Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Naming Ceremony (5)
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With each step he took, Deathbite naturally spread out beneath his feet.
His psychokinesis and physical movements had somehow become organically linked.
Thanks to that, Theo could truly "charge" through the sky.
Paaaaah—
"That's...!"
The most shocked of all was Evelyn.
She had heard from Julius that Theo had awakened to psychokinesis for some unknown reason during the Awakening Ceremony.
A superpower that could only manifest through innate talent.
But she had assumed it would be at a beginner level—she never imagined it would be this natural...!
"Hurry up. It'll be embarrassing if we lose Young Master Theo."
But her surprise was fleeting.
Evelyn slapped Langus's flank and urged it to chase after him swiftly.
Kaaaaah!
As if understanding her words, Langus let out a long roar and beat its wings fiercely.
* * *
When the distance to Umbra had closed somewhat,
Theo stomped down hard on Deathbite, leaping high into the air while manipulating the others.
'Go.'
Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!
The four daggers shot out like arrows, igniting with hot atmospheric friction and unleashing thunderbolts.
Rumble—
Four thunder dragons manifesting simultaneously.
Kiaah?
Kyaaak!
The wyverns harassing Umbra finally sensed Deathbite's presence and whipped their heads toward him in alarm.
In that instant, the four thunder dragons thrashed wildly, slashing their claws downward fiercely.
Slaaaash!
[Thunder Dragon Swift Claw Method – Dragon Pattern]
Kieeeek!
Massive wounds tore open on the wyverns, blood spraying everywhere.
Most were poison dragon or swift dragon breeds, so they were pushed back helplessly, their strength no match.
But one among them was a monster dragon breed.
Sensing Theo as the threat, the monster dragon breed bared its fangs toward him.
However,
By then, Theo was already descending, Drake's blade gripped in his hand.
[Dragon's Three Claws – Chaos Blade]
Shiiiish—
The zweihänder, infused with mana, unleashed such overwhelming power that even the monster dragon breed hesitated to approach.
Fwoooosh—
The blade grazed roughly near its nape, sending the monster dragon breed writhing in agony as it beat its wings frantically and fled into the sky.
A wild wyvern might have pressed the attack on Theo to the end, but this one had some training—it mistook him for a White Dragon Knight.
Absolutely not to be attacked.
In the end, the others also turned tail and fled in haste,
And Umbra could finally catch its breath.
"Are you okay?"
Theo, standing on Deathbite now reverted to dagger form, approached Umbra.
But.
Grrr...!
It bristled with intense wariness toward the sudden intruder.
Even if he had just helped, it couldn't know Theo's intentions.
What now?
While Theo hesitated for a moment, Umbra swiftly turned and bolted in the opposite direction.
"Ah...!"
Theo tried to pursue, but Evelyn swooped in quickly, pulling him back onto Langus.
She had realized his time aloft was limited.
"It's too on edge right now—approaching will be tough. Maybe take it slow if you want to get close?"
Her advice came from concern, but Theo shook his head.
"No. That's exactly why it needs us close right now."
"But...!"
Umbra had never opened up even to the White Dragon Knights, professional trainers.
So Evelyn figured it was even less likely with a first-time stranger like Theo.
But Theo knew well, having been a loner like Umbra.
What it needed now was "warmth."
-How could he not recognize the loneliness hidden in those sharp eyes?
'The reason it lingers near the white dragon's nest despite constant rejection from the flock... It's lonely. Hurting. Mental wounds cut deeper than any physical scar.'
Memories surfaced of his own past—shunned by siblings just for being a bastard, practically exiled from the family.
"Please. Chase it. It's exhausted—it won't have gotten far."
Evelyn let out a light sigh and spurred Langus onward.
Theo's eyes darkened deeply.
* * *
As Theo predicted, finding Umbra wasn't hard.
It had landed in a nearby rocky area, panting heavily.
Grrr...!
But it kept eyeing Theo and Evelyn warily as they approached.
Even landing far off and creeping closer slowly yielded no openings.
Lure it with food?
Frustrated, Evelyn glanced at Langus for help, but her partner scratched its head with a hind foot, utterly disinterested.
"Wait here. I'll handle it. This is my aptitude test anyway."
Theo approached Umbra slowly, without waiting for Evelyn's reply.
Kaaa!
Umbra bared its fangs, as if to say it would tear him apart if he came closer.
With monster dragon blood mixed in, its near-10-meter bulk radiated a terrifying killing intent.
Wyvern Fear.
'The nape's badly torn. Needs treatment fast, or it's in danger.'
Fortunately, Theo quickly secured a means to heal it.
'Shop window.'
[Opening shop window.]
He spotted the remedy right away.
+
[Tamer Remedy]
· Type: Healing potion
· Requirement: Level 5
· Effect
- Rapid treatment of worsening wounds
- Partial stamina recovery
+
[Paid 2 coins for 'Tamer Remedy ×2.']
'Now, how to apply it...'
Umbra was just 20 meters away.
But its guard hadn't dropped—closing in further seemed impossible.
'...No choice.'
He didn't want to, but treating the wound came first.
