Chapter 239

After the completion of all the promotion trials, Kyle summoned the Nine Dragons to gather in one place.

“Oh, here he comes! Our very own Heavenly Dragon!”

“...Can we do something about that nickname?”

“Why? I think it’s quite fitting. Sounds impressive.”

Theo, who had been slightly delayed due to changing into fresh clothes, sighed at Julius’s teasing.

It hadn’t even been half a day since Kyle bestowed his new title, yet on the way to this meeting, nearly everyone he encountered referred to him as the Heavenly Dragon rather than Young Patriarch.

The pinnacle of dragons.

The name carried immense weight and pride, but Theo found it increasingly embarrassing.

‘It’s already spread across Winterer so quickly… I can only imagine how fast it’ll spread globally. No, stop thinking about it.’

Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he decided not to dwell on it further.

“Where’s Father?”

“He’ll be here shortly. Take your seat.”

As Theo nodded and moved toward the empty seat, he stopped abruptly.

The seating arrangement was centered around the Patriarch’s seat at the head of the long table, with the closest positions on either side reserved for the highest-ranking members.

Closest to the central seat were the Black Dragon, Julius, and the Maehwa Palace Lord. The rest of the Nine Dragons sat in descending order of rank, with Kincarnon and Reje seated furthest away.

But Theo’s seat was now the closest to the central chair on the right side—closer even than the seat on the left.

This placement suggested a role of support or even leadership for the entire assembly, depending on how one viewed the symbolism of the seating.

Theo hesitated instinctively.

Previously, as the Young Patriarch, his position had always been equal to that of the Nine Dragons, seated at the very end.

But now, his position had changed overnight.

“What are you so startled about?”

The Maehwa Palace Lord smiled gently, breaking the tension.

“As the Heavenly Dragon and the Young Patriarch, that is your rightful seat.”

“...Understood.”

Realizing this marked the beginning of his role as the leader of Ragnar, Theo sat down, feeling the weight of his new responsibilities.

Shortly after, Kyle entered the room, and everyone stood.

“Why are you all so stiff? Sit down.”

As Theo and the Nine Dragons settled into their seats, all eyes remained fixed on Kyle.

If he had gathered them all like this, it could only mean something significant.

“I will step down as Patriarch after we bring Hilda down.”

Kyle began by dropping a bombshell.

“Patriarch!!”

“What do you mean by this?!”

“Please, explain—”

“Sit down. I’m not finished.”

The strongest reactions came from Julius and the Black Dragon.

Even his closest confidants hadn’t been informed of this decision.

The rest of the Nine Dragons exchanged uneasy glances, their thoughts racing.

Theo’s heart pounded in his chest.

‘Father… stepping down as Patriarch?’

This was something Theo had never anticipated.

In both his past and current lives, Kyle had always been the Patriarch of Ragnar.

Even during the height of the factional power struggles, Kyle had never relinquished his position, even if he temporarily withdrew to Ban Sword Temple.

And now, out of the blue, this announcement?

Looking around, Theo noticed that only the Maehwa Palace Lord seemed calm, her eyes closed as though in silent reflection.

She had clearly known all along.

It was evident that this was a decision Kyle had made after much deliberation.

‘Was this why he gave me these trials? Why he pushed me to ascend to the fault line? All for this announcement?’

Theo forced his tumultuous thoughts to settle as he spoke in a low voice.

“Let’s calm down and hear the Patriarch out first.”

The Nine Dragons gradually exhaled and collected themselves.

But the tense atmosphere refused to dissipate completely.

"Did you know about this?"

"No, I did not."

"Not even a hint from Big Brother?"

"None at all."

"...This is maddening. Even Lord Robert had no idea."

After a quick mental exchange with Julius, Theo took the lead again.

“I will try to reason with him. I’m far from ready, and I haven’t even finished stabilizing the East. I oppose Father stepping down at this time and will do my best to persuade him.”

"He’s not one to change his mind easily, but… very well, I’ll leave it to you."

Theo stood and addressed Kyle directly.

“Patriarch, would you explain why you’ve chosen this course of action? If you refuse to provide a reason, then I, too, will step down as Young Patriarch.”

This was Theo’s strongest card to play.

The Nine Dragons exchanged worried glances.

With a major operation on the horizon, both the Patriarch and Young Patriarch discussing abdication was nothing short of a nightmare.

Kyle raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable.

“Do you think the position of Young Patriarch is so easily discarded?”

“It’s easier than the position of Patriarch.”

“…You.”

“So please, explain yourself. Why are you doing this?”

“Hah. I’ve spoiled you too much.”

“If you consider that raising us, then we must have raised ourselves.”

Kyle pinched the bridge of his nose, clearly exasperated, as laughter escaped from somewhere in the room.

Kincarnon and Reje quickly averted their gazes to avoid Kyle’s glare.

