A silver frost enveloped Wrath, transforming into a fierce storm that swept through the basement.
"Hm?"
"What's suddenly..."
Glenn and Rector, sensing the sudden chill, moved to shield Edgar and Sylvia.
"Come this way!"
"Raon!"
Edgar reached out to Raon, while Sylvia, cradling the still unconscious Sia, gestured urgently for him to hurry over. Worry clouded both their eyes.
"It's alright."
Raon calmly shook his head at the four pairs of anxious eyes.
"I don't think it's anything bad."
He reassured them while gazing at Wrath wrapped in frost. No malevolent energy emanated from the silver frost. It felt like a pure, majestic cold energy, akin to a force of nature.
'Wrath's cold energy is amplifying.'
Wrath's aura, which had been diminishing for some time, was gradually growing stronger. The frost seemed to be transferring power to him.
"What exactly is happening?"
Glenn narrowed his eyes, silently demanding an explanation.
"It seems my friend has gained something."
Raon looked up with a slight smile.
"Please wait a moment."
After gesturing for silence, he surrounded Wrath with an aura barrier to prevent any disturbance.
'But...'
Raon pursed his lips as he observed the intensifying cold energy.
'Why is it getting stronger?'
He couldn't understand why Wrath was growing without experiencing intense anger. Moreover, the growth resembled that of a martial artist achieving enlightenment, which made even less sense.
'This might take a while.'
Raon bowed his head, signaling to Glenn and Rector to take Sia and go up first. But both men firmly shook their heads, indicating they would wait. Sylvia and Edgar also remained motionless in front of the bed, protecting Sia.
'Thank you.'
Understanding their intentions, Raon bowed again and sat down. As he quietly watched over Wrath, some of the silver frost enveloping him drifted towards Raon. The moment the frost touched his skin, Glacier activated naturally and began absorbing the cold energy.
'What is this...'
It was an even purer and more powerful energy than Wrath's cold energy. It not only instantly replenished his depleted energy but also began expanding the scale of Glacier. The Ring of Fire and Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation resonated, generating intense heat to protect his body from the suddenly strengthening cold energy.
Just like when he first learned Glacier, heat and cold bared their teeth at each other within his energy center.
'It might be a bit risky, but...'
Raon licked his lips as he felt the competing flames and cold energy.
'I need to make all of this energy mine.'
While his soul had recovered from its wounds, his physical injuries remained. He decided to use the sudden influx of cold and heat to replenish his depleted energy and erase his bodily wounds.
The Ring of Fire resonated at its peak. Eight thicker rings elevated his soul's realm, suppressing the unruly flames and cold energy.
He directed the gradually settling energies in different directions to maximize his body's recovery. Wounds that had been red and split like troll blood healed on their own, and his energy center and mana circuits, which had expanded with his soul's growth, began filling with pure aura.
"Phew..."
Raon opened his eyes with a satisfied smile. Thanks to Murkada, he had grown his soul's realm, and now thanks to Wrath, he had erased his physical wounds and recovered his aura. It was a series of fortunate encounters.
'You really are the giving tree.'
Not only did Wrath grow himself, but he also took care of Raon. He was a demon king who gave endlessly. As he nodded to Wrath in gratitude, the cold storm surrounding him subsided. The diminished frost storm was suddenly sucked into Wrath, bursting with intense radiance.
After the brilliant light faded, what remained floating in the air was...
'A giant cotton candy?'
Wrath, looking as if he had gained weight, was flapping his arms. He resembled a dog or cat whose fur hadn't been trimmed for a long time.
-Uhehehehe!
Wrath let out a refreshing laugh while looking up at the ceiling.
-At last, enlightenment has come to this king!
He nodded, proclaiming himself a great being.
'Enlightenment? Did you really gain enlightenment?'
Raon blinked at Wrath. He had wondered, but it seemed Wrath really had achieved enlightenment.
-Indeed. Can't you tell by these magnificent arms!
Wrath raised his plump arms, insisting Raon look at his spiritual body.
'Um...'
Raon pursed his lips as he looked at Wrath, who had transformed to resemble a fluffy cat.
'Well, your energy hasn't grown as much as that frost storm. But your presence, or should I say, the realm of your soul seems to have risen.'
-Well observed! Through enlightenment, this king's soul has reached an even higher place. It's a greater growth than mere power. If I had risen just a bit higher, I could have even shed this spiritual body!
