Chapter 82
Chapter 82
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: Hilda Ragnar (2)
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[All functions of ‘Dragon Slayer Sword: Balmung’ have been suspended. It returns to its sealed state.]
The cold night breeze seemed to snap Theo back to his senses.
‘As expected, getting my hands on Balmung was the right call. It’ll be a huge help in claiming the throne going forward.’
Theo was determined to unravel the mystery surrounding Balmung, no matter what it took.
In some ways, it might prove even more useful than an ancient dragon relic.
‘And thanks to it, I snagged this too.’
Theo grinned as he inspected the wooden box clutched in his left hand.
+
[Garuda's Heart]
· Type: Elixir, Material
· Effects
- Greatly increased fire resistance
- 150% ability enhancement during Anti-Dragon Battle
- Magic power attribute specialization
- Greatly increased attack speed and agility upon activation of status abnormality ‘Berserk’
- Can acquire special perk ‘Seed of Resurrection’
+
He’d managed to steal it amid the chaos when the black dragon appeared and threw Hilda’s mind into disarray.
Hilda would be furious once she found out, no doubt.
But so what?
Their relationship was already beyond repair.
‘Plus, the black dragon showing up means Father will learn of this soon enough. With scrutiny incoming, even Lady Hilda won’t be able to act recklessly for a while, no matter how headstrong she is.’
Theo knew exactly what Garuda's Heart could do, and that made him grin even wider.
‘This’ll be the ultimate cheat key for unlocking Balmung’s secrets.’
The moment he stowed both items in his inventory.
Keeeek!
Umbra unleashed a long, piercing screech.
As if issuing a warning.
‘Of course, that’s only after we’re fully out of here.’
Theo narrowed his eyes and channeled aura into them.
Atop a nearby mountain peak stood the Back Dragon.
「Coming straight out after landing a hit on Lady Hilda? You never fail to surprise me.」
Theo tensed, resting his hand on the Moonwhite Sword.
He’d burned through most of his mana escaping the Three Strikes Abyss, but he couldn’t afford to look weak.
Yet,
Clank!
The Back Dragon sheathed his drawn sword instead.
“……?”
What was he up to?
Theo’s eyes widened in confusion.
The Back Dragon chuckled.
「No need to be so on guard. I’ve got no plans to harm you.」
“……!”
「I may serve Lady Hilda, but a true loyalist knows when to counsel against a lord’s poor choices, wouldn’t you say?」
The Back Dragon’s smile deepened.
「Push too hard on a young man with your kind of iron will, and he might bend at first—but he’ll always turn in the end. I opposed this crackdown from the start. Lady Hilda simply wouldn’t hear it. And above all…… you’re the dear friend of my one and only disciple. I couldn’t harm you.」
Theo’s lips parted slightly.
「You sure that’s wise?」
「Hm?」
「Letting me go like this—Lady Hilda won’t take it lying down.」
「Ah, the fallout. Don’t worry about that. She turns demonic when her temper flares, but she’s not petty. Otherwise, would she have let you walk off with ‘that’?」
「……!」
「Still, give it some serious thought when you’re alone.」
The Back Dragon’s upward gaze deepened.
It held the profound wisdom of a sage.
「No denying the current family head brought Ragnar to its golden age. But at his core, he’s a tyrant. One misstep, and he could drag the whole house into ruin.」
「……」
「Forcing his own children into cutthroat rivalry with iron-fisted rule…… That’s what troubles me. Which is why I’m trying to check him through Lady Hilda.」
「Lady Hilda doesn’t strike me as the perfect solution either.」
「Right you are. But you’ve got time on your side—and regression. You’ll come out on top in the end, so use her. Just as she plans to use you.」
Advice to exploit his own lady.
Any ordinary retainer would call it treason.
Yet that very boldness convinced Theo of the Back Dragon’s sincerity.
「The family head may favor you now and leave you be, but who knows when he’ll strike? A little insurance wouldn’t hurt. And at Lady Hilda’s stature, she’d make fine backing for your ambitions, no? Wel and I can serve as your arms and legs.」
The Back Dragon winked.
Theo nodded gravely.
「Got it. I’ll mull it over, since you put it that way.」
「Appreciate you saying as much. Oh, and don’t hold this against Lady Hilda too harshly.」
Theo soared higher into the night sky, leaving the Back Dragon’s words behind.
-Use Lady Hilda.
The phrase spun endlessly in his mind.
Along with the awe-inspiring presence she’d displayed.
Ding-
[Congratulations! You’ve successfully completed Scenario Quest #1 by fully escaping others’ temptations and threats.]
[Evaluation: A+]
[Reward: 2 coins obtained.]
[Additional reward based on evaluation: Substantial extra experience gained.]
[Level up.]
[Level up.]
.
.
* * *
At dawn, as clouds veiled the moon.
A breeze infiltrating the White Dragon Knights’ underground prison took on human form.
‘Definitely around here.’
First-rate assassin No. 4’s eyes glinted coldly as he drew a dagger from his bosom.
His mission: assassinate the prisoner held here.
The White Dragon Knights’ headquarters would make for high difficulty in infiltration or escape, but he felt no concern.
He had the full plan mapped out in his head.
Guard patrol routes, shift changes, surveillance angles, prison layout, prisoner positions—all of it.
Information no one could know without direct word from Ragnar, naturally.
‘Cases like this really show what a powder keg Ragnar is.’
No. 4 sneered, having pulled similar jobs before.
Click-
He reached the target cell and unlocked the heavy iron bars with his prepared key.
Inside sat four prisoners, faces blank and listless.
“You……?”
“Sydra Evoil, correct?”
