Chapter 200

"A disciple, you say? So he’s outright declaring he’s going to steal my son."

Kyle chuckled openly, but the expressions of the other three hardened.

To them, who had come to see Theo as more than just a successor—nearly as their own—this was an unspoken challenge.

It wasn’t just the acknowledgment of Theo’s abilities; it was a testament to the Dragon Emperor’s obsessive nature.

Considering the extent of his madness, it wasn’t hard to imagine the lengths he might go to in pursuit of Theo.

“He must have planned for this all along.”

“The Eastern regions will likely turn into a battleground now.”

“We’ll need to monitor the Sacred Demon Cult’s movements more closely than ever.”

Kyle turned to Theo, his usual calm demeanor returning.

"Understood. You’ve got a lot to process. Go get some rest."

Theo bowed his head respectfully and quietly left the gathering.

***

“A disciple, you say? Boldly declaring you’re taking someone else’s son as your own, I see.”

Kyle’s laughter echoed sharply, but the other three didn’t share his amusement. Their expressions hardened, reflecting the unease they felt.

For them, who had come to think of Theo as a half-heir to their legacies, the Dragon Emperor’s overt acknowledgment of Theo was a provocation.

The thought of how deeply the Dragon Emperor’s obsession could run was unsettling, given the madness that consumed him.

"That’s exactly what he was aiming for."

"The Eastern regions will become a battlefield now."

"We need to keep a closer eye on the movements of the Sacred Demon Cult."

Kyle finally broke the silence, waving Theo off with a calm gesture.

"I understand. You’ve got a lot to sort through. Go and rest."

Theo bowed his head slightly, turned, and quietly left.

As he walked, the blade at his right hip, Hrunting, began to hum faintly, trembling as if it couldn’t contain its excitement.

The newly gained freedom seemed to make it eager, almost jubilant.

Ziiiiing—

Wheeeeeeeen—

Hrunting’s sibling blade, Dragon Slayer, vibrated in response, as if welcoming its counterpart back to the fold. Around them, the other relics hummed in harmony, celebrating the reunion.

But Theo couldn’t ignore the faint concern that gnawed at him.

"Hrunting’s draconic energy is still too weak," Theo thought.

It was likely due to the forceful release of its seal and the penalty incurred when Nessie, its guardian, had perished.

While it seemed fine for now, basking in the excitement, Theo knew this wouldn’t last.

If left unchecked, Hrunting could slowly deteriorate and eventually break.

"What should I do?"

At that moment, a familiar notification appeared before his eyes.

[A quest has arrived.]

[Sub-Quest]

Hrunting has been purified, but its condition remains unstable. Find a skilled blacksmith to attempt its restoration.

Difficulty: A+

Reward

: Hrunting’s Awakening

Failure Penalty: Death

"A skilled blacksmith?"

Theo immediately thought of someone—Kirsun, the legendary smith.

Kirsun had shown an intense fascination with artifacts from the Age of Ancient Dragons. If anyone could handle Hrunting, it would be him.

"The problem is... he’s unpredictable."

Theo frowned as he recalled Kirsun’s personality. Though the smith was family in a roundabout sense, Theo had already taken a great deal of advantage in their previous interactions.

"He’s probably grinding his teeth at me by now."

With a smirk, Theo made a mental note to discuss this with his mother first—she was the only one who could deal with Kirsun’s eccentricities.

As he pondered, a sharp pain suddenly shot through his head, as if he’d been struck from behind.

“Ugh!”

The relics hanging from his body clamored in concern, their voices overlapping.

『Companion, are you all right?』

Lodbrok’s voice echoed through the mental link, laced with worry.

“I’m fine,” Theo replied.

『But—』

“It’s just unfamiliar, that’s all.”

『I’ll find a solution soon. Just hold on.』

Lodbrok’s tone was filled with regret. He felt the current situation was a result of his own inadequacy in protecting Theo.

The enormous size of the Dragon Orb had overburdened Theo’s Dragon Veins, causing them to strain unnaturally.

Though Theo feigned composure to avoid alarming Kyle and the others, his health had been deteriorating since his confrontation with the Dragon Emperor and Ashin.

The overwhelming remnants of their power had been absorbed by the Dragon Orb, causing it to expand explosively.

[Skill: Hatchling Syncro has activated. has been engaged.]

[Madness and miasma are being forcibly suppressed to maintain equilibrium. Be cautious to avoid disruptions.]

Kyle likely hadn’t foreseen such extreme repercussions either.

While Theo’s reinforced mental fortitude kept him from losing control, even the slightest lapse in focus could lead to catastrophic consequences.

"A ticking time bomb, that’s what I’ve become."

But it wasn’t all bad.

[A new insight into swordsmanship has been acquired.]

[The insight has been crystallized and will be applied during your next demonstration.]

[You have drawn inspiration from observing masters.]

Theo’s Dragon Orb now operated continuously, bringing flashes of inspiration from the most mundane things:

The rhythm of someone’s breathing revealed efficient techniques.

The weight of his own footsteps taught him better stamina distribution.

The spring breeze hinted at new forms of swordsmanship.

For a swordsman, it was a dream come true.

But to Theo, it was overwhelming. The sheer flood of stimuli made it difficult to discern what was useful and what wasn’t.

He suspected this was what the Dragon Emperor had meant by calling him “disciple.”

"Not that I ever wanted it."

Theo was beginning to understand why Kyle and his brothers feared the Dragon Emperor so much.

