Translator: FenrirTL
Editor: Doodle
=================
< Chapter 198: The Dragon Spirit Sword, Hrunti (3) >
The first impression Theo received upon seeing the Mad Dragon Emperor was straightforward.
- He feels like a different person.
The appearance he had only heard about was utterly different from what he saw now.
A madman. A butcher. A slaughterer. A monster obsessed with the sword. Someone who had forsaken their humanity. A man consumed by greed...
None of these descriptions he had heard in both his past and present lives remained visible in the face before him.
The issue was that it didn’t seem to be merely a façade.
At the core of the Mad Dragon Emperor, madness and dark energy still surged vividly.
Whiiiish! Whiiiish! Whiiiish!
[A new virus has emerged.]
[The administrator is attempting to enhance the firewall level…]
"I'm in the middle of talking to my grandson now. I won't cause a ruckus like Ashin, so could you step aside for a moment?"
The Mad Dragon Emperor smiled faintly while glancing toward the message.
As if responding to his words, the message became heavily distorted with static and then disappeared with a sudden cut-off.
Chiiiik!
‘Even the Mad Dragon Emperor can see this?’
Even Hilda hadn’t been able to see it.
Until now, the only one who had been aware of the messages and the system’s existence was Ashin, so Theo couldn’t help but be surprised.
“You seem surprised that I can see this.”
The Mad Dragon Emperor, reading Theo’s gaze, smiled faintly.
“Actually, I’m not properly ‘seeing’ it either. I can only sense it. ‘This’ is something that only those who have been specially chosen among the Chosen Ones can see. As for me, I’m merely detecting it by borrowing a portion of Deluded God’s power.”
Since the messages were composed of divine power from the Pantheon, was it possible for Outer Gods to sense them as well?
“Anyway, I’ve wanted to have a conversation with you for some time. I’m glad we finally have the chance to talk, even like this.”
‘As expected. It’s not deception. Then, this must be this man’s true self…’
Even when Theo scrutinized the Mad Dragon Emperor with [Spiritual Essence], he couldn’t find any hint of someone ‘forcibly’ acting out this demeanor.
When madness was exuded to such an extent, one's behavior and personality would inevitably become savage as well.
That was why Theo found the Mad Dragon Emperor to be so unfamiliar.
The people he had met so far who were associated with the Mad Dragon Emperor hadn’t been like this.
Ed, Granada, various Retainers of Troyban, and even Torkel.
They had all been sharp, as if possessed by something, hadn’t they?
“You are…”
“Are you wondering if I’m not the ‘real me,’ but rather just a fragment of thought left in the Sword Sphere?”
Once again, his thoughts were read.
“The remnants of thought that have inspired you so far were indeed another vestige of myself, tied to the sword I once wielded.”
The Mad Dragon Emperor smiled faintly as he held up both index fingers, aligning them parallel.
“But don’t you possess the madness you absorbed? Thanks to that, we’re able to connect like this.”
Tap.
As the two index fingers tilted, their tips touched lightly.
“That’s what allowed my current form to exist. The me you see now is essentially another will of my real self.”
Then, the Mad Dragon Emperor let out a bitter laugh.
“Of course, I understand that this meeting might make you uncomfortable. Up until now, I’ve essentially been forcing you into situations. Naturally, you’d harbor strong hostility toward me. Perhaps even now, you suspect this appearance of mine to be deceitful and remain wary of me.”
Theo silently waited for him to finish speaking.
“So, if meeting like this truly bothers you, feel free to leave quietly. But I do want to ask that you at least hear me out.”
“I’ll listen.”
There was no reason to delay.
“I wanted to meet you as well.”
Theo looked at the Mad Dragon Emperor with an inscrutable expression.
* * *
[The world is beginning to recover.]
[Base data from other stored locations is being loaded.]
Paaaaah…!
A brilliant wave of blue light swept over the desolate forest ruins.
The charred, lifeless ground was soon painted with vibrant green hues, and the shattered, glass-like sky transformed into a clear azure.
Even a warm spring breeze brushed by.
