"Wow!"
Rimmer looked at Sterin and curled up the corners of his mouth.
"Being called Satan by Grandpa really makes me feel like I'm back home."
He drew a big smile, saying he felt like he was back in his childhood.
"Satan?"
Raon murmured the word Satan. He knew it had a bad meaning, but he couldn't recall exactly what it was.
"You don't know Satan?"
"I don't."
When he looked back, Dorian and Yua also shook their heads as if they didn't know.
"Well, it's a name that must have been forgotten by humans a long time ago."
Rimmer mumbled that it was understandable and waved his hand.
"Satan is one of the Demon Kings. He handles Wrath among the seven deadly sins."
"W-Wrath?"
"Yes. He was called Satan as an adversary of the gods and the heavenly realm. Although he hasn't appeared for a long time, he was so fierce that he was used to scare children, saying Satan would take them away."
He chuckled, saying it was a word Sterin often used.
"I-I see…."
Raon bit his trembling lips and rolled his eyes toward Wrath.
'Were you also called Satan?'
-Humans used to call me that in the past.
Wrath mumbled that there was such a time and nodded his head.
'Satan, the adversary of the gods and the heavenly realm….'
Wrath constantly cursed the heavenly realm and the gods, shouting to fight them. Thinking about his frenzied appearance, it wasn't strange to be called their adversary.
-But fierce? I was always calm, rational, and beautiful!
He mumbled nonsense while trembling his fist.
'Of all the Demon Kings, why Satan….'
Raon swallowed dryly and looked at Sterin, the Guardian of the Elves.
He thought that Sterin might have sensed Wrath's presence and called him Satan. The tension began to fill his chest again.
"You're amazing."
However, contrary to his expectations, Sterin's first words were compliments.
"It's the first time I've seen a human possessing purer mana than our elves."
A faint light flashed in his eyes as if he was truly impressed.
"What's even more amazing is the realm of your soul. I feel an exalted realm that cannot be reached with your current state. It's as if someone else's realm is mixed with yours. It's a peculiar thing."
Sterin murmured as if he was entranced, looking into Raon's eyes.
"..."
Raon clenched his fists as he listened to Sterin's words.
'Is he sensing Wrath's realm because he's a High Elf?'
Even the Leader of the White Blood Religion, the Leader of the Holy Sword Alliance, and even Glenn couldn't notice Wrath's presence.
It seemed like he could sense Wrath's presence because he's a High Elf who communicates with nature, beyond just his state.
"Didn't I tell you!"
Erian waved his fist vigorously.
"That human is definitely chosen by the Spirit King!"
"The Spirit King. So, it's either fire or water?"
"Yes. Guardian, you can feel it better than I can, can't you? The pure fire and water energy dormant in that human's dantian!"
He shouted confidently about his belief. I really wished he would stay quiet.
"Hm…"
Sterin stroked his chin out of habit and nodded.
"Whether it's the Spirit King or not, it's proper to introduce myself first. I am Sterin, the Guardian of Sepia."
"I apologize. I should have greeted you first."
Raon placed his hand on his chest and bowed politely.
"I am Raon Zieghart, the vice division leader of the Light Wind division of Zieghart."
"Hm?"
Sterin widened his eyes, looking at Raon.
"Did you just say Raon Zieghart?"
"Yes."
"Raon Zieghart, the Dragon Slayer. Yes. With that martial prowess and realm, you should live up to that name."
He let out a low sound of understanding.
"Awesome, right? I raised him myself!"
Rimmer grinned and put his arm around Raon's shoulder.
"…Awesome?"
Sterin frowned, as if he couldn't get used to Rimmer's frivolous tone.
"Are you really Rimmer?"
"Aw, why are you like this? I'm the grandson you raised yourself!"
Rimmer put his hand on his waist as if he was about to take off his pants.
"Enough."
Sterin looked at Rimmer's fluttering right sleeve and shook his head.
"You've changed so much that I can't adapt."
He sighed and looked at Raon again.
"There must have been some noise on your way here. I apologize on their behalf. Everyone was on edge because of an important event."
Sterin lowered his eyes, saying they were disrespectful to their guests.
