Glenn's smile deepened as he watched Raon's eyes waver in apparent confusion.
'This is my answer.'
He had agonized over many options—whether to summon Raon and ask him directly, or to secretly investigate using the Black Market and Shadow Agents. Beyond that, he had even questioned if he had the right to know Raon's circumstances.
After burning down House Robert, various thoughts had swirled in his mind, preventing him from properly looking at Raon.
'Thanks to that simple fellow, I found my answer.'
When he was unable to make a judgment about Raon, Ogram's words had awakened his muddled mind. Hearing Ogram declare that he would trust Raon to the end because the boy had saved his life, Glenn's clouded thoughts suddenly cleared.
'However, I'm different from that fool.'
Trusting the grandson he had taken in with his own hands didn't mean he would believe him blindly like Ogram did. It meant he would trust him because he was a child he had watched over since birth.
Sylvia might think she only came to the annex building after 100 days, but Glenn had been watching Raon since the moment he was called Sunshine. He had been present for every moment—the first cry, first steps, first smile, first training, first duel, first mission, and becoming an official swordsman. He knew Raon better than anyone else.
'Raon's true talent isn't martial arts.'
Raon had a strong and upright heart, but he became weakest when it came to the weak. Strong against the strong, weak against the weak.
'Thanks to him, Zieghart's reputation has risen beyond its peak.'
Due to Raon's activities, Zieghart's fierce reputation had been tempered with a sense of righteousness. Rumors now spread that they were the most benevolent family on the continent.
'If I can't trust that child, I can't trust anyone.'
This wasn't running away or backing down—it was simply a fundamental act of trust in Raon, the grandson he had watched over his entire life.
Raon momentarily held his breath as he saw Glenn smiling comfortably, unlike when he sat on the throne.
'I don't think I've ever seen the Head of House smile like this before...'
He had seen Glenn smile a few times, but they were mostly heavy or dry smirks. He had never seen such a relaxed smile.
'Does this mean he truly intends to trust me?'
As he had said earlier, it seemed Glenn would trust him not as the Head of House Zieghart, but as a grandfather. Raon bit his lip lightly.
'What is this feeling...?'
His chest felt warm and tingly inside. A pleasant drowsiness, like being wrapped in a sun-dried blanket still holding warmth, washed over his entire body.
"Everyone has secrets they can't speak of, or things they hesitate to say." Glenn smiled faintly as he watched Raon swallow dryly.
"I'm no exception."
His past of pursuing only war and force, his guilt towards Raon and Sylvia, his misplaced affection for the family—his mind was filled with things he couldn't honestly reveal.
"Raon. When you feel comfortable talking, and when you can reveal everything," Glenn said, grasping Raon's shoulder and showing a smile free of awkwardness, "come find me. I'll tell you my secrets as well."
"Ah..."
However, Raon felt slight frustration—not toward Glenn, but toward himself.
'Even if the Head of House trusts me, I can't explain everything.'
He couldn't honestly bring up dying after being raised by Derus and reincarnating, or harboring the Monarch of Wrath. Receiving Glenn's trust made it even harder to open his mouth. He feared losing his relationship with Sylvia, growing distant from the people in the annex building, and losing his comrades in the Light Wind Division.
Thinking that his life as Raon Zieghart might crumble, he remained silent. But seeing Glenn's trusting smile made his heart ache even more.
"-Just a little." Wrath lowered his eyes calmly. "-Tell him just a little about this king."
Raon nodded, seemingly agreeing it was alright for now.
"Alright."
He moistened his lips as he stepped closer to Glenn.
"You're right, Head of House."
"I can't tell you when or how this ill-fated relationship began," he said, "but I cannot live under the same sky as Derus Robert."
"I see." Glenn nodded calmly, without pressing further.
"It's true that I have another energy besides the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation." Raon exhaled softly and glanced at Wrath floating in the air.
