Chapter 288

A pillar of light pierced through the night sky, illuminating the surroundings. The radiant beam stretched upward until it seemed to graze the edge of the moon.

Fwaaah—

At its peak, the remnants of the light scattered like fragments of stars, golden particles descending gently. The brilliant glow cascaded over the fields, the trees, and the village, lingering long after it had settled, radiating a serene, otherworldly beauty.

“Wow…”

“So beautiful…”

The villagers, entranced by the celestial display, stood mesmerized, their eyes fixed on the night sky. Meanwhile, at the epicenter of the explosion, Harald stood beneath the golden rain, holding the limp form of Ash in his arms, his gaze filled with hope and disbelief.

“It’s… it’s over?” he asked, his voice trembling.

Through the soft golden glow, Harald slowly approached Lodbrok, who stood calmly amidst the dissipating radiance. With a faint smile, Lodbrok silently passed Ash into Harald’s arms.

Holding her close, Harald examined his daughter’s face with anxious eyes. He froze as her heavy eyelids slowly lifted, revealing clear, luminous blue eyes. Gone was the dull, lifeless gaze—replaced by a vivid brightness that locked onto his face.

The eyes he had longed for, the eyes he thought he’d never see again, now gazed directly at him. Tears welled up in Ash’s eyes, streaming down her pale cheeks.

“Now… now I can finally see you properly, Dad.”

Her words broke Harald’s composure. Tears brimmed in his own eyes, spilling onto Ash’s cheeks as he held her tightly.

“What happened to you…? Why are you so thin…? I only just got to see you properly.”

Harald couldn’t answer. He simply held her, his body shaking as he sobbed quietly. Ash wrapped her frail arms around his neck, clinging to him as tears streamed freely.

Theo, watching the touching reunion, exchanged a glance with Lodbrok. Without needing words, both stepped out of the room, leaving the father and daughter to their heartfelt moment.

As Theo emerged outside, the lingering golden light on the windowsill seemed to bless the reunited family.

This will certainly spark rumors.

The explosion and the golden glow blanketing the mountains would not go unnoticed. Even from the borders of the Beastlands, the Black Dragon might already have caught wind of this event.

Outside, children played under the golden light, their laughter echoing through the night.

“Wow! Golden snow!”

“Let’s make a golden snowman!”

The villagers had gathered near the protective barrier Lodbrok had erected before the explosion. While the children marveled at the spectacle, the adults looked on with smiles that mirrored the children’s awe. Even the village chief, though dazed, stood staring blankly at the now-destroyed roof of his house.

“We’ll restore your home soon, Chief. Don’t worry,” Theo said.

“Oh, um, thank you… Did everything go well?” the chief stammered.

“Thanks to your assistance. Before we leave, please discuss with your people and let us know what you wish for. Anything you ask for, we’ll provide.”

Hearing this, the expressions of the villagers brightened considerably. After some whispered discussions, a few of them timidly raised their hands to ask questions.

“Would it be all right if… we asked for money?” one ventured.

“That’s fine,” Theo replied.

“Could we… move to the territory?” another asked hesitantly.

“That’s also possible.”

“And what about…”

The questions continued, seemingly without end. Theo quickly realized that the villagers, despite their gratitude, were hesitant to ask for much, likely fearing they might offend him.

They’ll likely settle for less than what they truly want.

Theo decided to offer something far greater than they could dream of.

“If you desire resources for this village, we’ll provide them. If you wish for your children to receive higher education, we’ll arrange it. Should you want to develop this land, we’ll support you. I swear on the name of Ragnar.”

A heavy silence fell over the crowd, but it lasted only a moment. The villagers’ faces lit up with joy, and they erupted into cheers.

“Hooray! Long live Ragnar!”

Theo couldn’t help but smile at the sight of their jubilant expressions. This was the start of a strong alliance between the Harald family and the Ragnar clan.

However, Theo’s gaze soon fell on a young man standing apart from the celebration. Unlike the others, he wasn’t smiling.

“…Would it be all right if I waited for someone who has passed?” the young man asked, his voice heavy with sorrow.

Theo recognized him—the youth who had confronted him with a spear upon his arrival. The villagers, who had been cheering moments ago, fell silent, their joy dimming as they shared in his grief.

No one chastised him. They understood his pain, for they all carried the same sorrow. This settlement, hidden from Ragnar’s oversight, had been a refuge for those burdened by loss. Over time, their pain had dulled, and this place had become a sanctuary for their shared grief.

“I extend my deepest condolences,” Theo said solemnly. “Mourn your fallen freely. Honor their memory, and grieve without restraint. Do not let their deaths be in vain.”

He took a deep breath and continued.

“I won’t tell you to move on. But the moment we take up a sword, we accept the duty to protect—not to be protected.”

The villagers lowered their heads, his words resonating deeply. In the North, they had all heard such sentiments before: warriors lived and died for honor. Yet, it was a truth that many still struggled to accept.

“That is the fate—and the dream—of those who wield a weapon. Do not dishonor it. Instead, channel your sorrow into your blade. My own sword bears the honor of a dear friend who once stood beside me.”

