Chapter 42
Chapter 42
Translator: Penny
Chapter 42
"Are you a warrior?"
Overwhelmed by Agron's terrifying presence, Theo unconsciously answered in formal language.
"I-I'm a mage..."
"Good. A great mage is essentially a warrior. I'll confirm that for you."
Shit, what does that even mean?
As Theo stood awkwardly, Agron lunged forward, seizing his forearm.
It felt like his arm was trapped by the gnarled, unyielding trunk of an ancient tree, leaving him utterly immobile.
"W-wait a minute—!"
The moment Theo cried out, Agron's hands clamped down on his biceps and forearms, twisting with brutal force. The sickening sound of tearing muscles echoed through the air.
"Aaaah!"
"Keep going, Theo! A Lord must endure!"
"Gurgle..."
But Theo couldn't even last two seconds. Foam bubbled at his lips as he collapsed unconscious on the spot.
Agron clicked his tongue.
"At this rate, he's not fit to be a Lord."
"You're right, Master. He's not even fit to be a warrior."
"Are all mages this weak?"
"I doubt he's even a mage."
Elena removed the ring from Theo's finger and handed it to Agron.
"He used this to summon the power of Spirits and pretend to be a mage. But Magic Artifacts that summon Spirits are incredibly expensive and rare—something a provincial Baron like him could never obtain."
"Hmm, we need to find out exactly where he got this."
Agron grabbed Theo by the scruff of his neck and dragged him out of the Inner Castle.
When they descended, they found his men had already subdued all of Theo's soldiers, binding them tightly.
"Are you unharmed, Count?"
"Hmm, good work, Jacob."
"Is the man you've captured Ludicain's son... the Lord here?" Baek Woon asked Agron, who was dragging a man along like a ragdoll.
"Yes, Elder. His name is Theo."
"Wait, I sense a strange magical energy..."
"I heard he used the power of Spirits. We should investigate further once we're inside the mansion."
"Oh, Spirits!" Baek Woon's eyes lit up with scholarly curiosity as he nodded. New knowledge was always a delight.
"The Lord has been captured..."
"What should we do?"
"Wait, if he was captured so easily, does that mean the newcomer is stronger?"
"Stronger than the Baron?"
The people were at a loss, clearly not expecting Agron to defeat Theo.
Theo was a formidable figure, capable of executing villagers with terrifying magic or slaying Demonic Beasts in the surrounding lands.
Sensing the situation, Jacob shouted to the crowd, "Rest assured! The ruler of Veilain has come to punish this wicked sorcerer! Theo will never set foot on this land again!"
"Is... is that true?"
"Will the Baron finally stop tormenting us?"
"Thank you, thank you..."
Terrified by Theo's commands, the Inner Castle guards who had attacked Agron's group laid down their weapons and prostrated themselves before them.
Agron, observing the scene, instructed Jacob and Wolf to remain behind temporarily.
"I'll send the Majordomo and Secretary here soon to stabilize the situation. Stay with the knights to quell any further unrest."
"Understood."
"As you wish."
After examining Theo's ring for a long time, Baek Woon stroked his long beard and feigned surprise.
"This is an extraordinary artifact. It couldn't possibly have been crafted by human hands."
"Then who made it?"
"Most likely a fairy who is close to the Spirits. Or perhaps the dwarves of Fire Mountain."
"Pfft."
Lawrence, who had been listening to Baek Woon's explanation, burst into a derisive laugh.
"Why are you laughing, Your Highness?"
"No, I'm sorry. But Daoist, the dwarves of Fire Mountain? Who still believes in such things these days?"
Lawrence waved his hand dismissively, chuckling. He thought Baek Woon had made a rather amusing joke.
"Of course, even I, as a Daoist, have never seen them myself, but the dwarves of Fire Mountain do exist."
"Puhahaha, enough with the jokes, Daoist. This reminds me of when my nanny used to say, 'If you don't eat your rice, the dwarves of Fire Mountain will snatch you away, Your Highness.'"
"They really do exist..."
"Enough already. Next you'll be telling me the Forest Folk in the garden are real too."
"Hmm, Lawrence. Both dwarves and Forest Folk exist."
Agron interjected into their conversation.
"What?! Hey, Agron, why are you going along with this? Those are just fictional creatures from fairy tales!"
"I've seen them with my own eyes."
"You've seen them...? Elena, tell your Master to stop this nonsense. Those are childish lies only toddlers believe. Does he think I'm still three years old?"
"I've seen them too, you little brat."
"What?!"
Lawrence frowned at Elena's nonchalant tone.
"Wait, you actually saw them?! Or are you just saying that to side with Agron?"
"If Vampir exist, why can't dwarves or Forest Folk?"
"That's... different!" Lawrence snapped.
He glanced at Baek Woon, Agron, Elena, and Jacob, then chuckled, convinced they were mocking him. "Hah! Next you'll be telling me the Giants of the Stone Tombs and the Merfolk of the Sea Flower are real too. How amusing."
"Giants and merfolk do exist."
"Don't lie, you brat!"
"Hmm, you have a very narrow view of the world."
"Master, you don't need to listen to such a whelp. Who hasn't seen giants and merfolk in this world?"
"Ugh! This is driving me crazy!"
Lawrence leaped to his feet, raking his fingers through his hair in frustration.
The dwarves, Forest Folk, giants, and merfolk they were talking about were creatures from fairy tales and myths. He had never met anyone who claimed to have actually seen such beings in real life.
"Lawrence, a true king must abandon preconceived notions and view the world with a broader perspective."
"Oh, really? Fine! From now on, I'll believe in unicorns too! And Krakens! I'll believe in everything!"