It felt as though the world had changed completely.
‘The Glass Realm.’
Theo realized this was the mental domain possessed by the Mad Dragon Emperor and let out a quiet sigh.
Typically, a swordsman’s Glass Realm focused on destructive force to enhance their strength.
Even the Lord of Plum Blossom Palace’s Glass Realm had resembled a garden in full bloom with plum blossoms, but hadn’t each of those fluttering petals been filled with aura, making them dangerous?
“Sit here.”
Before the Mad Dragon Emperor, a small table and two chairs had suddenly appeared.
There was even a steaming teapot and a dainty tea set featuring a cute bear character.
“…Was this really your hobby?”
For the former head of the House of Ragnar, it was quite a charming taste.
Embarrassed, the Mad Dragon Emperor cleared his throat awkwardly. His nose bridge turned red.
“ Ahem! It was your late grandmother’s preference, you see.”
“……”
“It’s true.”
“……”
“Well… I didn’t dislike it either, which is why I kept it around.”
“I’ll sit.”
Theo pulled out a chair across from the Mad Dragon Emperor and took a seat.
As he inspected the teapot, he noticed the Mad Dragon Emperor hadn’t sat down yet and was staring at him intently.
"Why are you staring at me like that?"
“You really aren’t…”
“…?”
“…like Kyle at all.”
Theo felt a bit strange.
- You look so much like Kyle in his youth.
This contradicted what the Lord of Plum Blossom Palace had once said.
Even Julius and the Black Dragon had made similar remarks, as far as Theo could remember.
It seemed the Mad Dragon Emperor thought differently.
“Unlike that stiff Kyle, you know how to smile, and you’re capable of joking around with ease. It’s as if you’re not quite like a typical Ragnar.”
Theo stared directly at the Mad Dragon Emperor.
“Ah, but of course, that’s not to say you’re unworthy of succeeding the Ragnar legacy.”
“I’m not misunderstanding. I dislike the original customs of Ragnar as much as anyone else.”
“Really?”
The Mad Dragon Emperor seemed unexpectedly delighted as he hurriedly took the seat across from Theo.
Clink.
Tea filled a cup adorned with the cute bear character, its warm steam carrying a rich and comforting aroma.
“Yes. I detest the customs that promote discrimination and view people as nothing more than tools. If I become the head of the family, the first thing I’ll do is change that atmosphere.”
“There’ll be significant resistance, won’t there?”
“In that case, I’ll just suppress it with Ragnar’s laws. That’s what they’re for, aren’t they?”
“Haha! You’re amusing. Reform, but don’t hesitate to use force when necessary? In this respect, you’re undoubtedly Ragnar.”
The Mad Dragon Emperor appeared pleased with Theo’s perspective.
He then picked up one of the snacks from the table and took a bite.
Crunch.
“That’s rather unfortunate.”
“What is?”
“Torkel. That boy had similar thoughts to yours. If you two had a chance to openly share your feelings instead of clashing as enemies, perhaps the tragic bloodshed could have been avoided.”
Theo pictured Torkel’s face.
That man, always haunted by something, compared to him?
“No. We still would’ve fought.”
“Hm? And why’s that?”
“There was only one seat we both desired.”
“……”
“Neither of us would have been willing to concede.”
The Mad Dragon Emperor silently stared at Theo for a while.
Even as Theo raised his teacup to his lips, he didn’t avert his gaze. He was curious about what kind of person the Mad Dragon Emperor truly was.
“…From earlier, I had a sense, but now I’m certain. You don’t resemble Kyle at all.”
“Oh?”
“You resemble me instead.”
Crunch.
The cookie in the Mad Dragon Emperor’s hand snapped once more.
"And perhaps Kyle knew that as well. That’s likely why he entrusted you with my sword."
This was a notion Theo hadn’t considered at all.
“To forge a blade as close to mine as possible and use it against me... Truly remarkable, even for my son.”
‘So even this person sees his son as nothing more than a tool, a cold-hearted pragmatist.’
Only then did Theo feel his thoughts begin to crystallize.
