Chapter 527

Hey! Can’t you hear the King of Essence?

Raon blankly blinked while looking at Aries instead of Wrath.

“I-is that all?”

“What else would I ask?”

Aries tilted her head as if she was even more surprised by his reaction.

“What, did you think I’d ask you to give me your life or something?”

She shook her hand up and down, telling him to stop having those strange thoughts.

“I mean, it’s still a dragon heart.”

Since dragon hearts could only be acquired by slaying a dragon, it was an extremely precious treasure that no amount of money could purchase.

It caused a vast amount of bloodshed whenever one appeared in the world, yet she was handing it over without asking for anything in return. That was why Raon was so confused.

“We have to ask the other’s opinions, too.”

He had indeed played an important role in slaying Kaibar, but he would’ve never managed to achieve it on his own.

The sailors on the warships had gotten rid of the marine monsters, and Aries had fended off Kaibar’s breath and even counterattacked. Those were the reasons they could win the battle.

He honestly felt like the biggest treasure among the loot was too excessive as a reward.

“We’ve already finished talking.”

Aries smiled while pointing behind her with her thumb.

“Not a single person was against giving you the dragon heart. Of course, I would’ve killed them if they were against it…”

She was saying something frightening with a refreshing expression on her face.

“Moreover, we are getting Kaibar’s corpse. Everyone can live idly for the rest of their lives just from selling it at a decent price.”

Aries told him to not worry about them, since even the families of the deceased would be funded by it.

Hello? The King of Essence is right here.

Wrath jumped in front of Raon’s eyes and glared at him.

Flip the meat alread—

“How curious.”

Aries raised her hand and started to pat Raon’s head.

“How come someone like you was born in our house?”

“What?”

“All of them, including my son, are so coldhearted and selfish, yet you are completely different.”

“Hmm…”

Raon licked his lips. He couldn’t argue against her words when he thought about the direct lines from Zieghart.

“Ah, I guess Sylvia was similar to you.”

“My mother?”

“Yes. I couldn’t take care of her properly either because I was more sensitive back then. All I did was give her some snacks whenever I encountered her, and the way she ate them like a squirrel was so cute.”

Aries’s smile looked slightly gloomy as she thought about the past.

“The look in your eyes is similar to Sylvia’s back then.”

She lowered the hand that was patting his head and held out the dragon heart once again.

“So, what are you going to do? Decide quickly.”

“Hmm…”

Raon licked his lips while watching the dragon heart casting rainbow sparkles on the walls.

‘There’s no reason not to take it.’

He could obtain the dragon heart just by calling her auntie.

On top of making an energy center for Sylvia, she might even become a Master immediately. That was why the decision was obvious.

‘However… It’s so difficult to say.’

His mother was the only one he’d addressed as a family. Since he’d never called anyone grandfather, uncle, brother, or sister, he couldn’t easily say it.

Just fucking call her auntie already and flip the meat! You stupid snail!

“Hmm?”

Wrath yelled at him, and Aries furrowed in surprise.

“Do you hate the idea of me being your aunt so much?”

“Not at all.”

Raon firmly shook his head.

“Actually, I’ve never called anyone something like that except for my mother, and I’m a bit nervous…”

“Aah…”

Aries nodded, showing that she could understand.

“That’s true. There’s no way you would’ve said such a thing in that household.”

“Yes, that’s why it’s difficult for me to say.”

“I’ll have to visit the house soon enough…”

She licked her red lips with a frightening look in her eyes. Raon couldn’t understand what she was thinking.

“Haa…”

Raon let out a small sigh as he watched Aries fall deep in thought. He calmed himself before he slowly opened his mouth.

“Au-Auntie.”

“Gasp!”

As soon as Aries heard him call her auntie, she clutched her chest and leaned backward.

“Th-this is a bit dangerous.”

“What?”

“I didn’t realize because I’ve never been called Auntie before, but this is quite powerful.”