Wrath frowned, saying that at his level, soul growth was more difficult than power growth.
-To think such a thing would happen in the human world. Even this king couldn't have predicted it.
He smiled brightly, saying it was an unexpected event.
'That reminds me, there's something I want to ask.'
Raon narrowed his eyes at the grinning Wrath.
'Where exactly did you gain enlightenment? You're the Monarch of Wrath, aren't you?'
Though he teased him by calling him a glutton, Wrath was the king of the Devildom and the Monarch of Wrath. Raon couldn't understand where he had gained enlightenment, as there hadn't even been time to feel anger.
-Not from wrath. Ahem!
Wrath calmly shook his head.
-Those humans. The sincere gratitude of your family led this king's soul to a higher place.
'Just from words of thanks?'
-The relationship between demons and humans is based on transactions. That's how you and this king started too.
His gaze swept over Glenn, Rector, Edgar, and Sylvia in turn.
-But your family expressed gratitude to this king without even sensing or seeing me. This unfamiliar emotion I felt for the first time is what grew this king's soul.
Wrath closed his eyes, saying he didn't expect such a change himself.
-It's similar to how that old geezer Nadine changed after learning about warm emotions.
He gazed intently at Glenn, as if feeling a sense of kinship.
'Honestly, I can't understand how a demon grew through emotional exchange with humans.'
-That's human prejudice. Demons are not simply evil. Ahem.
Wrath lightly tapped his head, telling Raon to think of Archangel Uriel.
'That's true. Anyway, I'm glad.'
Raon smiled faintly and elbowed Wrath.
-Glad about what?
Wrath shook his head as if asking what Raon meant.
'That you've gotten stronger.'
-What?"
'You always complained about only me getting stronger. That bothered me quite a bit.'
Though he teased jokingly, it had weighed on his mind that Wrath seemed to weaken as he grew stronger. Hearing that Wrath had grown thanks to him and his family brought a small sense of relief.
'Congratulations.'
-Heh! It's not at all appreciated if you congratulate me now! You've taken far more than... Ahem!
Wrath waved his hands with a reddened face, then cleared his throat.
'If you've grown, why do you keep coughing?'
Raon tilted his head, looking at Wrath.
-Just because I've grown doesn't mean the wounds of my soul are erased!
He shook his head, telling Raon to come to his senses.
'But I've recovered?'
Raon blinked, pointing to himself. When he absorbed Murkada's ashes, the wounds of his soul had healed, and just now, thanks to Wrath, even his physical wounds had recovered.
-Eek! That's because you're unusual!
Wrath frowned, saying he never expected a demon king to call a human unusual.
-Anyway, there's nothing likeable about... Hm?
He glanced sideways, then raised his head.
-W-what? Why have you gotten even stronger in the meantime?"
Wrath bulged his eyes, seeming to sense Raon's growth as well.
'Ah, just now...'
Raon explained what had happened while Wrath was gaining enlightenment.
-This damned...!
Wrath gnashed his teeth and lunged at Raon.
-Why did you steal this king's fragments! If they had all entered me, I could have shattered even this spiritual body and escaped!
'I didn't steal them, they just fell off you and were absorbed by me.'
-Then you should have thrown them back to this king instead of eating them!
'Sigh...'
Raon shook his head with a sigh. Though Wrath claimed his soul had grown, his mental age seemed unchanged. No, it might have gotten worse.
-Don't sigh, give it back!
Wrath grabbed Raon's collar and shook him, demanding he spit out the cold energy. In truth, this demon king's tantrum wasn't really about the frost. He clearly wanted something else.
"R-Raon, did something happen?"
Sylvia revealed a worried look as she watched Raon sigh.
"No, everything's been resolved well. Everyone's awake except for Sia..."
Raon smiled, looking up at Wrath.
"Shall we have a big feast today?"
As soon as he said that, Wrath lowered his hand from Raon's collar.
-This king agrees! Prepare a sumptuous feast at once!
Wrath grinned, dusting off his collar as if he had been waiting for this.
-Of course, there must be pineapple pizza and mint chocolate ice cream, and don't forget to bring that new product that glutton ate...
'...'
Raon shook his head at Wrath, who seemed to feel rivalry towards Gluttony.
'Did he become Wrath from anger because Gluttony took gluttony from him...?'
