Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Dragon Instruction Society (3)
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“How’s the new swordsmanship disciple? Does he measure up to your expectations?”
Evelyn shot a glare at Julius, her former—no, now current again—boss, who visited her quarters every week just to smash her expensive wines.
Pop!
Today, another pricey bottle met its fate without fail.
No, she’d definitely swapped out the labels with different ones beforehand. How the hell did he always find them?
“...Captain, don’t you ever go on business trips? Back when I was around, you barely planted your ass in Winterer.”
“Why do you keep being a nuisance?”
“...”
“Tormenting you has become my life’s little joy these days?”
“...”
“Fine, fine. Keep glaring like that, and you’ll bore a hole right through my face.”
Julius savored the aroma of the freshly opened wine before circling back to the main topic.
“So, what’s the answer?”
“It was different from what I expected.”
“Worse than you thought?”
“No. Better.”
Julius grinned as if he’d known it all along.
Evelyn continued with a solemn expression.
“You might recall that I’ve instructed quite a few people’s swordsmanship over the years, though it embarrasses me to admit it.”
“Even in the White Dragon Knights, you were always the one handling the new recruits’ training. Your sword was always textbook yet razor-sharp. Even ‘Dark Panther’ passed through your hands, didn’t it?”
Evelyn nodded.
Most people didn’t know, but Axion had truly started to shine only after training under her.
That was why, when she lost an arm and retired, the Camellia Palace had showered her with the most offers.
“If we’re just looking at posture and talent... Young Master Theo ranks in the top five among everyone I’ve ever taught. Thanks to him, I feel enlightened every single day.”
“As expected. My eyes didn’t deceive me.”
That was enough.
Julius nodded.
For the promising talent Theo, the right path.
For his regrettable old subordinate Evelyn, fresh motivation.
This was exactly the picture Julius had envisioned from the start.
In truth, the Evelyn he observed was changing day by day.
Not long ago, she’d been drowning in booze, her hands trembling.
Now, she could flash a sharp glint in her eyes.
Watching her agonize all night over what to teach next evoked memories of her fiercely dedicated days in the White Dragon Knights.
Her sword had probably sharpened up considerably too.
Enough to steam ordinary trainee swordsmen without breaking a sweat.
“But something’s a bit off.”
“Hm? Off how?”
“Yes. Young Master Theo’s sword is incredibly desperate. Like he’ll die if he misses this chance.”
“Isn’t it because the Awakening Ceremony is so close?”
“I thought that at first too, but...”
Evelyn trailed off midway.
In truth, Theo was the model student with nothing to worry about.
He trained hard, reviewed diligently, and internalized it thoroughly.
But.
That very paradox made her sense something ominous about him.
-Like watching someone burn themselves alive.
Theo threw his all into every moment.
To the point where she worried he might truly combust if left like that.
Was that why?
Theo kept a certain distance from Evelyn, Wellington, and everyone else at the Fourth Training Grounds he saw daily.
On the surface, no issues.
They ate together, chatted about this and that.
But that was it.
Entering any realm connected to Theo was impossible.
As if he was too busy focusing solely on himself to spare a thought for anything else.
‘That’s why I sent him to the party to cool his head a bit.’
She’d thought mischievous Axion would look after him well.
‘But if he stays true to his nature even there...’
Evelyn sighed lightly, lost in thought.
Like a mother leaving her child by the water’s edge.
She was a little worried, truthfully.
“You’ve got that face like you saw something huge and realized there’s no toilet paper.”
“...Is that really the only way you can put it?”
But Julius wore that knowing smile, as if he understood her completely.
Haa!
Evelyn sighed deeply, as if there was no helping it,
“Fine. I’ll tell you...”
And slowly began unpacking her concerns about Theo one by one.
* * *
Theo didn’t give a damn about the Dragon Instruction Society punks calling him a bastard.
He’d heard it too many times since his past life anyway.
What good was he if his heart shook over something like that?
