Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Kyle Ragnar (1)
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Northern families like the Ragnars were typically compared to animals.
The Ragnars were dragons,
the Narsios lions,
Hanabi eagles,
Gardners wolves,
and
the Rankes bears.
Unlike the image of bears as dim-witted, their immense strength, massive builds, omnivorous appetites that devoured everything in sight, and ferocious nature made them objects of totemism in ancient societies.
To Theo, no family embodied the bear quite like the Rankes.
Not just in size and power, but in cunning as well.
That was why the Ranke family had long held its name under the towering shadows of the Ragnars and Narsios.
‘And Erika was practically the incarnation of the Rankes.’
These days, the Rankes’ representative among the North’s Four Lords was the Black Bear Holkus.
But in the near future, a talent far surpassing Holkus would emerge and claim the seat of family head.
That was the White Bear Erika.
‘She had another moniker too—“Erika the Calamity,” I think? Everywhere she went turned into a wasteland, leaving nothing intact.’
Theo had once carried out operations with Erika during his time in the Black Snow, so he remembered her temperament well.
Refreshing yet savage.
Her reckless, charge-ahead personality without a thought for consequences had caused the Rankes no small amount of hardship.
‘Like Ray, she’d been in secluded training for quite a while, so she wasn’t well-known outside, just a genius anticipated by those in the know. Her debut was this very… Awakening Ceremony.’
And she was the only one who would uncover the secret of the sub-naming method, making her mark for the first time… or so it was supposed to go.
‘But thanks to me, that never happened.’
That was why Theo had been watching Erika’s every move since they crossed paths.
He couldn’t predict her reaction to him with certainty.
And yet…
‘…Become my husband?’
What kind of nonsense was this?
“Ahh…! Damn it, she actually said it. This crazy sister of mine…”
Holkus covered his face with his massive hand from behind, letting out a sigh.
He seemed utterly mortified by the moment.
Ray and Wellington could only stare blankly at Theo and Erika in turn, unable to follow the conversation’s bizarre turn.
“…What are you trying to say?”
Theo frowned as he looked at Erika.
She grinned mischievously and replied.
“Truth is, ever since I heard you beat this guy up, I’ve been keeping an eye on you.”
Holkus flinched under his sister’s gaze.
Watching that huge frame shrink was somehow oddly amusing.
“He might look like a dimwit, but he’s not the type to go around getting thrashed. I trained him rigorously from a young age.”
“Who’re you calling dim-looking…!”
“But this guy gets beaten. And greedy Axion’s grinding his teeth trying to snag you somehow? Plus, you left a nice gash on the stone tablet. How could I not be curious?”
Erika brushed off Holkus’s protest and slowly drew her sword.
Shring—
A two-handed sword.
A greatsword similar in shape to Theo’s Zweihander.
“So I wanted to challenge you to a bout if we crossed paths, but I at least needed to see your face first. Then at the reckoning, you suddenly hurl a dagger at me.”
Erika shuddered as she recalled the moment.
A smile crept onto her lips.
It was ecstasy.
“And it stung way more than I expected—adrenaline pumping like crazy, right?”
“I get it.”
“See? You understand. I knew you would.”
Erika beamed.
The intense joy of finding a kindred spirit.
Theo nodded calmly in response.
“I get it. I know exactly what a pervert you are.”
“What’d you say, you punk?”
“Puhahaha!”
Erika’s face crumpled in defeat, while Holkus burst into roaring laughter beside her.
He clamped his mouth shut only after catching her sharp glare, but his flushed face showed no sign of calming.
Theo took up a stance with Drake’s blade.
“You’re beating around the bush just to say you want a spar. Do we really need to drag it out?”
“Exactly. I like that straightforwardness.”
Theo and Erika’s gazes crossed briefly in the air.
Flash—
Their figures vanished from their spots, only to clash head-on at the center.
Claaaang!
The two massive greatswords collided with such ferocity that just watching made one’s breath catch, the metallic clang echoing deafeningly.
Erika stumbled back a couple of steps, glancing at her footprints in the ground as she let out an exclamation.
To be pushed back in raw power.
The Rankes were the first family that came to mind when northerners thought of “strength,” so her surprise was genuine.
“Hey.”
“Yeah?”
“You seriously not considering becoming my house husband for real?”
The Rankes revered strength above all.
Theo’s power was enough to rank among the family’s elite.
“I’m actually a huge musclehead, you know? And you’re strong too? That screams house husband material, doesn’t it?”
Her expression suggested she meant it.
Theo let out a hollow chuckle.
After his regression, he’d encountered all sorts of absurdities.
‘I knew she rejected every suitor until her dying day, saying no man ever measured up.’
Like with Wellington, receiving recognition from someone once idolized felt good.
Of course, he had no intention of accepting.
“Sorry, but no.”
