Chapter 166
Chapter 166
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 166
Chapter Title: White Tower Ruins (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Julius Ragnar, whom they hadn't seen in ages, looked utterly exhausted.
He mentioned there had been frequent battles lately.
On top of that, various issues had piled up, leaving him visibly irritated. The usual relaxed demeanor was nowhere to be found.
"Armed clashes? What happened?"
Selphard and Arin could only ask in shock,
and Julius pondered for a moment before slowly speaking.
"The White Tower has long been managed by the native inhabitants known as the Tower Folk. You know that, right?"
"Yes, more or less."
The White Tower was one of the few ancient civilization ruins that drew little interest these days, except from academic scholars.
The Tower Folk had maintained the tower for generations, offering services like traditional cultural experiences to visitors who came to tour it.
"There was a dispute over protecting their residential area."
The White Dragon Knights insisted on safeguarding the Tower Folk and their homes, especially since excavation of the ruins wasn't complete,
while the Black Iron Knights demanded their forced relocation to another sector, arguing there was no spare capacity to protect them amid escalating daily battles.
"Of course, disagreements are bound to happen. People have different thoughts. The problem is that siege warfare broke out around the White Tower, and Troyvan's infiltration unit was involved in the process."
Theo could somehow picture it in his mind.
"...Street fighting broke out."
Selphard and Arin's gazes quickly turned to Theo.
Julius nodded with a bitter smile.
"Yeah. And it's the one form of combat both we and the Black Iron Knights despise most."
Indiscriminate clashes had erupted while eliminating the infiltrators.
"Plus, it seems the Tower Folk had a mole planted by Troyvan."
"Did you have eyes on our side or something?"
"It was just a conclusion I drew while thinking about what I'd do if I were Troyvan. Sorry if it came off as presumptuous."
"No, not at all."
Julius waved it off, inwardly marveling at Theo's insight that pierced straight to the heart of the matter.
'His horizons have broadened even more after just half a year out in the world. As expected of him...!'
He'd already received word via letter from the Dragon Ascendant that Theo would soon be nominated for senior swordsman.
Julius felt it was time to accelerate the plans he'd prepared for Theo.
"Anyway, those bastards keep shaking us up—it's driving me insane."
Selphard hesitated briefly before asking,
"Then isn't protecting the Tower Folk itself dangerous? Sorry, but in this case, the Black Iron Knights seem right. There's no real reason we have to protect them, is there?"
Arin and Theo nodded quietly in agreement.
It wasn't about massacring them—just moving them to a monitored area for now. They could return to their homes after the war.
But Julius shook his head with a wry smile, saying it wasn't that simple.
"A 'Mystery' has been discovered in the White Tower."
"Oh no..."
"Ah."
The group instantly grasped the situation.
Theo's eyes darkened deeply.
"You need the Tower Folk's testimony."
"Exactly. We've confirmed a Mystery is sealed beneath the White Tower, but we don't know how to unseal it. So we have to rely on the Tower Folk's oral traditions or lore. They're cooperative with everything else, but stubbornly closed off on this."
Theo nodded gravely.
A Mystery could alter a faction's dominance entirely—an absolute power.
No wonder it's called inscrutable.
The Tower Folk wouldn't want to relinquish the Mystery they'd guarded in the White Tower for so long.
Meanwhile, Ragnar, claiming this as their territory, would see it as theirs.
'The White Dragon Knights are the appeasement faction, trying to coax the Tower Folk for the Mystery, while the Black Iron Knights are the hardliners, pushing force. That sums it up.'
Theo recalled his past life's knowledge.
'The White Tower's Mystery... the Waves of the Command Star, right?'
The Command Star—the first to rise in the sky, shining brightest at dawn.
The White Tower's Mystery was known to borrow its power.
It had mana-related effects, but Theo didn't know the details precisely.
Troyvan had liberated it before Ragnar.
Yet Troyvan collapsed soon after, leading later evaluations that it wasn't that impressive.
Theo had judged similarly, so he hadn't rushed to claim it.
'But I can't let Troyvan or the Black Iron Knights have it.'
Fortunately, Theo knew how to approach it, even if not fully unseal it.
It was then.
Ding!
[A quest has arrived.]
+
[Scenario Quest #7]
You have visited the ruins left by the Primordial Dragon. Claim the Mystery buried here.
· Difficulty: A+
· Reward: Primordial Dragon's Relic
· Failure: Death
+
The White Tower was the Primordial Dragon's legacy?
Theo's eyes widened slightly.
Now he had every reason to claim it himself.
"Anyway, avoid clashing with the Black Iron Knights as much as possible. We're the ones protecting the Tower Folk's area, and we hold authority over them. No point getting involved."
The group nodded at Julius's earnest warning.
Only then did Julius relax his serious expression, flashing a smile.
"You all must have had a rough journey here. Come on, let's hear some stories."
"Didn't you get the report?"
"Hearing tales of valor firsthand beats stiff documents any day."
"You're not just saying that to listen for free, right?"
"Hahaha. As if. I've got everything ready."
At Selphard's teasing question, Julius clapped lightly.
Clap clap!
The back door swung open, and a crowd waiting outside flooded in.
"We've been waiting forever! When were you gonna call?"
"Oak barrels! Move the oak barrels inside first!"
"How's the meat?"
"It's all grilled! Coming through!"
White Dragon Knights members carried in barrels of liquor and platters of snacks.
The drinking party began.
* * *
"Puhahaha! What? The statue collapsed there?"
"The Troyvan bastards must've been terrified! Years of effort gone in a flash!"
"So? What happened next?"
"I've heard of the Floating Archipelago Mystery too. Thought it was just legend, but it was real? Whoa! Let me touch you real quick."
Noisy.
That thought hadn't left Theo's mind since the party started.
