Raon Zieghart frowned as he looked at Roseline, the leader of the Black Market.
"If it's information you absolutely need to know…."
"Please have a seat first."
Roseline gestured to the chair next to Kuberad, indicating that there was no rush.
"Understood."
Following her gesture, he sat down.
Denning Rose, sitting across from him, gave him a welcoming nod. Her smooth, purple hair swayed gently.
"How is your health?"
It was the first time seeing her since the attack by the Flame Demon General, so he asked about her well-being first.
"Thanks to you, Raon."
Denning Rose calmly opened her lips.
"Thank you for saving us again."
She bent one knee and expressed her gratitude.
"There's no need for that; we helped each other."
Raon stood up and waved his hand. Denning Rose and the Black Market had provided many pieces of information without expecting anything in return, so he was grateful.
Given their partnership-like relationship, such formalities felt burdensome.
"May I offer a piece of advice from an old person?"
Roseline smiled softly, patting Denning Rose's head.
"If you owe someone a favor, it's best to repay it clearly and quickly. Many people forget favors over time."
"Thank you for the advice. However, I don't think Denning Rose is that kind of person, and she's already been very considerate, so it's fine."
Raon shook his head, indicating that no repayment was necessary.
"I see."
Roseline's smile deepened. She seemed to like him even more despite him not taking her advice.
"Now I understand why this child cares so much about you, Raon. I'm starting to be drawn to you too."
"M-Master!"
Denning Rose's white skin turned crimson. She quickly shook her head as if begging her to stop.
"You're as shameless as ever, even with age."
Kuberad clicked his tongue, putting down his beer glass.
"That's my best charm."
Roseline shrugged with a subtle smile.
"Come to think of it…."
Raon alternated his gaze between Kuberad and Roseline with wide eyes.
"Do you two know each other?"
"We've known each other for quite a while."
Roseline nodded, looking at the wrinkles on the back of Kuberad's hand.
"He's the one who provided me a workshop space in the corner of Cameloon."
Kuberad looked up, swallowing a piece of grilled meat from the center of the table.
"That corner spot?"
"Yes. I asked him to find a quiet place where no scoundrels would notice, and he placed me in such an isolated spot that no one could find it."
He twisted his mouth, showing his displeasure toward the Black Market leader.
"Well, I just did what you asked."
Roseline waved her hand, indicating she had done nothing wrong.
"Hmph, I'm leaving. I get annoyed just looking at you."
Kuberad put down his glass and left the tavern without hesitation.
"He's more considerate than he appears."
Roseline smiled, looking at the swaying tavern door. She also knew Kuberad had left so they could talk comfortably.
"Now, let's start the real conversation."
"Yes."
Raon nodded heavily, looking into Roseline's somber eyes.
"In fact, we've been hiding information about you, Raon."
The one who spoke first was not Roseline but Denning Rose. She placed her hands on her lap and continued.
"We controlled the information about you living here to prevent anyone from the Holy Sword Alliance or the Black Tower from finding you. I'm sorry for acting on our own."
"No, thank you for your consideration."
Raon shook his head. Denning Rose had blocked the information with good intentions, so he was grateful instead.
"But…."
Denning Rose's single eye narrowed.
"Recently, after the Light Wind division was reported missing, a group has been tracking you."
Her voice was low and chilling, as if that group was watching them.
"A group?"
"Yes. They used various identities to inquire about your life and whereabouts from us."
"Hmmm…."
Raon's eyes narrowed.
'Who could it be?'
Five possibilities came to mind.
The White Blood Religion, the Holy Sword Alliance, the Black Tower, the White Whale, and Derus Robert. Any of them seeking his information wouldn't be surprising.
"That group not only inquired from us but also approached the White Whale of the Thespian Emperor and even moved on their own. They seem desperate to know whether you are alive."
Considering they also requested information from the White Whale, it wasn't the Thespian Emperor. It had to be one of the White Blood Religion, the Holy Sword Alliance, the Black Tower, or Derus.
"Do you know who that group is?"
"I'm sorry, but we failed to track them."
Denning Rose sighed briefly.
"They're a decentralized organization, and even if we succeed in tracking them, they immediately commit suicide. It reminded me of the White Blood Religion."
She grimaced, saying their blood wasn't white.
'Now I understand.'
Raon clenched his fist, looking down at the worn-out table.
'It's Derus Robert.'
A decentralized organization that commits suicide if tracked – that was a characteristic of Derus's assassination group, the Shadow.
'Gathering information about my life indicates they might suspect I'm the same person as Raon from my past life.'
It might sound like nonsense to others, but Derus was paranoid enough to entertain the possibility.
'It's dangerous. However….'
