Chapter 130
Chapter 130
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 130
Chapter Title: Dragon Blood (5)
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Vittorio gave Theo just one order before the parliament assembly began.
-If you're putting on a play,
-show these shit-for-brains councilors what you've got. Prove your worth to me, and I'll back you fully from here on out.
Prove your value so that I can go all-in on you.
That was the meaning.
It was a necessary step for Theo anyway.
Simply taming the temple knights and Black Skull wouldn't let him control everything in the Floating Archipelago.
So Theo readily agreed.
Whisper whisper—
The councilors watched him, shifting uncomfortably in their seats.
They probably thought they were speaking quietly.
But to Theo, their voices were as clear as if they were chatting right next to him.
-That's the guy who got Lady Krimhilt's mystery, right?
-He looks younger than I thought.
-But don't underestimate him just because he's young. He drove out the 귀살대 that we couldn't handle.
Even with countless eyes on him, Theo showed no sign of tension.
“I am Theo, combat swordsman of Ragnar. It is an honor to meet the councilors who lead Benota Island and the Floating Archipelago Autonomous Region.”
-Combat swordsman? Not advanced swordsman?
-Is he hiding his skills? Or is the mystery's power that great?
-Have you heard that name before? Theo Ragnar, Theo Ragnar... First time for me.
-Yeah. Someone with that level of skill should have some rumors circulating.
Theo's fame was limited to Winterer, and since he had never been active outside, he was unknown.
“Quiet! Quiet, everyone.”
Thud thud!
Vittorio confirmed the silence and spoke again.
“Theo Ragnar. The council has a few questions for you. Will you answer truthfully?”
Theo nodded.
“I swear on the honor of Ragnar that every word I speak from now on contains no falsehoods.”
“That makes for an easy conversation. I know well how proud Ragnar's swordsmen are of their house.”
Vittorio posed a few questions, and Theo answered each one by recounting his experiences without omission.
The councilors raged collectively at the 귀살대's atrocities, but pondered what they would have done in that situation.
The answer?
Of course, 'difficult.'
The hero's seat wasn't for just anyone.
Witnesses from the scene then added their testimonies.
Cheers or gasps erupted here and there each time.
From the temple knights, Black Skull, or young councilors connected to them.
Thanks to that, the older councilors coughed awkwardly or fidgeted, their seats feeling uncomfortable.
For those who had only meant to check Theo, the public opinion leaning so heavily toward him was irritating.
Yet the sharp-eyed councilors didn't miss the subtle shift in atmosphere.
'Right now, the one holding the reins isn't the Governor—it's Krimhilt's successor, Theo Ragnar!'
That was the common thought in their heads.
Theo's presence had surpassed Vittorio's, filling the entire parliament house.
-This atmosphere...
-it won't be easy to check him.
-The Governor's fully committed to putting Theo Ragnar front and center and handing him full control!
The councilors swallowed hard.
They couldn't spot any gaps in Theo or Vittorio.
“Lady Krimhilt has truly blessed our Floating Archipelago with a successor. You saved us twice from what could have become threats from the Sea King and then Troyvan.”
“You flatter me.”
“Then let me ask: when you first arrived in the Floating Archipelago, why did you use a false name?”
“To avoid Troyvan's attention.”
Theo's publicly stated reason for visiting the Floating Archipelago was simple.
Returning the Dragon Slayer Sword.
“As I mentioned, I came as Ragnar's envoy to return the trophy Balmunk taken from Troyvan. But since I didn't know how deeply Troyvan's claws extended into the Floating Archipelago, I had no choice but to use a pseudonym and approach cautiously.”
And as you saw, Grimal nearly handed the Floating Archipelago over to Troyvan. Theo added that as an afterthought, sweeping his gaze over the assembly.
Councilors friendly with Grimal now looked away or down. Meeting eyes might get them dragged out by the temple knights.
“Indeed, thanks to you, the Floating Archipelago was saved from crisis. On behalf of all the autonomous region's residents, I offer our thanks once more for this matter.”
“Thank you.”
“But I have one more question.”
Vittorio's eyes narrowed slightly.
“Now all crises are over. So, as you said, do you intend to return Balmunk and Aegir?”
Hm?
Councilors who had been dejected in defeat slowly lifted their heads.
-What's this? The mood's getting chilly.
-Did you feel it too? These two keep running parallel.
-Is the Governor wary of Krimhilt's successor...?
-Something's up! Definitely!
Theo silently drew Balmunk from its sheath without a word.
Shing!
A fierce aura swirled like a storm alongside its blue gleam.
Whoooosh—
Drawing a blade in the sacred parliament house was tantamount to treason.
Some councilors tried to point it out but couldn't step forward.
Neither the temple knights nor Black Skull moved. Even Vittorio's granddaughter Marti stayed still.
Their trust in Theo was strong.
“I will of course return it. However.”
Thud!
Theo plunged Balmunk straight into the floor and lifted his head sharply.
“There is a problem. Balmunk now rejects anyone but its recognized master.”
Theo smiled, sweeping his gaze from Vittorio to the other councilors.
“Can you take it?”
-......
-......
Silence fell over the councilors for a moment.
At the provocative question, a few with strong competitive spirits twitched their eyebrows.
“Second-term councilor Caravaggio Romano here. Are you saying, successor of Lady Krimhilt, that if we can't take Balmunk, you won't return it?”
A solidly built middle-aged man glared at Theo as if to devour him.
Theo shook his head leisurely with a smile.
