Chapter 356
Chapter 356
Chapter 356
It was only after seeing Abel speak in precise sentences that Ramon's stern expression finally softened.
He spoke to the priest.
"So when a demon realm creature fully settles in the mind, communication becomes possible."
『It's possible since they can imitate based on the host's memories from when they were alive. However, this one currently has Abel's memories from before his baptism. Additionally, since the current body was forcibly revived through ritual, there could be unexpected side effects.』
Ramon nodded as he watched Abel gradually return from his dragon-human form to human appearance.
"This is sufficient. We'll just need to minimize external exposure and only show his face when necessary."
The problem was Arthur Draker.
It was questionable whether Arthur Draker would fail to notice Abel's current condition.
Ramon frowned before lifting his head.
Then he spoke to the priest.
"It seems we'll need to adjust our plans."
The priest looked at Ramon and said:
『Don't tell me you're planning to move up the second baptism. That's impossible no matter how stubborn you are.』
Ramon shook his head at those words.
"I know that too. What I'm talking about concerns the Empire."
The priest fell silent for a moment at Ramon's words.
After a while, he spoke again.
『The Empire. So you're planning to strike at the Emperor's vacant position.』
Ramon nodded.
"Yes, in this state, it seems impossible to entrust Abel with Draker's matters anyway."
The Draker side still had many enemies.
Considering the newly rising Zeke Draker, Kali who had consistently been Abel's rival, and Arthur Draker who still wielded the greatest influence in the family, it was only a matter of time before Abel's secret would be discovered.
But the Empire was different from the Drakers.
Ramon's eyes flashed.
"I will... nominate Abel as Emperor of the Empire."
At those words, the priest looked down at Abel bound to the stone platform before speaking to Ramon.
『We'll need more time to adjust the details.』
Ramon responded with sharp eyes.
"The longer we wait, that fox-like Julius will aim for the Emperor's vacant position. Whether he finds the second prince or finds and elevates another royal family member to serve as regent, he'll find a way somehow."
Ramon spoke toward the priest.
"I'll give you three days. During that time, make Abel capable of normal communication. That's necessary to avoid disrupting our future plans."
Originally, their plan was to take over the Draker family with Abel at the forefront, then merge with the Empire to naturally inherit the Emperor's position.
In that process, they would start a war, direct all arrows regarding the continental invasion toward the mad Emperor, then have Abel naturally strike down the Emperor and Julius's forces to grasp not only the Empire but the entire continent in his hands.
But in the current situation, targeting the Draker family first was rather reckless.
Ramon decided to push Draker aside and secure the Empire first.
Looking down at Abel bound to the stone platform, he said:
"Through you, Abel, the continent will enter a new era."
* * *
Zeke followed Arthur into the Draker family's hidden secret space.
'This is...'
The first thing that caught his eye was none other than the Sword of God statue.
The awakening ceremony that Draker children must undergo when they turn twelve.
And through that awakening ceremony, the Draker bloodline receives the blessing of aura, allowing them to become much stronger than other knights much faster.
However, Zeke actually knew through the System that the Sword of God statue served as a kind of class identifier.
However, since the Sword of God statue could only identify classes related to swordsmen, Zeke, who had a healer class, couldn't awaken and had to endure all sorts of hardships in his previous life.
And now before Zeke's eyes appeared a Sword of God statue that was similar yet different. Though it had the same appearance, it was about twice the size of the Sword of God statue used in the Draker awakening ceremony, standing in the middle of the wide space.
Pointing to that statue, Arthur Draker opened his mouth.
"You probably know what this is."
Zeke nodded and answered.
"Yes, isn't it the Sword of God statue used in the awakening ceremony? Though it's larger in size."
At those words, Arthur smiled and said:
"Zeke, who do you think this Sword of God statue represents?"
At Arthur's sudden question, Zeke thought carefully before speaking.
"Wouldn't it be some god of swords passed down from ancient times?"
Arthur shook his head.
"Similar, but wrong. This Sword of God statue was modeled after the ancestor of the Drakers."
"What?"
At Zeke's response, Arthur smiled and said:
"It's the image of Sethon Draker, the Sword Saint and founder of the Absolute Sword House Draker."
"...!"
Zeke was shocked by Arthur's words.
It wasn't surprising that Arthur knew about the Absolute Sword House or Sethon Draker.
What shocked him was the statue's true identity.
This was because Zeke had seen Sethon Draker's appearance during his lifetime, albeit as a spirit.
The Sethon Draker that Zeke had seen directly was thin like a young boy, and the sword he carried was thin unlike typical arming swords.