"No one was hurt, so it's fine. But if it's an important event…"
Not only Sterin, but Erian and Leylan also said it was a sensitive time, and considering there were no humans in Sepia, it seemed like a truly important event was coming up.
"We are preparing for the Purification Ceremony."
"Purification Ceremony?"
"Just as a tree absorbs polluted air and purifies the atmosphere, the World Tree absorbs and purifies the bad energy of this world."
"Ah…"
It was something he heard from Rimmer before. He thought it was an exaggeration, but it seemed to be true.
"However, even the World Tree cannot purify the harmful energy spreading from the entire continent alone. The elves' Purification Ceremony involves a High Elf resonating with the World Tree once every 20 years to remove the internal impurities."
Sterin briefly explained the Purification Ceremony. It seemed like a courtesy given because he was Rimmer's disciple.
"Oh! That's right!"
Rimmer exclaimed and raised his left fist.
"It's time for the Purification Ceremony! Now I understand!"
He nodded, saying he understood why the Guardians blocked the way.
"..."
Sterin tightly shut his mouth and stared at Rimmer with sharp eyes.
"Who are you?"
"Huh?"
Rimmer blinked as if asking what he was talking about.
"There's no way an elf from Sepia would forget the Purification Ceremony."
Sterin's willpower rose sharply, as if he thought Rimmer was possessed by something. It seemed like he would cut him down if he answered wrongly.
"The first swordsmanship I learned from you was the Meteor Sword. I still remember you teaching me the mantra under the World Tree. What are you talking about!"
Rimmer recounted memories with Sterin, counting them on his fingers.
"Then you're really…"
Sterin's lips trembled as he looked at Rimmer. He never expected to see a High Elf, especially one who had reached transcendence, so flustered.
"Your grandson… a little. No…"
Rimmer scratched the back of his head and chuckled.
"He's very much ruined."
"..."
Sterin's Adam's apple moved greatly.
'Oh dear…'
-He's really a madman…
Raon and Wrath shook their heads simultaneously.
* * *
"Ahem."
Sterin cleared his throat and shook his head.
"I'm sorry. That child has changed so much that I'm a bit…"
"I understand."
Raon shook his head. Anyone would be flustered if their polite grandson returned like that. It was understandable.
"Then you came all the way here to escort Rimmer?"
"Yes. I followed him just in case, but I didn't know there was something as important as the Purification Ceremony."
"It's fine. That fool forgot about it."
"Grandpa! Why are you calling your grandson a fool!"
"Be quiet!"
Sterin quickly adapted to this and began treating Rimmer like Glenn did.
"Oh! Now that I think about it!"
Rimmer walked briskly towards Sterin.
"Why am I considered a thief who stole the Sacred Artifact!"
He raised the sword he was wearing at his waist in front of Sterin and frowned.
"That sword."
Sterin looked at the sword in Rimmer's hand with blurry eyes.
"I gave it to you because I hoped you would become the leader of the Guardians. You left Sepia shortly after receiving the sword, so you became a thief."
"Ugh…"
"I thought you would return soon, but I didn't expect you to spend years like a human and come back ruined as you said. I think I need to see the head of the Zieghart house."
Sterin said he might visit Zieghart after the Purification Ceremony and stroked the red bow hanging on the wall.
"That sounds interesting."
Rimmer smacked his lips as if he forgot the problem was caused by him. He had felt this way since he was a trainee, but Rimmer really was a hopeless person.
"Guardian."
Raon stepped between Rimmer and Sterin and bowed his head.
"The division leader came to return that sword."
"That's right."
Rimmer calmly nodded and handed the sword he was holding to Sterin.
"Returning it?"
"Yes. I don't think I have the right to use the tribe's Sacred Artifact with this arm."
He lightly smiled as he looked at his empty right shoulder.
"How did you lose that arm?"
"..."
Rimmer didn't answer immediately but looked at Raon, Dorian, and Yua standing behind him, revealing a faint blue light in his eyes.
"I entrusted it to the future."
"Do you have any regrets about that choice?"
"No."
"I see…"
Sterin nodded calmly as if he understood the situation.
