Chapter 86
Chapter 86
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: Tail Chase (1)
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[A new enemy has appeared.]
[The difficulty of this quest has been raised from A+ to S+.]
‘What? S+ difficulty……?’
Considering the final tutorial quest had been S-rank, this was an absurdly high difficulty.
It meant the being was that dangerous.
『Answer me. What are you?』
His head rang like a bell.
An overwhelming sense of submission.
Only then did Theo realize.
This thing was the “god” worshiped by the Sacred Demon Cult.
The mastermind behind the Great War was right before his eyes!
‘Blood Light Harmony…… So possession wasn’t just a myth. If they’re forcibly opening the mind gate with demonic power to accept divine power, that explains their stamina and mana.’
『A familiar presence…… Hmm, I see. Ragnar, was it? A false successor dares rummage through the mind of my faithful and spy on me.』
The evil god, forged from terror and grudges, scrutinized Theo’s every detail and uncovered his identity.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Theo’s heart pounded wildly.
Uncovering the Blood Priest’s secret had been an unexpected gain, but he needed to escape now.
But how?
Where to?
It wasn’t like when he’d broken free from Hilda’s demonic beast.
Back then, he’d had the Dragon Slayer Sword and the Black Dragon nearby, but not now.
At the same time, Theo felt something “familiar” from the evil god.
‘Like what I saw in the Demon Sea……!’
『A Ragnar blessed to receive me like this. As recompense, I shall grant you the grace to become my devoted servant.』
Something approached from it toward him.
A massive hand.
As it lunged to crush Theo, his heart raced even faster.
Thump! Thump! Thump……!
Just as he fought down the terror squeezing his heart and reached for the Moonwhite Sword—
Whiiirrr!
His head suddenly burned hot, as if it might melt.
White-hot heat.
In that instant, the mind gate flared wide open.
Just like the Blood Priest’s during possession.
Flash!
『It’s not quite time yet, but given the circumstances, no choice.』
Theo sensed something enormous manifesting behind him.
A familiar voice.
He whipped around.
A colossal dragon with a gaping maw had appeared.
A dragon with an empty cavity in its left chest.
‘Lodbrok!’
『My companion. ‘That thing’ is not for you to face yet. Even after you ascend to Sigurd’s position, it would be a close call. It is the one that calls■■.』
Flames gathered at Lodbrok’s mouth.
The blazing heat was scorching, like it cradled the sun itself.
『So go back. Grow stronger, then call me.』
And then the sun poured forth.
Theo’s mind snapped free.
* * *
Theo’s body jolted back, forcing him several steps away from the Blood Priest.
“How did you……!”
The Blood Priest staring at him wore a whirlwind of emotions.
Shock, astonishment, disbelief, longing, regret.
Even he, who had devoted his life to the god, had only vaguely sensed its presence.
He couldn’t believe a mere heretic had heard its voice directly.
Yet part of him yearned to behold the god longer.
Just a bit more.
Just a little longer, and he could face the divine essence itself……!
Slash—
But the Blood Priest’s thoughts didn’t last.
In that gap, Theo had drawn the Moonwhite Sword and lopped off his head.
A measure to avoid getting sucked back into the unconscious realm.
‘The evil god worshiped by the Sacred Demon Cult…… It was the [Nameless Lord] Lodbrok mentioned.’
Lodbrok’s words from the nest flashed through Theo’s mind.
-Why are you here?
-Because of the [Nameless Lord].
-The Nameless Lord……?
-A “monster” at the world’s edge, beyond the Demon Sea, at the farthest fringe. For the past millennium, I’ve remained here with the mission to guard the world from it. The Winter Mountains are merely an outpost for that purpose.
The existence that had bound Lodbrok to the Winter Mountains for a thousand years.
Its name was new to Theo, but the vivid image lingered in his mind.
And now, he had confronted part of that being.
Lodbrok’s sudden intervention confirmed it was nothing else.
The Demon Sea aura emanating from it was further proof it was the [Nameless Lord].
Another realization hit him.
‘Lodbrok said it wouldn’t last another 2 or 3 years. The Great War erupts in 5 years.’
If the [Nameless Lord] was behind the Great War that engulfed the continent in flames, then its full activity would begin after Lodbrok’s death.
‘Is this really a coincidence?’
No way.
Theo didn’t believe in coincidences.
‘Ed and Troyvan’s plot, the Sacred Demon Cult’s rampage, the outbreak of the Great War…… All these major events I thought separate are actually connected!’
He vaguely understood why scenario quests existed.
The Ragnar duty was to stop the [Nameless Lord], so it made sense for the relic imprinted with this bloodline factor to awaken in kind.
‘Let’s keep following the quests. That’ll confirm it.’
Fortunately, the quest’s goal aligned with his own.
[Your level has increased.]
As Theo gathered his thoughts, he turned back.
Flash—
In that instant, something gleamed from the darkness.
The assassin’s dagger, poised to strike him all this time.