She spread her fingers while murmuring some strange things.

“Can you say it one more time?”

“…Auntie.”

“Wow!”

Aries exclaimed loudly and pulled Raon into her arms.

“Yes! My nephew!”

“W-wait a moment…”

“Count on your auntie!”

She grinned happily for a while as she hugged Raon drunkenly.

“So this is how it feels to have a perfect nephew! Look at your face, ability, and even your personality!”

“Ugh…”

Raon struggled and looked at Aries’s face. Her closed eyes and gentle expression reminded him of Sylvia as she sang him a lullaby when he was a baby.

He was feeling strange because it was the first time since Sylvia that he was able to address someone with a family title.

Her pure ocean flower fragrance was different from Sylvia’s, and it soothed his worried mind.

It’s burning! It’s actually burning right now! Push that female thief away!

Wrath barked while looking at the meat. Like he said, Aries’s fragrance was being overwritten by the smell of burning meat.

“Hey, Auntie, the meat is…”

“Ah!”

Aries finally returned to her senses and backed off with wide eyes.

“My bad. I almost fell asleep because I caught a nostalgic scent from you.”

She put her hands together in apology and nodded.

Gah!

Wrath started to foam at the mouth.

Grill it again before the King of Essence pulls that female thief’s head off!

His body started to rotate as violently as a tornado.

“Shall I cook it for you?”

“It’s fine.”

Raon shook his head. He figured it would be better for him to do it alone because Wrath was obviously going to rampage again.

“The first attempt screwed up anyway. I just need to cook it again.”

Raon smiled while showing Aries a new piece of meat.

“I’d planned to try out various methods to cook it to begin with. Don’t worry about it.”

“Hmm, but…”

“It’s really fine.”

As Aries kept trying to apologize, Raon gave her the burnt frying pan and meat before sending her off.

She kept saying that she wanted to help until the very end, but Raon rapidly closed the door.

The King of Essence will never forget the humiliation he had to endure tod—

‘Hold on, I’ll cook you another one.’

Raon pushed Wrath away as he kept growling and looked at the dragon heart that Aries had left behind.

The outrageous brilliance and the intense fragrance of mana flowing deeply and widely made him feel like the mana inside his energy center had started the rampage just from looking at it.

‘She really gave this to me…’

He was confused because the situation was completely unexpected, but he was also unbearably happy at the same time.

‘She should be able to make an even better energy center.’

Encia had mentioned that the dragon heart was the best ingredient for an artificial energy center.

She’d said that she would combine a sea serpent’s heart and a drake’s heart because a dragon heart was too difficult to acquire, but since he managed to obtain the better ingredient, the energy center created as a result should have the highest quality.

Raon put the dragon heart in his subspace pocket with a trembling hand.

Start grilling the meat already if you are done admiring it! The King of Essence’s stomach is going to burst!

‘That expression means that you are full…’

Shut up and grill it!

‘Okay…’

Raon took out a new frying pan and placed the meat on it.

He grilled the meat while managing the heat’s intensity so he wouldn’t burn it anymore. It was being cooked faster than the first time, probably thanks to the small enlightenment he’d gained about the fire attribute.

It’s never going to cook at this rate! The King of Essence wants it right now!

Wrath barked and shoved his energy of wrath into the furnace. His energy emerged from his finger and automatically seeped into the meat, increasing the fire’s intensity.

‘If you do this, that causality or whatnot is going to—’

The King of Essence will bear the burden! Just focus on cooking the meat!

He shouted at Raon to stop paying attention to it and watched the meat while drooling from his mouth.

‘Okay.’

Raon added the butter when the meat got closer to being done, pouring it onto the meat earnestly.

The meat was slowly cooking from the heat at the bottom of the pan and the liquid butter, beginning to emanate an even richer meaty aroma.

‘It has a nice smell, but why am I doing this…?’

