After making a request to Helen, Raon headed towards Federick's mansion.
'How long was I asleep?'
-Two days.
Wrath clicked his tongue, muttering that it was pathetic.
-I don't understand why such a young lad has such weak stamina. When I was your age, I slept using lava as my blanket.
'But you told me to rest in the mental world...'
He told Raon not to overexert himself in the mental world as it could be fatal, yet he was angry that Raon woke up late in reality. He was an incomprehensible demon king.
-Hah, you should have woken up after one day! I haven't eaten anything for two days and my stomach is aching! *cough*
Wrath shook his head, complaining that he had been too busy just smelling food.
'You're coughing again. Are you alright?'
-I'm a bit better after getting some sleep, even if it was short. *cough*
He said not to worry while still coughing dryly. It seemed he was still not in good condition.
'Isn't there any medicine that works for you?'
-Hmph! You're just a youngster, how dare you worry about me? Go dry some blood on your head and come back... *cough*
Wrath furrowed his brow, saying not to say such nonsense.
'You make such a fuss when it's time for rewards...'
-T-that's different from this! Would you like it if my abilities only went into your mouth!
He shook his head, saying there was no need to worry anyway. His mood swings were so severe that Raon didn't know how to react.
-Just bring me some food!
'Alright, alright.'
As Raon was having this short conversation with Wrath, he had already arrived in front of Federick's mansion. Knock knock.
"Come in."
When Raon knocked, Federick's gentle voice could be heard from inside the mansion. As soon as he opened the door and entered, he saw Federick examining a patient in the treatment room.
"Raon. It seems you've finally woken up..."
"Raon!"
As Federick waved his hand with a smile, Merlin jumped out from the back of the treatment room.
-Eek! *cough* Eek! *cough*
Wrath let out screams and coughs in succession, seemingly genuinely surprised.
"Did you sleep well? I carried you on my back to the annex building!"
Merlin seemed to ask if he remembered, gesturing with her hand.
"Grandfather kept following us from behind with his eyes wide open. I thought he was a stalker!"
She giggled, boldly making Glenn the subject of her joke.
"The Head of House? No, more importantly, why are you here?"
Raon, who didn't expect Merlin to be here, widened his eyes in surprise.
"Mother, Father, and Grandfather are all here. Of course I should attend to them."
Merlin tilted her head as if it was only natural.
"Shouldn't you change those titles..."
Raon shook his chin while looking at Merlin. He could understand using those titles during the urgent times of war, but he didn't expect her to still use them now. She was truly an unmanageable woman.
"Hey! If you're here, get rid of this one!"
Martha came out from behind Merlin, wrinkling her nose.
"She keeps interfering while I'm treating patients!"
"But isn't it right for me to change Mother and Father's bandages?"
Merlin shrugged her shoulders as if asking what the problem was.
"That's what's interfering! You can't even wrap them properly!"
Martha glared at Merlin and gritted her teeth.
"And why are you here?"
Raon sighed as he looked at Martha, whose face had turned red.
"There were too many patients, so I've been helping out."
Martha nodded her head as if to say it was obvious.
"Are you still learning medical skills?"
"She absorbs everything I teach her very well. She might surpass me soon."
Federick laughed, saying that Martha's talent seemed to lie in medicine rather than swordsmanship.
"You're still thinking about that time..."
The reason Martha started learning medicine was due to her self-reproach for not being able to do anything when the Light Wind division was dying after being attacked by the Flame Demon General. It seemed she was still dwelling on that incident.
"That's part of it, but I also want to save my mother."
Martha bit her lip while lowering her head.
"Hmm..."
"I shouted at you that I would definitely save my mother, but inside, I had given up more than half."
She exhaled softly as she put down the bloodstained bandage.
"I thought it was absolutely impossible for me, still at the Master level, to defeat the Leader of the White Blood Religion, who is at the top among Transcendent Warriors. But..."
Martha made a faint smile as she met Raon's eyes.
"Seeing you rescue your family members. No, seeing all family members caring for each other gave me courage."
She nodded, saying that she now had hope that she could save her mother too.
"I see..."
Raon smiled slightly with his head lowered. Although he hadn't saved everyone yet, hearing that Martha had gained courage made him feel determined that he could save Sia as well.
"I'll do anything for that day."
Martha revealed a resolute look in her eyes, saying she needed his help too.
"Alright. I'll help you until the end."
Raon nodded heavily, feeling Martha's determination.
"Hoho."
