Translator: FenrirTL
Editor: Doodle
=================
< Chapter 200: Dragon Spirit’s Cursed Blade, Hrunting (5) >
"Disciple? You're openly declaring you're going to steal someone else's son."
Unlike Kyle, who laughed openly, the expressions of the other three stiffened.
It was as if they regarded Theo as half one of their own.
The Mad Dragon Emperor was also blatantly showing how highly he thought of Theo.
Thinking of his madness, it was easy to imagine just how obsessive he might become.
‘That’s what I was aiming for in the first place, though.’
‘The East is bound to become a battleground now.’
‘I’ll have to stay even more vigilant about the movements of those Sacred Demon Church bastards.’
"I understand. You must have a lot to sort out, so go ahead and rest."
Theo bowed his head and left his seat.
* * *
Wooong! Woooong!
The Dragon Spirit’s Cursed Blade, Hrunting, hanging on Theo’s right hip, trembled lightly.
As if it was so overjoyed by its newfound freedom that it might die from the excitement.
Ziiiing—
Viiing! Viiing!
The twin swords, Dragon Slayer Sword, Balmung, responded to this with intense vibrations, and the other relics welcomed Hrunting’s addition with their own resonance.
‘But the power of the Dragon Spirit’s Blade is still too weak. It feels like a penalty caused by the seal being forcibly broken and the guardian’s death.’
For now, Hrunting didn’t show any visible issues out of excitement, but…
If left alone, the blade might slowly waste away and eventually break.
‘What should I do?’
At that moment—
[You have received a quest.]
‘A quest?’
---
[Sub Quest]
The Dragon Spirit’s Cursed Blade, Hrunting has undergone purification but remains unstable. Seek out a master blacksmith to attempt its restoration.
- Difficulty: A+
- Reward: Hrunting Awakening
- Failure Consequence: Death
---
A master blacksmith?
Theo did have someone in mind.
Majang Kirsion.
She had always shown deep interest in relics from the Primordial Dragon, after all.
Surely, she would handle the Dragon Spirit’s Blade well.
‘The problem is, I have no idea what she might demand in return.’
He had already taken advantage of their familial relationship (?) too much, to the point where she was grinding her teeth in frustration.
‘I’ll have to discuss it with Mother.’
Thinking of Kirsion’s only weakness, Theo couldn’t help but chuckle softly to himself.
It was then—
Zap!
“Ugh.”
A sudden, agonizing headache struck as if someone had hit him hard on the back of the head.
The relics all cried out at once, asking if he was alright.
『Partner.』
Even Lodbrok’s cautious voice came through their pairing.
“I’m fine.”
『But…』
“It’s just because I’m not used to it yet.”
『Wait a little longer. I’ll find a way to resolve this as soon as possible.』
Lodbrok felt a deep regret for failing to properly protect her partner.
Especially since the pain Theo was currently enduring was essentially caused by Lodbrok’s own inadequacy.
‘The Sword Sphere has grown too large. As a result, the Upper Dantian has also opened far too abnormally.’
Though Theo pretended to be unaffected to prevent Kyle and the others from worrying, in truth, his health had significantly deteriorated after his spiritual awakening.
The Mad Dragon Emperor and Ashin.
‘The remnants left by those two were absorbed massively by the Sword Sphere, causing it to expand explosively.’
[‘Skill: Hatchling Synchronization’ has activated, enabling <Nirvana>.]
[Madness and demonic energy are being forcibly suppressed. Be cautious to maintain balance.]
Even Kyle likely hadn’t anticipated this outcome.
Fortunately, Theo’s mental fortitude had also strengthened, allowing him to stave off the risk of an immediate rampage.
However, if Theo showed even the slightest lapse, the explosion could occur at any moment.
It was akin to living with a ticking time bomb strapped to his head.
Of course, it wasn’t all disadvantages.
---
[You have gained new insights into a sword technique.]
[The insights are being crystallized and will be applied in your next demonstration.]
[You have drawn new inspiration from encountering masters.]
---
[Status Ailment: Excitement.]
[Status Ailment: Longing.]
[Status Ailment: Impatience.]
The effects of the Sword Sphere, which had previously only triggered in moments of crisis, now activated constantly.
Inspiration seemed hidden in every aspect of the world.
The sound of someone’s breathing suggested efficient breathing techniques, the rhythm of Theo’s own footsteps hinted at balanced stamina distribution, and the spring breeze in the surrounding scenery inspired a foundation for graceful swordsmanship.
For any swordsman, this would have been an enviable situation.
Yet for Theo, the sheer volume of stimuli and information made it nearly impossible to discern what was most valuable.
It seemed as though he was experiencing the world perceived by the Mad Dragon Emperor.
Disciple.
The Mad Dragon Emperor had referred to Theo as such at the end for this very reason.
‘The problem is, I never wanted it in the first place.’
Theo now understood why the seemingly refined Mad Dragon Emperor was so feared by Kyle and his siblings.
The Mad Dragon Emperor never forced someone to get what he desired.
Instead, he would strategically place reminders of himself around them, constantly influencing them.
Subtly inducing a gradual brainwashing process.
Dulling their resistance to him.
Until eventually, their rejection transformed into longing.
‘He shares his perception of the world, erasing wariness and fear towards him, replacing it with reverence and loyalty… numbing their senses entirely… That’s his way, isn’t it?’
He kept rolling it endlessly in the palm of his hand.
- An endless obsession.
That was the essence of the Mad Dragon Emperor's madness.
『You must never collapse, partner.』
"Don't worry. I'm not that easy of a man to break."