All the scattered northern squads had gathered, and with so many familiar faces after ages, they swapped stories like a bustling market.
But the central topic was undoubtedly Theo.
''The star born from the White Dragon Knights. An idol that appears once every millennium. Millennium Idol, right? Hahaha!''
'...Please stop teasing.'
''Our Millennium Idol says so himself.''
'Hah!'
The knights treated Theo with affectionate fondness, like a beloved little brother.
The unit had always prided itself on a familial atmosphere without strict hierarchies or bullying, so they doted on their recently famous junior like the baby of the family.
His cheeks still stung from all the pinching.
Worse, emboldened by drink, they swarmed to feel his newly bulked-up muscles, draining him completely.
The problem was that the White Dragon Knights weren't the only ones cluttering Theo's head.
-Slurp! That meat looks delicious.
-Ah, I'm thirsty for booze. I could've had a whole jar.
-Calm down, you lot. Lingering will just breed greed. But man, that aroma... Ah! Aaaah! Should've just ascended to the afterlife!!
The ghosts of the Spirit Sword wandered freely, doubling the racket.
White Dragon Knights and Dragon Child Corps.
Their vibes were eerily similar—like one was copy-pasted from the other.
"Uh, um. No room to squeeze in here. What now, sis?"
"What do you mean 'what now'? Your plan's busted again."
"Damn."
Holcus chugged beers in frustration.
He'd trained diligently, brimming with confidence that he could now claim to be Theo's sword.
But senior swordsman? Senior swordsman.
And according to Selphard's tales, Theo might rival a Dragon Gate Swordsman depending on his mindset... Holcus's confidence shriveled.
Could he ever stand by Theo like this?
"You're weak."
Then Ray, sitting opposite after hearing the rundown from Erika, stabbed him bluntly.
"What'd you say, punk?"
"Theo's way stronger."
"I know that?"
"No. Stronger than you think. Theo danced on the edge of death. You played in the back."
"I didn't play! I fought hard too...!"
"Still child's play."
"Hey!!"
Bang!
Holcus slammed the table and shot up in anger.
But Ray calmly lifted his mug.
Erika watched the two with gleaming interest.
"Wanna go a round for real?"
"Ten seconds."
"Ten seconds what? Speak straight."
"Time till you're flat on the floor."
"You little...!"
"That's how different our experiences are."
"Fine. Let's do it."
As Holcus menacingly closed in on Ray,
Snikt!
A sword was suddenly at his throat.
'How did it get there...!'
"Sorry. Overestimated you. One second."
"...!"
"If you can't even track this, don't dream of standing by Theo. He'll keep racing along the edge of death."
"..."
Ray sheathed his sword quietly, his buzz killed, and left.
Holcus stood dazed for a long while.
Ray's blow had shocked him that much.
Until the Awakening Ceremony, their gap hadn't been this wide.
Now, he couldn't even read Ray's sword.
If Ray was this far ahead, how much higher was Theo?
His blank gaze fixed on Theo.
'What kind of life are you living?'
Erika sipped her beer, watching her brother.
It was a fresh shock for her too.
"Guess I can't slack off either."
* * *
After the rowdy atmosphere settled,
Theo could finally exchange proper greetings with the other squad leaders.
"Bit late on intros. Name's Itt Bolseman. I lead Squad 2."
The Squad 2 leader, focused on deep-sea scouting, was rail-thin with a venomous glare.
Nicknamed 'Gloom Blade' for his eerie aura.
Theo saw him as a stately leopard.
"I'm Gorito Ken. Nice to meet you. Let's grab a drink sometime."
Squad 3's burly leader extended a hand, true to his 'Iron Wall' moniker—solid all over.
An immigrant from a distant eastern nation, with black eyes and yellow skin.
"Hanata Ragnar. Pleased to meet you."
Squad 4's 'Blaze Blade' had such a warm personality and speech that her Ragnar name felt mismatched.
But Theo wasn't fooled.
He knew well how violently explosive she got when angry.
"I'm Theo Ragnar. Looking forward to working with you."
Theo bowed politely to them before facing the last one.
Petite, under 150 cm with a youthful face, yet a savage 3-meter-plus spear strapped to her back.
'Squad 1 leader, Demon Ghost Amore Tan.'
As Julius's personal guard, she rarely showed publicly, haunting only the riskiest frontlines—requiring immense prowess.
She was the top candidate for the vacant 'Anti-Dragon' title.
Despite their 30 cm height gap, she loomed large in Theo's eyes.
"Hi. Nice to meet ya. Call me More sis off-duty. Got it?"
But her speech was adorably mismatched with her image...
"Ugh."
"More sis? More siiiis? Squad 1 leader? Where's your shame?"
"Turning sixty the day after tomorrow, and that baby talk...? No, when was 'nice to meet ya' even trendy?"
"Trying to manage my image with a handsome new junior after ages. Shut it, all of you."
As Amore glared daggers, the other three leaders hastily looked away.
Theo scratched his cheek awkwardly.
'Rumor that Squad 1's leader is older than the captain is true.'
Nearing sixty yet looking under thirty. He wanted her secret for his mother.
"Anyway, hit me up anytime for squad leader tips or issues."
Amore winked playfully.
But Theo fixated on something else.
Squad leader?
"Huh. Was this still secret?"
Amore caught Theo's expression, clapped her mouth, and glanced at Julius.
Julius sighed lightly.
"Well, I was gonna tell you soon anyway... Theo Ragnar."
"Yes, Captain."
Theo straightened instinctively, alert.
"For your mission merits plus the Dragon Ascendant's recommendation, you'll take the senior swordsman exam soon. And if you pass,"
Julius's eyes gleamed.
The Demon Dragon's gaze.
"You'll form your own squad."
"...!"
Thump!
Theo's heart raced.