Chapter 178
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 178
Chapter Title: Intensifying Throne Competition (3)
Rumors spread like wildfire throughout the entire Ragnar army camp.
-Theo Ragnar received the Primordial Dragon's blessing!
-He unlocked the White Tower's mysteries and claimed the dragons within as his familiars!
-Desert Worms from underground, Drakes on the surface, Wyverns and Griffins in the sky, and even Fairy Dragons from magic—all protecting him!
-The Black Iron Knights and Red Sword Order were overshadowed by the dragon legion's might!
From unbelievable tales to wildly exaggerated ones.
But one thing was certain.
-For the first time since the founder Sigurd, a man beloved by dragons has been born!
To the Ragnars, this was tantamount to the birth of someone who perfectly embodied their identity.
Even hostile factions like the Troyvans could no longer mock them with jokes like, "Dragons? Yeah, right."
And when word spread that Kyle—who had rarely shown his face—had personally taken Theo and departed, everyone grew visibly tense.
And then,
-Lord Torkel's expression didn't look as good as I'd expected...
-On the other hand, Lord Leje seemed oddly pleased.
-They said they'd met once before. Could those rumors of a sworn alliance be true?
-Lord Anzio hasn't issued any statement yet, has she?
-I'm curious what Lord Kinkarnon will say once he emerges from closed-door training.
-He might even welcome a strong rival.
-Yeah. But more than that, I figured Lord Gishar would be the most furious. Where the hell did he go? Has anyone seen him?
-Someone spotted him sneaking toward the White Tower when the White Dragons and Black Iron clashed...
-What? No way. If that's true...!
The conversation trailed off there.
But even those oblivious to politics could sense the air had subtly shifted.
* * *
Screeeech—
Theo chased after Kyle for a long while.
Kyle soared through the sky atop his sword, moving so swiftly that even Umbra struggled to keep up.
『You've already surpassed the realms of mind-sword unity and sword arts. He's become one with the sword itself? No matter how I look at it, he doesn't seem human.』
Lodbrok scowled the entire time, clearly displeased with Kyle.
There wasn't a single opening to exploit.
'He doesn't seem human, that's for sure.'
『This isn't something to laugh about. The throne you're aiming for is exactly that—a seat where you must abandon your humanity and become a monster.』
The higher Theo climbed, the more immense Kyle's wall felt.
He could only scratch his cheek in response.
-Hey, what the hell is that? Is it even human? Looks like a monster wearing a hood.
-It is a monster, but it seems human enough. But is that really a 'Ragnar'?
-It's too 'human' for that...
-No wonder our Young Master Theo turned out such a monster—the seed was different from the start.
Even the ghosts in his sword admitted they'd never seen anyone like Kyle in life.
No day had ever made the throne feel so unattainably high.
Thud!
Kyle finally landed on a barren hill far from the camp—a modest, desolate mountain devoid of even a single blade of grass.
Theo quietly touched down beside him as Kyle stood atop the cliff, gazing below.
"This place...?"
"Look down there."
Kyle nodded toward the base of the mountain.
Theo tilted his head.
It was just an empty clearing—nothing else.
But the moment he infused his eyes with [Spirit Sight].
Thrum...!
"Urk...!"
『My companion!』
A sudden pounding in his head made Theo stagger.
Lodbrok swiftly supported him, glaring at Kyle.
『What have you done?!』
"From here on, this is Ragnar family business. I'd appreciate it if the ghost of the old era stepped aside."
『What...!』
Before Lodbrok could retort, Kyle casually waved his hand.
Her presence winked out like a candle snuffed by the wind.
"You can see it, right?"
"Yes... I can."
"Then look closely."
Theo endured the lingering pain drilling into his skull and stared ahead.
Beyond the wavering world, black demonic energy churned in a violent vortex.
"Why is there demonic sea energy here?"
"Why do you think? Because of what you did."
"...?"
A voice laced with amusement.
Theo tilted his head, confused, then realization dawned belatedly.
"Are the Sacred Demon Cultists trying to revive the [Nameless Lord] here?"
"Exactly. So what the hell did you do down there?"
Theo scratched his cheek, unsure how to respond.
How was he supposed to explain the ghosts in his Phantom Sword or the Magic Empress?
"You idiot."
"...Pardon?"
"You seem sharp most of the time, but you're so naive about this."
Kyle clasped his hands behind his back and snorted.
"You've declared you're entering the throne race in earnest. That means you're confident you can handle any scrutiny from your brothers. Isn't that right?"
"Yes... that's correct."
"Which means I'm one of those you must overcome. I'm not yielding the throne while I'm still breathing."
Kyle's gaze was anything but ordinary.
"And you plan to lay all your cards on the table with me? What makes you think I won't use them against you?"
"..."
It was a warning.
A king must never bare his soul to another.
A reminder that the seat was one of eternal solitude.
But,
"It's fine."
Theo smiled back at him.
Kyle furrowed his brow.
"What?"
"What's wrong with a son spilling every little detail to his father?"
"You..."
"Yes. I know. The throne isn't just a father-son bond. Blood means nothing to power. But can't a father and son occasionally wash away the world's grime and share their hearts openly?"
Kyle pressed his lips tight.
"I respect you, Father."
"No resentment?"
