Chapter 88

The atmosphere in the Jinmu Hall, where Valder Zighart, the fourth son of Glen Zighart, resided, was filled with a bone-chilling cold as if the North Sea had been transplanted there.

The reason was simple.

It was because Rayden Zighart, Valder Zighart's son who had returned to the family after a long time, had been in a constant state of low pressure.

Boom!

Rayden Zighart clenched his teeth and punched the wall.

"Damn it!"

Curses slipped out involuntarily.

He had returned after destroying a branch of the White Blood Sect, one of the Omas, and establishing great merit, yet his name was not heard anywhere. Honestly, it felt as if he had been forgotten.

The reason his name, Rayden, was not being called was because of that guy. The trash living in the annex, Raon Zighart, whose name had spread throughout the entire family.

At the banquet, in the training hall, even in the dining room, it was all Raon. Raon! The name of Raon Zighart, who had cut off the Green-Ear Demon, was all they heard.

"What a fly of a brat."

The thought that his achievements were buried because of a tiny bug he usually paid no attention to made him unable to contain his anger.

Rayden Zighart left the room with a twisted expression, dripping with irritation.

"Are you going out?"

The butler standing at the door bowed and asked.

"Can't you see?"

Rayden frowned and slammed the door shut.

"Shall I prepare? Where are you going…."

"To the annex."

"Huh? Why there all of a sudden…."

The butler's eyes widened at the mention of the annex.

"To see how good that guy's face is who buried my name."

Rayden's crimson eyes burned intensely.

* * *

Judiel glanced sideways at the right side while tending to the garden. There, Sylvia was personally trimming the garden plants.

'This place is really strange…'

Even though there were no maids, Sylvia, the mistress of the annex, tended to the garden herself.

It wasn't just the garden. She often prepared food for Raon and cleaned the rooms herself.

'It's not just Sylvia who is unusual.'

The maids he met elsewhere might hide their expressions, but they couldn't hide their eyes. Most of them showed the look of people who had no choice but to work for food and survival, but not here.

Everyone worked happily, with trust and sincerity, and they all thought of Raon as a son or a younger brother.

Even Judiel, who had traveled to various places as a spy, found this annex to be a unique and wondrous place.

"Ha."

Judiel sighed, looking at the annex building.

'But the most special one is that person.'

The monster living in the annex. The day he saw Raon Zighart's true face was unforgettable. He still had nightmares about that night at least once a week.

"Huff…."

A cold breath escaped from Judiel's mouth.

'How can such a person exist?'

In his early teens, at an age when he should be throwing tantrums to his parents and complaining about side dishes, Raon had the eyes of someone who could kill everything in the world.

Thinking of the red eyes floating above the lake still sent shivers down his spine.

'But…'

The Raon he saw afterward was different from what he expected. He showed a shy and childlike side to the people in this annex and cared for each maid like family.

Judiel was no exception.

Except when asking about news from the Jinmu Hall or Karun, Raon treated Judiel the same as the other maids in the annex. Recently, he even helped Judiel avoid a situation where he was ordered to return due to being deemed useless.

Sometimes, Judiel even doubted whether he was really a double agent and whether he had the Rage Worm in his body.

'His capacity is too large…'

It seemed that the size of his capacity was different from an ordinary person like Judiel. In fact, the fear of him was one of the reasons he couldn't rebel or betray.

"Ah… Hmm?"

Judiel sighed softly and was about to tend to the next bush when he saw a black shoe on the ground.

Looking up, he saw a middle-aged man with neatly combed-back hair standing there.

'This is…'

He was someone Judiel had seen in the Zighart registry. Merkin, the butler of the Jinmu Hall and the caretaker of Rayden Zighart.

"I am Merkin, the butler of the Jinmu Hall."

He bowed to Sylvia, who was behind Judiel.

"What is it?"

Sylvia put down her garden knife and stepped forward.

"I have come to check if the preparations have been made as per the letter sent yesterday."

"Letter? What letter are you talking about?"

"Yesterday, a letter was sent stating that Lord Rayden Zighart wishes to visit the annex today."

"I haven't received such a letter."

Sylvia frowned and shook her head.

"I was told it was delivered to the maids of the annex."

Merkin, Rayden's butler, tilted his head in confusion. His expression was flustered, but his eyes were calm. It was clear he was lying.

"Hmm…"

Sylvia turned to look at the maids behind her. As expected, no one knew about the letter.

"When is he coming?"

"In 30 minutes."

"30 minutes?!"

Helen, who was behind Sylvia, stepped forward with wide eyes.

"How can we prepare in such a short time?!"

"We sent the letter yesterday."

Merkin, Rayden's butler, smiled mockingly at Sylvia.

"Even if you didn't receive it, our young master is not the type to consider such things. It's best to prepare as quickly as possible."

Merkin's expression was full of ease. It was as if he was saying, "What can you, the collateral line, do about it?"

Direct-line knights who had obtained the qualifications of a knight held a position equivalent to a deputy leader. With the excuse that they had sent the letter in advance, there seemed to be no way to refuse.

Tsk.

Judiel clicked his tongue at Merkin. The reason Rayden was acting so despicably was obvious.

'It's because of Raon.'

Recently, Rayden Zighart had established great merit by destroying a branch of the White Blood Sect, but he had been half-forgotten due to Raon's achievements. He had clearly come here to vent his frustration.

'Pathetic people.'

Valder Zighart, the fourth son of Glen, and his children were all known for their violent temperaments.

The knights of Karun and the Jinmu Hall were violent but didn't do stupid things openly.

However, the Jinmu Hall was different. They provoked openly and crossed lines that should not be crossed at any time. They were like bulls seeing a red cloth.

'This is going to be troublesome.'

