Raon. Don't just stand there, sit down."
Glenn raised his sharp gaze as he pointed to the seat beside him. His demeanor suggested he might bring down his Azure Sky Sword on the table if Raon didn't comply immediately.
"Raon. The food is getting cold."
Rector patted the empty seat to his right, wearing a gentle smile. However, his eyes conveyed a menacing look, as if he might draw his sword if Raon didn't sit next to him.
"Ahaha..."
Raon laughed awkwardly as he quickly darted his eyes around.
'Why are they both acting like this...?'
Glenn and Rector had been competing like sworn rivals whenever they met. While the previous sword training was one thing, now they were competing over who Raon would sit next to. He wasn't sure how to handle this situation.
'No, I'll think about the reason later. Right now, where I sit is what matters.'
While it was true that his relationship with his maternal grandfather Glenn had improved after many conversations, Rector was the one who had risen to become the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance to protect him, and had watched over him like a shadow. He couldn't make a hasty decision.
-What are you doing?! Just sit anywhere and pick up a fork already! Kelock!
Wrath slapped Raon's back, urging him to eat. It hurt quite a bit, perhaps because the demon's soul had grown stronger.
'Please just stay still for a moment!'
Raon pushed away Wrath, who was scratching at his back, and bit the inside of his cheek.
'I can't decide. What should I do?'
He found it so difficult to make a decision that he almost wished he could fight The Fallen again instead.
'Normally, I'd sit next to Rector. No, next to my paternal grandfather...'
The Glenn he knew was a magnanimous person who wouldn't care about such trivial matters. But since he was feeling competitive towards Rector, this time it wouldn't be a good choice.
'Sitting next to my maternal grandfather is the same problem.'
Rector had not yet recovered from his injuries. He had just barely regained consciousness, and sitting next to Glenn might cause him emotional distress.
"Ugh..."
As Raon clutched his forehead and furrowed his brow, he heard someone approaching from outside the dining room.
"I've brought the stew."
That voice wasn't Helen's or any of the other maids', but it was very familiar.
"Huh?"
When Raon hurriedly turned around, he saw Merlin entering the dining room, dressed neatly in a maid's uniform and carrying a bowl of stew.
-Hiiieek!
Wrath screamed as he jumped far away from Merlin.
-Th-this was it! This is why I felt a chill! It was because of that crazy woman!
The demon hid behind Raon, saying he finally understood.
"M-Merlin? Why are you here...?"
Raon exhaled sharply as he looked at Merlin.
"I was just helping out with some work."
Merlin said she had been making food with the maids because she had nothing else to do, as she carefully placed the stew on the table.
"I made it with your mother."
She smiled and said it would surely be delicious as she sat down in an empty seat.
"You seemed to be having trouble deciding where to sit..."
Merlin slightly tilted her old woman's mask to reveal her red lips.
"Want to sit here?"
She smoothed down the skirt of her maid uniform as if suggesting he sit on her lap.
"Ahem!"
"Hmm..."
Glenn and Rector, who had been glaring at Raon, simultaneously turned their heads away as if embarrassed.
"Eek!"
Sylvia's cheeks turned red as she blinked rapidly.
"Son! How on earth did you manage to captivate that crazy... I mean, Merlin?"
Edgar widened his eyes as if he couldn't understand.
"I don't know either..."
Raon shook his head with a sigh.
"I'm just joking. Though you would have been welcome to sit here."
Merlin clicked her tongue as if disappointed and stood up.
"Enjoy your time with your family."
Contrary to expectations, she left the dining room after saying those words. Raon narrowed his eyes as he watched Merlin's somewhat lonely-looking back.
'That girl...'
While Merlin usually charged forward one-sidedly, she strangely kept her distance when family was involved. Family seemed to hold a special meaning for her.
'Come to think of it, I don't really know what happened to Merlin.'
Apart from what he had seen through Rokta's memories and publicly known information, he didn't know much about Merlin. Having received a lot of help from her, he wanted to listen to her story if he got the chance.
"Raon."
"Raon."
As soon as Merlin disappeared, Glenn and Rector called Raon's name again, pointing to the seats beside them. Neither of them seemed willing to give up.
-P-please! Sit anywhere. This king feels like he's going to die of old age. Kelock!
Wrath also pleaded with Raon to sit anywhere while clutching his stomach.
"Hmm..."
Just as Raon was about to move his trembling feet while gritting his teeth...
"Stop it, all of you! Why can't you act your age and stop making things difficult for the child!"
Sylvia stood up boldly, slamming her hands on the table.
