Chapter 166

Julius, whom they hadn’t seen in a while, looked utterly drained.

It seemed he’d been caught in constant battles lately. On top of that, other issues had piled up, leaving traces of irritation on his face. The calm and composed demeanor he usually carried was nowhere to be seen.

“A physical confrontation? What exactly happened?”

Selpherd and Arin couldn’t help but react with alarm, their voices trembling.

Julius hesitated for a moment, pondering how to explain, before finally speaking slowly.

“The White Tower has long been tended by its native residents. You’re aware of this, aren’t you?”

“Yes, to some extent.”

The White Tower was one of the few remaining ruins of an ancient civilization, a site of interest primarily to scholars.

The locals, referred to as the Tower Folk, had cared for the place for generations. Normally, they offered cultural experiences to tourists visiting the ruins.

“There was a disagreement about protecting their residential area.”

The White Steel Vanguard believed it was crucial to protect the Tower Folk and their homes, not only for ethical reasons but also because the excavation of the ruins was incomplete.

On the other hand, the Black Iron Brigade argued that they couldn’t spare resources to protect the Tower Folk amid escalating skirmishes and demanded they be forcibly relocated to another area.

“Conflicts of opinion are natural, given how differently people think. The real issue arose when a skirmish broke out over the White Tower, during which we discovered Troivan infiltration squads were involved.”

Theo’s mind painted a vivid picture of the situation.

“...Urban warfare, wasn’t it?”

Selpherd and Arin quickly turned their attention to Theo, shocked by his guess.

Julius gave a bitter chuckle and nodded.

“Exactly. The one kind of battle both we and the Black Iron Brigade despise the most.”

The process of eliminating the infiltrators had led to uncontrolled clashes.

“Moreover, it seems likely that Troivan planted spies among the Tower Folk as well.”

“Did you plant eyes on our side too?”

“I simply considered what I would do if I were Troivan. That was the conclusion I reached. If I came across as presumptuous, I apologize.”

“No, not at all.”

Julius waved his hand dismissively, though he couldn’t help but marvel at Theo’s keen insight.

He’s broadened his horizons even further in just half a year outside. That boy truly is... impressive!

Julius recalled the letter he’d received from Deung Ryong, hinting that Theo would soon be recommended for the position of Senior Inspector.

Perhaps it was time to accelerate the plans he had prepared for Theo.

“Anyway, those Troivan bastards keep shaking things up, making life miserable for us.”

After a brief pause, Selpherd voiced his thoughts.

“Wouldn’t protecting the Tower Folk itself pose a risk? With all due respect, the Black Iron Brigade’s position seems more practical in this case. There’s no absolute reason we must protect them, is there?”

Both Arin and Theo nodded in agreement.

After all, the suggestion wasn’t to exterminate the Tower Folk but to relocate them to a more secure location. Once the war was over, their homes could be returned.

However, Julius shook his head with a bitter smile, as if to say it wasn’t that simple.

“The White Tower houses a Mystery.”

“...What?”

“Ah.”

That single revelation was enough to clarify the situation for everyone.

Theo’s eyes darkened as his thoughts deepened.

“So, you need the Tower Folk’s testimony.”

“Exactly. We’ve identified that a Mystery is sealed beneath the White Tower, but we don’t know how to unseal it. That means we need to rely on the Tower Folk’s oral traditions and folklore. While they’ve been cooperative on other matters, they’ve been particularly secretive about this.”

Theo nodded solemnly.

A Mystery could drastically alter the balance of power. It wasn’t called an enigma without reason.

From the Tower Folk’s perspective, they likely had no desire to surrender the secret they had protected for generations.

On the other hand, Ragnar considered the White Tower part of its territory and naturally regarded the Mystery as theirs.

The White Steel Vanguard seems to be the conciliatory faction, aiming to earn the Tower Folk’s trust to obtain the Mystery, while the Black Iron Brigade leans toward coercion. That’s how I see it.

Theo searched his past life’s memories.

If it’s the White Tower’s Mystery... it must be The Veil of the Morning Star.

The Morning Star, the first star to rise at dawn, shone brightest before vanishing with the sunrise.

The White Tower’s Mystery was said to harness the power of that celestial body, granting some kind of magical enhancement. But the exact nature of its abilities was unclear to Theo.

In his previous life, Troivan had managed to unseal it before Ragnar could.

While the Mystery hadn’t prevented Troivan’s eventual downfall, some historical accounts speculated it wasn’t as powerful as initially believed.

Theo shared a similar assessment, which was why he hadn’t prioritized acquiring it back then.

But I can’t let Troivan or even the Black Iron Brigade get their hands on it now.

Fortunately, Theo knew how to approach the area, even if he couldn’t directly unseal the Mystery.