Sydra lifted his head at the presence, then cracked a wry smile.
He’d pieced it together in an instant.
“From the Chief, I take it.”
“Looks like Sydra Evoil. Don’t hold it against me—I’m just following orders.”
No. 4 drew his dagger.
Shing-
“Your family’s safety and the payout are assured…… That’s the message.」
“That’s a relief.”
Sydra squeezed his eyes shut and pressed his back to the wall.
Ready for death at any moment.
He’d seen this coming—Ed moving to silence him.
“Wait—just a second! I don’t wanna die yet! Need money? I’ll pay any amount……!”
One of the prisoners then clutched at No. 4’s pant leg.
His resolve must have crumbled during captivity.
No. 4 drove the dagger downward with emotionless precision.
As the blade neared the prisoner’s nape, a new wind stirred.
Subtle.
Lethal.
Clang!
The dagger clashed with something and rebounded.
‘How……!’
Even No. 4’s senses had been fooled by the sword’s blinding speed; he straightened rigidly.
Swish-swish-swish-
Four razor-sharp gusts assailed him in a blink.
“Hah!”
No. 4 parried them all with his dagger, flipping backward.
He activated stealth to vanish once more, but
“Going somewhere?”
Evelyn had already closed in tight.
An assassin’s terror lay solely in their elusive presence.
Detect them once, and the tables turned entirely.
Especially since
Her method of tracking No. 4 went beyond mere instinct.
The flow of the wind.
By tracing the currents around him, she could foresee his moves—position, direction, attack style, habits, intent—all ‘predicted.’
‘Right-side ceiling.’
Evelyn whipped her sword through the air in that exact spot.
Sword aura crackled from the tip like lightning, carving deep into No. 4’s torso.
Slash!
“Gah!”
His dagger hand severed, blood spraying as it flew,
Paht-
Evelyn seized his collar and smashed him face-first into the stone floor.
She reversed her grip and plunged into his Aura Hall.
Pfft!
To thwart suicide.
Her blade was laced with paralyzing venom besides.
‘She prepared this far……!’
No. 4 convulsed like a man in the throes of seizure before going limp.
Evelyn tore away the collar at his nape with cool detachment.
A tattoo emerged beneath.
“Exactly as Theo said.”
A snake devouring the moon.
The sigil of the assassin guild [Season of the Snake].
Yet it was best known here as an affiliate of the eastern noble house <Troyvan>.
‘Finally, a lead.’
Evelyn’s eyes flashed with icy resolve.
* * *
The Erika siblings stood before Camellia Palace.
They’d normally just stroll in, but Holkus had frozen, refusing to budge.
“What now? Gonna loiter out here eternally?”
“But—but……!”
“But what?”
“Look at that! How am I supposed to walk in with this stomachache!? Theo Ragnar, you lucky bastard……!!”
Holkus jabbed a quivering finger at the palace’s main gate.
Erika huffed a disbelieving laugh, unsure how to process it.
Camellia Palace’s entrance teemed with people.
All women.
Every one a stunning beauty who turned heads.
Holkus gnawed his sleeve, tears streaming.
“It’s obvious! Theo’s using his looks and rep to reel in girls—has to be!”
“……Come on, does that even sound like him?”
“W-well, no, but!”
“And if he were, he’d parade them in line like that? Be real.”
“Then explain that!”
“Business, probably. They look like actresses or stylists.”
“Urk! Can’t forgive it anyway, Theo Ragnar! Ditching me for his paradise!”
Erika eyed her brother’s solo meltdown with pity, shaking her head.
“Fine. Suit yourself. I’m heading in.”
She turned and strode toward Camellia Palace, still shaking her head.
“Wait—hold up! Together! Sis!”
Holkus bolted after Erika.
* * *
Theo received the Erika siblings, looking faintly worn.
“What happened to your face? Pulled an all-nighter training?”
“Bet it’s from messing around with girls……!”
Whack!
“Enough already. Aren’t you sick of it?”
Erika cracked Holkus on the head in irritation, then scanned Theo with concern.
Theo offered a wry smile and waved it off.
“Busy as hell yesterday. And those folks outside? All guests for Mother’s new venture—no need to jump to conclusions.”
He pictured Cecilia, gearing up to launch her business with Kirson funding, and smiled bitterly.
‘Stuck trying on outfits nonstop for a while again…….’
Exhaustion loomed already.
“Anyway, what brings you? Isn’t today your mission reward day off?”
“It was. Till someone blew it all to hell.”
“……?”
Theo cocked his head, puzzled.
Erika thrust the papers in her hand at him.
“Take it.”
“What’s this?”
“Fresh mission orders. Top-secret clearance—Captain said deliver it sneaky-like.”
“Who?”
“The Captain.”
Theo snatched the papers and scanned them fast.
“Said it’s your mess, so you clean it up?”
His eyes sharpened as he read.
‘Knew it.’
01:51 AM today: Squad 5 Leader Evelyn Nereville captured an assassin infiltrating the underground prison. Confirmed affiliation with [Season of the Snake].
Season of the Snake operates under the eastern powerhouse <Troyvan>, with deep eastern ties; Troyvan also serves as the main house of Central Intelligence Chief ‘Anti-Dragon.’ High likelihood of internal spy involvement in this incident.
Upper command deems it too complex for snap judgment.
Resolved to raid Season of the Snake swiftly, preempting any Troyvan response.
Per Squad 5 Leader’s report, mission proposed by Squad 5 member Theo Ragnar—thus assigned to him.
However, with Theo Ragnar’s promotion exam in four days, it is canceled; this mission substitutes.
Commence immediately upon receipt. End.
-White Dragon Knights Captain Julius Ragnar