Chapter 92

Sylvia was tidying up the garden she hadn't finished yesterday. With her familiar movements, the messy shrubs began to transform into soft, round cushions.

"Fortunately, it's not too damaged."

Helen, who had been assisting from behind, approached her side.

"That's true. If we just put in a little effort, it might even be better than before."

Sylvia smiled faintly and picked up the shears. She seemed to be trying to erase all traces of the chaos caused by Rayden, cleaning up the messy areas meticulously.

"Madam."

"Yes?"

"Is it alright to leave the young master as he is?"

Helen's face was ashen gray, and it seemed she hadn't slept well due to worry. The other maids, who seemed to be in a similar state, blinked their eyes simultaneously.

"We need to stop the duel somehow..."

"I thought the same at first."

Sylvia handed the shears to Helen and nodded.

"We must stop it at all costs. I thought it was absolutely necessary to prevent the duel from happening. I was going to go to Father right away."

"But why..."

"Raon. That child has already become a knight in every sense."

"Oh..."

"Before he left on his first mission, I told him to live proudly, just like the knight Sigurd used to be."

She turned around, met Helen's eyes, and smiled at the maids.

"Raon is living much more proudly and confidently than I ever did. I'm even ashamed of myself compared to him."

"Madam..."

"If the child is making such a face, how can I not believe in him? And..."

Sylvia's lips curved slightly as she looked at the annex where Raon was.

"When Helen said Raon would be fine, I had a feeling that everything would really be alright. Our job is to believe in him and wait with a smile."

* * *

Raon had memorized all the information about Rayden that Judiel had given him and then burned it. Although he hadn't seen Rayden's sword techniques in action, the detailed information made it seem as if he could visualize them in his mind.

'If I practice this way, it should work.'

His goal was to overwhelm Rayden using ordinary sword techniques and the fluid sword style and Garan step. With this information, he could prepare for the duel much more easily.

Based on Judiel's information, he slightly altered the flow of the steps and sword techniques and began his practice. Imagining the enemy's movements, he swung his sword and used the steps, making his movements much more systematic.

Huuu!

While he was deeply engrossed in practice, a thin coldness rose from the ice flower bracelet.

-How pitiful.

Las clicked his tongue and sneered.

-You have to put in so much effort to deal with a mere trash. If it were me, I would freeze him to the bone with just a breath.

"Even if we fight now, defeating him would be easy."

Raon blew a breath and pushed Las away.

"The important thing is to overwhelm him. To the point where his sword doesn't even touch my body."

-You don't understand. Isn't winning enough?

"No."

He shook his head. If it were just a simple duel, it wouldn't matter how he won, but this time was different.

"By touching Rayden, I've become a target for the main branch and their followers. Even if I win this duel and escape the danger of the Jinmu War, there's a possibility that others will target me."

In any family, there is a high and thick wall between the main and collateral branches. In a prestigious family like the Zigharts, that wall is impenetrably thick.

The main branch and their followers do not want the collateral branches to reach their positions, even if they were once part of the main branch.

'That's why I need to show them.'

I need to make it clear to Glen that I am more useful than the main branch.

-From ancient times, humans have been obsessed with the blood of their ancestors, not even realizing that it's all the same red. They're not even vampires. It's a dirty and vulgar tradition.

"Surprisingly, we agree on this."

The idea that he and this demon, who always makes him angry, could agree on something was absurd, and he let out a hollow laugh.

-Work hard. Everything you have will eventually belong to me.

Las left that message and returned to the bracelet.

"Wow, you can really ruin the mood with just a few words."

Raon stood up with a cold smile. Just as he was about to resume practice, he sensed someone approaching.

'It's not Judiel.'

It wasn't Sylvia or Helen either, but the presence was very familiar. As he waited, a small doll-like figure appeared.

"Huh?"

Dull eyes, fluttering silver hair, and snow-white skin. The person approaching the clearing was Runan.

"Runan?"

"Yes."

Runan, hugging a bundle containing something, walked over like a cat and sat down beside him, leaning against a tree.

