Chapter 222

Newitz.

Known by the moniker Martial Monster, his arrival in Ragnar’s fold had been around the time Theo was nearing twenty years old. By then, Newitz was already a renowned martial scholar, and Ragnar, recognizing the value of his expertise, had welcomed him into the Elder Council with favorable terms.

But problems arose shortly thereafter.

True to the "Monster" in his title, Newitz possessed an eccentric and unruly personality. He loathed being confined by rules or formalities, and his speech was blunt to the point of discomfort. While this allowed him to form lifelong bonds with like-minded individuals, it also turned small disagreements into irreconcilable enmities.

His attitude was fundamentally at odds with the rigid, conservative atmosphere of Ragnar.

One of Newitz’s most contentious topics was Ragnar’s swordsmanship system. He argued that while its depth was admirable, owing to centuries of tradition, it had accumulated unnecessary redundancies and required systematic reform.

The Elders, however, disagreed. They believed that their existing techniques had already elevated Ragnar to unparalleled prominence and saw no need for untested reforms.

This divide gradually evolved into a full-blown conflict within the clan. Young warriors often sided with Newitz, while the leadership aligned with the Elders.

‘I joined Master Newitz during that time as well.’

As time passed, the disputes escalated, ultimately polarizing the clan into Reformists and Conservatives. The clashes reached such a fever pitch that some enraged Elders even attempted to assassinate Newitz, only to end up imprisoned.

‘Father, of course, took no side in the matter.’

Kyle exploited the division to consolidate his own authority. When the Elders grew too domineering, he supported Newitz. When Newitz pushed too aggressively, he backed the Elders. This tactical balancing act allowed Kyle to maintain control over the increasingly volatile situation.

The conflicts peaked during the Dragon’s Heart incident.

The Elders viewed Newitz’s attempt to overhaul the martial system as a direct challenge to the authority of Sigurd, Ragnar’s revered ancestor. Some even went so far as to publicly accuse Newitz of being a spy sent by Troyban or the Holy Demon Church.

Emotions boiled over, and the clan crossed the point of no return.

Unsurprisingly, the victors were the Elders.

“While Newitz’s proposals hold merit, implementing unproven techniques could result in unnecessary sacrifices of our finest warriors.”

Kyle’s succinct judgment effectively shattered the Reformist faction.

Warriors who had once stood by Newitz, wary of Kyle’s disapproval, gradually distanced themselves. Eventually, Newitz was left entirely alone. Though he protested vehemently, his objections were dismissed outright.

Newitz left Ragnar in fury, spitting curses as he departed. The only person who remained by his side was Theo.

It was during that time that Dragon’s Heart

was passed down to Theo.

Now, in the current timeline.

Theo had already been planning to track down Newitz once the Eastern Front stabilized. The reformist spirit of Newitz extended far beyond Dragon’s Heart; entrusting him with domestic governance could expedite the Eastern region’s recovery.

Using those results, Theo intended to restructure Ragnar with his unique vision. But with the Holy Demon Church escalating the war, Theo had postponed seeking out Newitz.

Never had he imagined that Newitz would already be here.

What could have brought him to this place, a man who should have been secluded in his hermitage, immersed in martial research?

‘Master…’

Theo suppressed the urge to rush to Newitz and embrace him.

This was a face he had longed to see, a person he had wanted desperately to find. But the Newitz standing here was seeing Theo for the first time. Their shared memories existed only in Theo’s heart.

This was not yet the Newitz who had taught him Dragon’s Heart.

‘I have no choice.’

Forcing down his emotions, Theo masked his delight. Fortunately, his years in intelligence and strategy had honed his ability to maintain composure. Additionally, Newitz’s eccentric personality made him less attuned to others’ feelings.

“No place is too humble under Ragnar’s protection,” Theo said with a pleasant smile, bowing in greeting. “It is an honor to meet you, Martial Scholar Newitz Polven. I am Theo Ragnar, the Second Sword of the North.”

Newitz’s eyes flashed with an unusual light. “You know me?”

“I have a keen interest in martial studies and have read several of your works. I especially enjoyed your paper The Origins of Danjeon Breathing in Eastern Martial Arts from eleven years ago and your article in the Polvis Journal six years ago, The Correlation Between Neural Activation and Advancement in Swordsmanship.”

“Hm, hm! A northern swordsman with such a proper attitude towards martial arts is a rarity!”

Newitz coughed lightly, his expression betraying satisfaction.

‘Looks like I made a good impression.’

Theo felt confident. Newitz, true to his nature as a martial scholar, had a weakness for those who appreciated his work. The two journals Theo mentioned were obscure but among Newitz’s most cherished achievements.

“What brings you to this place, Newitz?” Theo asked carefully.

“This is my hometown. Didn’t you know?”

