Chapter 77
Chapter 77
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: Fellow Humans (2)
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“You seem to be in a great mood.”
After all the training sessions had wrapped up.
As Theo stepped out of the Plum Palace’s training grounds with somewhat weary steps, Lang Franche was waiting for him outside.
Natasha was nowhere to be seen.
“Ah, does it look that way? Truth be told, I’m pretty exhausted from back-to-back training sessions…….”
“For someone who’s tired, that smile hasn’t left your lips. Hehe.”
Theo scratched his cheek with an awkward expression.
Lang was right, after all.
His body was fatigued, but his mind felt clearer and more refreshed than ever.
He had gained hints for all those secret techniques, martial principles, and insights he hadn’t fully grasped before, merely committing them to memory.
Just properly reviewing what he’d learned today would open new paths.
“Thank you, Theo.”
Lang gazed warmly at him for a moment before suddenly bowing deeply in respect.
Theo was startled, wondering what this was about, when Lang continued.
“You might not know this, but ever since the Palace Lord first met you at the Central Bureau and began instructing you in Full Plum Blossoms, she’s been smiling more often than not.”
Theo’s eyes widened slightly.
“So please, take good care of her from here on out.”
“Ah, yes, of course. The pleasure is mine…….”
Theo bowed reflexively, scratching the back of his head.
‘She seems to think it’s a given that I’ve become the Palace Lord’s disciple. How do I even correct that?’
Lang’s loyalty to the Plum Palace Lord was so profound that Theo hesitated to speak up carelessly.
“New recruit of the White Dragon Knights, Theo Ragnar. That you?”
Thud, thud—
Suddenly, a group of about a dozen appeared before Theo.
In an instant, his gaze sharpened.
There was a familiar face among them.
Felix.
“Well?”
But Felix was just sullenly blending into the group, with the true leader being someone else.
Theo knew who she was.
A woman with long hair cascading down to her feet and cold eyes.
Hazel Kopel.
A direct descendant of the Kopel family—one of the Six Sword Families—and a battle-hardened swordsman who had entered the Plum Palace to pursue the Plum Palace Lord’s swordsmanship.
‘In the original history, she surpassed Felix to become the Palace Lord’s true ‘first’ disciple.’
Her skills and talent were exceptional; after some time, she even became the right-hand woman of one of the Five Candidates.
It was easy to guess why she had shown up.
‘She thinks I stole her spot. Just like Felix. Here to pick a fight?’
Head steward Lang seemed intrigued by the unfolding drama and subtly stepped back to watch, showing no intention of intervening.
“Your words are awfully curt. No sign of respect for a superior.”
Hazel frowned at Theo’s curt reply, scanning him up and down.
Snicker—
Theo let out a scoff of disbelief.
“Superior? Please.”
“What?”
“You’re not even my direct superior, so why bother with that?”
Hazel’s face stiffened for a moment.
“This insolent punk keeps pushing it!”
Clang!
The swordsmen beside Hazel flew into a rage and drew their blades in unison.
Meanwhile, Felix—who had already suffered defeat at Theo’s hands—turned pale.
A chilling killing intent flickered in Theo’s eyes.
“You know what it means to draw your sword, right?”
“What nonsense……!”
The one who had shouted first tried to say more.
Whoosh!
Drake’s blade, already drawn, streaked through the air like a beam of light.
Slash—
Splatter!
“Argh! My arm! My aaaarm!”
“Henry!”
“This crazy bastard actually swung his sword……!”
The shouter clutched his severed left arm, screaming in agony, while the others—unprepared for Theo’s immediate strike—stiffened and prepared to charge.
But then,
Whoooosh—
[The skill: Lesser Drake Fear dominates the battlefield.]
The killing intent surging from Theo in that instant bound their feet.
“Back off? Unless you want to die.”
“……!”
“……!”
“……!”
“I’ve been letting your insolence slide out of respect for the Plum Palace Lord’s face. If you keep coming at me, then come. But next time, it won’t end with just an arm.”