This was his mistake.
Although he couldn't reveal Derus Robert's true nature with the current information, the fact that the Shadow had shown their hand meant the Black Market could now be wary of them.
This would be a great help in future battles against him.
"Hmmm, I should share some information as well."
Raon looked up, meeting Denning Rose's eyes.
"In fact, the person I fought in Barene was not just the disciple of the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance."
"…What do you mean?"
"After defeating the disciple, I was attacked by masked individuals while searching for the Light Wind division."
"Ah, I know about that."
Denning Rose nodded, indicating she was already aware of that information.
"Then do you know they were corpses?"
"C-Corpses?"
She opened her mouth in shock, not expecting the masked individuals to be corpses.
"Corpses…."
Roseline's eyes wavered for the first time.
"Could you elaborate?"
"Of course."
Raon shared information about the Water Demon Guests with Roseline and Denning Rose.
"Ha, they're not necromancers, but still…."
Roseline swallowed dryly, finding it hard to believe such beings existed.
"In my opinion, the group that requested my information from the Black Market and those handling the corpses are likely connected."
Raon connected the dots between the two factions, enabling the Black Market to approach Derus Robert.
"This is…."
Roseline scratched her cheek in embarrassment.
"We intended to provide you with information, but it turns out we're the ones receiving it."
She sighed, not expecting the situation to be so interconnected. Her perpetually calm expression stiffened.
"Then could you do me a favor?"
Raon met the eyes of Roseline and Denning Rose.
"Yes, anything."
"If it's something we can do."
Denning Rose and Roseline nodded immediately, as if they had been waiting for this moment.
"I'm sorry to ask while making a request, but this information must not reach anyone else. Can you do that?"
"I swear on the name of the Black Market leader."
Roseline, along with Denning Rose, vowed that even if it cost their lives, they wouldn't break today's promise.
"In fact, I obtained some information from the person controlling those corpses."
"Information?"
"It was about where they make the zombie assassins."
"That's good news. Why…."
Denning Rose shook her head in disbelief.
"You don't want to reveal that there's a way to extract information from someone trying to commit suicide?"
Unlike Denning Rose, Roseline immediately grasped the situation and provided an interpretation.
"Also, it would avoid suspicion and danger from unknown enemies."
"Correct."
Raon nodded slowly.
'This is an opportunity.'
Destroying the Water Demon Guest factory in Capoly Village would alert Derus Robert that he could extract information from the Shadows.
If Derus knew, he would go to great lengths, even altering human brains, to prevent information from leaking, causing significant damage.
However, if the Black Market found the factory, Derus's focus would shift from him to the Black Market.
This way, he could continue hiding his information and achieve his goals.
"I understand."
Roseline smiled subtly after closing her eyes briefly.
"Then, even if you actually go to Capoly, it should be made to seem like you're still here."
Denning Rose nodded calmly, seemingly having the same thought. Although not as experienced as Roseline, she was also very capable.
"Correct."
Raon smiled at both of them. It was the best way to handle the Water Demon Guest factory while avoiding Derus's suspicion.
"Good. Let's do it that way."
The Black Market leader confidently stated they would track the factory in Capoly Village.
"Thank you."
"No, we'll prepare to earn your trust by providing good information."
She raised her clenched fist, asking him to believe in them.
"Ah, there's one more piece of information to share."
As everything seemed to be wrapping up, Denning Rose leaned forward.
"There's a rumor going around that you summoned the Blue Demon King."
"What?"
Raon's eyes widened.
"What do you mean…."
His heart pounded so loudly it could be heard outside, something he hadn't even considered.
'Do they know about my relationship with Wrath?'
No, that's impossible.
Neither Glenn, the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance, nor even Derus knew about Wrath's existence. It had to be a baseless rumor.
"They're spreading malicious information. We tried to trace it back, but the source remains hidden. However…."
Denning Rose waved her finger with a faint smile.
"It will soon be revealed as a false rumor on its own."
"What do you mean…."
"The rampage of the Blue Dragon Kaivar was so severe that it's known throughout the continent. Since you killed that dragon and earned the title Dragon Slayer, the rumor about the Blue Demon King will die out on its own."
"Ah, that makes sense. Huh? Dragon Slayer?"
"You haven't heard? It's the title you earned for slaying the Blue Dragon."
Denning Rose smiled softly at Raon. Her usually fierce eyes gently curved.
"Dragon Slayer Raon Zieghart. It's your new title."
After seeing off Roseline and Denning Rose, Raon headed to the restaurant where Alice was. It was the place where Wrath had once lost his fish stew to a seagull.
"So, I got Raon to call me 'auntie'! Honestly, I didn't expect much, but it moved me. It's the first time I've felt like this since being called 'mom'!"
