Chapter 12

"Hmm…"

Raon's calm demeanor belied the trembling of his jaw.

"There's no need to be so nervous. We're just here to have a casual chat."

The eldest among them, with long hair, approached. I know his name. Crane Zighart. He picked a fight with me this morning and showed quite remarkable talent during the aptitude test.

"Hey."

At Crane's nod, the three kids beside him moved to stand on Raon's left, right, and behind him.

"Chat? What kind of chat?"

He tried to back away, but the three of them blocked his path simultaneously, leaving him no way out.

"You'll find out if you follow us."

"Come quietly."

Crane grinned and gestured, and the kids beside him started pushing him with their shoulders.

With his small frame compared to the larger cousins, it looked like an adult leading a child away.

"Wait, let's talk here…."

"It's too late for that."

"You should have known better than to act up."

Raon lowered his eyes and hunched his shoulders, and the cousins laughed, slipping their arms under his armpits.

-You said you'd show me a scene I want to see. What are you doing now?

'It takes time for a meal to become delicious. Just wait a bit.'

Raon's outward expression was one of panic, but inwardly, he was more calm than ever.

"Ugh!"

Raon was dragged to the edge of the training ground and thrown against a wall. It was a secluded and dark spot where no one could be seen passing by.

"Wh-What are you doing?"

"Herb-sucking brat."

"What?"

"Rejected by the main branch, yet you act all high and mighty because of some lucky herbs you ate?"

"If it weren't for the herbs given by the Saint, you wouldn't even be able to walk today!"

"Coward!"

The cousins' expressions turned fierce, like predators eyeing their prey.

'For such a reason…'

The reasons for their aggression were truly childish and pitiful, proving how young they were.

'And they don't seem to think they'll lose at all.'

Raon smirked.

'Of course not.'

At twelve, he was a year younger than the cousins, and they were much larger. They had been training for a long time, so they didn't even consider the possibility of losing.

"Don't worry. I'll make sure it doesn't show."

"We've done this more than once."

"You heard the instructor. We're supposed to chat with our peers."

The cousins circled around, ready to throw their punches.

"You're right."

Raon lifted his head and smiled.

"Exactly right."

The fear and panic in his eyes from a moment ago were completely gone.

"Damn brat!"

The bowl-cut on the right threw a punch.

Raon twisted his shoulder to dodge and struck the boy's right chest with his elbow.

"Ugh!"

The bowl-cut hit the ground, gasping and scratching the floor with his fingernails, unable to breathe properly.

"What, what is this!"

The squinty-eyed one on the left kicked forward.

Whack!

Raon blocked the kick with his left hand and punched the boy's solar plexus.

"Ugh…."

The squinty-eyed boy fell, clutching his solar plexus and rolling his eyes.

Smack!

The one behind him swung a fist. Raon deflected it with his palm and kicked him in the stomach.

"Ugh!"

The largest of the group crumpled to the ground, gasping for air.

"You, what are you doing! Why are you letting a guy like him get the better of you!"

Crane, the only one left, took a step back, stammering and trembling.

"It's just a chat. The intimate chat between peers you suggested."

Raon moved forward as Crane retreated.

"Don't come any closer!"

Crane shouted and lunged with his left fist, followed by his right. It was a well-practiced combination.

But the one receiving it wasn't an ordinary twelve-year-old.

Crunch!

Raon's hand coiled like a snake, wrapping around Crane's left arm and twisting it to the right.

"Aaah!"

The pain of his arm being bent made Crane scream and fail to complete his right punch.

"Not yet."

Raon struck Crane's right side with his left hand.

"Ugh! Ugh!"

Crane screamed as if his breath was cut off and rolled on the ground.

-Excellent scream. But you haven't broken his head yet. Crush it now.

'That head…'

Shaking his head, Raon looked at the four cousins writhing on the ground.

"What should I do?"

Raon turned his head and approached the cousins, a cold killing intent in his eyes.

"Ugh!"

"Ugh!"

"What, what…."

The cousins shivered as if they were cold, their faces filled with fear beyond mere panic.

"Ugh…."

Crane's teeth chattered as if he were cold.

'This guy…'

Even the main branch's Baren and the older main branch members didn't exude this kind of aura. Raon had something dark and ominous about him, not just aura.

'It's like looking at adults…'

Not just any adults, but the kind who had become pillars of the family, with a chilling sensation.

"Deep conversations are always better."

"Ugh!"

"Please!"

As Raon approached with a smile, the cousins clattered their teeth like they had met the Grim Reaper.

Thud! Whack!

His punches left the cousins curled up like worms, unable to even scream.

-You're beating them up nicely. For the first time, I like you.

'Thanks.'

Raon beat up the cousins to the point that Las was impressed. He chose the spots that would cause the most pain, even though it wasn't visible.

"Ugh!"

"Ugh…."

The cousins couldn't even look at Raon now. They huddled like shrimp on land.

"Please, stop…."

"I was wrong!"

"Ugh!"

After thoroughly educating the cousins to the point where they wouldn't even look at his feet, Raon stood up.

"What we did today was a chat between peers, right?"

"Y-Yes!"

"R-Right!"

"Will you tell anyone about this chat?"

"Of course not!"

"Absolutely not!"

