Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Guardian Dragon's Nest (2)
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“Huh……!”
The moment Theo pushed open the iron door and stepped inside, an exclamation escaped his lips before he could stop it.
A massive cavern that could easily hold hundreds of people.
Piles of gold and jewels stacked like mountains.
Bookshelves lining the walls, towering far higher than those heaps.
The golden light glimpsed through the door crack must have been the reflection off all this.
But what truly stunned Theo was the “dragon” sleeping curled up in the center of the cavern.
Tough, brown hide like gnarled tree roots.
Glistening dark blue scales, beautiful as if capturing the deep sea.
A colossal body dozens of meters long.
And wings even larger, enveloping it all.
This was an ancient dragon species, said to be long extinct, now seen only in ancient holy paintings—and it lay right there.
Even more astonishing was that the ancient dragon was breathing.
‘This wasn’t just some hatchling’s den……! It was the actual nest of an ancient dragon.’
A nest of an ancient dragon, whose discovery alone held value enough to sustain dozens of generations.
And judging by its size and overwhelming presence, it was clearly “Dragon King” class.
The moment Theo’s eyes widened at this truth he’d never imagined—
Flash!
The dragon he thought was asleep opened its eyes.
Theo’s startled face reflected in its gem-like, sparkling golden pupils.
「A <Chosen> visiting this place after so long.」
Theo snapped to his senses at the voice echoing in his mind and slowly opened his mouth.
“You are……!”
「My name is Lodbroke.」
The ancient dragon revealed its name and began to slowly rise.
Rumble……!
The cavern shook violently from that alone, sending rocks cascading from the ceiling.
「I am what you Ragnars call the [Guardian Dragon], the master of these Winter Mountains.」
“……!”
Theo was more shocked by Lodbroke’s revealed identity than by its sheer size, which felt immense even just from standing.
Guardian Dragon.
The being who made a pact with Ragnar’s founder, ‘Sigurd,’ before he established the family in the North.
And…… his lover, as well.
Legend had it that the second Family Head was a ‘half-dragon’ born between Sigurd and Lodbroke.
The origin of Ragnar’s claim that ‘dragon blood’ flowed in their veins.
“I greet our ancestor……!”
Theo hurriedly dropped to one knee to bow.
「Hm? Ancestor?」
But Lodbroke’s reaction was one of utter confusion.
Theo was the one left puzzled instead.
“Well, aren’t you our founder’s mate, the mother of the second Family Head, ‘Friedleif’?”
「Who? Me? The mother of that wastrel?」
Lodbroke tilted its head to the side.
「Pffahaha! I see. So that’s how it was. That wastrel must have twisted the tale.」
Lodbroke suddenly burst into roaring laughter.
The cave rang with the echoing boom.
But Theo couldn’t laugh along.
Not just from the negative tone toward the second Family Head, Friedleif.
It felt like the common knowledge he’d known all his life was under threat.
「Sigurd’s child. Won’t you tell me what legends of me have passed down in the outside world?」
Theo hesitated briefly before cautiously speaking.
And then.
Snort!
After hearing it all, Lodbroke let out a mocking laugh.
「As expected. That wastrel twisted it to legitimize his bloodline.」
Theo felt awkward about how to respond to the disparagement of his ancestor.
「I’ll say one thing. True, I was born with the traits of a female among dragons, but I never once defined myself by any specific gender. My duties were far too vast to concern myself with such things.」
Lodbroke raised its head high.
The motion brimmed with dignity.
「Sigurd and I did call each other ‘mate,’ that much is true—but it was merely a sign of respect as partners, or souls bound by contract. There was never the slightest romantic entanglement between us.」
Her voice carried a hint of reminiscence from the past, laced with longing.
「And.」
Lodbroke’s eyes curved slightly.
「To begin with, I am a dragon, and he was human. With different species, our very perceptions of attraction differ—how could mating even be possible?」
Theo gave a wry smile and nodded.
It was a fair point, really.
Just as humans couldn’t discern Lodbroke’s beauty or ugliness by their standards.
Humans must look much the same in Lodbroke’s eyes.
