Chapter 177
Chapter 177
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 177
Chapter Title: Intensifying Throne Competition (2)
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Theo watched the countless gazes pouring his way.
Thump, thump, thump!
He had aimed for this, sure.
But facing it head-on was far more pressuring than he’d anticipated.
And yet, that pressure paled next to the thrill those stares brought him.
The sheer fact that everyone was focused on him.
He’d spent two lifetimes as a side character, a mere extra for someone else.
But now, he felt it strongly—this was purely *his* life.
『Am I right?』
Lordbroke appeared in spirit form beside him, grinning.
‘Looks like it. But you’re not ready to show yourself yet, are you, Rodi?’
『You need to dole out the impact in doses. For now, keep the focus on awakening the White Tower’s mystery and being chosen by the Primordial Dragon’s heir. It’s not time to reveal me yet.』
Theo nodded in agreement.
The implications of the Primordial Dragon and the Guardian Dragon were worlds apart.
The Primordial Dragon was the progenitor of all dragons, the legendary being said to have first forged the Winter Mountains.
A figure from ancient myths—so rumors of his favor would paint Theo in a veil of profound mystery.
And if he commanded dragons because of it?
It would shatter the limitations of his bastard status, letting him rise as something extraordinary.
But the title of “Guardian Dragon’s mate” was different.
Lordbroke, the Guardian Dragon, was an accepted historical fact among all Ragnar folk.
Naturally, it came bundled with the title of Sigurd the Founder’s successor.
Impressive on its own—untouchable destructive power no one could rival.
But put another way… it could threaten not just succession rights, but Kyle’s very throne.
‘It’s not time to reveal Rodi yet. Wait until she’s fully recovered. Until my position is unshakable. Revealing her then won’t be too late.’
And the more hidden aces, the better.
Theo threw himself downward.
Landing right beside Julius.
Thud!
“Theo! You okay? Any injuries?”
Julius dropped his standoffish stance against the three dragons and checked Theo over.
His takeaway was singular.
‘He’s truly claimed the mystery!’
He’d expected the White Tower’s mystery to be no trifling thing, given its historical weight.
Otherwise, Torkel, the Black Iron Knights, and even Troyvan wouldn’t be eyeing it so hungrily.
But the moment Theo appeared with multiple dragons, Julius instinctively knew the mystery’s power exceeded his wildest guesses.
Above all.
Theo’s *presence* had changed.
His strength might not have leaped dramatically.
But a shift in spiritual stature wasn’t just about getting stronger or not.
It signaled *potential*.
How much further he could grow. Whether he could become exceptional.
Only elevated stature allowed dreams of higher realms, command over more souls.
And right now, Theo embodied that.
Even the depth in his eyes was different.
“Yeah. Thanks to you.”
“You…!”
“I’m sorry for dumping the cleanup of my mess on you without warning. I’ll explain everything later.”
His speech had a subtle shift too.
Like he’d lived multiple lives. Or endured vast ages. Utterly transformed.
「Glad you’re safe.」
The Plum Palace Lord seemed relieved more by his safety than his changes.
「You nearly put Ray in danger the second she joined the White Dragon Knights. I’m not letting this slide easy—don’t even think of running off. Come see me later.」
Niel scowled, clearly displeased.
Theo smiled quietly, sending telepathy to both.
「If you’ll spare the time, I’ll explain in full to you both.」
In the end, the Plum Palace Lord and Niel withdrew.
Leaving only Illusion Dragon Magnus.
He stepped forward.
“Theo Ragnar.”
He quickly scanned the lesser dragonkin encircling them.
Theo swiftly offered a sword salute.
“Field Law Swordsman of the White Dragon Knights, Theo Ragnar, greets the Captain of the Azure Sword Guard.”
“Skip the formalities. What are these dragons? What happened to the White Tower? Explain in detail.”
Theo knew not just Magnus, but countless eyes still tracked his every move.
Among them, Torkel, robbed of the spotlight.
“They’re from the White Tower.”
“The White Tower…?”
“Yes.”
“So you’ve claimed all its mysteries?”
“More than claimed. Though lacking, I’ve even been acknowledged by its founder.”
“Stop dancing around it. Explain properly.”
“The founder of the White Tower is the Primordial Dragon.”
“The Primordial… Dragon? You mean the myth-born creator of all dragons?”
“Yes. That’s the one.”
“Hah!”
Magnus momentarily suspected a joke.
It was that hard to believe.
In ancient times, maybe. But in this era, claiming myths as history and inheritance? Perfect recipe for being called mad.
But.
Keeeaak!
With visible proof in those encircling dragons, he couldn’t just dismiss it.
「What should we do with them, Captain?」
「Give the order!」
The Azure Sword Guard glared fiercely, but the dragons matched their ferocity—no easy pushover.
“You’ll find it hard to believe easily. But as you see, it’s the truth. Thanks to the Primordial Dragon’s blessing, I can tame any dragonkin lineage, of course.”
[The Skill: Lesser Drake Fear activates.]
Whoooosh—
Suddenly, a vortex of intense aura swirled around Theo.
Killing intent that stung even Magnus’s skin.
But what shocked Magnus was elsewhere.
Crunch, crack!
Theo’s appearance began to shift.
His crimson eyes glowed deeper red, vertical dragon-like pupils slitting open. Dragon scales sprouted along his nape and forearms.