Federick drew a gentle smile, seeming pleased with the conversation between Raon and Martha.
"..."
Surprisingly, Merlin didn't say anything. Seeing her fingers tremble, it seemed she wanted to interject, but she appeared to be showing consideration as it was a family conversation.
-Keu! The beef girl has grown even more.
Wrath applauded Martha while letting out an exclamation.
'You always say that.'
-This time I mean it! It's not just a fluffed-up herbivore, she's showing real claws!
He laughed as if looking forward to what was to come.
-Your role must have been significant in bringing about such a change.
'Are you praising me now too?'
-The beef girl is my subordinate after all. *cough*
Wrath raised his chin, saying that he takes responsibility for his subordinates until the end, even while coughing.
'Right. That's how it should be. We should take responsibility for family and subordinates until the end.'
Raon reflected on Wrath's sincerity and then looked at Federick.
"How are Mother and the others?"
"They haven't woken up yet, but they've entered the recovery phase."
Federick lowered his hand as if to say not to worry.
"May I see them for a moment?"
"I'll guide you!"
Merlin jumped out as if she had been waiting and opened the door to the right ward.
"Phew..."
Raon exhaled softly and entered the ward.
"I've been looking after them constantly. I wrapped their bandages, gave them medicine, and even massaged them!"
Merlin beamed, slightly bowing her head as if asking for praise.
"Hmm..."
As Merlin said, Sylvia, Rector, and Edgar's complexions had improved. Their breathing seemed much more stable than before, suggesting they might wake up soon.
-Mom! *cough*
Wrath sniffled while sticking to Sylvia's forehead.
-This guy keeps not giving me food and just sleeping! I miss you, Mom!
He stroked Sylvia's head, telling her to wake up soon.
"Thank you. Really."
Raon bowed to Merlin. He felt grateful and sorry for everything that happened during the war and afterward.
"Why are you bowing between us?"
Merlin straightened his waist, saying to stand up, and then held both his hands tightly.
"Already in front of the family? Isn't it a bit early?"
She narrowed her eyes and curled up the corners of her mouth.
"...You're the one holding my hands?"
Raon shrugged his shoulders after letting go of Merlin's hands.
"By the way, where's Sia... I mean, Older Sister?"
Only Edgar, Rector, and Sylvia were in this ward, and Sia was nowhere to be seen.
"There's a possibility she might go berserk, so Grandfather is guarding her."
Merlin pointed towards the main building, saying that Glenn was protecting Sia.
"Merlin. I need to enter Older Sister's mental world again, can you help me?"
"Right now? Won't it be difficult?"
"It's fine."
Although his body and mind were still stiff, he couldn't just sit still after seeing Murkada's past.
"Alright."
Merlin said she would go ahead and prepare as it would take some time, and left for the Lord's Manor. She seemed to treat entering the audience chamber, which even direct lineage members feared, like a walk in the park. It was unbelievable to watch.
-Aren't you going to follow her right away?
'I have something to do before that.'
Raon left Federick's mansion and returned to the annex building. In that short time, the dining table in the annex was set with food carefully prepared by Helen and the maids.
"You thought well! To protect Sylvia, even you need to eat properly, Young Master!"
Helen said it was fortunate as she pushed the dishes on the table towards him.
-Huh! W-what are these foods! *cough*
Wrath drooled while looking at the prepared dishes, as if he hadn't expected this at all.
'While you were whining about being hungry, I asked Helen to prepare some food.'
Raon waved his hand as he sat at the table.
'The timing isn't right now. When everyone wakes up, I'll throw a party with the dishes you like.'
-This is more than enough!
Wrath grinned, saying he was satisfied with just this.
'Then, the first one is...'
-Of course, it's pineapple pizza!
He pointed at the pizza with half a pineapple on top as if to say there was no need to ask.
'Ah...'
* * *
Raon told Glenn and Merlin, who were waiting in the basement of the audience chamber, about what happened in the mental world and about Murkada's dream.
"Hmm, I haven't heard of such an incident. No, I should say there are too many to find easily."
Glenn furrowed his brow, saying that even now, there are incidents of capturing quietly living monsters or spirit beasts to boost performance.
"If the entire Orc tribe possessed wisdom, they must have been an ancient race."
Merlin exhaled softly while fiddling with the old woman's mask.
"Ancient race?"
"Eden's ultimate goal. They were special beings who lived during the era ruled by the Demonic Dragon of destruction. They possessed wisdom and martial prowess beyond humans."
She clicked her tongue, saying there would be hardly any left now.
