Chapter 105
Chapter 105
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: 6th Candidate (5)
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“What do you mean by that? This happened because of me, so it’s only right that I step up……!”
Evelyn jumped forward in shock, but Julius extended his hand to stop her.
“Wait a moment.”
“Captain!”
“Theo didn’t say that for no reason. We can share our thoughts after hearing him out. It won’t be too late.”
“…….”
In the end, Evelyn reluctantly took a hesitant step back.
Crunch.
Veins bulged over the back of her right hand, clenched into a fist.
“Theo, this has turned into a fight between the White Dragon Knights and the Elder Council, not just Demon Dragon versus Origin Dragon, all according to the frame you set up. In a position where the unit’s name and honor are on the line, defeat is absolutely not an option. I can’t allow it.”
Julius always wore a warm smile whenever he looked at Theo.
But right now, flames blazed in his eyes.
“So if this was just something you threw out there on a whim, I won’t forgive you. Explain your thinking properly. They’ll definitely send out an Elder. How exactly do you plan to beat one?”
‘Elder’ was a title given to swordsmen who had served the Ragnar Family for a long time and achieved brilliant feats in their youth.
Naturally, it meant at least the level of Advanced Swordsman or Dragon Gate Swordsman.
And Theo, who had just passed his Awakening Ceremony, planned to take one down?
Even as a top-tier Combat Swordsman, it was utterly impossible.
But,
“No. For the first slot, it definitely won’t be an Elder. It’ll be someone like their disciple.”
“……What are you talking about?”
As Julius tilted his head in confusion,
Theo flashed a smile that revealed nothing of his inner thoughts.
“I’ll make it happen.”
* * *
“This has gotten tricky.”
“Indeed. We’ve ended up like entertainers livening up a birthday party for a mere fifteen-year-old kid.”
The Elders clicked their tongues at one another.
They had planned to use this chance to crush Julius’s rising momentum and elevate the Elder Council’s status.
But somehow, instead of just ‘scolding,’ they’d been dragged into an equal footing confrontation, and it had only boosted Su Palace’s prestige.
The Elder Council looked ridiculous now.
The problem was they couldn’t back out of the duel either.
Wolfgang’s right-hand man had already been pulled, and Julius had threatened to pull the arms of the other Elders too.
If they stayed silent after hearing that, Ragnar sensibilities would brand it as nothing but mockery.
On top of that, they’d lost their numerical advantage.
It was a double whammy.
‘He turned the situation into this mess with just a three-inch tongue? As the Central Intelligence Chief said, this kid’s got at least dozens of crafty foxes in him.’
Grind!
Wolfgang ground his teeth as he recalled something Ed had once said.
Now it was truly do or die.
“This mess is all because of me, so I’ll stand at the end. They’ll surely send the Demon Dragon too.”
The Elders nodded calmly at Wolfgang’s words, relief evident on their faces.
None of them had confidence in beating Julius head-on anyway.
“The issue is who steps up for the first and second duels…… Anyone have any ideas?”
“They’ll definitely send an Advanced Swordsman or Dragon Gate Swordsman.”
“No sign of the other knights yet. It’ll take time for reinforcements to arrive.”
“Then doesn’t that mean their only option for the first one is that armless wretch Evelyn?”
“I’ll step forward.”
“No. I will.”
“Please give me the chance to bring glory to the Elder Council, to avenge the Elder Council Leader.”
Now they were all clamoring to volunteer.
It was a golden opportunity to gain fame as an Elder who crushed the White Dragon Knights.
Wolfgang inwardly found the Elders repulsive but saw this as a chance to solidify his grip on the Elder Council, so he spoke.
“The first one will be……!”
But Wolfgang’s words didn’t continue.
Suddenly, one person from the White Dragon Knights side was slowly walking out.
‘Why that guy?’
The crowd began to murmur, just like Wolfgang’s bulging eyes.
-They said it was a duel for the organization’s honor, right?
-Yeah. No matter how famous he is these days, a kid who just became a Combat Swordsman coming out here?
-A sacrificial pawn?
-Hey, does that even make sense? He’s called the sixth candidate for succession. You think they’d tarnish his honor?
-Then he really has confidence?
-No way……!
At that moment, Wolfgang realized.
‘We’ve been had!’
He had. The Elder Council had. Su Palace and all these crowds too. They were nothing but stepping stones for that punk to flaunt his fame!
Kwaaaang!
As if to dispel all doubts, Theo slammed Drake’s blade fiercely into the ground and let out a roar.
“Combat Swordsman of the White Dragon Knights and successor of Ragnar, ‘Island Night Fang’ Theo Ragnar. I step forward as the first duel representative. Who will face me—?”
[Skill: Lesser Drake Fear activates, dragon slayer aura swirls.]
Whoooosh—
Mana wind exploded outward from Theo, filling the banquet hall.
In that instant, the entire crowd realized.
The rumors about Theo had actually fallen short all this time.
He possessed skill outstanding enough for Kyle himself to bestow a sword orb upon him.
-Just became a Combat Swordsman, they said?
-Incredible growth rate……!
-No wonder the Family Head has his eye on him. The rumors didn’t do him justice.
But what shocked the people the most was something else.
-He’s not just representing the White Dragon Knights, but putting his successor honor on the line too?
-He’s using this to solidify his ‘sixth candidate’ position, the ‘6th Candidate’ title!
All eyes were now fixed squarely on Theo.
Wolfgang knew Theo’s scheme too, realizing they were cornered with no counter, yet powerless to act.
“……Even as a successor, sending a mere Combat Swordsman?”
“Ahem! For the greater good, I’ll forgo participating in this first duel. Let the other Elders handle it.”