Instead, right now,
He was solely focused on finding some pretext to head to the second floor.
But then.
-Well, if you think about it, Wel is kinda...
The moment the Dragon Instruction Society mentioned Wellington, all thoughts vanished.
Theo knew the ‘real’ reason why Wellington, who’d later been so close to the society, ended up breaking ties with them and opposing the Ragnars.
A secret history unknown to the outside world.
Or the shameful past Narsio desperately wanted buried.
So Theo hurled the glass in his hand at them without thinking.
Shut the hell up.
‘It was emotional, but... whatever, doesn’t matter.’
Theo felt no regret over his actions.
Holding back wouldn’t stop them from looking down on him and Wellington; the atmosphere wouldn’t change.
-Once you decide to strike hard, see it through to the bitter end.
There were Julius’s words from before, too.
In that case.
Better to leave a strong impression about himself.
‘Still... I didn’t expect to snap like that over Wellington.’
He’d thought he’d kept enough distance all this time.
It just pissed him off.
Seeing Wellington disrespected.
Thump thump thump thump thump thump!
The Dragon’s Heart pounded madly.
Blood raced through his veins, mana seeping into every muscle and nerve cell, forcibly activating them.
And the killing intent blooming from it.
“What presence...!”
“He’s just an entry-level swordsman who hasn’t even done the Awakening Ceremony?”
“Aura...? No, it’s definitely not aura. Then how?”
“Hard to even breathe...!”
The four guard swordsmen paled, overwhelmed by Theo’s presence.
On paper, they had the edge with their awakened aura.
Yet they felt an overwhelming abyss, like they couldn’t touch him.
In that moment, they belatedly realized their grave mistake.
-They’d spoken of death to one of dragon blood.
The Ragnars were kings of the North. Sovereigns above the Six Great Houses.
Even as a bastard, Theo was direct lineage, inheriting the family head’s blood.
Meaning he held ‘succession rights’ to the throne.
Threatening to kill such a person?
It was a capital crime that could wipe out their entire families.
‘We have to apologize now...!’
But before they could utter a word.
“Kill them.”
Theo spat coldly.
Slash—
Spurt!
A flash of light streaked, and four heads floated lightly into the air.
Below them.
Evelyn shook the blood from her blade, her eyes icy.
Flutter!
Pure white uniform peeked from under her cloak.
And the blue letters emblazoned on her right shoulder, visible at a glance.
-Dragoon.
‘Dragoon’ denoted the Ragnars’ pride, the White Dragon Knights elite,
And blue script symbolized a senior high-grade swordsman.
Her mere appearance.
Made the Camellia Palace reek of blood.
“...!”
“...!”
“...!”
“...Evelyn, how are you here?”
Especially Axion’s face darkened deeply.
As if this was utterly impossible.
* * *
「How did you know I was here?」
Step!
Evelyn stepped forward protectively in front of Theo, mouthing small words only for him.
A technique concentrating mana to send voice only to the target: sound transmission.
-Ain’t it better to check with your own eyes than just worry alone?
It was a step moved on Julius’s advice, but getting caught like this was a bit embarrassing.
Still, one duty of a swordsmanship master was protecting her disciple.
She couldn’t stand by.
She’d seen clear as day how insolent the Dragon Instruction Society scum were.
‘Just like the Elder Council. These kids already...!’
Grit—
Evelyn ground her teeth.
It made her want to retch, realizing the Ragnars stank of rot from this deep within.
And Axion staring at her.
She was furious that he, too, looked just like them—not the child she remembered.
So when he’d asked why she was siding with Theo, she gave no answer.
In her heart, the master had already excommunicated her old disciple.
And.
Theo smiled faintly at Evelyn’s back, her killing intent flashing.
‘If I said I knew since the carriage, how would she react?’
The Dragon’s Heart didn’t just form the second Aura Hall.
Activating nerve cells heightened all senses sharply.
Opening wide what was called the sixth sense: ki perception.
