâ
Raon licked his lips while looking back at the lordâs manor.
âIt did feel pretty good to watch.â
He was surprised, but he couldnât deny that it was pretty satisfying to see Ayad beaten up.
Since the innocent White Lotus swordsmen werenât killed, he didnât even feel guilty about it.
âDonât touch him. Iâm going to take care of him.â
âYes. I left him alive since I figured you would do that!â
Merlin leaned forward, asking for a compliment.
She looked like she was asking for a head pat, but Raon ignored her.
âHaaâŠâ
He couldnât get used to her because her personality was too bright. No one wouldâve believed that the weasel in front of him was Merlin, the infamous witch of Eden who was especially difficult to deal with.
âYou defeated the two towers and even a snake. Iâm so happy to see you grow stronger and stronger.â
Merlin smiled happily. The towers seemed to be the Demon Ring and the Frozen Scent, while the snake was the White Wolf Tiger.
She had apparently been watching the Light Wind division all along.
âAh!â
Raon remembered the mention of the dragon mask that the White Wolf Saber had spoken of as he looked at Merlinâs mask.
âHave you ever made a dragon mask by any chance?â
Merlin had previously made a drakeâs mask. Raon guessed that she might know about the dragon mask as well.
âDragon instead of a drake?â
âYes.â
ââŠWhere did you hear about that?â
The atmosphere around Merlin suddenly changed. Her eyes used to be as bright as a childâs, but a frightening light appeared in them, just like during their first encounter.
âApparently, the White Whaleâs leader, the Thespian Emperor, was with that person.â
âHmmâŠâ
Merlin furrowed her brow without saying anything.
âI donât think itâs himâŠâ
âMerlin?â
âIâll tell you about it when Iâm certain. I need to look into it.â
âReally?â
âHave I ever lied to you?â
When Raon thought about it, he realized sheâd never lied to him. Even when she kidnapped him, sheâd told him honestly that she was kidnapping him.
âIâm going to leave now. As for this childâŠâ
Raon clenched his fist while listening to Merlinâs goodbye.
âBring it on, Iâm fully prepared this time.â
Heâd expected that situation ever since heâd heard that Merlin had beaten Ayad up.
He had prepared all kinds of food for animals inside his subspace pocket, including vegetables, meat, and even rotten meat.
âIt wants you to brush its fur. It apparently has enough food.â
âHuh? Wa-wait a moment! Fur? How long do I have to do that?!â
âObviously, itâs until this child is satisfied. Make it sparkly.â
Merlin said goodbye and waved her hand, and the weaselâs shoulder flinched before it walked up to Raon.
âKyu.â
The weasel tapped on his ankle, ordering him to brush its fur nicely before lying on the grass.
ââŠâŠâ
Raon closed his eyes while looking at the stretched weasel wagging its tail at him.
You idiotâŠ
Wrath shook his head at his pathetic demeanor.
When are you going to eat the ice cream?!
* * *
Raon brushed the weaselâs fur from the evening until late at night before returning to his room.
âHaaâŠâ
It tired him even more than the training or the interrogation, and he didnât even have the strength left to stand. He went straight to bed and lay down.
âI never thought it would be so difficult to brush a weaselâs fur.â
It was as exhausting as when heâd previously scratched a crocodileâs back because the weasel was extremely fussy when it came to its fur even though it was small.
Hey.
Wrath raised his head, blue flames showing in his eyes.
You must eat it tomorrow. You have to go to the bead ice cream shop as soon as you wake up in the morning.
âOkay, okay.â
Fall asleep right now. You will wake up earlier that way so we can eat the ice cream faster!
âI was planning to do that anyway.â
You canât have any other interruptions! Your promise to the King of Essence has the highest priority! Remember, itâs two sets!
âI get it⊠Hmm?â
He shook his hand because Wrath was being annoying, and he suddenly heard a presence around his window.
Glennâs icy cold red eyes were reflected on the window where the dim moonlight was shining.
âMy lord?â
Oh my god, this is driving him nutsâŠ
Raonâs jaw dropped as he looked at Glenn, and Wrath screamed while stretching his own cheeks with his hands.
This unreasonable world wants to screw with the King of Essence!
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