“Eh? Why? Embarrassed by ‘house husband’? Think it over. You might not know it, but I’m next in line for family head. Ranke family’s consort. Pretty sweet title, huh?”
Snicker—
Theo gave a light laugh.
“Nah, not that.”
“Then?”
“How could the Ragnar family head become the Ranke consort? We’re a great house, after all.”
“…?”
Erika blinked, not grasping his words at first, then erupted into laughter.
“What? Pfft-hahaha! You’re gunning for succession rights?”
Ray, Wellington, and Holkus all widened their eyes in shock.
Not just them.
The referees and examiners watching the clash were frozen in stunned expressions.
Especially
Ray’s surprise was the greatest.
Succession candidates typically hid their ambitions until they had a solid foundation, no matter how much they coveted the top seat.
Interference from siblings could strike at any moment, a major stressor.
‘Theo, the illegitimate son, should know that better than anyone… but he said it anyway.’
This was a declaration of intent.
—A declaration to become family head.
Having already claimed first place and shattered the demonic 3,000, his words would stir massive waves if word got out.
And this wasn’t just referees and examiners present.
‘Father…!’
High above in the distance.
Father, Kyle, sat waiting for them.
If anyone could hear Theo’s resolve,
it was him—
the dragon incarnate who didn’t seem human.
‘You’ll see Father soon too, Theo. What’s your plan?’
Ray’s thoughts deepened.
Meanwhile,
“Ragnar’s top seat… the top seat, huh?”
Erika was laughing.
A laugh that could be mockery or amazement, depending on the angle.
“Any succession candidate dreams of that much?”
“Yeah, dreams are free. But there’s a huge gap between dreaming and actually doing it.”
“Is there?”
“Of course. And from what I see…”
Erika’s eyes sparkled as she licked her lips.
Slurp!
“You might actually pull it off.”
Theo just smiled without a word.
Silent affirmation.
“But I heard you’re a bastard. You sure about that?”
“Can’t a bastard claim succession rights?”
“Nothing stopping you, but realistically? Tough. To seize the top, you need backing and foundation. You’re lacking both.”
“Foundation…”
“…?”
Thud—
Theo launched forward again.
Swoooosh—
Drake’s blade swept horizontally in a savage arc.
Clang-clang-clang—
Craaang! Craaang! Craaang! Craaang!
Erika met Theo’s sword with rapid counters, grinning without a hint of tension.
Greatsword against greatsword.
Strength against strength.
The repeated impacts made the ground tremble faintly, palpable to all.
“Doesn’t this qualify me to build one?”
Theo flashed a grin.
Erika’s laughter grew louder in response.
Mad cackles.
“Puhahaha—! Look at that confidence! So cool! Yeah! Everyone needs some ambition like that. Hey, Holkus, learn from him. Stop making excuses every time I wanna spar!”
Holkus, hit out of nowhere, looked like he had plenty to say but kept it zipped.
Erika grinned brightly, then suddenly smacked her lips.
“Ah, what a shame. Thought I found a good husband prospect.”
“Look elsewhere.”
“Planning to. But still…!”
Craaaaaang!
Erika parried Drake’s blade aimed at her throat and grinned fiercely.
“You’d make a great drinking buddy. Whaddya say?”
“Minor, so no booze yet.”
“No wonder your speech is so strait-laced. What’s the fun in life? Friends, then?”
“Sure, I’d welcome that.”
As Theo smiled back, Erika’s grin widened.
“Great. First, let’s see who’s top dog!”
“Friends don’t rank each other, do they?”
“Quit yapping and swing that sword! Spar’s not over!”
Flash—
Erika and Theo clashed again.
* * *
“The top seat, the top seat! Pfft-hahaha!”
The dragon incarnate, Kyle, gazed out the window with a radiant laugh.
As if overjoyed.
Or amused to death.
Chirp chirp!
At that moment, the black sparrow perched on Kyle’s left shoulder chirped.
A sound full of concern.
“I know. I get what you’re worried about.”
Chirp…
“But how can an outsider stop someone chasing their dream? Let alone between parent and child.”
Kyle truly approved of Theo.
Like Torkel and the other five children he genuinely cherished.
Of course, that affection followed a different path from typical parent-child bonds.
The family’s revival.
Ragnar’s golden age.
He cherished them as ‘swords’ for that purpose.
Kyle was always the one gripping those swords’ hilts—and if their blades ever turned on him, he’d snap them without hesitation.
And now,
Theo was declaring.
That he would become that sword.
Whether he’d stay at the hilt or become the blade remained to be seen.
But one thing was certain.
That blade
would be razor-sharp.
“Weren’t you and I the same back then? Youthful vigor can’t be stopped by anyone. So let’s watch.”
The black sparrow finally shut its beak.
“Whether he breaks against that massive wall or not.”
Kyle’s eyes gleamed ferociously as he stared out the window.