Their faces hardened rigidly.
Hazel gripped her sword hilt, furrowing her brow.
“Acting like you’re already the heir to the Plum Palace. Don’t think we’ll follow your orders just because you’re the Palace Lord’s disciple.”
“So you’re saying you’re ganging up because even one trainee swordsman is too much for you to handle alone?”
“……Looks like words won’t cut it.”
“So? You wanna fight?”
A tense staring contest stretched between Theo and Hazel.
Murderous intent hung thick in the air.
Then Hazel sheathed her sword.
Clack!
“H-Hazel?”
“Why all of a sudden……?”
The swordsmen, ready to charge at her command, stared at her in confusion.
Hazel’s earlier menace had vanished; a faint smile played on her lips.
“You’ve got more guts than Natasha made you out to have. No wonder the Palace Lord took notice.”
The sudden warm turn.
This only deepened the bewilderment among the Plum Palace swordsmen.
They milled about in confusion.
‘No wonder she seemed sharper than I remembered.’
Hazel was someone who, far in the future, had earned the admiration of many swordsmen, much like the Plum Palace Lord.
Theo had chimed in assuming this provocation was out of character for her, and it seemed he was right.
Still, he didn’t fully drop his guard.
Who knew when another Felix might pop up.
“Sorry for testing you. I’ll discipline these idiots for their poor conduct later. But.”
“But?”
“It’s no lie that I haven’t acknowledged you as the Palace Lord’s disciple yet. I—and all of us in the Plum Palace—don’t know this Theo Ragnar. Your bearing and personality are worlds apart, so we can’t just accept you blindly.”
In that instant, Hazel’s eyes gleamed fiercely.
“I hear you’re likely on the list for the youngest-ever promotion exam. Even if not, it won’t be long. I’ll step up as examiner then. Beat me there. If you do, we’ll all acknowledge you as the Palace Lord’s heir without a word.”
Promotion exam?
Theo found the unfamiliar schedule odd but felt the need to correct Hazel’s misunderstanding first.
“Do what you want. But there’s one thing we need to clear up.”
“What?”
“I have no intention of becoming the Plum Palace’s heir. Nor could I.”
“……?”
Hazel furrowed her brow, failing to grasp his meaning at first, then cried out in shock.
“You don’t mean……!”
Snicker!
Theo chuckled lightly.
“I don’t know why you all assume I’d naturally accept the Palace Lord’s offer, but I just came from telling her I’d decline.”
“……!”
“……!”
“……!”
Hazel and the Plum Palace swordsmen let out cries of dismay.
Even Lang beside them.
* * *
“How was your meeting with Theo?”
Natasha arrived at the training grounds, now empty save for the Plum Palace Lord, and glanced around.
Traces of intense training lingered here and there.
‘As expected of the 24 Forms Plum Sword…… She’s already passed on all eight initial stances? That’s too fast.’
It had taken Natasha over a month to master the initial forms herself—an astonishing pace by comparison.
Sure enough.
The Plum Palace Lord, touching a plum tree, had a smile on her lips.
“It was enjoyable. Quite enjoyable.”
“At last, an heir has appeared to carry on the legacy of the ‘Heavenly Dragon Sword Lord.’ Congratulations.”
Natasha bowed deeply.
Heavenly Dragon Sword Lord.
It was the Plum Palace Lord’s hidden other identity.
She hadn’t originally been a Ragnar.
She was the sole inheritor of a secret lineage passed down one-to-one since ancient times.
But the Palace Lord had long lacked both disciples and children, leaving no suitable heir for this legacy.
Thus, Natasha naturally linked Theo’s emergence to that role.
But,
“I had thought so too at first…… Hehe! Looks like I’ll have to find someone else for that position.”
Natasha’s eyes widened at the Palace Lord’s words.
“What do you mean? Does that mean Theo Ragnar……!”