「However, Sigurd’s worthless son always wanted to exploit me. That’s part of why I grew sick of it and left you Ragnars behind.」
Theo scratched his cheek, looking sheepish.
“So the ‘dragon blood’ in our family was just propaganda, then.”
「Not entirely. I did share ‘dragon blood’ with Sigurd through our contract.」
“Ah.”
「Sigurd, who was hardly human-like, refined it further several times. Your Ragnar physiques are probably mutations from that.」
Theo nodded, finally grasping the sequence of events.
He could see why Friedleif’s propaganda had worked, too.
「Well, that’s enough light greeting. Time to fulfill the Guardian Dragon’s duty to the Chosen.」
Chosen.
Theo realized it referred to those ‘selected’ by the Primordial Dragon’s relic.
「By the primordial pact, I, Lodbroke, grant the Chosen who passed the ‘trial’ the chance to ask me three questions.」
Theo’s ears perked up.
“Does that mean you’ll answer any question I ask?”
「Is that your first question?」
“……No. Please wait a moment.”
From casually bringing up mating herself.
Theo suspected Lodbroke might have a playful personality, unlike its dignified appearance.
‘Get it together. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance.’
From the context, Lodbroke clearly knew secrets about the events Theo was embroiled in.
He needed to organize his questions to extract maximum information.
Theo sorted his thoughts quickly and slowly spoke.
“Then, my first question.”
「Speak.」
“Why are you here?”
According to family lore, Lodbroke had mourned Sigurd after his passing and returned to nature’s embrace.
Yet here she was, nesting in this remote backwater few ever visited.
In secrecy from the world.
Meaning there was a reason she’d hidden herself for the past millennium.
「Trying to uncover maximum hidden backstory with a fundamental question? A good one.」
Lodbroke chuckled lightly before continuing.
But soon, her expression turned solemn.
「Because of the [Nameless Lord].」
“The Nameless Lord……?”
Theo inexplicably felt a chill crawl up his spine.
A name he’d never heard before.
「A ‘monster’ at the edge of the demon sea, the world’s very farthest fringe. For the past millennium, I’ve remained here under the mission to protect the world from it. The Winter Mountains are merely an outpost for that.」
Two emotions emanated from Lodbroke.
Rage.
And…… fear.
‘A being the Guardian Dragon fears? This Dragon King from a thousand years ago?’
Theo couldn’t comprehend it.
Just who was the [Nameless Lord]……?
Some demon king from mere legends, or a <star> fallen from the heavens?
But Theo forced down the questions rising to his throat.
Asking more here would leave no room for others.
So, swallowing his curiosity, he posed the next.
“……My second question. What exactly is the Primordial Dragon’s relic?”
「The Primordial Dragon Fafnir shattered his soul into 31 fragments to protect you humans from the [Nameless Lord].」
“……!”
There it was again.
The name [Nameless Lord].
「You possess three of them. Soon to be four.」
Theo’s eyes flashed.
‘Three? Not two?’
Theo touched the drake’s blade and the Moonblade.
Meaning there was already another Primordial Dragon relic he’d obtained besides these.
‘……Regression.’
The conclusion came easily.
The impossible phenomenon of rewinding over a decade of time.
What else could it be but the power of a Primordial Dragon relic?
But doubts lingered.
‘Every Primordial Dragon relic had a guardian dragon species protecting it. But my ‘regression’ had no such thing, did it?’
「Now for the final question.」
“Why me?”
「Too broad. Narrow it down.」
“Why was I ‘chosen’?”
「Ah, that kind of question. I wondered when it’d come.」
Snicker—
A sly smile slipped from Lodbroke’s lips.
「This calls for me to ask one instead. Why do you speak as if you alone were ‘specially’ chosen?」
“What do you mean……!”
「The primordial pact wasn’t made to favor one. That’s the end of answers to your three questions.」
Lodbroke clamped its lips shut.
As if no further questions would get a response.
Thump-thump-thump—
Meanwhile, Theo’s heart pounded fiercely.
‘I’m not the only one chosen by the relics.’
