Chapter 76
Chapter 76
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: Public Election (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
A certain gorge in the Winter Mountains, where the reclusive elders primarily resided.
"Your steps are so light, it's killing me."
Mount Dragon grinned at the voice drilling into his ear and turned his head that way.
A young woman sat on the retaining wall, looking down at him with a sullen expression.
"If I'd known raising a disciple could be this fun, I would've done it ages ago. Instead, the Mount Dragon Pavilion's building just sat there abandoned and desolate without an owner."
"Oh? Anyone hearing you might think you'd snagged a once-in-a-millennium prodigy."
"He is a once-in-a-millennium prodigy. Teach him one thing, and he grasps ten—how could I not be thrilled?"
Mount Dragon clasped his hands behind his back and let out a hearty laugh.
Wellington Narsio, whom he'd taken as a disciple while serving as judge, was showing far greater talent than expected.
He'd already mastered the advanced application of the Water Flow Instant Step that had only been glimpsed at the Awakening Ceremony.
In just one or two more years, he'd surely show remarkable growth.
"You're the one who was smacking your lips because you couldn't bring Theo along?"
"That's that, and this is this. Bringing both Theo and Well would've been ideal. What a shame. Tsk."
Mount Dragon smacked his lips as if truly regretful.
The woman looked at him in disbelief.
"If you'd done that, wouldn't you have gotten stabbed in the back?"
"Let them try. In Ragnar, anything goes as long as you don't get caught, right?"
The woman shook her head.
Typical Ragnar arrogance.
"And honestly, aren't you the one most disappointed I couldn't bring Theo?"
"Who knows?"
At Mount Dragon's question, the woman—former Family Head of Ragnar before last, Hilda Ragnar—flashed a subtle smile.
'She still doesn't show her hand at all.'
Mount Dragon gave a wry smile inwardly.
Truth be told, the reason he'd come down from the Winter Mountains after over thirty years of seclusion to avoid Kyle was just one.
Hilda's summons.
—The 'Wheel' is turning again after so long. Come down with me.
Mount Dragon didn't know exactly what the <Wheel> was.
He only knew it as a kind of natural law that sorcerers and shamans called 'heaven's mechanism.'
But as Hilda's last remaining retainer, he couldn't ignore his liege's call.
Back then, he'd thought of it as a chance to enjoy the outside world after so long.
Thanks to that, he'd met a disciple and several outstanding talents, so no regrets.
But among them, the greatest connection was someone else.
Theo Ragnar.
The boy who might uproot Ragnar's thousand-year history.
The one child Hilda alone kept watch over.
"So, no plans to summon Theo here? Didn't you say he's the one chosen by that Wheel or whatever after forty years?"
"I did."
"But why..."
"Not calling him yet?"
Mount Dragon nodded.
He well knew that at the appointment ceremony, Hilda had conversed telepathically with Theo.
She'd spoken as if summoning him right away, so why delay the meeting?
"Just watch a bit longer. There's still something to confirm."
"......?"
Mount Dragon tilted his head, but seeing Hilda's deepening smile, he gave a wry smile.
He could only hope nothing major happened.
'Just hope Ragnar stays true to Ragnar.'
Whether the wind would blow as wished was another matter.
* * *
[On Failure: Death]
Theo let out a hollow laugh at the final message.
'I had my suspicions, but I didn't think it'd really be that.'
Truth be told, Theo had guessed the blinded '■■' might be 'Death.'
No way it'd hand out quests and rewards this big without massive penalties.
Still, suspicion and the actual pressure were worlds apart.
'She made it sound like we'd meet soon, but still no word. Something up?'
Given she knew his regression secret, it wasn't just a change of heart.
'Might be better if I go to her first.'
No info on when the penalty kicked in, which made hurrying all the more urgent.
'Trouble is pinpointing where Hilda's staying...'
From his past life's knowledge, Theo knew only one thing about Hilda.
"Captain, do you happen to know how to get to the 'Ghost Castle'?"
Ghost Castle?
Evelyn felt puzzled by the sudden shift from prisoner talk but nodded soon enough.
"You mean the old castle ruins?"
"Yes, exactly."
The current Ragnar estate had moved due to a rebellion three hundred years ago.
Ghost Castle was the site used before that, now designated a forbidden zone for safety and security.
Surrounded by magic circles and barriers, approach was impossible without specific methods.
As far as Theo knew, Hilda made that very Ghost Castle her residence.
"Riding a flying dragon around the Winter Mountains makes spotting it easy, so I know the location. But not how to get in."
"Then just tell me the location."
"No idea what's going on, but... sure."
Evelyn didn't pry into details.
Silently trusting the liege and watching over his actions was a prime virtue for the First Sword.
For now, they were captain and squad member.
But Evelyn never forgot that virtue.
* * *
Upon arriving at the Plum Palace, someone was already waiting at the main gate for Theo.
A familiar face to Theo.
"Long... time no see? It's been less than a month, but feels like forever."
"Didn't expect you out here."
"Oh, this much."
Natasha.
The one who'd helped Theo at the Awakening Ceremony and exposed Felix's disobedience of the Plum Palace Lord's orders.
"You must've been eating well—your face is glowing."
"Really? Good to hear."
"...What a grandpa response. No fun."
As Natasha grumbled, the old man beside her spoke.
"Natasha, won't you introduce this old man too?"
"This is Chief Steward Rang Français of the Plum Palace, and this is Theo Ragnar, the one who just joined the White Dragon Knights."