Crane and the cousins nodded quickly, eager to stop the beating.

"Then before we end the chat, we need to wrap things up, right?"

"Wrap up?"

"What do you mean…."

"Who sent you to provoke me? Baren?"

"Huh…"

"No, that's not it."

The cousins shook their heads.

"Then who?"

"B-Baren-sama never gave such an order."

"Right. He even told us not to. We just…."

"Is that so?"

Raon chuckled. Their urgent expressions suggested they were telling the truth. It seemed Baren wasn't involved.

'He's not completely rotten.'

Baren clearly had negative feelings towards him and a sharp tongue, but he wasn't irredeemable.

"If you don't want to chat with me tomorrow, it's best to avoid me."

"Understood!"

"Of course!"

"We won't even step on your shadow!"

Raon listened to their responses and turned around. As he was about to leave the alley, an alert sounded.

Ding!

* * *

Click.

Rimer descended into the corner of the alley where Raon and the cousins had left.

"Hmm!"

He licked his lips, watching the departing cousins.

'Interesting.'

He was just killing time, but he got to see something good.

'The more I see, the more intriguing he becomes.'

The Raon he saw today was different from the pitiful patient described by Glen and Sylvia.

'Is he a genius?'

Raon had never learned martial arts and had never hit or been hit, as far as he knew. But the movements he showed today were different.

He dodged the first punch with minimal movement and immediately countered.

The second and third punches hit vital points before the opponents could react, ending the fight quickly. It was more than just rough fighting; it was at a level where it couldn't be called his first fight.

He thought Raon only had exceptional mental strength, but it seemed he had talent for martial arts too.

'Blood runs deep.'

Rimer smirked, thinking of how Raon not only beat up the cousins but also threatened them.

Glen was like that too. He seemed ordinary but showed exceptional skills whenever he stepped up.

He was so impressive that Rimer, who used to look down on humans, was moved to follow him. There was no need to describe what kind of man Glen was.

'And…'

Raon's use of the cousins' words to threaten them was even more like Glen.

"An unknown talent among the best…."

Rimer tapped the ground lightly, as if playing a piano.

"My heart is racing."

His lips curved into a gentle smile.

* * *

Raon entered room 405, following the key number given by the instructor waiting at the dormitory entrance.

It was a spacious private room, not much different from his room in the annex. The bed looked soft, and there was space for training.

'So.'

After a quick look around, he sat on the bed and recalled the message he had seen earlier.

[<Rage> is satisfied with your actions.]

[Agility increased by 1 point.]

A message appeared, indicating that Las was satisfied and his stats had increased.

'Can I increase my stats this way?'

It wasn't just about resisting Las's control; satisfying him also seemed to grant stats.

However.

[<Rage> is furious.]

-It's a misunderstanding! I am not satisfied! It's still not enough! I need to rip off their heads to be satisfied!

Seeing Las throw a tantrum, it seemed the message was transmitted regardless of his feelings.

-Where are these stats coming from!

Even Las didn't know where the additional stats were coming from.

"You don't know either? You claim it's your ability, but you don't know anything."

-Don't you realize that you're taking what I left in my main body!

"Anyway, you don't know, right?"

-Grr…

Las's voice trembled, as if all his good mood had vanished.

-Fine. I'll investigate and come back. Wait for me.

Las disappeared, leaving only the bracelet. Raon waved his hand, but there was no response.

"It's been a while since it's been quiet."

Raon put his hand down. Taking advantage of Las's silence, he prepared to take a shower and headed to the bathroom on the fourth floor.

After a quick bath, he returned to his room and sat on the floor, not even drying his hair.

'Now I see, you're a goose that lays golden eggs.'

He chuckled, looking at the flower bracelet on his wrist. Getting stats for being recognized or enduring interference was almost free.

He had the Ring of Fire and water resistance, so he wouldn't lose to Las. It was all gain for him.

'Maybe I should practice before he comes back.'

Maintaining his good mood, Raon closed his eyes to control the Ring of Fire.

Whoosh!

Just as he was about to start focusing and practicing,

-Grr!

"Already back?"

Clicking his tongue, he opened his eyes to see the bracelet on his wrist trembling.

-You thief!

"Thief?"

-You were stealing the power I left in my main body!

'Main body?'

Now that he thought about it, Las had called himself the king of some place and referred to himself as "this king." He hadn't paid much attention to it.

-The Demon Realm! I was the ruler of the Demon Realm!

'So that's it.'

He nodded slightly, not really interested.

Crunch!

He could hear Las grinding his teeth.

-What is your response? You, a dung beetle stealing power from this king, should kneel and worship.

"Why should I be grateful when you're giving it to me unwillingly?"

-Grr…

Las seemed at a loss for words, only groaning.

-Your arrogance truly knows no bounds.

"Not really."

Raon shook his head. He had never thought of himself that way. Las, who had been worshipped all his life, couldn't handle even a bit of firmness.

-My physical body is now connected to you. That's why the status window's abilities are being transferred to you.

'Hmm…'

-So, I have a proposal.

"Proposal?"

-Let's make a bet. If you win, I'll give you the stats. If you lose, you'll take my rage.

Las's voice was filled with the same indignation and anger as when they first met.

[<Rage> has proposed a bet to you.]