Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: Public Examination (3)
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The evening sky had fully darkened.
Theo and Umbra were cutting through the chilly night air in the middle of it.
Keeeeek!
Umbra let out a screech, clearly thrilled by the rare chance for free flight.
Theo stood atop her, examining a single document.
[Promotion Exam Schedule Notice]
‘They want me to take the promotion exam already? This is way faster than I expected.’
Theo had planned to qualify for the promotion exam as soon as possible.
But he’d figured it would take three or four missions first—he hadn’t anticipated it coming this quickly.
Normally, the Central Intelligence Agency would block it, saying they needed a bit more observation.
However,
Looking at the list of recommenders, he could see why approval was inevitable.
[Recommender List]
-White Dragon Knights Captain ‘Demon Dragon’ Julius Ragnar.
-Plum Palace Lord ‘Sword Dragon’ Osa Ragnar Pruners.
-Black Snow Leader ‘Black Dragon’ Robert Ragnar.
.
.
Three out of the Nine Dragons had stepped forward.
Even the Central Intelligence Agency couldn’t ignore a demand like that.
‘But why did the Black Dragon get involved?’
Theo could understand Julius and the Plum Palace Lord, but the Black Dragon’s involvement baffled him.
It had been the same at the naming ceremony—this life, he had no real connection to the man.
‘Is it because I passed on that faulty intel from Black Snow?’
Word was, Black Snow was on high alert, investigating not just Black Skull’s pursuit but also the sudden emergence of that third faction.
It wouldn’t be strange if they felt some goodwill toward Theo, who’d essentially saved them from a major blunder.
‘And this person on the list doesn’t make sense either.’
But the recommender that puzzled Theo most was someone else entirely.
-Black Iron Knights Captain ‘Iron Puma’ Torquel Ragnar.
‘Torquel... I can’t read the man at all.’
Theo knew Torquel wanted him in the Black Iron Knights.
He’d even sent his vice-captain, Iyan Soso, to recruit him.
But at the naming ceremony, with so many big names around, Theo thought he’d backed off and given up.
Apparently not.
‘I should meet him if the chance comes up.’
Theo carefully folded the notice and tucked it inside his jacket.
‘The promotion exam is in five days. I need to peak my condition by then, no matter what.’
The promotion exam was held before three examiners: one from your own unit, one from Central Intelligence, and one from another unit.
You passed by breaking at least one examiner’s sword in sparring or gaining approval from at least two.
That’s what Hazel Copley had meant when she said she wanted to be recognized as the Plum Palace heir and told him to beat her.
‘After I turned down her apprenticeship, she glared at me like she wanted to kill me. Wonder if she’ll end up an examiner?’
Theo recalled Hazel’s glare as he left the Plum Palace and chuckled.
‘More importantly.’
He gathered his thoughts and glanced downward.
‘Shouldn’t we be arriving soon?’
Theo narrowed his eyes.
The reason he was out on this midnight stroll with Umbra.
To find Ghost Castle.
‘There.’
In an instant, Theo’s eyes gleamed coldly.
A coniferous forest that looked like ordinary woodland at a glance.
But he didn’t miss the faint ghostly energy drifting over it.
-To reach Ghost Castle, you must pass through this area around midnight.
-Midnight? Is there a reason for that?
-Ghost Castle’s exact location is hidden by a barrier for security reasons, making entry impossible. But there’s one time each day when you can get in.
-Which is midnight, right?
-Exactly. Midnight, when one day turns to the next, is when yin energy peaks. It’s also when the barrier’s magic weakens most. Aim for that moment.
When Theo had asked Evelyn for info on Ghost Castle, she’d dug up this secret and relayed it.
And now was around midnight.
‘Two minutes to midnight.’
Theo checked the pocket watch Cecilia had lent him, then gripped the reins tight.
“Umbra, let’s go.”
Keeeeek!
Umbra banked sharply and dove toward the ground.
Theo timed it perfectly, drawing closer to the barrier.
When the watch struck exactly midnight, something hazy and pale flickered over the coniferous forest before vanishing.
‘Now!’
Theo and Umbra plunged through the barrier in one go, landing on the ground.
Thud!
The air flowing through the forest shifted subtly.
Damp, humid.
Eerie.
Tssst...
Whiiiish!
The wind crashing into the massive conifers sounded like wailing ghosts.
The thick fog made it impossible to see even a step ahead.
‘My senses feel blocked somehow—I can’t perceive properly. But I’ve definitely found the place.’
Theo looked up at Umbra.
“Stay up in the sky for now, in case something happens. Signal me if it does.”
Umbra shook her head wildly.
Kek! Keeek!
“...No, it’s too dangerous down here—who knows what might pop out? You’d struggle to fight on the ground too. I’m not leaving you behind.”
Keeek!
No matter what Theo said, Umbra refused to listen.
It wasn’t just attachment; she seemed to think he might be in danger.
What to do?
As Theo scratched the back of his head in frustration,
Kyeeee!
Umbra spread her wings wide with a mighty roar, then her body suddenly began to collapse.
“...!?”
No—her form sank away, vanishing completely into Theo’s shadow.
Theo’s eyes widened at the sudden turn.
Umbra’s satisfied laughter echoed in his mind.
Kekekeke!
‘I’ve awakened my Shadow Dragon powers!’