"Raon! That's enough. Sit next to me."
She called out to Raon while frowning at Rector and Glenn.
"Ahem..."
"No, I was just..."
Glenn and Rector lowered their eyes as if embarrassed.
"Huh? Then where am I supposed to go?"
Edgar, who had been sitting right next to Sylvia, blinked his eyes.
"You should have stepped in when you saw the child struggling! How could you just sit there and watch?"
Sylvia kicked Edgar away with her eyebrows lowered.
"Ugh..."
Unable to withstand the sudden attack, Edgar was thrown from his chair and rolled on the floor. (E/N: I feel like all my illusions about their loving relationship are crumbling apart)
"Son. Come sit with Mom."
Sylvia gently beckoned to Raon, calling him as she used to when he was a child.
-As expected of our mother! Kelock!
Wrath raised both arms triumphantly, saying everything was resolved.
"Yes!"
Raon nodded with a sigh of relief. While Sylvia's behavior like this usually made him uncomfortable, today it was the best and most ideal action.
"Hmm..."
"Ugh..."
As Raon sat down next to Sylvia, Glenn and Rector clicked their tongues as if disappointed. Now that the difficult situation was resolved, their expressions only made him want to laugh.
"Ouch."
Edgar sat down on the opposite side, massaging his waist where Sylvia had kicked him.
"Just a moment before we eat."
Sylvia picked up the bottle of alcohol placed in the center of the table. She poured drinks for Glenn, Rector, Edgar, and Raon before returning to her seat.
"I want Raon to pour mine."
"Alright."
Raon nodded and took the bottle, filling Sylvia's glass.
"Since today is a joyous day, I'd like everyone to say a few words. I'll start..."
Sylvia raised the glass Raon had poured for her and smiled faintly.
"Our family has been through a lot of hardship, so I hope we'll only have happy times from now on."
She said she hoped there would be no more wrinkles on anyone's face, then looked at Edgar.
"Hmm!"
Realizing Sylvia's intention, Edgar stood up from his chair.
"I've been through painful times, and I'm still enduring that pain. Ah, but it's not too bad. Compared to before, this is heaven. Even that Death Knight bastard is too scared to move properly, so things have become quite comfortable. It's all thanks to everyone here. Now we just need Sia to wake up, and for the first time, the whole family will be..."
"Edgar. Toasts are supposed to be brief..."
Rector shook his head as if embarrassed by his talkative son.
"Ah, I'm sorry. I'll start over. I think Sylvia, Raon, and Sia have had an even harder time than me. From now on, as a father, I want to always make those three smile."
Edgar clenched his fist as if to show his sincerity.
"Of course, there's more I want to say. I can't just skip thanking Father and Father-in-law. It was also surprising that Father suddenly appeared..."
"Father should say a few words too."
Sylvia cut off Edgar's words and passed the baton to Rector.
"Well..."
Rector nodded as he fiddled with his glass.
"What I wish for is just one thing. For you all to be happy."
He said that was all, then raised his glass to Glenn.
"I have many regrets in my life."
Glenn exhaled roughly as he looked at Sylvia and Raon.
"You are family that met under the most difficult circumstances, so I hope you won't hurt each other and will spend happy times together without regrets."
He looked at Raon with unwavering eyes, as if telling him to make sure it happens.
"Everyone is talking about happiness, but there won't always be joyful and happy times. However..."
Raon calmly stood up from his chair and turned his gaze towards the head of the table.
"With both of my grandfathers here, I feel like we can overcome anything."
As he said this, he raised his glass to Glenn and Rector.
"Ahem!"
"Hmph!"
Glenn and Rector's faces turned red as they cleared their throats, seemingly unprepared for their grandson's sudden praise.
"Son! You're getting good at social skills!"
Edgar gave a thumbs up as if to say well done.
"Of course, he's my son!"
Sylvia hugged Raon tightly, saying he did well.
"Huh...?"
Raon blinked his eyes. He was perplexed by their enthusiastic reaction, as he had spoken sincerely, not to flatter them. The four people seated at the table seemed to find Raon's bewildered expression endearing and smiled even more warmly.
-I'm also happy that the family is getting along well, but...
Wrath clutched his swollen head and screamed.
-Now can we please eat?! You damn humans! This is torture!
* * *
After finishing their meal, Glenn and Rector headed to the head of house's training ground for a walk.
"I didn't know Sylvia was such a good cook."
Rector chuckled softly, saying it had been a long time since he'd eaten such delicious food.