Since Raon was never really greedy for food, he started to question whether he really had to do all of that to eat the dragon meat.

Ooh! Good job! Move your hand a bit faster!

Wrath complimented him for the first time and even patted him on the back.

“Okay…”

Raon continued to cook while putting up with his chatter, and the dragon meat’s color changed to match that of well-done beef.

Good job!

Wrath clapped his hands and nodded firmly.

Place the meat on a cutting board now and cover it with a dish to keep the heat inside.

‘Aren’t we eating it right away?’

You barbarian!

He bared his fangs like a beast.

Don’t you know about resting?!

‘Resting?’

The juices flow out from the meat after you grill it, so you need to give it some time before eating it!

Wrath shook his head at his pathetic lack of knowledge.

“Haa…”

Raon’s lips trembled as he placed the meat on a cutting board. He wanted to just say ‘screw it all’, but he suppressed his urge because he’d promised to do it.

About ten minutes passed before Wrath tapped on his back once again.

It’s done now!

Wrath’s finger was pointed like a storm, asking Raon to try out the meat already.

Raon picked up a knife and fork to start cutting the meat. It was unexpectedly tender, probably because Wrath’s wrath had melted down the mana.

Huff huff! Hurry up!

Wrath started to drool from his mouth like a hungry puppy.

‘Let me take a breath.’

Raon sighed and picked up a piece of meat with his fork, putting it in his mouth.

Whap!

As soon as he chewed the dragon meat, the concentrated juiciness spread around like a wave from the ocean. It felt like his entire mouth was being filled with the juice flowing from the meat.

“Ah…”

The powerful aroma was putting Raon in a daze, and the springy texture was even making it fun to eat.

Wrath was right. The dragon meat was indeed an extremely special delicacy.

Aah!

Wrath covered his mouth with teary eyes.

This is it! The King of Essence has stayed alive to taste this meat!

He endlessly moved his mouth, saying that he’d been living for that taste.

Keep eating! Hurry up!

‘Alright… Hmm?’

As Wrath was shouting at him to eat it faster, messages suddenly appeared in front of his eyes.

[You’ve consumed food including Wrath’s energy.]

[All stats have increased.]

Hah?

Wrath was so happy about eating the meat only to suddenly drop to the ground as soon as he saw the message. His belly fat folded in a thick layer.

What the hell?! Why are you getting stats when all you did was eat some meat?!

Wrath widened his eyes in disbelief.

You are cheating!

‘I’m not cheating.’

Raon shook his head while checking out the message.

‘You shoved your wrath into the meat and fire when I was cooking earlier. Your energy must’ve seeped into the meat, and it seems to have increased my stats.’

There was no way he would gain stats just from eating the dragon meat since it wasn’t like he had Gluttony’s ability.

It was definitely because Wrath had injected his energy into it in his impatience to eat.

Damn it! The King of Essence never wanted a situation like this!

Wrath violently ground his teeth while glaring at the message.

“I’m eating meat and even getting stats for it. I like it.”

Raon grinned and took a piece of meat that was cut in advance with his fork.

Wait! Stop it!

Just as Raon was about to eat it, Wrath hurriedly shook his hand.

You are going to gain stats if you eat it!

‘I guess so.’

Then you should never eat it!

‘But it won’t be delicious anymore once it gets cold. You said that the juiciness was going to disappear.’

Ugh…

Wrath’s chin shivered as he watched the juice flowing from the meat.

Then you should e-eat it…

‘But I’ll gain stats if I eat this.’

Argh! What is he even supposed to do?!

He pulled his hair out, unable to ask him to eat or not to eat the meat.

Raon casually shook his fork in front of him, and a new set of messages appeared.

[You’ve successfully hunted a blue dragon.]

[All stats have increased by 20.]

[The title Dragon Slayer has been created.]

[The trait Magic Armor of Snow Flower has increased in rank.]

