Chapter 66
Chapter 66
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: White Dragon Knights (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“What did Black Snow say about the report we just submitted?”
“Cross-verification is complete, and they estimate an 89% probability that it’s true.”
“……This is enough to drive anyone mad.”
Julius frowned at his subordinate’s report.
A sudden emergency report delivered via hotline last night sat plainly on his desk.
It detailed how Trainer Isben, the 5th Squad leader who had long reigned as a fixture in the White Dragon Knights even longer than Julius, had perished alongside fifteen of his subordinates on a mission.
Just in case, he’d requested reconfirmation from Black Snow, but all he got in return was a grief-stricken affirmation.
It was the most painful loss among the countless fierce battles over the past three years.
“As per your orders, we’ve appointed Senior Swordmaster Evelyn Nereville of the 1st Squad as interim 5th Squad leader, and assigned three rookies under her. They’re scheduled to deploy on the mission three days from now, after temporary training concludes.”
“Throwing green chicks into a mission…… We’re truly at rock bottom.”
His subordinate had plenty he wanted to say in response to Julius’s sigh, but he kept his lips tightly shut.
Julius’s frustration had to be the greatest.
In truth, this was one of the White Dragon Knights’ most chronic problems.
‘If it weren’t for that damned Intelligence Bureau and Elder Council……!’
The White Dragon Knights were the air force.
Unlike other units heavily influenced by terrain, their operational range was vast.
As such, the White Dragon Knights were perpetually swamped fending off an endless stream of mission requests.
1st Squad handled special missions,
2nd Squad conducted reconnaissance on Demon Sea activity,
3rd Squad protected the Great Wall and scouted the outskirts,
4th Squad guarded Winterer and monitored the Northern Six Snow Houses,
5th Squad managed interventions in various incidents and aid requests across the North.
Their responsibilities spanned too vast an area.
From the Demon Sea to the Great Wall, and the entire North.
Five hundred men were woefully insufficient to cover it all.
Every request for reinforcements was met with resistance from the Central Intelligence Bureau and Elder Council.
They claimed a shortage of talent, but everyone knew political checks were the real reason.
Thus, the White Dragon Knights always suffered from manpower shortages.
Even now was no different.
With the 5th Squad leader dead, they weren’t mobilizing all squads for revenge—instead, they were reinforcing with rookies for a counterattack.
If this happened in another unit, people would be whispering about crumbling discipline everywhere.
“You know we can’t entrust the rookies with major tasks right away, so limit them to scouting and support this mission. Even this taste of combat will teach them plenty.”
“Understood.”
After his subordinate bowed and left,
Julius swiveled his chair to gaze out the window.
The blue sky seemed especially indifferent today.
“89% probability……. That leaves an 11% chance they’re alive. Please, just stay alive, old timer—no matter how hurt.”
Julius pictured Trainer’s cranky, nagging face as he always was by his side, then suddenly thought of Theo.
The young master of Camellia Palace, who always pulled off astonishing miracles—could he work one now……?
But the thought didn’t last.
Julius let out a light chuckle.
‘I must’ve been truly desperate.’
Even Theo had limits to what he could be expected to do.
It was an absurd wish, even to him.
What could he hope from a fresh fifteen-year-old trainee swordsman?
Still.
Still…… what if some miracle did happen?
Click!
Julius unlocked a drawer in his desk and pulled out a book inside.
The secret manual Plum Palace Lord had handed over while speaking of joint enemies.
‘I hope this helps bring about that miracle, even a little.’
He lightly shook the bell on his desk.
Ding-a-ling—
A knight waiting outside entered.
“You called?”
“Fetch Evelyn.”
* * *
-Designated mentors must complete basic training for all sub-officers by three days from now, when the main mission begins.
Evelyn’s order, delivered with the mission preview, threw 5th Squad into chaos.
Even “lightning stir-fry” had limits—this directive felt utterly unreasonable.
But an order was an order.
Unrevoked commands had to be followed, no matter the objections.
Thus, mentors for the three rookies were quickly assigned,
and Theo followed his to a training ground in one corner of the White Dragon’s Nest.
‘What could it be? A mission so urgent they’re deploying untrained rookies.’
Evelyn cited security and shared zero mission details until launch.
So Theo kept rummaging through his past life’s knowledge.
But nothing major happened around this time.
His worries only grew.
The one vague lead was this.
‘The Ceres Merchant Group’s Northern trade caravan hostage crisis.’
Ceres Merchant Group had clashed with Theo at the Dragon Conference banquet half a year ago,
and was essentially a shadowy link to Ed Troyvan and House Troyvan.
On the surface, though, they were a loyal Northern trading firm to House Ragnar.
Around now, their trade caravan gets suddenly taken hostage by a bandit group called ‘Black Skull’—an unfamiliar name.
5th Squad of the White Dragon Knights deploys, rescues all hostages, and wipes out the bandits.
In the harsh Northern economy, it was a dime-a-dozen event.
Neither House Ragnar nor the White Dragon Knights paid it much mind.
However,
‘Much later, Black Snow uncovers it: one item the caravan carried was the Dragon Slayer Sword. The family suffered massively as a result.’
