Chapter 896: Chapter 897: Road Trip He was really exhausted. Despite the fact that the Valtheron Empire shared a border with the Holy Empire, it was still a pain to go there. But if Damon wanted his rewards from the Temple, he had to go, so he sucked it up and headed for the Holy Empire. His rewards included a title of Count and land, as well as many other resources given to him by the Empire. Damon was significantly wealthy and powerful at the moment, more than any low- to mid-tier noble families, not to mention his powerful background. Now the Temple was giving him a holy relic and the title of Hero, which was even better. It was not easy to be called a Hero, and those who earned it, like Seras Blade, had killed many, many, many of the goddess race’s enemies. Not to mention she was a living legend. Damon had grown up hearing tales of Seras Blade. You could imagine how much influence she wielded as a Hero. Now Damon was also getting such a title, and of course a holy relic. Which, honestly, could range from being absolutely powerful to just being some useless crap. An example would be if they gave him the skull of some long-dead holy man and said it had the power to perform miracles, when really it was just the skull of some dead guy. Or he could get a legendary weapon or tool. He smiled softly. He was looking forward to that part. That said, there were downsides, like having to tolerate those old clerics. He might even have to act like they were anything but corrupt. "They better not ask me to kiss the ring or anything like that," he muttered coldly. Renata raised an eyebrow slightly but said nothing. There were three people in this carriage. That was Renata, Iris, and of course Damon himself. This was a big day for Damon, so naturally his grandfather had gone out of his way to make things more complicated than they needed to be. The old man had truly gone above and beyond for his grandson, and that was why the whole family was traveling to the Holy City. There was a long trail of carriages that made up this entourage. Naturally, Evangeline and Luna were in the same carriage with the Grand Duke. The old man had wanted to put all his grandkids in the same carriage, but Damon slipped away, so he was left with just Evangeline and Luna. Duke Cassian and his wife were in one carriage. Lucky them. It must have been peaceful there. Iris was with Damon because she was more comfortable with him. He was her teacher, but more than that, he was not the imposing Grand Duke or the terrifying Duke. So she was better off. Besides, she was not Damon and could not treat two of the most powerful people in the Empire so casually. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎 If acting like big shots did not matter was a skill, then Damon was holding out on her. Why was he not teaching it to her? She paused for a moment. No. No, that was a bad idea. Damon was just crazy. Iris snuck a glance at Damon. She wanted to tell him what leads she had found on her father’s death, but decided to hold off. She was not really sure. He seemed to be lost in thought, his gaze distant. Renata was quiet, so Iris did not really have anyone to talk to. "I really should have joined Luna’s carriage." Damon rolled his eyes when she said that. "Good to know I’m unlikeable. That’s how you treat your teacher, you unfilial apprentice." Iris scoffed, crossing her arms. "You’re not that much older than me. Why are you acting like an old man?" Damon reached out a finger and poked her cheeks. "Which one of us is in the Fourth Class advancement?" Iris sneered. Right. He was in the Fourth Class. A powerhouse at such a young age. She so easily forgot that Damon Grey was a prodigy. "Big deal. Even cats and dogs are Fourth Class now after the events of the nightmare." Damon held his head. Right, that was true. His pets, the damn red squirrel and that wretched eye-loving raven, had also reached the Fourth Class. It was like leaping into the heavens. "What was that saying from the Demon Continent again? When a man ascends, even his dog reaches the heavens." Renata sighed. This had been a long journey. At least it was going to end soon. "That’s not how the saying goes, and I don’t think it even truly originated from the Demon Continent." Damon shook his head, stopping her. "I don’t care. Just as long as I got my point across." Iris pouted her lips. "Why am I even here anyway? This whole journey is for family members, and well, I—" "You’re family," Damon cut her off. Then he smiled. "You know the saying. Master for a day, father for life. So that means I’m your daddy. Quick, call me daddy." Iris gave him a disgusted look when she recalled he had made Wendy kneel and call him daddy. "Pervert. You’re a pervert. A pervert." Damon winced. "I heard you the first time. Didn’t have to say it thrice." Seeing her expression, Damon smiled slightly. At least she was not cold and gloomy. This spitfire was just the way Iris was supposed to be. He placed a hand on her head. "That’s my girl." She took out a pager he had bought her. "I’m calling Knight HQ to report a crime." Damon gritted his teeth. "What the hell? I was being nice." "That’s how nobles start. They act nice, then they take advantage of young girls. It was fine when you were a commoner. You weren’t above the law. But now, who knows? You might start getting ideas," she ranted, a thin smile on her face. Damon shifted slightly, moving a few inches away from her. "What has Lilith been teaching you? And I’ll have you know I like my women older than me, with a nice ass and killer tits. Your developing ass isn’t my type." She pointed at him, fingers shaking. "I knew it. You’ve been staring at me, gauging your prey, huh?" Damon paused. "Alright, I admit it. You won this one. Let’s call a truce." He offered a handshake, which she took. "And you better not forget it," she spoke smugly, having won against Damon. He squeezed slightly in a display of absolute pettiness. Her face twisted in pain, but she was too proud to admit it. "What is it, Iris? Anything to say? Maybe a plea?" Renata sighed, shaking her head. "We’re here. Welcome to the Holy Empire capital city."