"What nonsense is this? Such creatures don't exist..." Agron frowned in response.
"What, what, you bastard?!"
"Still, maintain a sense of moderation. Don't get lost in fantasy. A king must remain grounded in reality."
"Indeed, Master. After living as a Vampir for over several centuries, this is the first time I've heard such foolish talk about believing in Unicorns."
Are these crazy lovebirds for real?!
Lawrence vowed that when he became king, he would bring those two lovebirds to fan him from behind his throne.
"By the way, do you know how to summon the Spirits here?"
"I have no idea, Elder. They just appeared when I reached out my hand."
"I tried that, but it didn't work. Do I need to channel magical energy into it?"
Baek Woon channeled magical energy into the ring. The energy within the ring writhed and struggled fiercely.
"Oh, it seems to be powered by magical energy. But it doesn't seem capable of unleashing lightning like Theo."
"Why is that?"
"Well, Spirits only lend their power to those they've contracted with."
"Then, can we summon the Spirit?"
"Hmm, that might be difficult. Spirits are notoriously fickle and act on their own whims."
As if to mock his words, the energy within the ring pulsed with mocking laughter.
"Ah, I see."
Agron nodded, then twisted the ring on his finger as if he were about to crush it the moment Baek Woon returned it.
"W-what are you doing?!"
"If we can't use it anyway, wouldn't it be better to destroy it?"
"N-no! But this precious thing...!"
"It's fine. I'll buy you a similar one later."
In Baek Woon's anxious moment, a piercing shriek erupted from the ring—Kweeek!—and a brilliant yellow lightning bolt shot outward.
All eyes turned to the suddenly appearing entity.
Zzz, zzz! How dare you humans try to destroy Lord Raioner's dwelling?! Where did Theo go, and why is a barbarian like you here?!
The fist-sized lightning bolt crackled with electricity, glaring at Agron.
"A, a, a, a Spirit..." Lawrence stammered, pointing at Raioner with his mouth agape.
How often did humans actually see Spirits? Even a king might live his entire life without ever witnessing such a sight.
"Heh heh... I never thought I'd actually see a Spirit in person."
Baek Woon felt the same way.
Spirits were notoriously elusive, rarely revealing themselves due to their finicky temperaments and capricious natures. Historical records of encounters with Spirits invariably described the painstaking efforts required to appease their every whim before any conversation could even begin.
They were truly beings difficult to meet.
"Are you the Spirit residing in this ring?"
Raioner's eyes widened at Agron's typically nonchalant tone.
Zzzzt! Did he just call me 'you'?!
Raioner unleashed a blinding bolt of lightning at Agron.
Pzzzzzt!
A normal person struck by this much electricity would have been hurled against the wall, their entire body charred black.
Zzz... Huh...?
But Agron remained completely unharmed, not even a feather singed.
He reached out and gripped Raioner's torso.
Uwaaaah! How can a human grab me with his bare hands?!
"Are you a warrior?"
Zzz... I-I'm a Spirit...
"I'll confirm whether you're a Spirit Warrior."
No, there's no such th— Gwaaang!
As Agron twisted Raioner's body, the Spirit screamed as if it were about to vanish.
"Ah, Agron! You'll kill the Spirit!"
"Huh? Surely not. Warriors don't die easily."
"What the fuck are you talking about?! That thing isn't a warrior!"
"I'll make you a warrior soon, Raioner! Are you a warrior?!"
Gyaaa! I, I'm a warri— Gwaaaang!
Agron squeezed the Lightning Spirit like a wet rag, forcibly transforming it into a warrior.
Only after a lengthy period of "spiritual education" was Raioner finally released from Agron's grasp.
Its once arrogant posture and gaze had been replaced by a humble and dejected demeanor.
"Did you contract with someone named Theo?"
Zzzzt, yes, that's correct... He promised to supply high-quality mana monthly if I would just agree to the contract...
"Did he supply the mana himself?"
Ah, no... Robed figures came and delivered the mana.
"Who are they?"
"Zzz... I'm not sure either. All I know is that my contractor treated them with extreme deference."
Theo would have to be questioned directly about their identities as soon as he woke up.
Whoever they were, the fact that Theo treated them with such respect meant they couldn't be mere criminals.
"I see. Understood. Will you remain contracted to Theo?"
Raioner hesitated under Agron's chilling gaze.
What exactly happened to Theo? How could this ignorant barbarian hold his life in his hands?
Moreover, this man had captured his physical form—a Lightning Spirit made of pure magical energy—with his bare hands!
Perhaps... do you know where Theo went?
It wasn't that Theo was particularly favored, nor was it out of concern for their friendship.
The creature before him was simply too terrifying, while Theo had always groveled before him, calling him "Lord Spirit." That was why he sought Theo out.
"He's in the dungeon right now."
When... will he be released?
Agron stared intently at Raioner before speaking.
"He'll be released within the week."
Zzz, I see... Then, out of respect for the contractor, I should end my contract with Theo—
"By severing his head and displaying it on the city gate."
—and take on a new contractor, right? I want to serve you!
"Hmm, good. I accept your contract."
Agron replied with a sinister grin.
📝 Translator’s Note:
You may notice that certain lines or phrases in this novel appear both in their original Korean (or Hanja) form and in English translation.
This is intentional — these phrases are classical idioms, divine titles, or poetic expressions that carry layered meanings.
To preserve their original tone and authenticity, the raw text has been kept for reference, while the English interpretation is provided right before or after it. This helps convey both the literal and cultural nuance of the original work.
but if you guys dont want tha raw for future chapters or my future other novels u can just text me on discord and say so discord name Mr.Penny