"You've returned a little bit to the grandson I knew."
He relaxed his stiff mouth slightly and called Erian.
"Erian."
"Yes."
"Cancel Rimmer's bounty."
"Understood."
Erian looked at Rimmer for a moment and then nodded. He seemed to have something to say, but he followed the Guardian's order.
"Guardian, what will you do about that human? He will definitely become the Spirit King's contractor."
He still didn't give up and shouted that Raon would become the Spirit King's contractor.
"I've never heard or seen a Spirit King who hasn't even been born choosing a contractor."
"It's also the first time in such a long time that the Spirit Kings of Fire and Water have disappeared."
"Hm…"
Sterin stroked his chin and looked intently at Raon.
"Have you ever heard someone's voice or felt a strong natural energy?"
"Um…"
Raon smacked his lips as he met Sterin's calm eyes.
'Yes. Every day.'
There was a cotton candy demon king right next to him, but he couldn't say that, so he just shook his head.
"No."
"As expected."
"You see? There's no way a human could become the Spirit King's contractor."
Leylan shook her head firmly.
"I think so too. But it wouldn't hurt to test it."
"Guardian?"
She widened her eyes as if she didn't expect that.
"I can't call the Spirit King either…"
When Sterin raised his hand, a red cat soared above his palm. From its pointed ears to its swaying tail, it was all ablaze with crimson flames.
'This cat…'
It was small, but its energy was stronger than the highest-grade spirit Erian had summoned. It seemed to be the highest-grade spirit of fire.
Nya… Kyaaang!
The cat yawned, but as soon as it met Raon's eyes, it jumped back and started trembling.
It seemed to want to guard itself by lowering its upper body forward but couldn't help it and turned its belly up. It was a characteristic posture of submission from feline animals.
"Huh?"
Leylan let out a breathless sound as she saw the highest-grade spirit of fire showing its white belly. Even her firm eyes began to shake.
"I was right! Sterin's spirit wouldn't act like that for no reason! He's definitely the Spirit King's contractor!"
Erian thumped his chest, saying his words were correct.
"A being of such a high realm that it can't even look at him…"
Sterin nodded as he reverse summoned the frightened cat spirit.
"I don't know if you're the Spirit King's contractor, but it's certain that you're special."
He nodded seriously, saying he had to believe it to some extent.
-It's so frustrating I could die! Not the Spirit King, but the Demon King! You stupid pointy ears!
Wrath shook his head wildly, annoyed by the comparison to the Spirit King.
"If you are truly chosen by the Spirit King, you would have a significant relationship with our tribe, so can we meet again after the Purification Ceremony?"
"Yes. That's fine."
"Treat them as our tribe's most honored guests."
Sterin waved his hand, instructing them to treat not only Raon but everyone as honored guests.
"Understood!"
"…Yes."
Erian nodded vigorously, and Leylan responded with a doubtful face.
"Don't worry about it and continue with your work. He also has something to learn from Grandpa."
Rimmer approached Sterin and nodded his chin.
"Learn?"
"Yes. I want you to show Raon your Spiritual Bow."
"Hm…"
Sterin stroked his chin as he looked at Raon.
"You said he's your disciple, so there's no reason not to show him. But not now. The Purification Ceremony comes first."
"Hm? Isn't Siyana the one performing the Purification Ceremony?"
Rimmer tilted his head, mentioning someone's name.
"That child is not ready yet."
"What? She's old enough…"
"She still can't achieve resonance, so there's no other way."
Sterin shook his head with a somewhat tired face.
"If she hadn't tried, I wouldn't know, but she practices every day and still fails. I can't say anything to her now."
He shook his head, saying it was regrettable and unfortunate.
"Then…"
"Yes. She's more shut in her room and doesn't come out."
"Oh!"
For the first time, Rimmer showed worry in his eyes and rubbed his forehead.
"Who is Siyana?"
When Raon called that name, Rimmer frowned and turned his head.
"She's my sister. She's also the creator of the Nadine bread you like."
"But what do you mean by she doesn't come out?"
"She made Nadine bread because she didn't want to come out of her room."