In truth, it was obvious when he thought about it.
Ed, Kirson, the Black Dragon—they all knew of the relics and sought them.
So it wouldn’t be strange if some had already used them.
‘Maybe they’re seeing the same messages as me, or even regressed?’
The thought struck Theo, but he shook his head.
‘No. Each relic has different powers. The drake’s was the dungeon, the griffon’s the Moonblade. My regression might be unique to mine.’
But it was mere speculation; nothing certain.
‘Then what happens if all 31 relics are gathered? Does the Primordial Dragon revive?’
And the reason for this setup?
‘To kill the [Nameless Lord]? To raise someone powerful enough?’
Questions begat more questions.
「You wear a troubled face.」
“Indeed.”
「That’s one of the burdens you Chosen must bear. Too much knowledge only constrains your future path.」
Lodbroke seemed wary of something.
So Theo didn’t press further.
Doubts remained about the Nameless Lord and multiple Chosen.
But he was satisfied with clues on what the Primordial Dragon relics truly were and why he faced these trials.
‘I’ll learn the details as I gather more relics. Things I’d uncover even from the throne.’
「Still, this Chosen seems decisive, which I like. The previous ones would’ve thrown a fit, calling this some Zen koan nonsense.」
Theo nodded.
Indeed, the Ragnars he knew would riot over any dissatisfaction, Guardian Dragon or not.
「Now, with all quests complete, time for your reward.」
Lodbroke spread its wings wide and declared.
[Congratulations! You have successfully completed Tutorial Quest #15.]
[Grade: A+]
[You have obtained the opportunity to acquire a ‘Primordial Dragon Relic’ as a reward.]
「As you see, this nest is filled with treasures I gathered wandering the world over my lifetime. I’ll give you one. What do you desire?」
Theo clenched his fist.
Reward.
The word always made his ears ring.
Especially a treasure bestowed directly by the family’s Guardian Dragon—how priceless?
「Gems? Selling just one could buy a major city outright. Grimoires? They’d grant you great power. Elixirs? They’d elevate you several realms. Secret manuals are here too—ones to place you above all others soon enough.」
Theo gazed at the mountains of gold and jewels around Lodbroke, and the towering bookshelves to the ceiling.
「Weapons, perhaps? You Ragnars prove yourselves with the sword, after all—no better fit.」
Gems, grimoires, elixirs, manuals, weapons……
Every treasure that had shaken the world was here.
「Name it. I’ll give anything.」
Her attitude suggested any wish would be granted.
Temptation itself, like a devil’s whisper.
‘So that’s how Heukseol could choose Ammon here.’
Perhaps even the “hatchling’s den” rumor was Heukseol’s deliberate misinformation.
To hide the Guardian Dragon’s existence.
Intending to monopolize this fruit themselves.
‘Then what do I choose?’
Theo considered Ammon but shook his head.
He didn’t know exactly what it was.
If it hindered his growth?
No greater disaster.
But surely other items here would massively aid his immediate progress, even without Ammon.
He needed to find those.
「Of course, agonizing choices. Wander the nest freely until you decide. Call when ready.」
Lodbroke meant to accommodate him.
But Theo couldn’t afford her suggestion.
The Awakening Ceremony was underway even now.
Lingering too long risked the examiners’ suspicions.
‘So what to choose……?’
In that moment, a thought struck Theo.
Lodbroke had said this place held the world’s “every” treasure.
She’d give anything.
Then.
‘Could I ask for something beyond the ordinary?’
After deliberation, Theo looked straight into Lodbroke’s eyes.
「Oh? Decided?」
Lodbroke’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.
“May I truly have any treasure I desire?”
「Naturally. A dragon’s words are bound by its spirit—never lies. I can’t give what’s not here, but anything else is yours.」
“Then there’s exactly one thing I want.”
「Yes. What is it?」
Gazing at his reflection in her golden eyes, Theo said.
“I want Lodbroke.”
「……Hm?」
Lodbroke blinked, thinking she’d misheard.
But with a straight face, Theo repeated clearly.
“I said I want the treasure called Lodbroke.”
「……!」