And.
A horn began pushing from his left temple.
Like beholding the legendary half-human, half-dragon race: Dragonian.
[Dragonkin Mode manifests.]
“Now I can even embody draconic traits.”
Dragonkin Mode.
Thanks to <Nirvana>’s awakening, Theo could now maximize his talents.
“……!”
“……H-his face…”
“It’s a Dragonian! A real Dragonian!”
“Does that mean the legend is true?”
The crowd plunged into shock.
A legend long whispered in Ragnar circles.
—He who awakens Ragnar’s true talent shall lord over all the world’s dragons.
Ragnars always claimed descent from ancient dragonkin, believing themselves rightful masters of lesser dragons.
Hence the White Dragon Knights’ supreme honor.
They alone among Ragnar swordsmen wielded dragons.
So the four great units—no, every watching swordsman—wavered.
Theo looked every inch the legend made flesh.
‘He planned this!’
Magnus realized he and the Azure Sword Guard had fallen perfectly into Theo’s trap.
Not just them. The other dragons, the four units—all of it.
Such dramatic flair before key figures? Everyone would be captivated.
‘The White Tower’s mystery was always the flashpoint between White and Black. He baited it deliberately. Then Red Sword and Azure Sword would swarm, drawing all eyes…!’
But the real issue ran deeper.
‘…This only worked because Julius and the White Dragon Knights had unbreakable confidence they wouldn’t lose to the other three. If White had faltered, the whole performance would’ve flopped.’
Realizing he—a four-unit captain—was just a pawn for some kid under twenty? Utterly deflating.
Kyaak!
Amid the growing murmurs, the dragons grew more menacing.
Even the Azure Sword Guard wavered.
「……Captain.」
「Please… give the order…!」
‘What to do?’
Magnus stood at a crossroads.
One: Acknowledge the tide, withdraw gracefully.
Two: Risk heavy losses, deploy the Azure Sword Guard to seize Theo.
「Magnus! What are you hesitating for? Crush that brat! Primordial Dragon or whatever, he’s the instigator of this infighting! Defied orders, bypassed protocol to touch the White Tower! You want to set a precedent that ends justify means?」
Red Sword Knight Captain Mokolin Dochenberg bellowed, face flushed, pressuring his choice.
「If you’re arresting him, I’ll help, Senior.」
Even Torkel, battle aura still blazing, offered “aid” like a magnanimous lord.
‘Mokolin and Torkel’s frequent meetings lately aren’t secret. Trying to rope me to their side now?’
Torkel’s gaze locked on Theo, unrelenting.
Instinct screaming: no better shot to eliminate this eternal thorn if not now.
The problem? Siding with them.
The Plum Palace Lord and Niel backed him now, but everyone in Ragnar knew their closeness to Theo.
Especially the Plum Palace Lord’s special affection—treating him like her own flesh-and-blood heir.
Try to arrest him, and she’d flip sides instantly.
Then… true, irreversible infighting would erupt.
Drip.
Cold sweat trailed down Magnus’s cheek.
He was just here to uphold the Family Head’s glory.
Being forcibly dragged into “pick a side” chafed.
Just as Magnus steeled for a choice and order—
“Everyone…!”
「Some entertaining drama unfolding, eh?」
All eyes, including Magnus’s, shot skyward.
A single sword plummeted vertically toward them.
“Th-that’s…!”
“Caliburn!!”
The Family Head Kyle’s most cherished treasured sword appeared!
BOOOOM!!
A colossal aura wave rippled from Caliburn’s impact, blanketing not just the four units, but the entire camp.
Lesser dragonkin and Nine Dragons’ presences? Vanished like mist.
Even Julius’s fiercest killing intent faded.
“We see the Family Head!”
“We see the Family Head!”
Swordsmen prostrated uniformly toward Caliburn, heads bowed.
Atop the sword’s tip.
Kyle stood, arms crossed.
But his gaze fixed not on his subordinates—on Theo.
‘How is Father here…?’
Since the Northern War’s outbreak.
Kyle had scarcely shown himself outside.
Many guessed he waged a greater war elsewhere—no chance of seeing him here.
This was unexpected.
『Your father… he’s far stronger than before. The more I see, the less human he seems.』
Theo startled, looking up.
Raising his head sans Family Head’s leave was grave disrespect—but no time for that now.
Lordbroke’s gaping left chest caught his eye.
The realization hit late: Kyle had done that to her.
Lordbroke glared at Kyle like mortal foe.
Worse: Kyle stared straight back.
As if seeing her *clearly*.
Drip.
Cold sweat slid down Theo’s back.
Thump, thump, thump-thump!
No clue what Father would say, or how he’d react.
A reunion inevitable someday.
But not like this—rushed and unforeseen.
『Even young Sigurd wasn’t *this* level.』
Lordbroke curled a lip, daring a fight—then Kyle shifted from her to Theo.
“Theo. Follow me.”
Whoosh!
He and Caliburn vanished in a blink, leaving the crowd staring blankly.
『What are you waiting for? Hurry after him!』
Only at Lordbroke’s urging did Theo mount Umbra, chasing Kyle’s trail.
Keeeaak!
Griffin, fairy dragon, and the rest pursued hot on his heels.
“…….”
“…….”
The abrupt end, sans resolution, left onlookers gaping at the empty spot.
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