-So it was her! Go and kill her right now!
Wrath swung his round fist like a flail and screamed.
"If she made Nadine bread to avoid coming out of her room…"
Raon pushed Wrath away and mumbled.
"That's right."
Rimmer shook his head and sighed.
"She's a shut-in NEET."
* * *
"When is the second volume coming out? I hope it covers the part where he slays the dragon."
Siyana breathed out excitedly after reading the last page of the book titled "Raon Zieghart's Biography."
"He's amazing. How can he be good at everything?"
She covered her face with the book, blushing.
'It must be talent. The greatest talent among humans.'
Siyana put the book down with slightly melancholic eyes.
"And it's a talent I don't have…"
She pouted and got off the bed.
"Phew…"
Siyana took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Pure mana began to flow like an untouched lake in her breath.
Gooong!
The blue mana, which had been shaking with a heavy flow, moved toward her upper dantian and then abruptly stopped as if blocked by a dam.
"Ugh…"
Siyana opened her eyes, biting her lip.
'I failed again…'
High Elves have several abilities that regular elves can't possess. The most important of these is resonance, which harmonizes oneself with nature.
To be called a true High Elf and purify the World Tree, one must achieve resonance. But she had not been able to do that until now.
'I'm a High Elf too, so why can't I do it?'
Other High Elves, including her grandfather, naturally achieved resonance from birth, but she still couldn't communicate with the world even though she was well into adulthood.
She had followed her grandfather's breathing and trained countless times since childhood, but the path still hadn't opened.
The stares from other elves became more piercing, and now she had stayed in this room for decades.
"Why can't I do it!"
Siyana screamed, raising her hands.
"I also want to be praised and noticed by others, so why am I like this!"
She revealed a worldly desire unbefitting of a High Elf and slammed the floor.
"Did Raon Zieghart ever go through something like this? Probably not, right?"
Siyana looked at her golden hair flowing like sand and bit her lip.
"I also became a High Elf because I wanted to…"
"Siyana! Are you in there?"
As she revealed her deep inferiority, a refreshing voice came from the door.
"O-Older brother?"
The tone was very different, but it was definitely Rimmer's voice.
"Of course, you're here. I'm coming in!"
"W-Wait! Don't come in!"
"Aww, why are you being so mean. I'm coming in!"
"Aaah!"
Siyana climbed back onto the bed and pulled the blanket over herself.
Crack!
Rimmer broke the latch that locked the door and stepped inside.
"I told you not to come in! Get out!"
Siyana screamed, peeking out only her eyes from the blanket.
"You're being too harsh to your brother you haven't seen in a long time."
Rimmer smacked his lips, looking hurt.
"I-I'm sorry. It was so sudden…"
Siyana raised her blue eyes slightly.
"Really? Then it's okay to come in?"
"Well, that's… huh?"
Next to the smiling Rimmer was a blond human with wide eyes.
Fwoosh!
Siyana burrowed deeper into the blanket like a mole and trembled.
"W-Who is that human!"
"He's my disciple. He was interested in the bread you made, so I brought him."
"B-Bread?"
"Nadine bread."
Rimmer grinned, saying it was peculiar.
Raon took a step forward and bowed his head.
"I am Raon Zieghart."
"Gah!"
At that short introduction, a sound like the breath stopping came from under the blanket.
"R-Raon Zieghart? Really?"
Siyana peeked her head out. Her golden hair, full of life, flowed down from the blanket.
"The handsome one?"
"Yes. The han… huh?"
Raon stopped answering and blinked.
'What is this woman saying?'
Why is she talking about being handsome all of a sudden?
He couldn't think straight because he never imagined hearing the word handsome from an elf.
He let out a hollow laugh and looked down, seeing a thick book with his name on it under the bed.
'This is…'
When he opened the book, it was titled "Raon Zieghart's Biography Volume 1" on the first page, and right below it was the author's name.
'Encia Yonaan…'
Encia had proudly put her name as the author and even engraved a mark she said she would use before, claiming it was an authentic copy with my permission.
'This woman…'
Raon's hand holding the book trembled as he closed his eyes tightly.
'How far are you planning to go!'