Chapter 237

Rimmer calmly stood up and beat the dust off his clothes. He went down on one knee, then punched the ground with his fist while lowering his head.

“The Light Wind squad leader is receiving my lord’s command.”

The solemn atmosphere burst from his shoulders alongside his low voice. It was difficult to believe that the powerful energy wave spreading throughout the audience chamber came from someone who had just been beaten up while joking around.

His green eyes, which always used to be mischievous, had turned serious. However, Glenn and the Gambling Monster weren’t surprised at all. They were acting like it was only natural that Rimmer would do that, since he was that kind of person to begin with.

“The mission hasn’t been decided yet.”

“Haa, you should’ve said so from the beginning! It’s so much effort to strain my eyes!”

Rimmer sighed deeply and stood up. He scratched his head while murmuring that it was such a disappointment.

“Hmm...”

Glenn frowned, then flicked his finger on the armrest. He seemed to be contemplating whether he should strike him with lightning or not.

“So, what kind of mission is it, since you mentioned before it even began?”

“Do you know Gazel River, the one connected to Rable River?”

“Of course I do. That’s where the Blue Lugh tribe lives.”

Rimmer nodded. Gazel River was located at the edge of Zieghart’s domain, and was the residence of the Blue Lugh tribe, which was one of the demi human races.

“I’ve stayed at Doran Village next to the river before. It was a comfortable and peaceful place, just like the forest.”

Rimmer remembered that he could rest in a serene and quiet atmosphere similar to his home forest, and that the villagers were extremely kind.

“It’s a pretty good place. Watching the Blue Lughs playing around in a clean river is strangely charming.”

A faint smile also appeared on the Gambling Monster’s face. He’d apparently been there before as well.

“I agree. The Blue Lughs are pretty nice to watch because they kinda look like cats.”

Rimmer nodded in agreement.

“Those Blue Lughs have apparently attacked people.”

“Whaat?”

The smile disappeared from Rimmer’s face as his jaw dropped.

“Th-There’s no way that could’ve happened...”

The Blue Lugh tribe resided inside or near the river, and they were a timid race that tended to immediately hide upon seeing people or boats. They were a powerful race, yet they didn’t try to show off, like benevolent wizards—which made it difficult to believe that they had actually attacked people.

“Who did they attack?”

“The fishermen from Doran Village, apparently.”

“Huh...”

Rimmer scratched his chin. Since Doran Village was the only group in a symbiotic relationship with the Blue Lugh tribe, it was difficult to believe that they had attacked them.

“Maybe they touched the Blue Lugh’s children? I have never heard of a case where they attacked others preemptively.”

The Gambling Monster also tilted his head in bewilderment.

“The Shadow Agents are gathering information, and nothing like that happened. They were crossing the Gazel River just like always and were suddenly attacked. Their boat was destroyed.”

Glenn slowly shook his hand.

“I’ve also seen the Blue Lugh before. They immediately ran away upon noticing me, and they weren’t aggressive at all. They just seemed slightly curious.”

“That’s what I’m saying! They are extremely innocent...”

“We don’t know that. Since the Blue Lughs never go far from water, we don’t really know what kind of personality they have.”

“That’s true...”

Rimmer nodded. Just like Glenn said, not much was known about the Blue Lughs. There could’ve been other aspects that he didn’t see from them.

“You have some time, since I’ll deliver the mission after the Shadow Agents gather enough information. You should get ready to leave in the meantime.”

“Alright, but...”

Rimmer licked his lips as he met Glenn’s gaze.

“What exactly is the mission about? Are we supposed to stop the Blue Lughs? Or chase them away? Or...”

He purposefully didn’t finish his sentence.

“You should discover the reason the Blue Lughs have turned violent and stop them. However, you will need to get rid of them if that ends up being impossible.”

“All of them?”

“Yes.”

Glenn nodded coldly, without the slightest hesitation.

“Understood.”

Rimmer accepted the order without trying to argue against him, even though he had a pretty good impression of the Blue Lughs. However, his eyes had turned a lot deeper and more soulful than usual.

“Rimmer.”

Glenn called Rimmer’s name to change the subject.

“Are you going to stop gambling now?”

“......”

Rimmer closed his eyes without responding.