“Hmm! I’ll yield as well.”
“Me too.”
“Ahem! Me as well…….”
For an Elder to step up boasting about beating a Combat Swordsman runt was embarrassing from the start.
In the end, the Elders backed off one by one, sneaking glances at Wolfgang.
Wolfgang felt rage boiling over.
But exploding here would make him look foolish too.
His gaze inevitably shifted elsewhere.
There stood a middle-aged swordsman affiliated with the Elder Council, though not an Elder.
A former attendant who had served Wolfgang by his side for a long time.
“Beta. What’s your current rank?”
“……Combat Swordsman.”
“Right. Then you step up.”
“Under……stood.”
Beta looked reluctant at the idea of facing a mere kid, but with the Elders’ eyes on him, he couldn’t refuse.
In truth, though only ranked Combat Swordsman, his skill was on par with an Advanced Swordsman.
“You must not hold back on lethal moves in this duel.”
At Wolfgang’s tossed words, Beta hardened his expression.
“You mean kill him?”
“Not kill, but at least sever one right arm. I’ll handle the fallout, so don’t worry.”
“Yes. I’ll keep that in mind.”
Beta bowed deeply and slowly stepped into the dueling ground.
‘Killing intent…… not bad. Maybe the sixth candidate talk isn’t all hot air.’
Beta tensed slightly at the dragon slayer aura pricking his skin, but a smile crept onto his lips.
Savoring the thrill of crushing a potential candidate with his own hands.
Shing—
“I am Beta Tetris, guard swordsman of the Elder Council. I once earned the moniker ‘Gale Sword.’ I’ve heard of Island Night Fang’s fame, so let’s have a good match.”
With a light greeting,
Clang!
The duel began as their swords lightly clashed in midair.
Beta moved first.
Paaaat—
‘They say the Family Head bestowed a sword on him? Guess I should test that first……!’
Beta’s thoughts cut off as his eyes widened.
Kwarung!
Flash!
Suddenly, Drake’s blade seemed wrapped in bright yellow lightning, then unleashed a massive thunderclap and beam of light.
From the ground to the sky. A yellow pillar slammed brutally into Beta.
“Guh!”
Beta had no chance to deflect the beam and was sent tumbling disgracefully across the floor.
‘Strong!’
Only then did Beta realize.
His opponent was so strong it was hard to judge recklessly.
Even at the same rank, one who had awakened Ragnar talent could handle far stronger foes!
Kwa-kwa-kwang—
Rumble!
Theo’s advance chased after Beta.
Each swing of Drake’s blade left misty steam trails, yellow lightning striking the ground.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Each step forward shook the earth like cannon fire.
Blackened footprints scorched the passed ground.
[Dragon’s Seven Claws]
The now seven-strike chain whipped up like a storm.
Beta deflected each assault, but the impacts—like colliding head-on with cannons—sent agonizing shocks rippling through his body repeatedly.
His stance finally wavered greatly, exposing a glaring opening,
and Theo didn’t miss it, kicking him squarely.
Kwaaaang!
Beta tumbled across the ground again.
But this time, the sight was utterly different.
Bruises from internal injuries covered his body, burns and scorch marks everywhere.
Dark blood trickled from his mouth.
“H-How……?”
Struggling to his feet, he stared at Theo in utter disbelief.
No matter how exaggerated the rumors, Theo’s displayed power was beyond any normal Combat Swordsman.
As if he couldn’t have achieved it without some heavenly opportunity in that short time……!
‘Heavenly opportunity!’
Beta recalled that after receiving the sword from Kyle, Theo hadn’t left Camellia Palace for days.
He’d thought it was just recovery from a long mission then.
But if he’d actually been assimilating a heavenly opportunity from Kyle?
Sure, even with one, such rapid growth seemed improbable.
But without it, this pace was nonsense.
“Family Head! What the hell have you done……!”
Wolfgang shot to his feet, venting his fury.
His glare toward the semi-spirit palace direction overflowed with protests of what monster he’d created.
Reactions varied wildly.
“Huh.”
Julius let out an admiring exclamation—not quite admiration—as everything fell perfectly into Theo’s plan from start to finish.
“As expected of my friend, a total monster. How the hell am I supposed to catch up to that?”
Wellington chuckled wryly, shaking his head.
“Sis, what do I do?”
“Figure it out yourself, you punk.”
“Argh, damn. He’s gotten too strong.”
The Erica siblings sweated bullets,
“My son…….”
Cecilia clasped her hands, praying desperately for Theo’s safety.
And,
“Puhahaha!”
The Black Dragon roared with laughter, while the Plum Palace Lord wore a faint smile.
Because it was so vividly clear in their eyes.
-The teachings they’d imparted to him over time were fully integrated into Theo’s swordsmanship.
“I finally get why you and Julius have been so restless and clingy around Theo.”
Especially the Black Dragon, uncharacteristically bursting with open admiration now.
Because he’d noticed the root of Theo’s change stemmed from one thing.
‘The sword orb…… He gained something from the evil intent in the sword my brother gave him. Must’ve been tough suppressing the madness, but he pulled it off?’
He knew well who the original owner of that sword Kyle gave was, so his worries had been great.
But now, no more concerns seemed necessary.
And in this moment, the Black Dragon was certain.
Theo was different from other regressors.
Utterly different from other selectors.
He gained firm belief that Theo could make that ‘choice.’
A true selector.
-Sixth candidate.
That position was truly meant for Theo.
Thump thump thump thump thump……!
The heartbeat emanating from Theo, the pulsing throb, mana wind rippling outward powerfully in all directions.
Boom boom boom boom boom!