Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Awakening Ceremony (2)
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‘I guess I owe the White Dragon Knights captain an apology.’
The Plum Palace Lord gave a wry smile inwardly as she looked at the scouts staring up at her in a daze.
Julius had warned them emphatically.
Theo was off-limits—no one was to set their sights on him, since she’d already marked him as hers.
That warning had been directed not just at her, but at all the executives present.
Of course, it didn’t seem like anyone had taken it seriously.
‘Still, I didn’t expect the Black Iron Knights to show up too.’
They must have been curious since he’d posted scores similar to Captain Torkel’s, enough for the vice-captain to come in person.
For those usually haughty types, that was probably a big concession.
But what could they do?
On this side, one of the Nine Dragons had made her move.
‘If you really want to win over talent, nothing beats sitting down face-to-face and talking.’
One corner of the Plum Palace Lord’s mouth curled up.
‘And if you add a gift on top of that... perfect.’
“Wai...!”
At that moment, Iyan sensed something and tried to shout.
But before he could,
Whoosh!
The space between Theo and the Plum Palace Lord detached from the outside world first.
In the world where time itself crawled to a halt,
It felt like only Theo and the Plum Palace Lord remained.
‘Detached Space!’
Theo’s eyes widened at the Plum Palace Lord’s famed signature technique, one he’d only heard about.
To him, this superhuman feat beyond mortal limits was pure mystery.
The Plum Palace Lord seemed amused by his reaction, her lips twitching in a smile the whole time.
「There are too many interrupters, so not much time. Let’s get to the point.」
The point?
Theo wanted to speak, but couldn’t move his lips.
He simply wasn’t at that level yet.
「That [Dragon’s Claw] you used... You must have seen and mimicked the Family Head’s and White Dragon Knights captain’s swords, right?」
Theo’s eyes widened involuntarily.
「I, too, saw the Family Head’s sword and gained insight from it, perfecting something of my own. I’ll give it to you as a gift.」
“......!”
He clenched his fist at the unexpected windfall.
「[Sky Flower Rain]. That’s what I call it.」
In that instant, the Detached Space burst into full bloom with red plum blossoms.
‘So this exists...!’
Theo couldn’t help but gasp in admiration.
The plum trees growing thick everywhere, and the flowers blooming from them—they were breathtaking.
The Plum Palace Lord stood beneath the tallest tree.
In her white mourning dress, holding a red sword in one hand, she looked like a painting come to life.
Swish—
As she slowly stepped forward and began swinging her sword,
The plum blossoms burst open in unison.
Red petals drifted down lightly on the wind.
Her sword moved very slowly, but with endless variations.
It wove softly through the petals, tracing circles of all sizes.
The amazing part was how the petals gathered inward and scattered outward repeatedly, refusing to fall to the ground.
It was as if the petals were dancing around the Plum Palace Lord in her sword dance.
Theo had encountered many secret sword techniques and forms,
But the flow in hers was so unique, he wondered if it was even possible.
But the real shock was,
‘It’s all one breath!’
A single swing hid at least dozens of changes.
12, 24, 36, 48...
Theo tracked every change without missing a beat.
When the 120th change, the 120th circle, completed,
Flash!
The Plum Palace Lord quietly lowered her sword.
The petals that had spiraled upward around her cascaded down like a fountain.
It looked just like rain falling from the sky.
‘Sky Flower Rain...!’
He could see why she named it that.
「Did you see it?」
Her deep gaze turned back to him.
Thump thump thump thump!
His heart pounded wildly.
The thrill of witnessing something awe-inspiring.
「You saw it.」
The Plum Palace Lord smiled.
Theo nodded blankly.
「The Family Head’s sword is fierce. Like a dragon’s breath falling from the sky. It burns everything away. The White Dragon Knights captain’s sword is ferocious. It tears apart anything in the way.」
Theo recalled Kyle’s sword from their clash at the Law Court.
There was something intense and overwhelming about it.
No one could stand against it.
And Julius?
Fast.
So fast it was hard to follow with the eyes.
Like it refused to be caught by anyone.
「I’m different. I contain countless changes. I seek to trap and devour everything within them. That’s the dragon I pursue...」
Theo pictured the 120 circles and forms packed into one breath.
If unleashed not slowly, but melted into a flash of light,
No one could escape it.
‘They say she’s the North’s greatest purely in swordsmanship, enough to make even the Family Head yield a step...!’
Theo let out a gasp.
「Then tell me. What is the dragon you pursue?」
“......!”
Her final question snapped him to attention.
The dragon he pursued.
The form of dragon he sought...
Did he even have one?
Whoosh!
In that moment, the Detached Space around them shattered, and the plum trees vanished.
Theo stood on the ground, the Plum Palace Lord on the roof.
Theo felt a bit dazed.
Was it really okay for him to receive all this?