In a few years, Ed Troyvan attempts a coup.
Propping up nephew Axion Ragnar as new family head, with Central Intelligence’s help, it paralyzes administration, seals Winterer off completely, and causes irreparable damage.
Some elders and retainers in Winterer step up to suppress Ed, but all lose their heads.
Ed’s skill played a part, but his weapon was Ragnar’s natural counter.
Dragon Slayer Sword, Balmung.
A cursed blade from mythic times, said to have slain the Demon Dragon, brimming with legend and mystery—
Ed nearly succeeded in the coup with it.
‘Father and Black Dragon ultimately suppress him…… but the damage was real.’
Some whispered that if Black Snow had spotted the Dragon Slayer Sword during the hostage crisis, they could’ve prevented it.
‘But unlike my past life, Axion’s gone now. No pretext for a coup…… So how has that changed things?’
Ed Troyvan schemed with cunning that even Black Dragon admired.
With his pawn Axion gone, altering plans was no surprise.
His eyes when Theo rejected the deputy director post were anything but ordinary……
‘If this is truly a butterfly effect, I need to see the changes firsthand.’
Clashes with Ed Troyvan were inevitable—he had to keep tracking his moves.
Might even need to strike first, depending.
“Now, I’ll teach you how to fit the saddle and bridle.”
Theo snapped back to reality at his mentor’s shout.
“No matter how much training from young, wyverns hate restraints. It adds weight in flight. So ‘partnership’ with a wyvern starts right here, with saddle and bridle.”
Selphard Gardner.
Theo’s assigned mentor explained with all humor wiped from his face, unlike usual.
Sloppy basics meant crisis in real combat.
Not just for him—
But for all comrades too.
“Give it a try.”
Theo nodded, picked up the saddle, and stood before Umbra.
Umbra backed away, frowning.
Grrr……!
A slight phlegmy growl.
For some reason, Theo strongly felt Umbra grumbling at him more than the saddle.
“What’s wrong? Mad I didn’t stay with you last night and left first?”
Kek!
Umbra flared its wings, flapping.
It looked set to charge, making Selphard step forward, but Theo waved him off.
“Right? That’s why you’re sulking?”
Kek! Keeek!
Umbra flapped harder.
As if asking if he really didn’t know.
Pfft!
Theo couldn’t help but chuckle.
Keeek!
Umbra griped again.
Laughing now?
“Ah, sorry, sorry. Pfft!”
Keeeek!
Theo couldn’t stop laughing.
A fierce-looking beast, yet its complaints were adorably cute.
Of course, Umbra was fuming inside.
On one hand, Theo understood Umbra’s hurt.
A creature who’d lived lonely forever finally made a friend, only for it to ditch overnight.
Probably fretted all night, fearing abandonment again.
“Sorry. I should’ve been more careful. Won’t leave you behind next time.”
Keeek!
Umbra screeched, whipping its head aside.
Pouting unmistakably.
-Thinking sorry fixes it?!
Theo finally pulled his trump card(?) to soothe Umbra.
“Oh no…… I brought a gift for our Umbra, but guess I’ll take it back.”
Theo turned awkwardly, rummaging dramatically.
Twitch—
Umbra’s sidelong eyebrow twitched.
“Expensive pearl necklace. What a shame?”
He pretended casual, but Umbra’s pupils rolled toward him.
In Theo’s hand: the pearl necklace from Cecilia.
Shiver!
Umbra’s pupils shook.
“C-Cap-tain said even gul-la like these…… Guess I’ll give it there……!”
Keeeek!
Umbra startled, flapping wildly.
No! Stop!
Theo grinned back.
“Want it instead?”
Kek! Keeeeek!
Umbra nodded frantically, fearing a change of heart.
Theo, still smiling, draped the pearls over Umbra’s existing necklace.
Umbra’s face lit up, claws toying with it happily.
Meanwhile, Theo successfully saddled and bridled Umbra’s shoulder.
“……What the hell did you just do?”
Selphard watched, utterly dumbfounded.
Even partners took at least a fortnight for saddle and bridle.
Theo did it in hours.
Selphard snapped from stern to his usual self.
“Dunno. It just worked.”
Theo shrugged nonchalantly.
“……You don’t hear ‘lucky bastard’ often, do you?”
“What?”
“Annoying as hell.”
Theo just smiled silently.
And so,
Selphard’s basic training continued.
Theo rapidly absorbed White Dragon Knights’ tactics, command structure, squad traits, formation theory, emergency protocols—everything.
His past Black Snow experience made it easy.
Unaware, Selphard got one impression of Theo.
‘This guy’s a genius! Born purely for the White Dragon Knights! Gotta protect him forever! Never let others steal him! You’re mine, Theo Ragnarrrrr!’
Talented sub-officers boosted mentors’ attendance and performance evals.
Especially with Arin and others drooling over Theo.
No matter what, he had to keep him.
Whoosh!
Selphard’s eyes blazed.
Theo shivered at the sudden chill.
Time flew by.
Three days later.
“Let’s move.”
At Evelyn’s command, Theo and 5th Squad of the White Dragon Knights set out.