“You didn’t manage to do it yourself, but your student has achieved it. It should be fine to stop now.”

“Hmm.”

He smiled faintly while looking at the Gambling Monster.

“That’s not wrong. Since I just wished to see someone complete the Promise of Three against that old geezer.”

The Gambling Monster’s red eyes were quietly wavering like a windy lake upon hearing that.

“I think I’ll just gamble for fun now. I’ll still need to make some money, though.”

Rimmer laughed, then rotated his shoulders.

“Rimmer, lingering attachments should be left to flow away. Holding on to someone else’s attachment is both painful and foolish at the same time.”

Glenn’s voice was even more void than usual.

“I have a different opinion about that.”

Rimmer shook his head.

“I think attachments are worth clinging on to. A deceased person’s lingering attachments should be realized, and it’s even more the case for someone who is still alive.”

The sad expression from before completely disappeared from his face as he smiled like a sly fox.

“I think my lord’s attachments need to be realized.”

“I have no such thing.”

“No way! You do, since you love Raon so muc...Gasp!”

Rimmer hurriedly used footwork to dodge the lightning sparking from Glenn’s hand.

“It looks like you can take more beatings, since you started talking again. Shall we start the real round?”

“I-I’ll take my leave now, since I need to get ready for the mission!”

He kicked the audience chamber’s door open and ran away.

“What was he talking about Raon just now?”

“Just ignore him, he was just spouting nonsense.”

Glenn quickly shook his head, telling him to not even think about it.

“Hmm.”

The Gambling Monster narrowed his eyes while looking at Glenn before straightening his posture.

“I’m also going to leave now.”

He politely bowed, then turned around.

“Herrian.”

Glenn called his name as the Gambling Monster was about to open the audience chamber’s door to leave.

“Welcome back.”

“...Thank you.”

The Gambling Monster nodded while smiling faintly. He looked at Glenn for a moment before leaving the audience chamber.

“Haa.”

Glenn frowned while looking at the door where Rimmer and the Gambling Monster went past.

“You idiots. No one would blame you even if you lived comfortably now...”

* * *

* * *

Raon went to the main street alongside Yua and Yulius. The reason he was going to the main street instead of training was because of the tenant in his bracelet.

You don’t even try to keep your promise if the King of Essence doesn’t talk about it!

Wrath snorted while sitting on Raon’s right shoulder with his arms crossed.

Raon took a glance at Runaan, who was standing blankly behind him, before raising four fingers.

“Give me four.”

“Yes! Order received for four cookies and cream sandwich!”

The manager went inside with a smile.

You bastard! You should’ve picked mint chocolate!

‘Ah, you are right. Shall I change it now?’

Whatever. We can just add mint chocolate in the order.

Wrath licked his lips while looking at the ice cream. He seemed to be planning to try them all out.

“Here you go.”

Probably because the preparations were already made, it didn’t take too long until he finished making it.

“Here you go, Runaan.”

Raon first gave Runaan the sandwich.

“Mhm? But I...”

“This is a sandwich, not a bead ice cream. It should be okay, isn’t it?”

“Ah!”

Runaan’s lips loosened and turned into a smile. It was a smile that Raon had never seen before.

“Mhm! Thank you.”

She nodded, then took the ice cream sandwich. She turned it around to look at it from different angles with a very small smile on her face.

“This is the sandwich...”

The way the cookies and cream ice cream was stuck between the thin castella bread, which was as soft as cotton, was mouth-watering. Because the round shape was so pretty, he felt like it would be a shame to just eat it up.

This is not the time to admire it! Eat it already!

‘You aren’t a gourmet, no matter how I see it.’

Gourmets usually appreciated the appearance of food as well, yet Wrath never did that. He was just a glutton who only cared about the quantity.

Raon shook his head before putting the sandwich in his mouth.

“Huh!”

He unconsciously exclaimed. The castellas surrounding the ice cream from top and bottom gently melted like soaked paper to create a spongy texture, and the ice cream placed between them engulfed the tongue with sweet and crispy flavors. He could only smile because of the unexpected harmony in the taste.

I-It’s here...

Wrath raised his eyes sharply.

The King of Essence has been living for thousands of years without knowing about such a taste. His entire life was a waste!

He murmured some strange things and called the demon god. He was the definition of a lunatic.