“How could that be? I simply mean that if no one can draw the unsealed Balmunk, it would be nothing more than decoration.”
“That sounds like... if someone can draw Balmunk, they can use it.”
“Then that person would wield Balmunk on behalf of the Floating Archipelago.”
Greed flickered in Caravaggio's eyes.
A councilor chosen by Balmunk.
For a power-hungry politician, it was irresistible.
It meant becoming the 'representative' of the Floating Archipelago.
“I see. It doesn't make sense to leave a divine sword like Balmunk as mere decoration.”
Caravaggio muttered to himself, glancing at Vittorio.
Asking if he could give it a try.
When Vittorio nodded, he quickly stood and descended to the podium.
He gripped Balmunk.
Veins bulged on his arms, showing he was a skilled swordsman.
But,
Creeeeak!
Balmunk shook violently, repelling his hand.
“Gah!”
-Wha? Whoa!
-It's coming this way! Everyone dodge!
Boom!
Caravaggio spat blood and flew back, crashing into the middle of the rear councilors' seats.
The parliament house plunged into chaos with startled councilors scrambling away.
Woooong! Wooong!
Regardless,
Balmunk continued to vibrate arrogantly.
“As you see, this one's quite picky. It won't be easy to gain its recognition.”
While councilors whispered to each other about what to do,
Other councilors, their competitive spirits ignited even more, shot to their feet.
“I'll give it a try!”
“I'll try too. I had some fame on the continent back in the day.”
“Ahem. I'll have a go as well.”
They all shared one thought.
'An outsider did it—why wouldn't I be chosen by Balmunk!'
But the results were all the same.
They couldn't withstand its resistance and were flung off, or at best endured only to faint from mana backlash.
-What nonsense is this...!
-Did you tamper with Balmunk somehow? How else would it reject us!
The councilors even began suspecting Theo.
Creeeeeng!
But at the clear sword resonance when Theo reached for Balmunk, they snapped to attention.
Even councilors ignorant of swords strongly felt the Dragon Slayer Sword welcoming Theo alone.
Sure enough.
Swish—
Krimhilt's phantom briefly appeared above Theo's head, glanced over the assembly, and quietly vanished.
The councilors all clamped their mouths shut.
It was as if Krimhilt's will residing in Balmunk was rebuking their incompetence.
Click—
Theo casually drew Balmunk and slung it over his shoulder.
“If asked to return it, I will. But rather than just leaving it stuck there, wouldn't it be better for someone to represent the Floating Archipelago and spread Lady Krimhilt's name far and wide? That's my personal opinion. What do you think?”
Theo turned his gaze exactly in the direction Krimhilt's phantom had looked,
And the councilors quietly bowed their heads or looked away, avoiding his eyes.
No objections.
“It seems everyone here shares my thoughts.”
With Theo's laughter,
Thud thud thud!
Vittorio vigorously struck the gavel three times.
Satisfaction played on his lips.
* * *
The assembly's final decision was as follows.
-Theo Ragnar shall return ownership of the Dragon Slayer Sword Balmunk and Dragon Plate Aegir to their original owner, the Floating Archipelago Autonomous Region.
-However, to honor Balmunk's value and show respect to Krimhilt's successor, the autonomous region shall 'lend' Balmunk to Theo Ragnar. The loan term is limited to Theo Ragnar's lifetime; upon his death or disqualification as Krimhilt's successor, it shall be immediately returned.
-Theo Ragnar shall form a mutual alliance with the Floating Archipelago Autonomous Region as a condition of the loan, and in exchange, work to share Krimhilt's mysteries, including <Nibelung>, with the region.
.
.
The key point was that Theo had entered into a 'contract' with the autonomous region's council on equal footing as an individual.
Not as Ragnar, but personally.
The Floating Archipelago Autonomous Region held electoral rights for the emperor, giving it tremendous political weight even within the empire.
Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with such a place meant Theo's fame would surely spread widely once the contract became known.
And sure enough.
Journalists who had stayed in the Floating Archipelago over the past few days, watching the rapidly changing political landscape, began flooding the news with related articles.
[Troyvan Crosses the Line! Attempts to Sink Floating Archipelago into the Seabed!]
[Troyvan Holds Hundreds of Thousands of Lives Hostage. Can We Let This Slide?]
Some questioned Troyvan's morality, but they soon vanished under invisible pressure.
Instead, articles proclaiming the rise of a new hero, Theo, far outnumbered deep dives into the incident.
[Theo Ragnar Appears Like a Saint, Thwarts Troyvan's Plot—Who Is He?]
[Combat Swordsman at Fifteen! Theo Ragnar Under the Spotlight!]
[Hero Theo Subdues the Sea King.]
[Northern Sixth Successor Shrouded in Mystery—His Divinity Revealed?]
Quick-witted reporters even uncovered that Theo was the 'sixth candidate' shaking Winterer.
[Like Mother, Like Son? How Did Cecilia the Great Actress's Son Inherit Her Beauty?]
Some even dragged up Cecilia, who had once upended the theater world before quietly disappearing.
“Oh my! This is an article about Lord Theo! Even Lady Cecilia's face is in it!”
Can't let this pass!
A Camellia Palace maid who had stepped out briefly for an errand snatched a newspaper from a stand and dashed back—not to the palace, but to Cecilia's shop.
“Lady Ceciliaaaa! Extra edition! Extra!”
But the maid's steps halted midway.
The Plum Palace Lord was entering the shop.