"I'm Rang Français, chief steward serving the First Wife."
The old man with short white hair and a monocle over one eye bowed politely.
Theo, slightly surprised, bowed back in kind.
"Didn't expect to meet 'Spear Ghost.' I'm Theo Ragnar."
For a moment, Rang's eye gleamed behind the monocle.
"Oh my... for the heir to know me. I'm flattered."
"Not knowing Spear Ghost's fame would be the real issue, no?"
Spear Ghost was one of Ragnar's rare masters who chose spear over sword.
'A super-elite once recommended for Laurel Swordsman position too... Thought he'd retired due to age, but he's in the Plum Palace, not the Elder Council? As a steward?'
The laurel crown symbolized nobility and mystery since ancient times.
Naturally, the Laurel Swordsman who made it their trademark was one of Ragnar's icons, including the Nine Dragons.
Turning down such honor to stay by the Plum Palace Lord's side piqued interest.
"Having someone gild my face after so long—don't know what to do. Come inside first. The First Wife awaits."
Theo followed Natasha and Rang across the Plum Palace.
The interior, never seen even in his past life, was filled with plum trees everywhere.
"Feels like walking through a forest."
"Ha ha. The First Wife loves plum trees so much. It's heartbreaking how she always laments not seeing those rare blooms that don't flower every year."
"Plum blossoms are spring flowers, after all. As you know, Wintera has awfully short springs."
"Ah, is that so?"
Theo chatted with them, wryly smiling at the stares pouring from all sides.
'Treatment for a rolling stone is no joke.'
All of them radiated wariness.
They surely knew the Plum Palace Lord had declared Theo her disciple at the Naming Ceremony.
With the Felix incident, they'd heard plenty of bad rumors too.
Some even probed him with faint killing intent.
But,
'No need for me to bend.'
Whoosh!
[Activating 'Skill: Lesser Drake Fear' to counter all killing intent.]
"......!"
"......!"
"......!"
The moment Theo activated the skill, those emitting killing intent recoiled in shock.
Some paled, others bared clearer hostility.
Pfft!
Rang chuckled lightly, amused by Theo's response.
Natasha shook her head as if to say same old.
The two said nothing more.
True to Ragnar, they figured proving oneself with skill was enough.
"Here it is. The First Wife is inside, so go on in."
There, Rang stopped before the training grounds.
Theo nodded thanks and entered.
The Plum Palace Lord was right there.
Gently caressing the leaves of a towering plum tree with her fingertips.
"I've been waiting for you. Wondering what you two had to talk about so much—makes me a bit resent the White Dragon Knights Captain."
The Plum Palace Lord turned to Theo, hands behind her back.
"The gift. Like it?"
She meant One Branch Plum.
Theo performed sword salute and bowed.
"Thanks to you, Palace Lord, I found a new path."
"Good to hear it helped even a little."
"I learned not everything drawn with the sword is a flower."
A radiant smile bloomed on the Plum Palace Lord's lips.
"Indeed. You've truly grasped it. You're right. People only crave completing the 'flower' as fast as possible, neglecting the process—which is far more vital."
She extended her hand forward, and the sword embedded in the ground flew straight to her grasp.
Clack!
"That's why I'll keep teaching you the 'technique' and 'art' you can surpass. These two are the foundation of the sword."
As Theo nodded silently, the Plum Palace Lord asked.
"So, I'll ask again."
"Yes."
"Will you become my disciple?"
Thump!
Theo's heart raced anew.
Having seen all of One Branch Plum's intent, he knew well how great a swordswoman she was.
Inheriting her martial philosophy fully... would surely forge a new path.
It'd solidify his bastard son's shaky position too.
But first,
"May I ask one thing?"
"Of course."
"Why do you favor me so much?"
Theo continued.
"I've done nothing for you, Palace Lord. If anything, I could tarnish your honor. Yet."
"You resemble Kyle."
"......!"
An utterly unexpected answer.
Theo's body stiffened.
"Is that reason enough?"
The smile on the Plum Palace Lord's lips deepened.
"You wouldn't know, but you look just like Kyle in his youth. Despite being far from the throne by rights... you strive to smash through hardships and trials. And you hold to your principles. All of it mirrors Kyle."
'Resemble... Father.'
The words echoed in his head.
The Plum Palace Lord went on.
"Moreover, you resemble me too. Do you know what you look like when you grip the sword?"
"I... don't."
"You're always smiling."
"......"
"That's exactly me. Gripping the sword was pure joy, swinging it utter bliss. You're the same."
Because he could dream again the dreams unfulfilled in his past life. Every day was precious to Theo.
That's why he gripped the sword more desperately, swung it more happily.
That feeling must've reached the Plum Palace Lord.
"Isn't it natural my heart goes to the child resembling my husband and me?"
Theo thought her smile somehow resembled Julius's.
'These two are human after all.'
Julius said he was just returning to the family what he'd received from Kyle.
The Plum Palace Lord said Theo, resembling her and Kyle, felt like her own child.
What answer could be more 'human'?
But,
More than lofty ideals or bizarre justice, this touched Theo deeply.
-Will you become my disciple?
It was a proposal, not a demand.
The sword learned from them would surely reach the throne.
"No more questions?"
"None."
"Then, may I hear your answer?"
Theo nodded and spoke,
And the Plum Palace Lord's smile deepened.
-Like plum blossoms blooming in spring.
-----------------------------------------------------------------