['Skill: Lesser Drake's Fear' activated! Repelling Wyvern Fear!]
Fwoooosh!
The draconic killing intent pouring from Theo instantly overwhelmed the Wyvern Fear, startling Umbra into flinching.
Yet it glared back with venom-filled eyes, refusing to yield—a sight that drew involuntary admiration.
But in that gap, Theo closed the distance in a flash and yanked the fleeing creature's foreleg.
[Brute Strength] amplified his power beyond even Umbra's capability.
Kiaaa...!
Umbra thrashed, demanding release.
"Hold still, you. You're just making the wound worse."
Of course, Theo had no intention of letting go.
He pinned it harder, sprinkling potion over the gash.
Sizzle!
Blood staunched, the wound began knitting shut.
Umbra finally sensed something, ceasing resistance and rolling its eyes wildly.
"Pain vanishing suddenly feels good, right?"
Theo chuckled at its adorable reaction, opening the second potion to treat the other wounds.
Kiii...
Its body twitched with each healing surge.
But no more struggling.
"..."
-...
For a brief moment, peaceful silence enveloped them.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Thud...! Thud...! Thud...!
Umbra's wary, racing heartbeat slowed, syncing with Theo's steady pulse.
Sensing the change, Theo smiled.
Its slowing breaths matched.
Through them, Theo felt Umbra's myriad emotions.
Loneliness, sorrow, pain, anger, longing, lament, regret, attachment...
Irritation and grief toward the flock that cast it out, tension and isolation from years alone.
Doubt toward this sudden bearer of warmth—yet a paradoxical wish for him to stay.
Theo said nothing while tending the wounds.
Words paled beside letting its heart feel directly.
"...How did you do that?"
Evelyn approached, incredulous at the scene.
She'd never seen Umbra this docile.
Many White Dragon Knights had tried claiming it as a partner.
Despite the bullying, no one could resist its monster dragon size, strength, and viper traits.
But Umbra rejected every advance.
It loathed saddles and reins.
Yet with Theo, it was calm—baffling.
"Who knows."
Theo offered an ambiguous smile.
'It might've opened up easier thanks to the contract with Lordbrock.'
Dragons instinctively recognized kin.
Of course, he couldn't voice that speculation, so he changed the subject.
"More than that, Evelyn—can you fetch some food for it? Looks like it hasn't eaten properly in days."
Theo pointed to Umbra's gaunt, rib-exposed belly.
Evelyn nodded gravely.
"Yes. Understood."
She mounted Langus and soared skyward again.
"Urgent fires are out, but wonder if the scars will fade too."
Theo gently stroked Umbra's nape, then noticed its gaze fixed on his chest.
Precisely, the brooch there.
The one Kirson gave as a graduation gift.
'Well, now.'
Theo unclasped it curiously, holding it high.
Umbra's huge eyes rolled upward.
He swung his arm right.
Eyes followed.
Then left.
Roll—
Left again.
Up, down, up, down, diagonal...
Umbra's eyes chased frantically wherever he moved the brooch.
"Pffft! What? It wasn't Lordbrock's scent—you were eyeing this?"
Not entirely, but the adage about dragons loving treasure held true again—amusing.
The brooch's lovely design and gemstones sparkled endlessly.
"Want it?"
Kiii—
Eyes meeting Theo's, Umbra looked away coyly.
As if uninterested.
Yet stealing glances—adorably mismatched to its bulk.
Theo snickered, buying a 5-meter iron chain from the shop and linking the brooch to its end.
He wrapped it snugly around Umbra's neck like a necklace.
Clink—
Released, it clinked lightly against its scales.
Kiyuu...?
Umbra pawed it fondly, then eyed Theo cautiously.
As if asking why.
"A gift."
Kiii?
"Follow me, and you'll get more like this... Deal?"
Theo caught Umbra's pupils quivering.
"Not just this. Ever seen a palm-sized ruby? Glimmering color, gorgeous. Could polish it for your claw? And Mother's hairpin...!"
Umbra's pupils dilated with each tale.
"Could even deck out those hated reins and saddle."
Kiii!
Umbra sprang up.
It roared skyward, as if demanding to see them now.
Ding!
[Successfully recognized as master by Viper Wyvern.]
[New skill acquired.]
+
[Wyvern Taming]
· Rank: C-
· Proficiency: 1%
· Effect: Higher proficiency yields greater trust from tamed dragonkin. Mount boosts total power by 10%.
+
Theo burst into laughter unwittingly.
He'd fully won Umbra's heart.
Especially this skill—huge for a future dragon knight.
10% power boost.
No small thing.
Stats and skills all amplified accordingly.
'And not limited to wyverns—applies to "dragonkin" broadly... So maybe not just wyverns, but deathworms, drakes, sea serpents too?'
A massive asset.
Though taming likely required conditions, he wasn't worried.
Treasures for Umbra wouldn't be cheap, but he had plans.
'Kirson will handle it.'
Theo was already scheming to dump the shopping on his capitalist elf slave(?).
At that very moment.
Brr!
Kirson shuddered mid-gold count, struck by sudden chills.