At that moment—

Ding!

[You have received a quest.]

[Scenario Quest #7]

You’ve arrived at the ruins left behind by an Ancient Dragon. Claim the Mystery buried here.

· Difficulty: A+

· Reward: Relic of the Ancient Dragon

· Failure: Death

The White Tower is tied to an Ancient Dragon?

Theo’s eyes widened slightly.

This gave him an undeniable reason to claim the Mystery for himself.

“Anyway, avoid unnecessary clashes with the Black Iron Brigade. We’re the ones protecting the Tower Folk’s residential area, and authority over them lies with us. It won’t end well if we get dragged into their mess.”

Julius’s earnest appeal was met with nods from the group.

Only then did Julius allow his serious expression to relax, a smile spreading across his face.

“I heard you had a rough time on your way here. Why don’t you share the details?”

“Didn’t you receive our report?”

“Reading stiff documents doesn’t compare to hearing the story directly.”

“You’re not just looking for entertainment, are you?”

“Hahaha, of course not. Everything’s ready.”

As Selpherd teased, Julius clapped his hands lightly.

Clap, clap!

At that moment, the rear door opened, and a group of people waiting outside began pouring in.

“We’ve been waiting for your signal!”

“Bring in the barrels! Start with the ale!”

“What about the meat?”

“It’s all grilled and ready! Let’s bring it in!”

Members of the White Steel Vanguard entered, each carrying barrels of alcohol and platters of food.

The feast was about to begin.

***

“Hahaha! What? The statue collapsed there?”

“The Troivan must have been terrified! All those years of effort, gone in a flash!”

“So, what happened next?”

“I’ve heard about the mysteries of the Floating Isles before, but I thought it was just a legend. You’re saying it’s real? Damn! Let me touch that aura of yours.”

Noisy.

That was the single, unshakable thought running through Theo’s mind as the drinking party got underway.

Everyone who had been scattered across the northern front had gathered in one place. There were many familiar faces he hadn’t seen in a long time, and they were busy exchanging greetings, turning the room into a veritable marketplace.

But even amidst all this chaos, the center of attention was, without a doubt, Theo.

“The star born of the White Steel Vanguard. A once-in-a-millennium idol. The ‘Millennium Star,’ they’re calling him! Hahaha!”

‘…Please stop teasing me.’

“But our Millennium Star is so humble about it!”

‘Sigh!’

The squad members couldn’t hide how much they adored Theo, treating him like their precious younger brother. The White Steel Vanguard had always been more like a tight-knit family than a regiment rigid with hierarchy or hazing. With Theo’s recent rise to fame, they’d grown even more affectionate toward him.

His cheeks still stung from how much they’d pinched them.

And if that wasn’t enough, now they were drunkenly crowding around, trying to feel the muscles on his arms and legs, leaving Theo exhausted from shooing them away.

The real issue, however, wasn’t just the White Steel Vanguard’s rowdiness.

—Slurp! That meat looks delicious, doesn’t it?

—Ah, I could really go for a drink. I used to down barrels back in the day.

—Cut it out, you fools. Yearning for it will only make you greedy. But damn, the smell is driving me crazy. Ah! Aah! I should have just passed on peacefully when I had the chance!!

The ghosts of the Spirit Crypt Sword were wandering freely, adding to the already unbearable noise.

The White Steel Vanguard and the Draconic Legion.

Their atmospheres were so eerily similar it felt like a copy-paste situation.

“Um, well… I really don’t see any opening to approach, do you, Sis?”

“What do you mean, ‘what do we do’? Your plan failed miserably again, that’s all.”

“Damn it.”

Hulkus chugged his beer in frustration.

He’d been training relentlessly, determined to prove himself as Theo’s sword. But now, hearing about Theo’s imminent promotion to Senior Inspector, he felt utterly defeated.

And according to Selpherd’s stories, Theo’s strength might already rival that of a Yongmun-grade Swordmaster. Hulkus’s confidence shriveled in an instant.

At this rate, he wondered if he’d ever stand by Theo’s side.

“You’re weak.”

Across from him, Rey delivered the cutting remark after hearing the situation from Erica.

“What the hell, man?”

“Theo is far stronger than you.”

“I already know that!”

“No, he’s even stronger than you think. Theo has walked the edge of life and death. You’ve just been playing around in the background.”

“Playing around? I’ve been fighting hard too—”

“At best, it was child’s play.”

“Hey!!”

Bang!

Fuming, Hulkus slammed the table and stood up.

But Rey remained unfazed, casually sipping his beer.

Erica watched them with an amused glint in her eye, curious to see where this would lead.

“What, you wanna go? Right here, right now?”