But it never reached Theo.
A shadow surged upward, and Umbra emerged, swallowing the assassin whole.
Crunch, crunch!
A death without even a final scream.
“Good job.”
Kreeek!
Umbra cried happily at Theo’s praise.
* * *
“This is……!”
Kleve and Hazel rushed underground, only to freeze in shock.
The traces of fierce battle everywhere were too overwhelming.
Theo sat exhausted against one wall of the corridor.
Holding something in his hand.
“You’re here.”
“The Blood Priest…… caught?”
What shocked the two most was the Blood Priest’s severed head at Theo’s feet.
They’d come rushing after hearing two Blood Priests appeared upstairs, hoping to suppress them quickly just in case.
To think he’d not only fought but killed one already.
“Yeah. Somehow.”
“Hah…… I’m not sure if taking down a Blood Priest qualifies as ‘somehow.’”
Kleve shook his head with a smile tugging at his lips.
“If you’ve slain a Blood Priest solo, that proves your combat swordsman credentials. What’s Camellia Palace’s take?”
“……I agree with Black Snow’s assessment.”
Hazel could only nod blankly.
She’d merely tied with the Blood Priest she faced, needing Evelyn’s help.
“The White Dragon Knights have already acknowledged you…… Unanimous from all three examiners. Congratulations. You’re a combat swordsman from now on. Fastest promotion in history.”
“Thank you.”
Theo nodded calmly.
He was pleased, but not overcome with emotion.
Was it because of the ordeal he’d just endured?
Even he couldn’t explain his feelings.
It just felt like finishing what needed doing.
But that demeanor intrigued Kleve all the more.
‘At that age, most would boast about their feats, but he’s composed. Never loses his cool. A perfect match for Black Snow, as expected.’
Theo asked,
“What about upstairs?”
“Suppressed. Evelyn’s handling cleanup. Plenty to report on the way back.”
Kleve’s gaze darkened.
The Sacred Demon Cult’s ties to Troyvan were unknown even to Black Snow.
Once reported, the anti-Troyvan strategy would need a major overhaul.
“By the way, what’s in your hand?”
“Oh, I found the vault. Pulled out some interesting stuff.”
He’d even cracked the vault?
How fast had he taken down the Blood Priest?
Kleve let out a wry chuckle as he took the documents Theo offered.
One was about the Sacred Demon Cult.
The Serpent’s Season seemed to be a front group the cult created to hide from the world’s eyes.
This could link Troyvan and the cult.
And the other.
One of Kleve’s eyebrows twitched upward.
A completely unexpected name.
“Ceres Merchant Group?”
Ceres had been the hostages sparking this mission—and the link tying Ed Troyvan to the Troyvan family.
Its appearance meant……
Sure enough, Kleve’s expression grew icier with each line.
“So the Central Intelligence Chief’s tail leads here.”
The document was a commission from Ceres to Serpent’s Season.
But the tone was more like an order.
Someone had used Ceres’s name to command Serpent’s Season.
“We need to raid Ceres headquarters immediately.”
Kleve turned to Theo at his proposal.
“Just us?”
“They’re tied to the Central Intelligence Chief. Ceres handles a lot of info too. Waiting for reinforcements means they’ll read our moves.”
“Still, it’s reckless. Not a vassal house, but Ceres’s forces aren’t to be dismissed.”
“Even so, I think it’s necessary.”
Kleve stared at Theo.
Theo met his eyes silently.
A brief silence passed.
Pfft!
Kleve finally laughed.
One could call it youthful hot-bloodedness, but Theo’s gaze was cooler than ever.
A conclusion reached after deliberation.
“A trainee’s opinion during a mission? Worth considering from a combat swordsman. Hazel Koppel, your thoughts?”
“I strongly agree with Combat Swordsman Theo Ragnar. If true, Ceres was plotting rebellion.”
Plotting rebellion.
Something no great house could overlook.
Especially since Ceres had long been a vassal backed by Ragnar.
Betraying that grace warranted punishment.
‘Fair enough. The Palace Lord favors Theo Ragnar for good reason. He’s seeing this situation clearest.’
Hazel had decided to acknowledge Theo.
Skill, judgment—nothing to nitpick.
Theo added,
“And doesn’t Black Snow have some ‘insurance’ in place?”
“……How’d you know?”
“You don’t handle stray dogs without a leash.”
“You…… Haha! Always full of surprises. Fine. Both combat swordsmen make a compelling case. Extending this mission—we launch the next op.”
Kleve folded the documents into his inner pocket and said to Theo,
“By the way, Ceres—the ones you saved just days ago. Now you’re sending them to their deaths. You’ve got a wicked sense of humor.”
Theo smiled.
A predator’s grin before the prey.
“If they’re in the way of the hunt, they get removed.”
“Fair point.”
Kleve chuckled back and turned.
And that day.
An inn in the provincial city of Kalhelm vanished in a fire of unknown origin.