The man never forced anyone to his side. Instead, he subtly surrounded them with things that made them think of him, softening their resistance until it became admiration—or worse, loyalty.

"He doesn’t push you; he lets you fall into his orbit."

That endless obsession was the true nature of his madness.

『You mustn’t falter, companion.』

“Don’t worry. I’m not so easily swayed.”

If anything, Theo planned to turn the Dragon Emperor’s obsession to his advantage.

If he could absorb the Emperor’s world as his own, his swordsmanship would grow exponentially.

"I’ve dealt with worse before."

Tap.

His footsteps stopped.

Before he realized it, he’d reached his destination.

"So, this is who it is."

He stood before the entrance to the prison.

It was no ordinary cell—this was the Solitary Confinement Chamber, reserved for the worst traitors of the North.

Those sent here were as good as dead, earning it the nickname “Execution Chamber.”

"Well, well, if it isn’t the Young Patriarch of Ragnar."

Despite the endless rounds of interrogation and torture, the man within remained defiant.

His body was broken, but his eyes burned with undying resolve.

It was Ed.

***

Theo didn’t know what to expect from Ed, but to Ed, Theo’s presence was welcome.

Why?

“Did you come here to mock me?”

Because Theo embodied everything Ed had once aspired to be.

‘Yes, it’s time to admit it. Admit it and move on.’

Ed had always hated his precarious position—neither fully Ragnar nor truly Troiban.

He was a shadow of a shadow, an heir to the Dragon Emperor in name only, forever consigned to a life of obscurity.

No role or identity had ever defined him completely.

If Troiban was a shadow of Ragnar, then Ed was the deepest shadow within that shadow.

Perhaps that’s why he had coveted Ragnar’s throne so desperately.

Even his attempt to place Axion, his nephew, on the throne had been a reflection of that desire.

But when Theo appeared, everything Ed had built began to crumble.

He shone.

Too brightly for Ed’s shadowy existence to endure.

Theo radiated a brilliance Ed could never achieve—a brilliance that had never belonged to someone like him.

‘Fine. With what little time I have left, burning away in that light wouldn’t be such a bad end.’

Theo looked at Ed for a moment before shaking his head.

“Mock you? Why would I bother? The fight is already won.”

“Pfft! Fair enough. Then why are you here?”

“I heard you’ve refused to answer any of their interrogations.”

“So? Are you here to torture me yourself?”

Ed gestured with his chin toward the racks of torture instruments hanging on the wall.

“Not a bad idea, honestly. You must hate me, right? Why not pull out a few fingernails while you’re at it?”

“If I thought you’d talk, I’d have done it a dozen times already. But you wouldn’t.”

“Oh? Who knows? Maybe the humiliation of being bested by a kid might wring something out of me—”

“Because you’re a Hangryong (亢龍).”

“......!”

Ed’s face twisted in surprise.

“You think I’m a dragon?”

“Wouldn’t make sense for a dragon to kneel to something so trivial, would it?”

Ed’s expression contorted further, a mixture of anger and pain.

“You came to insult me after all. Fine. Congratulations, you’ve succeeded. I’m furious. Satisfied?”

Hangryong.

A name filled with both pride and anguish for Ed.

But Theo didn’t back down.

“Strange. For someone I’ve seen act like a complete bastard, you always carried yourself with pride in that name. Your demeanor, your words—they all screamed Hangryong. Was I wrong?”

Ed’s thoughts grew chaotic.

I lived as a Hangryong? Even among Troiban?

“Hangryong. A master of strategy and mechanics. And your swordsmanship was equally sharp. There was a time when Ragnar’s name grew thanks to you. When you left, people were afraid.”

The air caught in Ed’s throat.

It was a realization he’d never dared to entertain.

“For everything I called a shadow, for all the illusions I believed my life to be… maybe something genuine was there after all.”

For a moment, Ed fell silent. Then he lifted his head again.

This time, the sneer was gone, replaced by a calm dignity that hadn’t been there before.

For a fleeting moment, Theo wondered if this man, born as Troiban, might have ruled Ragnar’s throne if things had been different.

“What is it you want to ask?”

“The Dragon Emperor.”

Ed’s brow furrowed.

“If it’s about his movements, I wouldn’t kno—”

“I know. I doubt even the Sacred Demon Cult knows much about him. He’s that kind of person.”

Ed narrowed his eyes.

The way Theo spoke, it was as if he knew the Dragon Emperor personally.

“Then?”

“Tell me what you know about him. Even your personal impressions are fine. I just want to know what kind of person he is.”

A wry grin tugged at Ed’s lips.

“So he’s your next target, is he?”

Theo didn’t respond, but the silence was enough of an answer.

“Hah. Well, I suppose it takes that kind of determination to dethrone someone like me. Fine, I’ll bite.”

Did Theo realize it?

Unlike the other interrogators, he’d asked the right question.

The Dragon Emperor was at the center of everything—Troiban, the Sacred Demon Cult, and more.

To take him down, it wasn’t his actions that mattered but his essence.

What did he enjoy?

What were his skills, his quirks?

How had he changed over time?

That was what Theo needed to understand, and Ed, for the first time, found himself intrigued.

‘Maybe this boy really is my greatest creation.’

Ed spoke at length, sharing fragments of truth and insight. Theo listened intently, his eyes gleaming as he absorbed every detail.

The Next Day

Ed’s head was displayed on the gates of Winterer’s fortress.

His final expression was one of defiance, his eyes fixed on something distant even in death.

The announcement came shortly after:

A new member of the Nine Dragons had been selected to fill the vacant seat.