She’d probably freak if she knew his ki sense now surpassed most trainee swordsmen.
But thanks to it, he could make Evelyn his ‘sword’ right now.
Step, step!
Evelyn advanced again.
Each step splashing through blood pools from the fallen corpses.
“W-Wait, Young Master Theo!”
“We didn’t mean it like that...!”
“Please hear us out!”
The ones who’d called him bastard were all pale as ghosts.
“Evelyn.”
“Yes, Young Master Theo.”
「You really won’t tell me?」
“These lot all insulted a succession right holder. What’s the punishment for that?”
「...Weirdly, you look just like the Captain right now. You getting private lessons from him too, not just me?」
Evelyn swallowed a sigh inwardly and spoke solemnly.
Her gaze sharpened again.
“By house rules, summary execution is permitted.”
“They’re all kids who haven’t even done the Awakening Ceremony, so let’s just take one arm each.”
“Understood.”
Swoosh—
Evelyn moved like a white gale again.
“Second son of the Byron family.”
“W-Wait! Gah!”
“Fourth daughter of the Ceres Merchant Group.”
“Kyaaak!”
“First of the Crimson White Mercenaries.”
“N-No way... Gah!”
The wind became a slashing blizzard, carving through the interior.
“Zion! Save me, please!”
Some even clung to Axion’s pant leg, begging.
“Why should I?”
“W-What...?”
“It’s just a greeting. A welcome greeting.”
“What are you... Aaaak!”
Axion booted them away.
Truth be told, there was no room for him to intervene here.
Those being punished had dared ‘insult a succession right holder.’
Defending them would be smearing his own face as another succession right holder.
‘She’s pinpointing exactly those who brought up bloodline. If she even glances at the others by mistake, she’d stop immediately.’
Axion saw through it: even in apparent rage, Theo wielded cold judgment and calculation.
Because that’s exactly what he’d do.
‘Theo Ragnar. The Rose Palace cripple has changed.’
What had changed him?
And how had he lured Evelyn, who’d poured her heart into the Camellia Palace?
‘That’s why... he’s fun.’
His first impression wasn’t a lie at all.
Slash!
“I’ve severed the right arms of all fourteen as instructed.”
Evelyn sheathed her sword quietly and bowed before Theo.
The floor was filled with one-armed screamers and crimson blood pools.
“Treatment?”
“They can head to a priest right away with their arms and have them reattached.”
Reattached, sure—but their future as swordsmen was doubtful.
Evelyn omitted the rest.
Unknowingly, she’d started mimicking Theo and Julius’s speech patterns.
“You heard him. Get out.”
Only after Theo’s nod did the Camellia Palace swordsmen and the injured heirs’ guards scramble into action.
For treatment, they had to hurry before necrosis set in.
“...This won’t end easily. Even invoking house rules, you went too far.”
While those unscathed by bloodline talk fled helter-skelter.
One alone glared at Theo.
Orient Ragnar.
Like Theo and Axion, bearing the Ragnar name, but collateral branch—no succession rights—same age.
‘In his past life, Axion’s right hand too.’
“That’s for me to handle.”
“You say that so lightly...! Hoo. Fine. Your burden. But I wonder if the Rose Palace can weather this storm. Watch your roots don’t get yanked.”
You’ve just turned a bunch of knight families into enemies, plus Troyvan.
Orient warned.
But Theo’s reaction remained utterly calm.
Rather, Evelyn’s glare seemed to ask if he’d pull the same stunt.
In the end, Orient couldn’t continue and fled the Camellia Palace.
“Let’s head out too.”
Theo passed Axion, slapping his shoulder hard twice.
Thud, thud—
Just like Axion had done to him first.
“No more welcome greetings prepared, huh. Thanks to you, it was fun.”
He didn’t wait for a reply.
Theo led.
Evelyn and Wellington followed in turn, passing Axion.
“...”
“...”
No words between them.
They were through.
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