“He rejected the offer again. Come to think of it, this is the third time already? That stubborn boy. Hahaha!”
Yet the Palace Lord, despite the rejection, looked utterly delighted.
Natasha was at a loss.
“Why on earth this time……! I can’t accept this. I’ll go confront him.”
“No, that’s not necessary.”
“But!”
“He may not be my disciple, but our bond isn’t severed. If anything, it’s deepened.”
“……?”
Natasha blinked, still unable to comprehend.
Hahaha!
But the Palace Lord’s laughter only grew louder.
-I’m always grateful for the Palace Lord’s consideration. But becoming your disciple is difficult. I already have a master in my heart.
-Is that so…….
-But.
Theo’s gaze from that moment still burned vividly in her mind.
-May I regard you as another mother?
Another mother.
The Palace Lord couldn’t stop smiling.
A parent-child bond felt far warmer than a rigid master-disciple one, naturally.
She had been denied the joy of holding her own flesh-and-blood child due to heaven’s decree,
But now she could embrace a child born of the heart with open arms—and nothing could bring greater joy.
-I have a child now.
That fact filled the void in the Plum Palace Lord’s heart to the brim.
‘By the way, who is this great figure she regards as her master in her heart?’
The Palace Lord made a mental note to look into it later, then turned to Natasha.
“Natasha, could you deliver a letter to the Family Head on my behalf?”
“Of course. What shall I say?”
Natasha astutely sensed that a bond even closer than master-disciple had formed between them.
“I plan to recommend Theo for his promotion exam.”
“……!”
Natasha’s head snapped up in surprise.
“Let’s give him wings this time so he can soar freely.”
* * *
[Recommendation for Theo Ragnar’s Promotion Exam – White Dragon Knights Captain Julius Ragnar]
[Recommendation for Theo Ragnar’s Promotion – Plum Palace Lord Osa Ragnar Pruners]
Kyle snickered as he read the two reports that had just arrived.
“Promotion recommendations from two of the Nine Dragons? It hasn’t even been a month since the Awakening Ceremony, and they’re all pushing too hard. Forcing a fledgling to fly only makes it easier prey for hunters.”
Ragnar swordsmen were divided into six main ranks.
‘Initiate Swordsman’—those just beginning to wield a sword.
‘Trainee Swordsman’—having undergone the Awakening Ceremony to open their Aura Hall.
‘Battle Swordsman’—recognized for earning merits in a unit or gaining enough experience to stand as a full-fledged swordsman.
‘Senior Swordsman’—possessing exceptional skill, called the ‘claws’ and ‘fangs’ of the Ragnars.
‘Dragon Gate Swordsman’—leading a group, serving as the ‘hands’ and ‘feet’ of the Ragnars.
And finally,
‘Laurel Swordsman’—the representative ‘face’ of the Ragnars.
Theo was at the second rank: Trainee Swordsman.
A novice just starting missions, still needing a mentor’s guidance.
In dragon terms, a ‘scale.’
And not even a useful one—just a tail scale for now.
Yet these reports claimed it was a backplate scale.
In them,
Julius cited Theo’s courage, judgment, and merits from his first mission,
While the Plum Palace Lord praised his outstanding skills.
If both recommendations were approved?
Theo would achieve an unprecedented promotion speed.
Especially now, so soon after the Awakening Ceremony’s hype—it would become a massive issue.
From then on, the Five Candidates would naturally perk up their ears.
Whinny……!
At that moment, the bunting on Kyle’s shoulder chirped lightly.
“You recommend him too?”
Kyle glanced at the bird in surprise.
The bunting nodded, chirping whinny, whinny.
“Well, that’s a good idea too. Alright, let’s do it.”
Kyle slammed approval stamps onto both documents.
Thud!
-Approved.
“Fine. You declared with your own mouth that you’d challenge the throne, so handle it yourself. Whether you soar safely or crash on the way up, prove it on your own.”
White fangs gleamed between Kyle’s parted lips.