“Ten seconds.”

“What’s ten seconds? Speak clearly.”

“That’s how long it’ll take for me to put you on the ground.”

“You son of a…!”

“Your experience can’t compare to mine. Theo will always be running ahead, risking everything.”

At that moment, before Hulkus could react further—

Shink!

A blade was suddenly pressed against his throat.

‘When did he…?’

“Sorry. I overestimated you. It’s not ten seconds—it’s one.”

“...!”

“If you can’t even perceive this, don’t dream of standing beside Theo. He’ll always be running along the edge, far beyond your reach.”

With that, Rey quietly sheathed his sword and left the table, looking as though his interest had completely evaporated.

Hulkus remained frozen, staring blankly for a long time.

The shock Rey had delivered was profound.

Back during their Awakening Ceremony, there hadn’t been such a vast gap between them.

Now, he couldn’t even follow Rey’s movements, let alone his blade.

If Rey had grown this much, then just how far ahead was Theo?

Hulkus’s gaze drifted toward Theo, fixed in a daze.

‘What kind of life have you been living?’

Watching her younger brother’s stunned expression, Erica casually sipped her beer.

The revelation had been just as startling for her.

“Looks like I’ve been far too complacent too.”

***

After the raucous atmosphere subsided

Theo finally had the chance to formally exchange introductions with the other squad leaders.

“I’m late with my introduction, aren’t I? My name is It Volseman, and I’m the leader of Squad Two.”

The leader of the squad primarily responsible for exploring the Abyss had a gaunt frame and piercing, predatory eyes.

His nickname, Shadow Blade, suited him perfectly, as his eerie demeanor reminded Theo of a lone, noble leopard.

“I’m Gorito Ken. Nice to meet you. If the chance arises, let’s share a drink sometime, yeah?”

With an energetic handshake, the leader of Squad Three lived up to his nickname, Iron Wall, exuding an aura of solidity.

As someone hailing from a distant country in the Far East, he had striking black eyes and yellow-toned skin, reflecting his foreign origins.

“Hanata Ragnar. Pleased to meet you.”

The leader of Squad Four, known as Blazing Flower Blade, was a woman with a warm personality and gentle tone, almost incongruous with the Ragnar name she bore.

But Theo wasn’t fooled.

He had heard plenty about how terrifyingly violent Hanata could become when angered.

“I’m Theo Ragnar. I look forward to working with all of you.”

Theo bowed politely and moved to the final figure.

The person was petite, barely 150 centimeters tall, with a youthful face that seemed completely out of place. However, strapped to her back was a massive spear over three meters long, radiating an overwhelming sense of menace.

*‘Squad One Leader, Amore Tan, the Oni Blade.’’

As Julius’s personal guard, Squad One rarely appeared in public, operating exclusively on the most dangerous frontlines. Their leader was said to possess extraordinary strength, enough to be the top candidate for the currently vacant Dragon Hunter title.

Despite standing nearly 30 centimeters taller than her, Theo felt as though Amore towered over him.

“Hi there! Nice to meet you. Feel free to call me Sister More in informal settings, okay?”

…Her tone was absurdly cutesy, completely clashing with her reputation.

“Ugh!”

“Sister More? Sister More?! Squad One Leader, have you no shame?”

“A nearly 60-year-old woman saying something like that… And using Hi there! as a greeting? Is she stuck in the past?”

“Shut up, all of you! I’m trying to manage my image now that we have a handsome rookie around. Can’t you let me have this?”

When Amore’s glare sharpened, the other squad leaders quickly averted their gazes.

Theo scratched his cheek awkwardly.

‘So the rumor that Squad One’s leader is older than Commander Julius is true.’

A woman nearing 60 yet looking barely over 30—Theo couldn’t help but wonder about her secret and briefly thought of asking to share it with his mother.

“Anyway, if you ever have any questions or problems while leading your squad, don’t hesitate to come to me. Sister More will always be here for you.”

Amore winked playfully, but Theo couldn’t focus on her words.

Squad leader?

“Wait, was that supposed to be a secret?”

Amore, noticing Theo’s confused expression, tapped her lips in mock realization and glanced at Julius, who let out a faint sigh.

“Well, I was planning to tell you soon enough… I suppose now is as good a time as any. Theo Ragnar.”

“Yes, Commander.”

Theo straightened instinctively, his senses sharpening.

“In recognition of your accomplishments on recent missions, combined with Lord Deung Ryong’s recommendation, you’ll soon be taking the qualification exam for Senior Inspector. And once you pass…”

Julius’s eyes gleamed.

They were the eyes of a Dragon Slayer.

“You’ll form a squad of your own.”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“...!”

Thump!

Theo’s heart pounded.