On the contrary, Theo intended to actively exploit the Mad Dragon Emperor's obsession.
If he could fully embrace the world the Mad Dragon Emperor saw…
If he could make it his own, wouldn’t his swordsmanship reach even greater heights?
‘It's not like this kind of obsession is new to me anyway.’
Tap!
At that moment, Theo's footsteps halted for the first time.
He had reached his destination.
“So, this is where someone ended up.”
The place was a prison.
A solitary confinement cell used exclusively for traitors in the North.
Because no one had ever come out alive, it was often called the "execution chamber."
“Isn’t this the young master of the House of Ragnar?”
Inside was a man whose body appeared worn from endless torture and interrogation, yet whose eyes still shone with undiminished intensity.
It was Ed.
Theo’s thoughts about Ed aside, Ed was genuinely pleased to see Theo.
And why?
"Have you come to mock me?"
Because Theo was the embodiment of…
What Ed had always wished to be.
‘Yes. It’s time I admit it. I have to admit it now.’
Ed had always hated his unstable position.
An ambiguous identity, neither fully Ragnar nor fully Troyban.
An incomplete successor of the Mad Dragon Emperor, yet not entirely excluded from it either.
A life lived content as a shadow.
Nothing could truly define him.
Troyban was the shadow of Ragnar, and Ed was an even deeper shadow within that.
Perhaps that was why he had so desperately coveted Ragnar’s throne.
Even his attempts to place his nephew Axion in that seat had stemmed from that ambition.
But then Theo appeared, and everything began to crumble at a rapid pace.
Theo…
He shone.
Brilliantly, dazzlingly so.
It was a radiance Ed, a mere shadow, had never possessed.
‘With what little time I have left, perhaps being consumed by that sunlight wouldn’t be the worst end.’
Theo silently observed Ed for a moment before shaking his head.
“Why bother with such a hassle? I’ve already won.”
“Pfft! That’s true! Then why are you here?”
“I heard you’ve refused to answer any of their questions.”
“What? Are you here to torture me yourself, then?”
Ed gestured with his chin towards the torture tools hanging in the adjacent cell.
“That wouldn’t be a bad choice. You must have hated me quite a bit, right? Why not start by ripping out my nails?”
"Even if I thought you’d answer, I’d try a dozen times over. But you won’t."
"And why’s that? Who knows? Maybe the humiliation of being bested by a mere child might force me to spill somethi—"
"Because you’re the Soaring Dragon."
"…!"
"It doesn’t make sense for a dragon to bow to something so trivial, does it?"
"You’re saying… I’m a dragon?"
Ed’s face twisted sharply.
"So, you did come here to mock me. Well, congratulations. You’ve managed to humiliate me in ways words can’t describe. I feel absolutely, utterly miserable."
The Soaring Dragon.
To Ed, who had lived as a shadow, it was a name filled with equal parts pride and resentment.
But—
"Strange. From what I’ve seen, you might’ve been a bastard, but you always seemed proud of the name Soaring Dragon. Your attitude and tone always reflected that. Am I wrong?"
"…"
Ed’s mind spun.
Had he really lived as the Soaring Dragon all along?
Even when he returned to Troyban?
"Soaring Dragon. A master of strategy and machinery. A swordsman whose skills were as sharp as his mind. Thanks to you, the Ragnar name soared for a time. And when you left, many were left trembling with fear."
Ed found himself gasping for air.
It was a thought he had never entertained before.
‘Could it be… amidst the shadows I thought consumed me… among the illusions I believed my life to be… was there one thing that was real after all?’
Ed fell silent for a moment before lifting his head again.
For the first time, the perpetual sneer left his face, replaced by a newfound dignity.
In that instant, Theo had a thought.
If this man had been born into Ragnar, not Troyban, perhaps the throne might have belonged to him instead.
"So, what is it you want to ask?"
"The Mad Dragon Emperor."
"I don’t know his movements, nor his plans—"
"I know. Probably not even the Sacred Demon Church knows. That seems to be his nature."
Ed furrowed his brows slightly.
It was odd how Theo spoke as if he truly understood the Mad Dragon Emperor.
"Then?"
"Tell me what you know about him. Even just your personal impressions. I’m simply curious about what kind of person he is."
Ed’s lips curled into a faint smirk.
"You’re planning to aim for him next, aren’t you?"
"…"
"Well, I suppose such resolve is fitting for the young master of Ragnar who managed to drag down this Soaring Dragon."
Did Theo realize?
The path he was stepping onto wasn’t simply a battlefield—it was the madness of standing in the storm of a dragon’s shadow.
Unlike the other idiotic interrogators, Theo had chosen the correct path.
Troyban, the Sacred Demon Church—at the heart of it all was the Mad Dragon Emperor.
Thus, to capture the Mad Dragon Emperor, one shouldn’t inquire about his movements, but about him.
What were his hobbies?
What were his talents, his defining traits?
If he had changed, how had he changed?
Ed had refused to answer before because he was disgusted by the foolishness of those who had questioned him. Their shallow and incompetent attempts left him silent out of sheer disdain.
But this was different, wasn’t it?
‘This boy might truly be the greatest masterpiece I’ve ever crafted!’
With a bold laugh, Ed shared a few key details about the Mad Dragon Emperor.
And Theo, his eyes shining with determination, listened intently, committing every word to memory.
* * *
The Next Day.
Ed’s head was displayed on the gates of Winterra.
His eyes, lifted proudly until the very end, seemed to gaze into the distance as if focused on something unseen.
Meanwhile—
News of the selection for the new member of the Nine Dragons, filling the long-vacant seat, began to spread.