Theo’s gaze turned to the night sky, his thoughts drifting to Wellington.

When the children’s cries broke the silence, Theo concluded his speech and turned to the chief.

“For now, I ask that you leave this house empty.”

“Of course… yes, of course.”

With the chief’s agreement, Theo stepped away, his mind still lingering on the villagers’ pain.

“You’re quite the orator,” Lodbrok said, joining Theo.

“I simply spoke what was on my mind,” Theo replied.

The two sat apart from the villagers, silently watching the last of the golden fragments fall from the sky.

“So much has happened,” Theo mused.

He hadn’t expected a mission to hunt a few Class-2 monsters to escalate into such an ordeal.

“I told you, those who walk beside you are destined to court chaos,” Lodbrok said with a smirk.

Theo chuckled, then fell silent, his gaze fixed on the clear night sky.

“What are you thinking about?” Lodbrok asked.

“Harald reminded me of my father,” Theo admitted.

“Do you miss Kyle?”

Theo smiled wistfully, waving a hand dismissively. Yet, the longing in his eyes was unmistakable.

“I can’t stop thinking about the strength of the First Apostle,” he confessed. “And at the pinnacle of that strength… I see my father.”

The First Apostle’s power was monstrous, something that defied logic. Theo couldn’t help but wonder if his father, Kyle, would feel the same if they ever stood opposed.

“That man is beyond monstrous,” Lodbrok said, his tone carrying genuine respect. “Even the word ‘monster’ isn’t enough to describe him.”

Unlike the First Apostle, who drew his strength from twisted powers, Kyle relied solely on innate talent and relentless effort. It was a fact even Lodbrok had to acknowledge.

“What if my father had faced the First Apostle instead of me?” Theo murmured.

Theo reflected on the profound gap between himself and his father. While Theo had relied on the mysterious system and divine blessings to unlock his potential, Kyle had ascended to unimaginable heights through sheer willpower and relentless training. Both Kyle and the First Apostle were titans of strength, their limits beyond comprehension. Yet, Theo felt certain of one thing:

Kyle wouldn’t fall easily to the First Apostle, whose power stemmed from external sources. Even if the Apostle grew even stronger, Theo believed Kyle would find a way to overcome the challenge, no matter how insurmountable.

The stronger I grow, the deeper my father’s shadow looms.

Theo couldn’t help but chuckle at the overwhelming reality of Kyle’s strength.

“As you grow stronger, you’ll understand firsthand,” Lodbrok said, smiling faintly. “After all, you’re his bloodline—and Sigurd’s, no less.”

That smile carried an unwavering belief.

“You’re still young. You haven’t even lived half as long as they have. Yet you speak like a true Ragnar,” Lodbrok teased.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Theo felt a slight jolt at the comment. His endless drive for strength, paired with the arrogance that came with it, had been a lingering thought in his mind.

“You’re too young,” Lodbrok continued. “For now, just focus on moving forward.”

He seemed on the verge of saying more but stopped himself.

You’re destined to surpass them and become an even greater monster.

Lodbrok restrained his words, wary of feeding Theo’s pride. It was human nature, after all, to grow complacent with too much praise.

Theo laughed at Lodbrok’s remark. “You’re definitely smarter than me, Loddy.”

“What? Hah! Only slightly, I assure you,” Lodbrok retorted with mock indignation before reaching out to playfully flick Theo’s forehead.

“Let’s get some rest. It’s been a tiring day,” Lodbrok said as he rose to his feet.

He wasn’t wrong. Lodbrok had undoubtedly borne the brunt of the labor, leaving Theo feeling slightly guilty for having merely observed. Abandoning his thoughts of reviewing the day’s events, Theo followed Lodbrok.

The following morning, as dawn broke, Theo opened the door to begin his usual training routine.

“Perfect timing,” came a voice.

Standing at the threshold was Harald, his eyes red and puffy as if he hadn’t slept all night.

“Ahem! Good morning,” Harald greeted awkwardly, clearing his throat to mask his embarrassment.

“Good morning,” Theo replied with a polite nod.

“Up and training already? Impressive.”

“I can’t afford to slack off,” Theo said with a faint smile.

Harald’s expression softened, his thoughts drifting briefly to someone from his past.

“I see. Could I borrow a moment of your time?” Harald asked.

He led Theo to a secluded corner of the village, where logs and an axe were neatly arranged for chopping firewood.

It suits him, Theo thought as he watched Harald pick up the axe without hesitation.

“How’s Ash?” Theo asked.

“Ahem! Thanks to you, she’s well. She spent the entire night chatting away before finally falling asleep. I’d almost forgotten what joy felt like,” Harald admitted, a nostalgic smile on his face.

“You’re thanking the wrong person.”

“No, I’m not,” Harald said firmly. “If it weren’t for you, I’d never have met her. So, thank you.”

With that, Harald turned to face Theo. Slowly, he let his energy build, and the air around them grew charged. Theo felt a prickling sensation on his skin as Harald’s intent sharpened.

Theo grinned at the challenge in Harald’s stance. “Come at me.”