Apparently, the system decided to work at once, as the rewards from slaying Kaibar were finally delivered.

Ah…

Wrath’s face turned as white as paper.

He’s just going to die…

* * *

It was a dark night, the moon hiding behind the clouds.

The third prince of the Owen Kingdom stopped his steps in front of the rehabilitation training ground attached to the royal healing ward.

“Are they still here?”

He gasped while looking up at the bright lights that were still illuminating the interior.

“You shouldn’t say still. They are only getting started.”

The royal knight walked up to the third prince and lowered his head.

“They said that none of them would leave the training ground until daybreak.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes. According to the royal doctor, they are training with their lives on the line rather than focusing on rehabilitation.”

“Is that really fine? They shouldn’t be recovered yet.”

The third prince raised his voice, worried about the Light Wind division’s conditions.

“The injuries in their bodies are fully healed now, and they are apparently not an issue. Would you like to enter?”

The royal knight grabbed the doorknob to the rehabilitation training ground and looked at the third prince.

“Hmm…”

The third prince looked at the door in contemplation and ended up shaking his head.

“No, I shouldn’t disturb them. I think Martha—no, all of them need some time.”

He licked his lips in slight regret and left the training ground.

The Light Wind division inside the rehabilitation training ground didn’t even notice that the third prince had approached the entrance. They just kept swinging their swords.

They endlessly practiced their swordsmanship with eyes full of madness. They almost seemed to be venting their frustration for being unable to do anything during the previous battle.

Not much time had passed since they’d started to train after their recovery, but the way they swung their swords had drastically improved.

Whaam!

By the time the moon hiding behind the clouds started to tilt away from the center of the sky, Burren loudly stomped the ground.

“Huff…”

Upon hearing the tremendous noise echoing throughout the land, the Light Wind swordsmen straightened their backs and raised their gazes.

Their flushed faces suggested that all of them had been training to the best of their abilities.

“We are done for today.”

Burren shouted, and the Light Wind swordsmen lowered their swords for the first time.

“It will have a negative impact on tomorrow’s training if we continue any further. You should return and rest.”

He shook his hand, telling them to quickly go back and rest.

“Thank you for your efforts!”

The Light Wind swordsmen didn’t try to argue against him or try to claim they wanted to keep training.

Since they were well aware that Burren was right, they simply bowed and left the training ground. Everyone had matured mentally.

“That was a good time to stop. By the way…”

Martha walked up to Burren, who was cleaning up the training ground, and casually gestured with her chin.

“Where are you going after sending everyone else back?”

“What?”

“Krein said that you always return to the lodgings late.”

She furrowed her brow, asking what he was plotting.

“…I’m going to the library.”

“The library? Why would you go there?”

“I’m learning about strategy and tactics.”

Burren sighed quietly while looking up to the sky.

“Strategy and tactics?”

“I’ve learned that I’m not good enough while leading the Light Wind division in Raon’s stead last time.”

Burren bit his lip slightly, saying that getting stronger wasn’t enough.

“I heard you also return late to your room. What are you even doing in the healing ward?”

He narrowed his eyes. He was also aware of Martha’s actions.

“I don’t think you would be learning medicine… Hmm?”

Burren’s jaw dropped upon seeing that Martha was blushing.

“A-are you really learning medicine?”

“I just thought it would be better to be more capable!”

Martha glared at Burren and shouted like she was screaming.

“Huh…”

“Huh? Does it seriously make you say ‘huh’? Just because I’m learning medicine? Is Miss Rakshasa not allowed to learn medicine?”

“No, that’s not what I meant…”

Burren rapidly shook his head. He wasn’t trying to make fun of her, he was simply surprised. He had never imagined that Martha would be learning medicine for the Light Wind division’s sake.

“Hey!”

Martha called out to Runaan, who was quietly hardening the ground. She seemed to be trying to change the topic.

“You’ve also been returning late. What have you been doing?”

