The woman with sunset-colored hair and light bronze skin observed Raon as the elderly man spoke.
"Raon, you say? Is this him?"
"What? You haven't seen Raon before?"
The elderly man widened his eyes in disbelief.
"I haven't been back there in a long time. I've heard the rumors, but this is my first time seeing him."
The woman shrugged, as if to say "understandable," and looked Raon up and down.
"Hmph, that family."
The old man sighed, picked up the Heavenly Drive that had fallen to the ground, and dusted it off.
"This sword was made by that Vulcan fellow…."
After placing the Heavenly Drive into its scabbard, he took out the Requiem Sword from Raon's waist.
"This one was made by me. How could I not recognize it?"
The Requiem Sword hummed in a solemn tone, just as it did when it was in Raon's hand.
"It's been a long time. How have you been?"
The old man ran his fingers over the blade with a faint smile.
Vvvrrmmm.
The Requiem Sword glowed faintly with red light, as if in response.
"It feels like just yesterday we had that duel with the Six Kings. You've both grown so much, Raon and this sword."
"Ah, right. Golden hair and eyes, just like Sylvia. He's quite handsome."
The woman lifted Raon's eyelids to reveal his red pupils and chuckled.
"But he has quite an appetite, doesn't he?"
She picked up a skewer from the spilled food, took a bite, and found it still warm.
"Considering he's injured and being chased, how can he still eat? Seems he couldn't take a single bite, though."
"Hmm, that's unlike him. I'm not sure what happened."
The old man frowned at the unconscious Raon and the food scattered around.
"He picked out all the tasty stuff. All that's missing is some alcohol…."
The woman finished the skewer, chewed on some pizza, and then licked some ice cream. She smacked her lips, seemingly craving a drink.
"You're hopeless…."
The old man sighed deeply, exasperated.
"Aren't you worried about him? Take him to the healing center quickly!"
He pointed to Raon's still-open wounds and shouted.
"Me?"
The woman blinked at the old man.
"Do you want me to do it?"
"Hm…."
Instead of looking at Raon's numerous injuries, she squinted at the space between his eyebrows.
"Move quickly! We need to set sail soon!"
"That's true."
With a nod, the woman lifted Raon onto her back.
"It's lucky we stopped by the old workshop before setting sail. Hurry up, take him there, and come back. I'll stay here to avoid any trouble with the royal family."
"No need."
The woman swallowed the last bit of ice cream and shook her head.
"We'll go as we are."
"What?"
"I'm taking him with us."
She wrapped Raon in a large cloth she found on the ground, as if it was already decided.
"You're crazy! If Raon disappears, all hell will break loose! It might already be chaotic!"
The old man shouted, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"We'll inform them before we set sail. No one will catch up to us."
The woman adjusted Raon on her shoulder.
"But he's injured!"
"Physical injuries are nothing. They'll heal."
"Heal? You…."
"The real issue is inside his head."
A blue light emanated from her slender fingers and flowed into Raon's temples.
"Inside his head?"
"Yeah."
Her red eyes shimmered as she looked at Raon.
"If he's not stabilized quickly, there could be severe aftereffects."
"Ugh…."
Dorian groaned softly as he opened his eyes. He felt a strange sensation of warmth inside his body and coolness outside. He touched his forehead with the back of his hand.
'Huh…?'
His arm was moving. Before he lost consciousness, he couldn't move at all, but now his arm responded as he wished.
Puzzled, he lowered his hand from his forehead. The right hand, which had been mangled beyond recognition, was now fully healed.
"Wha…."
Dorian's lips trembled.
'How… how did this happen?'
He could never forget the sensation of his arms and legs being crushed by Orgoth's demonic energy.
The pain and fear from that moment were so intense that they were etched into his memory.
Even the royal physician had said it was impossible to heal, shaking his head in dismay. So how could his limbs be restored?
'Even my legs are moving.'
His legs, which had been twisted like wrung-out laundry, were also back to normal. His abdomen, which had been pierced with black holes, was now filled with new flesh.
'What's going on?'