Alice's booming voice echoed. He blushed as he opened the restaurant door.
"Wow, you did it."
"To be called 'auntie' by the White Sword Dragon, no, the Dragon Slayer, I'm jealous."
"Blushing at being called 'auntie'? Raon is still young. He seemed much more mature than us when fighting the Blue Dragon."
"That's what's cool about him."
The sailors smiled at Alice's boast and chatted among themselves.
"Auntie! How wonderful it sounds! Have you heard it? Being called 'auntie'?"
"I'm a man, so I can't hear it…."
Alice walked around the tables in the restaurant, boasting about being called 'auntie' for the first time.
Seeing her interact so freely with the sailors made it hard to believe she was a Zieghart, but it was a lovely sight.
"Phew…."
Raon sighed softly, shaking his head. As Alice was noisily bragging, he couldn't enter or leave the restaurant. Just then, she turned her gaze.
"Oh? My nephew!"
Alice spread her arms wide and tried to hug him. Her face was flushed, almost the same color as her hair, suggesting she had been drinking.
"Ugh."
Raon dodged her hug by rotating his shoulder and stepping aside.
"Oh? You dodged?"
Alice scowled, lightly stomping her foot, and her arm reached out in front of his eyes.
"Got you."
"Ah…."
Raon was caught in Alice's embrace, shivering before he could do anything.
"D-Did you use spatial swordsmanship?"
"My nephew. Your eyes are sharp."
Alice nodded, lifting her drooping head.
"The essence of swordsmanship and footwork is similar. It's just different limbs executing them. You need to connect martial arts to everyday life to become stronger."
She muttered incoherently, laughing as if it was either drunkenness or teaching.
"I have something to tell you."
Raon forcefully removed Alice's hands from his shoulders, calming his gaze.
"Shall we go out then?"
She seemed to understand the atmosphere and walked out of the restaurant with her hand on his shoulder.
"Are you leaving?"
As soon as they entered a quiet alley, Alice smiled knowingly.
"You knew?"
"I heard the Black Market leader was here. They must have given you some information."
Her intelligent gaze suggested she wasn't drunk. She always showed a new side of herself.
'I want to tell her, but I can't….'
He couldn't reveal the truth about Derus Robert. If she got involved, even Alice, a Transcendent Warrior, could die. He had to keep it a secret for now.
"You've defeated the Blue Dragon, so it's time to go back. You need to create Sylvia's energy center."
"Yes, that's right."
Raon nodded awkwardly.
"Is there anything I can help with?"
"You've already helped enough."
Alice had prevented the hole in his upper dantian from widening, helped him heal the wound with the feat of slaying the dragon, and even gave him the greatest treasure from the hunt, the Dragon Heart.
More than that, she had shown him he had other family besides Sylvia. He could never repay her enough.
"Thank you so much for everything."
Raon stopped walking. He bowed his head, expressing his heartfelt gratitude.
"You're too serious."
Alice smiled softly, patting Raon's head.
"Family doesn't say things like that."
"Hmm…."
Raon lifted his head, his face slightly red.
"Return safely, and see you next time."
"Yes. I'll come back after creating my mother's energy center."
"No."
Alice's eyes glinted with mischief and laughter again.
"Next time, we'll meet somewhere else."
Raon used the dimensional gate that Roseline had told him about to move near Capoly Village.
He changed his hair and eye color to black, and dressed in a worn robe like a traveler, heading toward Capoly Village.
-Grrr….
Wrath looked around the landscape filled with mountains and forests, grumbling softly.
-This is a countryside! There's nothing to eat here!
He frowned, asking when he would get his bead ice cream.
'I'll throw a party with ice cream when we get home. Just be patient.'
Patting Wrath's belly as if comforting a child, Raon walked along the mountain path.
"Hmmm…."
Raon turned his gaze, squinting. The longer he walked along the old path that seemed to have been paved decades ago, the more his heart fluttered.
It felt as if his feet moved naturally, as if he had walked this path before.
'It should be my first time here.'
It was strange. He had never been here in his current or past life, yet the surroundings felt familiar.
'My head is starting to hurt too.'
Gripping his throbbing head, Raon continued walking.
It took until sunset to reach Capoly Village, as it was quite far from the dimensional gate.
'This is the entrance… Ah?'
As he saw the village and the ridge towering above it, like guardians, a faint memory overlapped in his mind.
He heard the laughter of children and the gentle smiles of adults, along with the warm smoke rising from chimneys.
"Hah!"
Raon let out a rough breath, pressing his temples hard.
'Now I understand.'
He realized why the place and the name Capoly felt familiar.
'This village is….'