Chapter 192
Chapter 192
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 192
Chapter Title: Victory Ceremony (2)
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“Do you remember by any chance? Back at the naming ceremony...!”
“Ahem! I’m Josephine, captain of the Gale Sword Unit. If you have some time later, how about a cup of tea...!”
“Out of the way, you lot! Can’t you see I’m first in line? Ahem! I’m from the Law Court...!”
“You get out of the way! What’s the Law Court, which is supposed to stay neutral, doing here?”
“You punk?”
“What?”
Theo scratched his cheek as he eyed the crowd swarming him like a flock of clouds before he could even sit in his assigned seat.
He had known people would show interest, but he hadn’t expected this many.
‘The rumors must be flying because Torkel died in battle while I survived.’
Everyone who had been cozying up to Torkel was now left high and dry.
“Theo Ragnar.”
But the most eye-catching figure among them was someone else entirely.
“Th-that person...!”
“He’s one of the Nine Dragons?”
“The Azure Sword Guard Captain.”
The crowd recoiled in surprise, murmuring among themselves.
The Illusion Dragon gave Theo an awkward smile as he greeted him.
“Long time no see.”
“We met two days ago at the final report ceremony.”
“Oh, right? I must be getting old; the days are blurring together. Ahem!”
The Illusion Dragon was known for rarely showing his emotions.
Yet for some reason, he always seemed softer around Theo.
-The Azure Sword Guard and the White Dragon Knights aren’t on good terms because of the White Tower incident, right?
-Didn’t you hear the news?
-Huh? What news?
-The Azure Sword Guard has been cozying up unusually close to the Black Iron Knights lately. That’s probably why.
-Even the great Illusion Dragon fears political infighting.
-Exactly.
The Illusion Dragon knew exactly what kind of stares were being directed at him from the surroundings, but he kept a straight face as best he could.
“I have some important matters to discuss. How about a meal sometime later?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Heh, thanks.”
The Illusion Dragon let out a quiet sigh of relief, having worried Theo might still hold a grudge from past events.
At the same time, he felt a twinge of melancholy at himself for fussing over a mere child like this.
It was because of something Kyle had told him that morning.
-There’s talk of announcing the young family head today? Who knows. Maybe.
If so, who that position would go to was obvious as day.
The Illusion Dragon felt like hot coals had been dumped on his lap.
A fixed succession meant changes for the executives too.
He didn’t want to retire from active duty at his age!
And the other executives gathered here felt the same.
‘If this kid really becomes young family head... I wonder how Kin Kannon or Anzio will react.’
It was a thought born from knowing full well how hard they’d toiled for decades to catch Kyle’s eye.
With the Illusion Dragon gone,
Julius, the Plum Palace Lord, and the Black Dragon approached one after another.
“You look radiant today. See? I knew I picked the right one. Haha!”
“Congratulations, my... son.”
“Thank you, Mother.”
The Plum Palace Lord seemed awkward saying “son,” her nose bridge flushing in a rare show of embarrassment.
She kept stealing glances, as if gauging Theo’s reaction.
It reminded him of a few months back, when she’d met Cecilia alone.
-I’ve taken Theo as my adopted son.
-Is that so?
-You’re not angry?
She’d heard Cecilia’s personality had mellowed lately.
Still, Cecilia’s jealousy and pettiness were infamous even in the Ragnar family.
So the Plum Palace Lord had braced herself for an earful when she went to see her.
But,
-A little disappointing, sure... but is there any reason to? It’s your son’s choice, after all.
Contrary to expectations, Cecilia had nodded readily.
A gentle smile even played on her lips.
In that moment, the Plum Palace Lord realized.
Cecilia was no longer the Cecilia she once knew.
-And I’ve always been grateful to the First Wife. If not for you, neither I nor Theo could have stayed in that position.
Moreover, Cecilia knew full well.
In the past, when everyone disapproved of her and even called for her exile from the Rose Palace, the Plum Palace Lord had been the only one to defend her.
-Though our paths diverged, and I couldn’t give my son what you can, I have no doubt the First Wife will win him over splendidly.
Her gentle, caring words as she asked her to look after Theo from then on had been so warm.
‘Like Theo’s grown, this woman has grown just as much.’
The Plum Palace Lord smiled brightly as Theo responded with “Mother.”
Their mother-son smiles looked so alike. She felt a pang of envy.
“What? Son? So the rumors of adoption are true?”
The Black Dragon looked back and forth between the Plum Palace Lord and Theo in astonishment.
“It just sort of happened.”
“Ha! You got the jump on us like this?”
Julius seemed dead set on making him his successor.
So what should I give him?
The Black Dragon seriously wondered if he should hand over the Black Snow Manor position right away and step back himself.
“There’s good news you’ve been waiting for today, so look forward to it.”
The Plum Palace Lord gave an enigmatic smile as she headed to her assigned seat.
‘Good news I’ve been waiting for.’
Theo mulled over the words quietly.
Somehow,
He had a feeling today would be a very long day.
* * *
The main merit awards ceremony began in earnest.
“First, the Vanguard Dragon.”
At Kyle’s call, a massive man strode onto the platform.
His face full of confidence.
Brimming with spirit that could overturn the world.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The platform shook with each step he took.