“Plum Palace Lord, did you just show him ‘that’...?”
As everyone blinked in confusion, only Iyan sensed something off and scowled.
The Plum Palace Lord just smiled, saying nothing.
Instead, she sent a transmission only Theo could hear.
「What you just saw was the first form, [Plum Blossoms in Full Bloom]. Even this alone will greatly aid you ahead of the second Awakening Ceremony.」
Theo let out a hollow laugh.
If this was just the first form, what on earth did the rest look like?
「If you want to see more... come find me anytime after the Awakening Ceremony.」
Hee hee...
With a light laugh, the Plum Palace Lord vanished as quietly as she’d appeared.
Only then did Theo feel himself emerging from the dreamlike haze.
‘I’ve received something too big.’
Truth be told, he hadn’t planned to get involved with the Plum Palace Lord.
Her disciples’ future threats from his past life were one thing,
And the palace inherently limited his movements.
So he’d been leaning toward the White Dragon Knights, where he could act freely and build status easily.
But now things had changed.
Sure, he could pretend nothing happened and wipe his mouth clean.
But he didn’t want to.
‘Can’t I be her disciple and join the White Dragon Knights?’
He entertained the comforting thought alone.
“Direct guidance from the Plum Palace Lord herself...!”
“This makes our offer look too weak.”
“Damn it! No choice. Gotta report this to HQ and get re-approved fast.”
“We’ll be back. Don’t forget us.”
The scouts instinctively realized Theo was a tough sell and hurried off elsewhere.
Iyan smacked his lips in regret, glanced at Theo one last time, then flew away.
No one disturbed him now.
The spot was empty, as if they’d never been there.
‘Shall I... try it once?’
Theo wiggled his fingers, then slowly started walking.
He wanted to pull the lingering image from his mind and bring it out.
Swish swish—
The form of Plum Blossoms in Full Bloom.
Small circles traced in succession, petals flickering into near-existence.
But these petals were slightly different from the Plum Palace Lord’s.
Still sharp like [Dragon’s Claw], yet infused with softness—a sword form blending both.
He repeated her words over and over.
-What is the dragon you pursue?
In this moment, he sank into a trance.
And.
“......”
One woman watched from the shadows until the end.
* * *
For the past three days, the Camellia Palace’s main gate had swarmed with crowds.
Theo’s feats in the first Awakening Ceremony were one thing, but rumors of the Plum Palace Lord’s interest had spread like wildfire.
-The prodigy hasn’t decided where he’ll be assigned yet!
-White Dragon Knights offered enlistment months ago, but he turned it down—probably not interested in knights!
-He seems keen on succession rights, so he’s looking for a backer!
With all the speculation swirling around Theo, it was no surprise eyes were glued to him.
Gale Sword Unit, Black Iron Knights, Law Court, Central Agency...
Countless groups sent people and gifts,
But none even caught a glimpse of Theo before turning away.
-I want to focus solely on training for the second Awakening Ceremony.
Who could argue with that?
Even hawks were among those turned away at the Camellia Palace walls.
In the end,
Gifts piled up like mountains, untouched by their owner.
Clatter clatter—
Suddenly, a massive eight-wheeled carriage pulled up to the main gate.
Adorned with jewels, it sparkled extravagantly.
-What’s that?
-Who’s this time... Whoa!
-Basc Forge! It’s Basc Forge!
-And Taotie Patterns too...? No way!
The crowd gathered to glimpse the famous Theo fell into stunned shock.
The massive demon face on the carriage door.
Taotie Patterns!
The mark that made Basc Forge the top smithing group today.
Sure enough.
Clank—
“Whew—!”
As the Taotie-marked door swung open, thick tobacco smoke billowed out like fog.
Then emerged long, shapely legs.
When the female elf with the pipe finally stepped fully down, the crowd gasped.
Kirson the Master Smith, whose face even Family Head Kyle Ragnar couldn’t see without an appointment, had arrived.
“Damn brat. He should be crawling here himself, but he sends this old hag instead?”
Kirson chewed grumpily on her pipe, then vented at the innocent porters.
“Hey, you! Careful with that! You gonna compensate if it scratches? You couldn’t afford that hilt jewel if you worked your whole life!”
“W-We’ll be careful!”
“Sorry!”
The six porters sweated bullets as they carried the over-two-meter wooden chest gingerly.
Tied with golden silk, topped with a Taotie inlay.
It screamed priceless.
-A Master Smith gifting the prodigy...?
-And a Taotie guarded sword!
-Taotie guarded sword... Heard the Law Court Chief commissioned one last year and got rejected for lacking qualifications.
-Wow... What’s their connection?
Admiration erupted from the crowd.
At that moment,
Creeeak!
The Camellia Palace gates, shut tight for three days, swung wide open.
Kirson strode inside.