However, the Sword of God statue bore no resemblance whatsoever to Sethon Draker.
With broad shoulders and a solid build, holding a sword as large as a bastard sword, the statue was the very image of a knight to anyone who saw it, with no trace of Sethon Draker.
'How is that supposed to be Sethon Draker?'
He wondered how much truth there actually was in what had been passed down through the Draker family, from the Dragon Slayer legend onward.
Seeing Zeke too shocked to speak after hearing that the Sword of God statue was Sethon Draker, Arthur spoke to him with apparent surprise.
"You're much more surprised than I expected. You're usually not easily surprised."
At Arthur's words, Zeke carefully considered how to respond before slowly speaking.
"Until now, I only knew that the founder of the Draker family was the Dragon Slayer Terakan Draker... To hear that Sethon Draker was the founder. Could this be the same Knight of Nobility Sethon that I know of?"
Arthur nodded at Zeke's words.
"Yes, that's right. The Knight of Nobility Sethon, first knight of the Hero King Kaisir and one of the Knights of the Clock Tower. Well, it's understandable to be surprised since nothing about him was known to the public."
The founder of the Draker family was known to be the Dragon Slayer Terakan Draker.
In fact, the Draker side had never officially stated this.
It was just that everyone believed so because
"Finally, after completing the aura awakening method, Sethon Draker returned to the Central Continent to spread it and tried to pass on the knowledge to other knights. However, the knights of that time were already accustomed to artifacts and refused the arduous aura training. After contemplating, Sethon made a decision."
He paused briefly before speaking again.
"He decided to establish his own family."
Since Zeke didn't know about the process of Sethon Draker founding the Draker family, he focused more intently on Arthur's words, even though their truthfulness wasn't certain.
Arthur gestured to Zeke.
"Come this way."
He moved behind the Sword of God statue and entered through an arched doorway in one wall.
Surprisingly, there were numerous swords thrust into the floor inside.
Arthur spoke while looking at the swords in the floor:
"Zeke, these are the swords used by successive heads of the Draker family."
Zeke could finally understand why there were so many old swords.
Seeing countless swords of various forms commonly used in different eras thrust into the floor, the place felt like a graveyard of swords.
Arthur walked past the numerous swords in the floor to the innermost area.
Then he pointed to a sword thrust into the deepest spot.
"This is the sword of our founder, Sethon Draker."
Surprisingly, the sword Arthur pointed to was a claymore very similar to the Bahamut that Zeke was using.
Since Zeke already knew what kind of sword Sethon Draker used, he couldn't help but find the form of the sword Arthur pointed to strange.
'This is way too different from what I saw?'
The swordsmanship of Sethon Draker that he had experienced directly through crossing swords didn't suit this type of claymore at all.
The thin, slender one-handed sword he had been holding was more suitable for Sethon, who displayed swift and versatile swordsmanship.
Arthur looked at Zeke and said:
"Zeke, try pulling out this sword."
Zeke was taken aback by Arthur's sudden words.
"This sword?"
"Yes, long ago when I came here with the previous family head, I heard the same words. What do you think happened?"
"I'm not sure."
"I tried to pull out the sword with all my might. But it was impossible. The sword didn't budge at all, as if it was stuck to the floor."
After pausing briefly, Arthur looked at Zeke and said:
"Zeke, try grabbing this sword and pulling it out."
Zeke sensed the subtle expectation hidden in Arthur's words.
'Why is he asking me to pull out this sword?'
Amidst various doubts, he slowly reached his hand toward the sword.
And grasped the handle.
'Huh?'
The moment he gripped the handle, Zeke immediately realized.
'This sword. It's made of Adamantium.'
A sword made of god-slaying stone that could kill gods.
It was a sword containing god-slaying power, like the holy spear Zeke had found in the Holy King's ruins this time.
Adamantium, called god-slaying stone, could only be handled by those who possessed the power of immortals.
Zeke, who had the Immortal class, instinctively felt that he could pull out this sword.
At that moment, he felt Arthur's gaze focused on him so intensely it was chilling.
'Oh no...'
Arthur was a Grand Master. It was impossible to pretend being unable to pull out the sword while actually being able to do so right in front of him.
Although Zeke felt somewhat afraid, he couldn't understand why Arthur had asked him to try pulling out this god-slaying sword.
'Backing down here will only raise more suspicion.'
Zeke had no choice but to apply force to his hand gripping the sword and slowly lift.
But something surprising happened.
'It won't come out.'