The two ingredients are tasty by themselves, but they are making the drawbacks disappear. This is the perfect food!

Wrath’s body was trembling as if he were about to faint.

‘Drawbacks?’

The castella’s brittle texture is fixed by the ice cream, and the ice cream’s cold and hard texture is being softened by the castella’s softness. This is the perfect food!

‘Harmony and softening...’

Raon blankly stared at the half-eaten sandwich he was holding.

All ingredients have strengths and weaknesses. This is the best food because it manages to kill the weaknesses by using the strengths. The King of Essence would like to keep eating this for the rest of his life!

‘So the strengths from each one can offset the weaknesses.’

If you finally understand, you should stop mumbling about it and finish eating it! The King of Essence can’t wait any longer!

Wrath started dancing by shaking his body.

Raon nodded, then put the rest of the ice cream sandwich in his mouth. After hearing Wrath’s explanation, he could clearly notice that the strengths of the ingredients were killing the weaknesses.

Kuuu! This is great! Order the mint chocolate sandwich now! The King of Essence’s hand is trembling in excitement!

Wrath’s body was really trembling in anticipation.

‘Harmony...’

However, Raon wasn’t listening to Wrath. He kept murmuring about harmony while staring at the flier about ice cream sandwiches.

‘Maybe I can create a harmony between swordsmanships just like this...’

What are you doing?

‘If I can utilize the impact from the sound sword to make up for the illusion sword’s slow activation...’

Raon Zieghart?

Hey! You bastard!

Raon didn’t react, even though Wrath smacked his forearm and shoulder.

What kind of torture is this? Are you really going into a trance now after eating a single serving of this delicious food?

Wrath screamed, but Raon’s pupils softly lost focus.

You demonic bastard!

* * *

“This place...”

Raon blinked his eyes.

“What happened?”

He was in his room in the annex building. The last thing he remembered was eating an ice cream sandwich in the shop, yet he had returned to his room before he knew it.

’What happened?’ my ass! You are just crazy!

Wrath’s angry voice could be heard from the top of his shoulder.

“Huh?”

You went into a trance while eating a stupid ice cream sandwich! You must have a hole in your brain!

“Ah!”

Raon chuckled. He remembered that he started thinking about how to achieve harmony between the principles of two different swordsmanships while eating the sandwich.

Are you laughing? Are you really laughing right now?

Wrath shoved his face into him while grinding his teeth. His round eyes were bubbling like boiling water.

You said that you would buy everything I wanted when we went there, yet the King of Essence only managed to eat one of them! Moreover, it was cookies and cream instead of mint chocolate! Seriously, cookies and cream!

“It was still delicious, though. Wasn’t it?”

That’s true... But!

Wrath briskly rolled his eyes.

Anyway, you didn’t keep your promise to buy me the ice cream set! You’d better remember it, so you won’t say otherwise later on!

“Yes, yes.”

Raon slowly nodded.

“Did I make the payment?”

Despite your state, you paid for the ice cream girl and the kids, and even bought the maids’ portions! The King of Essence is the only one you didn’t care for! Kuh!

Wrath furiously pounded his chest.

I seriously can’t come to like you at all! The King of Essence really wanted to try out the mint chocolate sandwich!

“I’m sorry. Let’s go there again tomorrow.”

Raon smiled faintly, patting Wrath on the back.

Are you taking the King of Essence for an idiot? He won’t be fooled by your sweet words anymore!

Wrath briskly turned his head away. He seemed determined to not trust him anymore.

“It’s true this time.”

Hmm...

Wrath started rolling his round eyes. He looked like he had already forgotten about what he said a second ago. It was a mystery at that point that a demon king could be so innocent in front of food.

I can’t trust you.

“I managed to save lots of time thanks to your hint.”

Raon tapped on his scabbard and smiled.

Hint? The King of Essence only remembers insulting you, though. I called you a crazy bastard, blockhead, and hoped you would get stabbed to death...

Wrath tilted his head in bewilderment while repeating the insults he said before.

“What you said before that helped me. The thing about offsetting the weaknesses.”

Raon stood in front of the full-length mirror he had brought for training purposes. He grinned while facing the reflected sparkling red eyes.

“I had an idea about a new swordsmanship thanks to you.”