"I did when I was young... But now that I've come this far, I understand. How hard it must have been all this time. And how much harder it is now. Protecting is far more difficult than conquering. That's why I respect you."
"..."
Kyle's lips parted several times, but no words came.
His eyes on Theo swirled with a storm of emotions.
-Father, why must you do this...!
-Son. My son. Hahaha. You'll understand one day why I had to. You'll come to see...
-No. I don't want to become like you!
Why were half-forgotten memories from his youth resurfacing now?
Kyle swept his hand grandly, banishing them with a laugh.
"You've gotten better at flattery."
"If it came across that way, my apologies."
"Enough. I'd enjoy sharing a drink with you sometime, but that's for later. Right now, we talk about that."
Theo glanced back at the demonic vortex.
"I hate 'that thing.'"
That thing.
The [Nameless Lord], no doubt.
"And 'that' too."
This time, Kyle's eyes locked onto Theo.
Theo instinctively knew.
That.
Lodbrok.
"Not just that. Everything surrounding it—I despise it all. The All-Gods, the Outer Gods—every last one."
Kyle was well aware of the All-God Pantheon and the Outer Gods.
But his emotions weren't mere like or dislike.
Contempt.
He harbored hatred for both sides.
"There's no room for us where they stand. We're mere extras in their stage. The world bends to their whims. I want to shatter it all, and that's why I've come this far."
Kyle's eyes darkened profoundly.
"I want you to walk the same path as me."
In that moment, Theo understood the heart with which Kyle had shattered Lodbrok's heart and fought the [Nameless Lord].
* * *
Theo returned to the White Dragon Knights' barracks.
The camp buzzed with rumors about him, so he reverse-summoned all the dragons to the White Tower and landed quietly with Umbra.
『What did you discuss with your father?』
'Oh, nothing much.'
Lodbrok asked via channeling, but Theo brushed it off.
-I want you to walk the same path as me.
Kyle's words still echoed in his ears.
-You've climbed high enough to know some secrets of this world.
-The Outer Gods and the Nameless Lord. The All-Gods and guardians opposing them. Worlds repeating at each apocalypse. And the Ragnars, existing to stop it. Does any of that seem normal to you?
-There's no place for us Ragnars in that. We're just tools.
-I hate it. That's why I want to destroy it all.
-Son.
-Your father will become a god. One beyond the reach of All-Gods or Outer Gods.
-And shatter everything.
-What do you think?
The conversation left Theo with much to ponder.
'This is the first time Father's shown his true heart.'
Become a god.
The weight of those words from his father was immense.
And it meant recognizing Theo as the 'true' heir to succeed him.
The other five candidates must have faced similar trials.
But the problem was that Theo was the culmination of the Ragnar chosen by the Primordial and Guardian Dragons.
His position was diametrically opposed to the path Kyle sought.
That's why Theo couldn't confide Kyle's thoughts to Lodbrok.
He had his own worries now.
'The more I learn, the heavier the Ragnar throne feels.'
On the other hand, he wondered if there were more family secrets he didn't know.
But that didn't mean he'd stop advancing.
As he sorted his thoughts, a figure appeared before the barracks.
'Who's that?'
The woman—Anzio—greeted him with a radiant smile.
"You got back sooner than I thought."
"This is our first proper greeting, I believe. Nice to meet you, Sister."
"Yeah. Nice to meet you too."
The fifth candidate, Gishar's twin younger sister.
She appeared alone; her boasted personal guard was nowhere in sight.
"More importantly, what brings you here?"
"Know where Brother Gishar is, by any chance?"
"Gishar? No, sorry, no idea."
"Hmm. I see?"
Anzio stroked her chin and smiled lightly.
"Maybe he went for a stroll? I've heard he's quite the free spirit."
"Yeah, pretty much. Even I, his sister, get left in the dark half the time—such a troublesome brother. Anyway, thanks. Next time, let's grab a drink with Torkel too."
"Yes. Last time, I was too exhausted from the journey and committed a rudeness by missing it. I'll definitely join next time you call."
"Good. See you then."
Anzio waved casually and departed.
'She knows I killed him.'
Theo had expected as much and felt no tension.
Instead, he pondered how to handle the Dragon Subduer who would soon arrive.
'Dealing with these folks comes first, though.'
Intense auras emanated from beyond the barracks.
Facing them after Kyle was no easy task.
He was a bit tired from conquering the White Tower, but winning them over was priority now.
Tonight would be a very long one.
"I'm coming in."
He flung open the barracks door.
Inside sat Julius, the Plum Palace Lord, Niel, and inexplicably, the Black Dragon—four in total.
Tea time had evidently ended; the coffee and tea on the table had gone cold.
"Come on in."
As he entered amid the Plum Palace Lord's welcome,
Theo suddenly halted.
"...?"
"...?"
"Hmm?"
"What's wrong?"
The four tilted their heads in confusion, but Theo bowed with a formal sword salute and spoke first.
"First, I have something to say to you all. While I should apologize for my recent rudeness, I believe sharing my thoughts upfront is best, so I humbly state it."
Their gazes intensified.
But.
Theo's eyes burned even fiercer in response.
"After Father, I intend to claim the throne. Please support me."
In that moment, all four simultaneously thought his eyes eerily resembled Kyle's.