He had resolved to die for Raon, ready to face death. His only wish was for Raon, his lifelong benefactor, to survive. He never imagined his own body would heal like this.
"Sniff…."
Tears of relief and gratitude flowed as he realized he was alive.
"Ugh…."
Wiping his tears with his healed left hand, he heard someone breathing heavily.
'Did that person heal me?'
Yes. He remembered someone saying a priest was coming. The royal physician had called for a priest. His vision was still blurry, but he saw someone with a crown, breathing heavily.
It seemed the priest and healer had used their abilities to heal him.
"Ugh…."
Dorian propped himself up on the ground. The realization that he could do something he thought impossible filled him with emotion.
He turned to the person who had healed him.
"Thank you. You saved my life."
When he thanked them, the person turned their head sharply.
"Huh…?"
Dorian's jaw dropped in shock at the sight.
"Merlin?"
Standing there was not a healer, but Merlin. He had mistaken the long nose of her old crone mask for a priest's crown.
"Ahhh!"
Dorian screamed and backed away, but he quickly hit a wall.
He looked around for help, but all the Light Wind division members and healers were unconscious.
'Damn it!'
Just when he thought he was saved, he faced death again. There was no way out.
Dorian clenched his fist and stood up. His limbs trembled, but he stepped forward to protect the Light Wind division.
"What… what are you doing here!"
"Raon."
Merlin's dried lips moved quickly under her broken mask.
"Where is Raon? The scent is strongest here, where is he?"
She called Raon's name, emitting white mist, and sniffed around like a dog.
"What?"
Dorian blinked.
'What's this…?'
Merlin ignored him and the Light Wind division, continuing to search for Raon.
"Why is it so noisy? Keep it down…."
Burren got up, holding his head.
"Gasp!"
Dorian trembled as he saw Burren. The eye that had been gouged out by Orgoth was now a clear blue.
"Burren, your eye!"
"My eye? Ah…."
Burren touched his eye and gasped.
"My eye! My shoulder too!"
His shoulder, which had been said to never heal enough to hold a sword again, was now completely restored.
"My arm too…."
Mark Goetun groaned as he stood up. His arm, which had been burned, was now covered in smooth, new skin.
"...."
Runaan hadn't woken up yet, but the holes in her abdomen were filled with new flesh. She was snoring softly as if nothing had happened.
'It's not just the leaders.'
Dorian swallowed dryly as he looked at the fallen Light Wind division.
The demonic energy in their wounds had disappeared, and their faces were now a healthy red. They were all healing.
"Merlin!"
Martha, who had just woken up, drew her sword and stood in front of Merlin.
"You'll never touch him!"
Her eyes filled with bloodshot determination, her aura was weak, but her resolve was stronger than ever.
"Where is Raon?"
"Raon? Why are you looking for him here? What happened?"
"Ugh…."
Merlin cursed, opened all the doors in the infirmary, and, finding no one, smashed a window and leaped out.
"Stop!"
Martha was about to follow when Rimmer and Sheryl entered the infirmary.
"Damn it! She's already been here!"
Sheryl cursed, looking at the broken window where Merlin had escaped.
"Huh…?"
Rimmer, not looking at Merlin, widened his eyes at the sight of the Light Wind division.
'What's going on?'
According to Roenn, the Light Wind division's injuries were severe, almost fatal.
Glenn had ordered an emergency report and provided rare medicines, but none of the warriors here were severely injured.
Most had minor injuries, and the leaders were almost fully recovered.
"What happened here?"
"Well, uh…."
"We don't know either."
"We just woke up, and our injuries were gone…."
The Light Wind warriors shook their heads, puzzled.
"It felt like I just dozed off, and when I woke up, everything was healed."
The royal physician, examining the warriors, sighed in disbelief.
"This is a miracle. No priest or healer could achieve this."
He shook his head, looking at Dorian's healed limbs.
"Excuse me."
Dorian raised his trembling hand.
"Could it be that Merlin healed us?"
"Are you crazy?"
"She's an enemy! Why would she heal us?"
Burren and Martha scowled at the suggestion.
"I think I was the first to wake up…."