Clink.
He quietly set down his teacup and broke the silence.
“You said you wanted to see me. But before we continue, I must ask: why did you pledge yourself to the Sacred Demon Church?”
“It seems like you’ve already guessed.”
“You’re trying to reclaim the ability to regress, aren’t you?”
“That’s right. If I could return to my childhood—or to the moment I first ascended the throne—I’d set everything right. I’d ensure nothing like this ever happens again.”
The emotion in his voice was singular.
Regret.
“Don’t you feel the same way? All this fight, survival of the fittest, might make it right, conflict, infighting, and war… Don’t you want to overturn it all and create peace? If only…”
The Mad Dragon Emperor paused, staring into his teacup.
On its surface was the cheerful face of the bear character.
But his gaze was filled with sorrow.
At that moment, Theo instinctively understood what it was the Mad Dragon Emperor wished to set right.
- It was your late grandmother’s preference, you see.
‘So, the rumors that the mistress who tried to stop the Ragnar civil strife was assassinated were true?’
Recalling fragments of the past, Theo shook his head dispassionately.
“But the Nameless Sovereign is driving the world toward destruction. It doesn’t align with your reasoning at all.”
“If necessary, one must use what’s available. That too is Ragnar’s teaching.”
“...And so, are you dragging Ragnar into greater chaos?”
“All that matters is rewinding time. If I can do that, I can start over.”
Theo felt that the conversation with the Mad Dragon Emperor was going in circles, underpinned by a faint madness.
‘He’s saying that as long as he regains his ability, he doesn’t care what happens.’
“And if you start over but fail again?”
“Then I’ll start over once more.”
“And if you fail after that?”
“The blessing given to Chosen Ones allows them to [correct] things as many times as needed, until they achieve what they desire or set things right.”
“So I take it, in that world, my free will wouldn’t matter at all.”
"But surely, there’s a [changed] Ragnar you envision."
That was it.
Theo now understood why Torkel had followed the Mad Dragon Emperor.
For someone like Torkel, who hated the current Ragnar, the Mad Dragon Emperor must have seemed like a savior—someone intent on setting everything right.
Theo suspected the retainers of Troyban likely felt the same way.
The offshoots of the family, unable to become part of the main line.
If the Mad Dragon Emperor regained his powers, those offshoots would rise to become the main line themselves.
Both practically and historically.
To become the head of a vast family ruling the expansive North and East?
It was an alluring vision, one that anyone with ambition would dream of achieving.
Theo shook his head.
“Blindly trusting you until a better world arrives... I can’t understand that.”
This time, it was the Mad Dragon Emperor who tilted his head, curious.
“Hm? But wouldn’t that make things easier for you?”
“Even if I were reborn into the world you create, new problems would inevitably arise. There would still be parts that need fixing. That’s why I refuse to entrust my life to anyone else.”
Scrrrape.
Theo slowly rose from his seat.
“And frankly, I’m not even sure the world you create would be the right one.”
“…You’re saying the same thing Kyle did.”
The Mad Dragon Emperor ran a hand down his face, looking weary, his expression tinged with bitterness.
“Maybe you’re right. You, a Chosen One, only think of moving forward, while I only think of rewinding. From the beginning, we’ve been aiming in opposite directions. Convincing each other might have been impossible all along.”
With that, any attempts at persuasion between them fell apart.
Theo reached for the Dragon Spirit Sword and Dragon Slayer Sword, which were still embedded in the ground nearby.
He wasn’t sure when the Mad Dragon Emperor’s madness might turn into a blade aimed at his throat.
“You don’t need to worry. A grandson might hurt his grandfather, but how could a grandfather ever harm his grandson?”
What?
The completely unexpected words made Theo’s eyes widen.
Rumble!
Suddenly, the space behind the Mad Dragon Emperor split open, revealing a passage leading outside.
It seemed to affirm that his words weren’t lies.
[A ‘Gate’ has appeared.]
“Go on, through there. Your father is waiting for you. Be sure to deliver this old man’s regards to him as well.”