"The reason that human named Essian revisited the forest must have been because he knew the Green King and the other Orcs were an ancient race, and wanted to achieve a great accomplishment."
Merlin clenched her fist, saying it was a terrible thing. It seemed she had experienced something similar.
-Sniff...
Wrath suddenly sniffled and lowered his head.
-I didn't know that much, poor fellow!
He reddened his eyes as if empathizing with Murkada's anger and despair.
'That's why. We need to help him attain enlightenment.'
Raon sighed and looked at Merlin.
"I'm going in again."
"Okay. Got it."
Merlin said to wait a little and concentrated mana in both hands.
"Will you be alright?"
Glenn narrowed his eyes as if worried.
"Entering someone else's mental world repeatedly isn't good."
"Right now, I'm the only one who can do this. And..."
Raon nodded with a faint smile.
"I want to raise Older Sister before Mother wakes up."
"I see..."
Glenn gently patted his shoulder, seeming to know he couldn't stop him.
"Just don't overdo it."
"Yes."
As Raon nodded and looked at Merlin, Wrath waved his hand.
-I won't go with you this time.
Wrath shook his head, saying he should just sleep in the bracelet since his stomach was full.
-I've said everything I needed to say to that guy.
'What you needed to say?'
-There was such a thing!
He entered the bracelet, telling Raon not to ask any more questions.
'How fickle.'
Smiling faintly, he looked at Merlin. She nodded as if ready.
"Then I'll be going."
Raon took a deep breath and reached out towards the blue pillar Merlin had set up. Whoosh! The view of Glenn and Merlin changed in an instant, and a blackened dead forest came into view. It was the mental world of the Green King. Murkada was standing in the center of the forest, holding a broken stone sword, just like when Raon first saw him.
"Why did you come back?"
He frowned as if he didn't understand.
"I said I'd come back."
Raon approached Murka and drew the Heavenly Drive. Rumble! Murka raised a dense fighting spirit over his stone sword, seeming to take it as an invitation to fight.
"Let's spar."
Unlike Murka, Raon held out the Heavenly Drive while raising a calm aura.
"What...?"
Murka widened his eyes as if asking what Raon was talking about.
"The swordsmen of Zieghart, where I belong, cultivate friendship and skill through sparring. It's training where we study each other's swordsmanship with swords that don't contain killing intent."
"..."
Murkada's eyes trembled as if he didn't know what Raon was thinking. Thud. Raon took a step closer to the confused Murkada and lightly tapped the face of the stone sword with the Heavenly Drive.
"Since our swords have crossed, I'll take it that you've accepted."
Smiling faintly, he strongly deflected Murkada's stone sword. With a clang, Murkada's arm swayed as if it would fly off.
"Ugh!"
Murkada swung his stone sword roughly with his eyebrows deeply lowered. Whoosh! Raon blocked Murkada's sword strike and slowly opened his lips.
"I was once leashed by humans too."
"What? What are you..."
"Unlike you, I wasn't deceived, but from the beginning, my soul was in that person's hands. There was nothing I wanted to do, nothing I could do."
He told Murkada about his past. Of course, he couldn't talk about reincarnation, so he appropriately modified it to sound like something that happened in his childhood.
"...That's how I was able to save Habun Castle. Looking back now, each step was like walking on thin ice. It was luck gained through the recklessness of my youth and the favor of the castle lord. Ah, I have a child I brought from there and a gift, but... Oh? Looks like time's up."
Raon smiled wryly as he looked at his hands becoming faint as if about to disappear. There were so many things he had experienced that the time he could stay in the mental world passed while talking about Habun Castle.
"I'll be back soon."
Raon waved to the still dazed Murkada and vanished like smoke from the mental world.
"So..."
Murkada deeply bit his lip as he looked at where Raon had disappeared.
"Who's that child, and what's the gift..."
* * *
Woong! The light that surged from inside the helmet disappeared, and Raon slumped down.
"Looks like it's over."
Merlin grinned as she looked at Raon.
"Indeed."
Glenn nodded and first moved Sia to the bed.
"Oof."
Meanwhile, Merlin lifted Raon onto her back and stood up.
"Then I'll take Raon to the annex..."
"Stop right there."
Glenn blocked Merlin's path and frowned.
"I'll carry him today."
"What? Why?"
"You carried him yesterday, so it's right that I take him today."
He reached out his hand as if to say there would be no refusal.
"What? There's no such thing!"
Merlin didn't let go of Raon, saying it wasn't allowed.