Dorian continued, despite their intimidating gazes.
"Merlin was checking on the Light Wind division, breathing heavily like she was exhausted. She wasn't hostile at all, just looking around, so I thought maybe…."
"That…."
"Hmm…."
Burren and Martha fell silent.
"It's hard to believe, but it's possible it was a special magic. Our injuries were beyond normal healing."
The royal physician nodded, calling it a miracle.
"Hmm…."
Rimmer narrowed his eyes, observing the Light Wind division.
'I feel a unique energy.'
An ethereal and divine energy swirled around the entire Light Wind division. It was an energy he had never felt before, suggesting it might indeed be true.
'Merlin's actions were strange too.'
She had blocked the Ten Apostles as if protecting Raon and then pursued him immediately after.
Considering Eden's usual movements, it was highly unusual.
"Why is Merlin looking for Raon?"
Martha glared at the broken window, her expression tense.
"What happened to Raon?"
"Division Leader!"
"Please tell us."
Dorian, Burren, and Runaan stood up and approached Rimmer.
"Please, tell us."
Mark Goetun also stood up, touching his healed arm.
"To put it simply…."
Rimmer briefly explained what had happened and mentioned that Raon seemed to be inside the Owen Kingdom.
"Now is not the time to wonder why we're healed."
Runaan, who had risen without them noticing, fastened her sword to her belt.
"She's right. Let's go."
"Yes!"
At Burren's resolute command, the Light Wind division quickly got up, brushed off their torn uniforms, and headed for the door.
"Wait!"
The royal physician blocked their way, waving his hand.
"You're still patients! Your external wounds may be healed, but you're mentally exhausted! You must rest…."
"We understand, but…."
Martha bowed deeply to the physician.
"If we don't find Raon, our spirits will be more than exhausted, they'll be broken. Please understand."
"That's right. We owe our lives to him. We have to find him."
Burren clenched his fist, his different-colored eyes gleaming softly.
"Thank you."
Runaan bowed politely and led the way out of the infirmary. The other warriors followed her.
"First squad, head north; second squad, south; third squad, east. I'll ask the division leaders to cover the remaining areas…."
Burren quickly organized the search and moved the Light Wind division.
As Martha was about to leave, she turned to Sheryl.
"Has the head of house arrived?"
Sheryl nodded calmly.
"Of course."
"Ah!"
Martha's face brightened. With Glenn here, everything would be resolved.
"But he has other matters to attend to."
"What do you mean…?"
"He…."
Sheryl's gaze turned towards where Cameloon lay.
Glenn stood still on the icy lake under the serene moonlight. He frowned as he saw the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance approaching.
"You're a nuisance."
"Life has been interesting since I re-emerged."
The Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance smirked, massaging his shoulder.
"Fighting the swordsmanship of Demonblade and the Queen of Swords was thrilling, and facing the Demon King for the second time was beyond intense. But it didn't set my heart on fire."
He rolled up his sleeve to reveal a gruesome scar across his muscular abdomen.
"Remember this? A wound from your sword. Even after my second rebirth, it hasn't healed."
The Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance's face lit up with excitement as he recalled their past encounters.
"It's only you, Glenn Zieghart, who can share a sword with me!"
His black sword floated up, growling as if resonating with his excitement.
"You're still mad."
"You have to be mad to be the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance."
He reached out, and the black sword flew smoothly into his grasp.
"Before I opened the gates of the alliance, the children cried for revenge against Zieghart. They wanted to make you pay in blood. But I don't care about revenge."
"What?"
Glenn narrowed his eyes, seeing the crimson energy rise in the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance's eyes.
"Forget about your precious grandson. Forget the past and the future. Focus only on the present."
The Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance raised his black sword, the blade exuding a deadly aura aimed at Glenn's neck.
"The moonlight is witness enough, isn't it? Let's see who's truly the strongest on this continent."
"The present is important. But there's no place for you in my present."
Glenn calmly closed his eyes and then opened them, drawing the Heavenly Tremor. The blade, black as night, crackled with a fierce red lightning.
"Let's end this quickly."