"I only found out recently myself."
Glenn sighed quietly as he looked up at the darkening sky.
"...It seems we both have many regrets."
Rector clicked his tongue as he looked at the fine sand of the training ground.
"They say when you get old, you only think of things you regret."
Glenn shook his head, saying it couldn't be helped.
"It seems so."
"..."
The two men silently gazed at the sky for a while, as if admiring the sunset.
"The times I spent teaching Raon here were the happiest moments for me."
Rector smiled faintly, saying those were moments when he felt true happiness.
"I thought I could live in hell for the rest of my life with those memories, but I never imagined I'd experience even greater joy like this."
He looked at Glenn with a deeper smile.
"It's thanks to you, my in-law. Thank you. And I'm sorry."
Rector bowed to Glenn as he apologized.
"Given my position, I had no choice but to deceive you."
"I understand. I would have done the same in your position."
Glenn nodded calmly, saying it was alright.
"And I'm grateful to you as well, my in-law."
He exhaled softly as he looked at Rector.
"Thank you for standing with the Five Demons and protecting Raon. It wasn't an easy task; you've worked hard."
Glenn also bowed his head to Rector, expressing his gratitude. The two men looked into each other's eyes and smiled warmly.
"Now if only Sia would wake up, I'd have nothing more to wish for."
Rector's fingertips trembled as he said that was his last wish.
"Don't say that. We still need to see Raon and Sia get married."
Glenn shook his head, saying not to hurt the children again.
"You're right. I misspoke."
Rector lightly tapped his forehead, saying he had said something foolish.
"But is the Holy Sword Alliance alright?"
Glenn looked at Rector with worried eyes.
"I received a reply from my disciple, saying there are no problems yet."
Rector narrowed his eyes as he pulled out a letter from his chest.
"Since we didn't tell The Fallen and the other Five Demons about the Holy Sword Alliance's new location, it should be fine for a while."
He shook his head, saying there was no need to worry for now.
"Still, problems might arise, so I plan to return as soon as Sia wakes up."
"That would be best."
Glenn slightly lowered his eyebrows, as if agreeing.
"So there's something I'd like to propose to you, my in-law."
Rector carefully raised his hand towards Glenn.
"It's about Raon..."
* * *
After finishing the meal, Raon returned to his room with the box of bead ice cream he had received as a gift from Helen.
-Q-quickly, open it!
Wrath licked his lips as he saw the cold air seeping through the cracks of the box.
'You're going to eat more after all that?'
Raon chuckled as he looked at Wrath. He had eaten most of the food in the dining room, but it seemed his stomach had grown along with his body.
'Aren't you really just a glutton?'
-Don't compare me to such a voracious beast! Kelock!
Wrath shook his head rapidly, insisting it wasn't true.
-Stop talking nonsense and open the box. I'm curious what kind of ice cream it is! Kelock!
'No matter how I look at it, you are...'
Raon shook his head as he opened the ice cream box. Long blue frost spread out, revealing four bead ice creams inside. Two were mint chocolate with white chocolate embedded in them, and the other two were yellow, like banana.
-Ooooh!
Wrath exclaimed as he examined all four ice creams at once.
-Survival is rewarding! Kellok, come on. Eat up! Kelok!
'Which one first?'
-Of course, the mint chocolate! Ah, no, should we try the new product first? But they say old is gold, so maybe the mint chocolate...
The demon flailed his arms, unable to make a quick decision.
'If you're not going to choose, I'll pick. Since we've had mint chocolate many times.'
Just as Raon was about to try the new product first...
[
[You have accomplished a great achievement.]
[All abilities increase by 30 points.]
[Trait...]
Suddenly, reward messages appeared before his eyes.
-Wh-what is this! Why suddenly this! Kelock!
Wrath widened his eyes, saying he didn't understand.
'Hmm...'
Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked at the message.
'It seems to be a reward for your soul's growth this time?'
-No, I mean, why are they giving it to you!
Wrath shouted, asking what the hell they were doing.
'How should I know if you ask me that.'
-Grr, damn it! They're clearly doing this on purpose!
The demon gritted his teeth, saying he'd destroy them as soon as he returned to the Devildom.
'Come to think of it, I haven't checked the rewards I received earlier either.'
Raon chuckled as he called up the reward messages he had received after the war ended.
-Urgh...
Wrath's eyes trembled as the message windows popped up, blocking his view.
'There's so many. Well, I did do a lot... Huh?'
Raon, who had been smiling as he looked at the messages, suddenly widened his eyes.
'This reward is...'