"You might feel it's ominous and malicious, but it's not. It's the power of my friend, who is simple but loyal, gluttonous but cares for people more than anyone."
He smiled sincerely as he said the word friend.
'The word "friend" fits best.'
Thanks to Wrath, he had seen a broader world, saved many people, and achieved half of his dream. The Monarch of Wrath who came to him in his childhood had been an enemy, but the glutton here now was his closest friend.
"-W-why would this king be friends with the likes of you!" Wrath shook his head with a reddened face.
"-Hmph! T-this king doesn't make friends!" He turned his head sharply, saying he would accept subordinates, not friends. Judging by his shaking shoulders, he seemed embarrassed rather than angry.
"According to my friend, Angels use divine power as naturally as humans breathe. Uriel's ability to ignore magic and aura while enveloped in golden light is called Ethereal Transformation..."
Raon told Glenn all the information about Angels that he had heard from Wrath.
"Thank you. This will be a great help in future battles," Glenn nodded to Raon, his back to the sea.
"I've felt a mysterious energy from you for some time. As you said, it was ominous yet cold, but also upright and warm at the same time. I'd like to meet your friend someday, even if it's in the future." He smiled faintly.
"Yes. I'll definitely introduce you," Raon promised, bowing.
"Good. Then." Glenn left the shore as if he had finished saying everything he wanted.
"Let's go back." He patted Raon's shoulder and walked toward the lodging first, looking truly at ease.
"Thank you for trusting me." Raon bowed toward Glenn's back.
"Grandfather." He called Glenn grandfather with a slightly trembling voice.
"Kuhak!" Glenn let out a violent groan, as if stabbed in the back, and stopped walking.
"G-grandfather?" Raon hurriedly ran to Glenn, calling him grandfather once more.
"S-stop right there! Any more and I'll die!" Glenn waved his hand sharply, covering his trembling lips and turning his back abruptly.
"Huh...?" Raon blinked, confused. 'What's going on?'
Was it too soon to call him grandfather? He couldn't understand Glenn's reaction.
"I'm going back now! The conference will resume soon," Glenn said and disappeared from that spot.
'Why is he acting like that?'
"-Raon Zieghart..." Wrath wagged his tail with his back turned.
"-T-this king will wait too! No matter what happened to you..."
"You were the one asking me to tell you," Raon said with a hollow laugh.
"-That's not true!" Wrath shouted, turning his head. "-This king has the greatest patience in the Devildom! I can be more patient than old man Nadine!" He raised his chubby fist, saying he'd kill Raon if he spoke first.
"-Enough! Let's go eat!"
"Alright, alright," Raon chuckled and walked toward the dining hall.
"-Today this king is in a good mood, so I'll tell you one big piece of information about Uriel. O-of course, it's not because of your friend comment!" Wrath approached sideways, rolling his round eyes.
"What is it?"
Raon wiggled his finger at Wrath.
"-I'll tell you after we eat! First, shrimp pizza."
Wrath snorted. "Food comes first."
"You're really annoying," Raon shook his head and entered the restaurant Wrath had specified.
Splash! Rimmer, Sheryl, and Roenn emerged from the seawater that Raon and Glenn had been looking at.
"To think the Head of House would call Raon his grandson, and Raon would call him grandfather!" Rimmer bit his lip, sniffling. "I can die without regrets now! I'd be fine if I breathed my last right here!"
"It took long enough," Sheryl sighed, dusting off her hands. "To think it took over 20 years for something others do as soon as they're born. Phew..."
"It's been a while since I've been this happy too," Roenn nodded, chuckling. "Though I think the Head of House is even happier."
"Still, it's a bit disappointing," he added solemnly. "Now that dream doesn't seem like just a dream anymore."
"I trust Raon too, but I'm curious..." Sheryl twisted her lips.
"We'll be able to hear it someday," Roenn said as he stepped out of the sea. "Let's go now. The conference will resume soon."
"You're right," Rimmer and Sheryl nodded and came out to the shore, shaking off the seaweed.