Since Burren was learning strategy and tactics while she herself was learning medicine, there was no way Runaan would’ve been doing nothing. She must’ve been working on something else.

“Cooking.”

Runaan responded indifferently. She sounded like she couldn’t understand why she was asking that question.

“C-cooking?”

“What are you cooking?”

“Ice cream and cookies.”

She nodded while telling her that she’d been learning how to cook from the servants working at the royal kitchen, who started work early in the morning.

“Why would you learn that?”

“I wanted to cook for Raon and everyone.”

Runaan blinked, saying that she’d been wanting to eat ice cream with everyone while she was bedridden.

“Seriously…”

Martha laughed bitterly at Runaan.

“You are such a mystery.”

“I know, right?”

She smiled gently while agreeing with Burren.

“We should also get going.”

He left the training ground with Martha and Runaan while keeping a faint smile on his face.

“Well, then…”

“Yeah.”

“Mhm.”

Burren, Martha, and Runaan said goodbye to each other and went to their respective destinations.

Rimmer and Sheryl appeared on the now dark and silent training ground.

“How are you so lucky?”

Sheryl furrowed her brow while looking at Rimmer.

“Why does a person like you have such nice students?!”

“I wonder.”

Rimmer smiled awkwardly and nodded.

“They should’ve joined a better place than my division.”

He sighed quietly while looking at the spot where the three team leaders used to stand.

“Tsk.”

Sheryl clicked her tongue and smacked the back of Rimmer’s head.

“Stop saying pointless things!”

“But you are the one who asked…”

Rimmer rubbed the back of his head with a dumbfounded expression on his face, then landed on the training ground.

“Are we doing it again today?”

Sheryl narrowed her eyes while standing in front of Rimmer.

“Of course.”

Rimmer nodded and silently unsheathed his sword. A violent storm was raging around his eyes even though he’d always been relaxed.

“Because I can’t pass my revenge on to them.”

“In that case, brace yourself for death and fight me.”

Sheryl created an aura barrier to prevent the sound from leaving and drew her twin swords.

The two swords of different colors sparkled frighteningly.

“Because I’m going to take it as my own training rather than helping you. I’m also irritated at my own incompetence.”

* * *

Uwaaah!

In the end, Wrath decided to eat the dragon meat. His envy was yelling at him to stop giving away any more stats, but his gluttony prevailed against it.

Raon left the Azure Wind with Wrath hanging on his shoulder, completely drained of energy.

The city was still bright even though it was way past midnight. The entire city was noisy, suggesting that even the people from other villages had come to visit.

‘This is how a festival should be.’

Since the festival’s purpose was to comfort the deceased in addition to having fun, being noisy and disorderly until late at night was better.

“Sir Raon!”

Raon was spectating the festival while being greeted by people when Rabawin walked up to him with a beer glass in his hand.

“I was heading to the Azure Wind anyway. This is perfect.”

“Is there an issue?”

“There’s got a visitor for you, Sir Raon.”

Rabawin informed him of the location of a pub on the outskirts of the city and told him to check it out.

Raon nodded and went to the pub. Once he opened the door and entered, he could see Kuberad’s back and two people with their faces hidden under robe hoods sitting on the opposite side of him.

‘I knew it, it’s Denning Rose. And the one next to her is… Hmm?’

The person on the left side was Denning Rose, a purple-haired woman wearing an eyepatch.

Raon had already realized she was there since he’d noticed her presence, but the one next to her was completely unexpected.

The old woman wearing the elegant atmosphere of moonlight entering through the window like a scarf was the Black Market’s master, Roseline.

“The esteemed master of the Black Market?”

“It’s been a while.”

Roseline greeted him elegantly.

“What brings you here…?”

“Since you saved my disciple’s life, it’s only natural for me to personally come to express my gratitude. And…”

Her smile around her lips twisted as she continued.

“I have a piece of information that I have to tell you.”

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