"Why are you here...?"

"Duel."

It seemed Runan already knew that Raon was going to fight Rayden. Of course, it wasn't just a simple fight but a duel.

"That's why you came."

She began to fidget with her small hands and unwrap the bundle.

"Hmm..."

As Raon watched Runan, he felt many eyes on him and looked up. Behind the walls, rocks, and trees, Sylvia, Helen, and the maids were watching.

'Well, those people.'

Just when he thought they were getting serious, they relaxed again. They are truly strange people.

"Alright."

He turned his gaze to Runan's voice. Inside the carefully wrapped bundle was the ice cream box she carried like a treasure.

Thud.

When Runan opened the box, five larger and shinier pearl ice creams than before emitted a white coldness.

"Eat."

Runan held out the open box. Her dull eyes sparkled like the ice cream, suggesting that he should eat as much as he wanted.

"Hmm."

Raon looked at the ice cream for a moment without touching it.

"Eat."

When he remained still, Runan waved her hands. Looking into her eyes, he felt he should eat something. However, he had to choose something other than the pink ice cream she liked.

-What are you doing! Eat quickly!

Las, who had just returned to the bracelet, popped out like a mole.

-I'm drawn to the green one! Eat the green one with chocolate! Hurry!

Las, becoming more anxious as Raon didn't touch the ice cream, started to wildly emit coldness.

'Annoying.'

He frowned and ignored the green ice cream Las wanted. As he was deciding what to choose, Runan's hand moved toward his head.

'What is she doing?'

He considered dodging her hand but felt no hostility or malice. He relaxed his muscles, ready to move at any moment.

Tap tap.

To his surprise, Runan lightly tapped his head twice.

"Runan?"

Raon opened his mouth and looked up. Runan, with a barely noticeable smile, nodded and touched his head again.

"It's okay."

Her silver eyes, which shone calmly, and her gentle voice made his heart tingle.

'This kid...'

Now he understood why Runan had come here. She had come to the annex to return the favor of telling him it was okay when he was sparring with the orc.

"Huh."

Raon let out a hollow laugh. It was ridiculous to be worried about by this kid again.

However, it didn't feel too bad. A warm, indescribable feeling filled his chest.

"Why are you laughing?"

"It's nothing."

He shook his head and took a black pearl ice cream from the box, putting it in his mouth. The sweet and slightly bitter taste filled his mouth, reflecting his current emotions.

-Oh! Chocolate! It seems to be made by adding sugar and coffee to chocolate and then aging it for a long time. When I was in the Demon World, I used to...

'Quiet.'

He forced Las back into the bracelet, who had started a long monologue.

"Is it good?"

"It's good. Thank you."

"Have more."

"No, it's enough."

It really was enough. Not because his stomach was full, but because his heart felt full. He didn't need any more.

"Alright."

Runan swallowed the red pearl ice cream on her right and stood up.

"I'm leaving."

Then she left. It seemed she had finished her task and didn't want to interfere with his practice.

"Really."

Raon smiled as he watched Runan's lighter steps. Now, even seeing the back of that kid made him smile.

"Raon."

As soon as Runan left, Sylvia, who had been hiding behind a tree, approached with a smile.

"Mom, I didn't know you and Runan were that close? That's not ordinary ice cream. It's a very expensive snack."

"I'm curious too. From what I can see, it doesn't seem like it's the first time she's gotten ice cream."

"Raon, I want to talk to that child..."

"Both of you, stop it."

Raon waved his hands. He didn't like the way they were acting, especially the playful look in their eyes.

"Please..."

* * *

The next day.

A second visitor came to the annex.

"Hmm..."

Raon narrowed his eyes as he watched the visitor approaching with a grumpy look.

Honestly, he thought Runan might come. The child often followed his training methods or wanted to learn from him.

However, this person was unexpected.

"Baren."

Raon tilted his head as he watched Baren, who was approaching with an elegant, aristocratic gait. He couldn't figure out why this person was here.

"I heard you're going to duel with Rayden."

Baren stopped and pouted.

"You found