Rayden was particularly known for his lack of backing. Since Sylvia wouldn't stop just because he was her nephew, the situation was likely to become quite complicated.

'And…'

Raon was currently in the annex. If Rayden touched Sylvia or the maids, it would cause a big problem.

"Helen. It's already happened. Prepare. And tell Raon not to come out under any circumstances."

Sylvia, hearing the 30-minute notice, did not panic. She stopped tending to the garden, dusted off her clothes, and gave instructions to Helen and the maids.

From her conversation with Raon, she knew why Rayden Zighart was coming.

"…Understood."

Helen bit her lip and walked towards the annex. As Judiel and the other maids were about to follow her, footsteps were heard from behind.

He turned his head slowly.

A blond man in a neat uniform was walking over. He had narrow shoulders and a slender build, with a long face and nose. His hands were in his pockets, and he dragged his feet, looking like a thug from a back alley.

'Already…'

Judiel swallowed hard. The thug-like man was Rayden Zighart. He had arrived at the annex in less than 5 minutes, not the 30 minutes Merkin had mentioned.

Saying 30 minutes was likely one of their tricks.

"Ah! Young master, you've come earlier than I thought."

Merkin smiled slyly, squinting his eyes. His actions perfectly matched the saying, "Like father, like son."

Click!

Rayden Zighart spat on the garden flowers and stood in front of Sylvia.

"Should I call you aunt?"

"Young master, Lady Sylvia is of the lowest rank in the collateral line. There's no need to use such a title."

"Oh, right. No need, then."

Rayden chuckled and tapped the sword at his waist.

"Even though I said I would come yesterday, it's still a mess. Is this what happens when ugly people live here?"

He trampled the flowers in the garden that Sylvia and the maids had just tended to with his muddy shoes. He spat again, this time on the central path.

"Sorry. We're in the middle of cleaning up."

Sylvia smiled at her nephew, who had crossed the line of rudeness. She looked at Rayden calmly.

"Hmph."

Rayden frowned, clearly displeased, and spat again. He kicked the flowers on the right side as he approached.

"Are you telling me to walk on such a dirty path?"

He spat on the dirt on the path, which was being cleaned, and frowned.

"Hey, clean it up quickly."

"Understood. Please wait a moment."

Sylvia maintained her smile and bowed, starting to clean the dirt herself.

"Hey…"

"Hmm…"

Both Rayden and his butler, Merkin, widened their eyes at this sight. They were clearly unprepared for such provocation.

'Maybe she's more remarkable than I thought…'

Judiel narrowed his eyes. Even as a spy who had only been here for a short time, he was angry, but seeing her smile and endure made him realize that Sylvia was a person of inner strength. He was impressed.

The maids helping Sylvia clean the dirt had calm expressions, but they couldn't hide their trembling hands, filled with anger.

They all endured to the end for Raon. They didn't want him to cause trouble with Rayden here, so they endured the provocation.

"Hey, how long are you going to make me wait?!"

Rayden Zighart scowled and spat on the dirt Sylvia was cleaning. The spit landed on her hand.

"Young master!"

Helen, who was on her way to the annex, turned back. Her eyes darkened with anger.

"Isn't this too much! Even if you are of the direct line, if you provoke us openly, the main house won't just stand by!"

Helen's thoughts, formed since she had been with Sylvia since birth, were filled with emotion rather than reason.

"Hey, Helen!"

"Ah."

Rayden pushed Sylvia, who was trying to block his way, and stood in front of Helen.

"You're right. There will definitely be problems."

Rayden leaned in close to Helen's face. He grinned and slapped her cheek.

Crack!

Despite not using much force, Helen was pushed back and hit a tree.

"Ugh…"

Helen clutched her cheek and trembled.

"But I am of the direct line. In other words, I am the master. Even if I cause trouble or kill you, I'll only be confined to my room for a couple of days."

Rayden's aura intensified exponentially. It was like seeing a beast with its mouth open, sending shivers down his spine.

"Stop!"

When he was about to step on Helen, Sylvia and the maids blocked his way.

'Ah…'

Judiel bit his lip and stood next to Sylvia. He was ready to step in if she was about to be hit.

"You should say, 'Please stop.'"

"Ugh…"

Sylvia gritted her teeth. She did not back down even in front of Rayden, who was spreading a violent aura.

Grip.

Judiel clenched his fist. Even as a spy, he was angry. He was thinking about how to stop this reckless person when—

"Ah…"

A chilling aura rose from the annex. He knew who it was but was too scared to turn around.

"Ah, now the face I wanted to see appears."

Rayden spat and grinned.

"Ugh…"

Judiel forced himself to turn his head. The person walking over was Raon, with his eyes burning red as expected. He walked over with a blank expression.

Whoosh.

Swallow.

He swallowed hard.

'His aura isn't weak…'

Raon's aura was faint. It wasn't because he was weak, but because he had compressed his killing intent, making his aura less intense.

"Raon Zighart. I wanted to see that handsome face of yours."

Rayden, either knowing or not knowing this, grinned and pushed aside Sylvia and the maids in front of him.

"…"

Raon's expression was calm. He walked slowly with a tight, doll-like mouth.

Swish.

He drew his sword when he was less than ten steps away from Rayden. A clear, ringing sound echoed, out of place with the situation.

"Surely you're not going to swing that scary thing? I'm of the direct line, you know?"

Rayden laughed mockingly, apparently thinking Raon wouldn't dare to swing his sword.

"Direct line."

Raon stopped and frowned.

"Ha ha ha!"

Rayden, thinking his words had an effect, laughed and approached Raon.

"I am Rayden Zighart, son of Valder Zighart, the head of the Jinmu Hall…."

"So what?"

Raon's sword stabbed at Rayden like a red lightning bolt.