Newitz grinned mischievously, clearly trying to tease Theo.

“Ah, I see. My apologies for my ignorance,” Theo replied smoothly, unfazed by the bait. He knew exactly where Newitz hailed from—southern lands far from here.

Newitz frowned slightly, displeased by Theo’s lack of reaction. “In any case, you’re here because this city now falls under Ragnar’s territory?”

“That’s correct. Please rest assured, and follow me to the surface.”

Newitz studied Theo intently for a moment.

‘He’s using the Truth-Seeking Eyes.’

While Newitz struggled with understanding emotions, his insight surpassed most. He could discern the sincerity behind Theo’s words.

“Let’s go with him,” Newitz declared, turning to the survivors.

“Can we trust him?”

“But they’re Ragnar! Who knows what they’ll do to the East?”

“These people killed my brother!”

“Think logically. The war is over. If Ragnar considers the East their domain, it’s in their interest to win your favor. They wouldn’t act against you now.”

Newitz’s gentle smile softened the tension. “Even Ragnar isn’t foolish enough to act recklessly in this situation.”

“…”

“…”

“…”

“And most importantly,” Newitz added, his expression darkening, “we need to save the children.”

The mention of children struck a chord. Silence lingered before the survivors began nodding reluctantly, some biting their lips or clenching their fists.

“If that is your decision, Newitz, we will follow,” one man said finally.

At that moment, ropes descended through the holes in the ceiling. One by one, the survivors began climbing out of the bunker.

***

"Thank you for helping to convince them," Theo said as he and his group, along with Newitz, ensured all the survivors had safely ascended the ropes before grabbing onto them themselves.

"Hmph. I merely pointed out what seemed advantageous for them. If you'd shown even the slightest sign of ill intent, I wouldn't have stood idly by," Newitz replied, his tone gruff.

"Of course. I’m well aware of that. It’s why I took such care to maintain my conduct."

"So, are you saying you might’ve used force had I not been here?"

"Perish the thought. I’m simply saying that with you here, the rescue proceeded more smoothly."

Newitz's expression soured slightly at how calmly Theo deflected his jabs.

"Hmph..."

"If I may ask, though it’s perhaps presumptuous, what brought you to this place?" Theo inquired.

"Are you dimwitted? Did you eat raven’s meat? I already told you—this is my hometown!"

"Ah, I must have forgotten for a moment. My apologies for the repetition. I had mistakenly thought your hometown was Somoron in the south. My error."

"Hmph! Somoron was merely where I spent my childhood. Be mindful of what you say, no matter the circumstances."

"Yes, of course. I’ll remember that. On that note, could you share any clues as to where the culprits behind this massacre might have gone?"

"You’re from Ragnar, aren’t you? You’ve surely seen the traces left across the city and villages!"

"My apologies. I ask only to confirm any details we might have missed."

Newitz’s irritation grew at Theo’s constant apologetic responses. While Theo’s words seemed polite on the surface, it felt as though he was steering the conversation exactly where he wanted it to go.

The strange part was that Newitz didn’t entirely dislike this back-and-forth. Perhaps it was because Theo had earlier demonstrated genuine admiration for his work, referencing obscure papers that few outside dedicated martial scholars would know.

‘Why does it feel like I’m being played like a puppet on a string?’

Despite his suspicions, Newitz acknowledged the gravity of the question and answered.

"The attackers—no, let’s call them the Holy Demon Church outright. You must’ve already suspected as much."

"Yes, though we only have circumstantial evidence. The Holy Demon Church is notorious for leaving little trace. That you recognized it immediately… it speaks volumes of your keen insight, Newitz."

Compliments again.

It felt as though Theo had an uncanny understanding of how to appeal to him. Newitz’s lips twitched, threatening to form a smile, but he maintained his serious tone as he continued.

"I don’t know exactly where they’ve gone. Their primary goal was to vent their frustration after their loss in the Northern War. We were too focused on hiding to track them. However, I’m certain they haven’t left the city entirely."

"The children… you believe they aim to take them?" Theo’s voice grew cold.

Newitz nodded grimly.

Theo clenched his teeth. ‘No one in their right mind would willingly join a cult like the Holy Demon Church.’

The Church, which had been repeatedly driven to the brink of extinction, had adopted two primary methods to expand its influence:

Deception: Disguising their identity, they ingratiated themselves with vulnerable groups like the poor, widows, and the elderly.

Abduction: Destroying entire villages, they kidnapped children to indoctrinate them.

The latter produced terrifying human weapons.

This case was likely no different. After looting such a large city, they would’ve aimed to replenish their forces by abducting children for indoctrination.

And now, they were still nearby?

Leaving them unchecked was not an option.

‘I’ll hunt them down.’

Theo’s eyes gleamed with a cold determination.