"I can't smell Raon except at times like this!"
"What smell! Stop saying strange things!"
When Glenn wiggled his fingers saying it absolutely wasn't allowed, Raon, who had been on Merlin's back, was suddenly in his hands.
"Even if you're Grandfather, some things aren't allowed!"
Merlin clung to Glenn's robe, shouting that it absolutely wasn't allowed.
"Ugh..."
Glenn's lips trembled as he looked at Merlin clinging like a leech.
"Aren't you afraid of me at all?"
"Huh? Why should I be afraid of Grandfather?"
Merlin shook her head with her eyes wide open.
'This girl really...'
Unlike others, she wasn't intimidated by him and called him Grandfather, which he couldn't understand. He wanted to shake her off roughly, but he couldn't treat her carelessly as she was a benefactor to Raon and Sia. It was frustrating.
"Enough! I'm taking him today!"
Glenn left that message and immediately went up the stairs.
"No way!"
When Merlin clapped her hands while shaking her head, Raon, who had been in Glenn's hands, returned to Merlin's back.
"I'll go first!"
"Where to!"
When Glenn reached out his hand again, Raon flowed out and was caught in his grasp. He immediately went up the stairs, as if determined not to be fooled by Merlin again.
"Ugh!"
Merlin screamed and followed closely behind Glenn.
"Even if you're Grandfather, there are things I can't give up!"
The two moved to the annex building together, playing a game of tag.
* * *
As soon as Raon regained consciousness, he went back to the audience chamber and entered Murkada's mental world. He continued to tell Murkada about the path he had walked while sparring with him.
"...That's how I was able to defeat the ghosts of Eden and save the Ragged Saint. I was glad I could repay the kindness from my childhood."
"Those Eden bastards are everywhere, aren't they."
"I was once kidnapped by Eden during a mission, and when I thought there was no way out, the Head of House and others came to rescue me. The emotion I felt then is indescribable. It was the day I felt the intangible value of connections."
"Connections are a value that our tribe also cherishes. To think even people who dislike you helped, your family must be like a tribe."
"The House Arianne we fought this time was originally a space called the Swamp of Death. A Specter of Eden in that place..."
"To go so far as to toy with life and insult the dead, he's a being whose very soul should be annihilated. It's fortunate that you dealt with him."
Murka, who at first didn't even respond, listened attentively to Raon's story, expressing joy, surprise, and bewilderment. He seemed to be fully immersed in the story that accompanied their sparring.
"...So I was able to save my family this time."
Raon lowered his sword with a heavy sigh. He had told Murkada about his entire life, ending with the story of reuniting with his family. There was nothing left to say now.
"Then your story isn't over yet."
Murkada smacked his lips as if disappointed and lowered his stone sword to the ground.
"Like my ancestors, I wanted to have a good relationship with humans. With humans like you."
His gaze, which had been looking up at the grayish-white sky, slowly fell on Raon.
"It seems it's finally happening now. Even if it's the end, I'm overjoyed."
Murkada smiled with eyes filled with warmth rather than fighting spirit.
"You..."
"The oath I made to protect that child was to not move from this place, and to not let my heart be subdued."
He nodded and gripped his stone sword in reverse.
"What are you suddenly talking about?"
Raon frowned as he looked at Murkada.
"Thank you."
Murka drew an even deeper smile and stabbed his own chest with the broken stone sword. Squelch! The stone sword penetrated his chest, and red blood flowed out.
"Murkada!"
"This is the oath I made. If I die here by someone else's hand, the child named Sia will never wake up. I thought it was better for her not to wake up than to be used as a killing machine by those evil bastards."
Murkada told Raon about the oath he had made while spitting black blood from his mouth.
"But with you here, it's different. I believe in you and want to revive that child again."
He pulled out the stone sword that was piercing his heart without erasing his smile. Splurt! Red blood, no different from a human's, gushed out and soaked the dead black forest.
"Why..."
Raon swallowed dry saliva as he looked at Murkada.
"You were deceived by humans, so why did you protect a human?"
He couldn't believe that Murkada, who had been betrayed by humans, had protected Sia with an oath. It was something he could never do himself.
"Just because a beast bites doesn't mean I should become a beast too."
Murkada smiled while saying something more human than anyone else, despite his Orc appearance.
"I'll watch over your life until the end through this child's eyes."
With those words as his last, he scattered into black ashes along with the other Orcs. Whoosh! A soft light rose from the ground where Murkada had been standing until the end.