-As expected of the Vanguard Dragon...!
-It’s been ages since he appeared in public.
-I heard he’d been infiltrating the Troyvan side on the family head’s orders to monitor them. They say he even cut off Granada’s right-hand man this time.
-Truly impressive.
The Vanguard Dragon’s lips twitched upward with every whisper from the crowd.
‘Same as in my past life or now.’
Theo gave a wry smile and shook his head.
He hadn’t faced the Vanguard Dragon in person many times even across his past life.
But each time, the impression had been overwhelming.
Loved to show off, craved the spotlight.
A total attention hog.
‘And that’s the guy who was shadowing me from behind all this time. Or more precisely, he was waiting nearby, aware of the Floating Archipelago situation?’
Theo now knew why Bonggong, dumped into the sea floor at the Floating Archipelago, hadn’t resurfaced after.
When Theo had shown up back then, the Vanguard Dragon must have been baffled.
He’d been observing the situation on Kyle’s orders, trying to sway the Floating Archipelago to the Ragnar side.
But Theo had suddenly appeared and snatched the credit outright.
Sure enough.
The Vanguard Dragon glanced subtly in his direction.
For that brief eye contact, a suffocating silence hung between them.
Theo felt like his insides were being laid bare.
Hmph!
But the Vanguard Dragon just snorted dismissively with a sour look, showing no further interest in Theo.
I wonder what verdict he passed on me?
Theo was curious about the thoughts of the Vanguard Dragon, master to both Gishar and Anzio.
“Vanguard Dragon, Dante Roll. You have rendered immense service in ending this war. I grant you the former Count Krunan territory in the southwest as your fief and bestow upon you the Writ of Foundation to establish your own house.”
In an instant, the surroundings grew even more chaotic than when the Vanguard Dragon had appeared.
-Th-the Writ of Foundation?!
-Giving out such a huge reward? Isn’t this the first in 200 years?
-Does this mean the seventh great house is opening...!
The Writ of Foundation.
In Ragnar’s long history, it had been issued only nine times—an extraordinary privilege.
It allowed one to found an entire ‘house.’
Of course, without Ragnar’s permission, one could settle empty lands or pioneer the demon seas and establish a house, then pledge loyalty to become a vassal or knightly house under Ragnar.
But that offered mere protection as a subordinate force, with no real support.
A house with the Writ was different.
It came with full backing for development and recognition as a ‘branch’ house, entitled to challenge for the Ragnar throne itself.
In some cases, it could even become Ragnar proper!
Currently, six houses in the North had received the Writ and founded themselves.
They were the Six Great Houses, the most recent being the Lange House 200 years ago.
Kyle hadn’t even given it to his sworn brothers who fought by his side.
And now he grants it to the Vanguard Dragon?
On top of the former Count Krunan territory, no less—a prime fertile land in the North.
Founding a house there would allow explosive growth.
It showed just how highly Kyle valued the Vanguard Dragon’s achievements.
No wonder the crowd was in an uproar.
“Brother.”
“...I’m hearing this for the first time too. Ha, haha... Our eldest brother really knows how to drop a bombshell.”
Julius hurriedly looked to the Black Dragon, but he only let out a hollow laugh.
In the end, both turned to the Plum Palace Lord.
But she shook her head with a somber gaze.
“I didn’t know either. Seems like he intends to bolster Anzio... but I can’t fathom what Kyle is thinking.”
The three of them had already made their support for Theo clear to Kyle.
Having confirmed Kyle’s own inclinations leaned toward Theo, they’d expected him to solidify the succession at this victory ceremony.
‘Is he planning to drag out this fight even longer?’
Julius felt frustrated watching his inscrutable eldest brother.
He knew full well the Vanguard Dragon’s boundless ambition and Anzio’s insatiable greed.
But.
With the massive campaign against the Demon Church and apostle extermination looming soon,
Kyle’s intentions were baffling—fomenting division instead of uniting the house on the eve of purging apostles.
‘Or...?’
Then another thought struck him.
The former Count Krunan territory was as distant from the demon seas and Winterhold as its fertile lands were rich.
In purely northern political terms, it was the boonies.
So was this a ploy to forcibly sideline Anzio alongside the Vanguard Dragon, far from Winterhold?
“I gratefully accept the writ granted. But I must decline the fief.”
At that moment, the Vanguard Dragon, who had been bowing, straightened up.
Even facing Kyle’s piercing gaze—intense enough to daunt the Nine Dragons—he showed no flinch.
“A house’s power comes from its lands. Founding without territory isn’t recognized, is it?”
“Give the Count Krunan lands to those who need them. Give me Troyvan territory instead. Don’t I more than qualify for that?”
Troyvan territory!
It was tantamount to demanding control over the East.
Julius and the Nine Dragons, along with various executives, gasped and half-rose from their seats,
But Kyle calmly shook his head.
“Indeed. You more than qualify. Overflowing, even.”
“Then...!”
“But no. Someone else is already slated to receive it.”
The Vanguard Dragon furrowed his brow.
Someone with greater achievements than him in this war?
Then Kyle’s gaze shifted elsewhere.
The Vanguard Dragon followed it, his expression hardening rigidly.
Theo sat there.
“That land goes to the young family head.”