* * *
In the Arianne family estate, now abandoned by both people and monsters. There is someone walking a path of corpses, shrouded in a black robe. Eagles and hyenas, seemingly unaware of the robed figure's presence, focused only on tearing at the rotting corpses. The black-robed figure stood at the center of the battlefield and raised their head.
The blue eyes gleaming from within the dark robe flashed with a solemn light, as if recalling the war that had taken place on this land.
"..."
The black-robed figure slowly moved towards the place where Raon had defeated The Fallen.
"Haaah..."
The figure, who had been standing still for a long time as if their feet were frozen, roughly parted their lips.
"I wasn't mistaken."
The peculiar voice, sounding neither male nor female, was filled with certainty.
"Clearly..."
The figure raised a pale white hand to caress the ground where Wrath's cold energy had once filled, curling their lips.
"It's Wrath." (E/N: Oh, no. I think I see where this is going. *scared*)
* * *
-This king was indeed a being beyond demons. No one can match this noble soul... Hmm?
Wrath, in the middle of self-praise, suddenly rolled his eyes and shuddered.
'What's wrong?'
Raon tilted his head, looking at Wrath who had suddenly gone quiet after talking non-stop.
-I-it doesn't feel good. It's as if a sudden chill... Ahem.
Wrath furrowed his brow, saying it was an ominous feeling he hadn't experienced in a long time.
'Can demon kings catch colds too?'
-It's not that kind of illness! It feels like my weaknesses have been exposed...
Wrath exhaled a murky breath, saying he sensed something foreboding.
'Then I guess I'll be getting a new reward?'
Raon smirked at Wrath. Every time that guy felt uneasy, some benefit came his way, so he felt like something would come this time too.
-S-shut up! That won't happen anymore!
Wrath turned his head sharply, as if determined not to lose anything else.
'That's not something you can decide.'
-Nnngh...
The creature seemed to have nothing to say, as it trembled its lips.
'Ah, speaking of which, let's check on the rewards.'
As Raon was about to call up the messages he hadn't checked before, with a slight smile, there was a knock at the door.
"Raon. Come eat."
Sylvia opened the door and entered, waving her hand for him to come for dinner.
-Food! It's food... Ahem!
Wrath, whose face had been scrunched up at the thought of checking messages, jumped up like a frog.
-Hurry and follow your mother! This king is hungry!"
Wrath scratched his back with his hands like a puppy or kitten, unable to wait any longer.
'Alright, alright. Stop scratching.'
Raon pushed Wrath away and followed Sylvia out.
"Let's go quickly before it gets cold."
Sylvia smiled brightly as she entered the dining room first. Raon smiled faintly at the sight.
'What a relief.'
The thought that he might not have been able to see that smile made his heart sink even now. His mind was filled only with the determination to become stronger in the future. As Raon took a deep breath and was about to enter the dining room, he saw all the maids were out in the lobby. It was strange, as they usually ate together.
"Helen. Why are you here?"
"We thought it would be nice for you to have dinner with just your family and catch up on conversations you couldn't have before."
Helen bowed her head, saying she and the other maids would wait with Sia.
"...Thank you."
Raon smiled faintly at Helen and the maids. Understanding their intentions, all he could say was thank you.
"Young Master."
As he was about to enter the dining room after making eye contact with the maids, Judiel stepped forward.
"...It would be good if you choose wisely."
Judiel bowed her head, as if telling him to think carefully.
"Choose? What choice..."
-Hey!"
As Raon blinked in confusion, Wrath floundered like a freshly caught fish.
-Hurry up and go in! The food is getting cold!"
Wrath drooled on top of his own head, saying he couldn't wait any longer.
"You'll understand when you go in."
Judiel bowed her head, suggesting he should see for himself.
"Um, alright."
Raon nodded to Judiel and entered the dining room.
-Kyaha!"
Wrath exclaimed at the sight of the delicious dishes filling the table.
-All of this king's favorite foods are laid out! There's nothing lacking!"
He caressed both his cheeks, beaming with a bright smile.
"Uh..."
But Raon didn't look at the food, instead observing the people seated at the table. Sylvia and Edgar sat close together in the center as a couple, while Glenn and Rector sat on the left and right sides respectively, each leaving an empty seat beside them.
"Raon. Come over here."
"Raon. There's an empty seat here."
Glenn and Rector simultaneously called Raon's name, pointing to the empty seats beside them.
"..."
Raon squeezed his eyes shut as he observed Glenn and Rector, who had begun glaring at each other.
'Ah...'
This choice?