Requiem Of A Failed Hero

Mok Jae-Hwa, Balam, and Beelzebub held their breaths as tens of black swords were suspended in the air with the tips of their blades to the air.

Raith was the most shocked of them all.

[Due to the source. Bal has been absorbed]

'Wait? Absorbed?'

[Yes. The abilities of the source are still under my analysis. But I deduce that the ego of the sword has been merged with yours. To put it a simple terms, it is like returning where it belonged]

[However, your blood has taken the properties of the sword]

[This is another ability of the source]

[In addition, the sword will be imbued with attributes that are in your blood]

- Damage power: infinite 1

- Durability: Infinite 0

- Attributes: poison, paralysis.

- Skill: Space Rapt, Gluttony, Black Lightning, Celestial Destroyer, Demonic Beast form.

[Due to gluttony skill, the sword can absorb other swords and grow stronger. When that happens the attribute of those swords absorbed will also be affected in your blood]

'...this gluttony. Isn't it more associated with the seven deadly sins? How does Bal have it by the way?'

[Confirmed. I have no answer to that but it is worth investing]

'I'll be counting on you then.'

Raith raised his chin and looked at the sky again, realizing they were deep into the night Raith asked:

"How long have I been out?"

Beelzebub counted on his fingers the number of hours and responded:

"Four."

"Alright. Let's return."

He said and together they began scaling down the mountain. Silence ensued all the while. None of the three of them were bold enough to ask Raith what exactly had happened to him. Not with his deep malignant gaze that made chills slap their back.

—

"Lord Rizo!!"

Rizo shivered with widened eyes. It was so sudden and it shocked his guardian, he had never caught an expression like this on the young boy.

"Is everything alright?"

His voice shook in hesitation as he asked.

"Yes... for now..."

Rizo's voice had a striking resemblance to him, like that of a child, only hoarse and full of maturity.

His face became calm the next minute.

'The appearance of a new ruler... announced by the voice of the world itself. That means, unlike me. He must be a complete one.'

He said in his thoughts looking at the lines on his palm. Then he sighed and tucked his hand into the pockets of his shorts. As much as he wanted to be on his way and meet this new ruler, he couldn't.

First of all, he hated going out. Second, he was well aware of the existence of other worlds, there was the possibility that the ruler might not be from this world.

The voice of the world was a singularity in the multiverse. No matter how diverse and multiple the word was, or their time flow. The voice of the world would be heard as one.

Rizo looked to his guardian who had entered his room moments before he gasped out in surprise when the announcement came in.

"Is there something you need?"

He sounded polite but distant.

"A message came in from Lady Ruan. She said you might not necessarily be leading the charge to the gate in America but you'll be on standby as backup."

"She changed her mind?"

Rizo sounded a bit surprised but it was fleeting.

"Alright then."

His guardian bowed, dropping him a last worried look before he stepped out of his room.

—

Quickly, the promised day arrived like a thief in the night. For the past one day, Raith had been indoors conversing with Omnisavant to get familiar with all his skills.

He had gotten a brief grip on what the ultimate skill GREED does to him. It was detrimental yet it was very powerful... he had also begun to feel an insatiable greed to have everything, most especially materialistic.

Just like Omnisavant, it had a wide variety of uses that surprised Raith. Although he wasn't too happy about the flaw. It made all the goodness of being a ruler feel numb.

With the way things were looking, it looked like he would end up walking a very lonely road no matter how much he tried because his decisions, deftly guided by his flaw would undoubtedly affect his relationship and moral standards.

Raith had not come to hold a tight grasp on how disheartening this can be but he was already getting the idea. Being a ruler didn't seem to be as good as it was painted to be.

He stood up from his bed, it was a new mattress that had been imported. The secretary aid that was sent by Min-Ho's father has been helpful in several ways. In one day, several imports were arriving at King George Airport. The streets of the settlement were filled with cargo that was yet to be unpacked.

While kids played around it, adults just focused on building and there were personnel that came with the cargos. More were said to be coming on ship. But Raith was probably not going to be around to see them.

He stepped out of his house and saw the changes that were happening, a large part was thanks to Min-Ho's father. This is why Raith felt so bad. Those treasures...

'I will find them no matter what?'

If he had to traverse the lengths and breadth of the entire world to find the abyss and get his golden temple back, he didn't care. He would make sure he got that gold.

"Master Raith."

A young lady walked to him and bowed her head.

Raith had seen her a few times, she was the one that was in charge of linen, she used to be the daughter of a prominent tailor back in Pomeii Empire. Every noble had been to her mother for their dress.

In her hand was an intricately designed black box wrapped in silk. Behind her were two other ladies, their faces were not too familiar.

"We have prepared a new outfit for you. We know that you will be setting out very soon."

"Oh..."

Raith looked down at the box she was holding.

"Okay. Then should we hold to the hot spring?"

Raith became confused.

"Hot spring?"

"Yes Master Raith, we are going to wash your back."

"Wash my back?"

From where did that come? Raith shook with despair as if these pretty young ladies were asking of him a dreadful thing to do.

Still, they beckoned for his cooperation with a snakish smile comfortably rubbing its skin on their faces. Raith found this situation to be utterly confusing and uncomfortable.

"C–can I speak to Jae-Hwa? Maybe something is wrong?"

He asked with a shaking voice, a foot retrieving itself to make a run for it the moment they complied with his request.

"No Lord Raven. This is something important that we must do."

The lady with silver hair, and a tush porcelain face almost resembling that of a doll adorned with eyes the color of a sun that just never gives up. She pouted her mouth and waited for Raith's response—that was what said, but she looked like she wasn't going to take no for an answer.

Raith sighed. He had never been in this situation before, he delved deeper into his mind for an answer when her voice came out, killing whatever excuse he could have birthed.

"Besides, not once. We've never seen you take your bath not once."

Raith realized at that point too. Baths weren't his thing, not when he was so busy exploring the land or fighting with Slyvia.

Both his body was not smelling... was it? Maybe the people were just so polite that they didn't want to talk about it. He was their beloved hero after all. Who amongst them would wanna say? Our hero reeks!

But these girls after a certain person had informed them of what to do, they had taken up the initiative to take matters into their own hands.

"Since you are busy with a lot of things for our own sake, we will take matters of your personal hygiene into our own hands from now on."

The lady declared, pushing out her chest and softly slapping her hand on it to confirm her reliability to Raith. Although due to that Raith couldn't help but notice how desperately the two cuties on her chest tried to wiggle.

'Oh no! What did I just think about?!'

He treated those defiling thoughts of his like a great sin. These were honorable ladies who just wanted to help him wash up. But still... they washing his back? Was that not too much? Would the people not start talking that he is exploiting their females?

Raith scratched his cheek.

"I am worried about your husband."

Immediately he spoke, a rain of surprise washed down on the young lady's face. The ones behind her chuckled, holding their mouths and trying not to let laughs escape from it. Notwithstanding, Raith could still hear those soft chuckles.

'Did I say something wrong?'