Julius and the other Nine Dragons were caught between intervening in the father-son argument or scolding the two for their inappropriate reactions.

But… wasn’t Theo’s statement technically true?

“Let’s just call it a personal matter for now.”

Kyle’s resigned response stunned everyone.

“That’s far too irresponsible an answer.”

“Do you know how many years I’ve ruled?”

“…”

“Sixty. That’s more than half a century. Four emperors have come and gone in that time. A single lifetime has passed. I’ve brought Ragnar to its peak. In this golden age, is it wrong for me to step back and rest as Grand Patriarch?”

Every word was true.

And yet—

“That’s still an irresponsible answer. It’s not an explanation.”

The other Nine Dragons hesitantly nodded in agreement.

While Kyle’s decisions had always been unilateral, they were never unreasonable.

Every choice he made had been for the benefit of the clan, which allowed the Nine Dragons to work together in unity.

Now, that unity was at risk.

“Believe what you will. My decision is final. Prepare to assume the role of Patriarch after this operation.”

“Wait, are you—”

“Enough.”

Theo recalled the strange sensation he felt during their duel on the fault line.

Could it be related?

But he couldn’t bring himself to voice his thoughts.

“It’s already decided. Ensure the next Patriarch wields full authority and prepare accordingly.”

“…Understood.”

“…Yes, Patriarch.”

“…We will comply.”

The Nine Dragons reluctantly agreed, and Kyle quietly vanished without another word.

***

“Theo, do you know something? You must know something, don’t you?”

“Young Patriarch, if you know the reason, please tell us. What is going on here?”

After Kyle’s departure, the Black Dragon was the first to approach Theo, followed closely by the Phantom Dragon.

As Kyle’s personal guard, the Phantom Dragon had also been left in the dark, making it imperative to understand the situation.

Even the glances of the Mad Dragon and Wolfgang were drawn toward Theo.

“That’s—”

『Is there really any need to stir the pot further?』

Theo was about to speak when Lodbrok’s voice interrupted him.

‘Loddy.’

『That man who’s anything but human might finally be turning into one. Well, it makes sense. Something always felt off. Refusing the Pantheon’s call and forcibly remaining in this world—what else could it be?』

The Pantheon’s call.

Lodbrok described ascension to divinity in precisely those terms.

‘Has something like this happened before?’

On the fault line, Theo had sensed a profound feeling that Kyle was on the verge of leaving—

Feathered Ascension.

It was as though Kyle might become weightless, drifting effortlessly into the sky to join the stars embedded in its dome.

That sense had grown even stronger when Kyle had drawn his sword, culminating in the moment Theo witnessed his father’s physical form blur during a single strike.

Kyle had dismissed it as trivial, but now Theo understood.

Kyle had been forcibly staying in this world.

While Hilda was desperately clinging to the Sublimation Ritual to complete her mythos, Kyle was fighting against completing his own, stubbornly resisting ascension.

What words could possibly describe such a situation?n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

『It has happened before. The Primordial Dragon.』

‘Ah.’

『But even they couldn’t fully reject the Pantheon’s call. They simply left their will behind in the mana stream, having unfinished business.』

‘So, in the end, my father won’t be able to reject the call completely either.’

『Likely not. Each time he wields his sword, more divine power will accumulate in his soul. His level will rise, and eventually, his mortal body won’t be able to sustain it. At that point—』

‘He will ascend.’

『Exactly. Your father will achieve what no one has since Sigurd.』

Perhaps Kyle’s decision to retreat during the chaotic struggle for power in Theo’s past life had stemmed from the same reason.

With no successor chosen at the time, his sudden departure could have plunged the family into civil war.

But this life was different.

Theo was an outstanding successor, already rivaling or surpassing the Nine Dragons at a young age.

Kyle could now set down his sword without worry.

Still, Kyle had no intention of completing his ascension.

He would simply stop using his sword to delay the inevitable and remain in this world for as long as possible.

『That’s why you mustn’t reveal his situation. While it may seem like a blessing to Ragnar, it could become a massive vulnerability in the coming conflicts.』

In the eyes of the world, Ragnar = Kyle.

If it were revealed that Kyle might leave, what would happen?

Would the 18 Archdukes seize the opportunity to regain their footing?

Most likely.

Even if Theo had proven himself through his recent accomplishments, an 18-year-old still needed time to solidify his authority.

Such news would undoubtedly intensify the chaos surrounding the imperial throne.

“The matters we’ve discussed,”

Theo knew he had to navigate the upcoming storm for Kyle, for Ragnar, and for himself.

‘You always leave the hardest tasks to me, Father.’

“You must keep them absolutely secret. Do not let even a whisper escape. And if anyone dares spread rumors…”

Theo’s eyes glinted with a chilling light.

“I will invoke the authority of the Heavenly Dragon and execute them immediately.”

“!!”

“!!”

“!!”

The room fell silent, the weight of Theo’s words suffocating.