Theo let out a hollow laugh.
Shadow Dragons originally nested in shadows.
Their shadow-manipulating abilities were exceptional, but without shadow poison this life, Theo had wondered if she could use them. Apparently not an issue.
Keeek!
His shadow rippled dramatically. Umbra crowed triumphantly.
She claimed she could help even more from here than from the sky.
“Yeah. You’re right. My thinking was shortsighted. Let’s go together.”
Keeek!
Umbra’s cry echoed through the forest again as
Shing—
Theo slowly drew Drake’s blade and stepped forward.
Now, to find Hilda.
* * *
Rustle, rustle—
Theo pressed on through the fog.
The dense mist made navigation tricky, but Umbra guided him, saying the destination was close.
Soon enough, he spotted an ancient castle faintly perched over a distant ridge.
Like a mirage in the desert.
Ghost Castle.
But to Theo, it looked different.
Fwoooosh—
The same blue glow he’d seen when detecting Ancient Dragon relics emanated from it.
‘It’s there, alright.’
Theo started to smile at finding the right path, then whipped his head around as a chill ran down his spine.
Ssssh—
Kyaaaa!
A ghostly wail spread eerily from the opposite woods, and something emerged.
‘A girl?’
Twelve years old?
No, maybe thirteen?
A young girl dragged a long sword along the ground as she approached.
Theo nearly loosed sword energy, thinking it a Ghost Clan monster, but held back.
The girl wasn’t looking at him.
Her hollow gaze stared at empty air, then she quietly dissolved into the wind.
“...What?”
He wondered if she’d hidden to ambush him from behind, but sensed nothing.
Instead, a similar sight appeared from another direction.
Fifteen, maybe?
A woman who looked like that girl grown up gritted her teeth, lost in training.
Swinging her sword, again and again.
Her eyes blazed with venomous fury.
Then she too dissolved into the wind.
‘What the hell?’
Another direction.
Now a woman around nineteen, locked in fierce combat with someone.
Slicing foes, slicing more.
She mercilessly decapitated even those surrendering, her face twisted with demonic killing intent.
She dissolved into the wind again.
‘More.’
From yet another direction, sequential visions of the woman at advancing ages appeared.
The aura grew fiercer, her strikes more brutal.
By middle age, emotion faded from her face.
Like she wore a mask.
No hesitation in slaughtering enemies.
Even when beheading a longtime retainer.
As if it were the most natural thing.
She reached old age, seated on a throne.
No one dared meet her eyes. They only bowed frantically.
The result of iron-fisted rule.
Then a palace fire erupted, sparking rebellion.
Alone on her throne, she faced the rebels.
As if daring them to come.
They hesitated until one mustered courage, then they all charged.
She burst into mad laughter, swinging her sword.
The castle crumbled amid flames.
The scene vaguely resembled the distant Ghost Castle.
‘These are visions of a life. Someone’s life that “never happened” in this world...’
Theo realized the illusions’ nature and resumed toward Ghost Castle.
New visions began.
The twelve-year-old girl reappeared.
But this time, holding a mirror, not a sword.
She screamed as if her reflection was impossible.
Then she jumped up, resolved.
Her daily life diverged sharply from before.
She began adorning herself lavishly.
She hadn’t fully abandoned the sword, but knew her beauty was a lethal weapon and wielded it as such.
Men and women, young and old—all floundered under her fatal charm.
Those who’d ruined or opposed her last life died mysteriously, iron walls rising around her.
She built a massive fortress.
An impregnable one.
But schemes and plots surrounded it, and it soon crumbled.
This time, betrayal by her followers.
Especially painful: the man she loved most.
Stab—
She looked up at her lover with a heartbroken face.
Why?
He replied sadly.
Too many died because of you.
Enraged, she snarled.
Then I’ll make them fear me more.
So terrified no one dares meet my eyes.
Ssssh—
The vision scattered.
The twelve-year-old reappeared.
No panic this time.
Calmly, familiarly, she rose and moved.
She gripped the sword she’d nearly abandoned last life.
And headed somewhere.
.
.
With each step Theo took, visions of the woman’s lives played out.
Each started with her opening her eyes as a twelve-year-old.
Then she tried something entirely new.
Worshipped as a genius, rising swiftly, commanding loyalty, executing betrayers early, dubbed a villainess, then claiming the throne.
All cowered before her iron rule. The nation seemed clutched in her fist.
But,
The end was always the same.
-Betrayal.
No matter the path, her life ended that way.
Miserably.
Or pathetically.
‘A life of endless wandering. Even with infinite regressions granting new chances and higher insights, she ends alone every time. Is this the life she lived?’
Theo felt deep pity for the woman trapped in this loop, yet a chill of madness from watching.
-Madness.
Yes. Madness.
Smashing ahead until it worked. Charging relentlessly, shattering foes even if she broke.
Knowing betrayal surrounded her, yet dominating with terror every time.
Seizing what she desired, no matter what.
The madness only a Ragnar could possess.
-If I kept ‘repeating’ regressions, would I end up like this?
Theo looked up with that thought.
He’d arrived at Ghost Castle.
Atop the half-ruined ramparts.
A woman sat, gazing down.
The same face as in the visions.
She smiled with madness.
“How were the visions on your way here? Enjoy the show?”
It was Hilda Ragnar.
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