"What's disappointing?"
"If he had just said 'my grandson' instead of 'the grandson I took in with my own hands,' it would have been even better," Rimmer said, twirling his fingers. "The Head of House has favored Raon from the beginning. What a shame."
"Wasn't it disappointment at not hearing Raon's secret?" Sheryl narrowed her eyes.
"I don't need to hear secrets. I trust Raon himself. That kid will become the king of Zieghart," Rimmer said firmly.
The three of them entered the conference hall where Glenn was sitting alone, covering his reddened face.
"Head of House. You're here early," Rimmer said with a smile, pretending not to know anything.
"Did you enjoy watching?"
"So you knew," Glenn narrowed his eyes.
"It was very enjoyable," Rimmer replied with a thumbs up.
"I liked it too. Though it felt a bit late," Sheryl clicked her tongue.
"Heh heh heh," Roenn laughed gently. "Head of House, you're quite shy. Fainting every time you hear the word 'grandfather'..."
"Rimmer. I smell something fishy. Go wash up," Glenn frowned.
"What? J-just me?"
"Yes. Just you."
"But we all went into the sea, why only me..."
"Because only you smell fishy!"
"Ah, this is unfair! Always picking on me..."
"Shut up and get out!" Glenn kicked Rimmer and drove him out.
Afterward, Glenn sat down again as the leaders of the Five Kings and neutral factions entered the hall.
"Then let's continue the conference. Let's not drag it out until tomorrow," Glenn said.
Chamber muttered that she needed sleep early to avoid damaging her skin, popping a lollipop into her mouth.
"Then for the remaining agenda..." Roseline stood and was about to bow, but Glenn waved his hand.
"Before that, let me speak first. You heard that in the meantime? You're impatient," Chamber laughed hollowly.
"So what about Raon's power and his story with Derus..."
"I didn't ask about that," Glenn shook his head calmly.
"Why?"
"Because I trust my grandson," he smiled without regret, repeating what he had said to Raon.
"But still..."
"If any problems arise because of that child, I'll take responsibility with my life," Glenn said firmly.
At the restaurant, Raon exhaled a tired sigh as he looked at the wide table filled with empty plates.
'Are you satisfied now?'
Thanks to Wrath, he had eaten all the seafood dishes in the restaurant. He was so tired he could barely move his fingers.
"-Ahem!" Wrath forcibly lowered his grinning mouth and wagged his tail. "-The seafood near the coast is certainly fresh. Not bad!"
"Wow..."
"-D-did he eat all that by himself?"
"His stomach seems more impressive than his swordsmanship."
"Everything about him is surprising..."
People who recognized Raon gasped at his appetite.
'Now tell me the information about Uriel.'
Raon grabbed Wrath's tail and pulled him onto the table.
"-There's still ice cream left, isn't there!" Wrath shook his head, saying the bill wasn't settled yet.
'This is really annoying.'
Raon sighed and opened the box of bead ice cream he had bought in advance. A sharp minty scent rose along with the white cold air.
Heuk... Wrath licked his lips in anticipation. Raon put a piece of mint chocolate in his mouth. The sharp taste and sweetness, as intense as the scent, enveloped his tongue.
"-Kuuuu! This is it!" Wrath clenched his fist. "-That's what I live for, enduring your torment for this taste!"
He seemed truly happy, shoulders trembling.
'Now will you finally talk?'
Raon gestured to Wrath, who was shaking his chin in ecstasy.
"-Hmm, it's annoying, but I should keep my promise," Wrath nodded and stepped down onto the table.
"-Did you see the horn trumpets hanging at Uriel's waist? They were so unusual that I couldn't forget them even if I wanted to."
Three horn trumpets had been hanging at Uriel's waist, grotesque and unlike anything belonging to Angels.
"-Those trumpets are known as the harbingers of doom," Wrath's blue eyes narrowed frighteningly. "-They are the trumpets that Archangels blow when destroying the world."